Evaluation of Thin Film Coating Adhesion with an Opto-Acoustic Technique

International audienceAn opto-acoustic technique to evaluate the adhesion strength at the interface of nano-scale thin film systems has been demonstrated. The specimens have been integrated into a Michelson interferometer as the end mirrors, and driven from the rear with an acoustic transducer at moderate frequencies. The resultant film surface displacement has been detected as a fringe shift of the interference intensity pattern behind the beam splitter with a digital imaging device at a normal frame rate. Comparison has been made between strongly and weakly adhered film specimens. The difference in the adhesion strength has been successfully visualized as the difference in the fringe contrast. Fourier analysis on the fringe pattern has quantified the fringe contrast

Increasing diversity in genomics requires investment in equitable partnerships and capacity building

Calls for diversity in genomics have motivated new global research collaborations across institutions with highly imbalanced resources. We describe practical lessons we have learned so far from designing multidisciplinary international research and capacity-building programs that prioritize equity in two intertwined programs — the NeuroGAP-Psychosis research study and GINGER training program — spanning institutions in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and the United States