Current evidence underscores a need to transform how we do clinical research, shifting from academic-driven priorities to co-led community partnership focused programs, accessible and relevant career pathway programs that expand opportunities for career development, and design of trainings and practices to develop cultural competence among research teams. Failures of equitable research translation contribute to health disparities. Drivers of this failed translation include lack of diversity in both researchers and participants, lack of alignment between research institutions and the communities they serve, and lack of attention to structural sources of inequity and drivers of mistrust for science and research. The Duke University Research Equity and Diversity Initiative (READI) is a program designed to better align clinical research programs with community health priorities through community engagement. Organized around three specific aims, READI-supported programs targeting increased workforce diversity, workforce training in community engagement and cultural competence, inclusive research engagement principles, and development of trustworthy partnerships.

The possibility of fast firing a relaxor dielectric to suppress grain growth, mitigate the lead loss and reduce the cost of sintering has been investigated. The relaxor Pb(Mn1/3 Nb2/3).02 (Mg1/2 W1/2 ).48 Zr.23 Ti.27 O3 [1] exhibits a highly desirable broad phase transistion range when the prbcessing procedures are carefully controlled and fired conventionally. When fast fired, this material's density, percentage of secondary phases, and dielectric constant were highly dependent on the sintering time. A sample fired for 6 minutes possessed a dielectric constant nearly equal to the same material conventionally fired for 16 hours.

Sintering at temperatures in excess of the melting point for followed by soaking at 980 C for extended periods results in domain-type microstructure and grain orientation in samples that demonstrate zero resistivity and significant Meissner effect.

Depth profiling is becoming a common method of determining composition gradients for those research facilities that have access to SIMS. The problems with this procedure are briefly discussed but well referenced for those interested in using the technique. Spectra for application of depth profiling to a tantalum pentoxide layer on tantalum, silicon implanted in silica, preferential sputtering of niobium and surface treated lithium alumina silicate glass are presented.

Application of SIMS to ceramics is a complicated but rewarding technique for characterization. The variable composition, hardness and insulating nature of these materials render spectra interpretation complex. Basic data reduction procedures from graphical data collection are presented along with spectra from SIMS applied to a glass frit, magnesium sialon, silicon and PTCR barium titanate.

Submicron particle sizing is complex, requiring careful interpretation of distribution data. Information gathered from laboratory use of a sedimentometer and a light scattering system are discussed in terms of strengths and weaknesses.