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Brickwork Ratings reaffirms the ratings for the Bank Loan Facilities of Rs. 6.39 Crs. of Sukna Tea & Industries Ltd based on best available information, as the issuer did not cooperate.
ParticularsFacilities** | Amount (Rs.Crs.) | Tenure | Rating# | ||
Previous | Present | Previous (07 Jul 2023) |
Present | ||
Fund Based | 6.39 | 6.39 | Long Term |
Continues to be in ISSUER NOT COOPERATING* category/Reaffirmed |
Continues to be in ISSUER NOT COOPERATING* category/Reaffirmed |
Grand Total | 6.39 | 6.39 | (Rupees Six Crores and Thirty Nine lakhs Only) |
The rating is due for review in July 2024. Brickwork Ratings (BWR) took up with the company to provide the required information over emails and through telephonic communication. Despite the best efforts of Brickwork Ratings to get at least the minimum required information for a review, the company has not provided the same. In the absence of adequate information from the issuer and continued lack of management and banker cooperation, Brickwork Ratings is unable to assess the company's financial performance and its ability to service its debt and maintain valid ratings. The company has not been submitting NDS to BWR.
Based on inadequate information and continued lack of management and banker cooperation, Brickwork Ratings has reaffirmed the long-term rating at 'BWR D' and continued the ratings in the Issuer Not Cooperating* category.
The lenders/investors may note to exercise due caution while using the above rating which mentions "Issuer Not Cooperating" since the rating lack any projections or forward looking component as it is arrived at based on the best available information without any management/banker's interaction.
Information availability risk is a key factor in the assessment of credit risk as generally, non-cooperation by the rated entities to provide required information for a review of the assigned rating may also be accompanied by financial stress. Users of the credit rating should therefore take into account possible deterioration in the credit quality of the rated entity arising from its non-transparency withholding of information required for a review of the rating.
ABOUT THE ENTITYMacro Economic Indicator | Sector | Industry | Basic Industry |
Fast Moving Consumer Goods | Fast Moving Consumer Goods | Agricultural Food & other Products | Tea & Coffee |
Sukna Tea & Industries Ltd. is one of the oldest tea manufacturing companies and was registered at Registrar of Companies Kolkata on 11/04/1913. The registered address of the company is JALPAIGURI WEST BENGAL 735101 IN. Mr. Manjula Kalyani, Mr. Harshvardhan Kalyani & Mrs. Bela Debi Moitra are the current directors of the company. The company is into manufacturing of different types of Tea. The garden area and factory of the company is located at Sukna, Siliguri.
Please refer to the following link for the previous detailed rationale that captures the Key Financials Drivers and their Description, Liquidity Position. Rating Sensitivities, Key Financial Indicators. View Previous Document
No Outstanding Non-Cooperation ratings with other CRAs.
RATING HISTORY FOR THE PREVIOUS THREE YEARS (including withdrawal and suspended)Facilities | Current Rating (2024) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||
Type | Tenure | Amount (Rs.Crs.) |
Rating | Date | Rating | Date | Rating | Date | Rating |
Fund Based | LT | 6.39 |
(Continues to be in ISSUER NOT COOPERATING* category/Reaffirmed) |
07Jul2023 |
(Continues to be in ISSUER NOT COOPERATING* category/Reaffirmed) |
30Jun2022 |
(Reaffirmation/ISSUER NOT COOPERATING*) |
Grand Total | 6.39 | (Rupees Six Crores and Thirty Nine lakhs Only) |
Analytical Contacts | |
Navyashree S P Ratings Analyst email@example.com |
V Ramachandra Director - Ratings email@example.com |
1-860-425-2742 | firstname.lastname@example.com |
SL.No. | Name of the Bank/Lender | Type Of Facilities | Long Term(Rs.Crs.) | Short Term(Rs.Crs.) | Total(Rs.Crs.) | Complexity of the Instrument |
1 | Central Bank of India | Term LoanOut-standing | 1.95 | _ | 1.95 | Simple** |
2 | Central Bank of India | Cash CreditSanctioned | 2.71 | _ | 2.71 | Simple** |
3 | Central Bank of India | Funded Interest Term LoanOut-standing | 0.92 | _ | 0.92 | Simple** |
4 | Central Bank of India | Funded Interest Term LoanOut-standing | 0.81 | _ | 0.81 | Simple** |
Total | 6.39 | 0.00 | 6.39 | |||
TOTAL (Rupees Six Crores and Thirty Nine lakhs Only) |
**BWR complexity levels are meant for educating investors. The BWR complexity levels are available at www.brickworkratings.com / download / ComplexityLevels.pdf. Investors queries can be sent to email@example.com.
Instrument | Issue Date | Amount (Rs.Crs) | Coupon Rate (%) | Maturity Date | ISIN Particulars | Complexity of the Instrument |
Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
Name of Entity | % Ownership | Extent of consolidation | Rationale for consolidation |
Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
The Rating Rationale is sent to you for the sole purpose of dissemination through your print, digital or electronic media. While it may be used by you acknowledging credit to BWR, please do not change the wordings in the rationale to avoid conveying a meaning different from what was intended by BWR. BWR alone has the sole right of sharing (both direct and indirect) its rationales for consideration or otherwise through any print or electronic or digital media.
About Brickwork RatingsBrickwork Ratings (BWR), a Securities and Exchange Board of India [SEBI] registered Credit Rating Agency and accredited by Reserve Bank of India [RBI], offers credit ratings of Bank Loan, Non- convertible / convertible / partially convertible debentures and other capital market instruments and bonds, Commercial Paper, perpetual bonds, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, partial guarantees and other structured / credit enhanced debt instruments, Security Receipts, Securitization Products, Municipal Bonds, etc. BWR has rated over 11,560 medium and large corporates and financial institutions' instruments. BWR has also rated NGOs, Educational Institutions, Hospitals, Real Estate Developers, Urban Local Bodies and Municipal Corporations. BWR has Canara Bank, a leading public sector bank, as one of the promoters and strategic partner.
Brickwork Ratings India Pvt. Ltd. (BWR), a Securities and Exchange Board of India [SEBI] registered Credit Rating Agency and accredited by the Reserve Bank of India [RBI], offers credit ratings of Bank Loan facilities, Non- convertible / convertible / partially convertible debentures and other capital market instruments and bonds, Commercial Paper, perpetual bonds, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, partial guarantees and other structured / credit enhanced debt instruments, Security Receipts, Securitization Products, Municipal Bonds, etc. [ hereafter referred to as "Instruments"]. BWR also rates NGOs, Educational Institutions, Hospitals, Real Estate Developers, Urban Local Bodies and Municipal Corporations.
BWR wishes to inform all persons who may come across Rating Rationales and Rating Reports provided by BWR that the ratings assigned by BWR are based on information obtained from the issuer of the instrument and other reliable sources, which in BWR's best judgment are considered reliable. The Rating Rationale / Rating Report & other rating communications are intended for the jurisdiction of India only. The reports should not be the sole or primary basis for any investment decision within the meaning of any law or regulation (including the laws and regulations applicable in Europe and also the USA).
BWR also wishes to inform that access or use of the said documents does not create a client relationship between the user and BWR.
The ratings assigned by BWR are only an expression of BWR's opinion on the entity / instrument and should not in any manner be construed as being a recommendation to either, purchase, hold or sell the instrument.
BWR also wishes to abundantly clarify that these ratings are not to be considered as an investment advice in any jurisdiction nor are they to be used as a basis for or as an alternative to independent financial advice and judgment obtained from the user's financial advisors. BWR shall not be liable to any losses incurred by the users of these Rating Rationales, Rating Reports or its contents. BWR reserves the right to vary, modify, suspend or withdraw the ratings at any time without assigning reasons for the same.
BWR's ratings reflect BWR's opinion on the day the ratings are published and are not reflective of factual circumstances that may have arisen on a later date. BWR is not obliged to update its opinion based on any public notification, in any form or format although BWR may disseminate its opinion and analysis when deemed fit.
Neither BWR nor its affiliates, third party providers, as well as the directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents (collectively, "BWR Party") guarantee the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the Ratings, and no BWR Party shall have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions therein, regardless of the cause, or for the results obtained from the use of any part of the Rating Rationales or Rating Reports. Each BWR Party disclaims all express or implied warranties, including, but not limited to, any warranties of merchantability, suitability or fitness for a particular purpose or use. In no event shall any BWR Party be liable to any one for any direct, indirect, incidental, exemplary, compensatory, punitive, special or consequential damages, costs, expenses, legal fees, or losses (including, without limitation, lost income or lost profits and opportunity costs) in connection with any use of any part of the Rating Rationales and/or Rating Reports even if advised of the possibility of such damages. However, BWR or its associates may have other commercial transactions with the company/entity. BWR and its affiliates do not act as a fiduciary.
BWR keeps certain activities of its business units separate from each other in order to preserve the independence and objectivity of the respective activity. As a result, certain business units of BWR may have information that is not available to other BWR business units. BWR has established policies and procedures to maintain the confidentiality of certain non-public information received in connection with each analytical process.
BWR clarifies that it may have been paid a fee by the issuers or underwriters of the instruments, facilities, securities etc., or from obligors. BWR's public ratings and analysis are made available on its web site, www.brickworkratings.com. More detailed information may be provided for a fee. BWR's rating criteria are also generally made available without charge on BWR's website.
This disclaimer forms an integral part of the Ratings Rationales / Rating Reports or other press releases, advisories, communications issued by BWR and circulation of the ratings without this disclaimer is prohibited.
BWR is bound by the Code of Conduct for Credit Rating Agencies issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India and is governed by the applicable regulations issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India as amended from time to time.


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By registering to be listed as a tutor on Wyzant ("the website," "website," "Wyzant.com"), you ("tutor") agree that the following terms and conditions will govern all payments made to you by students through the Wyzant system.
Conditions for guaranteeing receipt of payment for student lessons
Wyzant is a marketplace for those seeking tutoring services to connect with those seeking to provide tutoring services. Wyzant also provides a service to its users whereby payments will be distributed to tutors that originate from their students. Wyzant offers tutors a layer of protection in the collection of their funds but, if any of the following conditions are not met and Wyzant becomes unable to collect your payment from the parent, student, or other type of account-holder (collectively, "student") to whom you gave a lesson, Wyzant cannot guarantee that your payment will be successfully collected, processed and distributed to you:
a) The information pertaining to the lesson is accurate. This includes the start and end time, duration, subject and student account name. Unless otherwise agreed to by the tutor and student, the start and end time will be considered to be the times of the actual tutoring lesson, not arrival and departure times to and from the tutoring location.
b) Prior to each lesson being given, the student has on file with Wyzant a valid form of payment. This includes a valid credit/debit card or PayPal account, or a positive balance of prepaid tutoring credit. The tutor can view the status of the student's payment information through the tutor's Wyzant account. The requirement to verify payment information must be followed for continuing students as well as new students.
c) The lesson is delivered in-person at a mutually agreed upon location or through the Wyzant online tool. If the lesson is delivered remotely through another medium, such as via the internet, email, telephone or Skype, or in the instance when the tutor does proofreading or other asynchronous, non-tutoring work with the student, the tutor must obtain written confirmation from the student that acknowledges the nature of the work to be done and the expectations of the time and cost required to complete the work
d) The tutor's services are instructive and constitute learning, not cheating. More specifically, the tutor is not to complete assignments, write papers, take quizzes or otherwise do work on the student's behalf. Further, the services that the tutor offers must not violate the academic honesty policy or other conduct policies of the student's school, university, academic institution or workplace
e) The tutor enters the lesson into the Wyzant system or assesses a cancellation fee within fourteen (14) days of the lesson occurring. Lessons and/or cancellation fees cannot be submitted more than fourteen (14) days after the date of the lesson
f) Prior to a lesson being given, the tutor has received a Wyzant subject approval for the specific subject area of the lesson
g) The tutor does not collect or request payment directly from the student by cash, check or otherwise, for the lesson
h) For cancellation fees assessed to a student, the cancellation penalty is consistent with the cancellation policy explained directly to the student via messaging prior to the occurrence of the cancellation and also, where applicable, is consistent with the public display on the tutor's profile. All lesson cancellations are subject to the standard 9% service fee.
i) The tutor is over 18 years old and is eligible to work in the United States.
Timing and delivery of payments
If all the Conditions for guaranteeing receipt of payment for student lessons are met, tutors can expect to receive their funds according to the following schedule. If there are questions about any of the conditions, payments may be delayed while Wyzant attempts to resolve the questions.
a) Tutors using the Wyzant platform will receive their student payment by Direct Deposit. After a tutor enters accurate bank account and routing numbers, funds will be released to the tutor's bank on the 1st and 15th of each month or the following business day in case of weekends and bank holidays. In order for a lesson payment to be included during a particular period in which funds are disbursed, that lesson must be entered 5 days prior to the payment date. The time between when the funds are released by Wyzant and made available to the tutor by the tutor's bank will vary and is controlled by the tutor's bank, not by Wyzant. If a tutor's direct deposit is returned to Wyzant by the tutor's bank, Wyzant will request that the tutor correct the tutor's bank information. The returned funds will be resent within five (5) days after the bank information is corrected.
b) For a tutor who is eligible and elects to sign up for Express Direct Deposit, the funds will be released to the tutor's bank account five (5) days after the lesson submission. If the fifth day is a Saturday, Sunday, or Bank Holiday, the student payment will be released the next business day.
Social Security number requirement
a) Prior to payments made in an amount of greater than $50, cumulatively, tutors must submit to Wyzant a valid Social Security Number ("SSN"). Such payments will be withheld by Wyzant until the SSN is received, and the payments will be released with the next scheduled payment. (Although the burden to report 1099 income and meet other state-level reporting requirement is technically on the student who is hiring and retaining you, Wyzant offers students this filing service as a benefit of using the Wyzant system. To complete these filings, Wyzant needs to have a valid SSN.
b) Tutors may use an Employer Identification Number ("EIN") issued by the Internal Revenue Service in place of a SSN for payment reporting purposes only. To use an EIN, a tutor must complete, sign and submit to Wyzant an IRS Form W-9.
Calculation of tutor payment amounts
a) Tutors set their own hourly rate and may change it at any time. Changing the default hourly rate will affect students who email a tutor after the time the change is made. Students who have been in contact with a tutor within three months prior to the time the rate change is made will be continue to be subject to the hourly rate that was listed on the tutor's profile at the time they first contacted the tutor; in order to change the rate for one of these students, the student must acknowledge the rate change via a rate change request email.
b) All tutors agree to a flat 25% Platform Fee. The 25% fee percentage will apply to lessons with all students for lessons that are submitted on or after January 15, 2019 at 10:00 am Central Time. This means 75% of your submitted hourly rate will be distributed to you.
c) Non-tutoring charges should be incorporated into the hourly rate. Travel, prep time or other expenses that you wish to defray to the customer must first be agreed to by the student. The mechanism to assess these charges is to adjust your hourly rate. All costs associated with tutoring students who retain you through the Wyzant platform, must go through the site.

subset: commoncrawl


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Plane search puts Malaysian minister on defensive
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Hishammuddin Hussein's wife is a princess. His cousin is prime minister, and he's been mentioned as a possible successor. But right now, as the face of his country's effort to find MalaysiaAirlines Flight 370, he is the man who has delivered more than two weeks of frustrating news about one of the most confounding searches in aviation history.
The bespectacled 52-year-old defense minister has come under fire for just about everything that's gone wrong with the unprecedented hunt — from delayed radar tracking data to confusion over when police searched the homes of the missing plane's pilots. His handling of the search could affect not only his own future but that of Malaysia's ruling party, which has been struggling to stay in power after six decades in charge.
"He is going to be hindered by the perception (of Malaysia's) handling of the crisis," said Bridget Welsh, a political scientist at Singapore Management University. "Those who see it negatively will associate it with Hishammuddin."
The tech-savvy minister, who tweets regularly and has a Twitter following in excess of 600,000, tried to overcome some of that criticism Saturday when he read out a handwritten note passed to him at the end of a press briefing that bore the latest clue: A Chinese satellite had spotted debris that might belong to the jetliner.
"I've been accused of not informing the world about the information," he said. "This is coming to me as quick as you are seeing it on TV right now."
For Hishammuddin, who also serves as acting transport minister, much is at stake. As one of Malaysia's most senior politicians and a member of its elite, he has been touted as a possible future candidate for prime minister — a position previously held by both his father, Hussein Onn, and his uncle Abdul Razak.
Hishammuddin's family connections go even farther than that. His grandfather, Onn bin Ja'afar, founded the ethnic Malay party that has dominated politics here ever since Malaysia gained independence from Britain in 1957.
His wife, Tengku Marsilla Tengku Abdullah, is a princess from the state of Pahang, north of the main city, Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia has a constitutional monarchy, and the king's role is largely ceremonial; the title is not handed down along family lines but shared among sultans from nine states who each take a turn as monarch for five years.
As a boy, Hishammuddin attended an all-male boarding school that was founded to educate the children of nobility. He studied abroad and obtained a bachelor's degree from the University of Wales in 1984 and a master's from the London School of Economics in 1988 before returning home to practice law.
In 1995, he transitioned to politics, winning a Parliament seat. He ascended through government ranks to hold multiple Cabinet positions, including the portfolios of sports, education and the powerful home ministry.
Since the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines flight went missing shortly after take-off March 8 with 239 people aboard, Hishammuddin has braved television cameras almost every day. He has been subjected to criticism and probing questions that Malaysia's ethnic Malay Muslim rulers are unused to, and his responses at times have been seen as condescending and defensive.
Asked about accusations the plane search had been disorderly, Hishammuddin once retorted: "It's only confusion if you want it to be seen to be confusion." Another day, he called on a reporter to apologize for asking a similar question, saying: "I have got a lot of feedback saying we have been very responsible in our action. It's very irresponsible of you to say that."
Welsh said contradictory statements and a sluggish response degraded confidence in the government and hurt its credibility. "They are responding to it rather than leading," Welsh said.
James Chin, a political science professor at Australia's Monash University, said Malaysia has been ridiculed over its handling of the crisis and Hishammuddin's career has taken "a step backward."
Few countries in the world, however, have had to lead such a difficult search, and Malaysia has had little experience handling a crisis of such proportions.
Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi acknowledged some initial missteps but blamed those on the government's "eagerness to deliver information." Hishammuddin, he said, should be commended. "He has given his best effort."
Hishammuddin has sparked controversy before.
During a 2005 speech at the annual assembly of the United Malays National Organization, the linchpin of the ruling coalition, he waved a traditional Malay sword known as a keris that is seen as a symbol of Malay nationalism. Minority Indians and Chinese said the move fueled racial polarization.
In 2009, Hishammuddin came under fire for siding with Muslims who had stomped on and spat at the severed head of a cow to protest the relocation of a Hindu temple to a Muslim neighborhood. Cows are sacred animals for Hindus.
Last year, when Hishammuddin was home minister, he drew criticism after armed Filipino insurgents invaded a coastal village on Borneo island, sparking one of Malaysia's worst security scares. The government — just as with the plane crisis — was accused of reacting slowly and not being transparent.
Malaysia's ruling coalition has been shaken in recent years by rising public resentment over perceptions of government graft and racial insensitivity. Last year, an opposition alliance won the popular vote for the first time, though it fell short of obtaining enough Parliament seats to oust the ruling party.
Hishammuddin has insisted the current search is "above politics."
But Welsh, the analyst, said Malaysia's handling of the disappearance was making both Prime Minister Najib Razak and Hishammuddin more vulnerable. Hishammuddin, she said, is taking "the bullets for Najib."


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We take your privacy seriously.
This privacy policy discloses the privacy practices for www.movingtopdx.com (Cascade Hasson Sotheby's International Realty). This privacy policy applies solely to information collected by this web site. It will notify you of the following:
In order to use this website, a user must first complete the registration form. During registration a user is required to give certain information (such as name and email address). This information is used to contact you about your home search, and any products or services on our site in which you have expressed interest. At your option, you may also provide other information about yourself (such as alternate contact information), but it is not required.
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On extended trips with the family, daily commutes to and from work or in traffic jams in big cities. Your car is a favourite place for listening to music, and at the same time, one of the most difficult for getting good sound. The question is how to make the passenger compartment feel like a real concert hall? Below is a list of the key aspects of this feat of engineering:
- From the initial development stages: Unlike a few decades ago, the Car Audio and Infotainment team at SEAT gets involved as soon as development on a new model begins. "Our goal is to arrange all the elements that make up the sound system in the vehicle so that it delivers the best possible sound", explains José Luis Álvarez, an engineer in the Infotainment department.
The position of the speakers or the design of the grilles have an influence on sound quality.
- Up to 10 strategically located speakers: Their location and orientation is one of the most important aspects for sound engineers to consider. Depending on the model, there could be between six and ten speakers that deliver bass, mid-range and treble tones. Their definitive position must take into account design as well as safety aspects. But "the design of the grilles, and of course, the layout of the passenger compartment", also affect sound quality, adds Adrián Mateo, a Car Audio Acoustics engineer at SEAT.
- The quietest room: The anechoic chamber is a soundproof room designed to absorb any sound wave, and is where the sound quality of speakers is tested. Further testing is performed in the electronics lab to validate the radio and amplifiers. These are just two of multiple tests performed on the entire sound system so that no other element, such as dust, humidity or vibrations, affects the sound quality.
SEAT's Car Audio team employs concert hall techniques to create the best in-car sound.
- The 'stage effect': "We want all the occupants of the car to feel as if they were attending a concert, for example", points out José Luis. Although not all speakers are located in the front of the car, it's his job to create that effect. His work consists in using techniques and tools found in concert halls or recording studios. One of these is equalisation, which precisely optimises bass, mid and treble tones. These tests are carried out with different audio sources: radio channel, mp3 or mobile phone, for example. They also use different musical genres, ranging from hip-hop and jazz to instrumental and vocal compositions, to ensure the best possible sound quality all the time.
- Final adjustments, on the road: This same kind of testing is performed while the vehicle is moving on the road so that the engine, among other factors, does not interfere in the sound quality. To ensure this, engineers make their final adjustments while sitting at the wheel, and once again equalise the sound coming from the speakers. "Our ultimate goal is to obtain the most natural sound possible", concludes Adrián Mateo.


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Get ready to roll with Liki, the world's most compact folding trike. The sleek urban design of the Liki Trike allows you to be safe and have fun, as it elegantly combines functionality and aesthetics. With its unique and patented small-fold, the ingenious trike simply folds and unfolds at the click of a button. Liki allows you to travel comfortably with your child as it fits easily in the boot of your car or the airplane's overhead bin. FEATURES: • The smallest folding trike in the market • Folds and unfolds in seconds • Comes fully assembled - Ready to go straight out of the box • Features sleek, urban design, offering maximum functionality and comfort • Easy to navigate by parent and child with dual steering system • Easy to carry and store • Ideal for travel - easily fits in the boot of your car or the airplane's overhead bin • Made from exceptional materials to assure long lasting quality • Features high durability soft-ride wheels • UV sun protection canopy |
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text:
'The Simpsons' Will No Longer Have White Actors Voice Non-White Characters
After years of controversy, The Simpsons voice actor Hank Azaria recently confirmed that he would no longer provide the voice of Apu, the Indian-born proprietor of Springfield's Kwik-E-Mart. Apu is hardly the only non-white character on The Simpsons voiced by a white actor, though — or at least he wasn't until today. In a statement, Fox announced that "moving forward, The Simpsons will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters."
The move could have an impact on the show's supporting cast. Azaria also voiced Bumblebee Man, the pratfall-prone star of a Spanish-language sitcom (who always wears a bumblebee costume), and Carl, one of Homer's drinking buddies at Moe's Tavern and co-workers at the power plant. Harry Shearer voiced Dr. Hibbert, the town's genial doctor. The entire main Simpsons cast is white, which would mean the show would have to bring in new actors to voice these characters (or other non-white characters) in the future.
The Simpsons' announcement comes as numerous streaming services have pulled down episodes of popular shows like 30 Rock that contain examples of blackface, and after other white voice actors announced they would stop voicing their non-white characters, including Jenny Slate from Netflix's Big Mouth. That's a relatively new show, of course; The Simpsons has been on the air since 1989. The show is expected to return for its 32nd season in the fall.
Gallery — 31 Years of Simpsons Chalkboard Gags Ranked From Worst to Best:


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In all the aeons we have lost nothing, we have gained nothing - not a speck, not a grain, not a breath. The universe is simply a sealed, twisting kaleidoscope that has reordered itself a trillion trillion trillion times over.
Each baby, then, is a unique collision - a cocktail, a remix - of all that has come before: made from molecules of Napoleon and stardust and comets and whale tooth; colloidal mercury and Cleopatra's breath: and with the same darkness that is between the stars between, and inside, our own atoms.
When you know this, you suddenly see the crowded top deck of the bus, in the rain, as a miracle: this collection of people is by way of a starburst constellation. Families are bright, irregular-shaped nebulae. Finding a person you love is like galaxies colliding. We are all peculiar, unrepeatable, perambulating micro-universes - we have never been before and we will never be again. Oh God, the sheer exuberant, unlikely fact of our existences. The honour of being alive. They will never be able to make you again. Don't you dare waste a second of it thinking something better will happen when it ends. Don't you dare.


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Toyota Motor Corporation announces that it has developed a next-generation advanced driving support system, Automated Highway Driving Assist (AHDA), which uses automated driving technologies to support safer highway driving.
AHDA links two automated driving technologies to support safer driving and reduce driver workload: Cooperative-adaptive Cruise Control, which wirelessly communicates with preceding vehicles to maintain a safe distance; and Lane Trace Control, which aids steering to keep the vehicle on an optimal driving line within the lane.
Toyota recognizes the importance of the driver being in ultimate control of a vehicle and is therefore aiming to introduce AHDA and other advanced driving support systems wherethe driver maintains control and the fun-to-drive aspect of controlling a vehicle is not compromised. Toyota plans to market the newly developed AHDA in the mid-2010s and other driving support systems as soon as possible to provide safe and secure means of transportation.
Ahead of trials on the Shuto Expressway near the Tokyo metropolitan area starting October 15, Toyota will exhibit AHDA at the 20th Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress Tokyo 2013, an international conference for intelligent transport systems (ITS), to be held from October 14 to 18.
In addition, to enable prompt market introduction of next-generation driving support systems, Toyota will make use of the cutting-edge component technologies and know-how acquired through automated driving research conducted with the advanced active safety research vehicle unveiled at the 2013 International CES in Nevada, United States in January this year.
Automated Highway Driving Assist (AHDA)
Cooperative-adaptive Cruise Control
In contrast to standard radar cruise control (which uses millimeter-wave radar to detect other vehicles), Cooperative-adaptive Cruise Control uses 700-MHz band vehicle-to-vehicle ITS communications to transmit acceleration and deceleration data of preceding vehicles so that following vehicles can adjust their speeds accordingly to better maintain inter-vehicle distance. By reducing unnecessary acceleration and deceleration, the system improves fuel efficiency and helps reduce traffic congestion.
Lane Trace Control
Lane Trace Control, which features completely new Toyota automated driving technologies, employs high-performance cameras, millimeter-wave radar and control software to enable an optimal and smooth driving line at all speeds. The system adjusts the vehicle's steering angle, driving torque and braking force when necessary to maintain the optimal line within the lane.
Automated Driving Technologies Research
At the 2013 International CES, Toyota displayed the advanced active safety research vehicle, a test vehicle for automated driving technologies that Toyota is researching under its Integrated Safety Management Concept*. The test vehicle, based on the Lexus "LS", is being used in research at the Toyota Research Institute of North America in Saline, Michigan, and is capable of autonomous driving. It is fitted with forward-looking cameras to detect traffic signals, as well as front-mounted sensors to detect vehicles, pedestrians, and obstacles to determine traffic conditions, such as intersections and merging traffic lanes, in the vehicle's vicinity. Such research on various elemental technologies is aimed to help drivers choose the safest routes possible.
Toyota has been researching automated driving technologies since the second half of the 1990s, and has been conducting public road tests in the U.S. for a number of years. Within Japan, Toyota has been testing its next-generation Intelligent Driver-support System on public roads for approximately two years.
Based on the insights gained from automated driving research, Toyota aims to provide advanced driving support systems optimized to help enable safer driving and contribute to realizing the ultimate goal of any society that values mobility: the elimination of traffic fatalities and injuries.
In anticipation of the super-aging populations of the future, these advances will also be used to develop technologies that support senior drivers with recognition, decision-making and vehicle operation, with the aim of achieving a mobility society where they can lead fuller lives. Furthermore, Toyota is working to provide more stable driving environments that contribute to the alleviation of traffic congestion, thereby reducing economic loss and CO2 emissions.
*The concept does not refer to the individual safety systems on the car, but the integration of those systems to offer the optimum driving support at "all driving stages" from parking, to normal operation and the moments before and after a collision, and even avoidance at the moment of an accident.


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Many of you are wrapping up your school year.. and many of you still have a few days or weeks left! But, I have wrapped up my first week of SUMMER VACATION! I have enjoyed every single minute of it.. and looking forward to the rest of my break!
Join the "Five for Friday" linky party by blogging your five random things from this week or today and add your blog link at the bottom of this post.
Here are my "five"…
A group of teachers across the country have joined up and are hosting a HUGE fundraiser for the Oklahoma tornado victims. 100% of the profit will go to the Oklahoma Red Cross. The fundraiser will probably be shut down sometimes today {Friday} so hurry if you would like to donate.
With a $25 donation you get over $250 worth of teacher downloads. Click the picture above to read more and donate. Last night, we were only a few dollars away from $15,000!! WOW!
Big thanks to Ashley for hosting and organizing this fundraiser!
The biggest blessing of having a summer break is having the opportunity to work on my Doodle Bugs Paper orders during normal hours and not before or after school or over the weekend. I have been working on orders every day and also have some new products & designs I want to add to the site.
I usually go work in my classroom on Wednesday mornings during the summer. My cleaning lady comes on Wednesday mornings and I try to get out of her way {before she puts me to work!!!}.
I did pop into my classroom this week and worked about an hour. I filled up one trash can with junk. Mostly kid stuff that I knew had to be thrown away but did not want to take the chance of doing while their little eyes were watching. You know… those piles, piles of love notes and pictures! And some work that I refused to grade the last week of school! I also went through some teacher resource books and got them back semi-organized.
I have a website- www.ilovedoodlebugs.com that has links to all my social media spots and stores. It needed a makeover and I am trying to get it looking better. I cannot for the life of me get the color codes to match and a few things are off-centered.. so it is still a work in progress. But, I have been working on it this week.
Last year I made a superhero theme set and it only had little boy superheros. I had several request to add girl superheros so I revised the set and it is really cute! I just might use these for the beginning of school myself!
What "theme" do you have in mind for next year? Or, are you even thinking about that… yet!?!?


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This page has moved. You are being redirected its the new location.
Asphalt Art Activation Open Call
Interested in painting murals on asphalt? DOT is seeking proposals from artists and graphic designers to create a mural to celebrate the launch of bike share. Most bike share stations are being installed on underutilized asphalt street spaces near traffic triangles, or on wide sidewalks. The bike share stations and adjacent street provide opportunities for artists to beautify underused asphalt spaces. Each selected artist will be awarded an honorarium of $2,000, and DOT will cover all materials costs. The deadline for applying is Friday, May 10, 2013. Download the application (pdf)


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Participating Organization(s) |
National Institutes of Health (NIH) |
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) |
Funding Opportunity Title |
Women & Sex/Gender Differences in Drug and Alcohol Abuse/Dependence (R01) |
Activity Code |
R01 Research Project Grant |
Announcement Type |
Reissue of PA-11-047 |
Related Notices |
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number |
Companion Funding Opportunity |
PA-14-037, R03 Small Grant Program; |
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s) |
93.279, 93.273 |
Funding Opportunity Purpose |
The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to advance research on male-females differences in drug and alcohol abuse and addiction and on factors specific to women. Both human and animal model studies are sought. |
Posted Date |
December 12, 2013 |
Open Date (Earliest Submission Date) |
January 5, 2014 |
Letter of Intent Due Date(s) |
Not Applicable |
Application Due Date(s) |
Standard dates apply, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date. |
AIDS Application Due Date(s) |
Standard AIDS dates apply, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date. |
Scientific Merit Review |
Standard dates apply |
Advisory Council Review |
Standard dates apply |
Earliest Start Date |
Standard dates apply |
Expiration Date |
New Date January 8, 2018 per issuance of NOT-DA-17-014. (Original Expiration Date: May 8, 2017) |
Due Dates for E.O. 12372 |
Not Applicable |
Required Application Instructions
It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, except where instructed to do otherwise (in this FOA or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts). Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the FOA) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions. Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.
Part 1. Overview Information
Part 2. Full Text of the Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
Section II. Award Information
Section III. Eligibility Information
Section IV. Application and Submission
Section V. Application Review Information
Section VI. Award Administration Information
Section VII. Agency Contacts
Section VIII. Other Information
On September 27, 2010, the NIH Office of Research on Women s Health released the strategic plan, Moving into the Future with New Dimensions and Strategies: A Vision for 2020 for Women's Health Research (http://orwh.od.nih.gov ). The plan sets forth a women's health research agenda for NIH for the next decade and includes six goals. The present funding opportunity announcement embraces those goals as applied to drug and alcohol abuse and contains special emphasis on the first goal which is to increase sex differences research in basic science studies. That goal, along with its nine objectives, is consistent with recommendations in the 2001 Institute of Medicine report, Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health: Does Sex Matter? (http://lab.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309072816&page=1). It is also consistent with recommendations in the September 23, 2010 IOM report, Women's Health Research: Progress, Pitfalls, and Promise (http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2010/Womens-Health-Research-Progress-Pitfalls-and-Promise.aspx). Further, it is consistent with the need to increase sex differences research in the neurosciences as identified in the March 5, 2010 IOM meeting, Sex Differences: Implications for Translational Neuroscience Research (http://www.iom.edu/Activities/Research/NeuroForum/2010-MAR-08/Agenda%20Sex%20Difference%20Translational%20Neuroscience%20Research.aspx) and its ensuing publication, http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2010/Sex-Differences-and-Implications-for-Translational-Neuroscience-Research.aspx. More recently, the need for sex-specific reporting of research findings was emphasized in the 2012 IOM report, Sex-Specific Reporting of Scientific Research - Workshop Summary (http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2012/Sex-Specific-Reporting-of-Scientific-Research.aspx ).
Historically, in drug and alcohol abuse research, as in other fields of public health research, participants were largely male. Research findings that have emerged for over the past two decades, however, have clearly established the importance of studying factors specific to women and differences between males and females in all areas of drug and alcohol abuse research. From basic studies of molecular genetics and neurotransmitter systems to studies of epidemiology, etiology, consequences and prevention/treatment interventions and services, the scientific and clinical importance of analyzing data separately for males and females is becoming more and more evident. Not only are growing numbers of studies reporting outcomes that are specifi c to either males or females, outcomes that are opposite in males and females also are often found. These findings reveal that failure to analyze data separately for males and females can lead to incorrect conclusions regarding males or females or both.
Accumulating epidemiological and clinical research indicates that the predictors of drug and alcohol use, abuse, and dependence often differ in males and females. Among them are psychiatric co-morbidities, physical and sexual abuse, trauma, prenatal drug exposure and family dysfunction. Some predictors are gender-sensitive; that is, they are stronger for either males or females. Others are gender-specific; that is, they apply only to males or to females. And others are opposite in males and females. The implications of these types of gender-based differences in risk factors remain largely unexplored; however, they raise the possibility that interventions that target gender-based risk factors and are guided by male-female differences in social, cognitive and emotional development could improve outcomes for both males and females.
Animal and human laboratory research has shown that males and females often differ in their behavioral and biological responses to drugs. Animal studies, for example, have found male-female differences in the motor-activating effects of stimulants, speed of acquisition of drug self-administration, the amount of drug self-administered, the percentage of subjects that acquire self-administration, escalation of drug self-administration, motivation for self-administration, and the tendency to relapse following drug cessation. Further, factors that affect those outcomes often do so differently in males and females. Human and animal pharmacokinetic studies often report male and female differences, as do studies of adverse effects of abused drugs. Both human and animal studies have established that the menstrual/estrous cycle is a determinant of drug action, both pharmacokinetic and behavioral. Growing numbers of brain-imagining studies are reporting male-female differences. Despite the important progress made in laboratory sex/gender-based research, it is in an early stage and most researchers fail to analyze their data by sex/gender.
Numerous male-female differences in cigarette smoking and nicotine dependence have been reported, including differences in use patterns and dependence susceptibility, cessation rates and relapse rates, effectiveness of nicotine replacement therapies and other pharmacotherapies, the role of non-nicotine factors, nicotine metabolism, and pharmacogenetics. Indeed, research on male-female differences in nicotine dependence has exceeded that of other drugs of abuse and thus may serve to guide research on other abused drugs. Nevertheless, many gaps remain in our understanding of male-female differences in the nature of nicotine addiction and its prevention and treatment, including factors specific to females such as the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, menopause status, weight control concerns and other barriers to cessation.
Male-female differences have been identified in various aspects of drug abuse treatment and services research including barriers to treatment, treatment entry characteristics, treatment and services needs, and predictors of treatment engagement, retention, and outcomes. Research often finds that treatments are not equally efficacious in males and females. These male-female differences in treatment research, along with research showing male-female differences in the determinants and predictors of drug abuse, raise the possibility that even when treatments are shown to be equally effective for males and females, outcomes could be improved by the addition of gender-based approaches that are informed by this growing body of research.
According to 2010 HIV/AIDS surveillance data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
among persons living in the U.S with a diagnosis of HIV infection at the end of 2010, injection drug use (IDU) was associated with a greater percentage of cases among women than among men (http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/surveillance/resources/reports/2010report/pdf/2010_HIV_Surveillance_Report_vol_22.pdf). The HIV/AIDS disease process has been found to differ between males and females; for example, an HIV-infected woman with half the amount of virus circulating in the bloodstream as an infected man will progress to a diagnosis of AIDS in about the same time as the man despite comparable immune parameters (e.g., CD4 counts). Additionally, there is evidence that neurocognitive measures may differ between HIV+ drug using males and females and that they may be differentially impacted by HIV risk reduction interventions. Although drug abuse plays a greater role in HIV among women than men, major gaps remain in knowledge regarding male-female differences in the role of drug abuse in HIV/AIDS, including the unique needs of women and how to address them in prevention and treatment efforts.
The extant literature on male-female differences in drug abuse strongly suggests that males and females are likely to differ in many aspects of drug abuse yet to be explored and that in the long run, identifying and understanding such differences can improve our understanding of the nature and etiology of drug abuse and have implications for tailoring prevention and treatment interventions to maximize outcomes for both males and females. Although progress has been made in our knowledge of male-female differences in drug abuse and issues unique to women, many gaps remain. Often studies fail to include sex/gender analyses, and only a very small proportion of animal studies includes female subjects thus providing no opportunity to analyze data for sex differences and therefore running the risk that knowledge gained from animal models of drug abuse is limited to males. Thus, in all areas of drug abuse, research is needed that examines male-female differences and factors specific to females.
Terminology: In scientific literature on differences between males and females, the terms sex and gender are sometimes used interchangeably. However, they have very different meaning as described in the 2001 IOM report, Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health: Does Sex Matter? (http://lab.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309072816&page=1, page 1), wherein sex is defined as the classification of living things, generally as male or female according to their reproductive organs and functions assigned by their chromosomal complement, and gender as a person s self-representation as male or female, or how that person is responded to by social institutions on the basis of the individuals gender presentation. Gender is shaped by environment and experience. Thus, sex is a biological construct whereas gender is a psychosocial construct. This distinction notwithstanding, epigenetic research reveals that biological factors often unfold in ways that are influenced by the environment, and thus can obviate this distinction between sex and gender. Because it is often not known a priori whether a male-female difference is sex-based or gender-based or both, in this funding opportunity announcement sex/gender difference will sometimes be used generically to refer to male-female differences especially when the biological and social origins of the differences are unknown or likely involve both. Of course, the search for those origins is a major focus of this announcement. In non-human animal research, however, the term sex difference is the preferred term. Additionally, researchers are urged to recognize that a sex/gender difference is often a proxy for an unidentified independent variable(s) and therefore can serve as a research tool. Thus, finding a sex/gender difference typically should be regarded as a first step in a search for such variables as their identification will shed light on the phenomenon under study.
Areas of research interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
I. ETIOLOGY AND MECHANISMS OF DRUG ABUSE: In both animal and human research, study sex/gender differences in the basic behavioral and biological mechanisms underlying drug abuse and dependence across the lifespan; and conduct laboratory, epidemiological, and clinical studies of male-female differences in the determinants of initiation, progression, and maintenance of drug use and dependence. Examples include:
II. CONSEQUENCES AND IMPACT: Laboratory (both human and animal), field, and clinical research aimed at (a) identifying sex/gender differences across the lifespan in the consequences of drug use, abuse, and addiction following acute use, chronic use, as well as residual effects following prolonged abstinence, or (b) examining drug-related consequences that are unique to females. Examples include:
III. PREVENTION AND PREVENTION SERVICES: Design, develop and test the efficacy/effectiveness of sex/gender-based prevention strategies that are informed by sex/gender-based theories (e.g., psychosocial, biological, developmental) and empirical findings on the risk and protective factors related to drug abuse initiation, progression, transition, and maintenance. Examples include:
IV. TREATMENT AND TREATMENT SERVICES: Develop and test the efficacy/effectiveness of sex/gender-based treatment approaches (both behavioral and pharmacologic) that are informed by relevant sex/gender-based theories (e.g., biological, psychosocial, developmental) as well as empirical findings on gender differences in drug abuse including, e.g., sex/gender differences in risk factors, psychopathology and factors affecting treatment entry, completion, and outcomes. Examine gender-based issues related to the effective and efficient delivery of drug abuse treatment and treatment services. Examples include:
V. HIV/AIDS and RELATED INFECTIOUS DISEASES: Develop and evaluate sex/gender-based interventions directed at preventing and treating HIV/AIDS and related infectious diseases among drug using populations and those at risk for drug use at every age level.
Cross-Cutting Issues
In addition to the above areas of research on sex/gender differences and issues unique to women, several research considerations and topic areas apply to many areas of research. They include, but are not limited to, the following:
Drug Abuse in Pregnancy and the Post-Partum and Mental Health Comorbidity
See PA-09-174 "Women's Mental Health in Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period (R01)" for additional description of NIDA's interest in basic and clinical research and prevention and treatment interventions on this topic.
Secondary Data Analyses
Under this announcement, investigators may request funds to perform secondary data analyses of either their own data sets or other data sets that are publicly available. For example, NIDA's Clinical Trials Network Data Share website (http://www.ctndatashare.org) currently includes HIPAA-de-identified raw data from 23 studies completed by NIDA's Clinical Trials Network, 20 of which are randomized multi-site clinical trials. No approval is needed to download the data.
Revision (formerly competing supplement) Applications
NIDA welcomes applications that request a revision (formerly competitive supplement) to their active NIDA grant in order to pursue research on women and sex/gender differences that is relevant to the parent grant, but which reflects a significant expansion of the scope or research protocol of the parent grant. The duration of the supplement may not exceed the end date of the active parent grant. For other requirements and instructions, see https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/424/index.htm .
Alcohol-related problems including alcohol use disorders (abuse and dependence) represent a significant public health problem that is associated with considerable harm to the individual and society. Epidemiological surveys indicate that, among women, alcohol dependence has not declined, while alcohol abuse has increased. Despite the fact that alcohol use is more prevalent among men than women, the genetic and biological mechanisms for these differences in drinking patterns are not fully known. For example, women become intoxicated faster than men, achieve higher concentrations of alcohol in the blood after drinking equivalent amounts of alcohol, and appear to eliminate alcohol from the blood faster than men. These findings may be due to various physiological processes and fluctuations in gonadal hormonal levels that affect the rate of alcohol metabolism making women more susceptible to alcohols effects. Consequently, women's health may be more adversely affected than men's with the experience of adverse effects that include but are not limited to intentional or unintentional injuries (e.g., suicide, traffic-related injuries, falls), acute or chronic health effects (e.g., fetal alcohol syndrome, increased risk for certain cancers, liver disease, brain damage, alcohol-induced organ damage), social and/or interpersonal problems (e.g., sexual assault, physical abuse, violence), and mental health problems (e.g., mood and anxiety disorders).
Research findings suggest that there are certain high risk groups (e.g., racial/ethnic) and vulnerable populations (e.g., underage and younger drinkers) for which more research is needed that examines etiological issues, complexities of drinking pattern trajectories, genetic risks, neurobehavioral processes, environmental influences, other drug and/or psychiatric comorbidity, strategies for early identification, and the development of effective prevention interventions.
NIAAA is interested in the research areas in this FOA exemplified in I. Etiology and Mechanisms, II. Consequences and Impact, III. Prevention and Prevention Services, and V. HIV/AIDS and Related Infectious Diseases as they relate specifically to alcohol consumption. The research areas of particular interest to NIAAA include, but are not limited to, the following:
II. Neuroscience:
III. Pubertal and Hormonal Processes:
NIAAA has a special interest in sex/gender differences in drinking patterns that become apparent during puberty, and the mechanisms underlying these differences. Specifically, we are interested in research that will increase our understanding of 1) the degree to which hormonal changes at puberty interact with neurodevelopmental processes to promote sex effects in alcohol use and misuse, and 2) the effects of adolescent alcohol exposure on these interactive processes. Research areas of include the following:
Secondary Data Analyses
Under this announcement, investigators may request funds to perform secondary data analyses of either their own data sets or other data sets that are publicly available.
Revision (formerly competing supplement) Applications
NIAAA welcomes applications that request a revision (formerly competitive supplement) to their active NIAAA grant in order to pursue research on women and sex/gender differences that is relevant to the parent grant, but which reflects a significant expansion of the scope or research protocol of the parent grant. The duration of the supplement may not exceed the end date of the active parent grant. For other requirements and instructions, see https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/424/index.htm .
HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing Policy for the National Institute on Drug Abuse: In light of recent significant advances in rapid testing for HIV and in effective treatments for HIV, NIDA has revised its 2001 policy on HIV counseling and testing. NIDA-funded researchers are strongly encouraged to provide and/or refer research subjects to HIV risk reduction education and education about the benefits of HIV treatment, counseling and testing, referral to treatment, and other appropriate interventions to prevent acquisition and transmission of HIV. This policy applies to all NIDA funded research conducted domestically or internationally. For more information see https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-DA-07-013.html.
National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse Recommended Guidelines for the Administration of Drugs to Human Subjects: The National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse (NACDA) recognizes the importance of research involving the administration of drugs with abuse potential, and dependence or addiction liability, to human subjects. Potential applicants are encouraged to obtain and review these recommendations of Council before submitting an application that will administer compounds to human subjects. The guidelines are available on NIDA's Web site at http://www.drugabuse.gov/funding/clinical-research/nacda-guidelines-administration-drugs-to-human-subjects
Points to Consider Regarding Tobacco Industry Funding of NIDA Applicants: The National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse (NACDA) encourages NIDA and its grantees to consider the points it has set forth with regard to existing or prospective sponsored research agreements with tobacco companies or their related entities and the impact of acceptance of tobacco industry funding on NIDA's credibility and reputation within the scientific community. Please see http://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/advisory-boards-groups/national-advisory-council-drug-abuse-nacda/council-statements/points-to-consider-regarding- for details.
Data Harmonization for Substance Abuse and Addiction via the PhenX Toolkit: NIDA strongly encourages investigators involved in human-subjects studies to employ a common set of tools and resources that will promote the collection of comparable data across studies and to do so by incorporating the measures from the Core and Specialty collections, which are available in the Substance Abuse and Addiction Collection of the PhenX Toolkit (www.phenxtoolkit.org). Please see NOT-DA-12-008 (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-DA-12-008.html) for further details.
Funding Instrument |
Grant: A support mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity. |
Application Types Allowed |
New The OER Glossary and the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide provide details on these application types. |
Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards |
The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications. |
Award Budget |
Application budgets are not limited but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project. |
Award Project Period |
The maximum period is 5 years. |
NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made in response to this FOA.
Higher Education Institutions
The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for NIH support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education:
Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education
For-Profit Organizations
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply.
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible
to apply.
Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
Applicant Organizations
Applicant organizations must complete and maintain the following registrations as described in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted. Registration can take 6 weeks or more, so applicants should begin the registration process as soon as possible. The NIH Policy on Late Submission of Grant Applications states that failure to complete registrations in advance of a due date is not a valid reason for a late submission.
Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD(s)/PI(s))
All PD(s)/PI(s) must have an eRA Commons account and should work with their organizational officials to either create a new account or to affiliate an existing account with the applicant organization's eRA Commons account. If the PD/PI is also the organizational Signing Official, they must have two distinct eRA Commons accounts, one for each role. Obtaining an eRA Commons account can take up to 2 weeks.
Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources
necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal
Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with his/her organization to
develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial
and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged
to apply for NIH support.
For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PDs/PIs, visit the Multiple
Program Director/Principal Investigator Policy and submission details in the Senior/Key
Person Profile (Expanded) Component of the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
This FOA does not require cost sharing as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Applicant organizations may submit more than one application, provided that each application is scientifically distinct.
NIH will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed within the past thirty-seven months (as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement), except for submission:
Applicants must download the SF424 (R&R) application package associated with this funding opportunity using the Apply for Grant Electronically button in this FOA or following the directions provided at Grants.gov.
It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, except where instructed in this funding opportunity announcement to do otherwise. Conformance to the requirements in the Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.
For information on Application Submission and Receipt, visit Frequently Asked Questions Application Guide, Electronic Submission of Grant Applications.
All page limitations described in the SF424 Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed.
The forms package associated with this FOA includes all applicable components, required and optional. Please note that some components marked optional in the application package are required for submission of applications for this FOA. Follow all instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide to ensure you complete all appropriate optional components.
The following section supplements the instructions found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and should be used for preparing an application to this FOA.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:
Resource Sharing Plan: Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans (Data Sharing Plan, Sharing Model Organisms, and Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS)) as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Appendix: Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
When conducting clinical research, follow all instructions for completing Planned Enrollment Reports as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
When conducting clinical research, follow all instructions for completing Cumulative Inclusion Enrollment Report as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Foreign (non-U.S.) institutions must follow policies described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, and procedures for foreign institutions described throughout the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Part I. Overview Information contains information about Key Dates. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications before the due date to ensure they have time to make any application corrections that might be necessary for successful submission.
Organizations must submit applications to Grants.gov (the online portal to find and apply for grants across all Federal agencies). Applicants must then complete the submission process by tracking the status of the application in the eRA Commons, NIH's electronic system for grants administration. NIH and Grants.gov systems check the application against many of the application instructions upon submission. Errors must be corrected and a changed/corrected application must be submitted to Grants.gov on or before the application due date. If a Changed/Corrected application is submitted after the deadline, the application will be considered late.
Applicants are responsible for viewing their application before the due date in the eRA Commons to ensure accurate and successful submission.
Information on the submission process and a definition of on-time submission are provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.
All NIH awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Pre-award costs are allowable only as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Applications must be submitted electronically following the instructions described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide. Paper applications will not be accepted.
Applicants must complete all required registrations before the application due date. Section III. Eligibility Information contains information about registration.
For assistance with your electronic application or for more information on the electronic submission process, visit Applying Electronically.
All PD(s)/PI(s) must include their eRA Commons ID in the Credential
field of the Senior/Key Person Profile Component of the SF424(R&R) Application
Package. Failure to register in the Commons and to include a valid PD/PI
Commons ID in the credential field will prevent the successful submission of an
electronic application to NIH. See Section
III of this FOA for information on registration requirements.
The applicant organization must ensure that the DUNS number it provides on the
application is the same number used in the organization's profile in the eRA
Commons and for the System for Award Management. Additional information may be
found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
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Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness by the Center for Scientific Review, NIH. Applications that are incomplete will not be reviewed.
Applicants requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs in any year (excluding consortium F&A) must contact NIH program staff at least 6 weeks before submitting the application and follow the Policy on the Acceptance for Review of Unsolicited Applications that Request $500,000 or More in Direct Costs as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Applicants are required to follow the instructions for post-submission materials, as described in NOT-OD-13-030.
Important Update: See NOT-OD-16-006 and NOT-OD-16-011 for updated review language for applications for due dates on or after January 25, 2016.
Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process. As part of the NIH mission, all applications submitted to the NIH in support of biomedical and behavioral research are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.
Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the project to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research field(s) involved, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the project proposed).
Reviewers will consider each of the review criteria below in the determination of scientific merit, and give a separate score for each. An application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact. For example, a project that by its nature is not innovative may be essential to advance a field.
Does the project address an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in the field? If the aims of the project are achieved, how will scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice be improved? How will successful completion of the aims change the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field?
Are the PD(s)/PI(s), collaborators, and other researchers well suited to the project? If Early Stage Investigators or those in the early stages of independent careers, do they have appropriate experience and training? If established, have they demonstrated an ongoing record of accomplishments that have advanced their field(s)? If the project is collaborative or multi-PD/PI, do the investigators have complementary and integrated expertise; are their leadership approach, governance and organizational structure appropriate for the project?
Does the application challenge and seek to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms by utilizing novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions? Are the concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions novel to one field of research or novel in a broad sense? Is a refinement, improvement, or new application of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions proposed?
Are the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses
well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project?
Are potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success
presented? If the project is in the early stages of development, will the
strategy establish feasibility and will particularly risky aspects be
If the project involves human subjects and/or NIH-defined clinical research,
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risks, and 2) inclusion (or exclusion) of individuals on the basis of
sex/gender, race, and ethnicity, as well as the inclusion or exclusion of
children, justified in terms of the scientific goals and research strategy
Will the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Are the institutional support, equipment and other physical resources available to the investigators adequate for the project proposed? Will the project benefit from unique features of the scientific environment, subject populations, or collaborative arrangements?
As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will evaluate the following additional items while determining scientific and technical merit, and in providing an overall impact score, but will not give separate scores for these items.
Protections for Human Subjects
For research that involves human subjects but does
not involve one of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR
Part 46, the committee will evaluate the justification for involvement of human
subjects and the proposed protections from research risk relating to their
participation according to the following five review criteria: 1) risk to
subjects, 2) adequacy of protection against risks, 3) potential benefits to the
subjects and others, 4) importance of the knowledge to be gained, and 5) data
and safety monitoring for clinical trials.
For research that involves human subjects and meets the criteria for one or
more of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46,
the committee will evaluate: 1) the justification for the exemption, 2) human
subjects involvement and characteristics, and 3) sources of materials. For
additional information on review of the Human Subjects section, please refer to
the Guidelines
for the Review of Human Subjects.
Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children
When the proposed project involves human subjects and/or NIH-defined clinical research, the committee will evaluate the proposed plans for the inclusion (or exclusion) of individuals on the basis of sex/gender, race, and ethnicity, as well as the inclusion (or exclusion) of children to determine if it is justified in terms of the scientific goals and research strategy proposed. For additional information on review of the Inclusion section, please refer to the Guidelines for the Review of Inclusion in Clinical Research.
Vertebrate Animals
The committee will evaluate the involvement of live vertebrate animals as part of the scientific assessment according to the following five points: 1) proposed use of the animals, and species, strains, ages, sex, and numbers to be used; 2) justifications for the use of animals and for the appropriateness of the species and numbers proposed; 3) adequacy of veterinary care; 4) procedures for limiting discomfort, distress, pain and injury to that which is unavoidable in the conduct of scientifically sound research including the use of analgesic, anesthetic, and tranquilizing drugs and/or comfortable restraining devices; and 5) methods of euthanasia and reason for selection if not consistent with the AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia. For additional information on review of the Vertebrate Animals section, please refer to the Worksheet for Review of the Vertebrate Animal Section.
Reviewers will assess whether materials or procedures proposed are potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the environment, and if needed, determine whether adequate protection is proposed.
For Resubmissions, the committee will evaluate the application as now presented, taking into consideration the responses to comments from the previous scientific review group and changes made to the project.
For Renewals, the committee will consider the progress made in the last funding period.
For Revisions, the committee will consider the appropriateness of the proposed expansion of the scope of the project. If the Revision application relates to a specific line of investigation presented in the original application that was not recommended for approval by the committee, then the committee will consider whether the responses to comments from the previous scientific review group are adequate and whether substantial changes are clearly evident.
As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will consider each of the following items, but will not give scores for these items, and should not consider them in providing an overall impact score.
Applications from Foreign Organizations
Reviewers will assess whether the project presents special opportunities for furthering research programs through the use of unusual talent, resources, populations, or environmental conditions that exist in other countries and either are not readily available in the United States or augment existing U.S. resources.
Select Agent Research
Reviewers will assess the information provided in this section of the application, including 1) the Select Agent(s) to be used in the proposed research, 2) the registration status of all entities where Select Agent(s) will be used, 3) the procedures that will be used to monitor possession use and transfer of Select Agent(s), and 4) plans for appropriate biosafety, biocontainment, and security of the Select Agent(s).
Resource Sharing Plans
Reviewers will comment on whether the following Resource Sharing Plans, or the rationale for not sharing the following types of resources, are reasonable: 1) Data Sharing Plan; 2) Sharing Model Organisms; and 3) Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS).
Budget and Period of Support
Reviewers will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed research.
Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by (an) appropriate Scientific Review Group(s), in accordance with NIH peer review policy and procedures, using the stated review criteria. Assignment to a Scientific Review Group will be shown in the eRA Commons.
As part of the scientific peer review, all applications:
Applications will be assigned on the basis of established PHS referral guidelines to the appropriate NIH Institute or Center. Applications will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications. Following initial peer review, recommended applications will receive a second level of review by the appropriate national Advisory Council or Board. The following will be considered in making funding decisions:
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Information regarding the disposition of applications is available in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
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costs may be reimbursed only to the extent considered allowable pre-award costs.
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When multiple years are involved, awardees will be required to submit the annual Non-Competing Progress Report (PHS 2590 or RPPR) and financial statements as required in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
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The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Transparency Act), includes a requirement for awardees of Federal grants to report information about first-tier subawards and executive compensation under Federal assistance awards issued in FY2011 or later. All awardees of applicable NIH grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to the Federal Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) available at www.fsrs.gov on all subawards over $25,000. See the NIH Grants Policy Statement for additional information on this reporting requirement.
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A packed night, from Flash to OpenPandora
The January Super Mondays event was bigger and better than ever before. Our fourth event had almost 60 attendees and while we over ran a little on time, the crowd was well entertained with four excellent presentations.
(Tea and Coffee was sponsored by Lee Irving from Transcendit)
James Rutherford — "Flash – Saviour of the Universe"
James was first up and he gave a very interesting presentation covering the rather convoluted history of Flash from where it started in 1996 by FutureWave Software, its sale to Macromedia and eventually Adobe. James told a familiar story of how he tried to use Flash a few times in the past but he abandoned it due to its complexity, cost and lack of acceptable usability standards. James was going to forget about Flash development until he was commissioned to develop a game in late 2008. This time he was impressed at the way Flash had developed its feature set, including its increasing strong usability standards and impressive database integration. James urged us to take another look at Flash.
You can download the presentation here:
Danni Matzk — I got into it for the penguins!
Danni started using Linux a few years ago out of frustration borne out of repeated antivirus updates on her WinXP computer. While Tux was one of the reasons why she moved over to Linux she cited OpenOffice, The GIMP, Firefox and Pidgin as excellent applications on Linux.
Running Linux on your laptop was rather hard in the past but with the advent of Ubuntu Linux things are much easier. Ubuntu is very easy to install and suports most network cards, wireless cards and USB broadband dongles.
You can download Danni's presentation here:
Paul Callaghan — "A taste of Haskell"
Paul was next up and he gave a presentation on Haskell, a little known advanced and purely functional programming language. The presentation gave a high level overview of the languages strengths, mainly it's a great tool for manipulating data.
In particular, it is a polymorphically statically typed, lazy, purely functional language, quite different from most other programming languages.
Haskell changes the way that you write programs from functional steps to flow of information. This makes it easier to produce flexible, maintainable high-quality software.
You can download a copy of the presentation here, and Paul has setup a Haskell Google Group here:
Craig Rothwell — "Building a computer was easier in the 80's"
The final presentation was given by Craig Rothwell from the OpenPandora project. The Pandora is designed to be a handheld game console with high-end PDA capabilities, but may also be run as a low-powered full-featured Linux desktop. The unit uses a 1GHz Texas Instruments processor, 256Mb of RAM and a battery which should last 10 hours.
The units are manufactured in the US as they have had problems finding a UK based company to work with. With over 4,000 pre-orders the unit this seems rather short sighted by UK industry.
Craig was supposed to bring a demo unit with him to the talk but the courier couldn't get it to him in time. He expects to bring one next month and hinted that we may see them in the shops soon with a price point of around £200.
We also had contributions from the University Mark from the Twestival.
Newcastle Twestival is part of a global event taking place on Thursday 12th February. The event is more than a pint between a few folk who use Twitter; it's a chance to be part of something bigger, to witness just how powerful and real Twitter's influence can be. Because everyone running the event is a volunteer, all money raised goes directly to support charity: water projects.
We also heard that Newcastle University has taken the recent VAT windfall and put the money towards working with industry so if you need to engage with the university with a project there is funding up to £5000 application need to be in by April but funding available to June.


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During the pre-game skate the Jets wore lavender warm-up jerseys which they are raffling off to fans.
The Jets donated $50,000.00 to help fight cancer. Here is Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff with four young survivors of cancer as he presents Cancer Care Manitoba with the cheque.
Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin and Jets captain Andrew Ladd took the ceremonial face off and shook hands with the kids.
Here is the Jets press release:
The Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club is pleased to announce they donated $50,000 to the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation during the team's Hockey Fights Cancer Night on October 22, 2013, from fundraising initiatives held throughout the month of October.
The money raised will be specifically used for CancerCare's Pediatric Clinical Trials. Currently the Foundation funds 51 percent of the cost of trials for children and teens with cancer here in Manitoba. The participation rates have been increasing and as of last year, Manitoba had the highest participation rate in the country. This has been in large part because of the significant donations CancerCare Manitoba Foundation directs to this effort year after year – all the funds raised by CancerCare Manitoba Foundation stays in our province to benefit Manitobans with cancer and their families.
During Hockey Fights Cancer Night, all Winnipeg Jets players wore special-edition lavender jersey during pre-game warm up. The jerseys were raffled off with all proceeds raised going towards the cause. All players' helmets featured a Hockey Fights Cancer decal while coaches, broadcasters and team personnel wore commemorative Hockey Fights Cancer ties.
Before the game on October 22, four kids who have benefited from Cancer Care's comforting environment – Slade, Trinity, Clay & Sofia – all participated in a ceremonial puck drop with Jets Captain Andrew Ladd, Jets General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and CancerCare Manitoba Foundation's Executive Director Annitta Stenning.
Hockey Fights Cancer is an initiative founded in December 1998 by the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players' Association to raise money and awareness for hockey's most important fight. To date, through the NHL's U.S. and Canadian charitable foundations, more than $12.8 million has been raised under the Hockey Fights Cancer initiative to support national and local cancer research institutions, children's hospitals, player charities and local cancer organizations.


text:
Taiwan-based ODMs Ability Enterprise, Altek, Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) and Asia Optical will ship a total of 4.05 million digital cameras in the fourth quarter of 2013, decreasing 20.2% on quarter and 49.5% on year, according to Digitimes Research.
Of the shipments, 45.1% will be 16-megapixel CCD models, 31.9% 20-megapixel CCD models, 17.2% 16-megapixel CMOS models and 3.7% 18-megapixel CMOS models, Digitimes Research indicated.
Ability will account for 65.06% of the shipments, Altek 25.31%, Foxconn 6.17% and Asia Optical 3.46%.
Nikon will be the largest client accounting for 37.04% of the shipments, followed by Fujifilm (16.30%), Casio (16.05%), Sony (14.07%), Samsung Electronics (7.41%), Panasonic (3.70%) and Olympus (1.23%).
The four ODMs will ship 20.65 million digital cameras in 2013, slipping 48.3% on year.
This article is an excerpt from a Digitimes Research Quarterly Data Report (Taiwan digital cameras – 3Q 2013). Visit our latest Data reports.
This article is an excerpt from a Digitimes Research Special Report (Taiwan digital cameras – 3Q 2013). Visit our latest Special reports.


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We don't know his exact birth date, but the feast of St Wulfstan (aka Wulstan) is celebrated on the 19th January, the anniversary of his death in 1095. Born 1008 - 1,000 years ago this year. Some anecdotes here.
"Happy," he said, "is the man who grows sick of the attractions of the world: pleasure of them passes in a moment of time: the tooth of conscience gnaws as long as a man lives."
Of course that presupposes the existence of a conscience - as we see from the preceding posts, that is not always to be relied upon.
The source of the above is William of Malmesbury's biography - available now in reprint from the Llanerch Press - purveyors of ancient texts. I see they're reprinting the adventures of Twm Shon Catti - a likely lad of ancient days whose legends George Borrow noted in "Wild Wales".
Wulfstan was also an early anti-slavery campaigner at a time (post-Conquest) where poor, starving or disposessed Saxons were being shipped from Bristol to the Viking cities of Ireland as slaves.