text:
Participating Organization(s) |
National Institutes of Health (NIH) |
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) |
Funding Opportunity Title |
Temporal Dynamics of Neurophysiological Patterns as Potential Targets for Treating Cognitive Deficits in Brain Disorders (R01) |
Activity Code |
R01 Research Project Grant |
Announcement Type |
New |
Related Notices |
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number |
Companion Funding Opportunity |
PAR-14-158, R21 Exploratory/Developmental Grant |
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s) |
93.242, 93.853 |
Funding Opportunity Purpose |
A rich body of evidence suggests that cognitive processes are associated with particular patterns of neural activity. These data indicate that oscillatory rhythms, their co-modulation across frequency bands, spike-phase correlations, spike population dynamics, and other patterns might be useful drivers of therapeutic development for cognitive improvement in neuropsychiatric disorders. This initiative encourages applications to test whether modifying electrophysiological patterns during behavior can improve cognitive abilities. Applications should use experimental designs that incorporate active manipulations to address at least one, and ideally more, of the following topics: (1) in behaving animals, determine which parameters of neural coordination, when manipulated in isolation, improve particular aspects of cognition; (2) in animals or humans, determine how particular abnormalities at the cellular or molecular level, such as specific receptor dysfunction, affect the coordination of electrophysiological patterns during behavior; (3) determine whether in vivo, systems-level electrophysiological changes in behaving animals predict analogous electrophysiological and cognitive improvements in normal humans or clinical populations; and (4) use systems-level computational modeling to develop a principled understanding of the function and mechanisms by which oscillatory and other electrophysiological temporal dynamic patterns unfold across the brain (cortically and subcortically) to impact cognition. |
Posted Date |
March 14, 2014 |
Open Date (Earliest Submission Date) |
May 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 |
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
The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to lay the groundwork for integrating systems-level neuroscience manipulations into the pipeline of treatment development for cognitive deficits in brain disorders. A rich body of knowledge exists regarding the systems-level coordination of temporal dynamic patterns of electrophysiological activity in the brain. One key principle that has emerged from basic systems-level neuroscience is that brain rhythms are necessary for normal cognition, including the co-modulation of rhythms across oscillatory frequency bands, spike-phase correlations, and spike population dynamics. On the clinical side, cognitive symptoms have proven to be among the least tractable and most disabling problems across widely differing brain disorders, from autism and epilepsy to schizophrenia. Almost none of the existing treatments for neuropsychiatric illnesses were designed with cognitive outcomes in mind. Even for medications that are based on a rational understanding of single-gene disorders that strongly affect cognition, such as Fragile X, Rett, or Angelman syndromes, it has been difficult to substantially ameliorate cognitive symptoms in patients. Therefore, it might be useful to address cognitive symptoms via a greater consideration of the neurophysiological patterns at the level of systems neuroscience, and whether these patterns can discern specific patient populations where a cognitive treatment could most effectively improve function, based on particular electrophysiological patterns. However, in order to design the appropriate cognitive screening assays that encompass systems-level neuroscience for use in future drug development screening or clinical trial stratification, further research and validation of these measures are needed. The purpose of this FOA is to encourage applications that use active manipulations to address at least one, and ideally more, of the following points: (1) in behaving animals, determine which parameters of neural coordination, when manipulated in isolation, improve particular aspects of cognition; (2) in animals or humans, determine how particular abnormalities at the cellular or molecular level, such as specific receptor dysfunction, affect the coordination of electrophysiological patterns during behavior; (3) determine whether in vivo, systems-level electrophysiological changes in behaving animals predict analogous electrophysiological and cognitive improvements in normal humans or clinical populations; and (4) use systems-level computational modeling to develop a principled understanding of the function and mechanisms by which oscillatory and other electrophysiological temporal dynamic patterns unfold across the brain (cortically and subcortically) to impact cognition.
Cognition appears to emerge at the level of populations of neurons, with information represented and organized in the form of precise spike and network events that are temporally coordinated across brain areas. For example, there have been notable advances in our basic understanding of the role of local field potential (LFP) oscillations and large-scale coordination of neural networks in learning and memory. In rodents, particular patterns of temporal dynamics have been shown to proportionally improve or worsen working memory, and particular LFP oscillatory bands predict episodic/relational learning. Theta phase precession is another well-known precise temporal code that might be required for optimal cognition, and the precise reactivation of neural activity during hippocampal sharp wave ripples is also a temporally coordinated representation that might be necessary for memory consolidation. These types of findings should be expanded on within the field of learning and memory, as well as broadened to other areas of cognition such as attention and reasoning, and they can also be brought to bear on areas of translation such as pre-clinical target validation studies in animals or humans. Work in non-human primates is also encouraged, as it would provide a bridge between rodent and human work.
In healthy humans, scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) oscillations in particular frequency bands change with memory-related performance, as well as with attentional demands. Intracranial recordings in humans have also revealed phase-amplitude coupling during working memory; findings are emerging that direct brain stimulation parameters that impact these measures might be able to improve memory performance. Non-invasive treatments aimed at altering rhythms have also begun to suggest a potential for therapeutic intervention, although the effects have been mixed. It seems likely that we do not yet understand the underlying neural mechanisms well enough to manipulate them with sufficient precision to obtain a predictable outcome. Nevertheless, since electrophysiological patterns appear to be required for normal cognition across rodents and primates, such patterns might be useful targets for the development and evaluation of novel treatments for cognitive enhancement.
From a disease standpoint, electrophysiological aberrations exist in many brain disorders, and recent findings in the study of a number of disorders suggest that modulating changes could potentially have appreciable benefits to the individual. In schizophrenia, emerging findings suggest that systems-level electrophysiological endophenotypes are modifiable and that such modifications have the potential to improve cognition. Similarly, various types of epilepsy are characterized by electrographic abnormalities that occur during and also between seizure events in patients and model animals. Even non-seizure causing electrographic abnormalities in some cases appear to impact the normal, coordinated activity of networks subserving cognitive functions. In autism, the modest amounts of electrophysiological data that exist in patients and model organisms suggest that this disorder also has disruptions in temporal coordination of neural signals, and that electrophysiological patterns at the level of neural populations might represent an intermediate, modifiable phenotype. For instance, a tantalizing recent finding suggests that long-term, effective behavioral therapy in autism might shift EEG oscillations of patients into a more normal range. Furthermore, recent and upcoming, rationally-developed pharmacological interventions are being tested for autism spectrum disorders, whose effect on temporal dynamics of electrophysiological patterns might be instructive to examine, especially if the treatments are directed at the cognitive impairments that lead to significant functional deficits for these patients. It is fundamentally important to understand how deficits in electrophysiological signatures predict cognitive deficits and whether modifying these signatures can improve cognition. The underlying hypothesis of this FOA is that cognitive dysfunction results, in part, from compromised systems-level electrophysiological patterns, that these patterns are necessary for cognition, and therefore, treatments that improve cognitive symptoms should aim to improve the underlying aberrant electrophysiological patterns.
Applications should address at least one, and ideally more, of the following topic areas:
Topic 1: Temporal dynamics of neural patterns that impact cognition
In wildtype or model animals, determine which aspects of temporal coordination of systems-level neural activity affect particular forms of cognition such as working memory, long-term memory, relational/spatial processing, attention, cognitive control, decision making, or social cognition. Projects should manipulate specific aspects of the electrophysiological patterns (e.g., the power of oscillatory frequencies during particular task periods, or the degree of phase-amplitude coupling of particular frequency pairs) to determine what parameters, if manipulated appropriately, might yield the most robust and reliable improvements in cognition. A related question is whether any resulting behavioral improvements are proportional to particular changes in neural patterns, or whether this is a step function, and this might differ across types of cognition. Active manipulations proposed in grant applications that address Topic 1 can consist of electrical or magnetic brain stimulation, optogenetics, pharmacological compounds including novel or existing medications if well justified, or other modalities. Novel interventions are encouraged if they might provide greater temporal and/or spatial resolution. It is expected that applications provide a strong scientific rationale for the specific biological intervention chosen, and why it is expected to selectively alter electrophysiological measures in a particular direction. All projects must include measures of neural activity at the systems level during awake behavior.
Topic 2: Understanding how molecular aberrations lead to systems-level discoordination
In animals or humans, understand how particular abnormalities at the cellular or molecular level, such as glutamate or GABA receptor dysfunction, affect the coordination of electrophysiological patterns during cognition. Single-gene disorders in particular, such as Fragile X or Rett syndromes, might be a good opportunity to study such mechanistic questions in the context of systems level dynamics, but the case can also be made for neuropsychiatric disorders of more heterogeneous etiology. The emphasis can be on discovering ways to rescue the systems-level discoordination with either molecular/cellular interventions (e.g., pharmacology, genomic interventions), or with in vivo neurophysiology manipulations (e.g., patterned electrical, optogenetic stimulation), but the outcomes should be measured at least at both the systems electrophysiology level and at the behavioral level. The aberrations at the molecular/cellular level could be part of the underlying pathology of a particular disease or a consequence of an earlier insult that is no longer present. In any case, identification of the molecular determinants of systems-level discoordination will provide an opportunity for treatment development and assessment.
Topic 3: Animal-to-human translation
Determine whether the changes in neural coordination patterns that improve cognition in animals predict analogous electrophysiological and cognitive improvements in normal humans and/or clinical populations. The main goal is to understand the translational value of systems electrophysiology in pre-clinical models, to know whether an electrophysiological pattern identified in a relevant model system is predictive of a similarly aberrant pattern in patients, and whether the effects of any interventions in animals are predictive of their effects in humans. A secondary goal is to characterize aberrant electrophysiological patterns during cognition in clinical patients, although electrophysiological recordings in humans must be accompanied by parallel work in animals that includes active interventions. It is expected that, to the greatest extent possible, identical interventions (e.g., the same pharmacological compounds, or comparably patterned electrical stimulation in model animals and humans) and tasks (e.g., equivalent working memory tasks) will be used. A related question of interest is whether any existing or novel medications are able to modify neural coordination patterns, and whether this mediates any improvement in cognition; this work must also be accompanied by mechanistic, parallel work in animals.
Topic 4: Computational modeling
Develop a computational model to allow a comprehensive, principled understanding of the function and mechanisms by which neural coordination patterns (cortical and subcortical) impact cognition. There are two goals with this. One goal is to reach a mechanistic understanding of how rhythmic patterns support information processing in the brain in the service of cognition, and, relatedly, what algorithms are being implemented in the brain for each type of cognition, including, but not limited to, spatial navigation, non-spatial relational processing (e.g., transitive inference), manipulation of items in working memory, etc. A second goal is to understand how modifying a neural pattern in one region of the network affects the patterns in other brain regions, taking into account the underlying anatomy. This work can include modeling how brain stimulation at the scalp might affect oscillations and information processing subcortically (e.g., in the hippocampus). The purpose of this is to inform future therapeutic treatment development. Applications can address one or more of these goals, and any computational modeling must include and be closely informed by experimental manipulations in animals or humans.
Examples of research topics that would be areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
In addition to addressing at least one of the four topic areas listed above, all applications under this FOA are also expected to fulfill the following requirements:
The work proposed under this FOA is considered pre-clinical; grant applications for clinical trials should be submitted under the appropriate Funding Opportunity Announcement. This FOA seeks to generate a mechanistic understanding of what aspects of neural coordination and patterning can be modified to improve cognition. A related goal is the identification of reliable and sensitive electrophysiological signatures that would facilitate screening novel interventions to understand how they affect particular electrophysiological patterns, and what clinical population might have a deficit in particular patterns. The ultimate goal is that the resulting work be highly relevant to the development of pharmacological, electrical, magnetic, or other types of interventions that can enhance cognition sufficiently to improve real-life functioning for patients.
All applicants are encouraged to contact Scientific/Research staff at NIMH or NINDS before submitting a grant application.
NIMH Interests
Applications of interest to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) include hypothesis-driven projects focused on neuropsychiatric disorders that include cognitive impairments. These disorders include autism spectrum disorders, including single-gene disorders such as Fragile X syndrome and accompanying intellectual disability; schizophrenia spectrum disorders; and mood and anxiety disorders. The NIMH Strategic Plan lays out the Institute priorities, which applicants are strongly encouraged to review when preparing an application (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/strategic-planning-reports/index.shtml).
NIMH will consider support for only those applications that study cognition using quantitatively-defined behavioral measures as outcomes. Grant applications should use active interventions to test mechanisms of circuit functions. Descriptive and correlational studies without empirical tests of causality will be of very low priority for NIMH.
Translating discoveries into evidence-based treatments is predicated on testing candidate therapeutics using fundamental model systems in vitro and in vivo. The value of such research is greatly enhanced when detailed information is made available about study design, execution, analysis and interpretation. Please also see NOT-MH-14-004, "Enhancing the Reliability of NIMH-Supported Research through Rigorous Study Design and Reporting".
NINDS Interests
Applications of interest to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) include hypothesis-driven projects focused on neurological disorders that feature cognitive impairments. These disorders can include, but are not limited to the epilepsies and other intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) such as tuberous sclerosis complex, Rett Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, Phelan-McDermid Syndrome, Angelman Syndrome, and Down Syndrome, along with other disorders known to exhibit imbalances in excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmission which are likely to alter systems level electrophysiology patterns. In these neurodevelopmental disorders, understanding how perturbations of molecular events at the cellular level translate to altered circuit-level functions and network dynamics may be key to developing therapeutics that improve the disabling cognitive features of the disorder.
In this FOA, NINDS encourages applications to test hypotheses that would illuminate the basic mechanistic relationships underlying cognitive co-morbidities in the epilepsies and neurodevelopmental disorders. Studies to assess the predictive value of model animals or non-invasive human testing in developing treatments to improve or prevent cognitive dysfunction in people with epilepsy or neurodevelopmental disorders are also encouraged.
Applicants should note that NINDS will consider support for only those applications that study cognition using quantitatively-defined behavioral measures as outcomes. Applications should use approaches designed to determine the mechanisms of circuit functions. Model-based strategies are strongly encouraged; descriptive and correlational studies without empirical tests of causality will be of very low priority to NINDS. In addition, NINDS has published guidelines to enhance transparency in reporting and promoting scientific rigor in NINDS-funded studies (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-NS-11-023.html; http://www.ninds.nih.gov/funding/transparency_in_reporting_guidance.pdf). Applicants are strongly encouraged to review these guidelines when preparing an application.
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 scope of the proposed project should determine the project period. The maximum project 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
not eligible to apply.
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible
to apply.
Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not 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. PD(s)/PI(s) should work with their organizational officials to either create a new account or to affiliate their existing account with the applicant organization in eRA Commons. 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:
Research Strategy: Every application should address at least one of the four topic areas listed in Section I, Funding Opportunity Description.
In addition, all applications under this FOA are also expected to describe how the application fulfills the following requirements as part of the Approach section of the Research Plan:
As part of the Significance section, all projects should provide a strong scientific rationale for the specific biological intervention chosen (pharmacological or otherwise), in particular whether the intervention can be expected to selectively alter a specific aspect of a systems-level temporal dynamic pattern in a particular direction.
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.
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.
See more
tips for avoiding common errors.
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 our Post Submission Application Materials policy.
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? How well does the project fulfill each of the following questions:
How likely are the active manipulations to lead to a measurable improvement in cognition?
How much will the work contribute, either experimentally or theoretically, to a mechanistic understanding of how neural coordination and patterns unfold in the brain during healthy cognition, or how they are affected in disease states?
How much of a real-life functional impact would the type of cognition being studied (e.g., memory, relational/spatial processing, attention, etc.) have if it were improved in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders?
Is the use of any non-mammalian species clearly justified, and how strong is the evidence that electrophysiological patterns during cognition will generalize easily from animals to humans?
Are the PD(s)/PI(s), collaborators, and other researchers well suited to the project? If Early Stage Investigators or New Investigators, or 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 managed? Are behavioral measures defined quantitatively?
Does the project include in vivo manipulations that are not only behavioral interventions, and can they be expected to selectively alter an electrophysiological parameter in a particular direction?
If theoretical computational work is proposed, does it reciprocally and iteratively interact closely with experimental work? Does the experimental work include active manipulations? Will it test systems-level computational algorithms that underlie cognition, such as modeling how increasing the amplitude of theta oscillations in one brain region affects oscillations in various frequency bands in other brain areas during spatial working memory?
If EEG work is proposed, does it include spectral analyses, and not rely on event-related potentials (ERPs)?
Does the project employ recording methods that detect
neural activity directly, without relying on blood flow measures, and which
have the appropriate temporal resolution?
If the project involves human subjects and/or NIH-defined clinical research,
are the plans to address 1) the protection of human subjects from research
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
Not Applicable
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) convened by the Center of Scientific Review, 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:
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text:
John Fehringer
Regular price
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Limited edition print by John Fehringer.
Edition size: 800
Image size: 24" x 7"
For his Alaska landscapes, wildlife and aviation pieces, John primarily works in watercolor using an airbrush to achieve the smooth gradient tones that fill his canvas and have created the signature style we now recognize to be exclusive to a Fehringer piece. Many observers have mistaken John's images to be photographs, speaking to the skill of execution and the command of light displayed in each piece.
Each print is individually signed and numbered by the artist.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Avett Brothers Concert Canceled After Gun Alert
Folk-rock band the Avett Brothers canceled a concert on Saturday after a man brought a gun into the venue and then couldn't be found by security staff. No violence was reported and the event is set to be rescheduled soon.
The incident took place soon after doors opened at the Edgefield McMenamins in Troutdale, Ore. "An individual passing through the metal detector was found to be carrying a gun," the Avett Brothers said in a statement. "When confronted by the security guard and informed of the no-firearm policy of the venue, the individual stated that he was an out-of-state police officer and showed a badge. The security guard then asked the individual to wait for the manager so his entry could be confirmed. The individual disregarded her instructions and ventured immediately into the sizable audience."
The group said that "after an exhaustive search of the venue by the security staff of both the band and the venue, the individual was not located. Due to the obvious threat posed by someone in the audience with a firearm, regardless of his (unconfirmed) claim of being a member of law enforcement, we were obligated, for the safety of everyone present, to cancel the performance."
The Avett Brothers said the cancellation as "unfortunate" but added that they had "no regret in being in a position to make a decision which helps to keep our fans safe." They thanked fans for their "understanding in this matter."
Initial explanations for the move had not mentioned a gun, with McMenamins staff originally citing sound problems, and the Multnomah Country Sheriff's Office at first saying they had not been informed about a potential threat. A spokesperson later told Oregon Live that an officer had been involved in the search, but since there was "no credible information of a threat to the public," no further action would be taken.
"The security of our patrons is of utmost importance," Vicky Hastings, representing McMenamins, said. "We regret the inconvenience but feel the proper decision was made to postpone the show."


text:
News Story
Alumna Carole Teolis profiled in livescience.com story
The website livescience.com has a nice story about alumna Carole Teolis (1994 EE Ph.D.), the chief technology officer and chair of TRX Systems.The story focuses on TRX's development of NEON, an indoor navigation technology that can locate, monitor and track people inside buildings where GPS is not available, and in outdoor urban areas where GPS is often unreliable. NEON grew out of earlier systems Teolis and Techno-Sciences Inc. developed after 9-11 to track and safeguard firefighters inside burning buildings.
At Maryland, Teolis was advised by Professor John Baras (ECE/ISR).
| Read the story on livescience.com |
Published November 19, 2012


text:
Us and our services
Procedures and Information
All the files available on the site
Get in touch with us
When we talk of 'normal' facial appearance, we imply that there is a 'normal' balance to the features of the face- particularly the nose, the chin and the check-bones. If one of these features is out of proportion with the others, a face can look out unusual or maybe 'abnormal' especially to someone who is aesthetically sensitive. As it is instinctive for most of us to want to look normal, it is understandable that a person can feel self-conscious if a feature of his or her face is out of proportion; either too large or too small. Disproportion of the nose is covered in other sections entitled; 'Reduction Rhinoplasty' and 'Augmentation Rhinoplasty'. It may be possible that the position of your chin is wrong because the jaw as a whole is too large or too small so that your teeth do not meet properly. If so, you would need to get advice from your dental surgeon, as you would probably need a major operation by a maxillo- facial surgeon to reposition the whole of your jaw rather than a type of treatment which is described here.
A jutting chin can be reduced by removing some of the chin-bone and recessive chin can be built out either by sliding the chin forwards or by inserting an implant on the bone. Each of these operations is carried out through a cut made in the grove between the lower lip and the gum though if an implant is used, the surgeon may advise that the cut is made in the natural crease under the chin. Flat cheek- bones can be built out by inserting implants over the cheek bones usually through cuts that are made inside the mouth where the cheek joins the upper gum.
The implants which are used are manufactured usually from silicone or other non- biological materials and are safe and well- tolerated by the body. Sometimes it is necessary to use a bone graft, which would probably be taken from the crest of the hip and leave a noticeable scar. These operations can usually be done at the same time as other facial cosmetic surgery, such as a face lift or an operation to reshape the nose.
If the cut is made inside the mouth, there will be no visible scar. If made the chin, the scar should be inconspicuous in the line of the natural crease. There is always some swelling and sometimes bruising which settles within three weeks. Temporary numbness of the lower lip after chin surgery and of the upper lip and the side of the nose after surgery on the cheeks is common. It usually disappears within a few days though you may have a period of pins-and-needles discomfort during recovery. An implant, particularly when it used to build out the chin, may not become firmly fixed to the underlying bone and fell a bit unstable. However, this is unlikely to have any effect on your appearance. Sometimes though, the outline of the implant's shape can be visible under the skin. Because there may be some scarring in the muscles of the chin as a result of surgery, you may find that your chin creases unnaturally when you smile.
It is usually possible to harmonize the facial features with one or more of these operations. However, as the outcome of treatment must be an appearance with which you feel happy, it is essential that you have a clear idea in your mind about what is wrong with your present appearance and that you can explain this to us. We will be able to give a personal opinion about the changes that could be made for the better but, in the end, it is your face and how you see it that is important. Once you have established the ideal, we will be in the position to advise you on the possibilities of achieving it.
We will require a general anaesthetic, and there is a small risk of chest infection, especially among smokers. There is a small risk that part or all of lip may be permently numb and there is an equally small risk of some weakness in one or more muscles around the mouth. Occasionally, the pressure of an implant can thin the underlying bone and, if roots of teeth are nearby, they may be weakened. Sometimes an implant can slip out of place and require a further operation to reposition it. Occasionally, these operations are complicated by infection which shows up as painful, red swelling and it may be necessary to remove an implant in order to clear it up. Should this be necessary the implant can usually be replaced once the infection has cleared.
Because of the risk of infection, it is most important that your mouth is healthy and that there is no infection in your teeth. You are strongly advised to visit your dental practioner for a cheek-up if you have any doubts.
These operations are usually done under a general anaesthetic for which you would need to be in hospital at least overnight. You can expect a moderate amount of pain for the first two days and some soreness inside your mouth where the stitches lie. if you have had surgery to your chin, you are likely to have it strapped for a few days. It is sometimes necessary to stabilize a cheek implant with an out side stitch for the first 4 days.
The most important thing to do is to treat your face gently and avoid disturbing an implant by feeling it or, worse still, trying to feel if it will move. Don't rest your chin on your hand. Keep your mouth clean and have a mouthwash after meals whilst your stitches are dissolving. When brushing your teeth, you should take care not to damage your scars with the toothbrush. You will need at least a week off work.
Reshaping Chins and Cheeks


text:
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Thank you for visiting this Site. Access to and use of this Site and the information, materials, products and services available through this Site are subject to all applicable laws and regulations and these Terms of Use. This Site is owned and operated by Global Footcare Pty Ltd and is referred to herein as "Vionic", "we", "us", and "our". The terms "you" and "your" when used in these Terms of Use means any user of this Site. The term "Content" means any and all postings, messages, text, files, images, photos, video, sounds, or other materials posted on, transmitted through, and available through this Site.
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You are responsible for providing and maintaining all personal computer and communications equipment and Internet access accounts necessary to gain access to this Site.
In consideration of your use of this Site, you agree to use this Site in a manner consistent with any and all applicable rules and regulations. You agree not to upload or transmit through this Site any computer viruses, trojan horses, worms or anything else designed to interfere with, interrupt or disrupt the normal operating procedures of a computer. Any unauthorized modification, tampering or change of any information, or any interference with the availability of or access to this Site is strictly prohibited. Vionic reserves all rights and remedies available to it.
You agree to indemnify, release and hold us harmless as well as our officers, directors, agents, representatives and employees from any claim, liability, loss, expense or demand, including legal fees, related to your violation of these Terms of Use or your access or use of this Site (including any information, materials, products or services available through this Site).
Modification and Discontinuation
We reserve the right to modify, edit, delete, suspend or discontinue, temporarily or permanently this Site (or any portion thereof) and/or the information, materials, products and/or services available through this Site (or any part thereof) with or without notice. You agree that we shall not be liable to you or to any third party for any such modification, editing, deletion, suspension or discontinuance of this Site.
Entire Understanding
These Terms of Use (together with our Privacy Policy, which is expressly incorporated herein) contain the entire understanding between you and us with respect to use of this Site and no representation, statement, inducement oral or written, not contained herein shall bind any party to this agreement.
Severability and Non-Waiver
Our failure to enforce any provision of these Terms of Use shall not be deemed a waiver of such provision nor of the right to enforce such provision, and a waiver by us of any right under these Terms of Use on any occasion will not in any way constitute a waiver of such right or any other right on any other occasion. In the event any provision of these Terms of Use is determined to be invalid, such invalidity will not affect the validity of the remaining portions of these Terms of Use, and the parties will substitute for the invalid provision a provision that most closely approximates the intent and economic effect of the invalid provision. These Terms of Use will apply in lieu of and notwithstanding any specific legend or statement associated with any particular document or information exchanged.
Applicable Law and Jurisdiction
These Terms of Use shall be subject to, governed by and construed under the laws of the State and country of origin, without regard to conflict of law principles. Law in certain countries or jurisdictions may prohibit your access to, or use of, this Site or information, materials, products and/or services on this Site. You are responsible for compliance with any applicable laws of the country from which you are accessing this Site.
You hereby consent and waive all objections to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal and state courts in the state or country of origin and venue therein to resolve any controversy or claim of whatever nature arising out of or relating to use of this Site. However, we retain the right to bring legal proceedings in any jurisdiction where we believe that infringement of this agreement is taking place or originating.
Contacting Us
You may contact us by mail at:
Vionic Shoes Australia
1 Gateway Court
Coomera, QLD 4209
Phone 1300 856 226
Email: email@example.com


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Article Highlights:
Each month, we will send you a roundup of our latest blog content covering the tax and accounting tips & insights you need to know.
We care about the protection of your data.
You can count on us for professional, timely and reliable tax and accounting services. If you're ready to get started, just fill out this form and we'll be in touch.


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Click for larger version (PNG); click for PDF version. Click here for the list of dolls.
Yes, for once I'm prompt with the birthday dress. That's mostly because I didn't get home until fairly late and all of my other ideas were fairly labor-intensive… but perhaps also because I rather unfairly favor December. Why? Well, for one thing, my own birthday is in December! But when, you might wonder? Let's make it a contest… Winner gets to tell me how to color one of my black-and-white dresses, as usual!
When is Liana's birthday?
Rules as always:
1) If you've already won this year, please don't enter. (Music contest winners are OK to enter a black-and-white coloring contest though. By the way, I intend to do those this month, and I'm sorry to have gotten so off track!)
2) One guess per person per day.
3) If no one gets the exact date by noon PST, December 6th, I'll pick the closest guess.
4) Those of you who know me well enough to already know are disqualified.
Update: Ana guessed right: my birthday was December 3rd. Sorry I couldn't confirm it earlier, I was out of town (the post on Saturday was a scheduled post).
Prismacolors used: Black, Indigo Blue, Cool Grey 10%, 20%, 30%, 50%, 70%, Sunburst Yellow, Goldenrod, Dark Umber, Light Aqua, Aquamarine, Sky Blue Light, Blue Slate, White, Verithin Warm Grey 20%, Cool Grey 20%, Orange, colorless blender, Sakura white gel pen


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Don't skip a tour of The Joule's art collection, which includes mid-century mosaics and large-scale installations.
Rooms, suites, and penthouses offer spacious interiors decorated with an uncluttered contemporary aesthetic. Oversized bathrooms include a rainfall shower and spa amenities. Select suites include a separate lounging space and loft-style sleeping area.
CBD Provisions is an acclaimed modern Texas brasserie that celebrates the culinary traditions of Texas with a contemporary point of view and commitment to sustainability. Sassetta is an inviting Italian restaurant with a seasonal menu of pizzas, house-made pastas, and regional wines. Enjoy a beverage at the underground craft cocktail lounge Midnight Rambler, or The Lobby Bar. Weekend offers artisanal coffee and baked goods made in-house.
With an emphasis on providing guests a personalized spa experience, the award-winning Spa at The Joule offers innovative and results-driven treatments in a stunning subterranean setting. Nurturing mind, body, and soul, The Spa lends itself to geothermal inspiration with European heat experiences that take guests through a therapeutic journey.
The 8-foot cantilevered pool gives guests the sensation of swimming out beyond the hotel's edge, while overlooking the landmarks and hustle of Main Street below. The cleverly designed pool by Adam D. Tihany gives the expression "hanging out by the pool" a whole new meaning.
1530 Main Street. Dallas, Texas 75201 United States
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
†Certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade.
Looking for more? See all our luxury hotels in Dallas, Texas US
Valid only for new Fine Hotels + Resorts bookings made through Platinum Travel service, Centurion Travel service, American Express Travel Online (where available) or any American Express Travel location. Payment must be made in full with an American Express Card in the Platinum Card Member and Centurion Member's or Centurion® Member's name. Available for Platinum Charge Cardmembers and Centurion® Members only, and excludes Platinum Credit Cardmembers who are not also Platinum Charge Cardmembers. Cardmember must travel on itinerary booked to be eligible for benefits described. Noon check-in and room upgrade are based on availability and are provided at check-in. Certain room categories are not eligible for room upgrade; call Platinum Travel service or Centurion Travel service for details. Breakfast amenity varies by property, but will be, at a minimum, a Continental breakfast. Complimentary In-Room Wi‑Fi is provided and Wi‑Fi will be provided in a common space on property. In the case where a property includes cost of Wi‑Fi in a mandatory resort fee, the Cardmember will receive a daily credit from the property in the standard amount that the property charges for Wi‑Fi. The credit will be issued on the Cardmembers final bill upon check-out. Benefit restrictions vary by Fine Hotels + Resorts property and cannot be redeemed for cash, and may not be combined with other offers unless indicated. Benefits and additional Fine Hotels + Resorts promotions are only applied at check-out and expire at check-out. Limit one benefit package per room, per stay. Three room limit per Cardmember, per stay.
© American Express.


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On the IBM developerWorks site, there's a tutorial from Vikram Vaswani showing you how to connect to Wikipedia's API in your PHP application. It shows how to fetch, search and update entries through their backend. The tutorial's a little bit older (from May 2011) but the content is still relevant.
Wikipedia is the ultimate online encyclopedia, containing millions of entries on different aspects of human knowledge. Web application developers are able to access and search these entries through the Wikipedia API. This article introduces the Wikipedia API and demonstrates it in the context of a PHP application, explaining how to search and retrieve different elements of Wikipedia content with PHP.
He starts with a general introduction to the API including example feed results and URL request formats. From there he moves into the code - a mostly Zend Framework-driven example that uses the REST client. He shows how to make requests for categories, full-text search, grabbing raw page content and adding/editing the content of pages.


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1 – Discontinue Vaping
The symptoms often abate when usage is discontinued with the exception of those who become sensitized to these reactions, creating further symptoms until they learn to interrupt the process of fearful worry.
It's essential that the individual recognizes the trigger vape sensor and makes a choice concerning their health. Through proper approach one is able to interrupt the habit of fearful worry and allow a sensitized body to calm down, and a tired mind to refresh.
Application of the correct process is crucial for the fatigued mind to rejuvenate and a full return to clarity. One learns to interrupt this habit of fearful behavior and step out of one's own way. The process is simple to use but requires strict adherence by the individual.
2 – Begin the Process of Self Nurturing
Proper diet must be applied that creates a less reactive mind and body through naturally increased Serotonin levels in the brain and Stable Blood Sugar levels in the body.
Daily activity and exercise outdoors also boosts Serotonin levels in brain.
3 – Retrain the Brain to quiet the mind naturally rather than exacerbate the behavior of fearful thinking.
Learn how to train the mind to think correctly through a specific process which eliminates the habit of fearful thinking. This is not difficult but requires a different mindset that brings forth relief from these symptoms.
4 – Know Your Reactivity Levels
It's also necessary to realize that some individuals are highly reactive to outside stimuli, created out of Vaping. They contain substances that the reactive individual will find difficult to process and intrusive in their system.
Nicotine is a stimulant that the reactive person is going to process with difficulty.
5 – Find Other Ways to Relax Rather Than Vaping
Choose true methods of relaxation such as:
Proper Breathing, which makes a huge difference in our physical and mental health.
Meditation (short 5 minute meditation is often a great release of tension)
Breathing Correctly
Bottom line, you are in charge of how you feel and you have choices. When the mind and body are signaling you to stop using substances that result in negative reactions, LISTEN. Heed these signals and choose to nurture rather than hinder your body.
Feelings of anxiety and depersonalization are essentially red flags that you are doing something to interfere with proper functioning of both mind and body. It is your choice, always your choice, to create a lifestyle that fuels good health. Make that choice and notice an immediate improvement in both mind and body.


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Company Names Principal
BERLIN — Better Living of Delmarva Sunrooms and Awnings has named Matthew Whalen as a principal of the company.
Whalen presently manages the Installation Department and will now become part of the ownership team. Better Living of Delmarva is the exclusive providers of Better Living three-season, year-round sunrooms and awnings.
New Association Leader
BERLIN — Shamrock Realty Group has announced the installation of Pam Wadler as president of the Coastal Association of REALTORS® (CAR).
The association, based in Berlin, supports over 900 member Realtors from Worcester, Wicomico, and Somerset counties on Maryland's lower Eastern Shore.
Wadler's 12-month term began Oct. 3 at the CAR general membership meeting held in Salisbury. The installation of officers was conducted by Carlton Boujai, president of the Maryland Association of Realtors (M.A.R.).
Prior to becoming president, Wadler had held the office of president-elect for the past year, and previously had served as vice-president, treasurer, and member of the CAR Board of Directors.
Excellence Awarded
OCEAN CITY — Fractured Prune the donut Shoppe, has received a "Certificate of Excellence" for the year 2012 from Trip Advisor, an award that is given to businesses that consistently earn top ratings from Trip Advisor travelers.
The Salisbury Fractured Prune is now open in its new location across from the college in University Square, 1147 South Salisbury Blvd. #10.
Chamber Honors Members
FENWICK ISLAND – Susan Lyons, publisher of the Coastal Point newspaper, received the prestigious 2012 Lighthouse Award at the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce's Annual Member Celebration & Awards Ceremony at Cripple Creek Golf & Country Club in Dagsboro.
The Lighthouse Award is chosen directly by the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber's Board of Directors, and recognizes a long-time chamber member who contributes outstanding leadership and devotion to both the chamber and local community. The Lighthouse Award, a replica of the Fenwick Island Lighthouse, is handcrafted and donated by Dale Bellinger, owner of Bellinger's Jewelers.
Serving two terms on the chamber's board of directors from 1995-1998 and then again from 2008-2011, Lyons has been involved with the chamber for nearly two decades. Earlier this year she also was inducted into the Indian River High School Hall of Fame for her contributions to the community. Barbara Howard, Chamber President, presented the award to Lyons and spoke to the countless hours of assistance she has given to the Chamber especially while we were under-staffed.
Six other businesses were presented with awards throughout the evening. The Bookend Café of Fenwick Island won the Best in Business Award. The Freeman Stage at Bayside received the Community Spirit Award. Donna Duffy of 3E Marketing received the Inspiring Business Award. Anne Powell of Anne Powell & Jennifer Hughes Team, ResortQuest, Resort Quest Real Estate took home the New Member of the Year Award and Jennifer Pavik of Vernon Sales Promotion won the Member of the Year Award for the second year in a row. Terri Mahoney of WMDT received the Arlene Hauck Ambassador of the Year award.
During the celebration, the chamber also inducted new Board of Directors and thanked outgoing board members James Brannon, Atlantic General Hospital; Jennifer Pavik, Vernon Sales Promotion; Howard Bunting, Brasure's Pest Control; and Past President Todd Hickman of NVHomes Coastal Division for their time and dedication to the chamber.
Firm Helping Physicians
BERLIN — Wavelength Information Services, a nationally accredited Healthcare IT firm located in Berlin, is making a significant impact on the health of Maryland citizens, as well as, the health of medical practices throughout the state. With more than 100 medical providers who have successfully attested for the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Meaningful Use incentives, the monetary impact to their physician clients' "bottom line" exceeds $2 million paid directly to the physicians.
"We have over 400 clients throughout Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic area and we understand the tremendously positive impact EHRs have on the medical care provided to the patients. The Wavelength experts have a unique understanding of both healthcare and technology," said Wavelength President Murray Oltman. "Our team plays a vital role in minimizing the disruption as medical practices transition to Electronic Health Records, while at the same time moving the practice quickly along the path to Meaningful Use."
Wavelength leads the Maryland Designated Management Service Organizations (MSOs) in successful physician Meaningful Use attestations for Maryland physicians.
Wavelength has received national accreditation for its implementation and security practices, ensuring successful transitions to EHRs while implementing security protocols within their clients' offices.