Office of the Secretary 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given that the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) has taken final action in the following case: Brandi M. Baughman, Ph.D., National Institutes of Health (NIH): Based on Respondent's admission and analysis conducted by ORI, ORI found that Dr. Brandi M. Baughman, former Intramural Research Training Awardee, National Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences (NIEHS), NIH, engaged in research misconduct in research supported by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH, grant R01 DK101645 and the NIEHS, NIH, Postdoctoral Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA). ORI found that falsified and/or fabricated data were included in eleven (11) figures in PLoS One 11(10):e0164378, 2016 (hereafter referred to as ``PLoS One 2016''). ORI found that Respondent falsified and/or fabricated data and text published in PLoS One 2016, in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5, by claiming that a screening strategy of the kinase focused libraries, PKIS and 5K, was performed, when original data do not exist to support the claims. Respondent also claimed that three (3) inhibitory compounds for the inositol phosphate kinase, PPIP5K, were identified from the 5K library, when these compounds, UNC10112646, UNC10225354, and UNC10225498, were not part of the data set for the 5K library. Specifically, Respondent falsified and/or fabricated the characterization of the inhibitor compounds in: Figures 2 and 3 results for Z'-factor, %CV, signal:background ratio, and a 10-point dose response titration experiment for inhibitor UNC10225354 claims in the text of PLoS One 2016 that eight molecules from the PKIS library and fifteen molecules from the 5K library inhibited PPIP5K activity by >50% Figure 4D results for the inhibition by UNC10112646, UNC10225354, and UNC10225498, in dose response assays against the kinase domain of PPIP5K Figures 5A and 5B results for isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) assays for quantifying intermolecular interactions between PPIP5K and the inhibitors, UNC1011264 and UNC10225498, and Figure S5 for UNC10225354 Figure 6 results for the analysis of the mechanisms of inhibition of PPIP5K by UNC10112646 and UNC10225498 Figures 8A and 8B results for high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis for the effects of UNC10112646 or UNC10225498 on PPIP5K activity and IP6K activity Figures S1-S4 for experimental results further characterizing UNC10112646, UNC10225498, and other inhibitors, when the results were not supported by the experimental records. As a result of Respondent's admission, NIH recommended that the PLoS One 2016 paper be retracted. Dr. Baughman has entered into a Voluntary Settlement Agreement with ORI, in which she voluntarily agreed: (1) To have her research supervised for a period of three (3) years beginning on May 17, 2017; Respondent agreed to ensure that prior to the submission of an application for U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) support for a research project on which Respondent's participation is proposed and prior to Respondent's participation in any capacity on PHS-supported research, Respondent shall ensure that a plan for supervision of Respondent's duties is submitted to ORI for approval; the supervision plan must be designed to ensure the scientific integrity of Respondent's research contribution; Respondent agreed that she will not participate in any PHS-supported research until a plan for supervision is submitted to and approved by ORI; Respondent agreed to maintain responsibility for compliance with the agreed upon supervision plan; (2) that for a period of three (3) years beginning on May 17, 2017, any institution employing her shall submit, in conjunction with each application for PHS funds, or report, manuscript, or abstract involving PHS-supported research in which Respondent is involved, a certification to ORI that the data provided by Respondent are based on actual experiments or are otherwise legitimately derived and that the data, procedures, and methodology are accurately reported in the application, report, manuscript, or abstract; (3) to exclude herself from serving in any advisory capacity to PHS including, but not limited to, service on any PHS advisory committee, board, and/or peer review committee, or as a consultant for a period of three (3) years, beginning on May 17, 2017; and (4) as a condition of the Agreement, to the retraction or correction of PLoS One 11(10):e0164378d, 2016 (PMID: 27736936).

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Request abstracted below is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget for review and comments. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on renewing the same information collection was published on March 15, 2017 [82 FR 13924]. There were no comments to the docket.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Petition for Classifying Labor Surplus Areas,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use, without change, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

The Department of Homeland Security is giving concurrent notice of an updated and reissued system of records pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974 for the ``Department of Homeland Security/ALL-025 Law Enforcement Authority in Support of the Protection of Property Owned, Occupied, or Secured by the Department of Homeland Security System of Records'' and this proposed rulemaking. In this proposed rulemaking, the Department proposes to exempt portions of the system of records from additional provisions of the Privacy Act because of criminal, civil, and administrative enforcement requirements.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Application of the Employee Polygraph Protection Act,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use, without change, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Secretary (OS), Department of Health and Human Services, has submitted an Information Collection Request (ICR), described below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR is for renewal of the approved information collection assigned OMB control number 0990-0278, scheduled to expire on August 31, 2017. Comments submitted during the first public review of this ICR will be provided to OMB. OMB will accept further comments from the public on this ICR during the review and approval period.

On behalf of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Pollinator Health Working Group, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will host a Listening Session to discuss a strategy to monitor native bees in the United States.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Gear Certification Standard,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use, without change, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) sponsored information collection request (ICR) revision titled, ``Consumer Price Index Commodities and Services Survey,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995. Public comments on the ICR are invited.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) sponsored information collection request (ICR) revision titled, ``Description of Coal Mine Work and Other Employment,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995. Public comments on the ICR are invited.

The Department of Defense (DoD) is publishing this notice to announce that the following Federal Advisory Committee meeting of the Defense Health Board will take place.

The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text of a section 36(b)(1) arms sales notification.

The Department of Defense has submitted to OMB for clearance, the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act.

The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text of a section 36(b)(1) arms sales notification.

The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text of a section 36(b)(1) arms sales notification.

The Department of Defense is publishing this notice to announce the following Federal advisory committee meeting of the Government-Industry Advisory Panel. This meeting is open to the public.

The Department of Defense (DoD) is publishing this notice to announce that the following Federal Advisory Committee meeting of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services will take place.

The Department of Defense (DoD) is publishing this notice to announce that the following Federal Advisory Committee meeting of the Defense Science Board, Defense Science Board 2017 Summer Study Task Force on Countering Anti-access Systems with Longer Range and Standoff Capabilities will take place.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) sponsored information collection request (ICR) proposal titled, ``State Exchange on Employment and Disability Initiative Evaluation,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995. Public comments on the ICR are invited.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Certification of Funeral Expenses,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use, without change, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Mine Safety and Health Administration sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Qualification/Certification Program Request for Mine Safety and Health Administration Individual Identification Number,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use, without change, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

The Department of Defense has submitted to OMB for clearance, the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act.