Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 98 / Monday, May 21, 2001 / Notices 27975

have taken final action in the following

case: Ayman Saleh, Ph.D., University of

Pittsburgh: Based on the report of an

inquiry conducted by the University of

Pittsburgh and additional analysis

conducted by ORI in its oversight

review, the U.S. Public Health Service

(PHS) found that Dr. Saleh, former

postdoctoral research associate, School

of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh,

engaged in scientific misconduct in

research supported by the National

Institutes of Health.

PHS finds that Dr. Saleh falsified:

(A) Data for a manuscript which

purported to show Western blots of

rabbit Bcl-2 and tubulin; the blots were

actually obtained from different

experiments by another researcher using

antibody against Hsp70 and against Bag1, respectively; (B) The label on a Western blot for

Bcl-2 that he presented to the inquiry

committee as evidence that he had

conducted the experiment at issue; the

blot was actually from a different

experiment by a coworker; (C) Data for a laboratory figure

purported to represent a rabbit PARP

cleavage blot; the data was from another

experiment, and the antibody to PARP

was not available to Dr. Saleh at that

time;

(D) Western blot data on pcasp-9 and

p37/p35 for a manuscript on Hsp27; the

data represented experiments that could

not be performed because the cell lines

were unavailable at the time; and

(E) Figure 2b, the panel that shows a

Western blot of Casp-9(WT) in a

publication by Srinivasa M. Srinivasula,

Ramesh Hegde, Ayman Saleh, Pinaki

Datta, Eric Shiozaki, Jijie Chais, RyungAh Lee, Paul D. Robbins, Theresa

Fernandes-Alnemri, Yigong Shi, and

Emad S. Alnemri. ‘‘A conserved XIAPinteraction motif in caspase-9 and

Smac/DIABLO regulates caspase activity

and apoptosis.’’ Nature 410(6824):112–

116, 2001. The Figure 2b data were

actually taken from a Western blot of

Bcl-XL data, in which Dr. Saleh

transposed the lanes. The experiments examined the

regulation of programmed cell death

(apoptosis), a process that is important

to a better understanding of cancer.

Figure 2b in the Nature paper

represented a control experiment that

confirmed the association of an X-linked

gene to a particular type of apoptosis. Dr. Saleh has entered into a Voluntary

Exclusion Agreement with PHS in

which he has voluntarily agreed for a

period of three (3) years, beginning on

May 3, 2001: (1) To exclude himself from any

contracting or subcontracting with any

agency of the United States Government

and from eligibility for, or involvement

in, nonprocurement transactions (e.g.,

grants and cooperative agreements) of

the United States Government as

defined in 45 CFR Part 76 (Debarment

Regulations);

(2) To exclude himself 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Director, Division of Investigative

Oversight, Office of Research Integrity,

5515 Security Lane, Suite 700,

Rockville, MD 20852, (301) 443–5330.

Chris Pascal,

Director, Office of Research Integrity.

[FR Doc. 01–12681 Filed 5–18–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4150–31–M

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and

Quality

Agency Information Collection

Activities: Proposed Collection;

Comment Request

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research

and Quality, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: This notice announces the

intention of the Agency for Healthcare

Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request

the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) to grant a ‘‘Voluntary Customer

Satisfaction Survey Generic Clearance

for the Agency for Healthcare Research

and Quality.’’ In accordance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,

Public Law 104–13 (44 U.S.C.

3506(c)(2)(A)), AHRQ invites the public

to comment on this proposed

information collection request to allow

AHRQ to conduct these customer

satisfaction surveys.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be

received by July 20, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should

be submitted to: Cynthia D. McMichael,

Reports Clearance Officer, AHRQ, 2101

East Jefferson Street, Suite 500,

Rockville, MD 20852–4908.

All comments will become a matter of

public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Cynthia D. McMichael, AHRQ, Reports

Clearance Officer, (301) 594–3132.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Proposed Project

Voluntary Customer Satisfaction Survey

Generic Clearance for the Agency for

Healthcare Research and Quality

In response to Executive Order 12862,

the Agency for Healthcare Research and

Quality (AHRQ) plans to conduct

voluntary customer satisfaction surveys

to assess strengths and weaknesses in

program services. Customer satisfaction

surveys to be conducted by AHRQ may

include readership surveys from

individuals using AHRQ automated and

electronic technology data bases to

determine satisfaction with the

information provided or surveys to

assess effects of the grants streamlining

efforts. Results of these surveys will be

used in future program planning

initiatives and to redirect resources and

efforts, as needed, to improve AHRQ

program services.

The current clearance will expire

December 31, 2001. A generic approval

will be requested from OMB to conduct

customer satisfaction surveys over the

next three years.

Method of Collection

The data will be collected using a

combination of preferred methodologies

appropriate to each survey. These

methodologies are:

• Evaluation forms;

• Mail surveys;

• Focus groups;

• Automated and electronic

technology (e.g., instant fax, on-line,

feedback forms for AHRQ Clearinghouse

Publications); and

• Telephone surveys.

The estimated annual hour burden is

as follows:

Type of survey

Number

of respondents

Average

burden/

response

(hours

per respondent)

Total

hours

of burden

Mail/Telephone

Surveys ........ 51,200 .15 7,680

Automated/

Web-based .. 52,000 .163 8,476

Focus Groups .. 200 1.0 200

Totals ....... 103,400 .159 16,441

Request for Comments

Comments are invited on: (a) The

necessity of the proposed collections;

(b) the accuracy of the Agency’s

estimate of burden (including hours and

cost) of the proposed collection of

information; (c) ways to enhance the

quality, utility and clarity of the

information to be collected; and (d)

ways to minimize the burden of the

27976 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 98 / Monday, May 21, 2001 / Notices

collection of information upon the

respondents, including the use of

automated collection techniques or

other forms of information technology.

Comments submitted in response to

this notice will be summarized and

included in the request for OMB

approval of the proposed information

collection. All comments will become a

matter of public record.

Copies of these proposed collection

plans and instruments can be obtained

from the AHRQ Reports Clearance

Officer (see above).

Dated: May 10, 2001.

John M. Eisenberg,

Director.

[FR Doc. 01–12754 Filed 5–18–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4160–90–M

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and

Quality

Notice of Meetings

In accordance with section 10(d) of

the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5

U.S.C., Appendix 2), announcement is

made of Special Emphasis Panel

meetings.

A Special Emphasis Panel (SEP) is a

committee of experts selected to

conduct scientific reviews of

applications related to their areas of

expertise. The committee members are

drawn from a list of experts designated

to serve for particular individual

meetings rather than for extended fixed

terms of services

Substantial segments of the upcoming

SEP meetings listed below will be

closed to the public in accordance with

the Federal Advisory Committee Act,

section 10(d) of 5 U.S.C., Appendix 2

and 5 U.S.C., 552b(c)(6). Grant

applications are to be reviewed and

discussed at these meetings. These

discussions are likely to include

personal information concerning

individuals associated with these

applications. This information is

exempt from mandatory disclosure

under the above-cited statutes.

1. Name of SEP: Centers of Excellence

for Patient Safety Research and Practice.

Date: June 18–19, 2001 (Open on June

18 from 8 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. and closed

for remainder of the meeting).

Place: Four Point Sheraton Hotel,

8400 Wisconsin Avenue, Conference

Room TBD, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

2. Name of SEP: Developmental

Centers for Evaluation and Research in

Patient Safety.

Date: June 20–21, 2001 (Open on June

20 from 8 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. and closed

for remainder of the meeting).

Place: Four Point Sheraton Hotel,

8400 Wisconsin Avenue, Conference

Room TBD, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

3. Name of SEP: Primary Care PBRN:

Competitive Continuations.

Date: July 13, 2001 (Open on July 13

from 8 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. and closed for

remainder of the meeting).

Place: Four Point Sheraton Hotel,

8400 Wisconsin Avenue, Conference

Room TBD, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

4. Name of SEP: Building Research

Infrastructure and Capacity (BRIC)

Program.

Date: July 30–31, 2001 (Open on July

30 from 8 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. and closed

for remainder of the meeting).

Place: Four Point Sheraton Hotel,

8400 Wisconsin Avenue, Conference

Room TBD, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

5. Name of SEP: Clinical Informatics

to Promote Patient Safety RFA.

Date: August 2–3, 2001 (Open on

August 2 from 8 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. and

closed for remainder of the meeting).

Place: Four Point Sheraton Hotel,

8400 Wisconsin Avenue, Conference

Room TBD, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

6. Name of SEP: Improving Patient

Safety: Health Systems Reporting,

Analysis and Safety Improvement

Research Demonstrations.

Date: August 6–7, 2001 (Open on

August 6 from 8 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. and

closed for remainder of the meeting).

Place: Four Point Sheraton Hotel,

8400 Wisconsin Avenue, Conference

Room TBD, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

7. Name of SEP: Patient Safety

Research Dissemination and Education.

Date: August 16–17, 2001 (Open on

August 16 from 8 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. and

closed for remainder of the meeting).

Place: Four Point Sheraton Hotel,

8400 Wisconsin Avenue, Conference

Room TBD, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

8. Name of SEP: The Effect of Health

Care Working Conditions on Quality of

Care.

Date: August 23–24, 2001 (Open on

August 23 from 8 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. and

closed for remainder of the meeting).

Place: Four Point Sheraton Hotel,

8400 Wisconsin Avenue, Conference

Room TBD, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

Contact Person: Anyone wishing to

obtain a roster of members of minutes of

these meetings should contact Ms. Jenny

Griffith, Committee management

Officer, Office of Research Review,

Education and Policy, AHRQ, 2101 East

Jefferson Street, Suite 400, Rockville,

Maryland 20852, Telephone (301) 594–

1847.

Agenda items for these meetings are

subject to change as priorities dictate.

Dated: May 14, 2001.

John M. Eisenberg,

Director.

[FR Doc. 01–12753 Filed 5–18–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4160–90–M

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and

Families

Notice of Award of Non-Competitive

Grant

AGENCY: Administration on Children,

Youth and Families (ACYF)

Administration for Children and

Families (ACF), Department of Health

and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that

ACYF will award grant funds without

competition to Western Kentucky

University Head Start Quality

Improvement Center (QIC) in the

amount of $300,000. This award is made

to the QIC to further the provision of

technical assistance services nationally

to grantees and regional offices when

they undertake the purchase,

construction or major renovation of

Head Start program facilities. The award

will be made for the budget period

beginning September 1, 2001 for a

twelve month period, under existing

grant award 90YQ0016.

Authority: This award will be made

pursuant to the Head Start Act, amended, 42

U.S.C. 9801 et seq. (CFDA 93.600)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Douglas Klafehn, Acting Associate

Commissioner, Head Start Bureau,

Administration for Children, Youth and

Families, 330 C Street SW, Washington,

D.C. 20447; (202) 205–8572.

Dated: May 15, 2001.

James A. Harrell,

Acting Commissioner, Administration on

Children, Youth and Families.

[FR Doc. 01–12684 Filed 5–18–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4184–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

Food Safety Research: Availability of

Cooperative Agreements; Request for

Applications

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration,

HHS.