Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 236 / Tuesday, December 9, 2014 / Notices 73077 

Darius Taylor, 

Information Collection Clearance Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2014–28705 Filed 12–8–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4150–04–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Office of the Secretary 

Findings of Misconduct in Science 

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) 

has taken final action in the following 

case: 

Kaushik Deb, Ph.D., University of 

Missouri-Columbia: Based upon the 

evidence and findings of an 

investigation report by the University of 

Missouri-Columbia (UM) transmitted to 

the United States Department of Health 

and Human Services (HHS), Office of 

Research Integrity (ORI) and additional 

analysis conducted by ORI in its 

oversight review, ORI found that Dr. 

Kaushik Deb, former Postdoctoral 

Fellow, Life Sciences Center, UM, 

engaged in misconduct in science in 

research that was supported by National 

Institute of Child Health and Human 

Development (NICHD), National 

Institutes of Health (NIH), grants 2 R01 

HD021896 and 5 R01 HD042201–05 and 

National Center for Research Resources 

(NCRR), NIH, grant 5 R01 RR013438–07. 

ORI found that the Respondent 

intentionally, knowingly, and recklessly 

fabricated and falsified data reported in 

the following published paper: 

• Deb, K., Sivarguru, M., Yong, H., & 

Roberts, R.M. ‘‘Cdx2 gene expression 

and trophectoderm lineage specification 

in mouse embryos.’’ Science 311:992– 

996, 2006 (hereafter referred to as 

‘‘Science 311’’); this paper was retracted 

on July 27, 2007 

An earlier version of Science 311 had 

been previously submitted to Nature on 

or about June 24, 2005 (hereafter 

referred to as ‘‘Nature #1’’). It was 

revised and resubmitted to Nature on or 

about August 24, 2005, and ultimately 

was rejected by Nature on September 

14, 2005 (hereafter referred to as 

‘‘Nature #2’’). 

Specifically, ORI finds by a 

preponderance of the evidence that the 

Respondent engaged in misconduct in 

science by intentionally, knowingly, 

and recklessly: 

1. Falsifying and/or fabricating three 

panels of data in Figure 1 (Figures 1C, 

1D, and 1E) in Science 311 and in 

Nature #1 and Nature #2, by photomanipulating confocal fluorescent 

images to falsely represent three-, 

four-, and six-cell embryos, thereby 

supporting the paper’s central premise 

that cells derived from a late-dividing 

blastomere would be positive for a 

transcription factor, Cdx2, while the 

cells derived from a leading blastomere 

would be Cdx2 negative 

2. using photo-manipulation to falsify 

and fabricate at least 13 panels of 

confocal image data in Figures 2, 3, and 

S2, including Figures 2K, 2L, 2Q, 2R, 

2V, 2X, 3G, 3H, 3I, S2s, S2t, S2u, and 

2W, in Science 311 and in 

corresponding figures in Nature #1 and 

Nature #2 so that these images falsely 

supported the central premise in 

Science 311 that Cdx2-expressing cells 

were peripherally located in the embryo 

3. falsifying Figures 2G, 3J, 3L, S2V, 

S2X, S6I, S6J, and S6K in Science 311, 

Figures 2A, 2C, S4v, and S4x in Nature 

#1, and Figures 2G, 3I, 3J, and 3K in 

Nature #2 by reusing and re-labelling 

the same image to represent different 

embryos and different experimental 

conditions 

4. falsifying Figure 4 in Science 311 

and corresponding figures submitted in 

Nature #1 and Nature #2 to falsely 

illustrate that the first dividing cell of a 

two-cell mouse embryo will ultimately 

differentiate into the trophoblast; 

specifically, Respondent: 

• Falsely colored and 

photomanipulated a single bright-phase 

image of a three-cell embryo to make it 

appear as four separate embryos that 

had been differentially injected with 

TRD 

• falsely colored and 

photomanipulated a four-cell embryo to 

make TRD appear distinctly located in 

the lagging cell and in its descendent 

cell, when the actual embryo contained 

diffuse staining within the sub-zonal, 

extracellular space 

• photomanipulated a damaged, nonviable two-cell embryo to make it 

appear viable 

• re-used, falsely colored, and 

relabeled seven images from an 

unrelated experiment to falsely 

represent a time lapse course of eight 

different images 

5. falsifying Figures 5K, 5L, 5N, and 

5O in Science 311 by photomanipulating a single confocal image to 

falsely represent four different images at 

two different stages of embryonic 

development. The images also were 

presented as Figures 4k, 4l, 4n, and 4o 

in Nature #1. 

The Respondent failed to take 

responsibility for the fabrication and 

falsification described in ORI’s findings. 

The following administrative actions 

have been implemented for a period of 

three (3) years, beginning on November 

17, 2014: 

(1) Respondent is debarred from any 

contracting or subcontracting with any 

agency of the United States Government 

and from eligibility for, or involvement 

in, nonprocurement programs of the 

United States Government referred to as 

‘‘covered transactions’’ pursuant to 

HHS’ Implementation (2 CFR part 376 et 

seq) of Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) Guidelines to Agencies 

on Governmentwide Debarment and 

Suspension, 2 CFR part 180 (collectively 

the ‘‘Debarment Regulations’’); and 

(2) Respondent is prohibited 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 FURTHER INFORMATION: Acting 

Director, Office of Research Integrity, 

1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 750, 

Rockville, MD 20852, (240) 453–8800. 

Donald Wright, 

Acting Director, Office of Research Integrity. 

[FR Doc. 2014–28859 Filed 12–8–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4150–31–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Administration for Children and 

Families 

Submission for OMB Review; 

Comment Request 

Title: Head Start Family and Child 

Experiences Survey (FACES). 

OMB No.: 0970–0151. 

Description: The Office of Planning, 

Research and Evaluation (OPRE), 

Administration for Children and 

Families (ACF), U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services (HHS), is 

proposing to collect data for a new 

round of the Head Start Family and 

Child Experiences Survey (FACES). 

Featuring a new ‘‘Core Plus’’ study 

design, FACES will provide data on a 

set of key indicators, including 

information for performance measures. 

The design allows for more rapid and 

frequent data reporting (Core studies) 

and serves as a vehicle for studying 

more complex issues and topics in 

greater detail and with increased 

efficiency (Plus studies). 


rljohnson on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
73078 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 236 / Tuesday, December 9, 2014 / Notices 

The FACES Core study will assess the 

school readiness skills of Head Start 

children, survey their parents, and ask 

their Head Start teachers to rate 

children’s social and emotional skills. In 

addition, FACES will include 

observations in Head Start classrooms, 

and program director, center director, 

and teacher surveys. FACES Plus 

studies include additional survey 

content of policy or programmatic 

interest, and may include additional 

programs or respondents beyond those 

participating in the Core FACES study. 

Previous notices provided the 

opportunity for public comment on the 

proposed Head Start program 

recruitment and center selection process 

(FR V. 78, pg. 75569 12/12/2013; FR V. 

79, pg. 8461 02/12/2014) and the childlevel data collection (FR V. 79, pg. 

11445 02/28/2014; FR V. 79; pg. 27620 

5/14/2014). This 30-day notice describes 

the planned data collection activities for 

spring 2015. Classroom sampling 

information collection, parent 

supplement survey content, and teacher, 

program director, and center director 

surveys for the Core study are included 

in this information collection request. 

Additionally, parent and staff 

interviews are included for FACES Plus 

studies. 

Methods for Core data collection 

involve returning to 60 programs visited 

in fall 2014, where we will conduct 

previously approved activities of child 

assessments, parent surveys, and 

Teacher Child Reports. An additional 

240 Head Start centers in 120 Head Start 

programs will be visited to sample 

classrooms. Field enrollment specialists 

(FES) will request a list of all Head 

Start-funded classrooms from Head Start 

staff. Across all 180 programs, 720 

teachers, 180 program directors, and 360 

center directors will complete surveys 

about the Head Start classroom or 

program and their own background 

using the Web or paper-and-pencil 

forms. 

Two Plus studies are also planned in 

spring 2015. First, a topical module on 

family engagement will be conducted in 

the 60 programs participating in childlevel data collection. All parents will 

complete a 5-minute spring supplement 

to the parent survey about parent-staff 

relationship and communication and 

community support. All teachers will 

complete a 5-minute Plus survey about 

parent-staff relationships (FPTRQ) as 

part of the core teacher survey. A 

subsample of Head Start parents (n=360) 

and Family Service Staff (n=180) will be 

interviewed on parent involvement in 

Head Start and program outreach and 

engagement practices. Interviews will 

take about one-hour and will be 

conducted by phone using paper-andpencil guides. Second, within the 120 

programs participating in classroomonly-level data collection, 480 

classroom teachers will complete a new 

measure of program functioning (5EEarly Ed) to examine its reliability and 

validity for future FACES use. 

The purpose of the Core data 

collection is to support the 2007 

reauthorization of the Head Start 

program (P.L. 110–134), which calls for 

periodic assessments of Head Start’s 

quality and effectiveness. As additional 

information collection activities are 

fully developed, in a manner consistent 

with the description provided in the 60- 

day notice (79 FR 11445) and prior to 

use, we will submit these materials for 

a 30-day public comment period under 

the Paperwork Reduction Act. 

Respondents: Parents of Head Start 

children, Head Start teachers and Head 

Start staff. 

ANNUAL BURDEN ESTIMATES—CURRENT INFORMATION COLLECTION REQUEST

Instrument Total number 

of respondents 

Annual 

number of 

respondents 

Number of 

responses per 

respondent 

Average 

burden hour 

per response 

Estimated 

annual burden 

hours 

Classroom sampling form from Head Start staff ................. 360 120 1 0.17 20 

Head Start spring parent supplement survey ...................... 2,400 800 1 0.08 64 

Head Start core teacher survey ........................................... 720 240 1 0.50 120 

Head Start core program director survey ............................ 180 60 1 0.50 30 

Head Start core center director survey ............................... 360 120 1 0.42 50 

Head Start parent qualitative interview (Family Engagement) ................................................................................ 360 120 1 1.00 120 

Head Start staff qualitative interview (FSS Engagement) ... 180 60 1 1.00 60 

Head Start staff (FSS) roster form ...................................... 60 20 1 0.17 3 

Head Start parent engagement interview consent form ...... 360 120 1 0.17 20 

Head Start staff engagement interview consent form ......... 180 60 1 0.17 10 

Early care and education providers survey for Plus study 

(5E-Early Ed Pilot) ............................................................ 480 160 1 0.33 53 

Early care and education providers survey for Plus study 

(FPTRQ) ........................................................................... 240 80 1 0.08 6 

Total .............................................................................. ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................ 556 

Additional Information: Copies of the 

proposed collection may be obtained by 

writing to the Administration for 

Children and Families, Office of 

Planning, Research and Evaluation, 370 

L’Enfant Promenade SW., Washington, 

DC 20447, Attn: OPRE Reports 

Clearance Officer. All requests should 

be identified by the title of the 

information collection. Email address: 

OPREinfocollection@acf.hhs.gov. 

OMB Comment: OMB is required to 

make a decision concerning the 

collection of information between 30 

and 60 days after publication of this 

document in the Federal Register. 

Therefore, a comment is best assured of 

having its full effect if OMB receives it 

within 30 days of publication. Written 

comments and recommendations for the 

proposed information collection should 

be sent directly to the following: Office 

of Management and Budget, Paperwork 

Reduction Project, Fax: OIRA_

SUBMISSION@OMB.EOP.GOV, Attn: 

Desk Officer for the Administration for 

Children and Families. 

Naomi Goldstein, 

Director, Office of Planning, Research and 

Evaluation; Administration for Children and 

Families. 

[FR Doc. 2014–28776 Filed 12–8–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4184–22–P 


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