The Natural Science Foundation of China reported the results of the handling of a number of misconduct cases

The Natural Science Foundation of China reported the results of the handling of a number of misconduct cases

2024 Misconduct Case Handling Results Report (Second Batch)

Recently, after the investigation and deliberation of the Supervisory Committee of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and approved by the committee meeting of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China has dealt with the subjects involved in the relevant scientific research misconduct cases. In accordance with relevant provisions, the relevant facts of the case and the outcome of the handling are hereby reported.

(a)

The Supervisory Committee of the National Natural Science Foundation of China launched an investigation into suspected academic misconduct by Liu Jianni, Quan Cheng and Cheng Hai of three universities in Shaanxi.

After investigation, Liu Jianni asked a number of possible experts through email and other means during the communication review of key projects in 2021, explored the information of review experts and asked for help from many experts before the defense of key projects, and sent questions raised by the other party when they wanted to answer to two of the review experts, Quan Cheng and Cheng Hai, and disclosed the review results to others after obtaining the meeting review voting results in violation of regulations; During the review process of the 2021 Mianqingdi Project Conference, he disclosed his identity as a review expert, provided assistance to the project applicant, and disclosed the review information. Liu Jianni should be responsible for the above problems.

During the review of the above-mentioned key projects, Quancheng accepted the request of Liu Jianni, the project applicant, and disclosed to Liu Jianni his identity as a conference review expert and the information of other conference review experts he saw when he participated in the meeting. Quancheng should be responsible for the above problems.

Cheng Hai accepted the request of Liu Jianni, the project applicant, and disclosed his identity as a conference review expert to Liu Jianni, and agreed with Liu Jianni on the questions to be asked during the defense before the conference review, and disclosed the meeting review results to Liu Jianni after the meeting review. Cheng Hai should be responsible for the above problems.

After the deliberation of the third meeting of the sixth session of the Supervisory Committee of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and approved by the sixth committee meeting of the National Natural Science Foundation of China in 2024, it was decided to cancel Liu Jianni's National Natural Science Foundation project "Cambrian Biological Evolution, Fossil Burial and Paleoenvironment Reconstruction Exploration in Eastern Yunnan" (Approval No. 42130206) in accordance with the first and second paragraphs of Article 44 and Paragraph 1 of Article 50 of the Measures for the Investigation and Handling of Scientific Research Misconduct in National Natural Science Foundation of China, and recover the allocated funds. Liu Jianni's application and participation in the National Natural Science Foundation of China project will be cancelled for 3 years (April 9, 2024 to April 8, 2027), and Liu Jianni's National Natural Science Foundation project evaluation expert qualification will be cancelled for 5 years (April 9, 2024 to April 8, 2029), and Liu Jianni will be given a notice of criticism.

It was decided to cancel the qualification of the evaluation expert of the National Natural Science Foundation of China for 3 years (April 9, 2024 to April 8, 2027), and cancel the qualification of the application and participation of the National Natural Science Foundation of China for 2 years (April 9, 2024 to April 8, 2026) in accordance with the Measures for the Investigation and Handling of Scientific Research Misconduct in National Natural Science Foundation Projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China for 2 years (April 9, 2024 to April 8, 2026), and give Quancheng a notice of criticism.

It was decided to cancel Cheng Hai's qualification as an expert for the evaluation of the National Natural Science Foundation of China for 3 years (April 9, 2024 to April 8, 2027) in accordance with Article 50, Paragraphs 1 and 4 and Article 44, Paragraph 4 of the Measures for the Investigation and Handling of Scientific Research Misconduct in National Natural Science Foundation Projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and to give Cheng Hai a notice of criticism.

(b)

The Supervisory Committee of the National Natural Science Foundation of China has launched an investigation into the suspected academic misconduct of papers published by Huang Feiruo and Wang Tongxin of a university in Hubei. The papers involved are as follows:

论文1：Wang T, Huang F*, etal. L-leucine stimulates glutamate dehydrogenase activity and glutamate synthesis by regulating mTORC1/SIRT4 pathway in pig liver. Anim Nutr. 2018, 4(3):329-337.（标注基金号31572409）

论文2：Wang T, Huang F*, etal. Dietary embelin supplementation during mid-to-late gestation improves performance and maternal-fetal glucose metabolism of pigs. J Anim Sci. 2023, 101:skad010.（标注基金号32072742）

论文3：Wang T, Huang F*, etal. Targeting gut microbiota-derived butyrate improves hepatic gluconeogenesis through the cAMP-PKA-GCN5 pathway in late pregnant sows. Food Funct. 2022, 13(8):4360-4374.（标注基金号32072742）

论文4：Wang T, Huang F*, etal. The effect of dietary garcinol supplementation on oxidative stability, muscle postmortem glycolysis and meat quality in pigs. Meat Sci. 2020, 161:107998.（标注基金号31572409）

论文5：Wang T, Huang F*, etal. Dietary garcinol supplementation improves diarrhea and intestinal barrier function associated with its modulation of gut microbiota in weaned piglets. J Anim Sci Biotechnol. 2020, 11:12.（标注基金号31572409）

论文6：Wang T#, Huang F*, etal. Embelin alleviates weaned piglets intestinal inflammation and barrier dysfunction via PCAF/NF-κB signaling pathway in intestinal epithelial cells. J Anim Sci Biotechnol. 2022, 13(1):139.（标注基金号32072742）

论文7：Wang T, Huang F*, etal. Effect of conditioning temperature on pelleting characteristics, nutrient digestibility and gut microbiota of sorghum-based diets for growing pigs. Animal Feed Sci Tech. 2019, 54.（标注基金号31572409）

论文8：Wang T, Huang F*, etal. Effects of different processing techniques of palm kernel cake on processing quality of pellet feed, nutrient digestibility, and intestinal microbiota of pigs. J Anim Sci. 2023, 101:skad217.（标注基金号32072742）

论文9：Wang T, Huang F*, etal. The Variation of Nasal Microbiota Caused by Low Levels of Gaseous Ammonia Exposure in Growing Pigs. Front Microbiol. 2019, 10:1083.（标注基金号31572409）

论文10：Huang F*, etal. Effects of garcinol supplementation on the performance, egg quality, and intestinal health of laying hens in the late laying period. Poult Sci. 2023, 102(10):102939.（标注基金号32072742）

After investigation, the same picture in paper 1 represents different meanings, and there is a problem of confusion in the use of pictures. Paper 2 is highly repetitive with other papers published by our team in 2019, which violates the publication norms. The data described in papers 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are inconsistent with the original data, and there is a problem of data tampering; Paper 10 has the problem of falsifying data. Huang Feiruo (corresponding author of 10 papers) and Wang Tongxin (first author of papers 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, co-first author of paper 6) should be responsible for the problems existing in the corresponding papers. In addition, Huang Feiruo should also be responsible if he included papers 1, 4, 7 and 9 in the progress/final report of the fund project (approval number 31572409), and included papers 2, 3, 4 and 6 in the application form and progress/conclusion report of the fund project (approval number 32072742); Wang Tongxin included papers 2, 4 and 5 in the application for the fund project (approval number 32302763), and Wang Tongxin should also be responsible for this.

After the deliberation of the third meeting of the sixth session of the Supervisory Committee of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and approved by the 5th committee meeting of the National Natural Science Foundation of China in 2024, it was decided to revoke Huang Feiruo's National Natural Science Foundation project "Research on the role and mechanism of histone acetylation regulation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway in ammonia metabolism in pig liver" in accordance with Articles 47, 40, 42, 5 and 46 of the Measures for the Investigation and Treatment of Scientific Research Misconduct in National Natural Science Foundation of China (Approval No. 31572409) and "Mechanism of Action of PCAF Regulating Pyruvate Metabolism in Liver Glucose Metabolism Disorders in Sows in the Late Pregnancy Period" (Approval No. 32072742), recovered the allocated funds of 2 projects, cancelled Huang Feiruo's application for the National Natural Science Foundation of China and his qualifications to participate in the application for 5 years (March 26, 2024 to March 25, 2029), and gave Huang Feiruo a notice of criticism.

It was decided to revoke Wang Tongxin's National Natural Science Foundation project "Molecular Mechanism of Pyruvate Metabolism Disorder in Weaned Piglet Hepatocytes Caused by PDH Acetylation" (Approval No. 32302763) in accordance with Article 47, Article 40 and Article 42, Item 5 of the Measures for the Investigation and Handling of Scientific Research Misconduct in National Natural Science Foundation of China Projects, and cancel Wang Tongxin's application and participation in the National Natural Science Foundation of China project for 3 years (March 26, 2024 to March 25, 2027). Wang Tongxin was given a notice of criticism.

(c)

The Supervisory Committee of the National Natural Science Foundation of China conducted an investigation into two papers published by Zhang Fengyan and Wang Shuai of a university in Henan Province on suspicion of academic misconduct. The papers involved are as follows:

论文1：Shuai Wang#，Fengyan Zhang*, etal. Elevated microRNA-20b-3p and reduced thioredoxin-interacting protein ameliorate diabetic retinopathy progression by suppressing the NLRP3 inflammasomes. IUBMB Life, 2020, 72(7): 1433-1448.（标注基金号81970785）

论文2：Fengyan Zhang*, etal. Decorin inhibits glucose-induced lens epithelial cell apoptosis via suppressing p22(phox)-p38 MAPK signaling pathway. PLoS One, 2020, 15(4): e0224251.（标注基金号81970785）

After investigation, paper 1 has the problem of purchasing data, and the first author Wang Shuai and the corresponding author Zhang Fengyan should be responsible for this problem. Paper 2 has the problem of chaotic use of pictures, and the corresponding authors Zhang Fengyan and others should be responsible for this problem. In addition, Zhang Fengyan included Paper 1 and Paper 2 in the progress report of the fund project (Grant No. 81970785), and Zhang Fengyan should also be responsible for this issue.

After the deliberation of the third meeting of the sixth session of the Supervisory Committee of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and approved by the sixth committee meeting of the National Natural Science Foundation of China in 2024, it was decided to revoke Zhang Fengyan's National Natural Science Foundation project "Molecular Mechanism of Lens Capsular Microenvironment-Exosome Regulation of Posterior Cataract (PCO) Lesions" in accordance with Articles 47, 42, 2, 40 and 46 of the Measures for the Investigation and Handling of Scientific Research Misconduct in National Natural Science Foundation of China (Approval No. 81970785), recover the allocated funds, cancel Zhang Fengyan's application for the National Natural Science Foundation of China and her qualifications to participate in the application for 5 years (April 9, 2024 to April 8, 2029), and give Zhang Fengyan a notice of criticism.

It was decided to cancel Wang Shuai's application and participation in the National Natural Science Foundation of China project for 5 years (April 9, 2024 to April 8, 2029) in accordance with Article 47 and Article 42, Item 2 of the Measures for the Investigation and Handling of Scientific Research Misconduct in National Natural Science Foundation of China, and give Wang Shuai a notice of criticism.

(iv)

The Supervisory Committee of the National Natural Science Foundation of China launched an investigation into the suspected academic misconduct of a paper published by Jiang Qiyu at a college in Guangdong. The papers involved are as follows:

JIANG Qiyu. Career Planning and Employment Guidance for Higher Vocational Students under the Background of Quality Standards: A Review of Career Planning and Employment and Entrepreneurship Guidance for Higher Vocational Students[J].Forest Products Industry,2021,58(04):133 71873016.

After investigation, Jiang Qiyu had the problem of entrusting a third-party agency to submit the manuscript, and the paper involved also had the objective fact of marking other people's fund projects without authorization, and Jiang Qiyu, the sole author of the paper, should be responsible for the above problems. In addition, Jiang Qiyu should also be held responsible for the problem of concealing evidence during the investigation of the case.

After deliberation at the third meeting of the sixth session of the Supervisory Committee of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and approved by the sixth committee meeting of the National Natural Science Foundation of China in 2024, it was decided to cancel Jiang Qiyu's application and participation in the National Natural Science Foundation of China project for 5 years (April 9, 2024 to April 8, 2029) in accordance with Article 47, Article 42, Paragraph 3, Article 43, Paragraph 6, and Article 36, Paragraph 1 of the Measures for the Investigation and Handling of Scientific Research Misconduct in National Natural Science Foundation of China. Jiang Qiyu was given a notice of criticism.

(5)

The Supervisory Committee of the National Natural Science Foundation of China has launched an investigation into the suspected academic misconduct of a paper published by Chen Jing and others at a university in Jiangsu. The papers involved are as follows:

Jing Chen*, etal. Numerical simulation of nanofluid transportation due to MHD within a porous space. Applied Nanoscience, 2021(13), doi.org/10.1007/s13204 -021-01988-0.

After investigation, the paper involved had the problems of entrusting a third-party intermediary to submit the manuscript and using the signature of others without consent, and Chen Jing, the first and corresponding author, should be responsible for the above problems. In addition, Chen Jing included the paper in the application for two science fund projects for which she was a participant, and Chen Jing should also be responsible for this issue.

After deliberation at the third meeting of the sixth session of the Supervisory Committee of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and approved by the sixth committee meeting of the National Natural Science Foundation of China in 2024, it was decided to cancel Chen Jing's application and participation in the National Natural Science Foundation of China project application and participation in the application for 3 years (April 9, 2024 to April 8, 2027) in accordance with Article 42, Paragraph 3 and Article 43, Paragraph 1 of the Measures for the Investigation and Handling of Scientific Research Misconduct in National Natural Science Foundation of China Projects, and give Chen Jing a notice of criticism.

(f)

The Supervisory Committee of the National Natural Science Foundation of China has launched an investigation into the suspected academic misconduct of papers published by Yan Qiu and others at a university in Liaoning. The papers involved are as follows:

论文1：Qiu Yan*, etal. Ginsenoside Rg3 inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasion of lung cancer by down-regulating FUT4. Oncotarget. 2016; 7(2): 1619-1632.（标注基金号81572881）

论文2：Yan Q*, etal. miR-200b inhibits proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer by targeting fucosyltransferase IV and α1,3-fucosylated glycans. Oncogenesis. 2017; 6(7):e358. （标注基金号81572881、31670810、31270866）

论文3：Qiu Yan*, etal. Cyclophosphamide-induced apoptosis in A431 cells is inhibited by fucosyltransferase IV. J Cell Biochem. 2011; 112(5):1376-1383.（标注基金号30800195、30672753）

论文4：Qiu Yan*, etal. Tunicamycin enhances the suppressive effects of cisplatin on lung cancer growth through PTX3 glycosylation via AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway. Int J Oncol. 2019; 54(2):431-442. （标注基金号31670810、31870794、81572881）

论文5：Qiu Yan*, etal. AP1 mediates uPA/uPAR induced FUT4 expression and trophoblast invasion. J Cell Biochem. 2018; 119(8):6442-6451.（标注基金号31770857、31670810）

论文6：Qiu Yan*, etal. By inhibiting Ras/Raf/ERK and MMP-9, knockdown of EpCAM inhibits breast cancer cell growth and metastasis. Oncotarget. 2015; 6(29):27187-27198.（标注基金号30800195、31070729、31270866）

After investigation, the above paper has the problem of confusing the use of pictures. Yan Qiu, the corresponding author/co-corresponding author of the paper, should be responsible for the problems existing in the paper. In addition, Yan Qiu included paper 1 in the final report of the fund project (approval number 31670810), paper 3 in the application for the fund project (approval number 31270866), and paper 6 in the application for the fund project (approval number 31670810), and Yan Qiu should also be responsible for this issue.

After the deliberation of the third meeting of the sixth session of the Supervisory Committee of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and approved by the sixth committee meeting of the National Natural Science Foundation of China in 2024, it was decided to revoke the Yanqiu National Natural Science Foundation project "Research on the regulation and pathogenic mechanism of reproductive endocrine hormones on protein glycosylation of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)" (approval number 31670810) in accordance with Articles 47, 40 and 46 of the Measures for the Investigation and Treatment of Scientific Research Misconduct in National Natural Science Foundation of China Projects. "Study on the characteristics and function of O-fucosylation during embryonic development and implantation" (Grant No. 31270866), "Study on the mechanism of action of glycosylation-dependent uPA/uPAR molecular binding and function in embryo implantation and related pregnancy diseases" (Grant No. 31870794) and "Analysis of endometrial LeY/sleX glycoprotein and its role in embryo implantation" (Grant No. 31070729), recovered the allocated funds for 4 projects, Yanqiu's application and participation qualifications for the National Natural Science Foundation of China will be cancelled for 5 years (April 9, 2024 to April 8, 2029), and Yanqiu will be criticized in a circular.

(g)

The Supervisory Committee of the National Natural Science Foundation of China conducted an investigation into two papers published by Hu Jingbo and others at a university in Zhejiang Province for suspected academic misconduct. The papers involved are as follows:

论文1：Jingbo Hu#*, etal, Fengyan Li, Quan Zhou, Peiwu Geng, Shuanghu Wang, Yue Yu, Jin Liu*. A stepwise-targeting strategy for the treatment of cerebral ischemic stroke. J Nanobiotechnology. 2021 Nov 17; 19(1):371.（标注基金号81801832）

论文2：Jingbo Hu*, etal. Co-delivery of doxorubicin and SIS3 by folate-targeted polymeric micelles for overcoming tumor multidrug resistance. Drug Deliv Transl Res. 2022 Jan; 12(1):167-179.（标注基金号81801832、81901811）

After investigation, there are problems of forgery and tampering in papers 1 and 2, and Hu Jingbo, the first author and corresponding author of paper 1 and corresponding author of paper 2, should be responsible for the above problems. In addition, Hu Jingbo included papers 1 and 2 in the final report of the fund project (approval number 81801832), and Hu Jingbo should also be responsible for this issue.

After the deliberation of the third meeting of the sixth session of the Supervisory Committee of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and approved by the sixth committee meeting of the National Natural Science Foundation of China in 2024, it was decided to revoke Hu Jingbo's National Natural Science Foundation of China project "Research on the effect and mechanism of osteoplast targeting GDF11 siRNA and atorvastatin co-loaded nanosystems on osteoporosis in accordance with Articles 47, 40 and 46 of the Measures for the Investigation and Treatment of Scientific Research Misconduct in National Natural Science Foundation of China (Approval No. 81801832), recover the allocated funds, cancel Hu Jingbo's application for the National Natural Science Foundation of China and his qualifications to participate in the application for 3 years (April 9, 2024 to April 8, 2027), and give Hu Jingbo a notice of criticism.

(viii)

The Supervisory Committee of the National Natural Science Foundation of China has launched an investigation into the suspected academic misconduct of a paper published by Du Jinxuan and others at a university in Sichuan. The papers involved are as follows:

Du Jinxuan and others. A prospective cohort study of 1% polidocanol foam sclerosing agent combined with external stripping and internal ligation in the treatment of II.~IV. hemorrhoidal disease. Advances in Modern General Surgery in China, 2023, 26(5): 379-384. (Marked with fund number 82007449)

After investigation, the paper involved had the problems of falsifying research data, marking fictitious science fund project approval numbers, and using other people's signatures without consent. The first author, Du Jinxuan, should be responsible for the above problems.

After deliberation at the third meeting of the sixth session of the Supervisory Committee of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and approved by the sixth committee meeting of the National Natural Science Foundation of China in 2024, it was decided to cancel Du Jinxuan's application and participation in the National Natural Science Foundation of China project application and participation in the application for 3 years (April 9, 2024 to April 8, 2027) in accordance with Article 47, Article 40, Paragraphs 1 and 7 of the Measures for the Investigation and Handling of Scientific Research Misconduct in National Natural Science Foundation of China Projects, and give Du Jinxuan a notice of criticism.

(ix)

The Supervisory Committee of the National Natural Science Foundation of China has launched an investigation into the suspected academic misconduct of papers published by Yan Shicheng and others at a university in Tianjin. The papers involved are as follows:

论文1：Shi-Cheng Yan*, etal. Thermomechanical and tribological properties of polyimide and polyethersulfone blends reinforced with expanded graphite particles at various elevated temperatures. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2022, 139: 52512.（标注基金号52105198、52105199）

论文2：Shicheng Yan, etal. Tribological behavior of graphite oxide reinforced polyethersulfone composite under drying sliding condition. Polymer Composites, 2018, 39 (7) , 2320-2335. （列入基金项目申请书）

论文3：Shicheng Yan*, etal. Preparation and properties of aluminum phosphate‐polyethersulfone laminated composites modified by aluminosilicate fiber fabric. Polymer Composites, 2019, 40 (10) , 4102-4112.（列入基金项目申请书）

After investigation, the paper 1 involved had problems such as plagiarizing other people's paper pictures, tampering with picture rulers, using other people's signatures without consent, registering other people's email addresses without others' consent and using them for paper submission, and marking other people's science fund projects without authorization, and Yan Shicheng, the corresponding author of the paper, should be responsible for the above problems; There is a problem of confusion in the use of pictures in paper 2, and the first author, Yan Shicheng, should be responsible for the problems existing in the paper; The paper involved in the 3rd paper has the problems of confused use of pictures and tampering with the image ruler, and Yan Shicheng, the first and corresponding author, should be responsible for the problems existing in the paper. In addition, Yan Shicheng is also responsible for the progress report of the inclusion of paper 1 in the fund project (grant number 52105199) and the inclusion of paper 2 and paper 3 in the application for the fund project (approval number 52105199).

After deliberation at the third meeting of the sixth session of the Supervisory Committee of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and approved by the sixth committee meeting of the National Natural Science Foundation of China in 2024, it was decided to revoke Yan Shicheng's project "Research on the Tribological Chemical Reaction Mechanism of Polyethersulfone Self-lubricating Transfer Films with a wide temperature range" in accordance with Articles 47, 40, 43, Paragraphs 1 and 6, and Article 42, Paragraph 5 of the Measures for the Investigation and Handling of Scientific Research Misconduct in National Natural Science Foundation of China (Approval No. 52105199), recover the allocated funds, cancel Yan Shicheng's application for the National Natural Science Foundation of China and his qualifications to participate in the application for 5 years (April 9, 2024 to April 8, 2029), and give Yan Shicheng a notice of criticism.

(x)

The Supervisory Committee of the National Natural Science Foundation of China has launched an investigation into the suspected academic misconduct of papers published by Ai Yongle and others at a university in Henan. The papers involved are as follows:

Ai Yongle et al. Geomatics and Engineering Science of Wuhan University,2021,54(11):1037-1043 51777060.

After investigation, the paper involved had the problem of plagiarizing the papers published by others and marking the science fund projects of others without authorization. The first authors, Ai Yongle, and others should be responsible for the above problems.

After deliberation at the third meeting of the sixth session of the Supervisory Committee of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and approved by the sixth committee meeting of the National Natural Science Foundation of China in 2024, it was decided to cancel Ai Yongle's application and participation in the National Natural Science Foundation of China project application and participation qualification for 3 years (April 9, 2024 to April 8, 2027) in accordance with Article 47, Article 40 and Article 43, Item 6 of the Measures for the Investigation and Handling of Scientific Research Misconduct in National Natural Science Foundation Projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and give Ai Yongle a notice of criticism.