Academic integrity review report: 'The synthesis and evaluation of near-infrared probes with barbituric acid acceptors for in vivo detection of amyloid plaques' (DOI: 10.1039/c5cc03662c)

Academic fraud report · Geng Detector

Summary

This report flags the Chem. Commun. 2015 paper by Zhou, Fu, Feng, Cui, Dai and Liu (DOI: 10.1039/c5cc03662c) as highly suspicious for image reuse and anomalous data presentation. The most serious concern is in Figure 3 (page 11667), where Panel A (Tg mouse C57BL6, 12 months, male) and Panel C (AD patient, 91-year-old male, temporal lobe) appear to share highly similar dark background textures and spot distributions despite representing different species, raising the possibility that the same base image was reused or composited. Figure 4 (n = 3 per the text) shows implausibly symmetric error bars across multiple time points, inconsistent with the variability expected in small-cohort in vivo fluorescence experiments. Figure 2 fluorescence emission spectra appear unnaturally smooth. Confidence is moderate; these are pattern-based observations, not proof. Final determination requires inspection of raw imaging files and original numerical data.

Verdict

🟠 Highly suspicious. Multiple independent concerns regarding image reuse and data irregularity were identified. Formal determination requires original data from the authors.

Key findings

Figure 3 (page 11667): Panel A (Tg mouse brain section) and Panel C (91-year-old human AD temporal lobe tissue) display highly similar dark background textures and spot distributions despite crossing species, strongly suggestive of shared base imagery, compositing, or copy-paste manipulation.
Figure 4 (page 11667): With n = 3 animals per group, the error bars across multiple consecutive time points show implausible symmetry and uniformity, inconsistent with natural biological variability expected from small-cohort in vivo NIR imaging.
Figure 2 (page 11666): Emission spectra for BBTOM-3 under different binding conditions (PBS, Aβ aggregates, Aβ monomers, BSA) appear unnaturally smooth and near-mirror identical, lacking the fine noise/jaggedness typical of raw fluorometer output.

Evidence highlights

DOI: 10.1039/c5cc03662c
Paper title: "The synthesis and evaluation of near-infrared probes with barbituric acid acceptors for in vivo detection of amyloid plaques"
Authors: Kaixiang Zhou, Hualong Fu, Liang Feng, Mengchao Cui, Jiapei Dai, Boli Liu
Journal: Chem. Commun., 2015
Figure 3 Panel A source (per caption): Tg mouse (C57BL6), 12 months old, male — brain section.
Figure 3 Panel C source (per caption): AD patient, 91 years old, male — temporal lobe tissue.
Figure 4 reported sample size: n = 3 per group; error bars across time points show unusual regularity.
Figure 2: emission spectra curves appear overly smooth; multiple conditions overlap in peak shape, FWHM, and decay profile.

Notes

All findings are based on visual/pattern analysis of the published PDF (c5cc03662c.pdf); raw imaging files and underlying numerical data were not available for inspection.
The cross-species background similarity in Figure 3 could in principle have alternative benign explanations (e.g., shared mounting substrate, very dark stain, image processing), but the degree of similarity described is not typical.
Implausibly clean spectra can occasionally result from aggressive smoothing, so this finding alone is weaker than the Figure 3 evidence.
Recommended actions: contact corresponding authors for original unmodified images and raw in vivo imaging values; post concerns on PubPeer; notify the Chem. Commun. editorial office.
This report is AI-assisted and intended for academic discussion only; final judgment of misconduct requires official institutional inquiry.