Research Integrity in Greater China: Surveying Regulations,Perceptions and Knowledge of Research Integrity from a Hong Kong Perspective

In their 2010 article ‘Research Integrity in China: Problems and Prospects’, Zeng and Resnik challenge others to engage in empirical research on research integrity in China. Here we respond to that call in three ways: first, we provide updates to their analysis of regulations and allegations of scientific misconduct; second, we report on two surveys conducted in Hong Kong that provide empirical backing to describe ways in which problems and prospects that Zeng and Resnik identify are being explored; and third, we continue the discussion started by Zeng and Resnik, pointing to ways in which China's high‐profile participation in international academic research presents concerns about research integrity. According to our research, based upon searches of both English and Chinese language literature and policies, and two surveys conducted in Hong Kong, academic faculty and research post‐graduate students in Hong Kong are aware of and have a positive attitude towards responsible conduct of research. Although Hong Kong is but one small part of China, we present this research as a response to concerns Zeng and Resnik introduce and as a call for a continued conversation.     

Anisakis physeteris: Amino acids in body tissues

The whole cuticle, perienteric fluid, and reproductive organs of Anisakis physeteris Baylis, 1923 from the sperm whale were analyzed for amino acid composition. Amino acid nitrogen per total nitrogen accounted for 96.2% in the cuticle. Corresponding values of TCA supernatant and precipitated fractions of perienteric fluid and reproductive organ were obtained. Proline, glycine, and arginine occurred abundantly in cuticle hydrolyzate. Lysine, glutamic acid, glycine, valine, leucine and histidine occounted for approximately 62% of total nitrogen in reproductive organ fractions. Differences were observed in the amounts of certain amino acids present in corresponding tissue of males and females as well as different tissue fractions from nematodes of the same sex, e.g., more serine in male cuticle than female, more proline in the protein of female reproductive organs than male; methionine present in cuticular protein and reproductive organ protein and nonprotein fractions but absent in perienteric fluid, and cystine in cuticular protein but not the other fractions. Untreated Anisakis hemolymph showed at least a 2-fold increase in ammonia in analyses made 2 and 10 days after bleeding. The relatively large ammonia content could have been in part the result of functional ornithine cycle and amino acid oxidase activity in vivo.     

The effectiveness of bird hides in mitigating recreational disturbances of birdwatchers

Bird hides are often built to ameliorate the disturbance of birdwatchers at birdwatching sites. However, the effectiveness of such shelters is rarely evaluated. This study investigated the recreational disturbances induced by birdwatchers at Mai Po Nature Reserve in Hong Kong and examined the effectiveness of bird hides in mitigating birdwatcher impacts. A bird disturbance survey was conducted to record the disturbances caused by birdwatchers and responses shown by birds at three sampling sites in Mai Po Nature Reserve. A total of 469 observations were recorded in 25 field days from Oct 2019 to April 2020. The results indicated that bird hides significantly mitigated the frequency of disturbance and level of response of birds. With a bird hide, the frequency of disturbance was lower than the unsheltered site given that both sites have a similar level of visitation, yet, disturbance frequency was not significantly lower if the bird hide was highly utilized by birdwatchers. Birds had shown less vigorous and slower responses to disturbances at sites with bird hides than that without. On the other hand, at those sites with bird hides, birds responded at a farther distance than birds at the unsheltered site, which a longer distance may represent a greater level of disturbance. Upon disturbances, birds at the unsheltered site tended to stay in the original area, while birds around bird hides tend to settle further from the original habitat. Visual disturbances were well avoided at bird hides when compared to an unsheltered environment, however, disturbance from noise was found to be more prevalent at bird hides. Implications of these findings were discussed, and recommendations regarding the use, setting, and design of bird hides, and visitor management were given.     

Development of a nontoxic acoustic window nutrient-mist bioreactor and relevant growth data

Summary A nutrient-mist bioreactor was designed that separates the nutrient medium from the electronic components via an acoustic window. This eliminates compromising culture sterility when repairing mechanical failures common with commercially available mist reactors. The experimental mist bioreactor is low cost and can be assembled in any laboratory. Toxicity tests of several potential acoustically transparent materials are included. Details of the construction procedures include methods for casting the window. Growth data using the newly designed nutrient mist bioreactor are compared to data from a commercial mist reactor, shake flasks, and Gelrite cultures.Artemisia annua hairy roots andNephrolepis exaltata shoot cultures showed growth comparable to the conventional tissue culture methods.     

Foraging ecology of insectivorous birds in a mixed forest of Hong Kong

In a mixed forest in Hong Kong, the foraging ecology of nine species of insectivorous birds was studied. Leaves and branches of diameters smaller than 2 cm were the most frequently searched microhabitats. Gleaning was the most frequently used foraging method. Apart from Blue-winged Minla and Japanese White-eye, no two species used similar proportions of vertical strata and microhabitats at the same time. Bird species using similar proportion of microhabitats were foraging in different proportion of vertical strata. This niche segregation enabled the bird species to coexist in the same habitat. Velvet-fronted Nuthatch differed from other species by its more frequent use of branches of diameters larger than 2 cm and tree trunks. This might be one of the reasons why this exotic species successfully established a breeding population in the study area.     

Conductive,Solution‐Processed Dioxythiophene Copolymers for Thermoelectric and Transparent Electrode Applications

Conjugated polymers with high electrical conductivities are attractive for applications in capacitors, biosensors, organic thermoelectrics, and transparent electrodes. Here, a series of solution processable dioxythiophene copolymers based on 3,4‐propylenedioxythiophene (ProDOT) and 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) is investigated as thermoelectric and transparent electrode materials. Through structural manipulation of the polymer repeat unit, the conductivity of the polymers upon oxidative solution doping is tuned from 1 × 10^?3 to 3 S cm^?1, with a polymer consisting of a solubilizing alkylated ProDOT unit and an electron‐rich biEDOT unit (referred to as PE₂) showing the highest electrical conductivity. Optimization of the film casting method and screening of dopants result in AgPF₆‐doped PE₂ achieving a high electrical conductivity of over 250 S cm^?1 and a thermoelectric power factor of 7 μW m^?1 K^?2. Oxidized spray cast films of PE₂ are also assessed as a transparent electrode material for use with another electrochromic polymer. This bilayer shows reversible electrochemical switching from a colored charge‐neutral state to a highly transmissive color‐neutral, oxidized state. These results demonstrate that dioxythiophene‐based copolymers are a promising class of materials, with ProDOT–biEDOT serving as a soluble analog to the well‐studied PEDOT as a p‐type thermoelectric and electrode material.