Jubb M. Communication or competition: what motivates researchers to write articles for journals?Learned Publishing 2014;27(4): 251-252
(doi: 10.1087/20140403)
The author presents insights on whether competition or communication motivates researchers to write and publish articles in scholarly journals. He discusses the challenges being experienced by these researchers, the importance of informal communication, the use of social media by researchers and the interest of research institutes and other organizations to promote their works.
http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/98560908/communication-competition-what-motivates-researchers-write-articles-journals
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
B - An effective poster presentation
Developing an effective poster presentation. San Francisco Edit 2015
Poster presentations provide an opportunity for researchers to present their work at scientific meetings and are preparatory for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. This brief document gives some advice to help authors in developing an effective poster.
http://www.sfedit.net/poster.pdf
B - Pharmacovigilance medical writing
von Bruchhausen T, Prechtel K. Pharmacovigilance medical writing: an evolving profession. Medical Writing 2015;24(2):66-71
(doi: 10.1179/2047480615Z.000000000287)
The pharmacovigilance medical writer has a key position in the preparation of documents, leading the whole document creation process. This process includes drafting the document, coordinating the input of the involved functions, providing valuable expertise on the required format and contents and detailed guideline knowledge, and coordinating the review and consolidation of comments.
http://www.maneyonline.com/doi/abs/10.1179/2047480615Z.000000000287
(doi: 10.1179/2047480615Z.000000000287)
The pharmacovigilance medical writer has a key position in the preparation of documents, leading the whole document creation process. This process includes drafting the document, coordinating the input of the involved functions, providing valuable expertise on the required format and contents and detailed guideline knowledge, and coordinating the review and consolidation of comments.
http://www.maneyonline.com/doi/abs/10.1179/2047480615Z.000000000287
Friday, June 26, 2015
B - Link rot
Perkel JM. The trouble with reference rot. Nature 2015;521(7550):111-112
Computer scientists are trying to shore up broken links in the scholarly literature. Herbert Van de Sompel and Martin Klein were interviewed by the author of this article on the work of the Hiberlink project. They have investigated the extent of reference rot on scholarly domains and their results show an alarming link rot ratio. They have also explored ways to mitigate it through more systematic web archiving practices and link decoration techniques.
http://www.nature.com/news/the-trouble-with-reference-rot-1.17465
(doi:10.1038/521111a)
Computer scientists are trying to shore up broken links in the scholarly literature. Herbert Van de Sompel and Martin Klein were interviewed by the author of this article on the work of the Hiberlink project. They have investigated the extent of reference rot on scholarly domains and their results show an alarming link rot ratio. They have also explored ways to mitigate it through more systematic web archiving practices and link decoration techniques.
http://www.nature.com/news/the-trouble-with-reference-rot-1.17465
B - The history of typography in Print Magazine
Shaw P. The history of typography in Print magazine. Print March 26, 2015
The author charts the bold (and at times, bizarre) evolution of typography within Print magazine in timeline format throughout the last 75 years. The magazine's typography has been an uneven barometer of the typographic trends of those years.
http://www.printmag.com/article/stereotype-history-of-typography/
The author charts the bold (and at times, bizarre) evolution of typography within Print magazine in timeline format throughout the last 75 years. The magazine's typography has been an uneven barometer of the typographic trends of those years.
http://www.printmag.com/article/stereotype-history-of-typography/
B - Antibody problem
Baker M. Reproducibility crisis: Blame it on the antibodies. Nature 21 May 2015;521:274-276
Antibodies are among the most commonly used tools in biological experiments, but they are littering the field with false findings. A few scientists are pushing for change and are calling for the creation of standards by which antibodies should be made, used and described. Several journals (including Nature) ask authors to make clear that antibodies used in their papers have been profiled for that particular application.
http://www.nature.com/news/reproducibility-crisis-blame-it-on-the-antibodies-1.17586
Antibodies are among the most commonly used tools in biological experiments, but they are littering the field with false findings. A few scientists are pushing for change and are calling for the creation of standards by which antibodies should be made, used and described. Several journals (including Nature) ask authors to make clear that antibodies used in their papers have been profiled for that particular application.
http://www.nature.com/news/reproducibility-crisis-blame-it-on-the-antibodies-1.17586
B - SciDetect: a hoax-detecting software
Bohannon J. Hoax-detecting software spots fake papers. Science 3 April 2015;348(6230):18-19
Springer announced the creation of SciDetect, a freely available programme to automatically detect automatically generated papers. The tool uses a statistical technique similar to those used by email spam filters to automatically detect papers created with SCIgen and similar programmes.
http://www.johnbohannon.org/NewFiles/SciDetect.pdf
Springer announced the creation of SciDetect, a freely available programme to automatically detect automatically generated papers. The tool uses a statistical technique similar to those used by email spam filters to automatically detect papers created with SCIgen and similar programmes.
http://www.johnbohannon.org/NewFiles/SciDetect.pdf
B - Misidentified cell lines
Announcement: Time to tackle cells' mistaken identity. Nature 16 April 2015;520:264
This Editorial sets out new ways to tackle the problem of misidentified cell lines. Changes apply to all Nature journals from 1st May 2015. Authors of papers involving cell lines are asked to check their cell lines against publicly available lists of known misidentified cell lines. If the authors use a known problematic cell line, they are asked to provide a scientific justification for its use, and clearly state its identity in the Methods section.
Authors must report on a cell line's source, authentication testing, and Mycoplasma testing status. For authentication testing, authors are asked to state the test method, test result, and when testing was last performed.
http://www.nature.com/news/announcement-time-to-tackle-cells-mistaken-identity-1.17316
This Editorial sets out new ways to tackle the problem of misidentified cell lines. Changes apply to all Nature journals from 1st May 2015. Authors of papers involving cell lines are asked to check their cell lines against publicly available lists of known misidentified cell lines. If the authors use a known problematic cell line, they are asked to provide a scientific justification for its use, and clearly state its identity in the Methods section.
Authors must report on a cell line's source, authentication testing, and Mycoplasma testing status. For authentication testing, authors are asked to state the test method, test result, and when testing was last performed.
http://www.nature.com/news/announcement-time-to-tackle-cells-mistaken-identity-1.17316
B - Public availability of data sharing
Aleixandre-Benavent R, Vidal-Infer A, Alonso Arroyo A, et al. Public availability of published research data in substance abuse journals. International Journal of Drug Policy 2014;25(6):1143-1146
(doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2014.07.007)
(doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2014.07.007)
The aim of this study is to analyse the open-data policies concerning the availability of papers and raw data of the scientific research journals listed in the substance abuse area of the Journal Citation Reports (JCR). It also analyzes the relationship between the journal's impact factor and the storage and reuse policies. Results show that most journals support the possibility of data storage in thematic or institutional repositories. Journals accept additional material and reuse of data, but most of them have no specific instructions for authors to follow and present uncertainty as to the possibility of publishing the data on a website.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S095539591400200X
B - Head-to-head RCTs and industry sponsor
Flacco ME, Manzoli L, Boccia S, et al. Head-to-head randomized trials are mostly industry sponsored and almost always favor the industry sponsor. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 2015;68(7):811-820
(doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2014.12.016)
To map the current status of head-to-head comparative evidence, the authors analyzed a large sample of recently published head-to-head randomized clinical trials (RCTs) covering a wide range of clinical conditions. They evaluated trials with at least 100 participants and specifically focused on the sponsoring of these trials. The literature of head-to-head RCTs is dominated by the industry. Industry-sponsored comparative assessments systematically yield favorable results for the sponsors, even more so when noninferiority designs are involved.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S089543561500058X
(doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2014.12.016)
To map the current status of head-to-head comparative evidence, the authors analyzed a large sample of recently published head-to-head randomized clinical trials (RCTs) covering a wide range of clinical conditions. They evaluated trials with at least 100 participants and specifically focused on the sponsoring of these trials. The literature of head-to-head RCTs is dominated by the industry. Industry-sponsored comparative assessments systematically yield favorable results for the sponsors, even more so when noninferiority designs are involved.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S089543561500058X
B - Beyond the impact factor?
Fazel S, Lamsma J. Beyond the impact factor? Evidence Based Mental Health 2015;18:33-35
(doi: 10.1136/eb-2015-102087)
To investigate the possible differences between the Journal Impact Factor (JIF) and new journal metrics, the authors ranked the top 30 journals in the clinical neurosciences (ie, psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience and general medicine) based on their JIF and compared their JIF ranking with one that was a composite score of their JIF, h5-index, Impact per Publication (IPP), Source Normalised Impact per Paper (SNIP) and SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) rankings. They recommend researchers and funders should support those journals that aim to increase value and reduce waste and consider a range of impacts, including different journal impact factors, when deciding on journal choice.
http://ebmh.bmj.com/content/18/2/33.full
(doi: 10.1136/eb-2015-102087)
To investigate the possible differences between the Journal Impact Factor (JIF) and new journal metrics, the authors ranked the top 30 journals in the clinical neurosciences (ie, psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience and general medicine) based on their JIF and compared their JIF ranking with one that was a composite score of their JIF, h5-index, Impact per Publication (IPP), Source Normalised Impact per Paper (SNIP) and SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) rankings. They recommend researchers and funders should support those journals that aim to increase value and reduce waste and consider a range of impacts, including different journal impact factors, when deciding on journal choice.
http://ebmh.bmj.com/content/18/2/33.full
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
B - Identifying legitimate OA journals
Hill T. Identifying legitimate open access journals: some suggestions from a publisher. Learned Publishing 2015;28(1):59-62
(doi: 10.1087/20150109)
The author provides a set of criteria by which authors and readers can distinguish legitimate open access journals from illegitimate ones. The list is short, but at the same time applicable to a wide range of journals. The criteria refer to the following issues: readers should be considered as customers and should be offered services; journals should be included in databases and indexes (indexing indicates compliance with technical and publishing standards); publishers should be aware of ethical and legal issues and of open access conventions; and integrity of the peer review process and editorial process should be guaranteed.
http://www.researchgate.net/publication/269775230_Identifying_legitimate_open_access_journals_some_suggestions_from_a_publisher
(doi: 10.1087/20150109)
The author provides a set of criteria by which authors and readers can distinguish legitimate open access journals from illegitimate ones. The list is short, but at the same time applicable to a wide range of journals. The criteria refer to the following issues: readers should be considered as customers and should be offered services; journals should be included in databases and indexes (indexing indicates compliance with technical and publishing standards); publishers should be aware of ethical and legal issues and of open access conventions; and integrity of the peer review process and editorial process should be guaranteed.
http://www.researchgate.net/publication/269775230_Identifying_legitimate_open_access_journals_some_suggestions_from_a_publisher
B - Reporting guidelines
Golub RM, Fontanarosa PB. Researchers, Readers, and reporting guidelines. Writing between the lines. JAMA 2015; 313(16):1625-26
(doi: 10.1001/jama.2015.3837)
Recognizing the potential value of reporting guidelines for the peer review and scientific publication processes, JAMA published several of the initial guidelines, including CONSORT and MOOSE. A guideline checklist assists editors in their assessment of submitted manuscripts; makes it more likely that a published article will include the information to allow a researcher to potentially reproduce a study; helps ensure that the article will include all of the key elements necessary for a reader to conduct a thorough critical appraisal; and helps improve the quality of research and advance patient care.
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2279693
(doi: 10.1001/jama.2015.3837)
Recognizing the potential value of reporting guidelines for the peer review and scientific publication processes, JAMA published several of the initial guidelines, including CONSORT and MOOSE. A guideline checklist assists editors in their assessment of submitted manuscripts; makes it more likely that a published article will include the information to allow a researcher to potentially reproduce a study; helps ensure that the article will include all of the key elements necessary for a reader to conduct a thorough critical appraisal; and helps improve the quality of research and advance patient care.
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2279693
B - Editorial independence
Bipeta R. Editorial independence in biomedical publishing. Andhra Pradesh Journal of Psychological Medicine 2014;15(2):145-9
The author summarized the published literature related to editorial independence. Editors should ensure that they are not influenced in their decision making. The sole criterion for publication should be merit, and editors should not be biased in their choice. All stakeholders should be careful and feel responsible to ensure editorial independence. These include the editorial team, the authors, the members of associations, and the readers. The author reported the policies by WAME and ICMJE.
http://medind.nic.in/aag/t14/i2/aagt14i2p145.pdf
The author summarized the published literature related to editorial independence. Editors should ensure that they are not influenced in their decision making. The sole criterion for publication should be merit, and editors should not be biased in their choice. All stakeholders should be careful and feel responsible to ensure editorial independence. These include the editorial team, the authors, the members of associations, and the readers. The author reported the policies by WAME and ICMJE.
http://medind.nic.in/aag/t14/i2/aagt14i2p145.pdf
B - Ethical ambiguity in physics
Ecklund E, Howard J , David R, et al. Study highlights ethical ambiguity in physics. Physics Today 2015;68(6):8-10.
As part of a study entitled "Ethics among physicists in cross-national context" the authors interviewed 170 physicists at US and UK universities and the results suggest that ethical issues in physics are not as black and white as many physicists may think. Some narrowly defined unethical conduct as fabrication, falsification and plagiarism while others also included such things as accepting funding for military research, misusing research funds, abusing the peer-review system, misallocating credit and authorship, practicing cronyism, overhyping research results and exploiting subordinates. They suggest that more needs to be done to teach ethics to students and reaffirm ethical practices for research scientists.
As part of a study entitled "Ethics among physicists in cross-national context" the authors interviewed 170 physicists at US and UK universities and the results suggest that ethical issues in physics are not as black and white as many physicists may think. Some narrowly defined unethical conduct as fabrication, falsification and plagiarism while others also included such things as accepting funding for military research, misusing research funds, abusing the peer-review system, misallocating credit and authorship, practicing cronyism, overhyping research results and exploiting subordinates. They suggest that more needs to be done to teach ethics to students and reaffirm ethical practices for research scientists.
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
B - Reporting systematic reviews of IPD
Stewart LA, Clarke M, Rovers M, et al. Preferred reporting items for a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data. The PRISMA-IPD Statement. JAMA 2015;313(16):1657-65
(doi: 10.1001/jama.2015.3656)
PRISMA-IPD (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Individual Participant Data) is an extension of the PRISMA Statement, tailored to specific requirements of individual participant data (IPD). The PRISMA-IPD checklist includes three new items that address: methods of checking the integrity of the IPD; reporting any important issues that emerge; and exploring variation.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25919529
(doi: 10.1001/jama.2015.3656)
PRISMA-IPD (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Individual Participant Data) is an extension of the PRISMA Statement, tailored to specific requirements of individual participant data (IPD). The PRISMA-IPD checklist includes three new items that address: methods of checking the integrity of the IPD; reporting any important issues that emerge; and exploring variation.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25919529
B - "Living figures" make their debut
Singh Chawla D. "Living figures" make their debut. Nature 2015;521(7550):112.
(doi: 10.1038/nature.2015.17382)
The living figure concept fits within a central tenet of F1000’s publishing philosophy, that papers can be continually updated. The online-only open-access site publishes articles immediately with the status ‘Awaiting Peer Review’, then invites scientists to review them and post their data. Authors can then update their articles with new versions. Living figures may allow systematic reviews to be updated rather than published afresh each time. New contributors’ names do appear in the legend of updated figures, and the updated data set and paper get their own DOIs.
http://www.nature.com/news/living-figures-make-their-debut-1.17382
(doi: 10.1038/nature.2015.17382)
The living figure concept fits within a central tenet of F1000’s publishing philosophy, that papers can be continually updated. The online-only open-access site publishes articles immediately with the status ‘Awaiting Peer Review’, then invites scientists to review them and post their data. Authors can then update their articles with new versions. Living figures may allow systematic reviews to be updated rather than published afresh each time. New contributors’ names do appear in the legend of updated figures, and the updated data set and paper get their own DOIs.
http://www.nature.com/news/living-figures-make-their-debut-1.17382
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)