Search Results for: sting

Mega-correction to several images in gastric cancer study

A journal has issued a rather large correction — what we call “mega-correction” — to a 2014 paper on a gastric cancer biomarker that fixes problems with several of the study’s figures. The authors write that despite the corrections, “the results and conclusions put forth in the article remain unchanged.” The paper, “TMEFF2 Deregulation Contributes to Gastric Carcinogenesis … Continue reading Mega-correction to several images in gastric cancer study

University finds “preponderance of evidence” of misconduct by child psychiatrist

An investigation at the University of Illinois at Chicago has found “a preponderance of evidence” that a psychiatrist who has received millions of dollars in federal funding has committed misconduct. One paper co-authored by Mani Pavuluri, the director of the Pediatric Mood Disorders Program, has been officially retracted so far, from the Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience. UIC has … Continue reading University finds “preponderance of evidence” of misconduct by child psychiatrist

Journal reviewing papers by researcher who sexually assaulted disabled author

A disability journal is “paying significant attention” to papers authored by Anna Stubblefield, a former Rutgers researcher recently convicted of sexually assaulting a disabled man who participated in her research. Stubblefield was convicted of sexually assaulting “DJ,” a man in his thirties with cerebral palsy who was “declared by the state to have the mental capacity of a … Continue reading Journal reviewing papers by researcher who sexually assaulted disabled author

“Dual submission issues” retract both copies of ovarian cancer paper

Authors of a study on a potential biomarker for ovarian cancer have been hit with two retractions after the results were published twice. We don’t usually see both copies of a duplicated paper retracted, but this is a somewhat unusual case. In November 2011, a group of authors submitted the paper to Gynecologic Oncology. But two months’ prior, the … Continue reading “Dual submission issues” retract both copies of ovarian cancer paper

Authors retract highly cited Nature quantum dot letter after discovering error

Authors have retracted a highly cited Nature letter that purported to discover a much sought-after, stable light source from quantum dots, after they realized the light was actually coming from another source: the glass the dots were affixed to. When the paper “Non-blinking semiconductor nanocrystals” was published in 2009, it received some media coverage, such … Continue reading Authors retract highly cited Nature quantum dot letter after discovering error

Journal retracts — and republishes — small study on gamma rays for OCD

JAMA Psychiatry has retracted and republished a paper on a cutting-edge procedure for patients with obsessive compulsive disorder. In the original paper, the authors claimed that three out of eight patients who underwent a procedure that used gamma rays to kill brain cells showed improvements 12 months later (versus zero in the group who underwent a “sham” procedure). But … Continue reading Journal retracts — and republishes — small study on gamma rays for OCD

After court verdict, BMJ retracts 26-year-old paper

Today, The BMJ retracted a 1989 paper about the role of breastfeeding and formula in infant eczema — 20 years after the data were called into question by a university report. However, the report was kept secret — due, by some accounts, to alleged threats of a lawsuit. That is, until this year, when author Ranjit Kumar … Continue reading After court verdict, BMJ retracts 26-year-old paper

BMJ corrects controversial critique of US dietary guidelines report

The BMJ has published a correction to a critique of the U.S. dietary guidelines report that has received heavy criticism from nutrition experts. The author, journalist Nina Teicholz, has also posted a response to the criticism of the article. The BMJ investigation, released in September, asserted that the guidelines committee used “weak scientific standards” to make its recommendations. It also criticized several aspects … Continue reading BMJ corrects controversial critique of US dietary guidelines report

Taste researcher falsified data in two papers: ORI

A federal report has found that a former University of Maryland postdoc “falsified and/or fabricated” data in two papers about taste receptors. The Office of Research Integrity report found that Maria C.P. Geraedts manipulated bar graphs in the papers to “produce the desired result.” Both have been retracted. Geraedts left academia in 2014, and is now a science writer. We reported on … Continue reading Taste researcher falsified data in two papers: ORI

Weekend reads: Angry meta-analysts; imposter cell lines; when things go wrong

This week at Retraction Watch featured nine more fake peer review retractions, this time from Elsevier, and an update to the retraction count for one-time record holder Joachim Boldt. Here’s what was happening elsewhere: