Two-timing sinks papers on ships in journal shaken by major scandal

When we heard about this retraction, we were forced to ask: Are there any articles left in Journal of Vibration & Control? The publication was forced to retract 60 papers by the same author in July, after he was caught exploiting a technological loophole to review his own papers. Now, papers on loading cargo ships … Continue reading Two-timing sinks papers on ships in journal shaken by major scandal

University of Maryland duo notches third retraction

A pair of researchers at the University of Maryland have retracted a third paper. Here’s the unhelpful Journal of Biological Chemistry notice for “Inhibitor of Nrf2 (INrf2 or Keap1) protein degrades Bcl-xL via phosphoglycerate mutase 5 and controls cellular apoptosis,” by Suryakant Niture and Anil Jaiswal:

UT-Southwestern cancer research group notches ninth retraction

A research team at the University of Texas-Southwestern that has retracted eight papers for image manipulation has retracted another, this one in Lung Cancer. Here’s the notice for “Aberrant methylation of Reprimo in lung cancer,” published by Adi Gazdar’s group:

Geneticist retracting four papers for “significant problems”

Benjamin Barré, a genetics researcher who recently set up his own group at the University of Angers, is retracting four papers he worked on as a graduate student and postdoc. Neil Perkins, in whose lab Barré was a postdoc, and Olivier Coqueret, in whose lab he did his PhD, tell Retraction Watch:

How often do economists commit misconduct?

We haven’t covered that many retractions in economics, and a 2012 paper found very few such retractions. Now, a new study based on a survey of economists tries to get a handle on how often economists commit scientific misconduct. Here’s the abstract of “Scientific misbehavior in economics,” which appeared in Research Policy:

Nature paper by researcher found to have violated academic integrity retracted

A 2013 paper in Nature that was among those whose first or last author had committed a “violation of academic integrity,” according to Utrecht University, has been retracted. Here’s the notice: for “CLASP-mediated cortical microtubule organization guides PIN polarization axis,” whose corresponding author was Pankaj Dhonukshe:

Sports columnist Reilly loses ESPN.com gig after replaying his work

Rick Reilly, a noted sports columnist, once wrote about football replays: Tell me if I’m a crank, but do you notice that every time a football replay comes up—and I mean every time—the color guy goes, “OK, now watch this!” I mean, what else are we gonna do? Suddenly start knitting a sweater? Start collecting … Continue reading Sports columnist Reilly loses ESPN.com gig after replaying his work

A retracted retraction? Authors salvage entomology paper with image issues

The paper is dead. Long live the paper! Earlier this year, we brought you the case of a group of Brazilian insect researchers who lost two 15-year-old papers in different journals for duplication. One of those papers has been resurrected, albeit in a rather puzzling way. The article, “Non-local interactions and the dynamics of dispersal … Continue reading A retracted retraction? Authors salvage entomology paper with image issues

Image manipulation leads to fifth retraction for plant research group

A plant scientist at the Colorado State University has retracted a fifth paper. Here’s the notice for “Influence of ATP-binding cassette transporters in root exudation of phytoalexins, signals, and in disease resistance, a paper originally published in July 2012: The Journal, Chief Editor and the Authors wish to retract the Original Research article cited above … Continue reading Image manipulation leads to fifth retraction for plant research group

Big trouble in little China: Two looks at what warps scientific publishing there

The press corps has turned its attention to scientific publishing in China this week. Here’s Naomi Ching’s lede — that’s how we spell it in journalism — from Nautilus: You may have heard that Chinese researchers are not very well compensated, compared to their Western counterparts. What you might not know is that they can … Continue reading Big trouble in little China: Two looks at what warps scientific publishing there