Search Results for: author ban

Journal issues three notices for plant biologist, two citing manipulation

Researchers have retracted a paper from a plant journal after a probe found problems with several figures. According to the new retraction notice in The Plant Cell, some figures in the paper were manipulated, as well as “inappropriately duplicated and reused from a previous publication.” The authors assert that they believe the conclusions remain valid. … Continue reading Journal issues three notices for plant biologist, two citing manipulation

We’re not “citation police:” No more errata for omitted citations, says economics journal

An economics journal has corrected a paper for the second time for failing to cite previous studies — and said in a separate note that it no longer plans to publish similar errata, with rare exceptions.  In September 2015, we reported on the first erratum for “Incentives for Creativity” — a paper that analyzed ways … Continue reading We’re not “citation police:” No more errata for omitted citations, says economics journal

Prominent cancer researcher committed nearly 30 acts of misconduct

An investigation into the lab of a prominent cancer researcher in British Columbia has revealed nearly 30 acts of misconduct.    As we detail in our latest feature for Science, the investigation, at the University of British Columbia (UBC), uncovered 29 instances of scientific misconduct, 16 of which were characterized as “serious,” according to university … Continue reading Prominent cancer researcher committed nearly 30 acts of misconduct

A journal said it would retract a paper about asbestos — now it’s “withdrawn.” What changed?

Earlier this year, an environmental journal told an activist group it was going to retract a study about the safety of roofing products made from asbestos. Now the journal has let the authors withdraw the paper — a different process, according to the journal. The move follows multiple letters from critics asking to retract a study, which … Continue reading A journal said it would retract a paper about asbestos — now it’s “withdrawn.” What changed?

Entomology journal retracts 2016 study with flawed analyses

An entomology journal has issued its first retraction during the current editor’s nearly 30-year tenure — for a 2016 study with serious flaws in the analyses.  After the Journal of Medical Entomology (JME) published the study — about the identification of genes that enable an insect to detect odors — an outside researcher wrote a letter to the … Continue reading Entomology journal retracts 2016 study with flawed analyses

Remaining fraud charges withdrawn for Parkinson’s researcher

Two remaining charges against a Parkinson’s researcher recently convicted of fraud have been dropped by an Australian court. In October, Caroline Barwood, formerly at the University of Queensland (UQ) in Brisbane, was found guilty of five out of seven charges. Subsequently, Barwood was handed two suspended sentences: one for two years, and another for 15 months, both … Continue reading Remaining fraud charges withdrawn for Parkinson’s researcher

Stolen data prompts Science to flag debated study of fish and plastics

In August, Science told us it was considering adding an Expression of Concern to a high-profile paper about how human pollution is harming fish — and yesterday, the journal did it. The move comes after a group of researchers alleged the paper contains missing data, and the authors followed a problematic methodology. In September, however, the … Continue reading Stolen data prompts Science to flag debated study of fish and plastics

Scientific publisher hacked, affecting 65 papers

A publisher in the Netherlands has retracted 13 published studies and withdrawn 52 that were under consideration (but not yet published) after learning that someone illegally accessed its workflows to add fake authors and manipulate text. According to Seyyed Mohammad Miri, the founder, CEO, and managing director of Kowsar Publishing, the 13 retracted papers all included extra authors … Continue reading Scientific publisher hacked, affecting 65 papers

Should journals reject papers solely on ethical grounds?

Recently, an ecology journal received a submission that made them pause. In order to conduct their research, the authors had to kill thousands of fish. The study had been approved by conservation authorities, but it still wasn’t sitting well with the journal. So it rejected the paper, on ethical grounds. Biological Conservation explained its decision in … Continue reading Should journals reject papers solely on ethical grounds?

Two Harvard-led groups pull well-cited cancer papers for duplication

Two sets of authors based largely at Harvard Medical School have each retracted a paper for duplication in the same journal. Both papers — which are more than a decade old — were pulled in The Journal of Clinical Investigation on November 1 by their respective corresponding authors. One paper’s last author told us it … Continue reading Two Harvard-led groups pull well-cited cancer papers for duplication