Fabrication in a study about honesty: A lost episode of columbo illustrating how forensic statistics is performed

The three steps of a typical forensic statistical analysis are (1) verify that the raw data file is correct; (2) verify that the statistical analysis file derived from the raw data file is correct; and (3) verify that the statistical analyses are appropriate. We illustrate applying these three steps to a manuscript which was subsequently retracted, focusing on step 1. In the absence of an external source for comparison, criteria for assessing the raw data file were internal consistency and plausibility. A forensic statistical analysis isn't like a murder mystery, and it many circumstances discovery of a mechanism for falsification or fabrication might not be realistic.

Do orthopaedics surgeons have any idea what predatory journals are?:(cross-sectional study)

Objective

The legitimacy of published research confronts a real challenge posed by predatory journals. These journals not only distribute inadequately written articles but also undermine the prospects of acknowledgment and citation for high-quality content. It is essential, nevertheless, to differentiate between predatory journals and reputable open-access ones. A worldwide anti-predatory movement seeks to enhance awareness about such journals. Hence, our objective was to assess the awareness, attitudes, and practices of Sudanese orthopedic surgeons concerning both predatory and open-access publishing.

Methods

Conducted between January and April 2023, this cross-sectional electronic survey involved Sudanese orthopedic surgeons. The survey, comprising five domains to gauge knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to predatory and open-access publishing, was shared via the Sudanese Orthopedic Surgeons Association email distribution list among the 561 registered surgeons. The targeted sample size was 286. Categorical variables were reported using frequencies, while continuous variables were presented as medians and interquartile ranges. Nonparametric tests and ordinal regression were employed for inferential statistics.

Results

Of the 561 surgeons, 104 participants completed the questionnaire, resulting in a response rate of 18.5 %. Approximately 49% exhibited poor knowledge, with 56% unfamiliar with the term "predatory journals," and 74% unaware of Beall's list. Overall attitudes toward publication in open-access and predatory journals were neutral for 60% of participants, and only 26% demonstrated good overall publication practices. Higher knowledge scores positively correlated with attitude and practice scores. Ordinal regression analysis identified variables such as employment in university hospitals, higher academic rank, publication experience, and working in well-resourced countries as factors increasing the likelihood of higher knowledge, attitude, and practice scores.

Conclusion

The majority of the study participants reported very low knowledge of predatory journals and their possible detrimental consequences on the integrity and quality of scientific publications. Therefore, educational efforts on the negative impact of predatory publication practices in orthopedics are needed.

Evaluating human resources management literacy: A performance analysis of ChatGPT and bard

This study presents a comprehensive analysis comparing the literacy levels of two Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) tools, ChatGPT and Bard, using a dataset of 134 questions from the Human Resources (HR) domain. The generated responses are evaluated for accuracy, relevance, and clarity. We find that ChatGPT outperforms Bard in overall accuracy (84.3% vs. 82.8%). This difference in performance suggests that ChatGPT could serve as a robotic advisor in transactional HR roles. In contrast, Bard may possess additional safeguards against misuse in the HR function, making it less capable of generating responses to certain types of questions. Statistical tests reveal that although the two systems differ in their mean accuracy, relevance, and clarity of the responses, the observed differences are not always statistically significant, implying that both tools may be more complementary than competitive. The Pearson correlation coefficients further support this by showing weak to non-existent relationships in performance metrics between the two tools. Confirmation queries don't improve ChatGPT or Bard's response accuracy. The study thus contributes to emerging research on the utility of GAI tools in Human Resources Management and suggests that involving certified HR professionals in the design phase could enhance underlying language model performance.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices about research misconduct among medical residents in southwest China: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

With the emergence of numerous scientific outputs, growing attention is paid to research misconduct. This study aimed to investigate knowledge, attitudes and practices about research misconduct among medical residents in southwest China.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in southwest China from November 2022 through March 2023. The links to the questionnaire were sent to the directors of the teaching management department in 17 tertiary hospitals. Answers were collected and analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the factors associated with research misconduct among residents.

RESULTS

6200 residents were enrolled in the study, and 88.5% of participants attended a course on research integrity, but 53.7% of participants admitted to having committed at least one form of research misconduct. Having a postgraduate or above, publishing papers as the first author or corresponding author, attending a course on research integrity, lower self-reported knowledge on research integrity and lower perceived consequences for research misconduct were positively correlated to research misconduct. Serving as a primary investigator for a research project was negatively associated with research misconduct. Most residents (66.3%) agreed that the reason for research misconduct is that researchers lack research ability.

CONCLUSIONS

The high self-reported rate of research misconduct among residents in southwest China underscores a universal necessity for enhancing research integrity courses in residency programs. The ineffectiveness of current training in China suggests a possible global need for reevaluating and improving educational approaches to foster research integrity. Addressing these challenges is imperative not only for the credibility of medical research and patient care in China but also for maintaining the highest ethical standards in medical education worldwide. Policymakers, educators, and healthcare leaders on a global scale should collaborate to establish comprehensive strategies that ensure the responsible conduct of research, ultimately safeguarding the integrity of medical advancements and promoting trust in scientific endeavors across borders.

Comprehension of informed consent and voluntary participation in registration cohorts for phase IIb HIV vaccine trial in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania: a qualitative descriptive study

BACKGROUND

Informed consent as stipulated in regulatory human research guidelines requires volunteers to be well-informed about what will happen to them in a trial. However, researchers may be faced with the challenge of how to ensure that a volunteer agreeing to take part in a clinical trial is truly informed. This study aimed to find out volunteers' comprehension of informed consent and voluntary participation in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) clinical trials during the registration cohort.

METHODS

We conducted a qualitative study among volunteers who were enrolled in the registration cohort of HIV clinical trials in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A purposive sampling strategy was used to obtain twenty study participants. The data were collected between June and September 2020 using a semi-structured interview guide. In-depth interviews were used to collect the data to obtain deep insights of the individual study participants on the comprehension of informed consent and participation in the clinical trial. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyze the data. Themes and subthemes were supported by the quotes from the participants.

RESULTS

Volunteers described comprehension of informed consent from different perspectives. They reported that various components of the informed consent such as study procedure, confidentiality, risk and benefits were grasped during engagement meetings. Furthermore, the volunteers' decision to participate in the registration cohort was voluntary. However, trial aspects such as health insurance, free condoms, and medical checkups could have indirectly influenced their reluctance to withdraw from the study.

CONCLUSION

Engagement meetings may increase the comprehension of informed consent among potential participants for HIV clinical trials. However, trial incentives may influence participation, and thus future research should focus on the challenges of giving incentives in the study. This will ensure comprehension and voluntary participation in the context of HIV clinical trials.

Ethical and methodological challenges conducting participative research with transgender and gender-diverse young people: a systematic review

Introduction

Research with transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) young people is essential to understand their experiences and to be able to propose, implement and adapt 'services' in the broadest sense to meet their needs. However, research outside clinical settings on current experiences and needs of youth under the age of 18 is limited which hinders the development of knowledge on TGD, as well as the development of research informed support practices. Acquiring parental consent for participatory research may present ethical and logistical difficulties, as it could jeopardize the safety, well-being, or confidentiality of adolescent participants. This creates a tension between the adolescent's right to autonomy, privacy, freedom, and all aspects related to the consent of the underage on the one hand, and the parents' right to protect their child on the other hand. This review aims to identify the methodological and ethical challenges associated with participatory research with transgender and gender-diverse young people.

Methods

We systematically searched bibliometric databases for studies published between 2006 and 2022 and included 4 main conceptual groups: transgender and gender non-conforming, adolescence, qualitative research (including participatory research) and consent. This review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022368360) in November 2022.

Results

Of the 3,794 articles initially identified, 291 met the inclusion criteria and 48 were examined. The selected studies were analyzed in the light of four main ethical tensions: involving parents or a trusted person in the consent gathering process, ensuring the protection and safety of young people while respecting confidentiality, and ensuring that spaces are created for transgender and gender-diverse young people to express themselves freely as part of an empowering research process. At the same time, several methodological challenges concerning public and stakeholder participation and recruitment, data collection and analysis as well as research integrity emerged from the selected studies.

Conclusion & implications

The existing literature of participatory research involving young transgender and gender-diverse individuals underscores the intricate and conflicting aspects, especially concerning power dynamics, empowerment, and the researcher's role. The relevance of these findings extends across various legal frameworks and is applicable to multiple contexts and countries.

COI works both ways: Investigation of misconduct by an independent research integrity organization is the way to go

Resnik, Hosseini and Rasmussen's take on universities having conflict of interest (COI), and should engage an independent research integrity organization in investigating research misconduct (RM) allegations against top officials, is prudent and timely. COI could be conceived either against or for in the processes toward the conviction of a respondent. For the latter, we need look no further than another recent Harvard case involving Francesca Gino.

Medical research without patents: It's preferable, it's profitable, and it's practicable

This article addresses the question of the possibility of medical research without patents, a major issue in healthcare research and policy. We discuss and evaluate the relevant scientific, economic, societal, and moral aspects of our system of funding and organizing the research, development, manufacture and sale of prescription drugs. The focus is on the patent practices of big pharmaceutical companies. We analyze and critically assess the main features and impacts of these practices. In a positive sense, we propose an approach to organizing and funding drug research that prioritizes its public interest rather than its privatization through patenting. For these purposes, we first demonstrate that producing prescription drugs through patenting has serious drawbacks. Second, we develop a concrete alternative (medical research without patents) that is shown to be scientifically, socially and morally preferable, economically and financially profitable, and socio-politically and organizationally practicable.

The transparency of quantitative empirical legal research published in highly ranked law journals (2018-2020): an observational study

Background

Scientists are increasingly concerned with making their work easy to verify and build upon. Associated practices include sharing data, materials, and analytic scripts, and preregistering protocols. This shift towards increased transparency and rigor has been referred to as a "credibility revolution." The credibility of empirical legal research has been questioned in the past due to its distinctive peer review system and because the legal background of its researchers means that many often are not trained in study design or statistics. Still, there has been no systematic study of transparency and credibility-related characteristics of published empirical legal research.

Methods

To fill this gap and provide an estimate of current practices that can be tracked as the field evolves, we assessed 300 empirical articles from highly ranked law journals including both faculty-edited journals and student-edited journals.

Results

We found high levels of article accessibility (86%, 95% CI = [82%, 90%]), especially among student-edited journals (100%). Few articles stated that a study's data are available (19%, 95% CI = [15%, 23%]). Statements of preregistration (3%, 95% CI = [1%, 5%]) and availability of analytic scripts (6%, 95% CI = [4%, 9%]) were very uncommon. (i.e., they collected new data using the study's reported methods, but found results inconsistent or not as strong as the original).

Conclusion

We suggest that empirical legal researchers and the journals that publish their work cultivate norms and practices to encourage research credibility. Our estimates may be revisited to track the field's progress in the coming years.

Forgetting how we ate: personalised nutrition and the strategic uses of history

Personalised nutrition (PN) has emerged over the past twenty years as a promising area of research in the postgenomic era and has been popularized as the new big thing out of molecular biology. Advocates of PN claim that previous approaches to nutrition sought general and universal guidance that applied to all people. In contrast, they contend that PN operates with the principle that "one size does not fit all" when it comes to dietary guidance. While the molecular mechanisms studied within PN are new, the notion of a personal dietary regime guided by medical advice has a much longer history that can be traced back to Galen's "On Food and Diet" or Ibn Sina's (westernized as Avicenna) "Canon of Medicine". Yet this history is either wholly ignored or misleadingly appropriated by PN proponents. This (mis)use of history, we argue helps to sustain the hype of the novelty of the proposed field and potential commodification of molecular advice that undermines longer histories of food management in premodern and non-Western cultures. Moreover, it elides how the longer history of nutritional advice always happened in a heavily moralized, gendered, and racialized context deeply entwined with collective technologies of power, not just individual advice. This article aims at offering a wider appreciation of this longer history to nuance the hype and exceptionalism surrounding contemporary claims.

Group authorship, an excellent opportunity laced with ethical, legal and technical challenges

Group authorship (also known as corporate authorship, team authorship, consortium authorship) refers to attribution practices that use the name of a collective (be it team, group, project, corporation, or consortium) in the authorship byline. Data shows that group authorships are on the rise but thus far, in scholarly discussions about authorship, they have not gained much specific attention. Group authorship can minimize tensions within the group about authorship order and the criteria used for inclusion/exclusion of individual authors. However, current use of group authorships has drawbacks, such as ethical challenges associated with the attribution of credit and responsibilities, legal challenges regarding how copyrights are handled, and technical challenges related to the lack of persistent identifiers (PIDs), such as ORCID, for groups. We offer two recommendations: 1) Journals should develop and share context-specific and unambiguous guidelines for group authorship, for which they can use the four baseline requirements offered in this paper; 2) Using persistent identifiers for groups and consistent reporting of members' contributions should be facilitated through devising PIDs for groups and linking these to the ORCIDs of their individual contributors and the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) of the published item.

An analysis of retracted COVID-19 articles published by one medical publisher with multiple journals

Background

The retraction of medical articles periodically occurs in most medical journals and can involve multiple article types. These retractions are beneficial if they remove flawed or fraudulent information from the medical literature. However, retractions may also decrease confidence in the medical literature and require significant amounts of time by editors.

Methods

One publisher (Hindawi) announced that it will retract over 1200 articles. Given this, the PubMed database was searched to identify retracted publications on or related to COVID-19, and articles retracted by journals sponsored by the publisher Hindawi were then identified.

Results

These journals retracted 25 articles and, in most cases, did not provide an exact explanation about the particular problem(s) resulting in the retraction. The time to retraction was 468.7 ± 109.8 days (median =  446 days). These articles had 9.3 ± 9.9 citations.

Conclusion

Analysis of the titles and abstracts of the articles suggests that their removal from the medical literature would have limited effects on the near-term management decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, retraction of medical articles creates uncertainty in medical care and science and in the public regarding the validity of medical research and related publications and the level of professionalism of the individuals submitting these articles.

Ethics of early detection of disease risk factors: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Scientific and technological advancements in mapping and understanding the interrelated pathways through which biological and environmental exposures affect disease development create new possibilities for detecting disease risk factors. Early detection of such risk factors may help prevent disease onset or moderate the disease course, thereby decreasing associated disease burden, morbidity, and mortality. However, the ethical implications of screening for disease risk factors are unclear and the current literature provides a fragmented and case-by-case picture.

METHODS

To identify key ethical considerations arising from the early detection of disease risk factors, we performed a systematic scoping review. The Scopus, Embase, and Philosopher's Index databases were searched for peer-reviewed, academic records, which were included if they were written in English or Dutch and concerned the ethics of (1) early detection of (2) disease risk factors for (3) disease caused by environmental factors or gene-environment interactions. All records were reviewed independently by at least two researchers.

RESULTS

After screening 2034 titles and abstracts, and 112 full papers, 55 articles were included in the thematic synthesis of the results. We identified eight common ethical themes: (1) Reliability and uncertainty in early detection, (2) autonomy, (3) privacy, (4) beneficence and non-maleficence, (5) downstream burdens on others, (6) responsibility, (7) justice, and (8) medicalization and conceptual disruption. We identified several gaps in the literature, including a relative scarcity of research on ethical considerations associated with environmental preventive health interventions, a dearth of practical suggestions on how to address expressed concerns about overestimating health capacities, and a lack of insights into preventing undue attribution of health responsibility to individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

The ethical concerns arising with the early detection of risk factors are often interrelated and complex. Comprehensive ethical analyses are needed that are better embedded in normative frameworks and also assess and weigh the expected benefits of early risk factor detection. Such research is necessary for developing and implementing responsible and fair preventive health policies.

Mega-authorship implications: How many scientists can fit into one cell?

The past 20 years has seen a significant increase in articles with 500 or more authors. This increase has presented problems in terms of determining true authorship versus other types of contribution, issues with database metadata and data output, and publication length. Using items with 500+ authors deemed as mega-author titles, a total of 5,533 mega-author items were identified using InCites. Metadata about the items was then gathered from Web of Science and Scopus. Close examination of these items found that the vast majority of these covered physics topics, with medicine a far distant second place and only minor representation from other science fields. This mega-authorship saw significant events that appear to correspond to similar events in the Large Hadron Collider's timeline, indicating that the projects for the collider are driving this heavy output. Some solutions are offered for the problems resulting from this phenomenon, partially driven by recommendations from the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors.

Hope, hype, and cure: Ethics and four-letter words in pediatric cancer care

Cancer occupies a special place in the collective consciousness, influencing how hope is expressed. Patients, families, and clinical teams hope for the best possible medical outcome, yet may perceive a given outcome as more or less likely to occur. Hope, hype, and cure exist along a continuum. These four-letter words influence care delivery, including uptake of innovative therapies. Physicians shape patient/parental hope. What physicians say may be viewed as less important than how it is said. Subtle changes in how hope is understood may contribute to hype and perspectives on cure. Through listening to children/parents, physicians respect and reinforce patients'/families' hopes.

Application of Artificial Intelligence to Patient-Targeted Health Information on Kidney Stone Disease

OBJECTIVE

The American Medical Association recommends health information to be written at a 6th grade level reading level. Our aim was to determine whether Artificial Intelligence can outperform the existing health information on kidney stone prevention and treatment.

METHODS

The top 50 search results for "Kidney Stone Prevention" and "Kidney Stone Treatment" on Google, Bing, and Yahoo were selected. Duplicate webpages, advertisements, pages intended for health professionals such as science articles, links to videos, paid subscription pages, and links nonrelated to kidney stone prevention and/or treatment were excluded. Included pages were categorized into academic, hospital-affiliated, commercial, nonprofit foundations, and other. Quality and readability of webpages were evaluated using validated tools, and the reading level was descriptively compared with ChatGPT generated health information on kidney stone prevention and treatment.

RESULTS

50 webpages on kidney stone prevention and 49 on stone treatment were included in this study. The reading level was determined to equate to that of a 10th to 12th grade student. Quality was measured as "fair" with no pages scoring "excellent" and only 20% receiving a "good" quality. There was no significant difference between pages from academic, hospital-affiliated, commercial, and nonprofit foundation publications. The text generated by ChatGPT was considerably easier to understand with readability levels measured as low as 5th grade.

CONCLUSIONS

The language used in existing information on kidney stone disease is of subpar quality and too complex to understand. Machine learning tools could aid in generating information that is comprehensible by the public.

Groundwater modelling reports fail to comply with guideline recommendations for model reproducibility

Computer models are routinely used to underpin critical decision-making for projects that impact groundwater systems. Modelling results are communicated through technical reports, which advise regulators and other stakeholders of groundwater impacts, thereby informing approvals, project restrictions and monitoring requirements. Several guidelines and texts are available to instruct groundwater model development and reporting. In seven of the eight guidelines/texts reviewed, it is recommended that modelling reports (or a model archive) contain sufficient information for an external party to rebuild the model. This study examined that expectation (assumed to be "best practice") by reviewing 25 groundwater modelling reports from eight countries and assessing whether the information contained therein was sufficient (or an archive was provided) to rebuild the model on which the report was based. The reports were characterised based on 18 model components (e.g., aquifer properties, boundary conditions, etc.), and the availability of sufficient information in the report to rebuild each one. The "rebuildability" of model components was classified as: (a) reproducible (from the report), (b) reproducible but assumptions needed, and (c) not reproducible. The Analytical Hierarchical Process was employed to rank the reports based on the reproducibility of the models they describe. Only one of the 25 reports provided adequate information to rebuild the model, while one other report was accompanied by a model archive, resulting in two cases of model reproducibility, contrary to guideline recommendations. This outcome reflects problems with reproducibility in the wider scientific community. We conclude that modelling reports need to provide more detailed information to be compliant with best practice or model archives ought to be made available. Addressing this issue will ensure that stakeholders have access to the information needed to properly assess whether future groundwater impacts have been reliably evaluated.

Analysis of two binomial proportions in noninferiority confirmatory trials

In this article, we propose considering an approximate exact score (AES) test for noninferiority comparisons and we derive its test-based confidence interval for the difference between two independent binomial proportions. This test was published in the literature, but not its associated confidence interval. The p-value for this test is obtained by using exact binomial probabilities with the nuisance parameter being replaced by its restricted maximum likelihood estimate. Calculated type I errors revealed that the AES method has important advantages for noninferiority comparisons over popular asymptotic methods for adequately powered confirmatory clinical trials, at 80% or 90% statistical power. For unbalanced sample sizes of the compared groups, type I errors for the asymptotic score method were shown to be higher than the nominal level in a systematic pattern over a range of true proportions, but the AES method did not suffer from such a problem. On average, the true type I error of the AES method was closer to the nominal level than all considered methods in the empirical comparisons. In rare cases, type I errors of the AES test exceeded the nominal level, but only by a small amount. Presented examples showed that the AES method can be more attractive in practice than practical exact methods. In addition, p-value and confidence interval of the AES method can be obtained in <30 s of computer time for most confirmatory trials. Theoretical arguments, combined with empirical evidence and fast computation time should make the AES method attractive in statistical practice.

A Retrospective Comparison of Medication Recommendations Between a Cardiologist and ChatGPT-4 for Hypertension Patients in a Rural Clinic

Background With ChatGPT demonstrating impressive abilities in solving clinical vignettes and medical questions, there is still a lack of studies assessing ChatGPT using real patient data. With real-world cases offering added complexity, ChatGPT's utility in treatment using such data must be tested to better assess its accuracy and dependability. In this study, we compared a rural cardiologist's medication recommendations to that of GPT-4 for patients with lab review appointments. Methodology We reviewed the lab review appointments of 40 hypertension patients, noting their age, sex, medical conditions, medications and dosage, and current and past lab values. The cardiologist's medication recommendations (decreasing dose, increasing dose, stopping, or adding medications) from the most recent lab visit, if any, were recorded for each patient. Data collected from each patient was inputted into GPT-4 using a set prompt and the resulting medication recommendations from the model were recorded. Results Out of the 40 patients, 95% had conflicting overall recommendations between the physician and GPT-4, with only 10.2% of the specific medication recommendations matching between the two. Cohen's kappa coefficient was -0.0127, indicating no agreement between the cardiologist and GPT-4 for providing medication changes overall for a patient. Possible reasons for this discrepancy can be differing optimal lab value ranges, lack of holistic analysis by GPT-4, and a need for providing further supplementary information to the model. Conclusions The study findings showed a significant difference between the cardiologist's medication recommendations and that of ChatGPT-4. Future research should continue to test GPT-4 in clinical settings to validate its abilities in the real world where more intricacies and challenges exist.

Citizen neuroscience: Wearable technology and open software to study the human brain in its natural habitat

Citizen science allows the public to participate in various stages of scientific research, including study design, data acquisition, and data analysis. Citizen science has a long history in several fields of the natural sciences, and with recent developments in wearable technology, neuroscience has also become more accessible to citizen scientists. This development was largely driven by the influx of minimal sensing systems in the consumer market, allowing more do-it-yourself (DIY) and quantified-self (QS) investigations of the human brain. While most subfields of neuroscience require sophisticated monitoring devices and laboratories, the study of sleep characteristics can be performed at home with relevant noninvasive consumer devices. The strong influence of sleep quality on waking life and the accessibility of devices to measure sleep are two primary reasons citizen scientists have widely embraced sleep research. Their involvement has evolved from solely contributing to data collection to engaging in more collaborative or autonomous approaches, such as instigating ideas, formulating research inquiries, designing research protocols and methodology, acting upon their findings, and disseminating results. In this article, we introduce the emerging field of citizen neuroscience, illustrating examples of such projects in sleep research. We then provide overviews of the wearable technologies for tracking human neurophysiology and various open-source software used to analyse them. Finally, we discuss the opportunities and challenges in citizen neuroscience projects and suggest how to improve the study of the human brain outside the laboratory.

Evaluating minority representation across health care settings in hidradenitis suppurativa and psoriasis

Background

Females and minorities have been underrepresented in clinical research despite legislative efforts, including in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and psoriasis (PsO) clinical trials.

Objective

To identify differences in demographic breakdowns of HS and PsO patients between health care settings to uncover any causative health disparities.

Methods

This study reports racial, ethnic, and sex of HS and PsO patient populations across the emergency department (ED), inpatient, clinical trial, and registry settings. In addition, 95% confidence intervals are used as proxies of statistical significance to compare demographics between settings.

Results

Female, Hispanic, and Black patients were underrepresented in HS clinical trials compared to their population prevalence (female: 63.7% vs 73.5%; Hispanic: 3.8% vs 12.0%; Black: 9.1% vs 20.3%). Female and Black patients were underrepresented in PsO trials compared to their population prevalence (female: 33.0% vs 54.8%; Black: 2.2% vs 5.7%). Black patients were overrepresented in the inpatient and ED settings in HS (inpatient vs ED vs population prevalence: 49.9% vs 49.9% vs 20.3%) and in the inpatient setting in PsO (inpatient vs population prevalence: 19.8% vs 5.7%).

Limitations

The main limitation is the reliability and generalizability of the published studies used to compare demographics across settings.

Conclusion

Underrepresentation of females and minorities in HS and PsO clinical trials is consistent with published literature. Overrepresentation of Black patients in acute care settings is likely multifactorial.

Suppressing Scientific Discourse on Vaccines? Self-perceptions of researchers and practitioners

The controversy over vaccines has recently intensified in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic, with calls from politicians, health professionals, journalists, and citizens to take harsh measures against so-called "anti-vaxxers," while accusing them of spreading "fake news" and as such, of endangering public health. However, the issue of suppression of vaccine dissenters has rarely been studied from the point of view of those who raise concerns about vaccine safety. The purpose of the present study was to examine the subjective perceptions of professionals (physicians, nurses, researchers) involved with vaccines through practice and/or research and who take a critical view on vaccines, about what they perceive as the suppression of dissent in the field of vaccines, their response to it, and its potential implications on science and medicine. Respondents reported being subjected to a variety of censorship and suppression tactics, including the retraction of papers pointing to vaccine safety problems, negative publicity, difficulty in obtaining research funding, calls for dismissal, summonses to official hearings, suspension of medical licenses, and self-censorship. Respondents also reported on what has been termed a "backfire effect" - a counter-reaction that draws more attention to the opponents' position. Suppression of dissent impairs scientific discourse and research practice while creating the false impression of scientific consensus.

Ethical issues when conducting health research with military personnel: a scoping review protocol

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this scoping review is to understand the scope and nature of evidence in relation to the ethical issues that arise when conducting health research with military personnel.

INTRODUCTION

Ethical obligations in human research have been debated for centuries. Historically, research conducted with military personnel has led to ethical controversies regarding autonomy, harm, and informed consent. In particular, the power dynamics, hierarchical nature, and culture that are inherent in military structures may compromise the voluntary nature of research participation.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

This scoping review will include all sources of evidence that identify ethical issues, such as autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice, within health research with military personnel, including reservists. This review will exclude sources of evidence on health research conducted during combat or on new technologies for fighting in wars.

METHODS

This scoping review will be conducted in accordance with the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. A 3-step search strategy will be used to obtain both published and unpublished sources of evidence. Two independent reviewers will screen sources of evidence against the inclusion and exclusion criteria. No limits on language will be applied; we will use Google Translate to translate sources of evidence in languages other than English. Sources of evidence published since 1964 will be included. Data will be extracted using a purpose-designed spreadsheet and the results will be summarized descriptively and presented in tabular format.

REVIEW REGISTRATION

Open Science Framework https://osf.io/db85p.

Efficient L-valine production using systematically metabolic engineered Klebsiella oxytoca

L-Valine, a branched-chain amino acid with diversified applications, is biosynthesized with α-acetolactate as the key precursor. In this study, the metabolic flux in Klebsiella oxytoca PDL-K5, a Risk Group 1 organism producing 2,3-butanediol as the major fermentation product, was rearranged to L-valine production by introducing exogenous L-valine biosynthesis pathway and blocking endogenous 2,3-butanediol generation at the metabolic branch point α-acetolactate. After further enhancing L-valine efflux, strengthening pyruvate polymerization and selecting of key enzymes for L-valine synthesis, a plasmid-free K. oxytoca strain VKO-9 was obtained. Fed-batch fermentation with K. oxytoca VKO-9 in a 7.5 L fermenter generated 122 g/L L-valine with a yield of 0.587 g/g in 56 h. In addition, repeated fed-batch fermentation was conducted to prevent precipitation of L-valine due to oversaturation. The average concentration, yield, and productivity of produced L-valine in three cycles of repeated fed-batch fermentation were 81.3 g/L, 0.599 g/g, and 3.39 g/L/h, respectively.

Virtues and vocation: An historical perspective on scientific integrity in the twenty-first century

According to the Dutch chemist Gerrit Jan Mulder (1802-1880), the principal aim of university education was character building and moral edification. Professional training was of secondary importance. Mulder's ideas about the vocation and moral mission of the university professor can serve as a historical counterpart to later Weberian, Mertonian, and contemporary ideas on the ethos of science. I argue that a revaluation of the moral precepts that Mulder saw as defining the life of an academic is helpful in dealing with the problems of late modern science, such as the replication crisis and research misconduct. Addressing such problems must start in the university classrooms. To empower students to internalize the principles of responsible conduct of research, we need an updated version of Mulder's idea of the university professor as a moral agent.

Responding to research misconduct allegations brought against top university officials

Investigating research misconduct allegations against top officials can create significant conflicts of interest (COIs) for universities that may require changes to existing oversight frameworks. One way of addressing some of these challenges is to develop policies and procedures that specifically address investigation of allegations of misconduct involving top university officials. Steps can also be taken now regardless of whether such a body is created. Federal and university research misconduct regulations and policies may need to be revised to provide institutions with clearer guidance on how to deal with misconduct allegations against top officials. For their part, institutions may benefit from proactively creating and transparently disclosing their own processes for independent investigation of research misconduct allegations against senior officials.

Comparing the effects of team-based and problem-based learning strategies in medical education: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Recently, there has been a concerted effort within medical schools to depart from conventional lecture-based learning approaches to alternative teaching methods such as team-based learning (TBL) and problem-based learning (PBL), with the aim of enhancing both student engagement and instructional efficacy. Despite this shift, a comprehensive review that directly compares the impacts of PBL and TBL methods in medical education is lacking. This study seeks to address this gap by conducting a meta-analysis that compares the effects of TBL and PBL in the context of medical education.

METHODS

Studies from Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese Wanfang Database were searched, from inception to July 11, 2023. A meta-analysis was performed using Stata 14.0, and a total of 10 studies (including 752 participants) were included. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was used to estimate pooled effects. Heterogeneity was detected using the I2 statistic and further explored using meta-regression analysis.

RESULTS

Compared with PBL, TBL significantly increased the number of theoretical tests (SMD = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.02-0.73). Additionally, TBL greatly improved teamwork skills compared with PBL. However, there were no significant differences between the TBL and PBL groups concerning practical skill scores, learning interest, or understanding skills.

CONCLUSION

TBL in the theoretical aspects of medical education appears to be more effective than PBL in improving theoretical test scores and teamwork skills, providing evidence for the implementation of TBL in medical education.

Faculty versus students: different perceptions of misconducts at university

Introduction

Academic integrity is a goal to be achieved by university institutions, and student academic behavioral misconduct is a phenomenon to be fought and eradicated. Two of the main problems faced by universities in this area are: (1) the lack of consensus among students and faculty on the seriousness of acts considered academic misconduct; and (2) the difficulty of noticing and controlling certain student behaviors. The main aim of this paper is to assess the importance of these two problems.

Methods

For this purpose, the authors compare, on the one hand, students' and teachers' perceptions of the seriousness of different types of dishonest and inappropriate behaviors and, on the other hand, the frequency with which they report that these misconducts occur. Two samples were taken from the responses of students and teachers of the Economics and Business School of the University of Zaragoza. The first consisted of 333 students and the second of 72 teachers. The academic misconducts asked about were grouped into three categories: academic works, exams, and interpersonal relationships in the classroom. Nonparametric tests were used to study the significance of the differences observed in the responses of students and teachers.

Results

Results show that the greatest differences in the assessment of the seriousness of academic misconducts are in the group referring to interpersonal relationships. In terms of frequency, the study reveals that there is a serious problem of moral hazard in some of the behaviors analyzed, since the frequency with which teachers notice these practices is lower than that expressed by students.

Discussion

Based on these results, possible measures to be adopted in universities in order to eradicate the academic misconduct problem are discussed.

Mismatch in perceptions of the quality of supervision and research data management as an area of concern: Results from a university-wide survey of the research integrity culture at a Belgian university

Researchers of KU Leuven, a large Belgian university, were invited to complete a bespoke questionnaire assessing their attitudes toward research integrity and the local research culture, with specific emphasis on the supervision of junior researchers. A total of 7,353 invitations were sent via e-mail and 1,866 responses were collected (25.3% response rate), of which 1,723 responses are reported upon here. Some of the findings are relevant to the broader research community. Whereas supervisors evaluated their supervision of junior researchers almost unanimously as positive, fewer supervisees evaluated it as such. Data management emerged as an area of concern, both in terms of reviewing raw data and of data storage. More female than male professors emphasized open communication and supported their supervisees' professional development and personal well-being. At the same time, fewer female professors felt safe to speak up than male professors. Finally, researchers who obtained their master's degree outside Europe evaluated their supervision and KU Leuven's research culture more positively than researchers with a master's degree from KU Leuven. The results of the survey were fed back to the university's board and several bodies and served as input to update the university's research policy. Faculties and departments received a detailed report.

Limits of ethical non-human subjects research in an applied setting

Ethical research follows numerous rules and regulations to ensure that all human subjects are protected during the collection and dissemination of research outcomes. Nevertheless, there is often a critical distinction drawn between human subjects research and non-human subjects research (NHSR). The latter can also be described as non-research activities, which typically reduces any oversight even if human subjects are involved. Despite the need to conduct ethical NHSR or non-research activities in an applied setting, there are several ways this determination can be used to circumvent regulatory oversight. In particular, the problem arises because one or more of several key functions become conflated in an applied setting, whereas they would be compartmentalized and independent in controlled or experimental settings. These functions include: 1) ethical oversight; 2) funding; 3) execution; and 4) peer review. The current discussion outlines how NHSR in an applied setting can allow these functions to overlap, and how personnel might stretch the boundaries of ethical conduct even while following existing regulations. As such, the goal is to guide future practices when conducting or reviewing NHSR in an applied setting so that unethical practices do not bias the results.

Fake news research trends, linkages to generative artificial intelligence and sustainable development goals

In the digital age, where information is a cornerstone for decision-making, social media's not-so-regulated environment has intensified the prevalence of fake news, with significant implications for both individuals and societies. This study employs a bibliometric analysis of a large corpus of 9678 publications spanning 2013-2022 to scrutinize the evolution of fake news research, identifying leading authors, institutions, and nations. Three thematic clusters emerge: Disinformation in social media, COVID-19-induced infodemics, and techno-scientific advancements in auto-detection. This work introduces three novel contributions: 1) a pioneering mapping of fake news research to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), indicating its influence on areas like health (SDG 3), peace (SDG 16), and industry (SDG 9); 2) the utilization of Prominence percentile metrics to discern critical and economically prioritized research areas, such as misinformation and object detection in deep learning; and 3) an evaluation of generative AI's role in the propagation and realism of fake news, raising pressing ethical concerns. These contributions collectively provide a comprehensive overview of the current state and future trajectories of fake news research, offering valuable insights for academia, policymakers, and industry.

Symptom burden and follow-up of patients with neck and back complaints in specialized outpatient care: a national register study

Back and neck pain are common in the population, especially among immigrants. In Norway's specialist care system, treating these patients typically involves a multidisciplinary approach based on the biopsychosocial model. However, language and cultural differences may create barriers to participation. Immigrants are often underrepresented in clinical studies, but a register-based approach can enhance their participation in research. This study aimed to compare both the symptom burden, and treatment, among Norwegians, non-Norwegians, and patients requiring translator service for back and neck pain within the Norwegian specialist care system. The Norwegian neck and back registry is a National Quality Register, established in 2012 and fully digitized in late 2020. The baseline data includes demographics and patient recorded outcome measures including Oswestry Disability Index, Fear-Avoidance Beliefs, pain rating on a numeric rating scale, Hopkins Symptom Checklist and EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire on health related quality of life. During the two-year study period, a total of 14,124 patients were invited, and 10,060 (71%) participated. Norwegian patients reported less pain, better function assessed by Oswestry Disability Index, lower fear avoidance beliefs, less emotional distress, and higher health related quality of life compared to non-Norwegians. We found that patients with female gender, who were younger, more educated and exhibited fear-avoidance behavior were significantly more likely to receive multidisciplinary treatment. We found no difference in the proportion of Norwegian and non-Norwegian patients receiving multidisciplinary treatment [odds ratio (OR) 1.02 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.90-1.16)]. However, patients needing a translator were less likely to receive multidisciplinary treatment compared to those who didn't require translation [OR 0.41 (95% CI (0.25-0.66)]. We found that non-Norwegian patients experience a higher symptom burden compared to Norwegian. We found that both non-Norwegians and patient in need of translator were to a greater extent recommended treatment in primary health care. The proportion of non-Norwegians patients receiving multidisciplinary treatment was similar to Norwegians, but those needing a translator were less likely to receive such treatment.

Advocating for Generalizability: Accepting Inherent Variability in Translation of Animal Research Outcomes

Advancing scientific discovery requires investigators to embrace research practices that increase transparency and disclosure about materials, methods, and outcomes. Several research advocacy and funding organizations have produced guidelines and recommended practices to enhance reproducibility through detailed and rigorous research approaches; however, confusion around vocabulary terms and a lack of adoption of suggested practices have stymied successful implementation. Although reproducibility of research findings cannot be guaranteed due to extensive inherent variables in attempts at experimental repetition, the scientific community can advocate for generalizability in the application of data outcomes to ensure a broad and effective impact on the comparison of animals to translation within human research. This report reviews suggestions, based upon work with National Institutes of Health advisory groups, for improving rigor and transparency in animal research through aspects of experimental design, statistical assessment, and reporting factors to advocate for generalizability in the application of comparative outcomes between animals and humans.

Large Language Models and Artificial Intelligence: A Primer for Plastic Surgeons on the Demonstrated and Potential Applications, Promises, and Limitations of ChatGPT

BACKGROUND

The rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence (AI) holds great potential for plastic surgeons. ChatGPT, a recently released AI large language model (LLM), promises applications across many disciplines, including healthcare.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this article was to provide a primer for plastic surgeons on AI, LLM, and ChatGPT, including an analysis of current demonstrated and proposed clinical applications.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed identifying medical and surgical literature on ChatGPT's proposed clinical applications. Variables assessed included applications investigated, command tasks provided, user input information, AI-emulated human skills, output validation, and reported limitations.

RESULTS

The analysis included 175 articles reporting on 13 plastic surgery applications and 116 additional clinical applications, categorized by field and purpose. Thirty-four applications within plastic surgery are thus proposed, with relevance to different target audiences, including attending plastic surgeons (n = 17, 50%), trainees/educators (n = 8, 24.0%), researchers/scholars (n = 7, 21%), and patients (n = 2, 6%). The 15 identified limitations of ChatGPT were categorized by training data, algorithm, and ethical considerations.

CONCLUSIONS

Widespread use of ChatGPT in plastic surgery will depend on rigorous research of proposed applications to validate performance and address limitations. This systemic review aims to guide research, development, and regulation to safely adopt AI in plastic surgery.

Points of departure and developing good practices for responsible internationalization in a rapidly changing world

Responsible internationalization is a term increasingly used to promote relationship building in a world shaped by the growing impact of global challenges and geopolitical competition. In these changing global conditions, researchers and universities have learned that they need to adhere to an expanded set of research norms. Today these norms include aspects well known to researchers, such as research integrity, academic freedom, openness, research excellence, and research ethics, but also newer aspects related to societal impact, research security, and science diplomacy. However, managing these aspects is complicated by the fact that they are quite contradictory in tandem. Hence the term responsible internationalization has been used to raise awareness of the changing conditions for academic research and induce more responsible research practices. Nonetheless, the term presently lacks systemization and agreed definitions driving clear narratives, well-articulated goals, or structured responses and behavioral changes. This paper seeks to clarify some of the underlying premises and strategies in working with responsible internationalization and a way forward to the development of clearer guidelines.

How Competition for Funding Impacts Scientific Practice: Building Pre-fab Houses but no Cathedrals

In the research integrity literature, funding plays two different roles: it is thought to elevate questionable research practices (QRPs) due to perverse incentives, and it is a potential actor to incentivize research integrity standards. Recent studies, asking funders, have emphasized the importance of the latter. However, the perspective of active researchers on the impact of competitive research funding on science has not been explored yet. Here, I address this issue by conducting a series of group sessions with researchers in two different countries with different degrees of competition for funding, from three scientific fields (medical sciences, natural sciences, humanities), and in two different career stages (permanent versus temporary employment). Researchers across all groups experienced that competition for funding shapes science, with many unintended negative consequences. Intriguingly, these consequences had little to do with the type of QRPs typically being presented in the research integrity literature. Instead, the researchers pointed out that funding could result in predictable, fashionable, short-sighted, and overpromising science. This was seen as highly problematic: scientists experienced that the 'projectification' of science makes it more and more difficult to do any science of real importance: plunging into the unknown or addressing big issues that need a long-term horizon to mature. They also problematized unintended negative effects from collaboration and strategizing. I suggest it may be time to move away from a focus on QRPs in connection with funding, and rather address the real problems. Such a shift may then call for entirely different types of policy actions.

Evaluating Large Language Models in Extracting Cognitive Exam Dates and Scores

Importance

Large language models (LLMs) are crucial for medical tasks. Ensuring their reliability is vital to avoid false results. Our study assesses two state-of-the-art LLMs (ChatGPT and LlaMA-2) for extracting clinical information, focusing on cognitive tests like MMSE and CDR.

Objective

Evaluate ChatGPT and LlaMA-2 performance in extracting MMSE and CDR scores, including their associated dates.

Methods

Our data consisted of 135,307 clinical notes (Jan 12th, 2010 to May 24th, 2023) mentioning MMSE, CDR, or MoCA. After applying inclusion criteria 34,465 notes remained, of which 765 underwent ChatGPT (GPT-4) and LlaMA-2, and 22 experts reviewed the responses. ChatGPT successfully extracted MMSE and CDR instances with dates from 742 notes. We used 20 notes for fine-tuning and training the reviewers. The remaining 722 were assigned to reviewers, with 309 each assigned to two reviewers simultaneously. Inter-rater-agreement (Fleiss' Kappa), precision, recall, true/false negative rates, and accuracy were calculated. Our study follows TRIPOD reporting guidelines for model validation.

Results

For MMSE information extraction, ChatGPT (vs. LlaMA-2) achieved accuracy of 83% (vs. 66.4%), sensitivity of 89.7% (vs. 69.9%), true-negative rates of 96% (vs 60.0%), and precision of 82.7% (vs 62.2%). For CDR the results were lower overall, with accuracy of 87.1% (vs. 74.5%), sensitivity of 84.3% (vs. 39.7%), true-negative rates of 99.8% (98.4%), and precision of 48.3% (vs. 16.1%). We qualitatively evaluated the MMSE errors of ChatGPT and LlaMA-2 on double-reviewed notes. LlaMA-2 errors included 27 cases of total hallucination, 19 cases of reporting other scores instead of MMSE, 25 missed scores, and 23 cases of reporting only the wrong date. In comparison, ChatGPT's errors included only 3 cases of total hallucination, 17 cases of wrong test reported instead of MMSE, and 19 cases of reporting a wrong date.

Conclusions

In this diagnostic/prognostic study of ChatGPT and LlaMA-2 for extracting cognitive exam dates and scores from clinical notes, ChatGPT exhibited high accuracy, with better performance compared to LlaMA-2. The use of LLMs could benefit dementia research and clinical care, by identifying eligible patients for treatments initialization or clinical trial enrollments. Rigorous evaluation of LLMs is crucial to understanding their capabilities and limitations.

Ambiguity in Ethical Standards: Global Versus Local Science in Explaining Academic Plagiarism

The past decade has seen extensive research carried out on the systematic causes of research misconduct. Simultaneously, less attention has been paid to the variation in academic misconduct between research fields, as most empirical studies focus on one particular discipline. We propose that academic discipline is one of several systematic factors that might contribute to academic misbehavior. Drawing on a neo-institutional approach, we argue that in the developing countries, the norm of textual originality has not drawn equal support across different research fields depending on its level of internationalization. Using plagiarism detection software, we analyzed 2,405 doctoral dissertations randomly selected from all dissertations defended in Russia between 2007 and 2015. We measured the globalization of each academic discipline by calculating the share of publications indexed in the global citation database in relation to overall output. Our results showed that, with an average share of detected borrowings of over 19%, the incidence of plagiarism in Russia is remarkably higher than in Western countries. Overall, disciplines closely follow the pattern of higher globalization associated with a lower percentage of borrowed text. We also found that plagiarism is less prevalent at research-oriented institutions supporting global ethical standards. Our findings suggest that it might be misleading to measure the prevalence of academic misconduct in developing countries without paying attention to variations at the disciplinary level.

A new age of precision gene therapy

Gene therapy has become a clinical reality as market-approved advanced therapy medicinal products for the treatment of distinct monogenetic diseases and B-cell malignancies. This Therapeutic Review aims to explain how progress in genome editing technologies offers the possibility to expand both therapeutic options and the types of diseases that will become treatable. To frame these impressive advances in the context of modern medicine, we incorporate examples from human clinical trials into our discussion on how genome editing will complement currently available strategies in gene therapy, which still mainly rely on gene addition strategies. Furthermore, safety considerations and ethical implications, including the issue of accessibility, are addressed as these crucial parameters will define the impact that gene therapy in general and genome editing in particular will have on how we treat patients in the near future.

Bounded research ethicality: researchers rate themselves and their field as better than others at following good research practice

Bounded ethicality refers to people's limited capacity to consistently behave in line with their ethical standards. Here, we present results from a pre-registered, large-scale (N = 11,050) survey of researchers in Sweden, suggesting that researchers too are boundedly ethical. Specifically, researchers on average rated themselves as better than other researchers in their field at following good research practice, and rated researchers in their own field as better than researchers in other fields at following good research practice. These effects were stable across all academic fields, but strongest among researchers in the medical sciences. Taken together, our findings illustrate inflated self-righteous beliefs among researchers and research disciplines when it comes to research ethics, which may contribute to academic polarization and moral blindspots regarding one's own and one's colleagues' use of questionable research practices.

What if… your research is suddenly affiliated with a tobacco manufacturing company?

The tobacco industry is accountable for an annual global death toll of approximately 8 million people and cigarette smoking is the foremost risk factor for several types of cancer. In addition, the tobacco industry has a long and controversial history of trying to influence scientific research and of engaging in other morally problematic practices. In September 2021, the respiratory community was alarmed by the takeover of Vectura Group (Vectura) by Philip Morris International. As a reaction to this acquisition, strict measures were imposed by the International Respiratory Societies to prohibit the involvement of Vectura in respiratory research and its participation in societies' activities. International Respiratory Societies argued that Vectura had become part of the tobacco industry due to this takeover and is, therefore, subject to the same rules and restrictions. From a healthcare and historical perspective, the reaction and imposed measures are very understandable. However, for researchers that were already affiliated with Vectura through long-standing agreements and for research that was funded by Vectura, the imposed measures have serious consequences. With this article, we provide an example of these consequences. By reflecting on this issue, we would like to start a conversation regarding the current measures and to encourage the respiratory community to begin thinking of a way to avoid these consequences in the future. In addition, we hope that with this conversation the Respiratory Societies can set an example for other medical societies on how to cope with possible morally tainted affiliations (eg, fast food companies, alcohol manufacturing companies) in the future.

Advancing Research Training in Medical Education: Global Perspectives and Paradigms for Future Development

BACKGROUND

This study delves into the dynamic field of medical education research, emphasizing the integration of research training within medical curricula. It seeks to understand the impact of such integration on the competencies of future medical professionals.

OBJECTIVE

The primary aim is to systematically categorize and analyze the current trends and future directions in research training in medical education. This involves assessing the influence of research training on medical students' skills and the methodologies used in such research.

METHODS

The research employs an extensive bibliographic literature review across multiple databases. It classifies studies like experiential or case studies, editorials, and original research articles. This classification is based on criteria such as geographical location, research objectives, theoretical frameworks, and methodologies.

RESULTS

Findings reveal a diverse landscape in medical education research, with a significant emphasis on research training. The research showcases varying methodologies and approaches used globally, highlighting the thematic focus and geographical distribution of these studies.

CONCLUSION

Research training in medical education is a globally expansive and evolving field. It underscores the importance of continuous investigation, particularly focusing on integrating research elements at curricular levels and exploring innovative educational strategies. The study also points out potential research gaps, especially in underrepresented regions, indicating directions for future research efforts.

Current situation and influence factors of scientific integrity in China: A multicenter survey

Objective

Cases of scientific misconduct have occurred frequently, especially in the field of medical research. We collected electronic questionnaires from 1257 medical staff in 43 cities and obtained a cross-sectional data set of their understanding of scientific integrity in research. This study aims to propose recommendations for establishing a mature oversight system for research integrity.

Methods

The study employed multiple regression analysis to explore the effect of different factors on the perception of four types of research integrity.

Results

Female participants had a higher understanding of project application integrity than men (P < ​ 0.001). Participants in clinical departments had a lower understanding of project application integrity than those in nursing departments (clinical vs. nursing, P ​= 0.046). Participants with a junior college degree or below had a lower understanding than those who had a postgraduate degree and doctoral degree (junior college or below vs. postgraduate degree, P ​< ​0.001; junior college or below vs. doctoral degree, P ​< ​0.001).

Conclusions

We found that female, medical technology department, advanced education background, and advanced professional titles were significantly associated with a higher understanding of scientific integrity in research in China.

A choice, not an obligation : Releasing scientific software as open source should be the responsibility of the authors

The timing of making software open source should not be dictated by journal guidelines.

Ethical Principles in Plastic Surgery Research

Research is an integral part of medical progress that leads to better understanding of disease processes and the development of therapies to improve patient care. The medical community has an obligation and societal responsibility to review its practices and advance its knowledge to optimize care for those who entrust it with their health and well-being. While ultimately intended to benefit patients specifically and society as a whole, every laboratory and clinical investigation inherently carries an element of uncertainty and has attendant risks. These can have unintended and, at times, harmful consequences that cannot justify the knowledge gained. In order to mitigate these risks and protect human subjects involved in clinical research studies, a basic framework of ethical principles has been developed to guide responsible experimental design, execution, and data dissemination. This article provides a review of these principles and the historical context from which they were derived and explores the persistent challenges and cognitive biases that can increase susceptibility to unethical research practices.

Responsible research in the practice of anatomy: Attributes relevant to body donors and human tissues sourced from them

Responsible Research involves setting moral examples before fellow academicians and the society as a whole. The concept of Responsible Research applies appropriately to ethical sourcing and handling of human tissues. The present study was undertaken to analyze present situation regarding implementation of attributes of Relevant Research in relation to body donors in anatomical research. A literature search of relevant, peer-reviewed, published articles was undertaken from indexed databases (Medline & PubMed, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL Plus, Web of Science and Google Scholar) for this study. The following attributes of Responsible Research were identified for possible intervention: the fact that research was conducted on human tissues from body donors and details regarding ethical handling thereof may be explicitly mentioned in method section; expression of gratitude towards body donors by authors may be included in acknowledgement section; editor's and publisher's note in support of adoption of attributes of Responsible Research may be included in published research. Adherence to best practices in terms of ethical guidelines requires anatomists to embrace a responsible approach in research from an inclusive perspective. Accordingly, practice of acknowledging the body donors may be nurtured and augmented to include the anonymised dead (human tissues from unclaimed bodies and unknown source) provided the research protocol received clearance from authorities concerned with ethical scrutiny. Moreover, adoption of the practice in review articles will enhance the boundaries of Responsible Research in anatomical science. Thus, few recommendations are proposed as epilogue for effectual implementation of the notion floated in present study.

Big team science initiatives: A catalyst for trustworthy advancements in IO psychology

Keener et al. (2023) raise concerns about the trustworthiness of Industrial/Organizational (IO) Psychology research and related fields due to the low reproducibility and replicability of research findings. The authors provide various solutions to resolve this crisis, such as improving training, realigning incentives, and adopting open science practices. Our commentary elaborates on one solution to which they briefly allude: Big Team Science Initiatives (BTSIs). BTSIs allow scholars to address the trustworthiness of our science by facilitating large sample theory testing, sharing and allocating resources, and selecting appropriate research strategies, all of which support the reproducibility and replication of research. Further, we propose that BTSIs may facilitate researcher training, encourage data sharing and materials, and realign incentives in our field. We discuss how BTSIs could be implemented in IO psychology and related fields, identifying and drawing upon similar BTSIs in related disciplines. Thus, our commentary is an extension of the focal article, encouraging scholars to collaboratively address the "crisis of confidence" facing our field using a big team science approach.