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The notable increase in retraction papers has attracted considerable attention from diverse stakeholders. Various sources are now offering information related to research integrity, including concerns voiced on social media, disclosed lists of paper mills, and retraction notices accessible through journal websites. However, despite the availability of such resources, there remains a lack of a unified platform to consolidate this information, thereby hindering efficient searching and cross-referencing. Thus, it is imperative to develop a comprehensive platform for retracted papers and related concerns. This article aims to introduce "Amend," a platform designed to integrate information on research integrity from diverse sources. The Amend platform consolidates concerns and lists of problematic articles sourced from social media platforms (e.g., PubPeer, For Better Science), retraction notices from journal websites, and citation databases (e.g., Web of Science, CrossRef). Moreover, Amend includes investigation and punishment announcements released by administrative agencies (e.g., NSFC, MOE, MOST, CAS). Each related paper is marked and can be traced back to its information source via a provided link. Furthermore, the Amend database incorporates various attributes of retracted articles, including citation topics, funding details, open access status, and more. The reasons for retraction are identified and classified as either academic misconduct or honest errors, with detailed subcategories provided for further clarity. Within the Amend platform, a total of 32,515 retracted papers indexed in SCI, SSCI, and ESCI between 1980 and 2023 were identified. Of these, 26,620 (81.87%) were associated with academic misconduct. The retraction rate stands at 6.64 per 10,000 articles. Notably, the retraction rate for non-gold open access articles significantly differs from that for gold open access articles, with this disparity progressively widening over the years. Furthermore, the reasons for retractions have shifted from traditional individual behaviors like falsification, fabrication, plagiarism, and duplication to more organized large-scale fraudulent practices, including Paper Mills, Fake Peer-review, and Artificial Intelligence Generated Content (AIGC). The Amend platform may not fully capture all retracted and concerning papers, thereby impacting its comprehensiveness. Additionally, inaccuracies in retraction notices may lead to errors in tagged reasons. Amend provides an integrated platform for stakeholders to enhance monitoring, analysis, and research on academic misconduct issues. Ultimately, the Amend database can contribute to upholding scientific integrity. This study introduces a globally integrated platform for retracted and concerning papers, along with a preliminary analysis of the evolutionary trends in retracted papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The April 2024 issue of the Journal of Materials Science features a cover paper titled "Self-assembled NIPAM-PEG-NIPAM polymeric nanomicelles for the delivery of zinc protoporphyrin: a potential stimuli-triggered cancer treatment approach" by Bagheri-Meyabad et al. The paper, which is part of the "Materials for Life Sciences" Topical Collection, explores the use of nanomicelles for drug delivery. The corresponding author, Professor Rassoul Dinarvand, is based in Iran and has a strong research background in materials for life sciences. The paper is freely available online and includes supplementary information. [Extracted from the article]

This study proposes a methodology using OpenAlex (OA) for tracking Open Access publications in the case of Argentina, a country where a self-archiving mandate has been in effect since 2013 (Law 26.899, 2013). A sample of 167,240 papers by researchers from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) was created and analyzed using statistical techniques. We estimate that OA is able to capture between 85-93% of authors for all disciplines, with the exception of Social Sciences and Humanities, where it only reaches an estimated 47%. The availability of papers in Open Access was calculated to be 41% for the period 1953-2021 and 46% when considering exclusively the post-law period (2014-2021). In both periods, gold Open Access made up the most common route. When comparing equal periods post and pre-law, we observed that the upward trend of gold Open Access was pre-existing to the legislation and the availability of closed articles in repositories increased by 5% to what is estimated based on existing trends. However, while the green route has had a positive evolution, it has been the publication in gold journals that has boosted access to Argentine production more rapidly. We concluded that the OA-based methodology, piloted here for the first time, is viable for tracking Open Access in Argentina since it yields percentages similar to other national and international studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our research activities would be better served if they were communicated in a manner that is openly accessible to the public and all researchers. The research we share is often limited to representative data included in research papers—science would be much more efficient if all reproducible research data were shared alongside detailed methods and protocols, in the paradigm called Open Science. On the other hand, one primary function of research journals is to select manuscripts of good quality, verify the authenticity of the data and its impact, and deliver to the appropriate audience for critical evaluation and verification. In the current paradigm, where publication in a subset of journals is intimately linked to research evaluation, a hypercompetitive "market" has emerged where authors compete to access a limited number of top‐tier journals, leading to high rejection rates. Competition among publishers and scientific journals for market dominance resulted in an increase in both the number of journals and the cost of publishing and accessing scientific papers. Here we summarize the current problems and potential solutions from the development of AI technology discussed in the seminar at the 46th Annual Meeting of the Molecular Biology Society of Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advancements in robotics and mapping technology have spotlighted the development of Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) systems as a key research area. However, the high cost of advanced SLAM systems poses a significant barrier to research and development in the field, while many low-cost SLAM systems, operating under resource constraints, fail to achieve high-precision real-time mapping and localization, rendering them unsuitable for practical applications. This paper introduces a cost-effective SLAM system design that maintains high performance while significantly reducing costs. Our approach utilizes economical components and efficient algorithms, addressing the high-cost barrier in the field. First, we developed a robust robotic platform based on a traditional four-wheeled vehicle structure, enhancing flexibility and load capacity. Then, we adapted the SLAM algorithm using the LiDAR-inertial Odometry framework coupled with the Fast Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm to balance accuracy and real-time performance. Finally, we integrated the 3D multi-goal Rapidly exploring Random Tree (RRT) algorithm with Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (NMPC) for autonomous exploration in complex environments. Comprehensive experimental results confirm the system's capability for real-time, autonomous navigation and mapping in intricate indoor settings, rivaling more expensive SLAM systems in accuracy and efficiency at a lower cost. Our research results are published as open access, facilitating greater accessibility and collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open access (OA) publishing has become the dominant form of scientific communication. According to an earlier research, the share of OA in the total number of internationally visible papers by Croatian authors is 74 %. This study investigates the attitudes and publication practices of Croatian authors towards OA through a survey conducted among members of the znanstvenici.hr mailing list in early 2023. The survey aimed to determine their support for OA publishing, recognition of its positive and negative aspects, motives for choosing OA publishing, funding sources, and preferences for certain OA publishers. A total of 1,041 participants responded to the survey, with 763 fully completing the questionnaire. The majority of respondents (over 60 %) were active in the fields of sciences, social sciences, and engineering. Analysis of their publication output during the 2021-2022 period revealed that 43.6 % of respondents did not publish a single article in a Croatian journal, with the highest proportion (71 %) observed in the sciences. In contrast, 9.7 % did not publish in foreign journals, with 32 % of these respondents coming from the humanities. Among those who published in foreign journals, approximately 50 % published at least one paper in subscription journals, and the same proportion published in fully open access journals with article processing charge (APC) payments. One-fifth of the authors published their papers for free in fully open access journals, either through invitation or by utilizing coupons for free publication. Coupons were the most commonly used source for APC payments. The majority of respondents (75 %) expressed support for OA publishing and acknowledged its advantages in scientific research and the educational process. Over 80 % of respondents agreed that OA facilitates faster and more efficient dissemination of new knowledge, and increases readership, and enhances the visibility of research papers. However, when selecting a journal for publication, respondents were primarily motivated by the journal’s reputation and impact rather than its open access status. Nearly one-third of the surveyed authors believed that OA increases the commercialization of scientific publishing and that the rising number of publications diminishes the quality of peer review. Attitudes towards publishing in fully open access journals operating exclusively with the APC financing model varied among respondents. Those with a positive attitude were motivated by the speed of peer review and publication process, while those with a negative attitude believed that publishers of APC-charging OA journals prioritize profit over the quality of published articles. Additionally, some respondents mentioned that they could not afford to pay APC, or chose not to pay due to their opposition to any obstacles hindering the publication of scientific results. The survey results indicate that Croatian authors, even when lacking sufficient means, are more inclined to pay publication costs rather than ensuring open access through archiving their papers in public digital repositories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open access policies and mandates can be a useful tool in persuading faculty at higher education institutions around the globe to produce and share open scholarship. But are such policies widely written, accepted, and adopted? Leveraging information found on the Registry of Open Access Repositories Mandatory Archiving Policies, this paper analyzes open access policies at higher education institutions worldwide. The data indicate that Europe holds the most policies, while fewer policies have been enacted in the Americas, Africa, Oceania, and Asia due to a myriad of barriers. Overall, better strategies to promote open access are needed, and such strategies may not necessarily take the form of an open access policy. My own investigation of global open access policies has informed my practices with respect to open access. In this paper, I demonstrate how librarians acting as policy entrepreneurs can assist with the promotion of open access at their institutions and then conclude with suggestions, solutions, and pathways beyond policy adoption to promote and advocate for open access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) chat programs has opened two distinct paths, one enhancing interaction and another potentially replacing personal understanding. Ethical and legal concerns arise due to the rapid development of these programs. This paper investigates academic discussions on AI in medicine, analyzing the context, frequency, and reasons behind these conversations. Methods: The study collected data from the Web of Science database on articles containing the keyword "ChatGPT" published from January to September 2023, resulting in 786 medically related journal articles. The inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed articles in English related to medicine. Results: The United States led in publications (38.1%), followed by India (15.5%) and China (7.0%). Keywords such as "patient" (16.7%), "research" (12%), and "performance" (10.6%) were prevalent. The Cureus Journal of Medical Science (11.8%) had the most publications, followed by the Annals of Biomedical Engineering (8.3%). August 2023 had the highest number of publications (29.3%), with significant growth between February to March and April to May. Medical General Internal (21.0%) was the most common category, followed by Surgery (15.4%) and Radiology (7.9%). Discussion: The prominence of India in ChatGPT research, despite lower research funding, indicates the platform's popularity and highlights the importance of monitoring its use for potential medical misinformation. China's interest in ChatGPT research suggests a focus on Natural Language Processing (NLP) AI applications, despite public bans on the platform. Cureus' success in publishing ChatGPT articles can be attributed to its open-access, rapid publication model. The study identifies research trends in plastic surgery, radiology, and obstetric gynecology, emphasizing the need for ethical considerations and reliability assessments in the application of ChatGPT in medical practice. Conclusion: ChatGPT's presence in medical literature is growing rapidly across various specialties, but concerns related to safety, privacy, and accuracy persist. More research is needed to assess its suitability for patient care and implications for non-medical use. Skepticism and thorough review of research are essential, as current studies may face retraction as more information emerges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Libraries need to move beyond traditional roles of purchasing and distributing scholarly literature, librarians need to strategically position themselves and take ownership of improving access. As a direct result of Covid-19, there is a new level of urgency to transform the scholarly communication process and there are enormous opportunities for an expanded and inclusive library publishing service which addresses access to knowledge and literature. This rich discussion will stimulate the drive to make library publishing a mainstream service within Irish libraries. The purpose of this study is to provide a vision for how academic libraries can assume a more central role in a future where open access (OA) publishing has become the predominant model for disseminating scholarly research. This work will analyse existing trends related to Open Access policies and publishing with an emphasis on the development of repositories managed by libraries to publish and disseminate articles. These trends, coupled with emerging economic realities, will create an environment where libraries' will assume a major role in the Open Access publishing environment. This paper will provide an insight for academic libraries and their institutions to consider a dramatic shift in the deployment of subscription financial resources from a largely closed scholarly communication system to one that provides open, unrestricted access to research. Given the importance of scholarly publishing, a number of Irish Third level libraries have launched library publishing services including the establishment and management of high quality library published peer-reviewed open access journals and Open Educational Resources to support formal and informal scholarly communication. Librarians are also upskilling in the area of library publishing. A number of Irish Librarians have completed the Library Publishing Coalition's Library Publishing Curriculum. There is also the Library Publishing Group as part of the Library Association of Ireland. This work aims to identify and examine the factors of library publishing services that facilitate scholarly communication. The clear message from this discussion is that libraries need to include publishing in their services, advocate for open access and serve their communities and societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the evolution of the journal Sci and its new aims and scope. Since its inception in 2018, Sci has aimed to bring transparency to the peer review process by adopting a public peer review approach. In 2019, it transitioned to a post-publication public peer review model. In November 2020, Sci implemented a new hybrid model, making submissions available on MDPI's Preprints service. The journal covers a wide range of disciplines, including life sciences, physical sciences, clinical medicine, sports sciences, materials sciences, computer sciences, environmental sciences, engineering, social sciences, and psychology. Sci is indexed in Scopus and is in the process of applying to be included in the Web of Science. The journal encourages scientists to publish their research in detail and has no restrictions on paper length. It also invites scholars to interact with each other through peer review on Preprints. The article concludes by inviting readers to participate in the journal's collaborative community and contribute to its future success. [Extracted from the article]

The "IEEE Transactions on Semiconductor Manufacturing" is a journal that publishes the latest advancements in the manufacturing of microelectronic and photonic components. It aims to enhance knowledge and improve manufacturing practices in the semiconductor industry. The journal covers various topics such as process integration, manufacturing equipment performance, yield analysis, metrology, and supply chain management. Papers submitted to the journal should focus on practical engineering techniques for solving manufacturing-related problems. The journal follows a peer-review process and encourages authors from low-income countries to submit their work. The standard length for regular papers is eight pages, and shorter contributions can be submitted as letters. The journal provides guidelines for manuscript preparation, including the use of the IEEE template style. It also accepts graphical abstracts and electronic supplements. Authors are responsible for preparing a publication-quality manuscript and may use English language editing services if needed. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited, and manuscripts found to have plagiarized content may be penalized. Authors are required to have an Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID) and can submit their manuscripts online. The journal offers both traditional and open access publication options, with associated fees. Native language author names are supported, and page charges may apply for publication. The IEEE holds the copyright to the published material. [Extracted from the article]

Functional Ecology, a scientific journal, is transitioning to become a fully open access journal. The journal has been committed to increasing accessibility for readers and authors by providing free plain language summaries, publishing workshops, and advice articles on effective science writing. Over the years, the number of authors choosing to publish open access has increased, resulting in more than half of the papers being published in this format. In order to ensure equal accessibility for all researchers, the journal will provide author waivers through Research4Life and the British Ecological Society waiver policy. The goal of this transition is to make the benefits of publishing in Functional Ecology available to a larger portion of the ecological community. [Extracted from the article]

Viruses, a scientific journal, is celebrating its 15th anniversary and remains committed to serving the virology community. The field of virology has faced new challenges and made exciting progress in recent decades. Viruses has become a leader in publishing high-quality virology papers, with a current impact factor of 4.7. The journal has a broad scope, covering human and animal viruses, as well as insect, plant, and bacterial viruses. It is actively engaged in outreach activities and organizes conferences to gather insights and exchange ideas. The journal operates with strict ethical guidelines and welcomes feedback for improvement. While there have been concerns about editorial practices, the journal is working to address them and improve the quality of peer review and special issues. The goal of Viruses is to provide reliable services to researchers and remain a universally recognized journal for the publication of high-quality virology research. [Extracted from the article]

The article titled "Expression of Concern: Circular RNA S-7 promotes ovarian cancer EMT via sponging miR-641 to upregulate ZEB1 and MDM2" was published in Bioscience Reports in May 2024. The editorial office has issued an expression of concern due to potential issues surrounding the scientific validity of the paper. Specifically, there are concerns about the accuracy of Figure 2C and its similarity to figures from a previous study by Cao et al. The article is an open access publication distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0. [Extracted from the article]

The article celebrates the 10th anniversary of the journal Advanced Science. The journal has grown from a small publication with 5 papers in 2014 to an established premium gold open access journal with over 10,000 submissions and 9.7 million full text downloads in 2023. The anniversary issue features 26 contributions from 10 different countries on a wide range of topics. The editorial team has undergone some changes, with new deputy editors joining from various backgrounds. The journal is planning two celebration events, including a symposium on biomedical research in Shanghai and a symposium in Germany. The article expresses gratitude to the board members, authors, reviewers, and readers for their loyalty to Advanced Science. [Extracted from the article]