Dr. Maria Zalm
@drmariazalm.bsky.social
Senior Editor, Team Manager Publication Ethics @plos.bsky.social. Posts about #PublicationEthics and #ResearchIntegrity, and occasionally cats. Previously studied the role of periplasmic chaperones in Salmonella. Views are my own.
This is Stitch. As is evident from the photo, he has been up to absolutely nothing...
October 4, 2025 at 12:09 AM
This is Stitch. As is evident from the photo, he has been up to absolutely nothing...
As would be expected for a time-lapse experiment. However, it isn't expected for biological samples to remain pixel-perfect identical throughout the time-lapse.
August 29, 2025 at 7:59 PM
As would be expected for a time-lapse experiment. However, it isn't expected for biological samples to remain pixel-perfect identical throughout the time-lapse.
Furthermore, the full figure legend states that the panel d of the left figure is 8h of exposure to 0.1 mg/ml Gly+10 mM NAC and the right panel a is 12h of exposure control, so in this case it is not possible that it represents a time-lapse of the same sample.
August 29, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Furthermore, the full figure legend states that the panel d of the left figure is 8h of exposure to 0.1 mg/ml Gly+10 mM NAC and the right panel a is 12h of exposure control, so in this case it is not possible that it represents a time-lapse of the same sample.
Sometimes a methodology allows for this, but it would need to be clarified in the article. However, time-lapse experiments rarely show data this similar.
August 29, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Sometimes a methodology allows for this, but it would need to be clarified in the article. However, time-lapse experiments rarely show data this similar.
Supposedly the left figure represents tissue exposed to glyphosate for 8 hours and the right figure represents tissue exposed to glyphosate for 12 hours, so yes, it seems that at least one of these images was used to represent a different condition than the condition it originated from.
August 29, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Supposedly the left figure represents tissue exposed to glyphosate for 8 hours and the right figure represents tissue exposed to glyphosate for 12 hours, so yes, it seems that at least one of these images was used to represent a different condition than the condition it originated from.
Of course you do not use every single image in a publication, but when selecting the best image it should still come from the correct data set. It is inappropriate to take an image from condition A to represent condition B.
August 29, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Of course you do not use every single image in a publication, but when selecting the best image it should still come from the correct data set. It is inappropriate to take an image from condition A to represent condition B.
Experimental images are not "samples" added to beautify articles, they are key data that support results and conclusions. Therefore it is important that the image data are correct and accurately represent the obtained results, especially if the numerical results are quantified from these images.
August 29, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Experimental images are not "samples" added to beautify articles, they are key data that support results and conclusions. Therefore it is important that the image data are correct and accurately represent the obtained results, especially if the numerical results are quantified from these images.
That is where a full article investigation comes in. Is this the only set of overlaps or are there multiple? Were these image results quantified, and if so did this error happen before or after quantification? These are considerations editors make before deciding whether to correct, EOC, or retract.
August 29, 2025 at 7:18 AM
That is where a full article investigation comes in. Is this the only set of overlaps or are there multiple? Were these image results quantified, and if so did this error happen before or after quantification? These are considerations editors make before deciding whether to correct, EOC, or retract.
Bottom right of the Left panel b and top left of the Right panel a partially overlap
August 20, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Bottom right of the Left panel b and top left of the Right panel a partially overlap
You'd be surprised how often it happens, especially to people who are more senior in their field. They sometimes get added to papers without their knowledge or consent because authors hope that having a known and respected name on the article will result in more positive peer-review.
July 12, 2025 at 10:19 AM
You'd be surprised how often it happens, especially to people who are more senior in their field. They sometimes get added to papers without their knowledge or consent because authors hope that having a known and respected name on the article will result in more positive peer-review.
Could you/your colleague please send the details of this case to pub-ethics@plos.org so that our team can investigate this matter further?
July 10, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Could you/your colleague please send the details of this case to pub-ethics@plos.org so that our team can investigate this matter further?
This position will strengthen the PLOS Publication Ethics team's individual case group; so if you enjoy scanning images for irregularities, digging into underlying data, diving into complex scientific disputes or dissecting clinical ethics concerns, this may be the role for you.
July 2, 2025 at 5:26 PM
This position will strengthen the PLOS Publication Ethics team's individual case group; so if you enjoy scanning images for irregularities, digging into underlying data, diving into complex scientific disputes or dissecting clinical ethics concerns, this may be the role for you.
Or do you mean there are people who do NOT look for patterns in floor tiles 🤣
June 13, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Or do you mean there are people who do NOT look for patterns in floor tiles 🤣
Lesson learned; social media and trains are not a recommended combination 😜
June 13, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Lesson learned; social media and trains are not a recommended combination 😜
I am not certain which body would be responsible for overseeing UK institutional investigations. However, if the institute's input is inaccurate or biased, the publisher may look for additional external input, such as the funding body. Editors may also choose to reject the manuscript or post an EOC.
June 13, 2025 at 7:55 AM
I am not certain which body would be responsible for overseeing UK institutional investigations. However, if the institute's input is inaccurate or biased, the publisher may look for additional external input, such as the funding body. Editors may also choose to reject the manuscript or post an EOC.
Publication Ethics Specialist: this role is an editorial operations position supporting the needs of the PLOS Publication Ethics team. Do you have prior experience working in editorial operations and looking for a new challenge? Do you have a good eye for detail? This role may be a good fit for you.
June 13, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Publication Ethics Specialist: this role is an editorial operations position supporting the needs of the PLOS Publication Ethics team. Do you have prior experience working in editorial operations and looking for a new challenge? Do you have a good eye for detail? This role may be a good fit for you.
This PLOS Publication Ethics Associate Editor position is a great opportunity for early career editors, academics, or recent post-graduates to join an established publication ethics team, and help PLOS investigate and resolve concerns raised with individual articles submitted or published with PLOS.
June 13, 2025 at 7:05 AM
This PLOS Publication Ethics Associate Editor position is a great opportunity for early career editors, academics, or recent post-graduates to join an established publication ethics team, and help PLOS investigate and resolve concerns raised with individual articles submitted or published with PLOS.
Bump in the track, let's try again!
Associate Editor: are you the kind of person who spots repeating patterns in published figures (or kitchen tiles)? Do you enjoy digging through underlying datasets? Do you care about the integrity of the scientific record? This may be the role for you!
Associate Editor: are you the kind of person who spots repeating patterns in published figures (or kitchen tiles)? Do you enjoy digging through underlying datasets? Do you care about the integrity of the scientific record? This may be the role for you!
June 13, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Bump in the track, let's try again!
Associate Editor: are you the kind of person who spots repeating patterns in published figures (or kitchen tiles)? Do you enjoy digging through underlying datasets? Do you care about the integrity of the scientific record? This may be the role for you!
Associate Editor: are you the kind of person who spots repeating patterns in published figures (or kitchen tiles)? Do you enjoy digging through underlying datasets? Do you care about the integrity of the scientific record? This may be the role for you!
Associate Editor: are you the kind of person who spots repeating patterns in floor tiles?
June 13, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Associate Editor: are you the kind of person who spots repeating patterns in floor tiles?
Should you have any concerns about unethical behaviour by PLOS contributors (incl. members of PLOS' editorial board), please reach out to PLOS' publication ethics team directly by emailing pub-ethics@plos.org
June 13, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Should you have any concerns about unethical behaviour by PLOS contributors (incl. members of PLOS' editorial board), please reach out to PLOS' publication ethics team directly by emailing pub-ethics@plos.org
That being said, journals do not have the jurisdiction to adjudicate on authorship disputes, as we do not have access to lab/machine records etc required to verify who actually did the work, and so authorship disputes are usually deferred to the institute or funding body for further investigation.
June 13, 2025 at 6:31 AM
That being said, journals do not have the jurisdiction to adjudicate on authorship disputes, as we do not have access to lab/machine records etc required to verify who actually did the work, and so authorship disputes are usually deferred to the institute or funding body for further investigation.
Our team is divided into people handling individual article cases vs people handling systematic manipulation of the publishing process cases. Authorship disputes usually fall within the realm of the former group, whereas this role recruits for the latter group.
June 13, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Our team is divided into people handling individual article cases vs people handling systematic manipulation of the publishing process cases. Authorship disputes usually fall within the realm of the former group, whereas this role recruits for the latter group.