5/15/2018 The American Physiological Society Spot the Manipulation: Detecting and Addressing Problem Images Before Publication The Inquiry Process Christina Bennett, PhD Associate Publisher, Ethics and Policy The American Physiological Society Bethesda, Maryland Empowering discovery to improve health Overview • Background on the image integrity program at the APS • Steps for a thorough inquiry process • Lessons learned WasShouldWhoDoIs this you thisprepared image Ihave acceptreally thefabricated? thisan these original accidental figure? corrections? data? edit? and a few example images EmpoweringIntegrating the discoveryLife Sciences to from improve Molecule health to Organism 2 APS publishes 14 peer-reviewed journals • AJP-Cell Physiology • AJP-Endocrinology and Metabolism • AJP-GI and Liver Physiology • AJP-Heart and Circulatory Physiology • AJP-Lung Molecular and Cellular Physiology • AJP-Regulatory, Integrative, and Comparative Physiology • AJP- Renal Physiology • Journal of Neurophysiology • Journal of Applied Physiology • Physiological Genomics • Advances in Physiology Education • Physiology • Physiological Reviews • Physiological Reports ( with The Physiological Society ) http://www.physiology.org/ EmpoweringIntegrating the discoveryLife Sciences to from improve Molecule health to Organism 3 1 5/15/2018 APS created a position to manage ethics concerns: Publications Ethics Manager Publications Ethics Manager’s roles are to: • address publication ethics concerns consistently and fairly • facilitate inquiry process efficiently • update and revise ethics policies and author guidelines • promote best practice in publication ethics • Started January 2011 • PhD: trained physiologist • Full-time • In-house EmpoweringIntegrating the discoveryLife Sciences to from improve Molecule health to Organism 4 APS digital image review process begins after acceptance Acceptance letter Image review is performed by in- sent to authors house Art Editors Image Review • Zoom in on images in the PDF • Adjust contrast/ brightness Published online • Apply ORI forensic tools in in AiPS (early view) Photoshop • Prepare figure documents Published online/print (copy-edited format) EmpoweringIntegrating the discoveryLife Sciences to from improve Molecule health to Organism 5 Inquiry process to address problem images Develop action plan to address concern Inquire and CorrectedProblem request clarification Figure Evaluate response EmpoweringIntegrating the discoveryLife Sciences to from improve Molecule health to Organism Empowering discovery to improve health 6 6 2 5/15/2018 Develop a process to address problem images Consider the following questions: Develop action plan to address concern • What type of image problem was identified? Quick! • What information do you need from the author to resolve the concern? Problem Figure • Does it appear to be something that can be easily corrected? • Does the manipulation appear to be intentional? EmpoweringIntegrating the discoveryLife Sciences to from improve Molecule health to Organism Empowering discovery to improve health 7 7 Who should be involved in the process? Leadership Committee Staff Art Chair Research Editor Editor expert In Chief Pubs Ethics Staff Director Manager Staff EmpoweringIntegrating the discoveryLife Sciences to from improve Molecule health to Organism 8 Keep the group as small as possible Committee Art Chair Editor Editor In Chief Pubs Ethics Director Manager EmpoweringIntegrating the discoveryLife Sciences to from improve Molecule health to Organism 9 3 5/15/2018 Be consistent in the inquiry process • COPE has flowcharts to address concerns about Develop action plan to address concern problem data • CSE has template letters to raise concerns about problem data Inquire and Problem request clarification Figure EmpoweringIntegrating the discoveryLife Sciences to from improve Molecule health to Organism Presentation error template letter corresponding author note article and concern state policy information requested journal logistics EmpoweringIntegrating the discoveryLife Sciences to from improve Molecule health to Organism 11 Provide a figure document • ensures that the author sees what you see • notes the Art Editor’s concerns • states what is needed to address the concerns EmpoweringIntegrating the discoveryLife Sciences to from improve Molecule health to Organism 12 4 5/15/2018 Timeline for receiving a response First inquiry letter is sent to the corresponding author. • No response after one week? – Follow-up letter is sent to ALL authors • No response after two weeks? – Follow-up letter is sent to ALL authors with a deadline EmpoweringIntegrating the discoveryLife Sciences to from improve Molecule health to Organism 13 Confirm that corrections are appropriate Develop action plan to address concern Inquire and CorrectedProblem request clarification Figure Evaluate response EmpoweringIntegrating the discoveryLife Sciences to from improve Molecule health to Organism 14 Response: Author is able to provide the requested information If the manipulation is minor, can be corrected, and does not change the findings, then the correction can be accepted. • Explanation for manipulation • Original captures • Revised figures With staff and EIC approval, author is invited to submit corrected files and the manuscript proceeds to publication. EmpoweringIntegrating the discoveryLife Sciences to from improve Molecule health to Organism 15 5 5/15/2018 Response: Author is unable to provide the requested information Discuss options with Problem Image group: • Provide additional time if author is confident that it can be addressed • Rescind acceptance to allow author time to repeat experiments • Rescind acceptance if image manipulation is fraud or fabrication • Serious offense: refer to Publications Committee and/or inform institution EmpoweringIntegrating the discoveryLife Sciences to from improve Molecule health to Organism 16 Lessons learned…. This author has their data in order! Quick response Simple error and easy correction Manuscript is improved and data are more transparent EmpoweringIntegrating the discoveryLife Sciences to from improve Molecule health to Organism 17 Lessons learned…. No. Writing back before anyone else finds out will not make me go away. Possibly Quick serious error response EmpoweringIntegrating the discoveryLife Sciences to from improve Molecule health to Organism 18 6 5/15/2018 Lessons learned…. No. Blaming a student does not make the problem image less of an issue. Possibly Quick serious error response Stick to your inquiry process and be sure that problem images are not fabricated or usedBlames to the misinform the reviewersstudent about the experimental findings. EmpoweringIntegrating the discoveryLife Sciences to from improve Molecule health to Organism 19 The American Physiological Society Sunday September 23, 2018 9 AM – 6 PM Thank You! The Ohio State University Contact: [email protected] Contact information: Christina Bennett PhD [email protected] Empowering discovery to improve health 7.