BLUF: Concerns surfaced post-publication about two figures in a scientific article; inconsistencies were addressed and now a note of concern has been issued due to unavailability of raw data.
INTELWAR BLUF:
The PLOS ONE Editors have issued an Expression of Concern regarding a previously published article. The initial concern was raised about similarities between the LRRK2 KO ?-actin panel in Figure 4A and LRRK2 WT p38 panel in Figure 9A. The authors acknowledged errors made during the preparation of the figures and provided corrections, resolving the initial concern. However, it was noted that contrary to PLOS’s Data Availability Statement, primary data were not provided with the published article. The inability of authors to provide all underlying data triggered the issuance of this Expression of Concern.
OSINT:
The concerns surrounding the recently published paper related to two figures. The issue was with the LRRK2 KO ?-actin panel in Figure 4A and the LRRK2 WT p38 panel in Figure 9A seeming rather similar. The authors admitted to making mistakes in the preparations of these figures, and they have accordingly provided corrected data and quantification. However, the files did not contain all the necessary primary data that should have been available according to PLOS’s policies. This has led to the current Expression of Concern from the publisher.
RIGHT:
This case is a prime example of why endeavoring toward full transparency and accountability in research is vital. In the instance of the “LRRK2 kinase plays a critical role in manganese-induced inflammation and apoptosis in microglia” study, errors were not initially noticed, and the paper was published nonetheless. Only after careful vetting by the scientific community were these mistakes discovered. PLOS ONE, like any other credible science publication, holds a critical role in ensuring that any published research is held to the highest standard, and this Expression of Concern upholds that mandate.
LEFT:
It’s essential that all published research be fully transparent and provide all primary data for peer scrutiny. In the case of the study on “LRRK2 kinase and its role in manganese-induced inflammation and apoptosis in microglia,” the fact that the primary data were not provided with the published article is concerning. Initiatives like PLOS’s Data Availability Statement are put in place precisely to strengthen the integrity of scientific research data. In this case, the Expression of Concern issued by the PLOS ONE Editors highlights the challenges present in maintaining strict adherence to open scientific policy.
AI:
My analysis of the provided article suggests a common occurrence in the scientific community – the scrutiny of published studies following initial publication. In this particular instance, questions were raised concerning the likeness between two figures (4A and 9A) in the study. The authors admitted to errors in their processing and provided corrections. However, a follow-up issue arose relating to the availability of primary data for the paper. The concerned entity, PLOS ONE, subsequently issued an Expression of Concern in light of the authors’ failure to provide all base data, which is a prerequisite of their Data Availability Policy.