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The ability to publish research papers is a must for scientists nowadays. Ideally, at the very beginning of their career, young researchers, PhD students, should be instructed in writing research papers and should get feedback on their texts. In this study, the first manuscripts from 22 doctoral students, non-native English speakers, 223 pages were analysed for errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style. For each type of error and each student, the average per page was calculated. The most frequent errors were identified in using articles, formal features, missing information, and the use of inappropriate words. Individual students showed significantly different levels, which reflected their previous language training and the approach (responsibility) to completing the task. The results will be used to modify the course in Academic Writing (more attention paid to the most frequent errors) and individual work with students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine issues of increasing the stability of the operation of submersible vortex frequency transducers in contact-conductometric vortex flowmeters for wastewater from pulp and paper production. Due to their design, converters of this type are subject to periodic breakdowns because of the oscillations of the sensitive element at a certain critical flow rate. The stability of the operation of these converters is analyzed using the theory of nonlinear impulse systems. It has been established that the flow measurement error increases due to the loss of the output signal flow meter at critical flow. It is shown that the critical flow rate is due to the added mass of the liquid, oscillating together with the sensitive element of the vortex frequency transducer of the flowmeters. The added liquid mass is determined from the frequency characteristics of the sensitive elements of the vortex frequency transducer by using numerical simulation and experimental studies on a special test stand. By using these results the amplitude–frequency characteristics of the sensitive elements are obtained. From comparative analysis of simulation and experimental characteristics we established the additional energy losses during oscillations of the sensitive element. Based on the results of this investigation, requirements for the design of vortex frequency transducers have been formulated regarding choice of mechanical parameters of the flexible electrode, eliminating measurement errors and providing stable operation of the device in the entire range of flow measurements. The results are relevant for organizations involved in the development and the introduction of flow measuring equipment and wastewater monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A machine learning approach demonstrated in the proposed study predicts the parameters involved in paper quality enhancement in real time. To control the steam pressure during paper manufacture, machine learning algorithms have been used to model different parameters such as moisture, caliper, and weight (grammage). The training and testing data sets were obtained to develop several machine learning models through several data from the parameters of the paper-making process. The inputs considered were moisture, weight, and grammage. As a result, the developed model showed better results by showing less execution time, fewer error values such as root mean squared error, mean squared error, mean absolute error, and R squared score. In addition, modeling was carried out based on model interpretation and cross-validation results, showing that the developed model could be a more useful tool in predicting the performance of the steam pressure and input parameters in the paper-making process. A comparison of results shows that the k-Nearest Neighbor algorithm outperforms the other machine learning techniques. Machine learning is also used to predict the efficiency of steam pressure reduction.

Mathematics is often treated as different from other disciplines, since arguments in the field rely on deductive proof rather than empirical evidence as in the natural sciences. A mathematical paper can therefore, at least in principle, be replicated simply by reading it. While this distinction is sometimes taken as the basis to claim that the results in mathematics are therefore certain, mathematicians themselves know that the published literature contains many mistakes. Reading a proof is not easy, and checking whether an argument constitutes a proof is surprisingly difficult. This article uses peer review of submissions to mathematics journals as a site where referees are explicitly concerned with checking whether a paper is correct and therefore could be published. Drawing on 95 qualitative interviews with mathematics journal editors, as well as a collection of more than 100 referee reports and other correspondence from peer review processes, this article establishes that while mathematicians acknowledge that peer review does not guarantee correctness, they still value it. For mathematicians, peer review 'adds a bit of certainty', especially in contrast to papers only submitted to preprint servers such as arXiv. Furthermore, during peer review there can be disagreements not just regarding the importance of a result, but also whether a particular argument constitutes a proof or not (in particular, whether there are substantial gaps in the proof). Finally, the mathematical community is seen as important when it comes to accepting arguments as proofs and assigning certainty to results. Publishing an argument in a peer-reviewed journal is often only the first step in having a result accepted. Results get accepted if they stand the test of time and are used by other mathematicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent paper published in JLSC (Bakker & Riegelman, 2018) noted that the retracted status of 40% of 812 records for 144 retracted papers, including as much as 26.3% of the published PDFs, in the mental health field were not clearly indicated as such. Even though a weak visual indication of the retracted status of a retracted paper limits the necessary information available to the public and readership indicating that such literature should no longer be used or cited, there are other reasons why retracted literature continues to be cited. In this commentary, we reflect on additional factors and explain how this might affect bibliometrics and scientometrics, and thus librarianship and education. Moreover, we make proposals for actions that would be necessary to avoid citing retracted papers and efficiently correct the records where retracted papers have been cited. We introduce a prototype concept of the corrected journal impact factor (cJIF) to correct the most widespread journal-based metric, the Clarivate Analytics journal impact factor (JIF), as a possible solution to correct journal-based metrics that may have become distorted by the citation of retracted papers.

We analysed how long it has taken for papers authored by Scott Reuben, Joachim Boldt and Yoshitaka Fujii to be retracted: investigations into these three anaesthetists have shown much of their research to be unethical or fraudulent. To date, 94% of their combined papers requiring retraction have been retracted; however, only 85% of the retraction notices were compliant with guidelines produced by the Committee on Publication Ethics. We contacted the Editors-in-Chief and/or publishers of all the journals containing articles that had been identified as requiring retraction but had not yet been retracted. In response to our enquiries, 16 articles have since been retracted; we have documented the journals' responses regarding the remaining papers and await further retractions in the future. There is room for improvement in the way that unethical or fraudulent papers are handled by journals and publishers, beyond the identification of the authors' misconduct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. This study aimed to determine the types and frequency of pen–paper observational methods (OMs) used by Iranian practitioners and to identify their errors in selecting and implementing these methods. Methods. This was a systematic review and analytical study of papers in which the OMs had been used. Scientific databases were analyzed from September 1970 to September 2018. Errors were determined based on a list of wrong practices both in the selection and implementation of methods. Three ergonomists carried out the process of identifying errors independently. Results. The most frequently used methods were rapid upper limb assessment (RULA), quick exposure check (QEC) and rapid entire body assessment (REBA), respectively. Errors in selecting and implementing pen–paper OMs were 53.3 and 36.4%, respectively. Conclusions. Despite the abundant number of pen–paper OMs, Iranian practitioners use few of them. The high rate of errors can indicate a lack of knowledge and skills among practitioners for selecting and implementing OMs. The development of decision-making tools may help practitioners to select appropriate pen–paper OMs for assessing different types of tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses some of the forms of research bias and the nature of confounding in quantitative research and how this might be managed. Topics include how bias can impact the findings of a study, the importance of considering bias when reviewing the quality of research, a description of the Hawthorne effect, volunteer and recall forms of bias, and the role of confounding in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Errors in examination papers and other assessment instruments can compromise fairness. For example, a history question containing an incorrect historical date could be impossible for students to answer. Incorrect instructions at the start of an examination could lead students to answer the wrong number of questions. As there is little research on this issue within the educational assessment community, we reviewed the literature on minimizing errors in other industries and domains, including aviation, energy, and medicine. We identified generalizable principles and applied them to our context of educational assessment. We argue that since assessment instrument construction is a complex system comprising numerous interacting components, a holistic approach to system improvement is required. Assessment instrument errors stem primarily from human failure. When human failure occurs, it is not good enough to suggest that 'to err is simply human'. Instead it is necessary to look deeper, evaluating the latent working conditions that underpin the efficacy of procedures, making the human failure more or less likely. Drawing from the aviation industry's ergonomic SHELLO model, we articulate and explore three of the most critical working conditions that relate to our context: (i) time pressure, (ii) workload and stress, and (iii) wider organizational culture, including good error data collection. We conclude with recommendations for best practice in minimizing errors in assessment instruments. A 'good' error culture should be promoted, which avoids blaming individuals. Errors should be acknowledged readily by all, and system owners should take a scientific approach to understanding and learning from them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses how one might assess the quality of quantitative research with reference to a randomized controlled trial. Topics include how blinding is helpful in preventing changes in the behaviors of the research team or the participant, be these conscious or subconscious, and various stages of the research process during which bias might occur and use these to explain what a researcher might consider when designing a study.

This letter is to highlight errors made by Liu et al. in their 2020 paper in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, "Complementary and alternative medicine—practice, attitudes, and knowledge among healthcare professionals in New Zealand: an integrative review". Substantial errors in their citation of the recent research and methodology by McDowell, Kohut & Betts (2019) pertaining to the practice of acupuncture in New Zealand by physiotherapists are presented. The actual results of McDowell et al.'s work and the true state of acupuncture use by their sample group is reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dirty-paper channel is considered, where the transmitter knows the interference sequence up to a constant multiplicative factor, known only to the receiver. Lower bounds on the achievable rate of communication are derived by proposing a coding scheme that partially compensates for the imprecise channel knowledge. We focus on a communication scenario where the signal-to-noise ratio is high. Our approach is based on analyzing the performance achievable using lattice-based coding schemes. When the power of the interference is finite, we show that the achievable rate of this lattice-based coding scheme may be improved by a judicious choice of the scaling parameter at the receiver. We further show that the communication rate may be improved, for finite as well as infinite interference power, by allowing randomized scaling at the transmitter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Dr. E. Storms has published a Letter [E. Storms, Comment on papers by K. Shanahan that propose to explain anomalous heat generated by cold fusion, Thermochim. Acta, 2006] in which he argues that in a sequence of recent papers, the apparent excess heat signal claimed by Dr. Shanahan to arise from a calibration constant shift is actually true excess heat. In particular he proposes that the mechanisms proposed that foster the proposed calibration constant shifts cannot occur as postulated for several reasons. As well, he proposes Shanahan has ignored the extant data proving this. Because this Letter may lend unwarranted support to acceptance of cold fusion claims, these erroneous arguments used by Storms need to be answered. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study attempted to improve the quality of hairstyling-related studies and provide basic data for future studies on hairstyling terms through analysis of cosmetology-related loan words used in hairstyling theses among recent cosmetology papers. For data collection to derive valid conclusions, the signatures of a total of 1,980 academic papers collected after typing in the keyword ‘Hair’ at the Research Information Sharing Service (http://www.riss.kr) were analyzed. The results show that researchers in hairstyling seem not to pay close attention to the correct use of foreign loan words. Therefore, the study results would be very helpful to the development of future cosmetology studies. The correct notation and use of foreign loanwords should be further encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Dr. Shanahan has published two papers (Thermochim. Acta 428 (2005) 207, Thermochim. Acta 382 (2002) 95) in which he argues that excess heat claimed to be produced by cold fusion is actually caused by errors in heat measurement. In particular, he proposes that unrecognized changes in the calibration constant are produced by changes in the locations where heat is being generated within the electrolytic cell over the duration of the measurement. Because these papers may lend unwarranted support to rejection of cold fusion claims, these erroneous arguments used by Shanahan need to be answered. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The widespread adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) has transformed various sectors globally, making them more intelligent and connected. However, this advancement comes with challenges related to the effectiveness of IoT devices. These devices, present in offices, homes, industries, and more, need constant monitoring to ensure their proper functionality. The success of smart systems relies on their seamless operation and ability to handle faults. Sensors, crucial components of these systems, gather data and contribute to their functionality. Therefore, sensor faults can compromise the system's reliability and undermine the trustworthiness of smart environments. To address these concerns, various techniques and algorithms can be employed to enhance the performance of IoT devices through effective fault detection. This paper conducted a thorough review of the existing literature and conducted a detailed analysis. This analysis effectively links sensor errors with a prominent fault detection technique capable of addressing them. This study is innovative because it paves the way for future researchers to explore errors that have not yet been tackled by existing fault detection methods. Significant, the paper, also highlights essential factors for selecting and adopting fault detection techniques, as well as the characteristics of datasets and their corresponding recommended techniques. Additionally, the paper presents a methodical overview of fault detection techniques employed in smart devices, including the metrics used for evaluation. Furthermore, the paper examines the body of academic work related to sensor faults and fault detection techniques within the domain. This reflects the growing inclination and scholarly attention of researchers and academicians toward strategies for fault detection within the realm of the Internet of Things. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Errors that occasionally manifest in examination papers and other educational assessment instruments can threaten reliability and validity. For example, a multiple choice question could have two correct response options, or a geography question containing an inaccurate map could be unanswerable. In this paper we explore this oft-neglected element of fairness. We adopt the theoretical position that assessment instrument errors stem from different types of human failure, which in turn stem from system-level failure. We then explore how the term 'error' is used in conceptually different ways, potentially engendering confusion in academic discourse. We analysed error incident records from an international assessment organisation to develop a taxonomy of assessment instrument error types. Our taxonomy covers errors that manifest in assessments in all school subjects. We used it to develop an approach to process analysis for any system of checks applied during the later stages of instrument construction. This facilitates subsequent evaluation of the psychological causes of failure. The taxonomy and process analysis approach have applications in analysing types and rates of errors in different educational assessment instruments, in systemically comparing the demands and efficacies of alternative construction processes, and as structural and communication tools in qualitative research on error culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoor environmental parameters are closely related to the energy consumption and indoor thermal comfort of office buildings. Predicting these parameters, especially indoor temperature, can contribute to the management of energy consumption and thermal comfort levels in office buildings. An accurate indoor temperature prediction model is the basis for implementing this process. To this end, this paper first discusses the input and output parameters of the model, and then it compares the prediction effects of mainstream prediction model algorithms based on data mining under the same data conditions. The superiority of the XGBoost integrated learning algorithm is verified, and a further XGBoost-based indoor temperature online prediction method is designed. The effectiveness of the method is validated using actual data from a commercial office building in Haidian District, Beijing. Finally, optimization methods for the prediction method are discussed with regard to the scheduler mechanism proposed in this paper. Overall, this work can assist building operators in optimizing HVAC equipment running strategies, thus improving the indoor thermal comfort and energy efficiency of the building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While lean thinking may help tackle waste, rework remains an ongoing problem during the construction of infrastructure projects. Often too much emphasis is placed on applying lean tools rather than harnessing the human factor and establishing a culture to mitigate rework. Thus, this paper proposes the need for construction organisations to transition from the prevailing error prevention culture (i.e. Quality-I) that pervades practice to one based on error management (i.e. Quality-II) if rework is to be contained and reduced. Accordingly, this paper asks: What type of error culture is required to manage errors that result in rework and to support lean thinking during the construction of infrastructure projects? We draw on the case of a program alliance of 129 water infrastructure projects and make sense of how it enacted, in addition to lean thinking, a change initiative to transition from error prevention to an error management culture to address its rework problem. We observed that leadership, psychological safety and coaching were pivotal for cultivating a culture where there was an acceptance that 'errors happen' and effort was directed at mitigating their adverse consequences. The contributions of this paper are twofold as we provide: (1) a new theoretical underpinning to mitigate rework and support the use of lean thinking during the construction of infrastructure projects grounded in Quality-II; and (2) practical suggestions, based on actual experiences, which can be readily employed to monitor and anticipate rework at the coalface of construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While recent technological advancements have enabled improved performance in warehouse operations, companies still struggle with eliminating errors such as incorrect/damaged items or the wrong quantity sent to customers. Such errors result in inefficient resource use, costly returns handling, and customer dissatisfaction. Despite the importance of errors, current knowledge of the underlying causes is limited. This paper addresses the gap by investigating error causes through a relatively new technology - intelligent video analysis (IVA), an additional tool for analysing warehouse operations. A multiple case study involving companies that have implemented IVA in their outbound warehouse operations (i.e. order picking, packing, and sorting) was conducted. This study is the first to investigate implementations of IVA, offering novel empirical insights into error root causes. It shows how many errors reported by customers are actually not made by humans in outbound warehouse operations but are attributable to faulty customer claims, inbound warehouse operation errors, and malfunctioning technology. This study offers interesting insights into the interaction of various technical, organisational, and human factors, thereby contributing to the literature on sociotechnical systems and the human-centric Industry 5.0. Finally, the study outlines a way forward for managers to address and further reduce errors occurring in warehouse operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]