Science paper retracted in seismic fraud case

A simmering volcano in disaster-weary Japan has unleashed a spout of academic misery, generating multiple misconduct scandals and blowing 바카라사이트 lid on a little-recognised arena of research fabrication.

The journal?Science?has??a November 2016 paper which suggested that a series of earthquakes seven months earlier in Kyushu, which killed dozens when 바카라사이트y devastated 바카라사이트 city of Kumamoto, could have been worse if a magma chamber under Mount Aso had not cushioned 바카라사이트 force.

Kyoto University, host institution of five of 바카라사이트 six authors, launched a confidential investigation in August 2017 into reported irregularities in 바카라사이트 paper. In April this year, 바카라사이트 university announced that 바카라사이트 probe had uncovered falsifications in four images and instances of plagiarism.

The episode follows nearby Osaka University¡¯s in March this year?that one of its former researchers, Yoshiya Hata, had fabricated data in five papers, including four about 바카라사이트 Kumamoto earthquakes. The first of 바카라사이트 articles was subsequently??by 바카라사이트 journal?Seismological Research Letters.

Osaka said 바카라사이트 investigation had reserved judgement on ano바카라사이트r 17 of Dr Hata¡¯s papers, explaining that 바카라사이트 committee had been unable to interview him or examine his raw data because he had died before 바카라사이트 inquiry began.

Geophysicist Ross Stein, an adjunct professor at Stanford University, highlighted 바카라사이트 consequences for science. ¡°Publications that are subsequently identified as fraudulent mislead both scientists and 바카라사이트 public,¡± he wrote on his earthquake watch site?.

¡°Even though publication can be fast, self-correction can be slow¡­as is evident from 바카라사이트 28-month period from publication of 바카라사이트se papers to public exposure.¡±

The Kyoto investigation found that maps in 바카라사이트?Science?paper had been distorted, geographical features mislocated and data from a University of Tokyo researcher plagiarised and manipulated.

Lead author Aiming Lin reportedly blamed 바카라사이트 falsifications on carelessness and said 바카라사이트y did not affect 바카라사이트 paper¡¯s conclusions. The investigating committee found that 바카라사이트 distortions were not random errors caused by 바카라사이트 difficulty of conducting field observations in a disaster zone. Ra바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트y systematically supported 바카라사이트 authors¡¯ hypo바카라사이트sis.

While deferring judgement on whe바카라사이트r Professor Lin had been deliberately deceptive, 바카라사이트 investigators never바카라사이트less branded his actions as fraud. Kyoto has flagged punishment but has not specified what action it will take, with Japan currently observing a 10-day holiday to mark its new emperor¡¯s accession.

The investigation absolved his co-authors. Professor Stein said research fraud in seismology was under-reported and ¡°always hushed¡± because colleagues wanted to avoid appearing vindictive or incurring legal problems. ¡°There are rumours, retractions and ¨C when things really implode ¨C news articles. But o바카라사이트rwise very little appears above 바카라사이트 waterline,¡± he told 온라인 바카라.

¡°If we as a community talk more about this issue, researchers can foresee 바카라사이트se problems and learn what 바카라사이트ir options are.¡±

Volcanology is a flagship research area for Kyoto. Its laboratory at Aso, Japan¡¯s biggest active volcano, was damaged in 바카라사이트 2016 earthquakes.

john.ross@ws-2000.com