Gender Imbalance in the Editorial Activities of a Researcher-led Journal

Editorial decision-making is a fundamental element of the scientific enterprise. We examined whether contributions to editorial decisions at various stages of the publication process is subject to gender disparity, based on analytics collected by the biomedical researcher-led journal eLife. Despite efforts to increase women representation, the board of reviewing editors (BRE) was men-dominant (69%). Moreover, authors suggested more men from the BRE pool, even after correcting for men's numerical over-representation. Although women editors were proportionally involved in the initial editorial process, they were under-engaged in editorial activities involving reviewers and authors. Additionally, converging evidence showed gender homophily in manuscripts assignment, such that men Senior Editors over-engaged men Reviewing Editors. This tendency was stronger in more gender-balanced scientific disciplines. Together, our findings confirm that gender disparities exist along the editorial process and suggest that merely increasing the proportion of women might not be sufficient to eliminate this bias.

Anatomy of the Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta): The Essentials for the Biomedical Researcher

Amongst the non-human primates, the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) is the most commonly investigated species in biomedical research. Its similarity to humans regarding the anatomy and physiology has resulted in an increasing number of studies in which the rhesus monkey serves as a model. This book chapter aims to fulfill the researcher’s need for easily accessible anatomical data on the rhesus monkey by presenting the essentials of its various anatomical systems. The cadavers of several rhesus monkeys of either gender were dissected for gross anatomical study of the muscular, digestive, respiratory and urogenital systems. The circulatory system was studied after injection of latex into the blood vessels. Not only did this technique allow for better visualization of the blood vessels, but it was also valuable during the description of the peripheral nerves. In addition, methyl methacrylate casts were prepared to gain insight into the organization of the arterial system. The arthrology of the rhesus monkey was studied during the maceration of several cadavers, which ultimately revealed the individual bones that were described. From one such cadaver the skeleton was mounted. The results of the dissections are textually described and illustrated by means of numerous figures.

Basic antidepressant research: a brief assay on how to justify your alpha

Antidepressant research seems under risk of bias and poor reproducibility. Recent debates brought the use of the p values in hypothesis testing to the center of a reproducibility crisis. In basic biomedicine, the use of p values has been justified by tradition instead of reasoning. Here, a biomedical researcher commented concerns with the traditional use of the p values in basic antidepressant research and discussed the missing pieces limiting the plausible justifications to their use in the field.

Assessing the consequences of decentralizing biomedical research

Advancements in technology are shifting the ways that biomedical data are collected, managed, and used. The pervasiveness of connected devices is expanding the types of information that are defined as ‘health data.’ Additionally, cloud-based mechanisms for data collection and distribution are shifting biomedical research away from traditional infrastructure towards a more distributed and interconnected ecosystem. This shift provides an opportunity for us to reimagine the roles of scientists and participants in health research, with the potential to more meaningfully engage in partnership across the research process. At the same time, these emerging practices present a potential to expose research participants to unanticipated and unintended consequences. Social norms and policy can help to mitigate these risks, but their development is often slow relative to the pace of technological advances and, as such, they can become reactive rather than prospective. As an alternative, the integrated development of data governance structures within technological advancements, supports their effective implementation, evaluation and evolution in a manner that can balance the benefits and risks of biomedical researcher in a decentralized ecosystem.

A network module for the Perseus software for computational proteomics facilitates proteome interaction graph analysis

ABSTRACTProteomics data analysis strongly benefits from not studying single proteins in isolation but taking their multivariate interdependence into account. We introduce PerseusNet, the new Perseus network module for the biological analysis of proteomics data. Proteomics is commonly used to generate networks, e.g. with affinity purification experiments, but networks are also used to explore proteomics data. PerseusNet supports the biomedical researcher for both modes of data analysis with a multitude of activities. For affinity purification, a volcano plot-based statistical analysis method for network generation is featured which is scalable to large numbers of baits. For posttranslational modifications of proteins, such as phosphorylation, a collection of dedicated network analysis tools helps elucidating cellular signaling events. Co-expression network analysis of proteomics data adopts established tools from transcriptome co-expression analysis. PerseusNet is extensible through a plug-in architecture in a multi-lingual way, integrating analyses in C#, Python and R and is freely available at http://www.perseus-framework.org.

Study of Plantar Pressure Distribution

Every region of foot is not equally divided in terms of plantar pressure distribution (PPD) during free standing. This paper is focusing on studying PPD on flat plane and inclined plane and the results obtained from this study may contribute to biomedical researcher in designing orthotic devices. 24 healthy young adults age ranging from 19 to 24 years old and weigh between 50 to 80 kg were invited for experiments purpose. Six regions of both feet were measured which were hallux, medial forefoot, central forefoot, lateral forefoot, lateral midfoot and hindfoot. Remarkable differences were seen in the result as right foot exerted more pressure generally in every region of the foot as to compared with left foot respectively. This is true especially for region such as hallux, medial forefoot and lateral forefoot. On a flat surface, PPD on the hindfoot is the highest. However, at an elevation of 25°, test subjects began to shift their PPD to forefoot regions. While studies of PPD are common, this study provides a new insight for the first time into PPD while standing on different angle of walking plane.

A pocket guide to electronic laboratory notebooks in the academic life sciences

Every professional doing active research in the life sciences is required to keep a laboratory notebook. However, while science has changed dramatically over the last centuries, laboratory notebooks have remained essentially unchanged since pre-modern science. We argue that the implementation of electronic laboratory notebooks (eLN) in academic research is overdue, and we provide researchers and their institutions with the background and practical knowledge to select and initiate the implementation of an eLN in their laboratories. In addition, we present data from surveying biomedical researchers and technicians regarding which hypothetical features and functionalities they hope to see implemented in an eLN, and which ones they regard as less important. We also present data on acceptance and satisfaction of those who have recently switched from paper laboratory notebook to an eLN. We thus provide answers to the following questions: What does an electronic laboratory notebook afford a biomedical researcher, what does it require, and how should one go about implementing it?

Antisense-based therapy for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy

One of the greatest thrills a biomedical researcher may experience is seeing the product of many years of dedicated effort finally make its way to the patient. As a team, we have worked for the past eight years to discover a drug that could treat a devastating childhood neuromuscular disease, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Here, we describe the journey that has led to a promising drug based on the biology underlying the disease.