fundamental limits to the precision of early warning systems for epidemics of infectious diseases基本精度限制传染病流行的早期预警系统.pdfVIP

Open access, freely available online Correspondence Unjustifi ed Restrictions on Letters Box 1. “Editors Should Promote Self-Correction to the Editor in Science and Participate in Efforts to Improve Douglas G. Altman the Practice of Scientifi c Investigation by: Editors of medical journals accept that published research • “Publishing corrections, retractions, and letters critical of articles should be open to comment and correction in published published in their own journal. correspondence ([1]; Box 1). “Post-publication peer • “Playing an active role in investigating and preventing fraud. review” enables comments on, clarifi cations of, and corrections to published research. All journals should have a • “Taking responsibility for improving the level of scientifi c correspondence page for this purpose. investigation and medical writing in the larger community of I previously criticised the effective “statute of limitations” potential authors. in several leading general medical journals “whereby authors • “Giving authors an opportunity to review and approve edited of papers are immune to disclosure of methodological manuscripts before they are published. weaknesses once some arbitrary (short) period has elapsed” • “Participating in efforts to detect and prevent publication [2]. Such a time limit discourages post-publication peer bias—for example, by collaboratin