Block preprints?

During the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the preprint platform has made up for the shortcomings of traditional communication channels in the dissemination of scientific information because of its instant dissemination and open sharing characteristics, which can be regarded as a sudden emergence

It is reported that at least 23 researchers were found ineligible

According to the official statement of ARC, preprints are manuscripts submitted to journals or other publications that have not yet passed peer review

An ARC scholarship recipient commented anonymously, "Even if it is clearly described and implemented fairly, it would be a bad rule

As Australia's main research funding agency, ARC's attitude towards preprint materials is undoubtedly highly representative

It is common to quote preprinted materials in funding applications all over the world

The right and wrong of the preprint

The concept of open science promoted the prosperity of preprints and academic exchange models based on preprints

But while the advantages are evident, the shortcomings of the preprints are further exposed

For example, researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi once published a highly controversial article on BioRxiv, "Uncanny similarity of unique inserts in the spike protein of 2019-nCoV with HIV-1 gp120 and Gag" (Uncanny similarity of unique inserts in the 2019-nCoV spike protein to HIV-1 gp120 and Gag)

The article believes that such a situation is not like the result of accidental formation in nature

In the end, the author of the article withdrew the article from the preprint platform, stating that “In order to avoid further misunderstanding and confusion around the world, it has been decided to withdraw the current version of the preprint, and after reanalysis, it will address the comments and questions in the revised version.

In response to the popularization of preprint platforms, people have emerged two attitudes, one is to actively advocate, and the other is to keep their distance

But for the ASAPBio organization, which advocates the advancement of the preprint platform, things are simpler and purer

ASAPBio pointed out that most academic publishers, such as Nature Research, PLOS, Wiley, etc.

ASAPBio believes that authors should stand up to defend their right to quote preprinted materials, while journals can adopt special citation format regulations to require authors to identify the cited preprinted materials