Though the basics of peer review are common knowledge in the scientific community, to many authors the publication process is mystifying, frustrating, and often confusing.

The purpose of this editorial is to lift the curtain between authors and editors and provide insight into the actual life-cycle of a manuscript from submission to publication, including practical tips regarding editorial processes, explanations of themost common reasons for rejection and advice on how to avoid it.

While the detail is specific to the editorial setup at JBMT, it aims to provide useful insight to all authors seeking publication in a scientific journal, and to function as a teaching tool for educators guiding their students towards publication. 

source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2019.09.007

SciHub to Provide Free and Unrestricted Access to All Scientific Knowledge

In today's digital age, the need for access to scientific knowledge is growing rapidly, as research, technology, and innovation continue to advance. However, the high cost of journal subscriptions often limits access to these crucial resources. SciHub, a well-known platform, has emerged as a game-changer by offering free and unrestricted access to scientific papers and articles. In this article, we will explore how SciHub is revolutionizing the world of research and education, providing open access to scientific knowledge for everyone.

What is SciHub?

SciHub is a website created in 2011 by Alexandra Elbakyan, a researcher from Kazakhstan, to address the issue of high subscription fees to academic papers. It provides users with free access to a vast repository of scientific articles, research papers, and academic journals that are usually hidden behind paywalls. The platform has made it possible for researchers, students, and anyone with an interest in science to access the latest studies without having to pay hefty fees.

The Mission Behind SciHub

SciHub's primary mission is to make scientific knowledge accessible to all, regardless of geographical location or financial status. This platform challenges the traditional academic publishing model that requires users to pay for access to articles, often resulting in limited access to valuable scientific information. SciHub aims to democratize knowledge and empower individuals across the globe by offering research articles free of charge.

The Benefits of Using SciHub

SciHub offers numerous advantages to those looking to access scientific research. Here are some of the key benefits:

1. Unrestricted Access to Research Papers

One of the main advantages of SciHub is that it provides unrestricted access to millions of scientific papers across various disciplines, including medicine, engineering, physics, biology, and social sciences. Users no longer have to rely on expensive university subscriptions or institutional access to read the latest publications. This makes it easier for independent researchers and students to stay updated with current developments in their fields.

2. Cost-Free Resource for Students and Researchers

Academic research articles can be incredibly expensive to access, with some journals charging up to $50 per article. For many students, researchers, and professionals, this cost is prohibitive. SciHub eliminates this barrier by offering its resources free of charge. This makes it an essential tool for students and independent researchers who may not have the funds to subscribe to expensive journals.

3. Support for Global Collaboration

SciHub fosters global collaboration by making research papers accessible to individuals in countries where access to academic journals may be restricted or expensive. This enables researchers from developing countries to engage with cutting-edge science, helping to bridge the gap between rich and poor regions in terms of scientific knowledge.

How SciHub Works

SciHub works by providing access to scientific articles through links to various research publishers' websites. When a user enters a paper's DOI (Digital Object Identifier), SciHub retrieves the article and provides a free download link. The platform uses a network of institutional credentials and donations to bypass paywalls and share academic content without the need for subscriptions.

The Role of Donations in SciHub's Operations

While SciHub provides free access to academic articles, it is supported by donations from users and sympathizers who want to ensure the platform's sustainability. These donations help maintain the site's infrastructure, ensuring that it can continue to provide free and unrestricted access to research articles.

Legal Challenges and Controversies Surrounding SciHub

Despite its growing popularity, SciHub has faced significant legal challenges. Many publishers and academic institutions view the platform's actions as illegal, as it bypasses subscription fees and copyright protections. SciHub has been involved in several high-profile lawsuits with major publishers like Elsevier and Springer Nature, who argue that the platform infringes on intellectual property rights.

1. The Copyright Debate

One of the most significant controversies surrounding SciHub is the issue of copyright infringement. The platform's ability to provide free access to articles without permission from publishers has led to legal disputes. Critics argue that SciHub undermines the business model of academic publishers, who rely on subscription fees for revenue. However, supporters of SciHub contend that the traditional publishing model is flawed, and the high cost of research articles restricts access to essential knowledge.

2. Impact on Academic Publishing

SciHub's rise has sparked debates within the academic publishing industry about the future of open access and the ethical implications of paywalls. Some researchers and advocates argue that SciHub highlights the need for a shift toward open-access publishing models, where research is freely available to all. Others, however, believe that the platform's actions threaten the sustainability of academic publishing.

The Future of SciHub and Open Access

While the legal landscape surrounding SciHub remains uncertain, the platform has undoubtedly played a significant role in advancing the movement for open access to scientific knowledge. As more researchers and institutions recognize the importance of freely accessible research, platforms like SciHub may push the academic community toward adopting open-access policies.

1. Growing Support for Open Access

In recent years, there has been growing support for open-access publishing. Several major funding agencies and institutions have begun to mandate that research funded by public grants be made freely available to the public. This shift toward open access aligns with SciHub's mission and could lead to a more equitable distribution of scientific knowledge in the future.

2. Potential for Change in the Publishing Industry

As the conversation around open access continues to evolve, traditional academic publishers may be forced to adapt their business models. Some publishers have started to experiment with open-access publishing, allowing authors to pay publication fees in exchange for making their work freely available. While these models may not completely eliminate paywalls, they represent a step toward a more accessible and inclusive scientific landscape. 

    Sci-Hub is now available HERE

Automagically downloading PDFs from Sci-Hub with Zotero / configure Zotero to use Sci-Hub

Sci-Hub can help you in this situation, but in an unlawful way. The papers on Alexandra Elbakyan's website are accessible if not for a paywall or registration-only website. It has its prominent critics, and obviously I'm not in favor of academic theft, but if Sci-Hub and Zotero could work together, it would offer a very helpful workaround for downloading PDFs with a single click that you have legitimate access to, without the hassle of having to remember your login information, look for it, find it, download it, then attach it to the reference manager.

Well, you’re in luck. Simply:

1. Open the Preferences
2. Move to the Advanced tab, and click “Config Editor” at the bottom.
3. Accept the “you may break this warning”
4. Use the search box to find extensions.zotero.findPDFs.resolvers
5. Right-click/double click and replace [] with:

 Free Webinar : Tips for writing a good paper for social sciences

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Paraphrasing is writing the author's words in your own way, but not just replacing the author's words with synonyms. Successful paraphrasing is replacing the author's words in vocabulary and style while preserving the author's main ideas.

How to paraphrase?

Paraphrasing sentences is a delicate process and requires a special skill, as the researcher or student is obliged to reformulate many texts to reduce the percentage of slander in his thesis or scientific paper, and paraphrasing is academically allowed, provided that it is in accordance with controls.

In the paper below are Seven Steps to Paraphrase in Academic Writing.

The words ‘paraphrasing’ and ‘summarising’ are sometimes used interchangeably, but usually they are used to mean two different techniques. If you’re not sure if you are required to summarise or paraphrase, check with your tutor.

A journal article might be summarised in a single paragraph, for example, or a whole book summarised in a few paragraphs. To summarise something – like a TV show or an article – is to condense it down to the ‘bare bones’. Both paraphrasing and summarising are important techniques in academic writing. You’ll use paraphrasing and summarising both when you take notes during your research and when you incorporate evidence from sources into your own work.

In this PDF we cover: 

→ paraphrase vs summary 

→ steps in the paraphrase process 

→ an example of the process of paraphrasing 

→ integrating paraphrases into your writing

Read more:

 Literature review template

what is a literature review and what are his different parts.

KUALA LUMPUR: Before this we often heard stories about how ideas and innovations were stolen or plagiarized from the original owners, but they were rarely highlighted.

Usually the victims are those who do not know their rights from a legal point of view, while the predators are either in power or who know the weaknesses of the system to be manipulated.

A doctoral student (PhD) from Yemen claiming that he was expelled from the University of Malaya, that his research ideas and data were stolen.

Abbod Ali Mohammed Saeed, 34, is a smart young man because in 2015 he provided a solution to a transport issue that has never existed in Malaysia, which is to use the Meshlium scanner to track vehicles.

Through the police report and the Affidavit (SD) he submitted, he claimed that his system, research and PhD data were misused by two program supervisors who were believed to be using it for their personal business interests.

In early 2015, Abbod gave a proposal to the supervisor to use the Meshlium scanner in the Advance Intelligent Transportation System (AITS) and the supervisor agreed to make it a PhD topic.

"The supervisor offered me to use the project in the UM research company and we shared the patent rights according to UM rules and laws.

"However, after the study was completed in 2017, the password to access my system was suddenly changed and the supervisor informed me that the system had become the property of his company which had nothing to do with UM.

"I have reported this issue to the university management, however after that the supervisor asked me to continue the study because he claimed that it was not complete before.

"The supervisor also did not allow me to use the equipment to complete the study because he claimed it belonged to his company.

"I have complained about this matter to the university, they promised to solve this issue by extending three semesters and providing the necessary equipment but I found that no equipment is provided in the university laboratory.

"In the second semester, last April, I was surprised by a letter of sudden termination of studies, I felt mistreated, bullied, used for their benefit," he told. 

source:  https://mediavariasi.com/2022/08/penuntut-phd-genius-dakwa-dibuang-universiti-data-kajian-dicuri/

A comparison is made between the structure of 10 high impact papers and 50 desk-rejects.

In doing so, authors are offered empirical evidence and insights into why papers that have a high impact not only differ from unsuccessful papers in terms of content, but also their structure.

 While excellent content is needed for high impact, appropriate structure is also required. Obtaining the appropriate structure is the first and easiest step. The intent of this editorial is to assist authors to recognize and make this important step. 

source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2014.07.008

Though the basics of peer review are common knowledge in the scientific community, to many authors the publication process is mystifying, frustrating, and often confusing.

The purpose of this editorial is to lift the curtain between authors and editors and provide insight into the actual life-cycle of a manuscript from submission to publication, including practical tips regarding editorial processes, explanations of themost common reasons for rejection and advice on how to avoid it.

While the detail is specific to the editorial setup at JBMT, it aims to provide useful insight to all authors seeking publication in a scientific journal, and to function as a teaching tool for educators guiding their students towards publication. 

source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2019.09.007

The submission, revision and post-publication process is an often- underappreciated aspect of the manuscript writing journey.

Part one of this series discussed how to begin your research and write up the results for sub-mission .

This second part: "Writing your first paper:  Submission, review, and post-publication" highlights the rewards and challenges involved in the publication of your work...

Ful-text 

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source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmir.2022.05.004

Admission to a graduate program at KAUST presents a rare opportunity to conduct research in a community of global proportions with full funding.

If you’re considering earning your master’s or Ph.D. abroad, start your application today.

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KAUST offer 150 MSc and PhD Programs.

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Applications for Spring and Fall 2023 are now open, Apply Now

Degree programs in KAUST university

• M.S.

  Involves a significant research componentTypically requires 3 semesters and the intervening summer to complete.

• M.S. with Thesis

  In addition to Masters Coursework, a thesis is requiredUnder the supervision of a chosen faculty member.

• Ph.D.

  Involves original research culminating in a dissertationTypically takes three to fours years to complete.

• M.S./Ph.D.

  Combines the M.S. and Ph.D. degree into a single trackBegins upon completion of an Undergraduate Degree.

This article talks about how to craft an appropriate title and summary for an original research paper.

The 'title' and 'abstract' of a scholarly article provide 'initial impressions', so they must be correctly, accurately, cautiously, and meticulously phrased. Both are often drafted after the complete manuscript is ready.
 

Switzerland makes available to foreign students, holders of a Master or Doctorate, 10 to 25 excellence scholarships within the framework of the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships program, totitle of the academic year 2023-2024

DOCTORATE 12 to 36 months

RESEARCH INTERNSHIPS 12 months

POST DOCTORATE 12 months

The number of scholarships announced is open to competition for students from:

Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Libya, Mauritania, Tunisia, Sudan and South Sudan.

Program Benefits

 Application form (Appendix 2)

 Curriculum Vitae, complete with the list of academic publications, prices…

 Research project, with timeline (Appendix 3)

 Letter from a Professor (including his brief CV) from the chosen Swiss University, confirming his

agreement to supervise your work, either for a research internship, a Doctorate or a post-Doctorate

 Certified copies of all certificates and diplomas already obtained as well as

related transcripts

 2 letters of recommendation from Professors in the field of research or study of the

candidate. You must use the attached official recommendation form (Appendix 4)

 Medical certificate according to the attached model (Appendix 5)

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Application file

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- Doctorate and research internships: CHF 1920

- Post-doctoral studies: CHF 3500

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Selection criteria

Given that this is a program of excellence and given the

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is essentially done on the basis of:

 Academic profile of the candidate, excellence of his

application file, research skills and

his motives

 Originality and quality of the research project

 Synergies and potential for future collaboration

(for the Swiss part)

 Applications submitted as part of a

cooperation between a Moroccan University and a Swiss university have priority.

Conditions of eligibility

 Have a Master's degree or equivalent diploma for

research internships and Doctorates (obtained before July 31

2023)

 Have a Doctorate degree for Post-doctoral fellowships

(obtained after December 31, 2019 and before July 31, 2023)

 Be under 35 years of age at the time of application for the scholarships

research or doctoral internships (be born after December 31

1987)

 Have good language skills.

please visit the website for more information:

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The Saudi Society of the University of Sheffield is pleased to invite you to attend the training workshop entitled:

Writing a PhD thesis.

Sunday 07/31/2022  / Time : 7-8 pm London time / (9-10 pm Riyadh time).

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This is an exciting opportunity to work in the School of Agriculture at the University of Reading and to collaborate with internationally leading researchers from across Europe. The project involves 10 EU partners, and the University of Reading is leading a Work Package that brings together the research and stakeholder community to ensure the tools and technologies being developed are relevant for multiple stakeholder communities across the EU.

Postdoctoral Research Assistant – Biodiversity Monitoring

The applicant should have:

• A PhD in a relevant discipline (e.g. biology, ecology, geography or similar).
• An understanding of current and emerging tool and techniques employed in species and / or habitat monitoring.
• Awareness of stakeholder mapping and survey techniques.
• Experience of knowledge exchange activities such as organizing multi-actor stakeholder workshops or similar.
• Good organisational skills and ability to collate information from different sources.
• Ability to work independently and also as a team member within a large consortium.