Benjamin Plackett

📰 The Lancet Respiratory Medicine’s July issue is out now https://bit.ly/3P2PVls   Read content on interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, a personal view on chronic respiratory disease in Indigenous peoples and our editorial on a bright future for RSV vaccines 🎨Our powerful cover by Sara Gironi Carnevale represents the burden of carrying the weight of inequities in respiratory health. 📜 Editorial: #RSV vaccines: the future is bright https://lnkd.in/eWFR36Mm   "Many of the newly approved vaccines will be unaffordable for LMICs and creating an affordable RSV intervention is vital where global results are prioritised over profit" 💡Spotlight: Protecting respiratory health of athletes: an Olympic challenge by James Hull and colleagues https://lnkd.in/enPH4HFc   💡Spotlight: Patient Perspectives: Living with spinal muscular atrophy while working in critical care by Linsey Wehner, MPH and colleagues https://lnkd.in/efCpb7WU   "Patients are people first...Take the time to get to know them, to find out what motivates them, and to understand what gives them purpose"    📰 We also have a PERSONAL VIEW available #OpenAccess Chronic respiratory disease in Indigenous peoples: a framework to address inequity and strengthen respiratory health and health care globally by Anne B Chang and colleagues https://lnkd.in/eBK8u9EF In the related podcast, Prof Anne B Chang joins us to discuss the burden of chronic respiratory diseases in Indigenous people 🔊Listen here: https://lnkd.in/eT-AS2Ra   The Lancet

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The harms of overinvestigation can be significant, including unnecessary treatment and increased costs. The latest AP podcast highlights how this can be avoided in patients with suspected inflammatory arthritis. A timely topic on World Patient Safety Day!

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Our latest podcasts in Issues in Science and Technology gets at ways to tackle health misinformation that go far beyond fact-checking. Tina D Purnat and Elisabeth Wilhelm describe why and how to take a public health approach to fact-checking https://lnkd.in/gkP8fKzt

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Researchers from over 3700 global institutions now supported by Springer Nature Transformative Agreements Springer Nature now supports researchers from over 3700 institutions, across six continents, with open access (OA) publication via its Transformative Agreements (TA). The continued growth of the publisher's TAs underscores the Springer Nature’s in accelerating the global transition to OA, ensuring all who want to publish OA can do so regardless of location or funding. Carolyn Honour, Chief Commercial Officer of Springer Nature, said: “TAs are proven to be the most effective, sustainable way to achieve rapid OA growth and support the transition at scale, making publishing OA a more viable option for global researchers. Research has a pivotal role to play in addressing and understanding the challenges that face our global society. By ensuring that more researchers can publish and take advantage of OA, we can support a more diverse research environment where research can be built upon, is more accessible, and reusable and can get into the hands of those who are addressing our most critical world issues.”  Notable agreements launched in the first quarter of 2024 include:  New agreements across Asia including Springer Nature’s first agreement in Taiwan, and the expansion of a new TA model to support smaller institutions in Japan;  Further growth across Europe (Malta and the largest TA in Turkey ), the Middle East (Israel - MALMAD and IUCC), and the US ( Carolina Consortium, Lyrasis, NREL, OhioLINK and  VIVA);  New agreements for Nature and the Nature research journals with the Australia Universities and Sikt - Norwegian Agency for Shared Services in Education and Research; The renewal of the publisher’s first TA which was signed with the Netherlands 10 years ago.  All affiliated researchers now benefit from the higher visibility and usage OA achieves, whilst their institutions are supported with a streamlined OA workflow and benefit from greater reach and impact of the research.  Springer Nature remains committed to exploring viable and sustainable routes to OA for all researchers regardless of discipline, location or funding situation. More about the publisher's commitment to OA and open research can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eun7GS83 https://lnkd.in/eKizXyFx

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The life-permitting conditions of the universe’s delicately-balanced fine-tuning are necessary for valuable human beings. Read more 👉 Link in comment

Critical Posthumanisms: This series focuses on the rise of posthumanism, its forms, perspectives. If your area of study is the same, get in touch with masja.horn[at]brill.com - www.brill.com/CPH #posthumanism

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𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘬𝘦𝘺 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 🧬 Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive cancer that is often difficult to detect and treat. Researchers have been working to understand the genetic factors that contribute to the development and progression of this disease. A recent study has shed light on the role of a key gene, HNF4A, in driving pancreatic cancer aggressiveness. The development and progression of cancer is caused by mutations of genetic components. Mutations that turn on or turn off (silence) key genes, such as KRAS, CDKN2A, TP53, and SMAD4, are related to pancreatic cancer. However, the specific genetic cause is unknown, as every patient has unique differences in their tumors. A mutation that causes cancer in one patient may not cause cancer in another. Genes can be silenced through a range of different mechanisms. One process is called DNA methylation, which adds a methyl group to a specific DNA molecule. This essentially tells your body to ignore this gene, preventing its expression. This can be beneficial for a cancer as genes that suppress tumor development can be ignored. UK and US researchers collaborated to analyze methylation in pancreatic cancer tissues and cell lines. They identified that a gene named HNF4A is hypermethylated in cancer but not in a healthy pancreas. The true function of HNF4A in pancreatic cancer is unclear, but research suggests it acts as a tumor suppressor. Loss of a gene that aims to suppress the development of tumors allows tumors free reign to grow uncontrollably. Researchers also found that this gene was silenced in the earliest stages of cancer. This discovery opens a door for early treatment that may save lives, as early intervention targeting the HNF4A gene may restore its function and stop the progression of cancer. Interestingly, another paper found that a high-fat high-sugar diet suppresses HNF4A in mice and drives liver disease and diabetes. Combined, these papers highlight the importance of prioritizing a healthy, balanced diet. Pancreatic cancer HNF4A: https://lnkd.in/eck8CKE7 High-fat high-sugar HNF4A: https://lnkd.in/enstRrxV #pancreaticcancer #diet #genetics #science #methylation #cancer #research

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Are we embracing AI in the context of radiation therapy in Australia and New Zealand? “Today’s announcement, if properly implemented with appropriate support for the workforce to deliver, will help cut waiting lists and improve cancer treatment. It's finally a step in the right direction for cancer patients.” Radiotherapy UK Radiation Oncology: Targeting Cancer #radiationtherapy #radiotherapy #AI

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📢 Highly Recommend This Seminar! 📢 Last year, I had the chance to speak with Dalmeet Singh Chawla about paper mills and fraudulent publishing in structural science, and the article he wrote for C&EN was extremely thorough. 📰✨ Now, he's offering a seminar on how scientists can connect with journalists, get their research noticed, and leverage media coverage to boost their careers. If you’ve ever wondered how to get your work in the spotlight, this is a must-attend session! 🧬 International Union of Crystallography #ScienceCommunication #SciComm #Research #ScienceJournalism

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Facing Slow Manuscript Acceptance? AuthorPilot streamlines submission quality, expedites decisions, and lowers costs. Discover the AI advantage. Get a demo: https://lnkd.in/gqxhBxCb #ManuscriptSubmission #AI #Publishing #AuthorPilot #Efficiency #Innovation

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In this video on plot & structure in novel writing, we talk about the formula for crafting compelling novels. We break down the key elements of plot: the protagonist, their aim, and the antagonist that stands in their way. Explore the classic 3-Act Structure and dive into the Hero's Journey to help you create captivating stories. Learn how to apply these essential templates to your own novel writing for better pacing, character development, and tension. Subscribe for more writing tips! Download our Novel Revision Checklist here: http://eepurl.com/djCZCv

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My new non-fiction 'A Singular Spy: The Untold Story of Coomar Narain' is now ready for pre-order. This is the first book on the landmark Coomar Narain spy scandal. https://amzn.in/d/03rghsS2

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Fact-checking in 2024? Five tools to help with research and promotion https://lnkd.in/eRFRP4_q

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A comprehensive outline and a robust first draft play are imperative for the manuscript development process. A detailed outline serves as a roadmap, guiding authors through the narrative structure, character arcs, and key plot points before diving into the actual writing. This preplanning stage enhances clarity and coherence and minimizes the chances of getting stuck midway through the manuscript. Similarly, investing time and effort in creating a solid first draft lays a strong foundation for the subsequent editing and revision phases, ultimately saving valuable time and energy in the long run. By prioritizing these preliminary steps, new authors set themselves up for success by building a sturdy framework upon which to construct a compelling and polished manuscript that is highly sought after.

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This month's blog is all about who's who in the intricate world of scientific publishing. Here's a quick snippet: "Whether you’re a seasoned researcher or a budding academic, understanding the key players in this vibrant community can be crucial for navigating the publication process effectively." You can read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eaHuDcUD #ScientificPublishing #AcademicJournal

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