Volunteers in COVID-19 human challenge trials are genuinely altruistic, not desperate for money or lacking understanding of the risks

Peer-Reviewed Publication

PLOS

 

IMAGE: SELECTIONS WERE NOT RANKED, AND TOTAL PERCENTAGES ADD TO 300% BECAUSE EACH PARTICIPANT SELECTED 3 OPTIONS. THE TWO MOST COMMONLY SELECTED OPTIONS WERE “I WANTED TO HELP OTHERS AND POTENTIALLY SAVE LIVES” (95.9%) AND “I WANTED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROGRESS OF MEDICINE” (79.2%). view more 

CREDIT: MARSH ET AL., 2022, PLOS ONE, CC-BY 4.0 (HTTPS://CREATIVECOMMONS.ORG/LICENSES/BY/4.0/)

Article URL:  https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0275823

Article Title: Characterizing altruistic motivation in potential volunteers for SARS-CoV-2 challenge trials

Author Countries: USA, UK

Funding: This study was supported by 1Day Sooner in the form of a grant as part of the Open Philanthropy Project, and in the form of salaries for authors SMR, VS, & JM. This study was also supported by 1Day Sooner in the form of additional financial support for MP. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section. This study was also supported by National Science Foundation in the form of grants for MM, NE (2039320) and AAM (1729406). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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Participants in volunteer and control groups were surveyed on their engagement with a range of altruistic behaviors, including blood donation, significant charitable donations and organ/marrow donor status. (IMAGE)

PLOS

CAPTION

Volunteers were significantly more likely than controls to have participated in all but one of the altruistic behaviors.

CREDIT

Marsh et al., 2022, PLOS ONE, CC-BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

JOURNAL

PLoS ONE

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0275823 

ARTICLE TITLE

Characterizing altruistic motivation in potential volunteers for SARS-CoV-2 challenge trials

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

2-Nov-2022

COI STATEMENT

The authors have read the journal’s policy and have the following competing interests: SMR and VS were employees of 1Day Sooner at the time of this study. JM is a current employee of 1Day Sooner. NE and AAM are on the Board of Advisors for 1Day Sooner. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials. There are no patents, products in development or marketed products associated with this research to declare.

Neuroscientific evidence induces study participants to recommend longer sentences for convicted criminals if they think prison is for rehabilitation or public protection, but shorter sentences if prison is considered punishment

Peer-Reviewed Publication

PLOS

 

IMAGE: THE STUDY FOUND THAT NEUROSCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE DOES NOT NECESSARILY LEAD TO MITIGATED OR AGGRAVATED SENTENCES, BUT RATHER THAT IT INTERACTS WITH SOCIETY’S REASONS FOR INCARCERATION. view more 

CREDIT: EMILIANO BAR, UNSPLASH, CC0 (HTTPS://CREATIVECOMMONS.ORG/PUBLICDOMAIN/ZERO/1.0/)

Article URL:  https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0276237

Article Title: The effect of neuroscientific evidence on sentencing depends on how one conceives of reasons for incarceration

Author Countries: USA

Funding: The authors received no specific funding for this work.

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JOURNAL

PLoS ONE

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0276237 

ARTICLE TITLE

The effect of neuroscientific evidence on sentencing depends on how one conceives of reasons for incarceration

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

2-Nov-2022

COI STATEMENT

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Fast-food rubbish solution in sustainable seaweed-based wrapper

Flinders lab works with European company on new project

Business Announcement

FLINDERS UNIVERSITY

 

IMAGE: FLINDERS UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS MR PENG SU, LEFT, CHANAKA MUDUGAMUWA AND DR ZHONGFAN JIA TESTING THE BIOPOLYMER COATING FOR POTENTIAL USE IN FAST-FOOD AND OTHER WRAPPERS. PHOTO COURTESY FLINDERS UNIVERSITY. view more 

CREDIT: PHOTO COURTESY FLINDERS UNIVERSITY.

Flinders University materials researchers and pioneering German biomaterials developer one • fıve are using seaweed extracts to develop next-generation biopolymer coating materials that could solve packaging waste dilemmas for the fast-food industry.  

The new non-pollutive biomaterials are designed to replace conventional fossil-based plastic coatings used in grease-resistant fast-food packaging.  

Grease-resistant paper is typically coated with plastic and other environmentally harmful chemicals, such as polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), but the new prototype coating meets the functional requirements of conventional grease-resistant packaging materials while also presenting an environmentally circular solution.  

The result represents a landmark achievement in creating next-generation sustainable and ecologically responsible biopolymer. 

“We are able to reduce harmful plastic pollution with this product, and we are also using feedstock that is environmentally regenerative,” says Claire Gusko, one • fıve Co-Founder.   

“Seaweed cultivation helps to naturally rehabilitate marine environments, reduce greenhouse gases, and mitigate coastal erosion. It’s important for us to use sustainable inputs upstream to ensure our products are environmentally safe, from cradle to grave.”  

This development – which took extracts from certain seaweeds, added modifications and formed degradable bioplastic films – has been led by Dr Zhongfan Jia, a lead researcher from the Flinders Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology and research colleague Mr Peng Su in association with the Flinders Centre for Marine Bioproducts Development. 

“The seaweed extracts have a similar structure to the natural fibres from which paper is made,” says Dr Jia. “Our novel specialist treatments boost the grease-resistance feature of the seaweed via simple modifications while not affecting biodegradability nor recyclability of the coated paper.” 

Biomass for the new coating formulation is made from natural polymers extracted from seaweeds that are native to the South Australian coastline – which provided a key reason why the Flinders University researchers studied it for more broad scientific application. These extracts are transformed through a proprietary processing methodology to produce functional biopolymer sheets that can be cut or coated onto various surfaces, depending on the application.   

Flinders University and one • fıve are now working towards transferring laboratory-scale processing to produce industrially-relevant volumes of the natural polymer coating.  

This initiative aims to have a transformative impact on the global packaging and plastics industry by significantly reducing reliance on highly pollutive conventional plastic.  

About one • fıve (pronounced: one point five): This biomaterials discovery, development and scale-up company was founded in Hamburg in late 2020 by former infarm executives Martin Weber and Claire Gusko. They provide customised, cleaner, and circular packaging solutions in record time; designed to drop into existing consumer packaging value chains to create a measurable, positive impact on the environment. With a mission to accelerate the transformation of the global packaging supply chain, one • fıve's team of 30 interdisciplinary team members has raised over 10 million Euros in funding to date. Their initial focus is fibre-based packaging solutions for leading FMCG brand owners and packaging converters. one • fıve is a member of industry-leading packaging alliances 4evergreen and Verpackung mit Zukunft. 

About the Flinders Centre for Marine Bioproducts Development: Launched in 2007, this centre conducts world-leading research and applies the latest bioprocess technologies on Australia’s marine bioresources – up to 95% of which are not found anywhere else in the world – to spawn marine bioproduct innovations in food production, health and nutrition, and fuel and energy alternatives. 

Study reveals manual cleaning of medical instruments exposes staff and surrounding environment to potentially contaminated fluids

Findings reinforce importance of engineering controls and appropriate PPE use to protect processing personnel and reduce contamination risks

Peer-Reviewed Publication

ASSOCIATION FOR PROFESSIONALS IN INFECTION CONTROL

Arlington, Va., October 13, 2022 – A new study published today in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) shows that manual cleaning of reusable medical instruments generates substantial splash more than seven feet from the source. The findings reinforce the importance of engineering controls and appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce the risk of contamination for both processing personnel and their facilities.

“This study confirms that technicians working in sterile processing departments are at risk for exposure to water droplets that may contain blood, tissue and other patient fluids,” said Cori L. Ofstead, president and CEO of Ofstead & Associates, and the paper’s lead author. “Even in a sterile processing department optimally designed to reduce potential exposures, we were surprised by the abundance of droplets generated during the performance of instrument processing steps that were completed in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions for use.”

The study expands upon a pilot project completed by Ofstead and colleagues in 2021 - the first real-world evaluation of PPE effectiveness for sterile processing personnel – which concluded that personnel who process reusable medical instruments and equipment may be exposed to tissue, blood, and other patient fluids even when wearing recommended PPE. Previous research has demonstrated a link between contamination disseminated from sinks and healthcare facility outbreaks.

The current study was conducted at a large, urban academic medical center, within a new sterile-processing department that had been designed to optimize workflow and prevent cross-contamination. To quantify the amount of splash generated during manual processing activities, characterize droplet dispersal patterns, and assess PPE effectiveness, researchers engaged experienced, certified processing personnel to conduct simulated processing of a gastrointestinal endoscope and an ultrasound probe following manufacturers’ instructions for use (IFU). Prior to the simulations, moisture-detection paper was affixed to the PPE of technicians working at the sink and stationed 3-4 feet away, as well as environmental surfaces, including the department floors.

Following completion of the cleaning tasks, researchers measured the quantity of droplets generated as well as the extent of dispersal. Results show that every processing cycle generated splash at some point, with droplets detected up to 7.25 feet away from the processing sink. Some activities, particularly rinsing the ultrasound probe per IFU, generated substantial splash that exposed the environment and equipment near the sink, as well as the processing technician performing the cleaning. The technician at the sink was exposed to droplets from head to toe during most activities and extensive droplets were detected on gowns and shoe covers worn by technicians 3-4 feet away.

Beyond the implications for individuals in and around the processing sinks, splash represents a potential contamination source for other staff and patients in healthcare facilities. Standards state that liquids can act as a vehicle for the transfer of microorganisms. In the current study, transporting wet endoscopes dispersed droplets on a 15-foot path from the sink to the automated endoscope reprocessor.

“This study is instructive for infection preventionists and workplace safety professionals, providing a backdrop against which they should review Sterile Processing Department workflows and evaluate whether additional infection prevention or engineering control measures are needed to best protect workers and others in their facilities,” said Linda Dickey, RN, MPH, CIC, FAPIC, 2022 APIC president. “It also reinforces the critical importance of a safety culture that supports workers -- including processes and training that facilitate appropriate usage of PPE, such as sufficient time to doff and re-don PPE during the course of reprocessing instruments -- for adequate protection from moisture strikethrough.”

About APIC

Founded in 1972, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) is the leading association for infection preventionists and epidemiologists. With more than 15,000 members, APIC advances the science and practice of infection prevention and control. APIC carries out its mission through research, advocacy, and patient safety; education, credentialing, and certification; and fostering development of the infection prevention and control workforce of the future. Together with our members and partners, we are working toward a safer world through the prevention of infection. Join us and learn more at apic.org.

About AJIC

As the official peer-reviewed journal of APIC, The American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) is the foremost resource on infection control, epidemiology, infectious diseases, quality management, occupational health, and disease prevention. Published by Elsevier, AJIC also publishes infection control guidelines from APIC and the CDC. AJIC is included in Index Medicus and CINAHL. Visit AJIC at ajicjournal.org.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

“Splash generation and droplet dispersal in a well-designed, centralized high-level disinfection unit,” by Cori L. Ofstead, Krystina M. Hopkins, Frank E. Daniels, Abigail G. Smart, and Henry P. Wetzler, was published online in AJIC on October 13, 2022. The article may be found online at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2022.08.016

AUTHORS

Cori L. Ofstead, MSPH (Corresponding author: cori@ofsteadinsights.com)

Ofstead & Associates, Inc., St. Paul, MN, USA

 

Krystina M. Hopkins, MPH

Ofstead & Associates, Inc., St. Paul, MN, USA

 

Frank E. Daniels, MSHA, CFER, CER, AGTS, CSPDT, CSPM

Virginia Commonwealth University Health, Richmond, VA, USA

 

Abigail G. Smart, MPH

Ofstead & Associates, Inc., St. Paul, MN

 

Harry P. Wetzler, MD MSPH

Ofstead & Associates, Inc., St. Paul, MN, USA

# # #

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JOURNAL

American Journal of Infection Control

DOI

10.1016/j.ajic.2022.08.016 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

Splash generation and droplet dispersal in a well-designed, centralized high-level disinfection unit

COI STATEMENT

This study was supported in part by a research grant from Healthmark Industries, which also provided droplet-detection paper. Healthmark was not involved in designing or conducting the study, interpreting the findings, or preparing this manuscript. CLO, KMH, AGS, and HPW have received research grants, study materials, educational materials, or consulting contracts from 3M Company, Ambu, Boston Scientific Corporation, Cleanis, Fortive/Advanced Sterilization Products, Healthmark Industries, Pentax, and Steris/Cantel/Medivators. FED has participated on an advisory board for Fortive/Advanced Sterilization Products. Conflicts of interest: None to report.

U$A

Two out of five adults who use cigarettes smoke menthol

An FDA ban on menthol would have a widespread public health impact especially among minority groups with over 80 percent of Black smokers using menthol

Peer-Reviewed Publication

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY'S MAILMAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Menthol use has increased over the past decade among U.S. adults who smoke cigarettes, according to a study released by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and The City University of New York. Menthol use is much more common among adult smokers who are younger, from racial/ethnic minoritized groups and with mental health problems. The results are published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research.

Menthol use was common among approximately two out of five cigarette smokers overall. Over 80 percent of Black smokers preferred menthol in 2020, which is stable relative to prior reports. “That approximately 50 percent of smokers who were Hispanic, female, ages 18-25 and 26-34, lesbian/gay and adults with mental health problems, used menthol in 2020 is higher than previously reported and suggests use has expanded across all segments of the population of adults who smoke cigarettes,” noted said Renee D. Goodwin, PhD, in the Department of Epidemiology at Columbia Mailman School.

Canada and the United Kingdom have banned menthol as a characterizing flavor while action in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been lacking although the Center for Tobacco Products announced its intention to issue a product standard that would ban menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes. However, given the regulatory process required to issue a product standard and the potential for tobacco industry litigation, menthol cigarettes will likely remain on the market for a considerable amount of time, note experts.

“Our results suggest that banning menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration could have a widespread impact on public health, especially among younger people and marginalized groups,” said Goodwin.

To estimate trends in menthol use among adults who smoke cigarettes by sociodemographic, mental health and substance use variables, the researchers analyzed nationally representative annual, data from 128,327 individuals ages 18 and older residing in the U.S. from the 2008-2019 and 2020 from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Depression was assessed using the DSM-IV criteria for a major depressive episode.

There was a significant overall increase in menthol cigarette use among adults smoking cigarettes from 34 percent in 2008 to 41 percent in 2019.  In 2020, 43 percent of adults who smoked cigarettes in the past-month used menthol. Menthol use was most common among Black adults (80 percent). Over 50 percent of Hispanic, female, young (ages 18-34), lesbian/gay, with serious psychological distress, and with cigar use also used menthol. Menthol use grew more rapidly among adults, among Hispanics, light cigarette users (1-5 per day) and those who smoked cigars.

A notable finding was the increase and majority menthol use among Hispanic adults over the study period (34 percent in 2008 to 48 percent in 2019) and 51 percent in 2020, with a more rapid increase among Hispanic compared with Non-Hispanic white smokers. “Until now there was a lack of research in this area,” observes Goodwin, who offers a number of possible explanations for the increased popularity of menthol cigarettes among Hispanic smokers. “For one, there is evidence of greater marketing of menthol cigarettes to Hispanic adults.”

“Our study shows persistent and unmitigated inequities in menthol use among tobacco use disparity group members in particular,” said Goodwin. “Data from 2020 demonstrate that the increase in menthol use among smokers over the past decade was broadly evident across subgroups.”

Co-authors are Ollie Ganz and Cristine Delnevo, Rutgers University School of Public Health; Andrea H Weinberger, Yeshiva University and Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Philip H Smith, Miami University; and Katarzyna Wyka, The City University of New York.

Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health

Founded in 1922, the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health pursues an agenda of research, education, and service to address the critical and complex public health issues affecting New Yorkers, the nation and the world. The Columbia Mailman School is the fourth largest recipient of NIH grants among schools of public health. Its nearly 300 multi-disciplinary faculty members work in more than 100 countries around the world, addressing such issues as preventing infectious and chronic diseases, environmental health, maternal and child health, health policy, climate change and health, and public health preparedness. It is a leader in public health education with more than 1,300 graduate students from 55 nations pursuing a variety of master’s and doctoral degree programs. The Columbia Mailman School is also home to numerous world-renowned research centers, including ICAP and the Center for Infection and Immunity. For more information, please visit www.mailman.columbia.edu.

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JOURNAL

Nicotine & Tobacco Research

Smelling in VR environment possible with new gaming technology

Peer-Reviewed Publication

STOCKHOLM UNIVERSITY

 

IMAGE: THE RESEARCH TEAM IS TESTING THE OLFACTOMETER IN THE LAB. view more 

CREDIT: JENS LASTHEIN

An odor machine, so-called olfactometer, makes it possible to smell in VR environments. First up is a “wine tasting game” where the user smells wine in a virtual wine cellar and gets points if the guess on aromas in each wine is correct. The new technology that can be printed on 3D printers has been developed in collaboration between Stockholm University and Malmö University. The research, funded by the Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation, was recently published in the International Journal of Human - Computer Studies.

“We hope that the new technical possibilities will lead to scents having a more important role in game development, says Jonas Olofsson, professor of psychology and leader of the research project at Stockholm University.

In the past, computer games have focused mostly on what we can see – moving images on screens. Other senses have not been present. But an interdisciplinary research group at Stockholm University and Malmö University has now constructed a scent machine that can be controlled by a gaming computer. In the game, the participant moves in a virtual wine cellar, picking up virtual wine glasses containing different types of wine, guessing the aromas. The small scent machine is attached to the VR system's controller, and when the player lifts the glass, it releases a scent.

“The possibility to move on from a passive to a more active sense of smell in the game world paves the way for the development of completely new smell-based game mechanics based on the players' movements and judgments,” says Simon Niedenthal, interaction and game researcher at Malmö University.

The olfactometer consists of four different valves each connected to a channel. In the middle there is a fan sucking the air into a tube. With the help of the computer, the player can control the four channels so that they open to different degrees and provide different mixtures of scent. Scent blends that can mimic the complexity of a real wine glass. The game has different levels of difficulty with increasing levels of complexity.

“In the same way that a normal computer game becomes more difficult the better the player becomes; the scent game can also challenge players who already have a sensitive nose. This means that the scent machine can even be used to train wine tasters or perfumers,” says Jonas Olofsson.

All code, blueprints and instructions for the machine are openly available online, as is code for the virtual wine tasting game. The research group, Sensory Cognitive Interaction Laboratory, which is located at the Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, now hopes that scented computer games can become useful for other purposes.

“For those who, for example, lost their sense of smell after COVID-19 or for other reasons, the new technology can mean an opportunity to regain their sense of smell with the help of game-based training,” says Jonas Olofsson, research team leader.

Smell training is a method recommended by doctors for those who lose their sense of smell after colds and other viruses, but according to Jonas Olofsson, many people stop training because it becomes too boring.

“I hope that the fact that drawings and code are openly available as "open source" will lead to an opportunity for game companies to start creating new, commercial products for scent training using the new technology,” says Jonas Olofsson.

According to Simon Niedenthal, “open source” leads to promoting accessibility, reproducibility and comparison of results in research. It also contributes to creating a cohesive research and design community within the game development field.

“But it also means that the costs of the equipment are greatly reduced, which makes it available to more people. To us that is important,” says Simon Niedenthal.

“We believe in open science, that research results should be made available to the public and that other researchers should be able to repeat our results. With the help of our research, others can build scent machines and explore new ways of using scents in games,” says Jonas Olofsson.

The technology for the olfactometer has been developed by Peter Lundén, research engineer at Stockholm University and member of the research team at SCI LAB.

CAPTION

The olfactometer

CREDIT

William Fredborg

CAPTION

Servo motors (1–4) and stepless valves (a). A diagrammatic illustration of the functionality of the olfactory display and the control of its airflow (b).

CREDIT

SCI LAB

CAPTION

The game environment in the wine tasting game.

CREDIT

SCI LAB

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DOI

10.1016/j.ijhcs.2022.102928 

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

A graspable olfactory display for virtual reality

The State of Open Data Report 2022: Researchers need more support to assist with open data mandates

New findings provide update on researchers’ attitudes towards open data

Reports and Proceedings

DIGITAL SCIENCE

 

IMAGE: ONE OF THE KEY FINDINGS OF THE 2022 STATE OF OPEN DATA REPORT view more 

CREDIT: FIGSHARE/DIGITAL SCIENCE

Researchers worldwide will need further assistance to help comply with an increasing number of open data mandates, according to the authors of a new report.

The State of Open Data Report 2022 – the latest in an annual collaborative series from Digital Science, Figshare and Springer Nature – is released today.

Based on a global survey, the report is now in its seventh year and provides insights into researchers’ attitudes towards and experiences of open data. With more than 5,400 respondents, the 2022 survey is the largest since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

This year’s report also includes guest articles from open data experts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), publishers and universities.

Founder and CEO of Figshare Mark Hahnel says: “This year’s State of Open Data Report comes at a unique point in time when we’re seeing a growing number of open data mandates from funding organizations and policymakers, most notably the NIH and OSTP in the United States, but also recently from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in Australia, and in Europe and the UK.

“What is clear from the findings of our report is that while most researchers embrace the concepts of open data and open science, they also have some reasonable misgivings about how open data policies and practices impact on them. In an environment where open data mandates are increasing, funding organizations would benefit from working even more closely with researchers and providing them with additional support to help smooth the transition to a fully open data future.

“We all have a role to play in driving a better future for open data and accessible research, and one way we can do that through this report is by listening to the voices of researchers, funders, institutions, and publishers,” he says.

 

CAPTION

A comment from NIH contributors to the 2022 State of Open Data report

CREDIT

Figshare/Digital Science

Primary findings from this year’s report indicated that:

• There is a growing trend in researchers being in favour of data being made openly available as common practice (4 out of every five researchers were in agreement with this), supported somewhat by now over 70% of respondents being required to follow a policy on data sharing.
• However, researchers still cite a key need in helping them to share their data as being more training or information on policies for access, sharing and reuse (55%) as well as long-term storage and data management strategies (52%).
• Credit and recognition were once again a key theme for researchers in sharing their data. Of those who had previously shared data, 66% had received some form of recognition for their efforts – most commonly via full citation in another article (41%) followed by co-authorship on a paper that had used the data.
• Researchers are more inclined to share their research data where it can have an impact on citations (67%) and the visibility of their research (61%), rather than being motivated by public benefit or journal/publisher mandate (both 56%).

Graham Smith, Open Data Program Manager, Springer Nature, says: “For the past seven years these surveys have helped paint a picture of researcher perspectives on open data. The report shows us not only the progress made but the steps that still need to be taken on the journey towards an open data future in support of the research community. Whether it’s the broad support of researchers for making research data openly available as common practice or the changing attitudes to open data mandates, we must learn from and deliver concrete steps forward to address what the community is telling us.

“Springer Nature is firmly committed to this and we continue to work closely with our partners, such as Figshare and Digital Science, to create better understanding around data sharing.”

Daniel Hook, CEO of Digital Science, says: “Digital Science is committed to making open, collaborative and inclusive research possible, as we believe this environment will lead to the greatest benefit for society. Now in its seventh year, while the articles in The State of Open Data Report represent a unique set of snapshots marking the evolution of attitudes about Open Data in our community, the data behind the survey constitutes a valuable resource to track researcher sentiment regarding open data and their experiences of data sharing. I believe that these data represent an amazing opportunity to understand the challenges and needs of our community so that we can collectively build better infrastructure to support research.”

The full report can be accessed on Figshare: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.21276984

Join in the conversation at #StateOfOpenData

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Key findings via theme of the report

Support for open data

• Four out of every five respondents are in favour of research data being made openly available as common practice.
• 74% of respondents reported sharing their data during publication.
• Approximately one fifth of respondents reported having no concerns about sharing data openly – this proportion has been steadily growing since 2018.
• 88% of researchers surveyed are supportive of making research articles open access (OA) as a common scholarly practice.

Motivations and benefits

• When it comes to researchers sharing their data, citations of research papers (67%) and increased impact and visibility of papers (61%) outweigh public benefit or journal/publisher mandate (both 56%) as motivation.
• Of those who had previously shared data, 66% had received some form of recognition for their efforts – most commonly via full citation in another article (41%) followed by co-authorship on a paper that had used the data.
• A third of respondents indicated they had been involved in a research collaboration as a result of data they had previously shared.

Open data mandates

• 70% of respondents were required to follow a policy on data sharing for their most recent piece of research.
• More than two-thirds of respondents are supportive “to some extent” of a national mandate for making research data openly available. This number has been declining since 2019.
• Just over half (52%) of respondents in the 2022 survey felt that sharing data should be a part of the requirement for awarding research grants. Again, this number has been declining since 2019.

Drawbacks

• Only 19% of respondents believe that researchers get sufficient credit for sharing their data, while 75% say they receive too little credit.
• Just under a quarter of respondents indicated that they had previously received support with planning, managing or sharing their research data
• The greatest concern among respondents is misuse of their data (35%).
• The key needs of researchers which were felt more training or information would improve were better understanding and definitions for policies for access, sharing and reuse (55%) as well as long-term storage and data management strategies (52%) – things that impact both ends of the research cycle.

Key demographics of respondents

• Researchers from China now comprise 11% of all respondents, equal with that of the United States. China and the US are the two countries with the biggest response to the survey, followed by India, Japan, Germany, Italy, UK, Canada, Brazil, France and Spain.

• 31% of respondents were early career researchers (ECRs), while a further 31% classed themselves as senior researchers.

• Most respondents (42%) were from medicine & life sciences; 38% from mathematics, physics and applied sciences; and 17% from humanities and social sciences (an increase of 3%).

• Respondents were broadly categorised as: Open science advocates (32%), Open publishing advocates (26%), Cautiously pro open science (25%), Open science agnostics (11%), and Non-believers of open science (6%).

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About Figshare
Figshare is a leading provider of out-of-the-box, cloud repository software for research data, papers, theses, teaching materials, conference outputs, and more. Research outputs become more discoverable and impactful with search engine indexing and usage metrics including citations and altmetrics. Figshare provides a proficient platform for all types of research data to be shared and showcased in a FAIR way whilst enabling researchers to receive credit. Visit knowledge.figshare.com and follow @figshare on Twitter.

 

About Springer Nature
For over 180 years Springer Nature has been advancing discovery by providing the best possible service to the whole research community. We help researchers uncover new ideas, make sure all the research we publish is significant, robust and stands up to objective scrutiny, that it reaches all relevant audiences in the best possible format, and can be discovered, accessed, used, re-used and shared. We support librarians and institutions with innovations in technology and data; and provide quality publishing support to societies. As a research publisher, Springer Nature is home to trusted brands including Springer, Nature Portfolio, BMC, Palgrave Macmillan and Scientific American. For more information, please visit springernature.com and @SpringerNature

 

About Digital Science
Digital Science is a technology company working to make research more efficient. We invest in, nurture and support innovative businesses and technologies that make all parts of the research process more open and effective. Our portfolio includes admired brands including Altmetric, Dimensions, Figshare, ReadCube, Symplectic, IFI CLAIMS, Overleaf, Ripeta and Writefull. We believe that together, we can help researchers make a difference. Visit www.digital-science.com and follow @digitalsci on Twitter.

 

Media contacts

David Ellis, Press, PR & Social Manager, Digital Science: Mobile +61 447 783 023,  d.ellis@digital-science.com

Simon Linacre, Head of Content, Brand & Press, Digital Science: Mobile: +44 7484 381477, s.linacre@digital-science.com

Sam Sule, Communications Officer, Springer Nature: +44 203 192 2149, sam.sule@springernature.com

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DOI

10.6084/m9.figshare.21276984 

ARTICLE TITLE

The State of Open Data 2022