Img Source: sciencemag.org

Another day, another report of a junk science article published by China-based publisher Scientific Research Publishing, or SCIRP. This publisher specializes in publishing junk cosmology and junk physics, but with this article, the publisher is branching out into junk medical science, specifically AIDS denialism.

The article is entitled “Basic Principles Underlying Human Physiology” [1], and you don’t have to be a scientist to know that it’s junk, for it is a manifestation of AIDS denialism. The conclusion’s first paragraph says:

“HIV is not etiologically involved in AIDS. It is just a common retrovirus found in AIDS conjuncturally. There is only AIDS that may not be strictly associated neither to a primary immune deficiency nor to an acquired immune deficiency. Actually, heart failure represents the causal factor of AIDS and many other “primary” immune deficiencies (p. 1821)”.

The article is indexed in Google Scholar, of course.

The article has a single reference, and it’s to a 2007 article by the same author (Pavel) in a subscription journal that’s indexed by EBSCO.

The publisher SCIRP has a comment feature (Disqus) at the end of each article it publishes, and I have been told that comments left after this article questioning its scientific integrity have been deleted.

The article says that HIV does not cause AIDS, yet the article is branded as a scientific article. This means it’s a threat to the public health, for it could lead to HIV transmission by anyone believing the paper’s conclusions. It’s immoral for SCIRP to publish such rubbish.

The author, Pavel, is currently sending out unsolicited emails to researchers in Europe, promoting the article.

The SCIRP Empire

China-based Scientific Research Publishing is a growing empire with four publishing imprints (brands) that I know of, plus one mega-journal that emulates PLOS ONE, publishing in both English and Chinese and with claimed offices in the United States, Canada, and China. The imprints include:

Scientific Research Publishing

Hans Publishers, Inc. (HansPub, 汉斯)

The mega-journal is OA Lib (Open Access Library).

There is also a possible connection between SCIRP and Sophia Publishing Group, based in British Columbia, but this connection is unclear:

Sophia Publishing Group (This is a meta-publisher, or platform, with the following two journal imprints):

BioPublisher

The 5th Publisher

I realize there may be some strong and honest articles published in SCIRP journals. However, these articles are devalued and stigmatized by association with all the junk science that SCIRP publishes. The authors of the good articles are being victimized by the publisher’s policy of publishing pseudoscientific articles like “Basic Principles Underlying Human Physiology.”

SCIRP only rarely retracts articles, preferring instead to protect the interests of its customers, the paying authors.

Hat tip: Deyan Yosifov

[1]. Pavel. Dumitru. (2014). Basic principles underlying human physiology. Health 6, 1816-1821.

Appendix

List of SCIRP journals as of 2014-12-13:

  1. Advances in Aerospace Science and Technology
  2. Advances in Aging Research
  3. Advances in Alzheimer’s Disease
  4. Advances in Anthropology
  5. Advances in Applied Sociology
  6. Advances in Biological Chemistry
  7. Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology
  8. Advances in Breast Cancer Research
  9. Advances in Chemical Engineering and Science
  10. Advances in Computed Tomography
  11. Advances in Entomology
  12. Advances in Enzyme Research
  13. Advances in Historical Studies
  14. Advances in Infectious Diseases
  15. Advances in Internet of Things
  16. Advances in Journalism and Communication
  17. Advances in Linear Algebra & Matrix Theory
  18. Advances in Literary Study
  19. Advances in Lung Cancer
  20. Advances in Materials Physics and Chemistry
  21. Advances in Microbiology
  22. Advances in Molecular Imaging
  23. Advances in Nanoparticles
  24. Advances in Parkinson’s Disease
  25. Advances in Physical Education
  26. Advances in Pure Mathematics
  27. Advances in Remote Sensing
  28. Advances in Reproductive Sciences
  29. Advances in Sexual Medicine
  30. Agricultural Sciences
  31. American Journal of Analytical Chemistry
  32. American Journal of Climate Change
  33. American Journal of Computational Mathematics
  34. American Journal of Industrial and Business Management
  35. American Journal of Molecular Biology
  36. American Journal of Operations Research
  37. American Journal of Plant Sciences
  38. Applied Mathematics
  39. Archaeological Discovery
  40. Art and Design Review
  41. Atmospheric and Climate Sciences
  42. Beijing Law Review
  43. Case Reports in Clinical Medicine
  44. CellBio
  45. Chinese Medicine
  46. Chinese Studies
  47. Circuits and Systems
  48. Communications and Network
  49. Computational Chemistry
  50. Computational Molecular Bioscience
  51. Computational Water, Energy, and Environmental Engineering
  52. Creative Education
  53. Crystal Structure Theory and Applications
  54. Current Urban Studies
  55. Detection
  56. E-Health Telecommunication Systems and Networks
  57. Energy and Materials for Aerospace Engineering
  58. Energy and Power Engineering
  59. Engineering
  60. Food and Nutrition Sciences
  61. Forensic Medicine and Anatomy Research
  62. Geomaterials
  63. Graphene
  64. Green and Sustainable Chemistry
  65. Health
  66. iBusiness
  67. InfraMatics
  68. Intelligent Control and Automation
  69. Intelligent Information Management
  70. International Journal of Analytical Mass Spectrometry and Chromatography
  71. International Journal of Astronomy and Astrophysics
  72. International Journal of Clean Coal and Energy
  73. International Journal of Clinical Medicine
  74. International Journal of Geosciences
  75. International Journal of Intelligence Science
  76. International Journal of Internet and Distributed Systems
  77. International Journal of Medical Physics, Clinical Engineering and Radiation Oncology
  78. International Journal of Modern Nonlinear Theory and Application
  79. International Journal of Nonferrous Metallurgy
  80. International Journal of Organic Chemistry
  81. International Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery
  82. Int’l J. of Communications, Network and System Sciences
  83. Journal of Agricultural Chemistry and Environment
  84. Journal of Analytical Sciences, Methods and Instrumentation
  85. Journal of Applied Mathematics and Physics
  86. Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science
  87. Journal of Biomaterials and Nanobiotechnology
  88. Journal of Biomedical Science and Engineering
  89. Journal of Biophysical Chemistry
  90. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines
  91. Journal of Building Construction and Planning Research
  92. Journal of Cancer Therapy
  93. Journal of Computer and Communications
  94. Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications
  95. Journal of Crystallization Process and Technology
  96. Journal of Data Analysis and Information Processing
  97. Journal of Diabetes Mellitus
  98. Journal of Electromagnetic Analysis and Applications
  99. Journal of Electronics Cooling and Thermal Control
  100. Journal of Encapsulation and Adsorption Sciences
  101. Journal of Environmental Protection
  102. Journal of Financial Risk Management
  103. Journal of Flow Control, Measurement & Visualization
  104. Journal of Geographic Information System
  105. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection
  106. Journal of Human Resource and Sustainability Studies
  107. Journal of Immune Based Therapies, Vaccines and Antimicrobials
  108. Journal of Information Security
  109. Journal of Intelligent Learning Systems and Applications
  110. Journal of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering
  111. Journal of Mathematical Finance
  112. Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering
  113. Journal of Modern Physics
  114. Journal of Power and Energy Engineering
  115. Journal of Quantum Information Science
  116. Journal of Sensor Technology
  117. Journal of Service Science and Management
  118. Journal of Signal and Information Processing
  119. Journal of Software Engineering and Applications
  120. Journal of Surface Engineered Materials and Advanced Technology
  121. Journal of Sustainable Bioenergy Systems
  122. Journal of Textile Science and Technology
  123. Journal of Transportation Technologies
  124. Journal of Tuberculosis Research
  125. Journal of Water Resource and Protection
  126. Low Carbon Economy
  127. Materials Sciences and Applications
  128. Microscopy Research
  129. Modeling and Numerical Simulation of Material Science
  130. Modern Chemotherapy
  131. Modern Economy
  132. Modern Instrumentation
  133. Modern Mechanical Engineering
  134. Modern Plastic Surgery
  135. Modern Research in Catalysis
  136. Modern Research in Inflammation
  137. Natural Resources
  138. Natural Science
  139. Neuroscience & Medicine
  140. New Journal of Glass and Ceramics
  141. Occupational Diseases and Environmental Medicine
  142. Open Journal of Accounting
  143. Open Journal of Acoustics
  144. Open Journal of Air Pollution
  145. Open Journal of Anesthesiology
  146. Open Journal of Animal Sciences
  147. Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation
  148. Open Journal of Apoptosis
  149. Open Journal of Applied Biosensor
  150. Open Journal of Applied Sciences
  151. Open Journal of Biophysics
  152. Open Journal of Blood Diseases
  153. Open Journal of Business and Management
  154. Open Journal of Civil Engineering
  155. Open Journal of Clinical Diagnostics
  156. Open Journal of Composite Materials
  157. Open Journal of Depression
  158. Open Journal of Discrete Mathematics
  159. Open Journal of Earthquake Research
  160. Open Journal of Ecology
  161. Open Journal of Emergency Medicine
  162. Open Journal of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases
  163. Open Journal of Energy Efficiency
  164. Open Journal of Epidemiology
  165. Open Journal of Fluid Dynamics
  166. Open Journal of Forestry
  167. Open Journal of Gastroenterology
  168. Open Journal of Genetics
  169. Open Journal of Geology
  170. Open Journal of Immunology
  171. Open Journal of Inorganic Chemistry
  172. Open Journal of Inorganic Non-metallic Materials
  173. Open Journal of Internal Medicine
  174. Open Journal of Leadership
  175. Open Journal of Marine Science
  176. Open Journal of Medical Imaging
  177. Open Journal of Medical Microbiology
  178. Open Journal of Medical Psychology
  179. Open Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
  180. Open Journal of Metal
  181. Open Journal of Microphysics
  182. Open Journal of Modelling and Simulation
  183. Open Journal of Modern Hydrology
  184. Open Journal of Modern Linguistics
  185. Open Journal of Modern Neurosurgery
  186. Open Journal of Molecular and Integrative Physiology
  187. Open Journal of Nephrology
  188. Open Journal of Nursing
  189. Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
  190. Open Journal of Ophthalmology
  191. Open Journal of Optimization
  192. Open Journal of Organ Transplant Surgery
  193. Open Journal of Organic Polymer Materials
  194. Open Journal of Orthopedics
  195. Open Journal of Pathology
  196. Open Journal of Pediatrics
  197. Open Journal of Philosophy
  198. Open Journal of Physical Chemistry
  199. Open Journal of Political Science
  200. Open Journal of Polymer Chemistry
  201. Open Journal of Preventive Medicine
  202. Open Journal of Psychiatry
  203. Open Journal of Radiology
  204. Open Journal of Regenerative Medicine
  205. Open Journal of Respiratory Diseases
  206. Open Journal of Rheumatology and Autoimmune Diseases
  207. Open Journal of Safety Science and Technology
  208. Open Journal of Social Sciences
  209. Open Journal of Soil Science
  210. Open Journal of Statistics
  211. Open Journal of Stomatology
  212. Open Journal of Synthesis Theory and Applications
  213. Open Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation
  214. Open Journal of Thoracic Surgery
  215. Open Journal of Urology
  216. Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine
  217. Optics and Photonics Journal
  218. Pain Studies and Treatment
  219. Pharmacology & Pharmacy
  220. Positioning
  221. Psychology
  222. Smart Grid and Renewable Energy
  223. Social Networking
  224. Sociology Mind
  225. Soft
  226. Soft Nanoscience Letters
  227. Spectral Analysis Review
  228. Stem Cell Discovery
  229. Surgical Science
  230. Technology and Investment
  231. Theoretical Economics Letters
  232. Voice of the Publisher
  233. Wireless Engineering and Technology
  234. Wireless Sensor Network
  235. World Journal of AIDS
  236. World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases
  237. World Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery
  238. World Journal of Condensed Matter Physics
  239. World Journal of Engineering and Technology
  240. World Journal of Mechanics
  241. World Journal of Nano Science and Engineering
  242. World Journal of Neuroscience
  243. World Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology
  244. World Journal of Vaccines

List of BioPublisher journals as of 2014-12-13:

  1. American Agricultural Research Frontier
  2. Aquatic Biological Research
  3. Brewing Journal
  4. Brewing Research
  5. Cancer Research and Molecular Diagnostics
  6. Computational Molecular Biology
  7. European Research Biotechnology Progress
  8. Genomics and Applied Biology
  9. Genomics and Biotechnology
  10. Genomics and Medical Biology
  11. Herbal Medicine and Pharmacology Magazine
  12. Insect Molecular Biology
  13. Journal of Laboratory Medicine and Quarantine
  14. Legume Genomics and Genetics
  15. Marine Biology
  16. Medical genetics and disease research
  17. Molecular Plant Breeding

List of The 5th Publisher journals as of 2014-12-13:

  1. Agriculture Civilization
  2. Agriculture Inspection
  3. Journal of Alternative Crops
  4. Journal of Global Public Health