Springer publisher has temporarily suspended publication of the journal Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics for maintaining a “pattern of inappropriate and compromised peer review.” It has opened an investigation to discover why the journal published 16 “nonsense” papers last year, which were generated by a computer program. Another paper, this one on anesthesia gases, was retracted for plagiarism in August 2014. “The scientific integrity of the journal cannot be guaranteed,” the publisher explained in an official statement. The journal has an impact factor of 2.3 and was ranked 124 out of 185 publications in the cell biology category by Thomson Reuters. In communication to the site Retraction Watch, Edward J. Massaro, the journal’s editor-in-chief, denied that there have been any ethical issues in the review process; he also voiced criticism of Springer and said that the stoppage presents a serious threat to the future of the journal.
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