经济学人196:学术不端 一系列的错误(上)

 　　Science and technology

　　科学技术

　　Misconduct in science

　　学术不端

　　An array of errors

　　一系列的错误

　　Investigations¹ into a case of alleged² scientific misconduct have revealed numerous holes in the oversight³ of science and scientific publishing.

　　对一起学术不端的调查揭示出在对科学以及科学出版的监督中存在着诸多漏洞。

　　ANIL POTTI, Joseph Nevins and their colleagues at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, garnered⁴ widespread attention in 2006.

　　2006年，ANIL POTTI, Joseph Nevins和他们在杜克大学的同事们引起了广泛的关注。

　　They reported in the New England Journal of Medicine that they could predict the course of a patient's lung cancer using devices called expression arrays,

　　他们在新英格兰医学杂志上报告说他们可以通过一种叫表达序列的设备预测病人的肺癌的扩散路径。

　　which log the activity patterns of thousands of genes⁷ in a sample of tissue as a colourful picture.

　　这种设备能够记录组织样本上成千个基因的活动模式，成为一幅彩色图像。

　　A few months later, they wrote in Nature Medicine that they had developed a similar technique which used gene⁶ expression in laboratory cultures of cancer cells,

　　几个月后，他们又在《自然-医学》杂志上发表说他们已经发展出了一种类似的技术-这类技术使用的是在实验室培养皿里癌细胞的基因表达，

　　known as cell lines, to predict which chemotherapy would be most effective for an individual patient suffering from lung, breast or ovarian cancer.

　　被称为细胞系，来预测对于某一位患肺癌、乳腺癌或者是卵巢癌的病人哪种化疗将会是最有效的。

　　At the time, this work looked like a tremendous advance for personalised medicine—the idea that understanding the molecular⁸ specifics of an individual's illness will lead to a tailored treatment.

　　这个工作在那时看起来是个人化医疗中的一个重大进步。

　　The papers drew adulation from other workers in the field, and many newspapers, including this one, wrote about them.

　　这些文章受到了一些同行以及包括《经济学人》在内的许多报纸的极力褒奖。

　　The team then started to organise⁹ a set of clinical trials of personalised treatments for lung and breast cancer.

　　于是研究小组开始着手组织一套针对肺癌和乳腺癌病人的个人化治疗临床试验。

　　Unbeknown to most people in the field, however, within a few weeks of the publication of the Nature Medicine paper a group of biostatisticians at the MD Anderson Cancer Centre in Houston, led by Keith Baggerly and Kevin Coombes, had begun to find serious flaws in the work.

　　可是大多数领域内的人不知道的是，由Keith Baggerly和Kevin Coombes领导的德州大学MD Anderson癌症中心的生物统计师们在这篇论文发表之后的几周就开始发现其中的严重问题。

　　Dr Baggerly and Dr Coombes had been trying to reproduce Dr Potti's results at the request of clinical researchers at the Anderson centre who wished to use the new technique.

　　在希望使用这项新技术的Anderson中心临床研究员的请求下，Baggerly博士和Coombes博士一直在尝试重现Potti博士的研究结果。

　　When they first encountered problems,

　　当第一次碰到问题时，

　　they followed normal procedures by asking Dr Potti, who had been in charge of the day-to-day research, and Dr Nevins, who was Dr Potti's supervisor¹⁰, for the raw data on which the published analysis was based—and also for further details about the team's methods,

　　他们按照惯例向主管日常研究的Potti博士和他的导师Nevins博士索要他们发表的文章的原始数据和关于其研究方法的进一步细节，

　　so that they could try to replicate¹¹ the original findings.

　　这样他们就可以尝试重现原先的实验结果了。

　　A can of worms

　　一罐虫子

　　Dr Potti and Dr Nevins answered the queries¹² and publicly corrected several errors, but Dr Baggerly and Dr Coombes still found the methods' predictions were little better than chance.

　　Potti博士和Nevins博士回复了这些请求并且公布了几处修正后的错误，但是Baggerly博士和Coombes博士依旧发现由这个实验方法引出的结果几乎不比乱猜好。

　　Furthermore, the list of problems they uncovered continued to grow.

　　不仅如此，他们还发现了越来越多的问题。

　　For example, they saw that in one of their papers Dr Potti and his colleagues had mislabelled the cell lines they used to derive¹³ their chemotherapy prediction model,

　　例如，他们发现在Potti博士和他的同事们发表的一篇文章中，错误标记了一个用来建立化疗预测模型的细胞系，

　　describing those that were sensitive as resistant¹⁴, and vice⁵ versa.

　　把敏感的和抵制的弄反了。

　　This meant that even if the predictive method the team at Duke were describing did work,

　　这意味着就算杜克大学的这个研究小组的预测方法起作用，

　　which Dr Baggerly and Dr Coombes now seriously doubted, patients whose doctors relied on this paper would end up being given a drug they were less likely to benefit from instead of more likely.

　　现在Baggerly博士和Coombes博士对这点都很怀疑，依靠这个研究给病人用药的医生也只会更可能得到坏的而不是好的效果。

　　Another alleged error the researchers at the Anderson centre discovered was a mismatch in a table that compared genes to gene-expression data.

　　另一个据Anderson中心的研究员指出的错误是一张表中基因和其基因表达数据的不匹配。

　　The list of genes was shifted with respect to the expression data, so that the one did not correspond with the other.

　　表中基因的一列相对于表达数据发生了调换，导致两项不相对应。

　　On top of that, the numbers and names of cell lines used to generate the data were not consistent.

　　最重要的是，用来产生数据的细胞系的序号和名称也互相不一致。

　　In one instance, the researchers at Duke even claimed that their work made biological sense based on the presence of a gene, called ERCC1,

　　比如，杜克大学的研究员甚至声称，基于一个叫做ERCC1的基因的存在，他们的工作是具有生物学意义的，

　　that is not represented on the expression array used in the team's experiments.

　　但是这个基因并没有出现在小组实验使用的表达序列中。

　　Even with all these alleged errors, the controversy¹⁵ might have been relegated¹⁶ to an arcane¹⁷ debate in the scientific literature if the team at Duke had not chosen,

　　即使已经有了这么多错误被指出，这个争论也本可以停留在艰深难懂的学术论文的辩论中。

　　within a few months of the papers' publication to launch three clinical trials based on their work.

　　可是杜克大学的研究组选择在论文发表后的几个月内就（此时试验数据的质量已经受到质疑了。

　　Dr Potti and his colleagues also planned to use their gene-expression data to guide therapeutic¹⁸ choices in a lung-cancer trial paid for by America's National Cancer Institute.

　　博士Potti和他的同事们还计划利用他们的基因表达数据指导一个肺癌临床试验的治疗，这个试验由美国国家癌症研究所赞助。

　　That led Lisa McShane, a biostatistician at the NCI who was already concerned about Dr Potti's results, to try to replicate the work.

　　这促使已经在关注Potti博士的研究结果的NCI生物统计师Lisa McShane尝试重现这个结果。

　　She had no better luck than Dr Baggerly and Dr Coombes.

　　她并不比Baggerly博士和Coombes博士更加幸运：

　　The more questions she asked, the less concrete the Duke methods appeared.

　　想了解的越多，杜克大学的这个方法就显得越不可靠。

　　In light of all this, the NCI expressed its concern about what was going on to Duke University's administrators¹⁹.

　　考虑到这些，国家癌症研究所对杜克大学的管理状况表示了关注。

　　In October 2009, officials from the university arranged for an external review of the work of Dr Potti and Dr Nevins, and temporarily halted the three trials.

　　2009年10月份，杜克大学方面安排了一个对Potti博士和Nevins博士研究工作的外部复审，而且暂停了那三个临床试验。

　　The review committee, however, had access only to material supplied by the researchers themselves,

　　可是，这个复审委员会只能得到杜克大学研究员自己提供的材料，

　　and was not presented with either the NCI's exact concerns or the problems discovered by the team at the Anderson centre.

　　国家癌症研究所的疑问和Anderson中心发现的问题也没有提交给这个复审委员会。

　　The committee found no problems, and the three trials began enrolling²⁰ patients again in February 2010.

　　后来委员会没有发现任何问题，三个临床试验在2010年2月又开始招募病人。

　　Finally, in July 2010, matters unravelled²¹ when the Cancer Letter reported that Dr Potti had lied in numerous documents and grant applications.

　　终于在2010年7月，癌症快报揭发Potti博士在多份文件和项目资助申请中撒谎。

　　He falsely claimed to have been a Rhodes Scholar in Australia.

　　他谎称自己是澳大利亚的Rhodes学者。

　　Dr Baggerly's observation at the time was, I find it ironic²² that we have been yelling for three years about the science,

　　Baggerly博士当时的感想是，我们对研究结果大声疾呼了三年，

　　which has the potential to be very damaging to patients, but that was not what has started things rolling.

　　因为它有可能对病人产生非常有害的影响，但这却不能使得事情进展。

　　1.array n.一系列；大批；数组

　　The era also gave birth to a whole array of new social problems.

　　那个时代还产生了一系列新的社会问题。

　　2.misconduct n.不端行为

　　She was fired for misconduct yesterday.

　　昨天她因为不端行为被解雇了。

　　3.tissue n.纸巾；薄绢

　　She gave us a box of tissues.

　　她递给我们一盒纸巾。

　　4.chemotherapy n.化学疗法

　　She emaciated²³ during the chemotherapy.

　　她在做化学疗法过程中日益消瘦。

　　5.ovarian a.卵巢的

　　Ovarian cancer is a malignant²⁴ tumour²⁵ in the ovary.

　　卵巢癌是生长在卵巢的恶性肿瘤。

1 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

2 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

3 oversight   

n.勘漏，失察，疏忽

参考例句：

• I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
• Your essay was not marked through an oversight on my part.由于我的疏忽你的文章没有打分。

4 garnered   

v.收集并（通常）贮藏（某物），取得，获得( garner的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Mr. Smith gradually garnered a national reputation as a financial expert. 史密斯先生逐渐赢得全国金融专家的声誉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He has garnered extensive support for his proposals. 他的提议得到了广泛的支持。 来自辞典例句

5 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

6 gene   

n.遗传因子，基因

参考例句：

• A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
• The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。

7 genes   

n.基因( gene的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因，所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪

8 molecular   

adj.分子的；克分子的

参考例句：

• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms.这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。
• For the pressure to become zero, molecular bombardment must cease.当压强趋近于零时，分子的碰撞就停止了。

9 organise   

vt.组织，安排，筹办

参考例句：

• He has the ability to organise.他很有组织才能。
• It's my job to organise all the ceremonial events.由我来组织所有的仪式。

10 supervisor   

n.监督人，管理人，检查员，督学，主管，导师

参考例句：

• Between you and me I think that new supervisor is a twit.我们私下说，我认为新来的主管人是一个傻瓜。
• He said I was too flighty to be a good supervisor.他说我太轻浮不能成为一名好的管理员。

11 replicate   

v.折叠，复制，模写；n.同样的样品；adj.转折的

参考例句：

• The DNA of chromatin must replicate before cell division.染色质DNA在细胞分裂之前必须复制。
• It is also easy to replicate,as the next subsection explains.就像下一个小节详细说明的那样，它还可以被轻易的复制。

12 queries   

n.问题( query的名词复数 )；疑问；询问；问号v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的第三人称单数 )；询问

参考例句：

• Our assistants will be happy to answer your queries. 我们的助理很乐意回答诸位的问题。
• Her queries were rhetorical,and best ignored. 她的质问只不过是说说而已，最好不予理睬。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 derive   

v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自

参考例句：

• We derive our sustenance from the land.我们从土地获取食物。
• We shall derive much benefit from reading good novels.我们将从优秀小说中获得很大好处。

14 resistant   

adj.(to)抵抗的，有抵抗力的

参考例句：

• Many pests are resistant to the insecticide.许多害虫对这种杀虫剂有抵抗力。
• They imposed their government by force on the resistant population.他们以武力把自己的统治强加在持反抗态度的人民头上。

15 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

16 relegated   

v.使降级( relegate的过去式和过去分词 )；使降职；转移；把…归类

参考例句：

• She was then relegated to the role of assistant. 随后她被降级做助手了。
• I think that should be relegated to the garbage can of history. 我认为应该把它扔进历史的垃圾箱。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

17 arcane   

adj.神秘的，秘密的

参考例句：

• The technique at one time was arcane in the minds of most chemists.这种技术在大多数化学家心目中一度是神秘的。
• Until a few months ago few people outside the arcane world of contemporary music had heard of Gorecki.直至几个月前，在现代音乐神秘殿堂之外很少有人听说了戈莱斯基。

18 therapeutic   

adj.治疗的，起治疗作用的；对身心健康有益的

参考例句：

• Therapeutic measures were selected to fit the patient.选择治疗措施以适应病人的需要。
• When I was sad,music had a therapeutic effect.我悲伤的时候，音乐有治疗效力。

19 administrators   

n.管理者( administrator的名词复数 )；有管理（或行政）才能的人；（由遗嘱检验法庭指定的）遗产管理人；奉派暂管主教教区的牧师

参考例句：

• He had administrators under him but took the crucial decisions himself. 他手下有管理人员，但重要的决策仍由他自己来做。 来自辞典例句
• Administrators have their own methods of social intercourse. 办行政的人有他们的社交方式。 来自汉英文学 - 围城

20 enrolling   

v.招收( enrol的现在分词 )；吸收；入学；加入；[亦作enrol]( enroll的现在分词 )；登记，招收，使入伍（或入会、入学等），参加，成为成员；记入名册；卷起，包起

参考例句：

• They lashed out at the university enrolling system. 他们猛烈抨击大学的招生制度。 来自辞典例句
• You're enrolling in a country club, Billy. 你是注册加入乡村俱乐部了，比利。 来自辞典例句

21 unravelled   

解开，拆散，散开( unravel的过去式和过去分词 )； 阐明； 澄清； 弄清楚

参考例句：

• I unravelled the string and wound it into a ball. 我把绳子解开并绕成一个球。
• The legal tangle was never really unravelled. 这起法律纠葛从来没有真正解决。

22 ironic   

adj.讽刺的，有讽刺意味的，出乎意料的

参考例句：

• That is a summary and ironic end.那是一个具有概括性和讽刺意味的结局。
• People used to call me Mr Popularity at high school,but they were being ironic.人们中学时常把我称作“万人迷先生”，但他们是在挖苦我。

23 emaciated   

adj.衰弱的，消瘦的

参考例句：

• A long time illness made him sallow and emaciated.长期患病使他面黄肌瘦。
• In the light of a single candle,she can see his emaciated face.借着烛光，她能看到他的被憔悴的面孔。

24 malignant   

adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的

参考例句：

• Alexander got a malignant slander.亚历山大受到恶意的诽谤。
• He started to his feet with a malignant glance at Winston.他爬了起来，不高兴地看了温斯顿一眼。

25 tumour   

n.(tumor)(肿)瘤，肿块

参考例句：

• The surgeons operated on her for a tumour.外科医生为她施行了肿瘤切除手术。
• The tumour constricts the nerves.肿瘤压迫神经。