African neuroscience on the global stage: Nigeria as a model

May combine two claims.

The remaining articles were classified as basic research (255, 45.5%) or clinical and epidemiological research (318, 55.5%) using criteria for medical study types.

“From here, we categorised each remaining article as either basic research ('Basic', n=255, 45.5%) or 'clinical and epidemiological' research ('Clinical', n=318, 55.5%) based on the criteria for types of studies in medical research (Röhrig et al., 2009).”

• cites Röhrig et al., 2009 sourceSupported

May combine two claims.

Most African journals are not PubMed indexed, which likely results in poor access and visibility of African research on the global stage.

“Indeed, most African journals are not PubMed indexed, which again likely results in poor access and visibility of African research on the global stage (Goehl and Flanagin, 2008).”

• cites Goehl and Flanagin, 2008 sourcePartly supported

  The paper says most of the African medical journals in a 2005 survey were excluded from major bibliographic indexes, and that African medical and health journals were poorly represented in MEDLINE. It also says limited research production and distribution leave African research less readily available internationally. The claim extends those findings to African journals generally and specifies PubMed indexing, whereas the paper's journal-indexing figures concern medical and health journals and MEDLINE. (LLM, conf=0.84)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Medicinal plants have been used across Africa for centuries to treat disease.

“Next, across Africa medicinal plants have been used for centuries to treat disease.”

• cites Tang et al., 2017Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Ntie-Kang et al., 2014Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Shang et al., 2007 sourceCould not verify

  The Introduction describes traditional Chinese medicine as originating in China, and the paper examines trials of Chinese herbal medicine. Searches for medicinal-plant use in Africa and its history found no passage addressing the claim that plants have been used across Africa for centuries to treat disease. (LLM, conf=0.78)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The increase in Nigerian neuroscience publications could be attributed to increased international support for education that peaked in the early 2000s, political will to invest in education after the return of democracy, or the slow implementation of the Education Tax Act since the 1990s and the reintroduction of acts such as the TETFund Act in 2011.

“This could be attributed to increased support from international organisation towards education in the country that peaked in the early 2000s (Ogunyinka, 2013), the political will to invest in education that started with the return of democracy (Chinyere and Goodluck, 2015), or the slow implementation of Education Tax Act since the 1990s and the reintroduction of new acts, such as the Tertiary”

• cites Ogunyinka, 2013Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Chinyere and Goodluck, 2015 sourceSupported

May combine two claims.

The same search terms in Dimensions returned 340,338 publications, while Scimago returned 693 articles for 1996 to 2017.

“In contrast, the same search terms entered into Dimensions (https://www.dimensions.ai/) returned 340,338 publications, while 693 articles were retrieved for 1996 - 2017 according to Scimago (https://www.scimagojr.com/).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

All research models used to study medicinal plants were wild-type mammalian species.

“All research models used to study the medicinal plants were all wildtype mammalian species, this reiterates the need for Nigerian laboratories to consider genetically accessible models in their research, which include numerous established disease models.”

May combine two claims.

Most clinical studies were published in journals with impact factor below 1 (57%), while most basic studies fell into the impact factor 1-4 bracket (75%).

“For example, while most clinical studies were published in journals with IF below 1 (57%), most basic studies fell into the IF 1-4 bracket (75%).”

May combine two claims.

Among these studies, 89% reported that the medicinal plant extracts were effective, while 11% reported them as ineffective or toxic.

“Out of these studies, 89% reported that the medicinal plant extracts were effective, while the remaining 11% were reported to be either ineffective or toxic (Fig. 3E).”

May combine two claims.

Most articles appeared in low-impact-factor journals (IF 0-1, 42%) or mid-tier journals (IF 1-4, 55%), and only 18 papers (3%) ranked higher.

“We find that across both basic and clinical neuroscience, most articles were published in either 'low' (IF 0-1, 42%) or 'mid-tier' (IF 1-4, 55%) journals, with only 18 papers (3%) ranking higher.”

May combine two claims.

Annual publication numbers increased gradually between 1996 and 2017, with clinical papers initially more numerous each year; the number of Nigeria's neuroscience publications has risen rapidly since 2000.

“Between 1996 and 2017, annual numbers of publications gradually increased, with initially a larger number of clinical papers published each year (Fig. 1B).”

• Also stated in: § Discussion · p. 8 · plain

  “The number of Nigeria's neuroscience publications has seen a speedy increase since 2000.”

May combine two claims.

Basic neuroscience studies that used medicinal plants were significantly more cited and were on average published in higher impact factor journals than other basic neuroscience publications at the same time.

“Nonetheless, basic neuroscience studies that used medicinal plants were significantly more cited and were on average published in higher IF journals compared to other basic neuroscience publications at the same time (Fig. 3F).”

May combine two claims.

Fruit flies, zebrafish and C. elegans were completely absent from Nigerian neuroscience publications over the 21-year period, and no genetically modified mammalian systems were used.

“In contrast, these model organisms were wholly absent from Nigerian neuroscience publications over the 21 year period, nor was there any use of genetically modified mammalian systems (Fig. 3A).”

• Also stated in: § Model systems, techniques and research on medicinal plants · p. 6 · hedged

  “In other words, research using genetically modified models appears to be completely absent from the Nigerian neuroscience research output over the 2 decades surveyed.”

May combine two claims.

Basic research scored consistently higher than clinical research on both citations per paper and journal impact factor.

“Next, basic research scored consistently higher on both citations per paper and journal IF (Fig. 2A-C).”

May combine two claims.

These 142 articles were mostly clinical (82%), with comparatively few basic research articles (18%).

“These 142 articles were mostly clinical articles (82%), with comparatively few basic research articles (18%).”

May combine two claims.

From 2012/13 onward, basic and clinical study numbers were on par, and both increased strikingly after about 2013, especially basic research.

“However, since 2012/13, the number of basic and clinical studies were on par, with both showing a striking increase after ~2013 that was particularly pronounced for basic research.”

May combine two claims.

Overall, 142 papers (25%) were published in 21 different African journals, all of which had an impact factor below 1.

“Overall, 142 papers (25%) were published in 21 different African journals which all had an IF below 1 (Fig. 2D).”

May combine two claims.

Nigerian neuroscience studies are likely not making it into top journals partly because advanced neuroscience techniques are generally absent from Nigerian laboratories and partly because their preceding work has poor international visibility.

“Here, Nigerian neuroscience studies are likely not making it into these journals in part due to the general absence of advanced neuroscience techniques in Nigerian laboratories, and in part due to poor international visibility of their preceding work.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Many key advanced methods available outside Africa, such as cell culture, PCR and qPCR, western blotting, fluorescence and electron microscopy, are rarely available in African laboratories.
• AssumptionRests on an assumption: There is currently no functional transmission electron microscope or confocal microscope in Nigeria.
• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Laboratory consumables such as antibodies are difficult to procure and, when available, difficult to store due to unreliable power.
• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Many scientists lack technical training or experience in the use of key modern neuroscience methods.
• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Publication in the world's top journals typically requires interdisciplinary approaches and state-of-the-art techniques.

May combine two claims.

Clinical papers tend to be mostly published in African journals, which typically have poor international visibility and a correspondingly low impact factor.

“Moreover, clinical papers tend to be mostly published in African journals, which typically have poor international visibility and a correspondingly low IF.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The authors manually extracted articles using stringent criteria that specifically identify articles from Nigerian laboratories.

“we here extracted PubMed-indexed Nigerian neuroscience publications from 1996 to 2017 and manually extracted articles following stringent criteria that specifically identify articles from Nigerian laboratories (Table 1).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

For studies conducted with a centre outside Nigeria, only the techniques used in Nigeria were collected.

“For the compilation of techniques in studies conducted in collaboration with a centre outside Nigeria, only the techniques used in Nigeria were collected.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Otherwise, Nigeria will continue to lose its talent to developed nations.

“Otherwise, Nigeria will continue to lose its talent to developed nations.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Nigerian scientists often travel to non-African laboratories to conduct work in better-equipped conditions abroad, and many talented scientists end up staying there.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

It is possible that other institutions did not make the list because they published in journals that were not indexed or their articles failed the criteria used in this study.

“However, it is possible that other institutions in the country did not make it to the list because they published in journals that were not indexed or their articles failed the criteria used in this study.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Nigeria has a rich pool of medicinal plants that, if utilised, could make the country a global hub for drug discovery.

“Next, Nigeria has a rich pool of medicinal plants which if utilised could make the country a global hub for drug discovery.”