Proofig AI for
Researchers

The benefits of AI image integrity detection software for scientific papers

A captivating set of four microscopy images showcasing the intriguing phenomenon of image rotation. Each image presents microscopic specimens with a noticeable rotation, introducing a new perspective on the observed structures. The rotations observed in these images raise questions about the underlying causes and potential implications. This visual evidence emphasizes the importance of careful analysis and accurate interpretation in microscopy studies, ensuring the reliable representation of biological samples. Understanding the mechanisms and effects of image rotations in microscopy can provide valuable insights into cellular structures and processes, advancing our knowledge in the field of microscopy and biology.

Why is image integrity a problem?

While most researchers understand the importance of image integrity, such issues are prevalent in publishing. Around a third of life sciences manuscripts are flagged for image related issues (1). Image related issues are difficult to detect by a naked eye, making most researchers in life science at the risk of publishing manuscripts with image issues.

While image integrity issues are often unintentional, not using the appropriate tools to resolve them before publication can be detrimental to the researchers' reputation. Publishers may reject the paper without disclosing a reason.

Alternatively, if a paper is published with the image issues, others in the community may flag the issue, either on social media or PubPeer. This can lead to costly investigations and lasting reputational damage, making it much more difficult to gain funding, publish content in the future and progress in your scientific career.

A collection of four Western blot images presenting a fascinating discovery of flipped image bands. Each image showcases protein expression patterns with an intriguing alteration—a complete horizontal flip of the bands. This unexpected phenomenon raises questions about the underlying causes and potential implications of such image manipulations. These visual findings highlight the importance of rigorous analysis and quality control in Western blot experiments, ensuring accurate interpretation and faithful representation of protein data. Understanding the impact and mechanisms behind image flipping can contribute to the advancement of Western blot techniques and improve the reliability of protein analysis in scientific research

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How does Proofig benefit researchers?

Proofig AI was created by researchers, for researchers. It arose out of a deep understanding of the need for accuracy in scientific publication and a great motivation to support you in bringing your best work into the world.

Proofig AI is the ultimate smart solution that:

Seamlessly integrates into a researcher’s existing pre-submission process to automate image checks.
Identifies and analyzes sub-images, flagging potential errors to help researchers address and prevent issues before manuscript submission.
Supports the manuscript submission protocol for researchers prior to submission, preventing the risk of mistakes and potential manuscript rejection.

Researchers benefit from:

Automatic and Fast Analysis: Proofig AI can analyze a large number of images quickly, providing detailed reports in minutes.
Comprehensive Detection: The system detects a wide range of issues, from plagiarism and duplication to intricate manipulations.
Considerable Time and Effort Savings: Minimizes the risk of post-publication critiques, saving valuable time and resources for researchers.
Confidential and Secure: All analyses are conducted on private, secure servers, ensuring the confidentiality of the research data.
Integration with Workflow: Proofig AI seamlessly integrates into the existing pre-submission process, reducing the risk of post-publication critiques and retractions.

How does it work?

Proofig AI leverages advanced machine learning techniques and an extensive database to ensure the integrity of scientific images by identifying various forms of image issues.

Researchers can check their manuscript, confidentially and automatically, in four simple steps:

1. Upload Your Manuscript

Researchers begin by uploading their PDF manuscript to the Proofig platform. The system extracts all images and sub-images from the manuscript for analysis.

2. Analyze for Integrity Issues

Proofig AI analyzes the manuscript for multiple types of image issues:
1. Detection of Reuse from Published Manuscripts: By accessing PubMed’s Source database, which contains tens of millions of images, Proofig can identify reused sub-images, commonly known as plagiarism.
2. Duplication and Reuse Within a Manuscript: Proofig identifies duplication or reuse of sub-images within the same manuscript. This includes detecting instances of scaling, rotation, flipping, full and partial overlap, ensuring each image is unique.
3. Alteration and Manipulation: The system detects alterations or manipulations within a single sub-image, such as cloning, editing, deletion, and splicing, ensuring the authenticity of each sub-image.
4. Detection of AI-Generated Images: Proofig AI identifies images created by the most widely used AI model. Proofig is committed to continually evolving and expanding its feature set to include new models, ensuring we stay ahead in the race to protect scientific integrity. Take Our Quiz To Test Yourself

3. Validate and Review Results

Researchers can check the detected sub-images and validate the results. They can then review any suspected issues flagged by Proofig AI.
The system highlights suspected integrity issues, allowing researchers to add only relevant findings to the final report. Proofig also provides advanced further investigation tools to help users make well-informed decisions.

4. Generate a Comprehensive Report

Proofig AI processes the selections and produces a comprehensive report in minutes. The report includes both a page view of the suspected issue and a detailed view of each confirmed issue.
The report helps in ensuring the integrity of the scientific images before submission.

By utilizing these advanced capabilities, Proofig AI ensures that researchers can maintain the highest standards of image integrity in their scientific publications.

Data Privacy and Security

At Proofig, we prioritize the privacy and security of our users' data. We want to make it unequivocally clear that:

Training Data: Our system is trained exclusively using material we have developed and open-source content designated for commercial use, ensuring compliance with legal and ethical standards.
User Data: We do not use any data from user-uploaded manuscripts to train our models or algorithms. User-uploaded data is analyzed solely to detect image integrity issues within the submitted manuscript and generate the corresponding report.
Confidentiality: All analyses are conducted on private, secure servers. Your manuscripts and reports remain fully confidential and are not used for any other purposes.

By adhering to these strict data privacy and security protocols, Proofig ensures that your data is protected while maintaining the highest standards of image integrity analysis.