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Comment from the PLoS ONE Group

Posted by PLOS_ONE_Group on 26 Apr 2011 at 10:36 GMT

Following publication, the Academic Editor Dr Aziz became aware of the fact that Dr Aaron Best is listed as an author on this article. In the interest of transparency, Dr Aziz has made the editorial team aware of the fact that he previously co-authored a publication with Dr Best.

The Section Editor Niyaz Ahmed has carefully evaluated the peer review process of this article and he is satisfied that the peer review process and the decision for publication are adequate. In the light of this advice and the editorial team’s own evaluation of this situation, we are content that the review process was handled correctly by Dr Aziz, and we do not feel that his previous co-publication with Dr Best constitutes a competing interest in relation to this manuscript.

No competing interests declared.

Thanks

ramy replied to PLOS_ONE_Group on 27 May 2011 at 18:58 GMT

Thank you for making this note public.
Usually I and others carefully screen the author list for any potential conflict, but this was a bit hard in the case of this manuscript because of the record number of authors.

Competing interests declared: I am the AE who handled the peer review of this manuscript.