Friday, July 21, 2017

It is increasingly difficult to come up with new ways of saying "sketchy OMICS-wannabee grifters operating out of an apartment in Hyderabad"

Dream work in Malaya
Dear Mystery Author:
You should probably be aware that when you submit your literature review on “Benefits of Dream Work for the Dying” to a predatory publisher like Herald Scholarly Open Access Journals -- which is to say, three sketchy OMICS-wannabee grifters operating out of an apartment in Hyderabad -- they send it out to grumpy but unqualified strangers like me, so we can point and laugh at it.

The Dream Work of Unknown Kadath
Dear Dr.,
Warm greetings from the Journal of Alternative, Complementary & Integrative Medicine!

We would like to take an opportunity and introduce the Journal of Alternative, Complementary & Integrative Medicine as one of the journals of Herald Scholarly Open Access. We are in the process of releasing an upcoming issue.

We would like to invite you to peer review a manuscript for the Journal of Alternative, Complementary & Integrative Medicine. The manuscript entitled “Benefits of Dream Work for the Dying” with the reference number HACIM-17-019 abstract is given below; please let us know your opinion to review it. If you accept to review the manuscript, then we will send you the full length article.

Abstract:

This paper provides an examination of the effects of dream work on patients facing end of life. The literature reviewed is an exploration of the value of interaction with dreams though guided dream work techniques as well as using surveys and interviews. Quality of life, comfort, and psychological well-being associated with dream work will also be explored. Additionally, the author will review the research on how dreams and dream content help to mediate the existential crisis faced by those at end of life. The author's goal is to provide evidence to support the integration of dream work into the existing complementary and integrative practices for palliative care and to highlight the need for further research.

Please feel free to contact us for any queries.

Anticipating your reply

With Best Regards
Emma Lynch
Herald Scholarly Open Access
2561 Cornelia Rd
#205, Herndon, VA 20171
USA
Tel: +1-646-661-6626
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I have watched "Jacob's Ladder", "Carnival of Souls", "Reeker", "Dead End", "Stay" and mumblety-mumble other examples of that whole "Incident at Owl Creek" genre of death-dream horror movie, but that is probably not the kind of "dream work for patients facing end of life" that you have in mind.

The possibility did come to mind that if Mystery Author is not greatly concerned about associating with scammers and fraudsters if he or she is sending the manuscript to a journal of Alternative, Complementary & Integrative Medicine.
Herald [note Anglo-Saxon attitude]
The Herald barmpots are slightly more clear on the concept of "peer review" than when they scrounged for input from D.H. Kaye:
if you do not want to review this paper, kindly let us know your opinion on the same so that we can send you full length article
However, they failed to invite me to join the Prestigious Editorial Board:
As the one of eminent scientific personalities, we invite you to associate with us as an editor. We believe your association will help for the journal growth and development.
Insulted now.

It seems from the other domains staked out by Ashok Kumar that the Herald crew aspire to branch out from parasitical publishing to the more lucrative lurk of organising parasitical scamferences.

2 comments:

Joe said...

Hey, I know where that office is. It's off Rt 28 near Frying Pan Rd. I wonder what would happen if I dropped by...

Smut Clyde said...

Take photographs if you do. We will send you a nice shiny Riddled Junior Investigator badge.