Scientific Merit Research Articles

Paper Mills and Intellectual Prostitution in Pakistani Research: A Challenge to Scientific Integrity

In recent years, the phenomenon of ‘paper mills’ has gained significant attention within the academic and scientific communities globally. A paper mill refers to an organization or individual producing research papers, often fabricated or plagiarized, for authors in exchange for financial incentives. This troubling practice has infiltrated various regions, including Pakistan, leading to a surge in research publications that lack genuine scientific merit. The underlying issue, particularly in Pakistan, is the growing tendency among academics to prioritize career advancement/promotions over contributing to knowledge or solving real-world problems. According to a report published in the leading journal ‘Nature’, thousands of publications in academic journals have been linked to paper mills in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Russia. According to some estimates, the percentage of academic articles produced by paper mills is between 2 to 20%. In 2023 alone, 10,000 research articles were retracted as a result of fake research and unfortunately, Pakistan was included among the list of countries with highest number of retractions. There are serious repercussions for the authors, the journals, and eventually the country as a whole.

Stakeholders' Perspectives on Current Issues in Data Monitoring Committees

ABSTRACTData Monitoring Committees (DMCs) are groups of experts that review accumulating data from one or more ongoing clinical studies and advise the Sponsor regarding the continuing safety of study subjects along with the continuing validity and scientific merit of the study. Although DMCs are widely used, considerable variability exists in their conduct. This paper offers recommendations, derived from sessions given at the 2023 Central European Network International Biometric and Statisticians in the Pharmaceutical Industry Conferences' and the authors' experiences. We focus on four topics that are part of the DMC process and where there is unclarity and inconsistency in current practices: (1) Communication with the DMC—We reflect on the importance of effective, proper communication channels between the DMC and relevant stakeholders to foster collaboration and exchange of critical information while retaining study integrity throughout. (2) Open sessions—We discuss the benefits of incorporating open sessions in DMC meetings to enhance transparency, inclusivity, and the consideration of diverse perspectives, as well as pitfalls of open sessions. (3) Access to efficacy data—We highlight the need for appropriate access to efficacy data by DMCs and discuss how to implement this in practice and how to address potential concerns regarding multiplicity. (4) Interactive data displays—We outline the utilization of interactive data displays to facilitate a more intuitive understanding of study results by the DMC. By addressing these topics, we aim to provide comprehensive practical recommendations that bridge the gap between current practices and optimal DMC functionality.

An Evaluation of the Technical Review Process of the UP PGH Department of Medicine.

The technical review process involves an evaluation of the scientific merits of the research proposal and is a necessary part of the ethics review but can be done separately and ahead of the formal ethics evaluation. The aim of this paper is to determine the efficiency and quality of the technical review process of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Department of Medicine Research Office. This is a cross-sectional study which involved retrieval of the technical review forms of protocols evaluated in the PGH Department of Medicine from the years 2018-2019, and then an evaluation of these metrics: timelines of the review process indicating efficiency, including time from (1) receipt of submission to receipt of reviewer (secretariat efficiency); (2) receipt of reviewer to first decision (reviewer metric); (3) initial receipt to final decision (total review time); and (4) number of re-submissions. To evaluate the quality of the reviews, the specific review findings in each part or section of the protocol were also extracted. In the years 2018-2019, a total of 199 protocols underwent technical review, with one protocol having no further data after the submission so only 198 proposals were analyzed. Majority of the protocols or 139/198 (70.2%) were submitted only once and were approved without comments, while the remaining 59/198 (29.8%) were submitted twice for technical review (mode of 1, mean of 1.32). The protocols were sent to the reviewers within the same day of receipt 100% of the time. The time from receipt of submission to receipt of reviewer was within the same day and the time from receipt of reviewer to first decision (mean, standard deviation working days) was 10.52, 8.54 days, range 0-51 days. Around one-fourth (21.51%) of the protocols were returned to the secretariat beyond the 14-working day deadline. The time from second review of technical reviewer to return to secretariat was a mean, SD of 6.72, 6.45 days, with a range of 1 day to 36 days, and time from initial receipt to final decision was a mean of 16.16 days, SD 18.3 days, range 0-111 days. The most common reason for the delay was the failure of the author to resubmit the paper for the second review in 17/23 (74%), while the other reason was the long duration of the initial review by the reviewer in 6/23 (26%). Half of the protocols (49.5%) were returned without comments. Majority of the comments were on the methodology. The technical review process is generally efficient with each step within the acceptable timelines. However, for 12% of the protocols, the over-all review process was still prolonged (>28 working days) because of the failure of the author to submit the paper for the second review in 74% of cases, and the long duration of the initial review in 26% of papers.

The 100 most cited articles in hand surgery from 2012–2022: a bibliometric analysis

Introduction: There has been an increase in the volume of scientific literature over the last decade in the field of hand surgery. The purpose of this bibliometric analysis was to ascertain the articles that have significantly contributed to advancements in hand surgery. Methods: The Web of Science database was used to produce a list of the 100 most cited articles from February 2012 to February 2022. The full text of all articles was carefully examined for further descriptive analysis not limited to subject matter, journal of publication, authorship, institution, country and year of publication. Results: The 100 most cited articles were cited on average 75 times. The most cited article was cited 179 times. Subject matter was not limited to pain management, distal radius fractures and tendon injuries. Source journals were spread across 36 journals, but six prominent journals published 60 per cent of articles. Conclusion: While the measurement of scientific merit is not solely based on bibliometric analysis, this study provides a good representation of substantial work in the last decade.

Behind the curtain of Australasian Psychiatry: The practice of a medical journal and a call for reviewers.

The process of medical scientific journal publishing merits further explanation for authors and readers. Prospective authors need to understand the scope of the journal and the article types that are published. We give an overview of the editorial process, including selection of reviewers, peer review and decisions regarding revision, acceptance and rejection of papers for Australasian Psychiatry. We encourage authors and readers to submit papers, and volunteer as peer reviewers, working together with the journal editorial team.

Approaches, Goals, and Scientific Integrity in Music Therapy Research with Individuals on the Autism Spectrum: An Integrative Review.

Scientific integrity is fundamental to evidence-based practice (EBP) and essential in music therapy (MT) research and clinical practice. Researchers conducted an integrative review of approaches and interventions employed by music therapists (MTs) with individuals on the autism spectrum in the context of how studies are analyzed by the National Autism Center (NAC) and National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice (NCAEP). Researchers identified 880 database records meeting initial search criteria (i.e., autism spectrum disorder, autism, PDD-NOS, MT, and music interventions); 36 studies remained after screening for duplication, topic relevance, and adherence to inclusion criteria. Included studies were published between 1964 and 2021, in English language, in free open-access journals, worldwide; peer reviewed; conducted by MTs; empirical quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods design; intervention-based; and presented separate data for participants on the autism spectrum. Content and quantitative analyses identified deficits in scientific integrity and the following gaps in studies reviewed: Motor Skills and Placement (NAC-defined intervention targets), Computer-based and Songwriting and Composition (MT techniques), and Wellness and Bonny Method of Guided Imagery in Music (clinical approaches); no patterns were evident among NAC Interventions with MT techniques and approaches. Analysis of 5-point Scientific Merit Ratings yielded a mean 2.78 rating. A comparison of NAC and NCAEP terminology (i.e., how MT researchers report independent variables) indicated eight titles mention specific non-music interventions, 19 mention MT, 14 include music-based technique descriptors, and two mention both non-music interventions and MT. Researchers offer guidelines regarding identity-inclusive language, scientific integrity, and clarity of EBPs within MT intervention research with individuals on the autism spectrum.

Revolutionizing medical education: Surgery takes the lead in virtual reality research

ObjectivesAdvancements in technology have spurred a transformative shift in medical education, with virtual reality (VR) emerging as a powerful tool for enhancing the learning experience. This study analyses the publications of VR in medical education, focusing on differences within different medical specialties. DesignUsing specific search terms, all studies published on VR in medical education listed in the Web of Science databases were included. All identified publications were analysed in order to draw comparative conclusions regarding their qualitative and quantitative scientific merit. ResultsSince the first publication in 1993 and until the year 2022, there have been 1534 publications on VR in medical education. Over the years, the annual publication rate has increased almost exponentially. The studies have in total been cited 42,655 times (average 27.64 citations/publication). The leading medical field was surgery (415 publications), followed by internal medicine (117 publications), neurology (77 publications) and radiology and nuclear medicine (75 publications). Internationally, the United States (560 publications), the United Kingdom (179 publications), Canada (156 publications), Germany (139 publications) and China (100 publications) are the leading countries in this field. 37.1 % of the publications reported having received funding. Among the 100 organizations with the highest number of grants, only 8 were private companies. ConclusionDuring the last 30 years, there has been a consistent rise in publications, with a notable surge observed in 2016 and 2020. The majority of the studies centered on surgical concerns. However, only a small proportion received financial support, which was particularly evident for funding originating from the private sector.

Sequential Monitoring Using the Second Generation P-Value with Type I Error Controlled by Monitoring Frequency

The Second Generation P-Value (SGPV) measures the overlap between an estimated interval and a composite hypothesis of parameter values. We develop a sequential monitoring scheme of the SGPV (SeqSGPV) to connect study design intentions with end-of-study inference anchored on scientific relevance. We build upon Freedman’s “Region of Equivalence” (ROE) in specifying scientifically meaningful hypotheses called Pre-specified Regions Indicating Scientific Merit (PRISM). We compare PRISM monitoring versus monitoring alternative ROE specifications. Error rates are controlled through the PRISM’s indifference zone around the point null and monitoring frequency strategies. Because the former is fixed due to scientific relevance, the latter is a targettable means for designing studies with desirable operating characters. An affirmation step to stopping rules improves frequency properties including the error rate, the risk of reversing conclusions under delayed outcomes, and bias.

Synthesizing PET images from high-field and ultra-high-field MR images using joint diffusion attention model.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) stand as pivotal diagnostic tools for brain disorders, offering the potential for mutually enriching disease diagnostic perspectives. However, the costs associated with PET scans and the inherent radioactivity have limited the widespread application of PET. Furthermore, it is noteworthy to highlight the promising potential of high-field and ultra-high-field neuroimaging in cognitive neuroscience research and clinical practice. With the enhancement of MRI resolution, a related question arises: can high-resolution MRI improve the quality of PETimages? This study aims to enhance the quality of synthesized PET images by leveraging the superior resolution capabilities provided by high-field and ultra-high-fieldMRI. From a statistical perspective, the joint probability distribution is considered the most direct and fundamental approach for representing the correlation between PET and MRI. In this study, we proposed a novel model, the joint diffusion attention model, namely, the joint diffusion attention model (JDAM), which primarily focuses on learning information about the joint probability distribution. JDAM consists of two primary processes: the diffusion process and the sampling process. During the diffusion process, PET gradually transforms into a Gaussian noise distribution by adding Gaussian noise, while MRI remains fixed. The central objective of the diffusion process is to learn the gradient of the logarithm of the joint probability distribution between MRI and noise PET. The sampling process operates as a predictor-corrector. The predictor initiates a reverse diffusion process, and the corrector applies Langevindynamics. Experimental results from the publicly available Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative dataset highlight the effectiveness of the proposed model compared to state-of-the-art (SOTA) models such as Pix2pix and CycleGAN. Significantly, synthetic PET images guided by ultra-high-field MRI exhibit marked improvements in signal-to-noise characteristics when contrasted with those generated from high-field MRI data. These results have been endorsed by medical experts, who consider the PET images synthesized through JDAM to possess scientific merit. This endorsement is based on their symmetrical features and precise representation of regions displaying hypometabolism, a hallmark of Alzheimer'sdisease. This study establishes the feasibility of generating PET images from MRI. Synthesis of PET by JDAM significantly enhances image quality compared to SOTAmodels.

The Science of Making Torque from Wind 2024 (TORQUE 2024)

Wind energy is almost unanimously thought to be a key catalyst in enabling a rapid transition from fossil fuels to a system based largely on renewable power. If the history of wind energy in the last fifty years has been to a large extent a success, it still needs to progress to respond to the new challenges coming from the upscaling of the rotors and their deployment in new installations, such as deep-water offshore ones [1].These challenges span over a large spectrum of disciplines and sciences, from a better definition of the characteristics of the wind, through how the wind inflow translates to loads and performance, to how best to build and operate the wind farms and integrate them into the grid. Europe was, and aspires to remain, a hub for scientific research in wind energy and the European Academy of Wind Energy (EAWE) was created to bring together the top research institutes active in wind energy to cooperate, share knowledge and promote scientific excellence [2].As part of this remit, the conference, The Science of Making Torque from Wind (or TORQUE, for short) was first held in 2004 in Delft. The conference has gone from strength to strength and is probably the largest scientific conference devoted to wind energy in the world. After the very successful edition that came back to Delft in 2022, the 2024 edition of TORQUE in Firenze has seen an unprecedented number of abstracts submitted, confirming the increasing interest by the scientific community.Following the call for three-page abstracts (575), the contributions were reviewed in double-blind form by experts in the field, ensuring that an impartial evaluation of their scientific merit was given. After full submissions have been invited, a two-stage peer review process was carried out by over 500 reviewers and 426 full papers were accepted for publication in the proceedings. The conference consisted of 4 plenary sessions, 36 parallel oral sessions and two poster sessions. Oral presenters had 15 minutes to present their work followed by 5 minutes of questions. All poster presenters were allowed a recorded one-minute pitch which could be accessed in advance of the live poster sessions.Posters and parallel sessions are grouped under eight broad themes that have been overseen by several experts in the field.

Enhancing GI Cancer Radiation Therapy: Advanced Organ Segmentation with ResECA-U-Net Model

This research introduces a pioneering solution to the challenges posed by gastrointestinal tract (GI) cancer in radiation therapy, focusing on the imperative task of precise organ segmentation for minimizing radiation-induced damage. GI imaging has historically used manual demarcation, which is laborious and uncomfortable for patients. We address this by introducing the ResECA-U-Net deep learning model, a novel combination of the U-Net and ResNet34 architectures. Furthermore, we further augment its functionality by incorporating the Efficient Channel Attention (ECA-Net) methodology. By utilizing data from the UW-Madison Carbone Cancer Center, we carefully investigate several image processing techniques designed to capture critical local characteristics. With its foundation in computer vision concepts, the ResECA-U-Net model is excellent at extracting fine details from GI images. Sophisticated metrics such as intersection over union (IoU) and the dice coefficient are used to evaluate performance. Our study's outcomes demonstrate the effectiveness of the suggested method, yielding an impressive 96.27% Dice coefficient and 91.48% IoU. These results highlight the significant contribution that our strategy has made to the advancement of cancer therapy. Beyond its scientific merits, this work has the potential to significantly enhance cancer patients' quality of life and provide better long-term outcomes. Our work is a significant step towards automating and optimizing the segmentation process, which can potentially change how GI cancer is treated completely. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2024-08-03-012 Full Text: PDF

Dynamics of backfill compressive strength obtained from enrichment tails for the circular waste management

At the current stage of development, the transition to a circular economy is a single option to achieve sustainable mining. Purpose was to identify a direction for mining tailings usage based on the circular waste management. The novelty of the author's approach lies in regulation of mechanical treatment of slag to optimize the backfill composition. The methodology involved a study of mining waste (slag) obtained from major (eight) metallurgical plants in Russia. For mathematical processing primary data, smoothing and deterministic three-dimensional interpolation methods were used. As a result, for the first time it has been established that the ultimate uniaxial compressive strength after mechanical treatment of slag increases by logarithmic laws. As the curing time increases from 10 days to 90 days (with the addition of Ca or Si) the strength increases by 21 % (7 % and 23 %). The possibility of completely replacing the traditional cement binder with metallurgical slag in the backfill composite has been proven. It has been established that the use of activation treatment (both mechanical and chemical) makes it possible to increase the strength characteristics of backfill samples after their curing. The principle of organizing mining production has been implemented, which provides for the use of intermediate products (blast furnace granulated slag), previously classified as technogenic waste, in a closed production cycle. The introduction of this principle will eliminate (minimize) the formation of man-made waste. The scientific merit of replacing traditional cement binder with technogenic waste (blast furnace granulated slag) allows implementation of circular economy in mining.

Exploring views of South African research ethics committees on pandemic preparedness and response during COVID-19

South African research ethics committees (RECs) faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research ethics committees needed to find a balance between careful consideration of scientific validity and ethical merit of protocols, and review with the urgency normally associated with public health emergency research. We aimed to explore the views of South African RECs on their pandemic preparedness and response during COVID-19. We conducted in-depth interviews with 21 participants from RECs that were actively involved in the review of COVID-19 related research, at seven academic institutions across South Africa. Interviews were conducted remotely using an in-depth interview guide that included questions regarding REC preparedness and response to COVID-19. Interviews were conducted until data saturation, and audio-recordings were transcribed verbatim and coded. An inductive approach to thematic analysis was used to organise data into themes and sub-themes. This study focused on three main themes: coping during COVID-19, building REC capacity during pandemic times and a consistently cautious approach to mutual recognition of REC reviews. Despite an initial sense of unpreparedness, RECs were able to adapt and maintain careful ethical oversight of both COVID and non-COVID research, and the rigour of REC reviews. Several important lessons for preparedness and response to future pandemics were identified, including heightened awareness of publication, funding and political pressures, the importance of regular training for RECs and researchers, and strategies to enhance moral resilience of REC members. Incremental steps are needed to build trust and authentic partnerships among RECs in inter-pandemic times, to facilitate collaboration during future public health emergencies.

Schreiben eines Forschungsantrags

AbstractThe key to success in securing financial support for research projects lies in the preparation of a well-crafted research grant proposal, showcasing the competence, dedication, and organizational skills of the research group as well as the scientific merit of the proposed study. This paper delineates the essential elements of a successful funding proposal, providing a structured guide to enhance the prospects of obtaining the necessary financial support. In general, the research project should align with the objectives and priorities of the funding agency. Attention to formalities, such as proper formatting and adherence to application guidelines, is mandatory. The core component of a research grant proposal is the formulation of a clear and well-founded research question and hypothesis. The methodology section should address the measurement methods and experimental setup. Additionally, developing a realistic research schedule and milestones is of great importance, along with anticipating potential barriers and challenges. Finally, the proposal’s financial aspect is addressed through a detailed cost breakdown that aligns with the sample size calculation and methodology.

A memory-theoretic account of citation propagation.

Despite the common assumption that citations are indicative of an article's scientific merit, increasing evidence indicates that citation counts are largely driven by variables unrelated to quality. In this article, we treat people's decisions of what to cite as an instance of memory retrieval and show that observed citation patterns are well accounted for by a model of memory. The proposed exposure model anticipates that small alterations in factors that affect people's ability to retrieve to-be-cited articles from memory early in their life cycle are magnified over time and can lead to the emergence of highly cited papers. This effect occurs even when there is no variation in the starting point exposure probabilities (i.e. when assuming a level playing field where all articles are treated equally and of equal 'quality'), and is exacerbated by natural variation in retrievability of articles due to encoding. We discuss the implications of the model within the context of research evaluation and hiring, tenure and promotion decisions.

Characteristics of oxide-dispersion strengthened alloys produced by high-temperature severe deformation

This study is to explore an economically attractive and technically feasible processing method for oxide-nanoparticle strengthened alloys for fusion reactor application. Despite many scientific merits of the advanced oxide-dispersion strengthened (ODS) alloys, such as the nanostructured ferritic alloy (NFA) 14YWT, the only viable production path for a high-quality NFA is the high-power mechanical alloying process. This process is often a multi-day high-speed ball milling of alloy powder with a small quantity of yttria (Y2O3) powder, followed by the milled-powder consolidation using extrusion or other methods and additional thermomechanical processing (TMP) for property control. This complex production path, including the low-temperature mechanical alloying in particular, has limited technical advancement toward the cost-effective and scale-up production of ODS alloy components. To overcome such a practical limitation, we proposed to explore alternative low-cost processing routes using traditional thermomechanical processing (TMP) method only. A series of continuous TMP cycles, which were designed to impose high-temperature severe plastic deformation (HT-SPD) conditions to the consolidated powder mixtures, were applied to achieve the effective distribution of oxide particles in nanograin structure and thus desirable mechanical properties. Since the reduced-activation ferritic-martensitic (RAFM) alloy powders (Fe-10Cr and Fe-14Cr alloys with various Y contents) are available in our inventory, we focused to utilize the new solid-state synthesis approach for controlling oxide (oxygen source) dissolution and nanoscale clustering in nanograin structure in those alloys. A combination of powder consolidation at 900 °C and continuous thermomechanical activation at 600 °C yielded two essential ODS alloy microstructure contents–nanograin structure and nanoparticle distribution–and thus demonstrated a good combination of strength and ductility.

The Peer Review Process.

The purpose of peer review is to evaluate the scientific merit of the submitted work and to assess suitability for publication. This process is intended to provide an unbiased, independent critique to ensure publication of high-quality manuscripts that demonstrate validity and reliability. Reviewers are subject-matter experts who volunteer their time to participate in peer review. A proper review provides constructive and helpful feedback in a timely manner that authors can use to improve both current and future work. When given the opportunity to revise, authors should carefully consider all comments and adequately address all concerns. This paper provides guidance to clinicians for both aspects of the peer review process: participating as a reviewer and responding to reviewer feedback.

Endometriosis-Related Ovarian Cancer: Where Are We Now? A Narrative Review towards a Pragmatic Approach.

Endometriosis affects more than 10% of reproductive-aged women, causing pelvic pain and infertility. Despite the benign nature of endometriosis, ovarian endometriomas carry a higher risk of developing endometrioid carcinomas (EnOCs) and clear cell ovarian carcinomas (CCCs). Atypical endometriosis, defined as cytological atypia resembling intraepithelial cancer, is considered the precursor of endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer (EAOC). This narrative review aims to provide an overview of EAOC, proposing a practical approach to clinical and therapeutic decision making. An electronic literature search was conducted from inception up to January 2023, using the MEDLINE database via PubMed to evaluate the existing literature on EAOC, including its pathogenesis, the diagnostic process, and the therapeutic possibilities, with articles not relevant to the topic or lacking scientific merit being excluded. Eighty-one articles were included in the review to present the current state of the art regarding EAOC. A pragmatic clinical flowchart is proposed to guide therapeutic decisions and improve patient outcomes. Endometriosis patients may have an increased risk of developing EAOC (either EnOC or CCC). Despite not being fully accepted, the concept of AE may reshape the endometriosis-ovarian cancer relationship. Further research is needed to understand the unaddressed issues.

From solution to structure: empowering inclusive cryo-EM with a pre-characterization pipeline for biological samples.

In addressing the challenges faced by laboratories and universities with limited (or no) cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) infrastructure, the ESRF, in collaboration with the Grenoble Institute for Structural Biology (IBS), has implemented the cryo-EM Solution-to-Structure (SOS) pipeline. This inclusive process, spanning grid preparation to high-resolution data collection, covers single-particle analysis and cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET). Accessible through a rolling access route, proposals undergo scientific merit and technical feasibility evaluations. Stringent feasibility criteria demand robust evidence of sample homogeneity. Two distinct entry points are offered: users can either submit purified protein samples for comprehensive processing or initiate the pipeline with already vitrified cryo-EM grids. The SOS pipeline integrates negative stain imaging (exclusive to protein samples) as a first quality step, followed by cryo-EM grid preparation, grid screening and preliminary data collection for single-particle analysis, or only the first two steps for cryo-ET. In both cases, if the screening steps are successfully completed, high-resolution data collection will be carried out using a Titan Krios microscope equipped with a latest-generation direct electron counting detector coupled to an energy filter. The SOS pipeline thus emerges as a comprehensive and efficient solution, further democratizing access to cryo-EM research.

Cosmic mysteries and the hydrogen 21-cm line: bridging the gap with lunar observations.

The hydrogen 21-cm signal is predicted to be the richest probe of the young Universe, including those eras known as the cosmic Dark Ages, the Cosmic Dawn (when the first star and black hole formed) and the Epoch of Reionization. This signal holds the key to deciphering processes that take place at the early stages of cosmic history. In this opinion piece, we discuss the potential scientific merit of lunar observations of the 21-cm signal and their advantages over more affordable terrestrial efforts. The Moon is a prime location for radio cosmology which will enable precision observations of the low-frequency radio sky. The uniqueness of such observations is that they will provide an unparalleled opportunity to test cosmology and the nature of dark matter using the Dark Ages 21-cm signal. No less enticing is the opportunity to obtain a much clearer picture of the Cosmic Dawn than that currently achievable from the ground, which will allow us to determine the properties of the first stars and black holes. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Astronomy from the Moon: the next decades (part 2)'.