SCIGMOID ? Really ?
We recently welcomed Scigmoid to our list of questionable publishers. Scigmoid? Yes, Scigmoid. I do not know the meaning or origin of this term.
It sounds like sigmoid, which means “Curved in two directions, like the letter “S” or the Greek ς (sigma),” according to Wictionary. Could “Scigmoid” be an accidental misspelling of “Sigmoid”? Or, is an intentionally-created brand name designed to draw attention? The name makes me think of a sigmoidoscopy.
The publisher has four journals so far, all in the area of health sciences. None has any content yet, but they are accepting submissions. The APC (article processing charge) will be $200 per article.
Several of its web pages purport that Scigmoid is a non-profit organization, but it offers no proof of this, and I strongly doubt it. The site provides no location information. I think the company is based in Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Make up your mind!
The site offers conflicting information about copyright. In the above composite screenshot selections, the top one warns authors that they must sign and deliver a copyright form to the publisher, but the bottom one says “there are no copyrights involved.”
After I listed this publisher, I received an email from them, but it was signed by “Gena Marie,” likely a fake name. If I were behind Scigmoid, I too would be hesitant to use my real name.
I think this publisher meant to call itself Sigmoid but didn’t bother to check the correct spelling. I recommend against submitting papers to this publisher and against serving on its editorial boards.
Appendix: Scigmoid journals as of July 19, 2013:
- AIDS & Recent Advancements
- Clinical Immunology & Research
- Mutations & Cancer Studies (note: the website also calls this journal Oncology & Mutation Studies)
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Practices
