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So, I tried to see if I could read some of the articles marked "paywall" and I had no trouble. My methodology: Google Scholar search the article title, and clic

So, I tried to see if I could read some of the articles marked "paywall" and I had no trouble. My methodology: Google Scholar search the article title, and click the direct "PDF" link on the right side. Eg: https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Tissue+sulfhydryl+groups https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Tissue+sulfhydryl+group... EDIT: My point here is that the statement in the article "the world’s most important research is inaccessible from the majority of the world" isn't exactly true. This isn't supposed to be an endorsement of academic publishing practices: if anything the fact that these publishers are effectively trying to scam readers out of money is all the more evident.

Sargos 9y ago
> My point here is that the statement in the article "the world’s most important research is inaccessible from the majority of the world" isn't exactly true. This statement is still true even with your trick. The vast majority of people don't know about this and also even if they did know about this it would be technically difficult for many of them who aren't tech savvy. This is a huge barrier that shouldn't be discounted.
- seccess 9y ago
  I don't see what tech savvyness has to do with it, many people use Google search. In fact, Scholar isn't even necessary, doing a regular Google search has the direct PDF links at the top of the search results.
aalleavitch 9y ago
The fact that we have to low-key pirate research papers is just silly, though. The academic publishing system is just goofy, and I hope one of the projects that are currently trying to establish something better ends up taking hold soon.
- seccess 9y ago
  It isn't piracy, all the publishers (in my experience & field of study) allow for free third-party hosting. Still agree with your second sentence though.
gwern 9y ago
I took a look at all 65 papers listed as paywalls. Of them, 5 are actually available directly from the publisher so they shouldn't be listed as paywalls, and all of the remainder are available from at least one of Google Scholar/Google/Libgen; of the 60 actually-paywall papers, 54 are available from GS/G and only 6 force you to go all the way to Libgen. (I am taking the liberty of rehosting 10 of them myself, though, to get them into GS.) Of the 65, notes on the ones not immediately available in GS: > Density-functional thermochemistry. III. The role of exact exchange Citation-only in Google Scholar but easily found in Google or SH/LG. > Detection of specific sequences among DNA fragments separated by gel-electrophoresis Paywall-only in Google Scholar, not immediately available in Google but easily gotten from SH/LG. > Processing of X-ray diffraction data collected in oscillation mode GS paywall-only, not in Google, but SH/LG. > Isolation of biologically active ribonucleic acid from sources enriched in ribonuclease Likewise. > the attractions of proteins for small molecules and ions Likewise. > Helical microtubules of graphitic carbon GS links to paywall but findable in G. > A technique for radiolabeling DNA restriction endonuclease fragments to high specific activity GS/G paywall but SH/LG. > Phase annealing in SHELX-90: direct methods for larger structures I am not sure why this one was listed as 'paywall' when it appears to be available directly from the publisher: http://journals.iucr.org/a/issues/1990/06/00/an0278/an0278.pdf http://journals.iucr.org/a/issues/1990/06/00/an0278/an0278.p... > A study of the conditions and mechanism of the diphenylamine reaction for the colorimetric estimation of deoxyribonucleic acid Also directly available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1215910/pdf/biochemj00860-0145.pdf https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1215910/pdf/bio... > Multiple range and multiple F tests Also directly available (possibly with a free JSTOR account but if not, SH/LG): https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/3001478.pdf https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/3001478.pdf > A new look at the statistical model identification GS paywall but G & SH/LG. > Improved M13 phage cloning vectors and host strains: nucleotide sequences of the M13mpl8 and pUC19 vectors Likewise. > Nitric oxide: physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology G/GS paywall but SH/LG. > An algorithm for least-squares estimation of nonlinear parameters GS paywall but G & SH/LG > A low-viscosity epoxy resin embedding medium for electron microscopy GS/G paywall but SH/LG. > Continuous cultures of fused cells secreting antibody of predefined specificity G, and directly available: http://www.jimmunol.org/content/jimmunol/174/5/2453.full.pdf http://www.jimmunol.org/content/jimmunol/174/5/2453.full.pdf > Homeostasis model assessment: insulin resistance and β-cell function from fasting plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in man Directly available: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/BF00280883.pdf https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/BF00280883.pdf

Sargos 9y ago

> My point here is that the statement in the article "the world’s most important research is inaccessible from the majority of the world" isn't exactly true. This statement is still true even with your trick. The vast majority of people don't know about this and also even if they did know about this it would be technically difficult for many of them who aren't tech savvy. This is a huge barrier that shouldn't be discounted.

seccess 9y ago
I don't see what tech savvyness has to do with it, many people use Google search. In fact, Scholar isn't even necessary, doing a regular Google search has the direct PDF links at the top of the search results.

aalleavitch 9y ago

The fact that we have to low-key pirate research papers is just silly, though. The academic publishing system is just goofy, and I hope one of the projects that are currently trying to establish something better ends up taking hold soon.

seccess 9y ago
It isn't piracy, all the publishers (in my experience & field of study) allow for free third-party hosting. Still agree with your second sentence though.

gwern 9y ago

I took a look at all 65 papers listed as paywalls. Of them, 5 are actually available directly from the publisher so they shouldn't be listed as paywalls, and all of the remainder are available from at least one of Google Scholar/Google/Libgen; of the 60 actually-paywall papers, 54 are available from GS/G and only 6 force you to go all the way to Libgen. (I am taking the liberty of rehosting 10 of them myself, though, to get them into GS.) Of the 65, notes on the ones not immediately available in GS: > Density-functional thermochemistry. III. The role of exact exchange Citation-only in Google Scholar but easily found in Google or SH/LG. > Detection of specific sequences among DNA fragments separated by gel-electrophoresis Paywall-only in Google Scholar, not immediately available in Google but easily gotten from SH/LG. > Processing of X-ray diffraction data collected in oscillation mode GS paywall-only, not in Google, but SH/LG. > Isolation of biologically active ribonucleic acid from sources enriched in ribonuclease Likewise. > the attractions of proteins for small molecules and ions Likewise. > Helical microtubules of graphitic carbon GS links to paywall but findable in G. > A technique for radiolabeling DNA restriction endonuclease fragments to high specific activity GS/G paywall but SH/LG. > Phase annealing in SHELX-90: direct methods for larger structures I am not sure why this one was listed as 'paywall' when it appears to be available directly from the publisher: http://journals.iucr.org/a/issues/1990/06/00/an0278/an0278.pdf http://journals.iucr.org/a/issues/1990/06/00/an0278/an0278.p... > A study of the conditions and mechanism of the diphenylamine reaction for the colorimetric estimation of deoxyribonucleic acid Also directly available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1215910/pdf/biochemj00860-0145.pdf https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1215910/pdf/bio... > Multiple range and multiple F tests Also directly available (possibly with a free JSTOR account but if not, SH/LG): https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/3001478.pdf https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/3001478.pdf > A new look at the statistical model identification GS paywall but G & SH/LG. > Improved M13 phage cloning vectors and host strains: nucleotide sequences of the M13mpl8 and pUC19 vectors Likewise. > Nitric oxide: physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology G/GS paywall but SH/LG. > An algorithm for least-squares estimation of nonlinear parameters GS paywall but G & SH/LG > A low-viscosity epoxy resin embedding medium for electron microscopy GS/G paywall but SH/LG. > Continuous cultures of fused cells secreting antibody of predefined specificity G, and directly available: http://www.jimmunol.org/content/jimmunol/174/5/2453.full.pdf http://www.jimmunol.org/content/jimmunol/174/5/2453.full.pdf > Homeostasis model assessment: insulin resistance and β-cell function from fasting plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in man Directly available: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/BF00280883.pdf https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/BF00280883.pdf