Jeff Robens, PhD
Senior Editor
Author Academy:
Steps to Publication Success
De La Salle University
1 March 2013
About Jeff
Researcher
Teacher
Mentor
Author
Senior Editor
Peer reviewer
Reading strategies
Abstracts
Manuscript structure
Increasing readability
Todays presentation
Reading Strategies
Section 1
Reading Strategies Reading improves manuscript writing
Read often!Read often!
Learn how native
English speakers write
Learn how native
English speakers write
Learn proper
argument structure
Learn proper
argument structure
Learn manuscript
structure and style
Learn manuscript
structure and style
Get new ideas,
identify knowledge gaps
Get new ideas,
identify knowledge gaps
Article and journal
quality
Article and journal
quality
Discuss with
colleagues
Discuss with
colleagues
Reading Strategies
Make time to read
Most researchers read 6090 min per dayMost researchers read 6090 min per day
Spend 2030 min every day reading abstractsSpend 2030 min every day reading abstracts
Spend 60 min 2 or 3 days a week reading papersSpend 60 min 2 or 3 days a week reading papers
Join a journal clubJoin a journal club
Reading StrategiesHow to read an article
From
start to
finish?
From
start to
finish?
Section
by
section?
Section
by
section?
Not efficient!
What do you
want to know?
What do you
want to know?
Where can you
find it?
Where can you
find it?
Reading Strategies
Read Figures and then Results
Read Discussion for interpretation
Self-assess knowledge of topic
Read Title and Abstract first
Refer to Introduction and
Methods if necessary
Strategies for reading
Read last paragraph of introduction
for hypothesis/objectives
Abstracts
Section 2
AbstractsImportant points
First impression
of your paper
First impression
of your paper
Importance of
your results
Importance of
your results
Validity of your
conclusions
Validity of your
conclusions
Relevance of
your aims
Relevance of
your aims
Judge your
writing style
Judge your
writing style
Probably only part
that will be read
Probably only part
that will be read
Abstracts General Guide
Aims
Background
Methods
Results
Conclusion
Why the study was done (20%)
Your hypothesis (10%)
Techniques (10%)
Most important findings (40%)
Conclusion & implications (20%)
AbstractsStructured abstract medical and clinical
Sun et al. (2012). BMC Medicine 10:172.
Immunotherapy using slow-cycling tumor cells prolonged overall survival of tumor-bearing mice
Background
Despite considerable progress in the development of anticancer therapies, there is still a high mortality rate caused by cancer
relapse and metastasis. Dormant or slow-cycling residual tumor cells are thought to be a source of tumor relapse and metastasis,
and are therefore an obstacle to therapy. In this study, we assessed the drug resistance of tumor cells in mice, and investigated
whether vaccination could promote survival.
Methods
The mouse colon carcinoma cell line CT-26 was treated with 5-fluorouracil to assess its sensitivity to drug treatment. Mice with
colon tumors were immunized with inactivated slow-cycling CT-26 cells to estimate the efficacy of this vaccine.
Results
We identified a small population of slow-cycling tumor cells in the mouse colon carcinoma CT-26 cell line, which was resistant to
conventional chemotherapy. To inhibit tumor recurrence and metastasis more effectively, treatments that selectively target the
slow-cycling tumor cells should be developed to complement conventional therapies. We found that drug-treated, slow-cycling
tumor cells induced a more intense immune response in vitro. Moreover, vaccination with inactivated slow-cycling tumor cells
caused a reduction in tumor volume and prolonged the overall survival of tumor-bearing mice.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that targeting of slow-cycling tumor cells application using immunotherapy is a possible treatment to
complement traditional antitumor therapy.
AbstractsStructured abstract medical and clinical
Sun et al. (2012). BMC Medicine 10:172.
Immunotherapy using slow-cycling tumor cells prolonged overall survival of tumor-bearing mice
Background
Despite considerable progress in the development of anticancer therapies, there is still a high mortality rate caused by cancer
relapse and metastasis. Dormant or slow-cycling residual tumor cells are thought to be a source of tumor relapse and metastasis,
and are therefore an obstacle to therapy. In this study, we assessed the drug resistance of tumor cells in mice, and investigated
whether vaccination could promote survival.
Methods
The mouse colon carcinoma cell line CT-26 was treated with 5-fluorouracil to assess its sensitivity to drug treatment. Mice with
colon tumors were immunized with inactivated slow-cycling CT-26 cells to estimate the efficacy of this vaccine.
Results
We identified a small population of slow-cycling tumor cells in the mouse colon carcinoma CT-26 cell line, which was resistant to
conventional chemotherapy. To inhibit tumor recurrence and metastasis more effectively, treatments that selectively target the
slow-cycling tumor cells should be developed to complement conventional therapies. We found that drug-treated, slow-cycling
tumor cells induced a more intense immune response in vitro. Moreover, vaccination with inactivated slow-cycling tumor cells
caused a reduction in tumor volume and prolonged the overall survival of tumor-bearing mice.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that targeting of slow-cycling tumor cells application using immunotherapy is a possible treatment to
complement traditional antitumor therapy.
Abstracts Unstructured abstract
Zhu et al. (2012) Cell Biochem Biophys 63:115.
Differential DNA Methylation Status Between Human
Preadipocytes and Mature Adipocytes
Obesity is a multifactorial disease resulting from interactions between susceptibility genes,
psychosocial, and environmental factors. However, it is becoming evident that
interindividual differences in obesity susceptibility depend also on epigenetic factors,
although the mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. We have undertaken a genome-
wide analysis of DNA methylation of human preadipocytes and mature adipocytes to
examine the differences in methylation between them. We found hypomethylation
occurring in 2,701 genes and hypermethylation in 1,070 genes after differentiation.
Meanwhile, Gene Ontology analysis and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis showed many
significant gene functions and pathways with altered methylation status after adipocyte
differentiation. In addition, Signal-Net analysis showed that tumor necrosis factor-,
mitogen-activated protein kinase, and interleukin-8 were important to the formation of this
network. Our results suggest that DNA methylation mechanisms may be involved in
regulating the differentiation process of human preadipocytes.
Abstracts Unstructured abstract
Zhu et al. (2012) Cell Biochem Biophys 63:115.
Obesity is a multifactorial disease resulting from interactions between susceptibility genes,
psychosocial, and environmental factors. However, it is becoming evident that
interindividual differences in obesity susceptibility depend also on epigenetic factors,
although the mechanisms have not been fully elucidated.
BackgroundBackground
We have undertaken a genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation of human preadipocytes
and mature adipocytes to examine the differences in methylation between them.MethodsMethods
We found hypomethylation occurring in 2,701 genes and hypermethylation in 1,070 genes
after differentiation. Meanwhile, Gene Ontology analysis and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis
showed many significant gene functions and pathways with altered methylation status after
adipocyte differentiation. In addition, Signal-Net analysis showed that tumor necrosis
factor-, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and interleukin-8 were important to the
formation of this network.
ResultsResults
Our results suggest that DNA methylation mechanisms may be involved in regulating the
differentiation process of human preadipocytes.ConclusionConclusion
Abstracts Writing your abstract
Zhu et al. (2012) Cell Biochem Biophys 63:115.
Obesity is a multifactorial disease resulting from interactions between susceptibility
genes, psychosocial, and environmental factors. However, it is becoming evident that
interindividual differences in obesity susceptibility depend also on epigenetic factors,
although the mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. We have undertaken a
genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation of human preadipocytes and mature
adipocytes to examine the differences in methylation between them. We found
hypomethylation occurring in 2,701 genes and hypermethylation in 1,070 genes after
differentiation. Meanwhile, Gene Ontology analysis and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis
showed many significant gene functions and pathways with altered methylation status
after adipocyte differentiation. In addition, Signal-Net analysis showed that tumor
necrosis factor-, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and interleukin-8 were important to
the formation of this network. Our results suggest that DNA methylation mechanisms
may be involved in regulating the differentiation process of human preadipocytes.
Abstracts
Dont
include
Dont
include
ReferencesReferences AbbreviationsAbbreviations
JargonJargonNon-essential
numbers & statistics
Non-essential
numbers & statistics
AbstractsDo not include a lot of numbers and statistics
The effect of high vacuum on the mechanical properties and bioactivity of collagen fibril matrices
Anderton et al. (2013) Biointerfaces 8:2.
Results
The cell area histogram and mean cell areas for the HV-treated fibril matrices (2030 m2 137 m2) are comparable
to the cell areas of untreated fibril matrices measured here (2165 m2 206 m2) and elsewhere... Cells on LV-
treated fibril matrices have larger average surface areas (3450 m2 175 m2) than the control untreated matrices,
and their spread areas are more similar to that of cells plated on dehydrated fibrils (average cell area of 4348 m2
287 m2).
The modulus results for the first analysis reveal that HV treatment of the fibrils leads to a small, but statically
significant (p < 0.0001), increase in mechanical rigidity of the fibril matrices. Untreated matrices had a modulus of 8.1
kPa 2.2 kPa and HV-treated matrices had a modulus of 13.1 kPa 3.8 kPa. However, the HV-treated matrices are
approximately a factor of three more compliant than the dehydrated fibril matrices (35.4 kPa 4.9 kPa). The modulus
results for the second analysis (Table 2) indicate that LV-treated fibril matrices (34.7 kPa 3.7 kPa) are nearly as
mechanically stiff (p= 0.20) as the dehydrated matrices (36.4 kPa 4.2 kPa), and are considerably less compliant than
the untreated matrices (11.2 kPa 3.7 kPa) in this experiment.
We find that HV exposure has an unappreciable affect on the cell spreading response and mechanical
properties of these collagen fibril matrices. Conversely, low vacuum environments cause fibrils to
become mechanically rigid as indicated by force microscopy, resulting in greater cell spreading.
Abstract
Summarize and simplify your resultsSummarize and simplify your results
We find that HV exposure has an unappreciable affect on the cell spreading response and mechanical
properties of these collagen fibril matrices. Conversely, low vacuum environments cause fibrils to
become mechanically rigid as indicated by force microscopy, resulting in greater cell spreading.
Abstracts Graphical Abstracts
Composite of RhyCr2yO3/(Ga1xZnx) (N1xOx) photocatalysts with hydrophobic
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membranes for the fabrication of novel
reaction sites for water vapor splitting under visible light
Isogai et al. (2013) Catalysis Letters 143:150153.
Rh y Cr2y O3/(Ga1x Zn x )(N1x O x ) photocatalysts immobilized in polytetrafluoroethylene
(PTFE) membranes has been investigated for the design of novel reaction sites. In the case
of hydrophobic PTFE membranes, the Rh y Cr2y O3/(Ga1x Zn x )(N1x O x ) photocatalyst
simultaneously evolved both H2 and O2, even from an aqueous AgNO3 solution as sacrificial
reagent. This indicates that water vapor was split into H2 and O2 by the Rh y Cr2y O3/(Ga1xZn x )(N1x O x ) photocatalyst particles in the hydrophobic pores of PTFE.
Abstracts Graphical Abstracts
Composite of RhyCr2yO3/(Ga1xZnx) (N1xOx) photocatalysts with hydrophobic
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membranes for the fabrication of novel
reaction sites for water vapor splitting under visible light
Isogai et al. (2013) Catalysis Letters 143:150153.
Manuscript Structure
Section 3
Coverage and
Staffing Plan
Manuscript
structure Telling a story
Beginning
tell them what you did and why
Middle
tell them how you did it and what you found
End
tell them what you did and what it means.
Coverage and
Staffing Plan
Manuscript
structure IMRaD
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
and
Discussion
The beginning
The end
The middle
Coverage and
Staffing Plan
Manuscript
structure
Title
Abstract
Introduction
Discussion
References
Methods
Results
Figures
The write order
After selecting target journal
During your research
Write last
Coverage and
Staffing Plan
Manuscript
structure Introduction
Sufficient background information
Current state of the field
Identify knowledge gaps/problems
Puts your work into context
General
SpecificAims
Coverage and
Staffing Plan
Manuscript
structure
New biocompatible material for osteoporosis
OsteoporosisOsteoporosis
DiagnosisDiagnosis
BioengineeringBioengineering
Drug treatmentsDrug treatments
MaterialMaterial
DesignDesign TechniqueTechnique
Coverage and
Staffing Plan
Manuscript
structure Methods
What you
did
What you
did
Multiple methods =
separate subheadings
New methods
described in detail
Established methods
can be referenced
Method orderMethod order
Materials
General techniques
Specific techniques
Statistics
Coverage and
Staffing Plan
Manuscript
structure Results
What you
found
What you
found
Order of results is
logical, tells a story
Factually describe
your results
Avoid data duplication Avoid data duplication
among figures, tables,
and text
Each subsection
corresponds to one
figure
Coverage and
Staffing Plan
Manuscript
structure Display items
Present large amount
of data quickly and
efficiently
Keep it simple: use
separate panels if
necessary
stand Must be able to stand
alone: clear labels
and figure legends
Usually the first thing
readers will look at
Figures, graphs
& tables
Figures, graphs
& tables
Coverage and
Staffing Plan
Manuscript
structure
Whats wrong with this figure?
Figure 1 AHLE demonstrating distorted brachial artery and classical vessel proliferation.
Kukreja et al. BMJ Case Rep. 2011;doi:10.1136/bcr.02.2011.3836.
Unclear labelsUnclear labels
Poorly drawn
indicators
Poorly drawn
indicators
Unclear figure
legend
Unclear figure
legend
Coverage and
Staffing Plan
Manuscript
structure Figures
Clear indicators
Clear figure legend
Scale bars
Kindlin-2 knockdown and focal adhesion localization.
A. Confocal immunofluorescent microscopy with anti-
1 integrin (green) and anti-paxillin (red) on C2C12
cells transfected with RNAi and then changed to
differentiation media for 2 days. Control cells (scr RNAi)
show linear staining consistent with localization to
costameres (arrows), as well as punctate focal contact
staining (arrowheads). Conversely, focal contact
proteins in the kindlin-2 RNAi cells fail to form linear
structures and instead are concentrated in unusual
appearing puncta (*). (Scale bar = 20 M).
Dowling et al. (2008) BMC Cell Biol 9:36.
Coverage and
Staffing Plan
Manuscript
structure
Data aligned and
formatted
Tables
Muoz et al. New Engl J Med. 2003;348:518527.
Clear and concise
table caption
Abbreviations
defined
Coverage and
Staffing Plan
Manuscript
structure Discussion
BeginningBeginning
MiddleMiddle
EndEnd
Summarize key findings
State major conclusion
Summarize key findings
State major conclusion
Restate major conclusion
Applications/implications
Suggest future work
Restate major conclusion
Applications/implications
Suggest future work
Interpret results in context
of other studies
Describe limitations
Interpret results in context
of other studies
Describe limitations
Increasing Readability
Section 4
Correct EnglishReadable English
Readability Readability
Your reader shouldYour reader should
Understand your logic immediatelyUnderstand your logic immediately
Not have to read slowlyNot have to read slowly
Only have to read onceOnly have to read once
Readability Language requirements
Journals are clear regarding their English
requirements
Brain Structure & Function
Language: Manuscripts will be checked by our
copyeditors for spelling and formal style. Clear
and concise language will help editors and
reviewers concentrate on the scientific content
of your paper and thus smooth the peer review
process.
Readability
The largest company, a Japanese corporation founded in
1916 outside of Osaka by Takahiro Tanaka, was
considered to be a model in the development of modern
employee conditions by economists.
Readability
Subject
Verb
1. Verb placement
Readers expect verbs to closely follow subjects
SentenceSubject
Verb
Readability Verb placement
Readers become confused when subject and
verb are separated by too much content
The smallest ORF, a 105-nucleotide reading frame found
in the third intron of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
2 subunit gene, was found to be expressed in response
to long-term treatment with 1 M cytochalasin D.
Readability
The smallest ORF, a 105-nucleotide reading frame found in the third intron of the nicotinicacetylcholine receptor 2 subunit gene, was found to be expressed in response to long-termtreatment with 1 M cytochalasin D.
The smallest ORF was found to be expressed in response to long-term treatment with 1 M cytochalasin D. This ORF is a 105-nucleotide reading frame found in the third intron of the nicotinicacetylcholine receptor 2 subunit gene.
We found the smallest ORF was expressed in response to long-term treatment with 1 M cytochalasin D. This ORF
Avoid reader confusion
Readability 2. Active voice
Sentences written in the active voice are:
simple
direct
clear
easy to read
Subject
Verb
Active
Readability
Readers focus on information at the end of a
sentence.
take-home information
SubjectVerb
3. Stress position
Readability Stress position
Cell attachment increased on UV-O3-treated silicone.
Cell attachment increased on silicone after UV-O3 treatment.
UV-O3 treatment of silicone increased cell attachment.
Readers, without thinking, concentrate on the end
of a sentence.
Readability
Topic position
Stress position
SubjectVerb
Readers expect a sentence/phrase to be a story
about whoever shows up first
4. Topic position
Readability Topic position
Linkage and context
Cell death increased after injection into the chamber.
Therefore, the flow rate was decreased to help minimize
sheer stress. Cell viability significantly improved at a flow
rate of o.1 l/min.
idea ideaideaidea
Topic link
sentence
Readability Increasing readability:5. Short sentences
Reading once
4% of readers can understand a 27-word sentence
75% of readers can understand a 17-word sentence
Pinner and Pinner (1998) Communication Skills
Reading once
4% of readers can understand a 27-word sentence
75% of readers can understand a 17-word sentence
Pinner and Pinner (1998) Communication Skills
Goals to aim for:
One idea per sentence
1520 words per sentence
Goals to aim for:
One idea per sentence
1520 words per sentence
Academic Publishing
Section 5
Customer ServiceAcademic Publishing Why publish?Exchange ideas globally
Your research is not
complete until it is
published
Your research is not
complete until it is
published
Communicate on a
global stage
Communicate on a
global stage
One publication
per year
One publication
per year
Customer ServiceAcademic Publishing
Why
English?
Why
English?
International language
of academics
People want to hear
researchers
People want to hear
from Asian
researchers
International
reputationFunding
Career
advancement
Customer ServiceAcademic PublishingThe submission process
Accepted
publication!
EditorAuthor
Peer review
Reject
Results novel?
Topic relevant?
Revision
New experiments
Improve readability
Add information
Customer ServiceAcademic Publishing
Usually 312 monthsUsually 312 months
Publication timeline
Will depend on:Will depend on:
Manuscript type
Peer reviewer availability
Fast tracking
Number of revisions
Manuscript type
Peer reviewer availability
Fast tracking
Number of revisions
Customer ServiceAcademic Publishing
Publication
ethics
Publication
ethics
Multiple
submissionsPlagiarism
Author list:
Who can be an author?
First author?
Corresponding author?
Author list:
Who can be an author?
First author?
Corresponding author?
Data fabrication
and falsification
Conflicts of interest:
Financial
Personal
Intellectual
Conflicts of interest:
Financial
Personal
Intellectual
Journal selection
Section 6
Journal Selection Factors to consider
Aims and scope
Readership
Open access
Publishing frequency
Impact factor
Which factor is most important to you?
IF varies by field
Journal Selection Choosing a target journal
Journal selection must be based on an
honest evaluation of your manuscript
Significance Aims and Scope
Impact
Journal Selection
New findings
Evaluating significance: Novelty
Medium to high
impact
How new are my results compared
with those already published?
Low to medium
impact
Incremental
advances
Conceptual
advances
Journal SelectionEvaluating significance:
Relevance
How broadly relevant is my work?
Population specific? Restricted to geographical
location? How common is the disease?
Population specific? Restricted to geographical
location? How common is the disease?MedicalMedical
Specific to cell-type or organism?
Relevant to human disease?
Specific to cell-type or organism?
Relevant to human disease? BiologyBiology
How broadly applicable is the design?
Is it cost-effective?
How broadly applicable is the design?
Is it cost-effective?EngineeringEngineering
Journal SelectionEvaluating significance:
Appeal
Area of popular
appeal
Stem cells, tissue engineering,
global warming, artificial intelligence
Important real
world applications
Important real
world applications
Rice resistant to high salt conditions,
shrimp resistant to infection
Journal Selection Journal selector
Insert your
proposed
abstract
Journal Selection Journal selector
Recommended
journals
Filter by:
Impact factor
Publishing frequency
Open access
Journal Selection Journal selector
Refined
recommended
journals
Journal Selection Journal selector
Semantic
matching terms
Journals IF, Aims
& Scope, and
Frequency
Similar
published
articles
Journal Selection Visit journal websites
Cover Letters
Section 7
Coverage and
Staffing PlanCover Letters Make it easy
Is there a Cover Letter?
Is it easy to read?
Are there reviewer
recommendations?
Inbox
Coverage and
Staffing PlanCover Letters
Abstract:
First impression for readers
Abstract:
First impression for readers
Cover letter:
First impression for journal editors
Cover letter:
First impression for journal editors
Significance
Relevance
Significance
Relevance
Level of EnglishLevel of EnglishRecommend
reviewers?
Recommend
reviewers?
Why your work
is important!
Why your work
is important!
Coverage and
Staffing PlanCover Letters
What do
journal editors want?
What do
journal editors want?
High quality research
Good design
Well executed
High quality research
Good design
Well executed
Original and novelOriginal and novel
Interesting to
journals readership
Interesting to
journals readership
Clear and concise
English
Clear and concise
English
Coverage and
Staffing PlanCover Letters
Dear Editor-in-Chief,
I am sending you our manuscript entitled Techniques to detect
entanglement in cats by Schrodinger et al. We would like to have the
manuscript considered for publication in Quantum Theory Frontiers.
Please let me know of your decision at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely yours,
Albert Einstein, PhD
Bad example
Not personalNot personal
Too shortToo short
No information about
the manuscript
No information about
the manuscript
Coverage and
Staffing Plan
Manuscript
structure
Dear Dr Graeber,
Please find enclosed our manuscript entitled Amyloid-like inclusions in the brains of Huntingtons disease patients, by
McGowan et al., which we would like to submit for publication as a Research Paper in Neurogenetics.
Recent immunohistochemical studies have revealed the presence of neuronal inclusions containing an N-terminal portion of
the mutant huntingtin protein and ubiquitin in the brain tissues of Huntingtons disease (HD) patients; however, the role of
these inclusions in the disease process has remained unclear. One suspected disease-causing mechanism in Huntingtons
disease and other polyglutamine disorders is the potential for the mutant protein to undergo a conformational change to a
more stable anti-parallel -sheet structure
To confirm if the immunohistochemically observed huntingtin- and ubiquitin-containing inclusions display amyloid features, we
performed Congo red staining and both polarizing and confocal microscopy on post-mortem human brain tissues obtained
from five HD patients, two AD patients, and two normal controls. Congo red staining revealed a small number of amyloid-like
inclusions showing green birefringence by polarized microscopy, in a variety of cortical regions.... .detected inclusions
observed in parallel sections, suggesting that only a relatively small proportion of inclusions in HD adopt an amyloid-like
structure.
We believe our findings will be of particular interest to the readership of Neurogenetics, which includes researchers and
clinicians studying the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, we feel that your
journal provides the most suitable platform for the dissemination of our work to the research community.
Give the
background to
the research
What was
done and what
was found
Interest to
journals readers
A good cover letter
We would also like to suggest the following reviewers for our manuscript
Coverage and
Staffing PlanCover Letters
General rulesGeneral rules
Manuscript title/
Publication type
Manuscript title/
Publication type
Corresponding
author details
Corresponding
author details
Background,
rationale, results
Background,
rationale, results
Address editor
personally
Address editor
personally
Why are your
findings important?
Why are your
findings important?
Reviewer
recommendations
Reviewer
recommendations
Must-have statements
Coverage and
Staffing PlanCover Letters General rules
Must-have
statements
Must-have
statements
Not submitted
to other journals
Not submitted
to other journals
Source of
funding
Source of
funding
Authors agree on
paper/journal
Authors agree on
paper/journal
Original and
unpublished
Original and
unpublished
No conflicts of
interest
No conflicts of
interest
Authorship
contributions
Authorship
contributions
Coverage and
Staffing PlanCover Letters Recommending
reviewers
When submitting your paper, you must provide the
names, affiliations, and valid e-mail addresses of five (5)
reviewers. If you do not do so, your paper will be
returned, unreviewed.
Authors are requested to provide the names and full
addresses (including e-mail address) of up to four potential
referees
Coverage and
Staffing PlanCover Letters Recommending
reviewers
Where to find
them?
Where to find
them?
From your reading/references,
networking at conferences
From your reading/references,
networking at conferences
How senior?How senior? Aim for mid-level researchersAim for mid-level researchers
Who to avoid?Who to avoid?Collaborators (past 5 years),
researchers from same institution
Collaborators (past 5 years),
researchers from same institution
Peer Review
Section 8
Peer ReviewImproves your manuscript
Peer review is a positive process
Improves science
Get involved in the peer review process
http://www.springer.com/authors/
journal+authors/peer-review-academy
Peer ReviewThe submission process
Accepted
publication!
EditorAuthor
Peer review
Peer ReviewDecision letter
24-July-2012
Dear Dr. XXXXX
Manuscript ID WJS-07-5739: Long-term outcomes following right-lobe living donor liver
transplantation."
Your manuscript has been reviewed, and we cannot accept the manuscript as submitted. The
reviewer concerns are included at the bottom of this letter.
You can submit a revised manuscript that takes into consideration these comments. You will also
need to include a detailed commentary of the changes made. Please note that resubmitting
your manuscript does not guarantee eventual acceptance, and that your resubmission may be
subject to re-review by the reviewers before a decision is made.
To revise your manuscript, log into http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/wjs and enter your Author
Center, where you will find your manuscript title listed under "Manuscripts with
Decisions." Under "Actions," click on "Create a Revision." Your manuscript number has been
appended to denote a revision.
Manuscript ID numberManuscript ID number
Reason for revisionReason for revision
How to submit a revisionHow to submit a revision
Peer ReviewDecision letter
You will be unable to make your revisions on the originally submitted version of the manuscript. Instead,
revise your manuscript using a word processing program and save it on your computer. Please also highlight
the changes to your manuscript within the document by using the track changes mode in MS Word or by using
bold or colored text. Once the revised manuscript is prepared, you can upload it and submit it through your
Author Center.
When submitting your revised manuscript, you will be able to respond to the comments made by the
reviewer(s) in the space provided. You can use this space to document any changes you make to the original
manuscript. In order to expedite the processing of the revised manuscript, please be as specific as possible in
your response to the reviewer(s).
IMPORTANT: Your original files are available to you when you upload your revised manuscript. Please delete
any redundant files before completing the submission.
Because we are trying to facilitate timely publication of manuscripts submitted to the Surgical Endoscopy, your
revised manuscript should be uploaded within 8 weeks. If it is not possible for you to submit your revision in a
reasonable amount of time, we may have to consider your paper as a new submission.
Once again, thank you for submitting your manuscript to Surgical Endoscopy and I look forward to receiving
your revision.
Procedure for respondingProcedure for responding
Due date for resubmissionDue date for resubmission
Peer ReviewPoint-by-point
RevisionRevision
Be politeBe politeRespond to
every comment
Respond to
every comment
Easy to see
changes
Easy to see
changes
Refer to line and page numbers
Use a different color font
Highlight the text
Peer ReviewWriting a response letter
Address editor personally
Manuscript ID number
Thank reviewers
Highlight major changes
John G. Hunter
Editor-in-Chief
World Journal of Surgery
16 August 2012
Dear Dr. Hunter,
Re: Resubmission of manuscript reference No. WJS-07-5739
Please find attached a revised version of our manuscript originally entitled Long-term outcomes following right-
lobe living donor liver transplantation, which we would like to resubmit for consideration for publication in World
Journal of Surgery.
The reviewers comments were highly insightful and enabled us to greatly improve the quality of our manuscript. In
the following pages are our point-by-point responses to each of the comments.
Revisions in the manuscript are shown as underlined text. In accordance with the first comment, the title has been
revised and the entire manuscript has undergone substantial English editing.
We hope that the revisions in the manuscript and our accompanying responses will be sufficient to make our
manuscript suitable for publication in World Journal of Surgery.
Peer Review
Reviewer Comment: In your analysis of the data you have chosen
to use a somewhat obscure fitting function (regression). In my
opinion, a simple Gaussian function would have sufficed.
Moreover, the results would be more instructive and easier to
compare to previous results.
Response: We agree with the reviewers assessment of the
analysis. Our tailored function makes it impossible to fully interpret
the data in terms of the prevailing theories. In addition, in its
current form it would be difficult to tell that this measurement
constitutes a significant improvement over previously reported
values. We have redone the analysis using a Gaussian fitting
function.
Agreement
Peer Review
Reviewer Comment: In your analysis of the data you have chosen
to use a somewhat obscure fitting function (regression). In my
opinion, a simple Gaussian function would have sufficed.
Moreover, the results would be more instructive and easier to
compare to previous results.
Response: We agree with the reviewer that a simple Gaussian fit
would facilitate comparison with the results of other studies.
However, our tailored function allows for the analysis of the data
in terms of the Smith model [Smith et al, 1998]. We have added
two sentences to the paper (page 3 paragraph 2) to explain the
use of this function and Smiths model.
Disagreement
Peer Review
Reviewer comment: The authors hypothesized to look for the
pharmacokinetics of the insulin using this 4 mm needle; however
they didn't do bioequivalence analyses for glucose
pharmacodynamics. That is one of my concerns about this
methodology.
Hidden questions
Response: Although we wanted to do the bioequivalence
analyses for glucose pharmacodynamics in our study, we are
unable to because
Avoiding Rejection
Section 9
Avoiding Rejection
The research
Relevant hypothesis
Appropriate
methodology
Good data analysis
Complete data
Valid conclusions
Current state of the field
Identified knowledge gap
Up-to-date and valid methods
New methods validated
Appropriate statistical analysis
Consult a statistician
All data are included or discussed
Based on your data
Avoiding Rejection
Rationale and aims
Citations
Appropriate data
presentation
Grammar
and style
Journal requirements
The manuscript
Avoiding Rejection
The manuscript
Why did you do it?
Why is it important?
What are the implications?
Clearly state your aims
Avoiding Rejection
Research is appropriate for the
aims/scope of the journal
Follow the author guidelines
for formatting
Meet journal
requirements
The manuscript
Avoiding Rejection Reasons for rejection: the manuscript
Journal currently publishing
similar papers
Appropriate journal
selected
Avoiding Rejection Reasons for rejection: the manuscript
Citations
Broadly from different research groups
A couple of older seminal papers
A couple of review articles
Mostly recent original articles
Field-dependent
Generally within the last 2-3 years
Cite properly
Avoiding Rejection Reasons for rejection: the manuscript
Check spelling and grammar
Microsoft Word spell check
Customize Microsofts dictionary
High readability
Write clearly
Avoiding Rejection Reasons for rejection: the manuscript
Logical representation
Do not duplicate results
Only relevant data
Appropriate data
presentation
Avoiding Rejection
Rejection letter from NeuroRehabilitation
judged to be unsuitable for publication in NeuroRehabilitation...
The following factors contributed to the final decision:
judged to be unsuitable for publication in NeuroRehabilitation...
The following factors contributed to the final decision:
The literature review was incomplete
The hypothesis is not mentioned or unclear
The subjects details are not included
The manuscript does not follow journal format
The authors draw conclusions that are inappropriate or unsubstantiated
The statistical methodology is inappropriate, incorrect, or incomplete
The manuscript is poorly written
The literature review was incomplete
The hypothesis is not mentioned or unclear
The subjects details are not included
The manuscript does not follow journal format
The authors draw conclusions that are inappropriate or unsubstantiated
The statistical methodology is inappropriate, incorrect, or incomplete
The manuscript is poorly written
Thank you!
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