warren raye, phd senior editor edanz group author academy—getting your research published...

Warren Raye, PhDSenior Editor Edanz Group

Author Academy—getting your research published

لكيفية أ رشاداتمقالتك نشر

Customer ServiceIntroductionAbout me …

Senior Editor

Customer ServiceIntroductionToday’s presentation

• Academic publishing

• Before you start …

• Manuscript structure

• Reader expectations

• Peer review

Academic publishing Adopt a winning strategy

Publication recordWin games

Footballer Researcher

Preparation

Communication

Knowledge

Tactics

Physical fitness

Team members

Rules of the game

Opposition

Understanding

Manuscript

Submission process

Published literature

Results

Academic publishing You must publish in English

• The international language of research• Other researchers want to hear from you!• Become a more effective communicator• Funding • International reputation• Career advancement

العلم لغة هي االنكليزية ان الدولية

يكون عندما مكتمًال# بحثك يكوننشره تم قد

Academic publishing

Results novel?Topic relevant?

The process

Accepted—publication!

EditorManuscript + cover letter

Peer review

Revision

Reject

New experimentsImprove readabilityAdd information

Academic publishing

• 3–12 months … • Depends on– Manuscript type– Availability of peer reviewers– Fast tracking– Number of revisions

• How well you address reviewer comments

Publishing timeline

Academic publishing

What do journal editors want?

High quality research

Good designWell executed

Original and novel

Interesting to journal’s readership

Clear and concise English

Ask yourself

Academic publishing

What do journal editors want?

High quality research

Good designWell executed

Original and novel

Interesting to journal’s readership

Clear and concise English

Ask yourself

محرري # إن دائما يريدون الدورياتقيمة علمية مادة

Academic publishingPublication ethics

• Multiple submissions• Plagiarism• Author list– Who?– First & last authors– Corresponding author

• Data fabrication and falsification

• Conflicts of interest– Financial– Personal– Intellectual

المهنة آداب عن بعيدا# يتصرف م7ن6أمره سينكشف

Before you start … Reading improves your writing

How?

What to do

Argument structure

Structure & style

Get new ideas

Journal quality

What not to do

يساعدك جيدا# قارئا# تكون أن # جيدا كاتبا# لتكون

Before you start …Make time to read

• At least … – 20–30 min each day– 60 min, once a week

• Discuss with colleagues– Journal club

Read often

Before you start … How to read an article

• Start to finish?• Section by section?• Where is the relevant information?• Be efficient

Before you start …

Title and Abstract first

Strategies for reading


Self-assess knowledge of topic







Have you read similar papers?

Familiar with the terminology?

Do you understand the relevance of the hypothesis?


Last paragraph of Introduction for aims






Figures & Tables, then Results







Discussion for interpretation







Discussion for interpretation



Refer to Introduction and Methods if necessary


Before you start …Journal selection

Before you start …Factors to consider

• Aims & scope• Prestige• Impact factor• Target audience

• Open access• Publishing frequency• Indexing status• Publication type

Which factor is most important to you?

What is your publication goal?

Before you start …Timing

• Choose your target journal:– After you have decided you have enough results

for a publication – After a decision has been made on how high to

aim—high, medium or low impact– Before writing the Title, Abstract, Introduction

or Discussion sections


New findings

Evaluating significance: novelty

• How new are my results compared with those already published?

Medium to high impact

Low to medium impact

Incremental advances

Conceptual advances

Before you start … Evaluating significance: relevance

• How relevant is my work?

Applications for a specific field?

Applications across many fields?

Before you start … Evaluating significance: relevance

• Are your findings specific to a geographical region or ethnic population?

Global?

Regional?

Before you start … Evaluating significance: appeal

• Is my work in an area of ‘popular appeal’?• Examples:

– OLEDs– Cloud computing– Food irradiation– Medical devices

– Higgs boson– Green aviation– Stem cells– Global warming

Before you start … Edanz Journal Selector

edanzediting.com/journal_selector


Insert your proposed abstract

How to use

Before you start …Refine your results

Recommended journals

Advanced matching

Before you start …Make a decision

Semantic matching terms

Journal information

Similar published

articles

Before you start …Visit journal websites

Manuscript structure You need to tell a story

Beginning Middle End• Must be easy to read and easy to understand

Manuscript structureIMRaD

• Introduction• Methods • Results• and• Discussion

Assertion

Evidence

Affirmation

التي الرتابة بنفس مقالك تكتب الالمدونة في بها تظهر

Manuscript structure

TitleAbstract

IntroductionDiscussion

MethodsResults

The ‘write’ order

• For maximum clarity and consistency:

After selecting target journal

During your research

Write last

Manuscript structure First impressions count

Your abstract

Importance of your results

Validity of conclusions

Relevance of your aims

Judge your writing style

Likely the only part that will be read

ورقة الم أجزاء أهم هي قدمةaالع تطرحها التي مل

Manuscript structureAbstract

• Concise– Less than the specified word count

• Problem(s) addressed (10%)• Objectives/hypotheses (20%)• Techniques (10%)• Your most important results (40%)• Concluding statement (20%)

فيها الم تتوفر أن يجب قدمةالتاليه الشروط

Manuscript structureSample abstract

Seo et al. Biomaterials 2012, 34:1764‒1771.

Securing robust cell adhesion between cells and biomaterials is one of key considerations for tissue engineering. However, the cell adhesion investigation by the biophysical effects such as topography or rigidity of substrates has only been recently reported. In this study, we examined the spatial property of focal adhesions by changing the height of micropatterns in two kinds of microtopography (grid and post) and the stiffness of the substrates. We found that the focal adhesion localization is highly regulated by topographical variation (height) of gird micropattens but not the rigidity of substrates or the function of actin cytoskeleton, although the latters strongly influence the focal adhesion size or area. In detail, the change of the height of the grid micropatterns results in the switching of focal adhesion sites; as the height increases, the localization of focal adhesion is switched from top to bottom areas. This study demonstrates that the localization of focal adhesion on well-defined micropatterned substrates is critically determined by the topographical variation in the micropatterns.

The switching of focal adhesion maturation sites and actin filament activation for MSCs by topography of well-defined micropatterned surfaces

Manuscript structureSample abstract

In this study, we examined the spatial property of focal adhesions by changing the height of micropatterns in two kinds of microtopography (grid and post) and the stiffness of the substrates.

We found that the focal adhesion localization is highly regulated by topographical variation (height) of gird micropattens but not the rigidity of substrates or the function of actin cytoskeleton, although the latters strongly influence the focal adhesion size or area. In detail, the change of the height of the grid micropatterns results in the switching of focal adhesion sites; as the height increases, the localization of focal adhesion is switched from top to bottom areas.

Securing robust cell adhesion between cells and biomaterials is one of key considerations for tissue engineering. However, the cell adhesion investigation by the biophysical effects such as topography or rigidity of substrates has only been recently reported.

This study demonstrates that the localization of focal adhesion on well-defined micropatterned substrates is critically determined by the topographical variation in the micropatterns.

Background

Aims/Methods

Importantresults

Conclusion

Seo et al. Biomaterials 2012, 34:1764‒1771.

Manuscript structureIntroduction

What problem was studied?The answer to this question should be in

your IntroductionBeginning Middle End

تمت التي الحالة نوعية ما؟ دراستها

Manuscript structureIntroduction Beginning

• Sufficient background information• Comprehensive literature review• Cite previous publications– Review articles– Original articles

• What is the problem?

Manuscript structureIntroduction Middle

• Rationale– The reason(s) for doing this work?– Why is it important the problem is addressed?

• Explain how you addressed the problem• Do not state results from your work

Manuscript structureIntroduction End

• Clearly and explicitly state specific aims of your study

Manuscript structureMethods

• Logical order• New methods must be described in

sufficient detail that they can be reproduced• Established methods can be referenced– Save yourself time and effort

تناولت الذي كيف البحث موضوع؟ بدراسته قمت

Manuscript structureResults

• Past tense to describe your results• Do not explain the results• Avoid duplicating data among figures,

tables and text

التي النتائج هي ما؟ إليها توصلت

Manuscript structureDisplay items

• Present data quickly and efficiently• Keep it simple—use separate panels– Related data in panels

• Label all parts of figures• Legends must be able to ‘stand alone’

مؤثرة وسائل هي واالرقام اللوائح انواالفكار اآلراء تبادل عند جدا#

والمعلومات

Manuscript structure

What do your findings mean?The answer to this question should be in

your Discussion

Beginning Middle End

Discussion

التي النتائج لك تعني ماذا؟ لها توصلت

Manuscript structureDiscussion Beginning

• Avoid just restating results• Answer the research question(s) posed• Emphasize your major finding(s) first• State your major conclusion– Based on results presented

Manuscript structureDiscussion Middle

• Interpret your results– Compare with other studies• Same or different?

• Explain unexpected results• Describe limitations– How could the study be improved?

Manuscript structureDiscussion End

• Restate major conclusion(s)– In summary … or In conclusion

…• Possible applications and implications• Suggest future work

Coverage and Staffing Plan

Reader expectations Reader expectations

• Information is easier to understand when placed where most readers expect to find it

• Good writers are aware of these expectations

Gopen and Swan, American Scientist 1990, 78:550‒558.


Reader expectations Your reader should …

Understand your logic immediately

Not have to read slowly

Only have to read once


Reader expectations

Subject

Verb

1. Verb placement

• Readers expect verbs to closely follow subjects

Sentence

.

Subject and verb far apart = poor readability

Subject



Reader expectations

Subject

Help your reader

• Readers want verbs to closely follow subjects

Sentence

.

Subject

Verb



Reader expectations

Avoid reader confusion

• Readers become confused if 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 β2 subunit gene, was found to be expressed in response to long-term treatment with 1 μM cytochalasin D.


Reader expectations

The smallest ORF, a 105-nucleotide reading frame found in the third intron of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor β2 subunit gene, was found to be expressed in response to long-term treatment with 1 μM cytochalasin D.

The smallest ORF was found to be expressed in response to long-term treatment with 1 μM cytochalasin D. This ORF is a 105-nucleotide reading frame found in the third intron of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor β2 subunit gene.

We found the smallest ORF was expressed in response to long-term treatment with 1 μM cytochalasin D. This ORF …

Avoid reader confusion


Reader expectations Which voice?

• Active or passive?

– Blood samples were collected from 256 patients.– We collected blood from 256 patients.


Reader expectations 2. Active voice

• Sentences written in the active voice are:simpledirectclear

easy to read

SubjectVerb

Active


Reader expectations

Active voice is preferred

“Use the active voice when it is less wordy and more direct than the passive”. (3rd ed., pg. 42)

“Use the active voice rather than the passive voice…”. www.apastyle.org/learn/faqs/effective-verb-use.aspx

“As a matter of style, passive voice is typically, but not always, inferior to active voice”. (15th ed., pg. 177)

“In general, authors should use the active voice…”. (10th ed., pg. 320)

“Nature journals prefer authors to write in the active voice…”.

www.nature.com/authors/author_resources/how_write.html

ACS Style Guide

APA Style

Chicago Style Guide

AMA Manual of Style

Nature


Reader expectations

• Readers focus on information at the end of a

sentence.

.

take-home information

SubjectVerb

3. Stress position



Reader expectations Stress position

The dog sat when her mistress offered a treat.The dog sat when a treat was offered by her mistress.When the mistress offered her a treat, the dog sat.

• Readers, without thinking, concentrate on the end of a sentence.



Reader expectations

Topic position

.Stress position

SubjectVerb

• Readers expect a sentence/phrase to be a story about whoever shows up first

4. Topic position



Reader expectations Topic position

• Linkage and context

The family went into the courtyard to see the new puppy. The dog sat when her owner offered a treat. Everyone was so excited they broke into applause. However, as the courtyard was situated right next to my bedroom, the sound woke me from my sleep.

idea ideaideaidea

Topic link

sentence



Reader expectations 5. Short sentences

Reading once…4% of readers can understand a 27-word sentence

75% of readers can understand a 17-word sentencePinner and Pinner (1998) Communication Skills

Goals to aim for:One idea per sentence

Maximum 25 words per sentenceLess than four 30-word sentences in the manuscript


Reader expectations Simple is best

• Simple language is best• Makes your work more relevant• Minimizes confusion—maximizes

understanding• More people will understand your work– More citations!


Reader expectations

Help your readers understand

“If you can’t explain something simply, you don’t understand it well.”

– Albert Einstein

• Write to express not impress• Consider your audience – their

native language may not be English

Coverage and Staffing PlanCover letters

First impression for journal editors

SignificanceRelevance

Level of English

Why your work is important

Cover letters

Coverage and Staffing PlanCover letters The purpose of cover

letters

• Introduces manuscript to journal editor• A guide for the editor• ‘Sells’ your work


Dear Editor-in-Chief,

I am sending you our manuscript entitled “Techniques to detect circoviruses in Australian bird species” by Raye et al. We would like to have the manuscript considered for publication in Virology Methods Online.

Please let me know of your decision at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely yours,

Warren Raye, PhD

Bad example

Not personal

Too short

No information about the manuscript

تجنب العمومية


Provide details

General guidelines

Manuscript title/publication type

Corresponding author details

Background, rationale, results

Address editor personally

Why are your findings important?

Reviewer recommendations


Always include

“Must-have” statements

Not currently under consideration by

other journals

Source of funding

Authors agree on manuscript/journal

Original and unpublished

No conflicts of interest

Authorship contributions


Dear Dr Graeber,

Please find enclosed our manuscript entitled “Amyloid-like inclusions in the brains of Huntington’s 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 Huntington’s disease (HD) patients; however, the role of these inclusions in the disease process has remained unclear. One suspected disease-causing mechanism in Huntington’s disease and other polyglutamine disorders is the potential for the mutant protein to undergo a conformational change to a more stable anti-parallel β-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.

Please address all correspondence to….

Give the background to the research

What was done and what was found

Interest to journal’s readers

A good cover letter

الفكرة تحديد عليك

Academic publishing

Results novel?Topic relevant?

The process

Accepted—publication!

EditorManuscript + cover letter

Peer review

Revision

Reject

New experimentsImprove readabilityAdd information

Publisher AdaptationsPeer review

Publication path

Find new journal

Decision letter

Rejected

Respond to comments

Revise manuscript

Resubmit


Editor decisions

Findings well communicated?

Reviewer commentsDecision letter

Level of revisions needed?

Reviewers in agreement?

Reject Will be considered

Major/minor revisions

Accept

RareSignificant flaws


Point-by-point

Revision

Respond to every comment

Refer to line and page numbers

Use a different color font

Highlight the text

Easy to see changes

Polite & professional


Revision

• Conduct additional experiments and analyses as suggested– If this is impossible, you must explain why

• You can disagree with reviewers• Comply with deadlines


How to disagree

The Reviewer has completely misunderstood our paper. This Reviewer is a poor choice for our manuscript. Please send our manuscript to another Reviewer.

The Reviewer’s comment is important in time-resolved systems. However, our model is concerned with steady-state dynamics; therefore, the fast femtosecond lifetimes are negligible. We have clarified this misunderstanding by adding two sentences in the revised manuscript on page 3, lines 2–7.

Poor response

Better response

Impolite

Justification


Point-by-point responses

Reviewer comment: Some additional fluorescence data are required to determine the intrinsic radiative singlet decays.

Response: In accordance with your suggestion, we have provided the fluorescence spectra in the Supporting Information. Our time-resolved measurements obtained the intrinsic radiative rates in accordance with the Smith model [Smith et al, 2011]. We have added two sentences (page 3, lines 5–10) to explain our analysis and Smith’s model (Ref. 15, page 3, line 8).

Changes made

Location of changes in revised

manuscript


Revised manuscript

“…The steady-state fluorescence spectra shown in Figure 4, show vibronic structure. Re-adsorption effects are negligible by using solutions with ODs less than 0.1. The radiative and non-radiative lifetimes are independent of the initial intensity of the emitted light. The fluorescence time-resolved spectra are given in the Supporting Information (Figures S2 and S3). The fluorescence decay rates are analyzed based on Smith’s model [15]. In this model the effects of photon scattering from aggregated polymers in solution are minimized.”

12345678910

Publisher AdaptationsPeer review Understanding

reviewer comments

“The English needs to be improved”“Your writing is difficult to understand”

• Grammar & spelling• Long, complex sentences and paragraphs• Gaps in the logic• Poor manuscript organization• Too much information


The grammar and spelling is correct in my manuscript’

‘The authors conclude that the quantum yield increases; however, they do not give the fluorescence rates for the individual polymers. That is one of my concerns about this methodology.’

Unclear comments

What is the Reviewer asking?

What should the author do?




Unclear comments

‘Why didn’t the authors provide the fluorescence rates?’




Unclear comments

The authors should provide the fluorescence rates

OR

Justify why the rates have not been given

Publisher AdaptationsPeer review Conflicting reviewer

comments

Reviewer 1: Please provide additional absorption spectra for the individual dendrimers.

Reviewer 2: I do not think that the absorption spectra for the individual dendrimers are necessary; however, the authors should provide the transmission curves for the device.

Agree with a Reviewer Justify reason Contact Editor

• Edanzedanzediting.com

– Appendix slides– Journal selector– Cover letter templates– Response letter templates– Past presentations– Links

Free online resources

Thank youGood luck!

# وحظا ، شكرا#سعيدا#

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warren raye, phd senior editor edanz group author academy—getting your research published...

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