2007sdp-9anderson

7/27/2019 2007SDP-9Anderson

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Writing a scientific paper

English in scientific communication

Evolution of the scientific paper

What makes a good scientific paper?

Analysis of a highly cited scientific paper


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J Med Libr Assoc [2005] 93, 381-383


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English language

styles

Style information per word

Scientific english High

Literary english Low


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English style for a scientific paper

The best english is that which gives the sense

in the fewest short words (Instructions to Authors, Journal of Bacteriology)

Grandiloquence has no place in scientific writing(Booth, as cited by Robert Day How to write and publish a scientific paper)


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A naturalists life would be a happy one if he hadonly to observe and never to write.

--- Charles Darwin


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The Keys to acceptance of your scientific manuscript

Significance and Novelty (80-90%)

Clarity of presentation (10-20%)


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The modern scientific paper

Title

Abstract

Introduction

Materials and Methods

Results (including Figures and Tables)

Discussion

References


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Organization of the scientific paper(Robert Day How to write and publish a scientific paper)

What was your problem?

- Introduction

How did you study the problem?

- Materials and Methods

What did you find?

- Results

What do your findings mean?

- Discussion


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1. (157 Citations) Meylan et al, Cardif is an adaptor protein in the RIG-I

antiviral pathway and is targeted by hepatitis C virus

Nature 437, 1167-1172 (2005)

2. (60 citations) Giovannoni et al, Genome streamlining in a

cosmopolitan oceanic bacterium. Science 309, 1242-1245 (2005)

3. (45 citations) Haller at al, The interferon response circuit: inductionand suppression by pathogenic viruses. Virology 344, 119-130 (2006)

Source: Thompson In-Cites


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282,778 Lowry 1951 J Biol Chem Protein Measurement with the Folin phenol reagent

193,046 Laemmli 1970 Nature Cleavage of structural proteins during assembly of

head of bacteriophage T4

117,410 Bradford 1976 Anal Biochem Rapid and sensitive method for quantitation of microgram

quantities utilizing principle of protein binding

68,996 Sambrook 1989 Molecular

Cloning

Lab Manual

62,532 Sanger 1977 PNAS DNA sequencing with chain-terminating inhibitors

54,765 Chomczynski 1987 Anal Biochem Single step method of RNA isolation by acid

guanidinium thiocyanate phenol chloroform extraction

47,932 Towbin 1979 PNAS Electrophoretic transfer of proteins from polyacrylamide

gels to nitrocellulose sheets - procedure and some

applications

36,731 Maniatis 1982 Molecular Cloning

34,869 Folch 1957 J Biol Chem A simple method for the isolation and purification of

total lipids from animal tissues

Most cited works in Web of Science as of January 2006


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50 most highly cited articles

Publication Year Number of articles

Before 1950 3

1950-1959 7

1960-1969 7

1970-1979 12

1980-1989 16

1990-2005 5

Source: ISI Web of Science


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Top cited journals and articles 1996-2006 (source: Thomson)

Rank Journal Papers Citations

1. J Biol Chem 59,061 1,761,650

Nagase et al [1999] Matrix Metalloproteinases. J Biol Chem 274, 21491 1339

2. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 29,703 1,382,162Eisen et al [1998] Cluster analysis and display of genome-wide expression

patterns. PNAS 95, 14863 3788

3. Nature 10,947 1,217,027

Banchereau et al [1998] Dendritic cells and the control of immunity.

Nature 392, 245 4665

4. Science 10,296 1,181,938Venter et al [2001] The sequence of the human genome. Science 291, 1304 3670

5. Physical Rev Letters 32,732 843,701

Perdew et al [1996] Generalized gradient approximation

made simple. Phys Rev Lett 77, 3865 5754


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Top cited journals and articles 1996-2006 (source: Thomson)

Rank Journal Papers Citations

6. J Am Chem Soc 27,362 717,785

Zhao et al [1998] Nonionic triblock..silica structures. JACS 120, 6024 1141

7. Physical Reviews B 52,173 601,422Kresse et al [1996] Efficient iterative schemes.set. Phys Rev B 54, 11169 4754

8. Cell 3,780 573,285

Levine et al [1997] p53 the cellular gatekeeper for growth and division.

Cell 88, 323 3467

9. J Immunology 17,904 520,931Hoshino et al [1999] Cutting edge: toll-like receptor 4-deficient mice

are hyporesponsive to LPS... J Immunol 162, 3749 1029

10. New Engl J Med 3,864 511,082

Ross et al [1999] Mechanisms of disease - atherosclerosis -

an inflammatory disease. N Engl J Med 340, 115 5457


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The modern scientific paper

Title

Abstract

Introduction



Discussion

References


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The modern scientific paperWhere to start?

Title

Abstract

Introduction



Discussion

References


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The modern scientific paperWhere to start?

Title

Abstract

Introduction



Discussion

References


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The Results Section

defines the paper

short, clear and concise

logical flow (needs transition phrases)

avoid discussion

keep paragraphs simple (one major idea)


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The Discussion Section

discuss how Results advance current knowledge

should be thorough but not repetitive

be factual, avoid antagonistic language

main role is to establish significance of Results



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The Introduction Section

inform the reader of the problem or focus

provide brief state of knowledge

provide Objectives and/or Hypothesis

main role is to rationalize or set the stage

for the study



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The Abstract

state problem

summarize results

state conclusion and significance


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Abstract

The Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) gene has been localized to the same region

to which the Lps locus (endotoxin unresponsive gene locus) is mapped.

To examine the role of TLR4 in LPS responsiveness, we have generatedmice lacking TLR4. Macrophages and B cells from TLR4-deficient mice

did not respond to LPS. All these manifestations were quite similar to

those of LPS-hyporesponsive C3H/HeJ mice. Furthermore, C3H/HeJ

mice have, in the cytoplasmic portion of TLR4, a single point mutation

of the amino acid that is highly conserved among the IL-1/Toll receptor

family. Over expression of wild-type TLR4 but not the mutant TLR4 from

C3H/HeJ mice activated NF-kB. Taken together, the present study

demonstrates that TLR4 is the gene product that regulates LPS response.

Key:

- State problem

- Summarize results

- State conclusion and significance


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Summary - things to remember

organization, organization, organization

short, clear and concise language

logical flow


focus on clear message for significance


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The best way to become a successful writer is to readgood writing, remember it, and then forget where you

remember it from

--- Gene Fowler (1890-1960)

Writing is easy. All you do is stare at a blank sheet

of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead

--- Gene Fowler (1890-1960)

2007sdp-9anderson

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