The Essentials of Manuscript Preparation Thierry Olivry, DrVet, PhD, DipECVD, DipACVD

Scientific Article Writing Some Questions to be Addressed –Where should I publish my article? –Who should be an author, in what order? –How to make my abstract effective? –How long should my introduction be? –How detailed should the methods be? –Presenting results: tables, figures or text? –How should I structure my discussion? –How can I deal with so many references?

Scientific Article Writing Where Should I Publish? –What is the “impact factor”? IF = average number of times articles from the journal published in the past two years have been cited in the journal citation report year IF = 1.0 means that, on average, the articles published one or two years ago have been cited one time What is most important? impact factor or most relevant readership?

Scientific Article Writing Impact Factor / Ranks NE J Med53.486#3 Nature36.104#9 Vet Microbiol3.256# 1,211 Vet Immunol2.176# 2,319

Scientific Article Writing Where Should I Publish? –Maximizing publication effectiveness: Citation databases: Medline (Pubmed), Web of Science, CAB abstracts Favor journals with rapid publication Journals with “e-pubs ahead of print” Open access journals: PLoS One – 2010 IF: after 5 years BMC Vet Res – 2010 IF: after 5 yrs

Scientific Article Writing Authorship –Who should be an author? Uniform requirements for publication in biomedical journals ( –Authorship qualifications = substantial contributions to conception and design, or acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data 2. drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content 3. final approval of the version to be published

Scientific Article Writing Authorship –Important considerations (ICMJE): Acquisition of funding, collection of data, or general supervision of the research group, alone, does not justify authorship All persons designated as authors should qualify for authorship, and all those who qualify should be listed Each author should have participated sufficiently in the work to take public responsibility for appropriate portions of the content

Scientific Article Writing Title and Key-Words –Title: Must be informative about the study Consider using “hot” words that may be searched often –Key-words: Consider “homonym variation” between title and key-words to enhance retrieval chances Examples: 1.Discipline: e.g. immunology, allergy 2.Species: e.g. dog (or canine) 3.Organ: e.g. skin 4.Disease: e.g. atopy, pemphigus 5.Category: e.g. pathogenesis, treatment, clinical signs

Scientific Article Writing Abstract –Important points: Balanced, precise, relevant, accessible Follow journal guidelines! Structured versus narrative –Example of abstract structure: Background statement: 1-2 sentences Objectives: 1 sentence Method summary: short and to the point! Results: major points Conclusions: implication for research, practice

Scientific Article Writing Unbalanced Abstract

Scientific Article Writing Balanced Abstract

Scientific Article Writing Introduction –Important points: Short, relevant, informative, enticing “Hourglass concept” “Sinusoid”, not “ reverse sigmoid”! Start with an outline!

Scientific Article Writing Introduction –Example of introduction structure: Definition of the problem, disease Importance, prevalence, relevance Areas of controversies Missing information Study objectives Short teaser?

Scientific Article Writing Material & Methods –Important points: Short, clear, informative, structured How much detail? Enough to permit the reproduction of experiments Online supplements –Example of “Material & Methods” structure: Study subjects, tissues, cells (Main reagents) Techniques 1, 2, 3…. Statistical analyses

Scientific Article Writing Results –Important points: Short, clear, informative, structured Text, figures or tables? Avoid duplication of information between text tables and figures Avoid discrepancies between text, tables and figures Don’t discuss the findings yet! –Example of results structure: Same headings as in material & methods

Scientific Article Writing Tables –Main objectives: Should complement the text Should be short and not too wide Not too much information (i.e. not too “tight”) Not too many abbreviations Clear, easily read Should stand alone for comprehension Don’t forget title, caption or abbreviation explanation (separate section)

Tables: Which One is Better?

Scientific Article Writing Figures –Main objectives: Should complement the text Clear, easily read and understood Should stand alone for comprehension Be artistic! play with composite figures Judicious use of color, grayscale Beware of ethical “enhancements” Minimum resolution: 300 dpi (6-8’’ wide) Don’t forget title, caption or abbreviation explanation (separate section)!

Scientific Article Writing Figures

Scientific Article Writing Discussion –Important points: Short, focused, relevant, structured Don’t stray away from your main objectives! “Sterile” versus “emphatic” style Use the richness of the English language! “Hourglass concept” Sinusoid, not reverse sigmoid! Make an outline!

Scientific Article Writing Discussion –Example of discussion structure: Introductory statement: main results (?) Paragraphs corresponding to sections similar to those of material & methods and results Implication for research Implication for practice Concluding statement

Scientific Article Writing References –Important points: Follow journal guidelines for reference format!!! Verify that all in text citations have matching references! Attempt to use “primary” citations except for common knowledge (e.g. “… reviewed in 17 ) Use reference management software: RefWorks, Endnote, Reference Manager Other alternative: Word’s endnote function

Scientific Article Writing Other Important Items –Acknowledgements: For reagent gifts For technical help For funding source For advice on content or manuscript –Conflict of interest: May be required List any consulting/lecture honoraria or research funding that could have any direct or indirect link with the current study

Scientific Article Writing Conclusions –A published article should be the final outcome of all (most) research projects: Excellent time to gather all results and “digest” them for others Peer-review assessment of your work Availability for present and future generations Important outcome measure for obtaining a faculty position and for promotion –Excellent exercise in penmanship, logic, organization and artistry… be creative! – Follow journal guidelines!!!