Peer Review and Publication

in APS Journals

Submission and Content D. Benos

Peer Review & Manuscript Production M. Reich

Ethics D. Benos & M. Reich

 The Publications
of the
American Physiological Society
 How to Write and Publish
a Scientific Article for
the APS Family of Journals

• the overall process

• elements of a journal article

• the review process

• the production process: (Margaret Reich)

 Process of Research
COMPLETION OF RESEARCH
PREPARATION OF MANUSCRIPT
SUBMISSION OF MANUSCRIPT
ASSIGNMENT AND REVIEW
DECISION

REJECTION REVISION
RESUBMISSION
RE-REVIEW

ACCEPTANCE REJECTION
PUBLICATION
Getting a Paper Published

1. Competition for space in journals is intense.

2. Cost of publication is high,

e.g., AJP cost per page is $360.

3. Rejection rates vary among journals.

- AJP = 50%
- JBC = 65%
- NEJM, Science, Nature = 90%
Journal Pages Published

1990 26,216

1995 32,952

2000 36,382

2001 37,923

2002 36,268
 Major Reasons for
a Paper Being Rejected

1. Inappropriate for the particular

journal

2. Merely confirmatory

3. Describes poorly designed or

constructed studies

4. Poorly written
 Tips
1. Know the journal, its editor, and why you
submitted your paper there.

2. Pay close attention to spelling, grammar,

and punctuation.

3. Make sure references are comprehensive

and accurate.

4. Avoid careless mistakes.

5. Read and conform to “Instructions for Authors”

Scientific Writing Should Be:
Reader-Based
Purposeful
Accurate
Clear
Concise
Precise
Simple

and Contain:
no invented words
no laboratory jargon
few, if any, abbreviations
 SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION: Publishing a Paper
1. Readiness
- what is the question (hypothesis)
- did the experiments test it
- were there secondary hypotheses
- experimental design strengths & weaknesses
- controls – appropriate and sufficient

2. Tables and Figures Finalized

- clarify and solidify conclusions

3. Authorship Issues (Contributorship)

- guidelines: design of investigation
conduct of experiments
interpreting results and developing conclusions
writing, reviewing, and revising the paper
providing intellectual environment
SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION: Publishing a Paper
(continued)

4. Ethics of Scientific Publication

- animals – IACUC
- humans – IRB
- other

5. Choosing the Correct Journal (Instructions for Authors)

6. Relate Conclusions to the Existing Body of Knowledge

7. Logic
 Essential Elements of
a Journal Article
1. What is the rationale of a project?

2. What is the historical context of the work?

3. What audience are you targeting?

- What journal (quality and prestige)?

4. How do your findings relate to the

existing body of knowledge?

5. Conform to “Instructions for Authors”.

 Use of Color
In 2001, 1558 color figures
were published; 903 were
free to members at a subsidy
of $225,750.
In 2002, 2018 color figures
were published; 1260 were
free to members at a subsidy
of $315,000.
 Color Figures

Use color only if

scientifically warranted.
 Examples of color images
that are not scientifically necessary:
 Examples of
scientifically necessary color images
Color photographs/photomicrographs:
MRI scans:
Instructions Found on APS Website

http://www.the-aps.org/publications/i4a/prep_manuscript.htm
 This document will take you through all the major steps of preparing
your manuscript for submission to the American Physiological Society
Journals, from how best to format and organize the paper itself, to
how to create digital images suitable for print and web publication, to
advice on how to present supplemental data files such as video clips
and long tables.
These instructions pertain to all of the American Journal of Physiology
sections, as well as the Journal of Applied Physiology, the Journal of
Neurophysiology, and Physiological Genomics.
Advances in Physiology Education, News in Physiological Sciences
(invited only), and Physiological Reviews (invited only) have specific
instructions that you should review if you are submitting to them.

Main Contents
General Information
Formatting and Composition
Manuscript Sections
Types of Articles
Figures
Tables
Mathematical Equations and Modeling
Data Supplements
 Checklist for Reviews
1. Importance of research question.

1. Originality of work.

1. Delineation of strengths and

weaknesses of methodology /
experimental / statistical approach /
interpretation of results.

1. Writing style and figure/table

presentation.

5. Ethical concerns (animal/human)

 Reviewer Responsibilities
Modified from The Council of Science Editors

1. Responsibility to Authors
- obligated to treat author and manuscript with
respect
- provide honest assessment of the value of the
research
- maintain confidentiality about the manuscripts
- resist the temptation to use the review as an
opportunity to suggest that the reviewer’s own
published work be referenced

2. Responsibility to Journals
- reviewers’ responsibilities to journals fall into
several categories: quality, timing of reviews, and
avoidance of conflicts of interest
Ethical Issues in the Conduct
of Scientific
Research and Publishing
 Summary of APS
Ethical Policies/Procedures Statement

1. Original Work
2. All authors made a scientific contribution
3. All authors have read manuscript,
and are responsible for content
4. Change of Authorship
5. Conflict of Interest
6. Procedure
Ethical Responsibilities
of a Scientist

Honesty

Objectivity

Fairness
Ethical Conduct of Research

- Experimental Techniques

- Data Analysis

- Conflicts of Interest

- Sharing of Research Materials

 Authorship Responsibilities
• The manuscript is not currently under consideration
elsewhere and the research reported will not be submitted
for publication elsewhere until a final decision has been
made as to its acceptability by the journal;
• The manuscript is truthful, original work without
fabrication, fraud, or plagiarism;
• I have made an important scientific contribution to the
study and am thoroughly familiar with the primary data;
and
• I have read the complete manuscript and take
responsibility for the content and completeness of the
manuscript and understand that if the paper, or part of the
paper, is found to be faulty or fraudulent, I share
responsibility.
 Conflict of Interest Disclosure

• All funding sources supporting the work and

all institutional or corporate affiliations of
mine are acknowledged. Except as disclosed
on a separate attachment, I certify that I have
no commercial association (e.g.,
consultancies, stock, ownership, equity
interests, patent-licensing arrangements) that
might pose a conflict of interest in connection
with the submitted article (letter attached).
Common Ethical Issues
“The Seven Deadly Sins”
1. Duplicate Data
(Data Fragmentation)

2. Data Manipulation

3. Duplicate Manuscripts

4. Plagiarism

5. Author Conflicts

6. Animal Use Concerns

7. Human Use Concerns

 Prior Publication
• Any printed material describing the findings,
methods, or results of a submitted/in press
manuscript in excess of 400 words.

• Any published tables or illustrations.

• Videotapes of professional meetings distributed

to the public/press describing data included in a
manuscript submitted for publication/in press.

• Electronic manuscript of posters available to the

public and or general scientific community via
the internet.
 Duplicate Publication

- Refers to the re-publication of material

that has been previously copyrighted
 Redundant Publication

- Refers to the publication of copyrighted

material with additional new or
unpublished data
 INTEGRITY OF A SCIENTIST

1. Intellectual honesty

2. Accurate assignment of credit

3. Fairness in peer review

4. Collegiality in scientific interactions

5. Transparency in conflicts of interest

6. Protection of human subjects in the

conduct of research

7. Humane care and treatment of animals

8. Adherence to mutual responsibility within

and between research teams
Manuscript Peer Review
and Production

Margaret Reich
APS Director of Publications