160219 edanz utsunomiya

Trevor Lane, PhD Julian Tang, PhD

Author Success Workshop:

Writing a Research Paper with Impact

Utsunomiya University

19 February 2016

S

Be an effective communicator

Your goal is not only to be published, but also to be widely read and cited

Preparing well for academic publishing

Selecting the best journal

Developing your writing skills

Logically communicating your ideas in your manuscript

Promoting your research


Section 1

Skills needed on the path to publication success

Preparation

Journal Selection

Writing

Submission

Peer Review

Publication Success

• Training in reading papers, ethics, writing, presenting

• Expert Scientific Review

• Expert Scientific Review

• Journal Selection & submission strategy

• Training in ethics, writing, presenting

• Revising • Editing • Reformatting

• Training in ethics, writing

• Editing • Abstract

Development • Cover Letter

Development • Reviewer

Recommendation

• Training in navigating peer review

• Review Editing • Point-by-point

checking • Response

Letter Development

• Reformatting

• Press release, news writing

• Media & presentation training

• Training for early career researchers

• Training in writing grant proposals

• Grant proposal editing

Patenting Engagement

Coverage and Staffing Plan Prepare well

Why English?

International language of academia & research (& business, policy, diplomacy…)

International reputation

Career advancement

Overseas collaborations

Why publish in English?

Maximum exposure/use

Work abroad; conferences

Coverage and Staffing Plan Prepare well Writing a manuscript

S

My manuscript is a written record of my findings

My findings speak for themselves, even if the manuscript is written poorly

Good English means only grammar and spelling

Using complex words makes my writing more impressive

Your manuscript is to communicate your findings to your research & academic communities

You need a well-written manuscript to effectively communicate your findings

Keep things simple – Using complex words makes your writing more difficult to understand

Good English means clear, concise arguments; logical organization; & high readability


Increase impact

High quality research

Logical, engaging, useful message

Original and novel research

Well-designed, well-reported,

transparent study News value, importance, timeliness

What editors want

High scientific & technical quality, appropriate & clear methods,

sound research & publication ethics

High readability & interest; clear, real-

world relevance

Impact factor (past 2 years) = No. of citations / No. of articles


Research Article (Original Article)

Short Communication (Research Note)

Case Study Technical Note Review Article Letter to the Editor

Brief report about a specific finding

Most common; full-length paper

Brief report about a specific situation

Brief report about a new methodology

Summary of recent advances in a field

Brief discussion about a published article; may contain research findings (= Research Letter)

Types of articles

Select your journal early!


Logically organize your ideas; adhere

to journal guidelines

Communicate well in English

Factors to consider when writing a manuscript

Importance of planning

Draft outline & abstract/title; Draft & revise

manuscript

Edit manuscript & finalize

abstract/title


Submissions

Plagiarism

Data manipulation

Authorship

Submit to only one journal at a time; do not republish the same paper; no salami

Paraphrase and cite all sources

Do not fabricate or falsify data; do not manipulate parts of images

Study design or data acquisition/analysis; Writing/revising; Approval; Accountable

Publication ethics

Funding & COIs Disclose any funding and financial/personal

relationships

Safety Humans: Approval, signed consent, privacy;

animal and environmental safety

Committee on Publication Ethics, COPE


Choose your journal early!

Author guidelines • Manuscript structure • Word limits, References • Procedures, Copyright

Aims and scope • Topics • Readership • Be sure to emphasize

• Learn writing style • Check relevant references • Check originality, importance & usefulness!


Section 2

Journal selection Evaluating impact

How new/important are your findings? How strong is the evidence?

Incremental or large advance? Low or high impact journal

Novelty

Assess your findings honestly & objectively

New type of high-efficiency solar cell • Medium to high impact factor journal Improve the efficiency of an existing solar cell • Low to medium impact factor journal

Journal selection Evaluating impact

How broadly relevant are your findings? International or regional journal

General or specialized journal

Relevance/Application

Assess your findings honestly & objectively

Aims & scope, Readership

Journal selection Factors to consider when choosing a journal

Aims & scope, Readership

Publication speed/frequency

Online/Print, Open access

Indexing, Rank, Impact factor

Acceptance rate/criteria

Article type / evidence level

“Luxury” / Traditional / Megajournal

Online first, Supplemental materials, Cost, Copyright

Cascading review, Fast track

Journal selection Publication models

Subscription-based

• Mostly free for the author • Reader has to pay

Open access • Free for the reader • Author usually has to pay

Hybrid • Subscription-based journal • Has open access options

Journal selection Open access models

Green

• Can self-archive accepted version in personal, university, or repository website

• May allow final version to be archived

• May have embargo period before self-archiving is allowed

Gold • Free for public on publication • Author might keep © but may

pay (e.g., US$1000–3000)

Journal selection Open access myths

Open access (OA) is expensive and low quality

• Not all OA journals charge a fee

• Many research grants and universities pay for OA fees

• Journals may offer waiver for authors who cannot afford it

• OA journals are peer reviewed

• Impact factors may be lower partly because they are newer

Journal selection Predatory journals

Some Open Access journals are not good

Easy way to get money from authors

• Promise quick and easy publication • Often ask for a “submission/handling” fee • May copy name of real journal; false IF • May not exist, or may be of low quality • Beware of spam e-mails!

If you are ever unsure, please check Beall’s List of Predatory Publishers

http://scholarlyoa.com/2016/01/05/bealls-list-of-predatory-publishers-2016/

Journal selection

Reputable publisher Springer, Elsevier, Wiley, PLOS, etc.

Editorial board International and familiar

Indexed Indexed by common databases

Authors Do you recognize the authors?

Fees Paid only after acceptance

Trustworthy journals

Journal selection

THINK Trusted and appropriate?

SUBMIT Only if OK

thinkchecksubmit.org

CHECK Do you know the journal?

Trustworthy journals

Journal selection Journal Selector www.edanzediting.co.jp/journal_selector

Insert your proposed abstract or keywords

Journal selection

Matching journals

Journal Selector www.edanzediting.co.jp/journal_selector

Filter/sort by: • Field of study • Impact factor • Open access • Publishing

frequency

Journal’s aims & scope, IF,

and publication frequency

Journal selection Journal Selector www.edanzediting.co.jp/journal_selector

• Author guidelines • Journal website

Are they currently publishing similar articles?

Have you cited relevant ones?

Similar published articles


Section 3

Coverage and Staffing Plan Effective writing

Start with your illustrations

Where to start?

Your findings form the basis of your manuscript

First step: logically organize your display items

Logic, then language

Figure 1

Figure 2

Table 1

Figure 3

Logical flow (Chronology, Most to least

important, General to

specific, Whole+parts)

Is anything missing?

? Additional analyses?

Coverage and Staffing Plan Effective writing Prepare an outline

I. Introduction A. General background B. Related studies C. Problems in the field D. Aims

II. Methods A. Subjects/Samples/Materials B. General methods C. Specific methods D. Statistical analyses

III. Results A. Key points about Figure 1 B. Key points about Table 1 C. Key points about Figure 2 D. Key points about Figure 3 E. Key points about Figure 4

IV. Discussion A. Major conclusion B. Key findings that support conclusion C. Relevance to published studies D. Limitations E. Unexpected results F. Implications G. Future directions

Write down key ideas in bullet points, as IMRaD (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion)

No need for sentences or correct

English yet Then, draft the title/abstract

List information from your reading in the appropriate section: Paraphrase with citations!

Coverage and Staffing Plan Effective writing Get feedback

Write your manuscript section-by-section – Less stressful – Get feedback after each section; set deadlines – Easier for your colleagues to review

Revise for content, overall logic, and journal style (see guidelines/past papers)

Edit for consistency, conciseness, clarity & accuracy

Get feedback from pre-submission peer review

Get language assistance

Coverage and Staffing Plan Effective writing Improving readability

Keep it simple!

Use short sentences 15–20 words; one idea per sentence

Prefer simpler/shorter words

Use active voice Simpler, more direct, and easier to read

Most writing style guides and journals prefer it… “Nature journals prefer authors to write in the active voice”

(http://www.nature.com/authors/author_resources/how_write.html)

Coverage and Staffing Plan Effective writing Active voice

Sentences written in the active voice are:

simple direct clear easy to read

The mechanisms regulating substrate rigidity were investigated by us.

Passive

We investigated the mechanisms regulating substrate rigidity.

Active


Nature’s guide to authors:

Nature is an international journal covering all the sciences. Contributions should therefore be written clearly and simply so that they are accessible to readers in other disciplines and to readers for whom English is not their first language.

www.nature.com/nature/authors/gta/index.html#a4

“I should use complex words and sentences to make my writing more impressive.”


How can this sentence be improved?

• Too long (35 words)

• Two ideas in the same sentence

– First idea is split

Economists considered Apple Inc., a company that was founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak and incorporated in 1977 in Cupertino, California, to be one of the leaders in the development of modern electronic appliances.

Keep it short and simple


How can this sentence be improved?

Economists considered Apple Inc., a company that was founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak and incorporated in 1977 in Cupertino, California, to be one of the leaders in the development of modern electronic appliances.


• Too long (35 words)

• Two ideas in the same sentence

– First idea is split


Economists considered Apple Inc. to be one of the leaders in the development of modern electronic appliances. This company was founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak and incorporated in 1977 in Cupertino, California.


Two 17-word sentences

One idea per sentence


1. You deserve the funding, but the study design is not perfect.

Which sentence suggests that you

will get funding?

2. The study design is not perfect, but you deserve the funding.

Native English style


The study design is not perfect, but you deserve the

funding. The grant will be awarded in two stages.

Stress position

Topic position

The topic position introduces the idea of the current sentence

Readers focus at the end of the sentence to determine what is important. This stress position also introduces

the topic of the next sentence (useful for explanations and processes).

Sentence and paragraph structure


idea idea idea idea

Topic link

sentence


The government of Tanzania has been striving to introduce Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in education. In teacher education, technology was introduced through the ICT-Connect-TED project. The program aimed at improving the quality of teachers through the use of ICT. ICT-Connect-TED provided computers and a networking infrastructure to all 34 teacher training colleges in Tanzania.

Source: Kafyulilo et al. Educ Inf Technol. 5 May 2015; DOI 10.1007/s10639-015-9398-0


One method of producing carbon fibre precursors, with the potential of commercial applicability, is electrospinning. It has previously been demonstrated that electrospinning can successfully produce precursor fibres that can be converted into high quality carbon fibres with controlled fibre diameters and morphologies. The majority of electrospun carbon fibre precursors reported in the literature are PAN-based. The high cost of PAN, depleting petroleum resources and the toxicity of its solvent, dimethylformamide, has motivated research to look into alternative electrospinnable materials to produce cheaper and more environmentally friendly carbon fibres. Because petroleum-based carbon resources exhibit negative environmental impacts and are of limited availability further motivates research towards green carbon fibres.

Recently, a wide range of renewable resource-based materials have been investigated for the fabrication of carbon materials. Among them, lignin has been looked at as a very promising candidate…

Schreiber et al. J Mater Sci. 2014; 49: 7949–7958.

Topic sentence

Stress sentence Topic sentence

Supporting sentences


Coverage and Staffing Plan Effective writing Avoid mistakes 1

Prefer Enough Clear Determine Begin Try Very Size Keep Enough End Use

Avoid complex words… Adequate Apparent Ascertain Commence Endeavor Exceedingly Magnitude* Retain Sufficient Terminate* Utilization *OK in certain fields (magnitude of earthquakes, to terminate gene expression)


“A number of studies have shown that the charged group...”

“...as described in our previous study.”

“...at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min.”

“As a matter of fact, such a low-temperature reaction…”

“That is another reason why, we believe…”

“It is well known that most of the intense diffraction peaks...” “It is well known that Most of the intense diffraction peaks...”

“As a matter of fact, such a This low-temperature reaction…”

“A number of studies have shown that The charged group...”

“That is thus another reason why Therefore, we believe…”

“...as described previously in our previous study.”

“...at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min.”

Avoid mistakes 2

Avoid complexity: delete extra words!


Avoid At a concentration of 2 g/L At a temperature of 37C In order to In the first place Four in number Green color Subsequent to Prior to Future plans; past history

Prefer At 2 g/L At 37C To First Four Green After Before Plans; history

Avoid mistakes 2


Estimate Estimation

Decide Decision

Assess Assessment

We made a/an… We conducted a/an… Extra verb

We decided… Clear, short, and direct

Avoid mistakes 3

Don’t hide verbs inside nouns!


Readers expect…

verbs to closely follow their subjects heavy ends (not starts) of clauses

Subject

The device leakage current of the transistors fabricated on SiO2 with different self-assembled monolayers decreased by two orders of magnitude after annealing.

The transistors were fabricated on SiO2 with different self-assembled monolayers. The device leakage current decreased by two orders of magnitude after annealing.

Verb

Avoid mistakes 4


Compared with is for saying how things are different

The accuracy of the new program was reduced

compared to the previous program.

The accuracy of the new program was reduced compared with that of the previous program.

The accuracy of the new program was lower than that of the previous program.

Avoid mistakes 5

Activity 1

Please see Activity 1 in your workbook


Section 4

Manuscript structure Manuscript sections

How does your study contribute to your field?

What did you find?

What did you do?

Why did you do the study?

Title/Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Manuscript structure

Title/Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Title/Abstract

Methods

Results

Discussion

Introduction

Abstract /Title

write

The ‘write’ order


Aim

Introduction

Current state of the field

Background information

Specific aim/approach/contents

Problem in the field

Previous studies

Current study

General

Specific Importance/hypothesis

Worldwide relevance? Broad/specialized?

Recent, International Not too many self-cites

Check journal if Results can be previewed

Why is your study needed?

Manuscript structure Introduction





Importance/hypothesis

Scaffold-based tissue engineering involves the combination of

cells, bioactive factors and structural scaffolding materials

to promote repair and regeneration of

tissues.1-3







Researchers have recently developed

many scaffold materials for specific

injury sites. These scaffolds effectively

support cell attachment and

growth….







…Integrating electrospun scaffolds

with cells remains challenging. It is often difficult for

cells that are cultured on electrospun fibers

to penetrate into pores.







…Optimizing both porous and

mechanical features of scaffolds for tissue

engineering would be a crucial step in

simulating the extracellular matrix.







…This study aimed to design and fabricate

poly(glycolic acid) scaffolds using

electrospinning to consistently allow cellular infiltration into the scaffolds.







…We report the results of five experiments

reflecting different approaches of

scaffold production and the effects on cell infiltration and

tissue development.

Manuscript structure Problem/knowledge gap

However, …an alternative approach… …a challenge …a need for clarification… …a problem/weakness with… …has not been dealt with… …remains unstudied …requires clarification …is not sufficiently (+ adjective) …is ineffective/inaccurate/inadequate/inconclusive/incorrect ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Few studies have… There is an urgent need to… There is growing concern that… Little evidence is available on… It is necessary to… Little work has been done on…

Key phrases


For lithium manganese spinel electrodes, obtaining substituted spinels of a general formula Li[LiqMn2-q]O4 and decreasing the size of particles by pyrolysis lead to better cycling ability….However, particles exhibit fast aggregation upon thermal treatment with citric acid pyrolysis in air.


Your aims must directly address the problem

Study sample

Variables Outcome

Lithium manganese spinel electrodes

Excess lithium ions Particle size

Pyrolysis conditions

Improved physical and electrochemical

properties Modified from: Potapenko et al. Mater Renew Sustain Energy. 2015; 4: 40.

Writing the Introduction


Your aims must directly address the problem

We describe the properties of Li[Li0.033Mn1.967]O4 after pyrolysis in an inert atmosphere. Its particle size is smaller, the degree of aggregation is lower, and high-rate properties are better that for its analogue pyrolyzed in air.

Study aims

Modified from: Potapenko et al. Mater Renew Sustain Energy. 2015; 4: 40.


For lithium manganese spinel electrodes, obtaining substituted spinels of a general formula Li[LiqMn2-q]O4 and decreasing the size of particles by pyrolysis lead to better cycling ability….However, particles exhibit fast aggregation upon thermal treatment with citric acid pyrolysis in air.

Writing the Introduction

Manuscript structure Methods

What was done

• Variables measured • Processes, treatments, measurements • General to specific

• Quantification; models/equations • Statistical tests (& P level) • Consult a statistician

Who/what was studied

• Tests, controls • Number of samples/sets of tests • Materials/equipment (+ maker)

Data analysis

What did you do?


Established techniques

• Cite previously published studies • Briefly state modifications • Use flow chart/table if needed

• Explain purposes; justify choices • Give enough detail for reproducibility • Use Supplementary Information

Organization • Arrange in (titled) subsections • Keep parallel to the display items • Use topic sentences to start sections

New techniques

Caution notices for dangerous substances/processes …No incidents occurred; researchers have to be qualified and trained, and use

suitable protocols, precautions, and facilities

Methods


“We used NMR spectroscopy to determine the structure of the polymers.”

We name of

technique investigate

name of property.

study

measure

confirm

determine

used to

Method------------------------------Purpose

Method – Purpose

Methods


“To determine the structure of the polymers, we used NMR spectroscopy.”

we name of

technique.

used

Purpose-----------------------------Method

Purpose – Method

Methods

investigate

name of property,

study

measure

confirm

determine

To

Manuscript structure Results

• Synthesis, characteristics • Group, subgroups • Algorithm, trial, improvement

• Each subsection relates to one figure and method

• What you found, not what it means

• Use Supplementary Information

• Data accessibility

Logical presentation

Subsections

Factual description

What did you find?


Treatment A reduced soil lead levels by 32.7% and increased soil pH by 12.3%. Treatment B reduced soil lead levels by 22.3% and increased soil pH by 15.6%. Treatment C reduced soil lead levels by 38.1% and increased soil pH by 6.9%.

Describe relationships among your results


Treatment C reduced soil lead levels (38.1%) more effectively than treatments A (32.7%) and B (22.3%). However, treatment B increased soil pH levels (15.6%) more effectively than treatments A (12.3%) and C (6.9%).

Describe relationships among your results

Manuscript structure Discussion

Summary of results

Relevance

Conclusion

Similarities/differences Unexpected/negative results Limitations (validity, reliability)

Implications

Previous studies

Current study

Future studies

Specific

General

How do you advance your field?

This study demonstrates

for the first time that…

Manuscript structure Combined Results–Discussion

Results Interpretation

Figure 1


Figure 2


Figure 3


Figure 4

Initial observation


Characterization

Application

Manuscript structure Combined Methods– Results–Discussion

Methods & Results Interpretation

Figure 1


Figure 2


Figure 3


Figure 4

Initial observation


Characterization

Application

Manuscript structure Contrasting ideas

Main vs. subordinate clause

Although the study design is not perfect, you deserve funding.

Subordinate Main

Linking word

• Although • Even though • While • Whereas

Subordinate clauses say 2 things:

• Idea may not be important • There is a contrasting idea coming

Manuscript structure Discussing limitations

Although this study was limited by its small sample size, our results demonstrate that people using customizable news aggregation pages give high user experience scores.

Although our results demonstrate that page customization is useful, the study was limited by its small sample size.

Bad news = Subordinate clause at the start

Bad news = Main clause in stress position

Bad news = Subordinate clause at start Good news = LONG main clause in stress position


0

10

20

30

40

50

1 2 3 4 5

Check your opinions

Over 5 days of reverse bias

reliability testing the current of

the devices increased from 32 ±

10 μA to 43 ± 17 μA (Figure 2).

This rise in current may be

explained by…

Do you agree with this interpretation?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1 2 3 4 5Time (days)

Cu

rren

t (μ

A)

Is this real?


What do you want people to remember?

Writing the end of your Discussion

May be a separate section

May be a “Future work” section

In this paper we described an empirical study to characterize the rejection of inappropriate patches…in Mozilla Firefox. We have looked at three sources for studying patch rejections: code review, backouts—further divided into early and late backouts—and issue reopening….We believe that this study contributes both to scientific literature and to software development practice in the following ways:…. In a future work, we intend to study code reviews in greater detail, especially investigating to what extent they anticipate problems that would otherwise be detected during automated testing. Such study would cast light on the relationship between code review and automated testing, two important methods for early problem detection.

Conclusion

Key result

Implications

Importance & Future

directions

Modified from: Souza et al. Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development. 2015; 3: 9.

Manuscript structure Link your ideas

General background

Aims

Methodology

Results and figures

Summary of results

Implications for the field

Relevance of results


Current state of the field Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Solution

Situation/Problem

Evaluation/Comment

Manuscript structure Title and abstract

First impression of paper: clear/concise/convincing

Importance of your results

Validity of your conclusions

Relevance of your aims

It sells your work: Readers judge your style & credibility

Often first/only part that is read by

readers & reviewers

Your title & abstract summarize your study


Title

Important points

Only the main idea Accurate, simple Model/system Include keywords Fewer than 20 words Method/study type

Avoid

Unneeded words (A/The; A study of) Complex or sensational words Complex word order Abbreviations, jargon “New” or “novel”


Interrogative Quantifying electron transfer reactions in biological systems: what interactions

play the major role?

Indicative/ Descriptive

Test verification and design of the bicycle frame parameters

… + Method (subtitle)

The investigation of supply chain's reliability measure: a case study

Assertive/ Declarative

Coral mucus fuels the sponge loop in warm- and cold-water coral reef

ecosystems / Insect stereopsis demonstrated using a 3D insect cinema

Title


Context Background, problem, aim

Results Outcomes, effects

(+ statistics and key data)

Conclusion Relevance, implications Learning points, future

Methods Materials, equipment

Treatments, measurements

No references, unusual abbreviations, figures/tables Check guidelines/samples: I or We or This study/The author, active/passive, tenses

Abstract

Manuscript structure Unstructured abstract

Three-dimensional hierarchical ternary nanostructures for high-performance Li-ion battery anodes

Silicon is considered one of the most promising anode materials for high-performance Li-ion batteries due to its 4200 mAh/g theoretical specific capacity, relative abundance, low cost, and environmental benignity. However, silicon experiences a dramatic volume change (∼300%) during full charge/discharge cycling, leading to severe capacity decay and poor cycling stability. Here, we report a three-dimensional (3D) ternary silicon nanoparticles/conducting polymer/carbon nanotubes hybrid anode material for Li-ion batteries. The hierarchical conductive hydrogel framework with carbon nanotubes as the electronic fortifier offers a continuous electron transport network and high porosity to accommodate the volume expansion of Si particles. By 3D wrapping of silicon nanoparticles/single-wall carbon nanotubes with conducting polymer nanostructures, a greatly improved cycling performance is achieved with reversible discharge capacity over 1600 mAh/g and 86% capacity retention over 1000 cycles at the current rate of 3.3 A/g. Our findings represent a new direction for using advanced nanostructured materials to fabricate robust, high-performance lithium-ion batteries with improved capacity decay and cycling stability.

Reprinted with permission from: Liu B, et al. Nano Lett. 2013, 13, 3414‒3419.

Manuscript structure Unstructured abstract

Silicon is considered one of the most promising anode materials for high-performance Li-ion batteries due to its 4200 mAh/g theoretical specific capacity, relative abundance, low cost, and environmental benignity. However, silicon experiences a dramatic volume change (∼300%) during full charge/discharge cycling, leading to severe capacity decay and poor cycling stability.

Context

Here, we report a three-dimensional ternary silicon nanoparticles/conducting polymer/carbon nanotubes hybrid anode material for Li-ion batteries. Methods

The hierarchical conductive hydrogel framework with carbon nanotubes as the electronic fortifier offers a continuous electron transport network and high porosity to accommodate the volume expansion of Si particles. By 3D wrapping of silicon nanoparticles/single-wall carbon nanotubes with conducting polymer nanostructures, a greatly improved cycling performance is achieved with reversible discharge capacity over 1600 mAh/g and 86% capacity retention over 1000 cycles at the current rate of 3.3 A/g.

Results

Our findings represent a new direction for using advanced nanostructured materials to fabricate robust, high-performance lithium-ion batteries with improved capacity decay and cycling stability.

Conclusions

Reprinted with permission from: Liu B, et al. Nano Lett. 2013, 13, 3414‒3419.

Activity 2

Please see Activity 2 in your workbook


Section 5

Customer Service Marketing your work

Dear Dr Struman,

Please find enclosed our manuscript entitled “Evaluation of ICT in Glasgow prognostic scoring in patients undergoing curative

resection for liver metastases,” which we would like to submit for publication as an Original Article in the International Medical

ICT Journal.

The Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) is of value for a variety of tumours. Several studies have investigated the prognostic value of the GPS in patients with metastatic breast cancer, but few studies have performed such an investigation for patients undergoing liver resection for liver metastases. Furthermore, there are currently no studies that have examined the prognostic value of the modified GPS (mGPS) using an ICT platform in these patients. The present study evaluated the mGPS using ICT in terms of its prognostic value for postoperative death in patients undergoing liver resection for breast cancer liver metastases.

A total of 318 patients with breast cancer liver metastases who underwent hepatectomy over a 15-year period were included in this study. The mGPS was calculated using ICT based on the levels of C-reactive protein and albumin, and the disease-free survival and cancer-specific survival rates were evaluated in relation to the mGPS. Prognostic significance was retrospectively analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses. Overall, the results showed a significant association between cancer-specific survival and the mGPS and carcinoembryonic antigen level, and a higher mGPS was associated with increased aggressiveness of liver recurrence and poorer survival in these patients. This study is the first to demonstrate that the preoperative mGPS via a simple ICT tool is a useful prognostic factor for postoperative survival in cancer patients undergoing curative resection. This information is immediately clinically applicable for surgeons as well as hospital information and patient record systems and health care protocol developers. As a premier journal covering ICT in health care, we believe that the International Medical ICT Journal is the perfect platform from which to share our results with all those concerned with ICT use in cancer management.

Give the background to the research

What was done and what was found

Interest to journal’s readers

Cover letter to the editor

Editor’s name Manuscript title

Article type

Declarations on publication ethics Suggested reviewers Contact information

Customer Service Marketing your work Cover letter to the editor

This study is the first to demonstrate that the preoperative mGPS via a simple ICT tool is a useful prognostic factor for postoperative survival in cancer patients undergoing curative resection. This information is immediately clinically applicable for surgeons as well as hospital information and patient record systems and health care protocol developers. As a premier journal covering ICT in health care, we believe that the International Medical ICT Journal is the perfect platform from which to share our results with all those concerned with ICT use in cancer management.

Why will your study be interesting to the journal’s readership? (para 4)

Target your journal – keywords from the Aims and Scope

Conclusion & importance

Relevance


Other important information:

Recommended reviewers Author’s contact information

We would like to recommend the following reviewers to evaluate our manuscript: 1. Reviewer 1 and contact information 2. Reviewer 2 and contact information 3. Reviewer 3 and contact information 4. Reviewer 4 and contact information Please address all correspondence to:

Reviewers

Contact information

Can also exclude reviewers


We confirm that this manuscript has not been published elsewhere and is not under consideration by another journal. All authors have approved the manuscript and agree with submission to the International Medical ICT Journal. This study was funded by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The lead author is currently a consultant for the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Must include:

Declarations related to publication ethics Source of funding Conflicts of interest

Ethics

Funding

Conflicts of interest

Customer Service Marketing your work The submission process

Accepted—publication!

Editor Author

Peer review

Reject

Results novel? Topic relevant? Clear English? Properly formatted?

Revision • New experiments • Improve readability • Add information • Revise figures

Customer Service Marketing your work Reviewer response letter

Respond to every reviewer comment

Easy for editor & reviewers to

see changes

• Revise and keep to the deadline; be polite • Restate reviewer’s comment • Refer to line and page numbers

Use a different color font

Highlight the text

Strikethrough font for deletions

Customer Service Marketing your work Reviewer response letter

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’s assessment of the analysis. Our tailored function, in its current form, makes it difficult to tell that this measurement constitutes a significant improvement over previously reported values. We describe our new analysis using a Gaussian fitting function in our revised Results section (Page 6, Lines 12–18).

Agreement

Revisions Location

Why agree


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 with previous results.

Response: It’s very clear that you’re not familiar with the current analytical methods in the field. I recommend that you identify a more suitable reviewer for my manuscript now!!!

Reviewer response letter


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 with previous results.

Response: Although a simple Gaussian fit would facilitate comparison with the results of other studies, our tailored function allows for the analysis of the data in terms of the “Pack model” [Pack et al., 2015]. Hence, we have explained the use of this function and the Pack model in our revised Discussion section (Page 12, Lines 2–6).

Disagree with evidence

Revisions

Location

Reviewer response letter


When should you present your work?

Before you publish?

After you publish?

Conferences, Seminars, Lab Meetings, Journal Clubs

Conferences, Seminars, Press Conferences, Media Enquiries, Media Interviews,

Social Media, Open Days, Public Education

Customer Service Marketing your work Your multiple audiences

Everyone evaluates your study…and you

Pre- and post-publication impact

• Journal editors & reviewers • Readers, opinion/policy makers, practitioners, professionals • Students, researchers, industry, businesses, organizations • Employers, schools, interest groups, service users, consumers • (Science) Media, public, politicians • Conference/journal panels • Review boards, funders, donors

Quality, Impact & Relevance

Why your work is important!

Customer Service Marketing your work Publicizing your article

Increase the impact of your research after publication

• Conferences • Web, email • Social media • Media • Newsletters • Reports

Respect news embargo

Report clearly and accurately

Respect access/archive policies

Respect copyright/CC licenses

Respect journal publication policy

Check conference guidelines

Customer Service Marketing your work Match your audience

Pre- and post-publication impact

IMRaD research article

(journals,

posters, slides)

Hard news

(conclusion as “lede”)

(press

releases)

Hard news, delayed

lede

(implication first)

Hard news + kicker

(implication

/call to action last)

Soft news/

Feature story

(news-letters)

Hard news, delayed lede +

kicker

(implications first & last)

Only after journal publication!


Writing for the public

Hard news

Heading • Can say “new”; can use subheading • Name the source/people

Conclusion first (lede/top line) • Name the source/people • Implications or importance as a quote

Results before Methods; use bullets Background last


Writing for the public

Hard news

6WHs • Who? • What? • Where? • Why? • When? • How?

Keep the lede short (15-20 words)

300-400 words

Short paragraphs Include quotes Include keywords Definitions,

institution background info, contact Info in Notes

May need to include EMBARGO


Tips

Hard news

Give only important details Include definitions, and synonyms, in

introductory or incidental phrases/clauses Check all data, details, and names Grab attention Write for the layperson; use analogies Avoid jargon and technical language Be concise! Be interesting! What is different/new? End with Call to action, or a quotation


Who to target

Hard news

International media (traditional, online) International news agencies National media Local media (for local community) Specialist news agency/hub (e.g., EurekAlert!) Specialist media (practitioners) Consumer media (popular magazines) Institution / academic society Interest groups (social media / blogs)

S

Be an effective communicator

Your goal is not only to be published, but also to be widely read and cited






Thank you!

Any questions?

Follow us on Twitter

@EdanzEditing

Like us on Facebook

facebook.com/EdanzEditing

Download and further reading edanzediting.co.jp/utsunomiya1601

Trevor Lane: [email protected] Julian Tang: [email protected]