The art of the revision

Earnest revisions based on editorial and referee feedback improve published papers.     

Intermatch variation of match activity in elite Italian soccer referees

The aim of this study was to examine how match activities, specifically high-intensity activity (HIA; activities performed at speeds faster than 18.1 km x h(-1)), vary among matches in elite soccer referees, because variations in match performance can potentially guide physical conditioning regimens for these referees. Fourteen Italian soccer referees were observed during 65 first-division matches a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 times each. For comparison, shorter matches (SM) and longer matches (LM) for each referee were identified. Mean (+/-SD) SM and LM total distances were 10,949 +/- 1,095 m and 12,303 +/- 666 m (p < 0.001), respectively. SM and LM were not different in term of duration (p > 0.05). During LM, referees spent 44% less time standing still (p < 0.01) and covered 10% more distance at low intensity than they did in SM (p < 0.05). No HIA variation was observed between SM and LM (p > 0.05). For the elite referee, work rate is increased without affecting HIA.     

The evolution of altruism: Correlation,cost, and benefit

A simple and general criterion is derived for the evolution of altruism when individuals interact in pairs. It is argued that the treatment of this problem in kin selection theory and in game theory are special cases of this general criterion.My thanks to James Crow, Carter Denniston, Lee Dugarkin, David Wilson, and an anonymous referee of this journal for helpful discussion.     

Evidential value of the hospital record in clinical decision making.

A simulated retrospective exercise in the diagnosis and management of 53 readmissions to a gastrointestinal unit was undertaken by two consultants. Diagnosis of the illness at readmission was made on evidence sought from a referee, who also supplied, on request, items of relevant evidence from the past medical record. Patient management was agreed from these sources. For each item of evidence the evidential weight, the irrecoverability, and the expected benefit accruing to the patient of its availability was calculated. It was concluded that the evidence worth recording in the event of subsequent hospital admission could be largely specified for each diagnosis and each operation. It would be brief and could be numerically coded.     

Editor's column: Synoptic publishing

The future of the paper-based scientific journal seems to lie in synoptic publishing. Synoptic publishing is a system the chief components of which are the synoptic article and the back-up structure. The synoptic article is not new in essence - for many decades there has been development towards greater selectivity of material within articles and towards synoptic expression. The back-up structure, however, has not been developed to any appreciable extent. There are examples of back-up structures in the form of special microfiche serials distributed among libraries and of full texts in miniprint appended to the synoptic article. Adequate full-text depositories ('open files'), however, are poorly developed and can be instituted only upon agreement far above the level of ordinary research institutions. The back-up material, largely camera-ready copy, needs strict editing as early as the author's level. Acceptance for deposition should follow the norms of acceptance for publication, with the assistance of referees.     

Retrospective evaluation of gynecologic cytodiagnosis. II. Interlaboratory reproducibility as shown in rescreening large consecutive samples of reported cases

Two laboratories exchanged and rescreened a large sample of cases with cervicovaginal smears they had consecutively accessioned to examine the reproducibility of gynecologic cytodiagnosis under optimum conditions. At least a "working agreement" (diagnoses within +/- 1 category on a ten-category scale) was achieved in diagnoses of normal, benign reaction and squamous abnormality (from minimal dysplasia though invasive cancer) in 18,859 cases (96.8%), of endometrial abnormality in 21 cases (42%) and of "unsatisfactory" in 99 cases (20.7%). Larger differences occurred in greater than or equal to 30% of cases except in the categories of "normal" and "benign reaction," reaching a maximum of 82% for moderate dysplasia. Reexamining 382 cases decreased disagreement by category to the 20% to 65% range only in the five categories of dysplasia plus carcinoma in situ. Agreement was not predicated on the presence of endocervical cells or squamous metaplasia; the basis for "unsatisfactory" calls was not uniform. Comparison of the laboratories' diagnoses with referee diagnoses or, on 178 cases, with tissue diagnoses also demonstrated differences in diagnostic criteria.     

An analysis of splits leaps and gymnastic skill by physiological recordings

The performance of a gymnastic exercise, the splits leap in rhythmic sports gymnastics, was compared with a subjective evaluation by an experienced referee who ranked the gymnasts skill. The execution of the splits leaps was quantified by measuring ground reaction forces, electromyographic activity in the leg muscles and by analyzing film. The referees evaluation of the splits leaps was found to depend on minimal bending in the knee joint of the take-off leg at touch-down and during the support phase. Maximal flexion in the knee joint was inversely correlated (r = -0.53, p less than 0.0002) with the ranking of the leap. The vertical component of the ground reaction force had a maximal amplitude of about 1900 N, equal to 3.5 times the force produced by the body weight of the gymnast. The record was smooth and without inflections in the highly ranked gymnasts, whereas the other gymnasts had one or two inflections in the rising phase of the vertical force record. Electromyographic activity in both the medial head of gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior began before touch-down. The pattern consisted of periods of activity with pauses in between. There was no correlation between rank and electromyographic pattern, but "talented" gymnasts had shorter periods of activity and longer pauses between the periods of activity.     

Editorial: Writing in Grana

It has been necessary to re-organize the production of GRANA. The following changes in publishing policy are the most important. 1. GRANA will continue to accept papers in its traditional field of interest, but in future, papers in the applied branches of Palynology, such as pollen-analytical studies, will also be published, as well as papers on other micropalae-ontological fields, in which the methods correspond to those used in palynological research (dinoflagellates, chitinozoa, diatoms, etc.). Only material that is obviously of international interest will be accepted. 2. From now on, there will be restrictions as to the length of a paper. Two types of contributions will be acceptable: Articles, containing 16 printed pages at the most, including the figures, and Notes, covering four printed pages at the most. The Notes will be given priority over the Articles, and will be included in the journal as soon as they have been scrutinized by a referee and prepared for publication by the editorial staff. Thus, the writing of Notes will be the quick way to secure publication in GRANA. The rest of this article gives the technical specifications of GRANA and also some instructions for authors.     

Theoretical evidence for the coupling of winding to compression in the solution conformation of duplex DNA

Published data indicate linear variation of the duplex winding of DNA with logarithm of the ionic strength. We show that this observation is a natural prediction of a current poly-electrolyte theory if structural coupling between duplex rotation angle (rotation per base pair) and step height (axial translation per base pair) is assumed. We show also that the coupling must then be negative: the positive winding on augmentation of the ionic strength must be accompanied by a decrement of step height, or axial compression. Cation species specificity of winding, CD spectra, and cation binding affinity are discussed in terms of local variation of dielectric shielding, using current accurate data for dielectric constants of aqueous salt solutions. One need not invoke specific complexation of cations, for which there is no present evidence (in aqueous solution), to explain any of these effects. The analysis is limited to low and moderate ionic strengths. Experimental observations at very high ionic strengths are puzzling and possibly conflicting. It is concluded that a need exists for systematic extension of available duplex winding data throughout the region of moderate to very high ionic strengths. It would be useful to extend the region at the low end as well, in order to distinguish clearly the behavior predicted by our model from that predicted by a referee on the basis of an alternate model described herein.     

Football Fan Aggression: The Importance of Low Basal Cortisol and a Fair Referee

Fan aggression in football (soccer) is a societal problem that affects many countries worldwide. However, to date, most studies use an epidemiological or survey approach to explain football fan aggression. This study used a controlled laboratory study to advance a model of predictors for fan aggression. To do so, football fans (n = 74) saw a match summary in which their favorite team lost against their most important rival. Next, we measured levels of aggression with the hot sauce paradigm, in which fans were given the opportunity to administer a sample of hot sauce that a rival football supporter had to consume. To investigate if media exposure had the ability to reduce aggression, before the match fans saw a video in which fans of the rival team commented in a neutral, negative, or positive manner on their favorite team. Results showed that the media exposure did not affect aggression. However, participants displayed high levels of aggression and anger after having watched the match. Also, aggression was higher in fans with lower basal cortisol levels, which suggests that part of the aggression displayed was proactive and related to anti-social behavior. Furthermore, aggression was higher when the referee was blamed and aggression was lower when the performance of the participants’ favorite team was blamed for the match result. These results indicate that aggression increased when the match result was perceived as unfair. Interventions that aim to reduce football fan aggression should give special attention to the perceived fairness of the match result.     

Recruitment Notice

Senior Managing Editor, Journal of Integrative Plant Biology Journal of Integrative Plant Biology (JIPB) is a monthly plant biological journal that reports scientific iscoveries by using integrative genetic, chemical, cell and molecular biological approaches. As one of iley-Blackwell's leadingjournals, JIPB is available in over 7,800 libraries worldwide and indexed by 45 abases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, SCI, CA, BA and BIOSIS (www.jipb.net). We are looking for a nior Managing Editor to be fully in-charge of the Editorial Office, to work under the supervision of the hief ditor and the board members to promote the journal in the plant science community, to bridge the munication between the editorial board, the reviewers, the authors and the publisher. he ideal candidate hould be creative in increasing the journal’s visibility through organizing special issues, setting up a ser riendly public access system, and ensuring an efficient publication cycle. The annual salary range will be 100,000 RMB to 180,000 RMB, depending on the qualification. This position opens opens for pplication from 1 September, 2009, till the position is filled. Qualifications: 1. PhD degree in plant molecular biology-related area; 2. Over three-year-working experience in scientific publishing or three or more years research xperience in an English-speaking laboratory, with good publication record; 3. Experienced in writing, editing and marketing scientific journals. To apply, please send your application, including your CV and the names of three referee, to cmliu@ibcas.ac.cn.     

Recruitment Notice

Senior Managing Editor, Journal of Integrative Plant Biology Journal of Integrative Plant Biology (JIPB) is a monthly plant biological journal that reports scientific discoveries by using integrative genetic, chemical, cell and molecular biological approaches. As one of Wiley-Blackwell's leadingjournals, JIPB is available in over 7,800 libraries worldwide and indexed by 45 databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, SCI, CA, BA and BIOSIS (www.jipb.net). We are looking for a Senior Managing Editor to be fully in-charge of the Editorial Office, to work under the supervision of the chief editor and the board members to promote the journal in the plant science community, to bridge the communication between the editorial board, the reviewers, the authors and the publisher. The ideal candidate should be creative in increasing the journal’s visibility through organizing special issues, setting up a user-friendly public access system, and ensuring an efficient publication cycle. The annual salary range will be 100,000 RMB to 180,000 RMB, depending on the qualification. This position opens opens for application from 1 September, 2009, till the position is filled. Qualifications: 1. PhD degree in plant molecular biology-related area; 2. Over three-year-working experience in scientific publishing or three or more years research experience in an English-speaking laboratory, with good publication record; 3. Experienced in writing, editing and marketing scientific journals. To apply, please send your application, including your CV and the names of three referee, to cmliu@ibcas.ac.cn.     

Activity profile of international-level soccer referees during competitive matches

The purpose of this study was to investigate the activity profile of soccer referees competing at international level. Thirteen international-level soccer referees (INRG, age 38 +/- 3 years, height 182.0 +/- 6.5 cm, and body mass 78.8 +/- 7.0 kg) were observed during official international matches using a match analysis system (Play Controller, Phromos, Italy) that enabled speeds and times collection for 11 arbitrarily chosen match categories. For comparison, 13 Italian elite-level soccer referees (NRG, age 37 +/- 3 years, height 182.5 +/- 3.5 cm, and body mass 77.1 +/- 6.5 kg) were examined during domestic official first division matches (Serie A). Results showed that NRG covered more distance during matches than the INRG (12,956 +/- 548 m and 11,218 +/- 1,056 m, respectively; p < 0.05). Running faster than 18 km.h(-1), NRG covered more distance than INRG (2,378 +/- 423 m and 1,642 +/- 689 m, respectively; p < 0.05). No between-halves differences in the distance covered at speed faster than 18 km.h(-1) were observed in each group. The main finding of this study is that international-level referees during international competitions are less active than national-level officials directing domestic matches. This unexpected result may suggest the need for specific training for the international referees, as recent reports have shown that better positioning is associated with longer space coverage during competitive matches. Across-halves, high-intensity, space-coverage conservation should be regarded as a peculiarity of the elite-level soccer referee.     

Rethinking the links between systematic studies and ex situ living collections as a contribution to the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation

The Muséum national d’histoire naturelle (MNHN) in Paris holds ca. 70 million specimens. The collections were in need of a strategy to ensure their long-term conservation. We discuss how the Department of Botanical and Zoological Gardens (DJBZ; tropical living collections), and the Department of Systematics and Evolution (DSE; herbarium) contribute to achieving GSPC’s Target 1 (‘a widely accessible working list of known plant species as a step towards a complete world flora’). The DJBZ started encouraging better management of the collections, evolving towards focused reference collections, where all specimens have well-documented collection data. The objective is to link all collections to a scientific referee. This has already been achieved for a number of taxa. The herbarium of the DSE (acronym P) is among the world’s largest (11 million specimens, including 400,000 types). The collection’s heterogeneity impedes access to its data, since P is a mix of recent well-documented collections and historical collections at various curational levels. P is currently under renovation, which started by mounting all ca. 2 million unmounted specimens. The project also includes databasing and imaging of every specimen. The database now holds around 1,000,000 records. For taxonomic studies, living collections are crucial, especially for plants that are not easily preserved as herbarium specimens. Living collections also enable studies impossible to forecast at the time of collecting. Herbaria and living collections should therefore be conceived as interoperable entities requiring common scientific curation. Through a combination of its assets and the expertise of its researchers, the MNHN is well prepared to tackle the new objectives of the GSPC beyond 2010.     

The relationship between selected blood lactate thresholds and match performance in elite soccer referees

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between selected blood lactate thresholds and competitive match activities in elite soccer referees. Eight elite-level referees (mean age, 37.6 +/- 3.4 years) were each observed during 2 Serie A matches (n = 16), and the mean of each match activity was used for analysis. Match activities were monitored using a technology similar to that reported by Ohashi and others. Blood lactate thresholds were assessed under field conditions during a progressive multistage protocol. Running velocities attained at selected blood lactate concentrations (2 and 4 mmol x L(-1), V2 and V4, respectively) were chosen because these are commonly used to assess endurance performance. Analyses of correlations were performed considering V2 and V4 values as independent variables and total distance, maximal velocity distance (runs performed at velocities faster than 24 km x h(-1)) and high-intensity activity distance (runs performed at velocities faster than 18 km x h(-1)) as dependent variables. Significance was set at p 相似文献   

Activity cycles of National Rugby League and National Youth Competition matches

Examination of ball-in-play periods (i.e., match activity cycles) is a method used to provide insight into the physical demands of team sport competition. However, to date, no study has investigated the ball-in-play time of rugby league matches. This study investigated the activity cycles (i.e., ball-in-play periods) of elite National Rugby League (NRL) and National Youth Competition (NYC) matches. Video recordings of 393 NRL matches and 388 NYC matches were coded for activity and recovery cycles. Time when the ball was continuously in play was considered activity, whereas any stoppages during the match (e.g., for scrums, penalties, line drop-outs, tries, and video referee decisions) were considered recovery. The total time the ball was in play for NRL and NYC matches was approximately 55 minutes and 50 minutes, respectively. In comparison with NYC matches, NRL matches had longer average activity cycles (81.2 ± 16.1 vs. 72.0 ± 14.7 seconds, effect size [ES] = 0.60). The average longest activity cycle was also higher (ES = 0.48) in NRL (318.3 ± 65.4 seconds) than in NYC (288.9 ± 57.5 seconds) matches. The longest activity cycle from any match was 667 and 701 seconds for NRL and NYC matches, respectively. The NRL matches had a smaller proportion of short duration (<45 seconds) activity cycles and a greater proportion of longer duration (>91-600 seconds) activity cycles. In conclusion, meaningful differences in activity cycles were observed between NRL and NYC matches, with NRL competition demonstrating longer ball-in-play periods, a smaller proportion of short duration activity cycles, and a larger proportion of longer duration activity cycles. These findings suggest that the ability to perform prolonged high-intensity exercise, coupled with the capacity to recover during brief stoppages in play, is a critical requirement of professional rugby league match play.