Scientific Reading and Writing in English Lectures on: 12/01, 12/22 “Abstract” & Practice 12/08,...

Scientific Reading and Writing in

English

Lectures on:

12/01, 12/22 “Abstract” & Practice

12/08, 12/29 “References, Acknowledgements,

and Front page” & Practice

12/15, 1/05 “Cover letter” & Practice

Readings: “How to Write & Publish a Scientific Paper” by Robert A. Day, 6th Edition

Pin Ling ( 凌斌 ), Ph.D.

Department of Microbiology & Immunology, NCKU

ext 5632

[email protected]

How to prepare the abstract?

Definition and function of the abstract

Organization of the abstract

Tips for writing the abstract

Example and practice

Your involvement is the key to success in this lecture. Speak Up!

The Structure of A Paper

Title

Abstract

Introduction

Materials & Methods

Results & Figures

Discussion

References

Read them first and decide to read the rest or not

What is the abstract?

Ab, Out trahere, to Pull To pull out the “key points” from the paper

An abstract can be viewed as a mini-version of the paper.

Two common types of Abstracts- Informative abstracts: most research papers

(five elements)- Indicative (Descriptive) abstracts: review articles

to Pull Out

The function of the abstract

The first contact to readers

Readers

A Good Abstract The Whole Paper

A Poor Abstract X The Whole Paper

A good abstract delivers the paper’s key points “Concisely” and “Precisely”.

The Organization of the abstract (I)

The organization of the (informative) abstract is similar to the organization of the paper.

It includes the key information from the paper :- Introduction - Purpose (Key Question)- Materials & Methods (What was done)- Results (What was found)- Conclusions & Discussion (Answer & Implication)

Pull out the key information from each part to form a paragraph.

Conclusions & Discussion

Results & Figures

Materials & Methods

Introduction & Purpose

Abstract (One paragraph)

Title (One sentence)

The Organization of the abstract (II)


Timing to write the abstract

Length

Sentence structure & word choice

Other issues

The Structure of A Paper

Title

Abstract

Introduction

Materials & Methods

Results & Figures

Discussion

References

The order to write a paper

Write the main text first and then the overview sections

Abstract (One paragraph)

Title (One sentence)

Overview sectionsMain text

Conclusions & Discussion

Results & Figures

Materials & Methods

Introduction & Purpose

The length of the abstract

One paragraph (usually)

Most journals limit the length within 250 words. Some are even lesser.

*Check the journal submission rules

Do not add unimportant details or unnecessary words to fill up the space.

Add more details => Out of

=> Lost the

Sentence Structure

Write short and simple sentences

Short sentences are easy for readers to follow up.

By contrast, long sentences tend to make readers lost.

Word choice & Abbreviations

Use simple words. Avoid jargon.

Avoid noun clusters (try your best)e.g. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain

reaction (qPCR)

Rules of using abbreviations: Use standard (std) abbreviations => units of measurement, e.g. microgram (mg) => widely accepted, e.g. DNA & NF-B Define a non-std abbreviation the first time you use it. e.g. Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR),

c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK)

Other issues for writing the abstract

Verb tenses in the abstract = those in the paper. Present tense => Question & AnswerPast tense => What was done & What was found

ContinuityKeep clear continuity throughout the abstract

Signaling TopicsSignal the parts of an abstract by starting a new sentence and by stating the topic at the beginning of the sentence.

Regulation of IB Kinase (IKK)/NEMO Function by IKK-mediated Phosphorylation* Shashi Prajapati and Richard B. Gaynor‡ J Biol Chem. 2002 Jul 5;277(27):24331-9.

The IkappaB kinase (IKK) complex includes the catalytic components IKKalpha and IKKbetain addition to the scaffold protein IKKgamma/NEMO. Increases in the activity of the IKKcomplex result in the phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of IkappaB and the activation of the NF-kappaB pathway. Recent data indicate that the constitutive activation of the NF-kappaB pathway by the human T-cell lymphotrophic virus, type I, Tax protein leads to enhanced phosphorylation of IKKgamma/NEMO by IKKbeta. To address further the significance of IKKbeta-mediated phosphorylation of IKKgamma/NEMO, we determined the sites in IKKgamma/NEMO that were phosphorylated by IKKbeta, and we assayed whether IKKgamma/NEMO phosphorylation was involved in modulating IKKbeta activity. IKKgamma/NEMO is rapidly phosphorylated following treatment of cells with stimuli such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 that activate the NF-kappaB pathway. By using both in vitro and in vivo assays, IKKbeta was found to phosphorylate IKKgamma/NEMO predominantly in its carboxyl terminus on serine residue 369 in addition to sites in the central region of this protein. Surprisingly, mutation of these carboxyl-terminal serine residues increased the ability of IKKgamma/NEMO to stimulate IKKbeta kinase activity. These results indicate that the differential phosphorylation of IKKgamma/NEMO by IKKbeta and perhaps other kinases may be important in regulating IKK activity.

Example of an informative abstract

One paragraph, 201 words

The IkappaB kinase (IKK) complex includes the catalytic components IKKalpha and IKKbeta in addition to the scaffold protein IKKgamma/NEMO. Increases in the activity of the IKK complex result in the phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of IkappaB and the activation of the NF-kappaB pathway. Recent data indicate that the constitutive activation of the NF-kappaB pathway by the human T-cell lymphotrophic virus, type I, Tax protein leads to enhanced phosphorylation of IKKgamma/NEMO by IKKbeta. To address further the significance of IKKbeta-mediated phosphorylation of IKKgamma/NEMO, we determined the sites in IKKgamma/NEMO that were phosphorylated by IKKbeta, and we assayed whether IKKgamma/NEMO phosphorylation was involved in modulating IKKbeta activity. IKKgamma/NEMO is rapidly phosphorylated following treatment of cells with stimuli such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 that activate the NF-kappaB pathway. By using both in vitro and in vivo assays, IKKbeta was found to phosphorylate IKKgamma/NEMO predominantly in its carboxyl terminus on serine residue 369 in addition to sites in the central region of this protein. Surprisingly, mutation of these carboxyl-terminal serine residues increased the ability of IKKgamma/NEMO to stimulate IKKbeta kinase activity. These results indicate that the differential phosphorylation of IKKgamma/NEMO by IKKbeta and perhaps other kinases may be important in regulating IKK activity.

Dissection of the abstract-1

Introduction(Background)



Purpose(Question)


J Biol Chem. 2002 Jul 5;277(27):24331-9.


What was done



What was found


Answer&

Implication


The IkappaB kinase (IKK) complex includes the catalytic components IKKalpha and IKKbetain addition to the scaffold protein IKKgamma/NEMO. Increases in the activity of the IKK complex result in the phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of IkappaB and the activation of the NF-kappaB pathway. Recent data indicate that the constitutive activation of the NF-kappaB pathway by the human T-cell lymphotrophic virus, type I, Tax protein leads to enhanced phosphorylation of IKKgamma/NEMO by IKKbeta. To address further the significance of IKKbeta-mediated phosphorylation of IKKgamma/NEMO, we determined the sites in IKKgamma/NEMO that were phosphorylated by IKKbeta, and we assayed whether IKKgamma/NEMO phosphorylation was involved in modulating IKKbeta activity. IKKgamma/NEMO is rapidly phosphorylated following treatment of cells with stimuli such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 that activate the NF-kappaB pathway. By using both in vitro and in vivo assays, IKKbeta was found to phosphorylate IKKgamma/NEMO predominantly in its carboxyl terminus on serine residue 369 in addition to sites in the central region of this protein. Surprisingly, mutation of these carboxyl-terminal serine residues increased the ability of IKKgamma/NEMO to stimulate IKKbeta kinase activity. These results indicate that the differential phosphorylation of IKKgamma/NEMO by IKKbeta and perhaps other kinases may be important in regulating IKK activity.

Any suggestion for the abstract?

Tips for the abstract

1. Use simple words and define abbreviations

2. Write short and simple sentences

3. Verb tenses

4. Continuity

5. Signal Topics

Define the Abbreviations

The IkappaB kinase (IKK) complex includes the catalytic components IKKalpha (IKK) and IKKbeta (IKK) in addition to the scaffold protein IKKgamma (IKK)/NEMO. Increases in the activity of the IKK complex result in the phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of IkappaB and the activation of the NF-kappaB (NF-B) pathway. Recent data indicate that the constitutive activation of the NF-B kappaB pathway by the human T-cell lymphotrophic virus, type I, Tax protein leads to enhanced phosphorylation of IKKamma/NEMO by IKKbeta. To address further the significance of IKKbeta-mediated phosphorylation of IKKgamma/NEMO, we determined the sites in IKKgamma/NEMO that were phosphorylated by IKKbeta, and we assayed whether IKKgamma/NEMO phosphorylation was involved in modulating IKKbeta activity. IKKgamma/NEMO is rapidly phosphorylated following treatment of cells with stimuli such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 that activate the NF-appa B pathway. By using both in vitro and in vivo assays, IKKbeta was found to phosphorylate IKKgamma/NEMO predominantly in its carboxyl terminus on serine residue 369 in addition to sites in the central region of this protein. Surprisingly, mutation of these carboxyl-terminal serine residues increased the ability of IKKgamma/NEMO to stimulate IKKbeta kinase activity. These results indicate that the differential phosphorylation of IKKgamma/NEMO by IKKbeta and perhaps other kinases may be important in regulating IKK activity.

The IkappaB kinase (IKK) complex includes the catalytic components IKKalpha (IKK) and IKKbeta (IKK) in addition to the scaffold protein IKKgamma (IKK)/NEMO. Increases in the activity Activation of the IKK complex results in the phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of IkappaB and the activation of the NF-kappaB (NF-B) pathway. Recent data indicate that the constitutive activation of the NF-kB pathway by the human T-cell lymphotrophic virus, type I, Tax protein leads to enhanced phosphorylation of IKK/NEMO by IKK. To address further the significance of IKK-mediated phosphorylation of IKK/NEMO, we determined the sites in IKK/NEMO that were phosphorylated by IKK, and Wwe also assayed whether IKK/NEMO phosphorylation was involved in modulating IKK activity. We found that IKK/NEMO wasis rapidly phosphorylated following treatment of cells with stimuli such as stimulation by tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 that activate the NF-B pathway. By using both in vitro and in vivo assays, IKK was found to phosphorylate IKK/NEMO predominantly in its carboxyl terminus on serine residue 369 in addition to sites in the central region of this protein. Surprisingly, mutation of these carboxyl-terminal serine residues increased the ability of IKK/NEMO to stimulate IKK kinase activity. These results indicate that the differential phosphorylation of IKK/NEMO by IKK and perhaps other kinases may be important in regulating IKK activity.

Tips for the abstract

The Revised Abstract

The IkappaB kinase (IKK) complex includes the catalytic components IKKalpha (IKK) and IKKbeta (IKK) in addition to the scaffold protein IKKgamma (IKK)/NEMO. Activation of the IKK complex results in the phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of IkappaB and the activation of the NF-kappaB (NF-B) pathway. Recent data indicate that the constitutive activation of the NF-kB pathway by the human T-cell lymphotrophic virus, type I, Tax protein leads to enhanced phosphorylation of IKK/NEMO by IKK. To address the significance of IKK-mediated phosphorylation of IKK/NEMO, we determined the sites in IKK/NEMO that were phosphorylated by IKK We also assayed whether IKK/NEMO phosphorylation was involved in modulating IKK activity. Our result showed that IKK/NEMO was rapidly phosphorylated following stimulation by tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 that activate the NF-B pathway. IKK was found to phosphorylate IKK/NEMO predominantly in its carboxyl terminus on serine residue 369 in addition to sites in the central region of this protein. Surprisingly, mutation of these carboxyl-terminal serine residues increased the ability of IKK/NEMO to stimulate IKK kinase activity. These results indicate that the differential phosphorylation of IKK/NEMO by IKK and perhaps other kinases may be important in regulating IKK activity.

One paragraph, 201=>191 words

Use simple words & abbreviationsWrite short and simple sentencesVerb tensesSignal Topics

Common Problems in Abstracts

Excessive details (length) => make the abstract unreadable (the trees overshadow the forest)

Omitting the question or Stating the question vaguely => No goal for this work

Answer not stated => No ending

The Divided Abstract

Abstracts for conferences show a valuable contribution lure audiences to your talk

Follow the most of guidelines as abstracts of research papers.

To encourage speculation, alternative theories, and suggestion for further research, the conference abstract is not as strict as the abstract for research papers.

Abstracts for conferences (I)

Abstracts for conferences (II)

Several differences as below: => include more details for methods => display data in a table or a graph sometimes => include more implications (to indicate the importance of the work)

Abstracts for conferences self-destruct after a year.

If the paper is not published eventually, the details and data in the conference abstract can not be used because of no validation.

A Example of the Conference Abstract

Indicative (Descriptive) Abstracts

Usually for the review articles Tell readers what information the article

contains

Include the purpose, methods, and scope of the article

DO NOT provide results, conclusions, or recommendations

A Example of an indicative abstract

The IkappaB kinase (IKK) complex includes the catalytic components IKKalpha and IKKbeta

in addition to the scaffold protein IKKgamma/NEMO. Increases in the activity of the IKK

complex result in the phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of IkappaB and the

activation

of the NF-kappaB pathway. Recent data indicate that the constitutive activation of the NF-

kappaB pathway by the human T-cell lymphotrophic virus, type I, Tax protein leads to

enhanced phosphorylation of IKKgamma/NEMO by IKKbeta. To address further the

significance of IKKbeta-mediated phosphorylation of IKKgamma/NEMO, we determined the

sites in IKKgamma/NEMO that were phosphorylated by IKKbeta, and we assayed whether

IKKgamma/NEMO phosphorylation was involved in modulating IKKbeta activity.

IKKgamma/NEMO is rapidly phosphorylated following treatment of cells with stimuli such as

tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 that activate the NF-kappaB pathway. By using

both in vitro and in vivo assays, IKKbeta was found to phosphorylate IKKgamma/NEMO

predominantly in its carboxyl terminus on serine residue 369 in addition to sites in the central

region of this protein. Surprisingly, mutation of these carboxyl-terminal serine residues

increased the ability of IKKgamma/NEMO to stimulate IKKbeta kinase activity. These results

indicate that the differential phosphorylation of IKKgamma/NEMO by IKKbeta and perhaps

other kinases may be important in regulating IKK activity.

Scientific Reading and Writing in English Lectures on: 12/01, 12/22 “Abstract” & Practice 12/08,...

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