Venetian Rule and Control of Plague Epidemics on the Ionian Islands during 17th and 18th Centuries

One-sentence summary for tables of contents: Measures taken by the Venetian administration to combat plague were successful

Temporal Trends in the Impact Factor of European versus USA Biomedical Journals

BACKGROUND: The impact factors of biomedical journals tend to rise over time. We sought to assess the trend in the impact factor, during the past decade, of journals published on behalf of United States (US) and European scientific societies, in four select biomedical subject categories (Biology, Cell Biology, Critical Care Medicine, and Infectious Diseases). METHODS: We identified all journals included in the above-mentioned subject categories of Thomson Reuters Journal Citation Reports® for the years 1999, 2002, 2005, and 2008. We selected those that were published on behalf of US or European scientific societies, as documented in journal websites. RESULTS: We included 167 journals (35 in the subject category of Biology, 79 in Cell Biology, 27 in Critical Care Medicine, and 26 in Infectious Diseases). Between 1999 and 2008, the percentage increase in the impact factor of the European journals was higher than for the US journals (73.7±110.0% compared with 39.7±70.0%, p = 0.049). Regarding specific subject categories, the percentage change in the factor of the European journals tended to be higher than the respective US journals for Cell Biology (61.7% versus 16.3%), Critical Care Medicine (212.4% versus 65.4%), Infectious Diseases (88.3% versus 48.7%), whereas the opposite was observed for journals in Biology (41.0% versus 62.5%). CONCLUSION: Journals published on behalf of European scientific societies, in select biomedical fields, may tend to close the "gap" in impact factor compared with those of US societies. WHAT'S ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC?: The impact factors of biomedical journals tend to rise through years. The leading positions in productivity in biomedical research are held by developed countries, including those from North America and Western Europe. WHAT DOES THIS ARTICLE ADD?: The journals from European biomedical scientific societies tended, over the past decade, to increase their impact factor more than the respective US journals

Research.indd

During the 17th and 18th centuries, measures were taken by the Venetian administration to combat plague on the Ionian Islands. At that time, although the scientifi c basis of plague was unknown, the Venetians recognized its infectious nature and successfully decreased its spread by implementing an information network. Additionally, by activating a system of inspection that involved establishing garrisons along the coasts, the Venetians were able to control all local movements in plague-infested areas, which were immediately isolated. In contrast, the neighboring coast of mainland Greece, which was under Ottoman rule, was a plague-endemic area during the same period. We conclude that even in the absence of scientifi c knowledge, close observation and social and political measures can effectively restrain infectious outbreaks to the point of disappearance

Temporal trends of the median impact factor of journals endorsed by United States (US) and European (EU) professional societies in 4 scientific categories (Panels: A. Biology, B. Cell Biology, C. Critical Care Medicine, D. Infectious Diseases).

<p>The fitted line represents the temporal trend in the median impact factors.</p

Comparison of the change in impact factor of journals in 4 biomedical subject categories published by European vs US biomedical societies.

<p>Abbreviations: IF: impact factor; EU: European Union; SD: standard deviation; US: United States.</p