Peer-review process in journals dealing with chemistry and related subjects published in Serbia

A survey was conducted among editors of journals publishing in the field of chemistry, chemical technology and related topics in Serbia, aiming to collect information on their experience, problems and difficulties during peer-review process. Editors from 22 journals out of 27 that regularly published during 2015 replied. General data on journals were collected from responses obtained from editors-in-chief, whereas all editors (including sub-editors and section editors) participated in a questionnaire concerning peer-review procedure. Additionally, they were asked to evaluate quality of reports and attitude of reviewers, discuss present situation and suggest measures to improve peer-review process. The greatest problems encountered by editors in peer-review process can be summarized as follows: low rate of acceptance to review, low quality of reports, sometimes due to the reviewer's bias or their inability to properly understand the review process. A method used to search for reviewers does not substantially influence the quality of reports. Editors agree that introduction of On-Line processes and creation of precise instructions for reviewers, education of potential reviewers, as well as social, public and professional recognition and appreciation of reviewers' work, are the most important measures to improve the quality of the peer-review process and, consecutively, the quality of published articles and journals

Efficiency in managing peer-review of scientific manuscripts - Editors' perspective

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a model for measuring the efficiency in managing peer-review of scientific manuscripts by editors. The approach employed is based on the assumption that the editorial aim is to manage publication with high efficiency, employing the least amount of editorial resources. Efficiency is defined in this research as a measure based on 7 variables. An on-line survey was constructed and editors of journals originating from Serbia regularly publishing articles in the field of chemistry were invited to participate. An evaluation of the model is given based on responses from 24 journals and 50 editors. With this investigation we aimed to contribute to our understanding of the peer-review process and, possibly, offer a tool to improve the efficiency in journal editing. The proposed protocol may be adapted by other journals in order to assess the managing potential of editors

Kako recenzirati naučni rad

A review process is a key factor which ensures reliable and accurate presentation of new, useful, and original scientific knowledge to the public. Despite of many shortcomings which this evaluation of scientific work has, it is still an indispensable part of the process of scientific publishing. Different types of reviews have emerged throughout history, but the essence of the process itself has remained unchanged: before publishing, scientific results are subjected to unbiased, competent, and reliable assessment of their validity and originality. Unfortunately, neither worldwide, nor in our country, there is systematic and institutionalized education for performing such responsible task. The knowledge on review process is taught by senior colleagues, or is acquired through personal experience over time. As each young scientist is a potential reviewer, this article Is primarily intended for young people, as a manual, instruction on how to review a scientific paper and what should be kept in mind when the review report is written. After the analysis of the review process, ethical principles to which a reviewer should adhere to are highlighted, and finally, article intends to answer a question: How to review a scientific paper critically, correctly, and objectively? At the end, it is suggested how the review report should look like.Postupak recenziranja je ključni element koji obezbeđuje pouzdano i tačno prezentovanje novog, korisnog i originalnog naučnog saznanja javnosti. I pored mnogih nedostataka koje ovakvo vrednovanje naučnog rada ima, ono je do danas nezamenjivi deo procesa publikovanja rezultata naučnih istraživanja. Tokom istorije razvijale su se različite vrste recenziranja, ali suština samog procesa je ostala nepromenjena: pre publikovanja rezultati se podvrgavaju nepristrasnoj, kompetentnoj i pouzdanoj oceni valjanosti, vrednosti i originalnosti. Nažalost, ni u svetu, a pogotovo kod nas, skoro da ne postoji sistematsko i institucionalizovano obrazovanje za obavljanje ovog odgovornog zadatka. Znanje i praksa se preuzimaju od starijih kolega, ili se stiču vremenom. Kako je svaki mladi naučnik potencijalni recenzent, ovaj tekst je namenjen pre svega mladima, kao priručnik, uputstvo kako recenzirati naučni rad i šta sve treba imati u vidu kada se piše recenzentski izveštaj. Nakon analize procesa recenziranja, u tekstu su istaknuti etički principi kojih se recenzent treba pridržavati, a zatim je pokušano dati odgovor na pitanje: Kako kritički, korektno i objektivno recenzirati naučni rad? Na kraju, sugerisano je kako recenzentski izveštaj treba da izgleda

Extracellular Hemoglobin: Modulation of Cellular Functions and Pathophysiological Effects

Hemoglobin is essential for maintaining cellular bioenergetic homeostasis through its ability to bind and transport oxygen to the tissues. Besides its ability to transport oxygen, hemoglobin within erythrocytes plays an important role in cellular signaling and modulation of the inflammatory response either directly by binding gas molecules (NO, CO, and CO2) or indirectly by acting as their source. Once hemoglobin reaches the extracellular environment, it acquires several secondary functions affecting surrounding cells and tissues. By modulating the cell functions, this macromolecule becomes involved in the etiology and pathophysiology of various diseases. The up-to-date results disclose the impact of extracellular hemoglobin on (i) redox status, (ii) inflammatory state of cells, (iii) proliferation and chemotaxis, (iv) mitochondrial dynamic, (v) chemoresistance and (vi) differentiation. This review pays special attention to applied biomedical research and the use of non-vertebrate and vertebrate extracellular hemoglobin as a promising candidate for hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers, as well as cell culture medium additive. Although recent experimental settings have some limitations, they provide additional insight into the modulatory activity of extracellular hemoglobin in various cellular microenvironments, such as stem or tumor cells niches

Is there a need for systematic education on peer-reviewing in Serbia?

Velika brzina stvaranja naučnih informacija u poslednjih nekoliko godina nameće potrebu za povećanjem broja stručnih recenzenata, posebno što recenziranje dobija novu dimenziju važnosti i u svetlu rastućeg broja prepoznatih plagijata i izmisljenih rezultata. Potencijalno rešenje potrebe za povećanjem broja recenzenata je sistematska edukacija doktoranada i mladih istraživača, posebno u zemljama razvoju. Prema podacima sa četiri državna univerziteta u Srbiji (u Beogradu, Novom Sadu, Nišu i Kragujevcu) i jednog privatnog univerziteta (Univerzitet Singidunum), postoji niz doktorskih kurseva koji studente obrazuju o načinu sprovođenja istraživanja, nekoliko o tome kako da pišu naučne publikacije, ali samo jedan od njih skromno osposobljava studente za recenziranje naučnih radova. Dakle, U Srbiji ogromni potencijal doktoranada i mladih istraživača nije pravilno prepoznat i usmeren ka stvaranju kvalifikovane populacije recenzenata. Sa idejom da doprinesemo svetskim trendovima na polju unapređenja recenziranja, predstavili smo pilot seminar na univerzitetima u Beogradu, Novom Sadu, Nišu i Kragujevcu u Srbiji u periodu od oktobra 2017. do aprila 2018. godine. Seminar u organizaciji Centra za promociju nauke obuhvatio je četiri predavanja koja su se bavila: (i) osnovnim aspektima procesa recenziranja, (ii) etičkim pitanjima, (iii) društvenim značajem i (iv) priznavanjem doprinosa recenzenata. Od ukupnog broja polaznika koji je iznosio 275, većina (84 %) se sastojala od doktoranada i mladih istraživača. Nakon seminara, učesnici su zamoljeni da izvrše test recenziju i popune anketu o kvalitetu seminara. Izveštaji o recenziji primljeni su od 82 osobe (od 275 polaznika). Od tri greške koje su namerno unete u tekst, sve greške primetilo je manje od 10 % ispitanika. Analiza ankete (160 odgovora) pokazala je da je 92% ispitanika izjavilo da su stekli nova znanja tokom seminara i ohrabrilo nastavak takve edukacije. Seminar je ponovljen 2019. g. na inicijativu Narodne biblioteke Srbije povodom globalnog događaja "Nedelja recenziranja 2019" i od anketiranih 105 novih polaznika, 94 % je iznelo stav o korisnosti obrazovanja o recenziranju i podržalo ideju o jačanju akademskih kompetencija za recenziranje kroz uvođenje obaveznog predmeta tokom doktorskih studija u Srbiji. Nadamo se da će se predstavnici akademske zajednice iz različitih naučnih disciplina pridružiti ovoj inicijativi i doprineti formiranju kurseva o recenziranju koji odgovaraju specifičnim potrebama svake naučne oblasti

Peer Review of Reviewers: The Author's Perspective

The aim of this study was to investigate the opinion of authors on the overall quality and effectiveness of reviewers' contributions to reviewed papers. We employed an on-line survey of thirteen journals which publish articles in the field of life, social or technological sciences. Responses received from 193 authors were analysed using a mixed-effects model in order to determine factors deemed the most important in the authors' evaluation of the reviewers. Qualitative content analysis of the responses to open questions was performed as well. The mixed-effects model revealed that the authors' assessment of the competence of referees strongly depended on the final editorial decision and that the speed of the review process was influential as well. In Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) analysis on seven questions detailing authors' opinions, perception of review speed remained a significant predictor of the assessment. In addition, both the perceived competence and helpfulness of the reviewers significantly and positively affected the authors' evaluation. New models were used to re-check the value of these two factors and it was confirmed that the assessment of the competence of reviewers strongly depended on the final editorial decision

Extracellular xenogeneic hemoglobin suppresses the capacity for C2C12 myoblast myogenic differentiation

Functional characteristics of satellite cells (SCs) that act as myogenesis initiators and have emerged as a promising target for cell therapy, are dependent on their microenvironment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cell-free hemoglobin, as a part of the microenvironment of SCs, on their functional characteristics. The C2C12 cell line served as the experimental model of SCs; hemoglobin isolated from porcine (PHb) and bovine (BHb) slaughterhouse blood served as the experimental model for extracellular hemoglobin. The proliferation rate of C2C12 cells was assessed by the MTT test, migration capacity by the scratch assay, and myogenic differentiation capacity by histochemical staining and RT-PCR analysis of the expression of genes specific for myogenic lineage. The effect of hemoglobin on the proliferation and migration of C2C12 cells was dependent on its concentration and the animal species it was isolated from, but the effect of BHb was more prominent. Both PHb and BHb decreased the expression levels of myogenin and muscle specific creatine kinase at a 10 mu M concentration. While PHb had no effect on the morphometric parameters of C2C12 myotubes, BHb modified the area and length of C2C12 myotubes cultivated in DMEM/2% horse serum and DMEM/10% fetal calf serum. While PHb and BHb had no effect on heme oxygenase 1 (Hmox1) expression, they stimulated the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (Hif1 alpha) at a concentration of 10 mu M. The mainly inhibitory effect of cell-free hemoglobin on myogenic differentiation suggests that it could be a relevant factor in the outcome of cell therapy of muscle injury

Modulation of Functional Characteristics of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells by Acellular Preparation of Porcine Hemoglobin

Exploring the potential usage of the acellular preparation of porcine hemoglobin (PHb) isolated from slaughterhouse blood as a cell culture media component, we have tested its effects on the functional characteristics of stromal cells of mesodermal origin. Human peripheral blood mesenchymal stromal cells (PB-MSCs) were used in this study as a primary cell model system, along with three mouse cell lines (ATDC5, MC3T3-E1, and 3T3-L1), which represent more uniform model systems. We investigated the effect of PHb at concentrations of 0.1, 1, and 10 μM on these cells’ proliferation, cycle, and clonogenic and migratory potential, and found that PHb’s effect depended on both the cell type and its concentration. At the lowest concentration used (0.1 μM), PHb showed the least evident impact on the cell growth and migration; hence, we analyzed its effect on mesenchymal cell multilineage differentiation capacity at this concentration. Even under conditions that induce a specific type of MSC differentiation (cultivation in particular differentiation media), PHb modulated chondrogenic, osteogenic, and adipogenic differentiation, making it a potential candidate for a supplement of MSC culture. Through a model of porcine hemoglobin, these findings also contribute to improving the knowledge of extracellular hemoglobin’s influence on MSCs in vivo

Platelet-poor plazma sportista kao potencijalni induktor miogene diferencijacije C2C12 mioblasta

Introduction. Blood products, i.e. platelet rich plasma (PRP), leukocyte-poor plasma (PRP) and platelet poor plasma (PPP), have previously been used to improve muscle regeneration. In this study, six months' frozen-stored PPP of individuals who practiced different types of physical exercise was analysed; it could steer mouse C2C12 myoblast cells towards proliferation, migration and myogenic differentiation, and it could affect the morphology/shape of myotubes. Materials and Methods. PPP of male Olympic weightlifters, football players and professional folk dancers, aged 15-19, was collected 12 h post-training and stored for 6 months at -20°C. C2C12 cell proliferation was assessed by MTT test, motility by scratch assay, myogenic differentiation by myotube formation and gelatinase activity by gel-zymography. Results and Conclusions. PPP induced proliferation and migration of C2C12 cells. Proliferative capacity was as follows: weightlifters gt dancers gt football players; mean migratory capacity was: weightlifters = dancers gt football players. PPP induced formation of myotubes; significant inter-individual variations were detected: PPP from weightlifters induced formation of round myotubes, and PPP from football players and dancers induced formation of elongated myotubes. The mean myotube area was as follows: football players gt dancers gt weightlifters. PPP gelatinolytic activity was observed; it was negatively correlated with C2C12 myoblast proliferation. These results provide general but distinct evidence that PPP of individuals practicing certain types of exercise can specifically modify myoblast morphology/function. This is significant for explaining physiological responses and adaptations to exercise. In conclusion, longterm, frozen-stored PPP preserves its potential to modify myoblast morphology and function.Uvod. Krvna plazma obogaćena leukocitima, plazma sa niskim sadržajem leukocita i plazma sa niskim sadržajem trombocita (platelet poor plasma; PPP) su produkti krvi koji se koriste za stimulaciju regeneracije mišića. U ovom radu smo ispitivali da li zamrzavana PPP osoba koje se bave različitim tipovima fizičke aktivnosti, usmerava C2C12 myoblaste u pravcu povećane proliferacije, migracije i miogene diferencijacije, i da li utiče na morfologiju/izgled miotuba. Materijal i metode. PPP osoba muškog pola starih 15-19 godina je izolovana iz krvi dizača tegova, fudbalera i profesionalnih igrača folklora, 12 sati nakon treninga. Uzorci PPP su čuvani šest meseci na -20ºC. Uticaj PPP na proliferaciju C2C12 ćelija je analiziran MTT testom, na migraciju "scratch" testom, a uticaj na miogenu diferencijaciju je analiziran na osnovu sposobnosti PPP da indukuju formiranje miotuba. Želatinolitička aktivnost PPP je analizirana gel-zimografijom. Rezultati i zaključak. Uzorci PPP su indukovali proliferaciju i migraciju C2C12 ćelija, a kapacitet da stimulišu proliferaciju je bio: dizači tegova gt igrači gt fudbaleri. Kapacitet PPP da utiču na migraciju C2C12 ćelija je bio: dizači tegova = igrači gt fudbaleri. Svi uzorci PPP su indukovali formiranje miotuba, ali su zapažene značajne interindividualne varijacije. PPP dizača tegova su indukovali formiranje okruglih miotuba, dok su miotube formirane u prisustvu PPP igrača i fudbalera bile izdužene. Površina miotuba se, zavisno od tipa fizičke aktivnosti, menjala po sledećem rasporedu: fudbaleri gt igrači gt dizači tegova. Želatinolitička aktivnost PPP je nagativno korelirala sa proliferacijom C2C12 ćelija. Rezultati ove studije pokazuju da PPP osoba koje se bave određenim tipom fizičke aktivnosti mogu da na specifičan način modulišu morfologiju/funciju mioblasta. Ovaj rezultat je od značaja za objašnjnje fiziološkog odgovora i adaptacije na vežbanje. On pokazuje i da PPP nakon dugotrajnog zamrzavanja imaju očuvanu spospbnost modifikovanja morfologije i funkcije mioblasta

ZnO nanoparticles with optimized surface-to-bulk defect ratio for potential biomedical application

Due to tunable opto-electronic properties ZnO-based nanoparticles (ZnONPs) have been used for application in electronics, optoelectronics, photo(electro)catalysis, etc. Besides, as bio-inert, ZnONPs have a great potential in medicine for biosensing, bioimaging, drug and gene delivery, implants or as antimicrobial and anticancer agents. One of suggested governing mechanism of the biological activities of ZnONPs is based on the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Actually, when ZnONP absorb photon with energy equal or greater than its band gap, electrons (e−) are excited from the valence band (VB) to the conduction band (CB) leaving the holes (h+) in VB. In following, the photogenerated h+ and e− migrate from bulk to surface. The photogenerated h+ at the VB react with water molecules adsorbed at the particle surface to produce hydroxyl radicals (OH•), while e− in CB react with oxygen molecules generating anionic superoxide radicals (O2−•). Radicals can be transformed in highly reactive hydroxyl radicals and so on. Derivatives of this active oxygen can damage the bacterial/tumor cells. However, in sufficiency ROS can damage normal cells as well. Thus, an understanding of ZnONPs crystal structure-activity relationship is crucial for the design of materials safe for application in treating diseases like cancer. In this study we established correlation between the surface-to-bulk defects ratio in ZnONPs and ROS formation. To vary surface-to-bulk defects ratio, series of ZnONP samples were synthesized by microwave processing of precipitate in the presence of a different amount (5, 10 and 20 wt.%) of surfactants, precisely, CTAB and citric acid. The particles crystallinity and phase purity were investigated by X-ray diffraction, Raman and FTIR spectroscopy. The particles morphology and texture properties were observed with FE–SEM and BET, respectively. The optical properties were studied using UV–Vis DRS and PL spectroscopy. ZnONP samples with different surface-to-bulk defect ratio were examined on ROS formation. Surface-to-bulk defect ratio in ZnONP was correlated with ROS formation, besides; their influence on cytotoxicity to normal and cancerous cells was comprehended