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Springer acquires complete journal program from Transaction Publishers, expand social sciences offering - 22 Feb 2007
STM publisher Springer Science+Business Media, Germany, has announced that it has acquired twenty-nine journals from Transaction Publishers in an asset deal. The acquired titles, including the flagship journal Society, highlight contemporary thought in established disciplines such as political science, history, sociology, anthropology, and psychology. Dr. Irving Louis Horowitz, Chairman of the Board of Transaction Publishers, will continue in the capacity of Senior Editorial Advisor to Springer. This acquisition links complementary publishing programmes and strengthens the global publisher's existing position in the humanities and social sciences. Springer's portfolio in this area includes leading journal titles such as Theory and Society, Sex Roles and Policy Sciences. Transaction Publishers is an independent publisher of social scientific books, periodicals and serials. It offers publications in older, established disciplines such as economics, political science, history, sociology, anthropology, psychology, as well as recently established disciplines ranging from area research to urban studies, policy analysis, philosophy of social science, organisational behavior and criminology. Click here to read the original press release.
Non-profit publishers oppose govt. mandates for scientific publishing - 22 Feb 2007
The Washington DC Principles for Free Access to Science Coalition, a coalition of 75 non-profit publishers, has stated its opposition to any legislation that would abruptly end the existing publishing system. One such measure, the Federal Research Public Access Act, introduced in the 109th Congress, would have required all federally funded research to be deposited in an accessible database within six months of acceptance in a scientific journal. Some open access advocates are pressing for the introduction of a similar measure in the 110th Congress. According to members of the Coalition, such legislation would impose government-mandated access policies and establish government-controlled repositories for federally funded research published in scientific journals. The Coalition also reaffirmed its ongoing practice of making millions of scientific journal articles available free of charge, without an additional financial burden on the scientific community or on funding agencies. More than 1.6 million free articles are already available to the public free of charge on HighWire Press. In addition, the Coalition expressed concern that a mandatory timetable for free access to all federally funded research could harm journals, scientists and, ultimately, the public. Subscriptions to journals with a high percentage of federally funded research would decline rapidly. Subscription revenues support the quality control system known as peer review and also support the educational work of scientific societies that publish journals. It noted that undermining subscriptions would shift the cost of publication from the publisher who receives subscription revenue to the researcher who receives grants. Click here to read the original press release.
Fertility journal condemns scientists - 22 Feb 2007
International journal Fertility and Sterility has critisised the authors of a 2005 article after it was learnt that an identical paper was earlier published in a Korean journal. Also, it was noted that the authors failed to mention the name of Jeong-Hwan Kim, who was listed as the lead author on the Korean paper. Kim had reportedly performed the bulk of the research reported in both papers. The journal has announced plans to update its database and other national databases such as MEDLINE, and add Kim as the first author of the study, which described the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to measure mitochondrial DNA in women with premature ovarian failure. Also, it will issue a note in its forthcoming issue describing the offense. Meanwhile, the journal has banned every author listed on the original Fertility and Sterility paper from contributing papers to the journal for the next three years. The journal however denied any plans to retract the article. Fertility and Sterility publishes juried original scientific articles in clinical and laboratory research relevant to reproductive endocrinology, urology, andrology, physiology, immunology, genetics, contraception, and menopause. The journal is the official publication of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Society of Reproductive Surgeons, Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, Society for Male Reproduction and Urology, and Pacific Coast Reproductive Society. It is projected as an essential resource for gynecologists, reproductive endocrinologists, obstetricians, urologists and basic scientists who treat and investigate the problems of fertility, sterility and the physiology of reproduction.
Google in talks to block sensitive maps and images of India - 22 Feb 2007
Internet search services provider Google, Inc., US, is reportedly in talks with the Indian government on preventing access to specific maps and images that make public sensitive locations and crucial installations in the subcontinent. The discussions are being held as a result of security concerns expressed by India on easy access to high-resolution images through Google Earth, the search engine's free map and satellite imagery site. The Indian President, A P J Abdul Kalam, had earlier stated that the free mapping programme could assist terrorists with satellite images of potential targets. In April 2006, Kalam called for a new law to prevent foreign satellites from receiving images of sensitive locations in India and make such attempts a cognizable offence. While Google Earth has blocked White House and Pentagon in Washington DC, the one-metre resolution maps have clear images of New Delhi's Parliament building, Rashtrapati Bhavan and several other sensitive air bases and seaports across India. Admitting that the issue was sensitive, Google has said that different nations have different perceptions and views on having access to such geographic information, and security issues are addressed as per each nation's requirements.
Gold Standard launches health plan formulary resource tool, OnFormulary - 22 Feb 2007
Clinical software vendor Gold Standard, Inc., US, part of STM publisher Elsevier, has announced the release of OnFormulary (http://on-formulary.com), a web-based reference tool. The new tool is designed to save time and money by providing real-time access to comprehensive, up-to-date health plan formulary information for more than 95 percent of insured patients. Jointly developed by Gold Standard and MedKeeper, OnFormulary provides secure, online access to data from more than 4,000 plans, including state Medicaid and Medicare Part D. Using simple drop-down navigation, users can select the state and plan name, then search for brand and generic drugs by full or partial name or Therapeutic Drug Class to determine tier status. Other features include legends and notes for prior authorisation and step therapy requirements, quantity limits, etc.; filters to view only on-formulary drugs, or only state Medicaid and Medicare Part D formulary drugs; identification of look- and sound-alike drug names; optional subscription-based access to clinically-relevant drug information from Clinical Pharmacology, Gold Standard's electronic drug information and medication management reference; and a standardised, comprehensive formulary data set for integration into healthcare applications such as electronic health and/or medical records. In February 2006, MedKeeper entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Gold Standard, bringing together pharmacy tracking, communication and reporting software tools with drug information content. Click here to read the original press release.
Stem Cells names new Associate Editors - 22 Feb 2007
US-based scientific journal Stem Cells has named two scientists - Dr. Donald Phinney and Dr. Miodrag Stojkovic - as associate editors. Both Dr. Phinney and Dr. Stojkovic will work closely with the Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Curt I. Civin, and three senior editors, to further enhance the consistency and timeliness of the manuscript peer review process. Dr. Phinney is Associate Professor of Immunology and Microbiology at Tulane's Center for Gene Therapy. His studies have spurred preclinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intracranial stem cell transplantation for the treatment of neurological sequelae resulting from lysosomal storage diseases. In his new role, Professor Stojkovic seeks to help Stem Cells achieve an even greater impact factor. Stem Cells, a premier international journal of cell differentiation and proliferation, publishes original articles at the leading edge of stem cell research and regenerative medicine.
M2MEDIA360 names Keith Reid Editor-in-Chief of NPN Magazine and Fuel Oil News - 22 Feb 2007
B-to-B media company M2MEDIA360, US, has announced the appointment of Keith Reid as editor-in-chief of its publications, National Petroleum News (NPN) magazine and Fuel Oil News (FON) magazine, effective March 2007. Prior to this, Reid served as editor-in-chief of Advanced Imaging Magazine, an international technology publication for the industrial, commercial, scientific and military imaging industry. Earlier, he also served as NPN Magazine's senior editor from 1999-2005. During that time, he covered the full range of industry issues with a concentration on oil policy, regulation and technology. NPN Magazine (a M2MEDIA360 publication) is a leading trade news publication serving the petroleum/convenience market. The publication reaches top executives and decision makers in petroleum marketing firms, convenience store chains, and oil company marketing departments. FON Magazine provides news and business developments that affect and change the fuel oil industry. The journal targets fuel oil dealers/distributors; oil heating equipment dealers; wholesale heating equipment distributors; HVAC/R installation and service contractors; and OEM sales reps.
Dear Subscribers - 22 Feb 2007
STM Publishers can now add their Company to the Knowledgespeak Directory list. You can also update our events calendar, if you are organising an event which may be of interest to the STM publishing community. Also, you can send your company press releases to be included in our news section.
