Improving Research and Scientific Publications in Africa: Analysis of a Centennial issue of The FASEB Journal towards Effective Mentoring

Abstract

In Nigeria, the flourishing of universities and turn-out of graduates do not adequately reflect in national development. The aim of this study was to determine some factors that can guarantee career success in the field of biomedical science in Nigeria. The objectives were to examine thirty three articles of a centennial issue (April 2012) of the FASEB Journal for: a) Number of printed pages of the journal, b) Number of major studies described in the article, c) Number of figures and presentation of data within the figures, d) Number of days the journal took to review the article before acceptance for publication, e) Number of scientific references listed at the end of the article. The data showed that articles took up 10.5±1.5 printed pages, reported 8.03±0.36 major studies, utilized 49.76±7.4 references, and took 87.76± 8.4 days to be accepted. Data were presented as tables in 16/33 articles; diagrams in 18/33 articles; graphs in 21/33 articles; histograms (and other charts) in 31/33 articles; photos/pictures in 24/33 articles, blots (mainly western) in 20/33 articles; machine print-outs in 10/33 articles; and sequences, arrays, or mappings in 7/33 articles. The author concludes that young biomedical scientists need to be directed to take care of the following factors along their research career: a) quantity of work, b) quality of work, c) richness of evidence, d) planning and pacing of work, e) relationship of work with universal knowledge and development.

Keywords: mentoring, peer reviewed articles, biomedical science, FASEB, research, Nigeria, Africa