I had a paper go through peer review at PNAS last fall, and although the paper got rejected, it was certainly very well peer reviewed. This paper compares current extinction rates of vertebrates in modern times to that in the Cretaceous mass extinction (using fuzzy computational approaches). One reviewer caught a typo in the table on mammals and it fed down the column. The other reviewer alerted me to a couple of Pimm's articles which I had missed citing, pretty important since he had done similar stuff with point estimates a good decade or more before. I went back, corrected the error, required me to recalculate the column of numbers, and now its back in peer review with a different journal. Of course, the hardest part is that so few people have any background in fuzzy math that they make a lot of invalid interpretations of the numbers. This means I have to be extra careful to relate things well. Its pretty hard in that respect. But, hopefully, it will get published this time around. Its obviously an important study, but you have to dot your i's and cross your t's. I was pretty embarrassed to have such an error, but even though others had read it for me prior to submission, none would have recognized it. In fact, the reviewer who knew fuzzy math caught it. Pretty disappointing too, but you know what? Its water under the bridge now. :)
I would not hesitate to send a paper into PNAS if I felt it was that important. Now, would would you like me to relay my experiences with PLoS One? Ok, I'm in a good mood today, not going there. :) M On Wed, Jun 18, 2014 at 2:30 PM, David Duffy <[email protected]> wrote: > Problems with peer review at PNAS and trendiness at Science and Nature > > http://www.nature.com/news/scientific-publishing-the-inside-track-1.15424?WT.ec_id=NATURE-20140619 > > -- > David Duffy > 戴大偉 (Dài Dàwěi) > Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit > Botany > University of Hawaii > 3190 Maile Way > Honolulu Hawaii 96822 USA > 1-808-956-8218 -- Malcolm L. McCallum, PHD, REP Department of Environmental Studies University of Illinois at Springfield Managing Editor, Herpetological Conservation and Biology “Nothing is more priceless and worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists, and nature lovers alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share as Americans.” -President Richard Nixon upon signing the Endangered Species Act of 1973 into law. "Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive" - Allan Nation 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction MAY help restore populations. 2022: Soylent Green is People! The Seven Blunders of the World (Mohandas Gandhi) Wealth w/o work Pleasure w/o conscience Knowledge w/o character Commerce w/o morality Science w/o humanity Worship w/o sacrifice Politics w/o principle Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
