Shigeaki Yamazaki

Refereeing system of 29 life science journals preferred by Japanese scientists

The purpose of this paper is to study the referee systems of foreign scientific journals in the field of life sciences preferred by Japanese researchers. This survey has been conducted in response to the need of Japanese authors for current information about the refereeing systems of foreign life science journals. Based on questionnaire data obtained from 29 journal editors, this paper describes the refereeing systems. This survey showed that most Japanese researchers in the field of life sciences tried to submit their papers to prestigious foreign journals with a higher rejection rate. There was a high correlation between the rejection rate and the impact factor in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology.

Referee systems of English-language scientific journals in Japan

The purpose of this survey is to review the present situation of the referee systems of 55 English-language scientific journals in Japan, and to evaluate their quality and international readership of those journals. Based on this survey, the author discusses some editorial efforts which may promote the greater use worldwide.

Academic origin of the first professors in American medical schools before the civil war

The development of American medical education before the Civil War was studied. One hundred and forty-three first professors in American medical schools before the Civil War were selected, and records of their academic origins, places of birth, and study abroad were collected from various biographical sources. Based on the prosopographical analysis of personal data of first professors, the historical changes and the characteristics in American medical education are discussed.