Thanks a lot Julian.
You are absolutely right --- I love numbers in abstracts.

In fact, I am in the process of collating a database on the mechanical 
(thermal, electrical, etc.) properties of biological/natural materials 
to .  So far about 700 entries of about 150 different materials exist 
and I am grateful for any additions which you may suggests, be they the 
result of your own work or that of others.  Full papers (as references 
for the paper database) are greatly appreciated.  I am equally 
interested in books which contain (reliable) numbers.

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Herzliche Grüße
Ulrike

____________________
Dr. Ulrike G.K. Wegst
Max-Planck-Institut für Metallforschung
Heisenbergstr. 3
D-70569 Stuttgart
Germany
Tel: +49(0)711-689-3423
Tel: +49(0)711-689-3412
Email: [log in to unmask]


Julian Vincent schrieb:

>When I review papers, one thing which I try to ensure is that the abstract
>actually summarises the findings of the paper.  It's not that I don't want
>to be bothered reading the paper.  Sometimes the university doesn't have a
>subscription to the journal; often I want to put a good summary into my
>bibliofile (which then becomes a machine for teaching and writing reviews).
>But too many times the abstract says only what the author did, not what
>(s)he _discovered_.  The most annoying thing I ever see is "The results are
>discussed".  Well, I should hope they are!
>
>When my wife worked for CABI, the abstracting service on which many people
>in Africa and India depend but can't always afford copies of entire papers
>or journals, she was taught to rewrite the abstract so that it was a true
>and complete summary of the discoveries and deductions.  That meant putting
>in numbers as well.  In our case, that means actually quoting figures for
>stiffness, strength, or whatever.
>
>The most extreme instance I know is a very well-regarded and excellent book
>on plant cell walls which has an entire chapter devoted mechanical
>properties.  Unbelievably, it doesn't quote any numbers at all.  Not even a
>strain to break (which is probably the least contentious number possible)!
>
>So please, so that Ulrike can get all the information she needs as easily as
>possible, quote all your numbers in the abstract.
>
>Julian Vincent
>
>  
>