News Release

APS showcases 46 historic breakthrough research articles

Business Announcement

American Physiological Society

Bethesda, Md. – August 25, 2004 – The American Physiological Society (APS) recently embarked on a mission to share more than 100 years of physiological research through its Legacy Project. The arduous project that included scanning hundreds of original journal volumes – the equivalent of more than 200 linear feet of shelf space – dating back to 1898 has "truly been a labor of love." To celebrate the completion of the Legacy Project, APS identified 46 articles published in the APS journals that have proven vital to the discipline of physiology and the evolution of modern-day medicine.

"The articles epitomize the ever-evolving thirst for knowledge and the pioneering spirit of invention that are the signature of physiology's best and brightest," says APS Publications Committee Chair Dale Benos. "Science owes many advances in technology, equipment and insight into perplexing physiological processes to this research," he added. Featured articles include:

The 1945 paper authored by Seymour Kety and Carl Schmidt that introduced a revolutionary new way to measure cerebral blood flow. The manuscript, still a landmark in its field, sparked the development of new cerebral blood flow methodologies and revolutionized research on the human brain.

Arthur Guyton, Arthur Lindsey and Berwind Kaufmann's 1955 article, through its pioneering use of systems analysis, placed an emphasis on venous return as a determinant of cardiac output and became an important tool for research and teaching.

The development of the first three-function blood-gas analyzer, an essential tool in surgery, anesthesia, intensive care, and emergency medicine, was detailed in the 1958 article by John Severinghaus and A. Freeman Bradley. This invention that measures arterial blood for oxygen, carbon dioxide and pH has proved to be one of the most important laboratory tests for physicians.

A blue-ribbon panel of physiologists, led by Hershel Raff of the APS Publications Committee was assembled to select these landmark articles. Once chosen, APS commissioned eminent scientists with specialized experience in the field to write essays about a given classic paper or group of papers. Original authors of the classic papers, where possible, were invited to provide additional commentary about the work and times.

The aim of sharing these classic articles and essays is to stimulate and inspire physiologists of all ages to appreciate the beauty and the greatness of science published in APS research journals in the last century. Additionally, APS recognizes the need to make all of its archived literature accessible, to both serve as a testament to the dedicated scientists involved in physiological research and to provide a deeper understanding of the cultural heritage of modern day science.

The Classic articles, introductory essays, and complete first editions of each journal are freely available on the APS Journals web site (http://www.the-aps.org/publications/classics/).

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The American Physiological Society is a professional scientific membership organization devoted to fostering scientific research, education, and the dissemination of scientific information. Founded in 1887 to foster basic and applied bioscience, the Bethesda, Maryland-based society has more than 10,000 members and publishes 14 peer-reviewed journals containing almost 4,000 articles annually.

APS supports a variety of educational activities including programs and fellowships to encourage the development of young scientists. In May 2004, APS won the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM).


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