Fertility and Sterility® Introduces Revolutionary Digital Article Format Jointly Developed by American Society for Reproductive Medicine and Elsevier

PHILADELPHIA, June 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical, and medical information products and services, announces the introduction of an innovative multimedia format integrating video and traditional print content in Fertility and Sterility®, the flagship journal of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Developed in collaboration with ASRM, this new digital format has potential to revolutionize the dissemination of medical research.

"For the last 200 years, medical publishing has remained largely unchanged. Our solution accommodates non-print work through fully integrated multimedia, opens up a whole new form of learning, and allows readers to become part of an ongoing interactive discussion," says Steven Palter, MD, Video and New Media Editor, Fertility and Sterility, who developed the concept with Elsevier and spearheaded the project. "With this effort, we have bridged the gap separating digital and traditional medical literature. This integration will lead to exciting new directions in research and information exchange."

Traditional print journals, and even online publications, have not previously provided a platform for effective integration of video and written content. The new media initiative is unique in several ways. It allows videos to be cited in the same way as a written article and seamlessly unifies online multimedia content with traditional research content.  Readers can now watch footage of innovations and techniques and learn previously inaccessible information in new non-written formats while still being able to find this information through traditional medical information sources.

"Our editors view Fertility and Sterility as much more than a print entity and are embracing new and innovative ways of delivering research and engaging our readers. It's a very exciting time for the Journal," notes Elsevier Publisher Andrea Boccelli.

Fertility and Sterility embeds an open access link in the article that appears both in PubMed and the Journal's online tables of contents, as well as in the print journal. QR (Quick Response) codes associated with each article seamlessly bring readers from print journal to online video. Authors can create review articles, experimental techniques, anatomic overviews, case reports, and more.  Videos, which are peer reviewed as part of the mainstream submission process, are served open source through Google's YouTube.

"Embracing new technologies that support rapid transfer of critical information, add value to that information, and drive scientific innovation is a cornerstone of Elsevier's publishing strategy," adds Christine Rullo, Vice President, Health and Medical Sciences, STM Journals. "In keeping with this mission, we are extremely proud to publish Fertility and Sterility on behalf of ASRM and to have collaborated with them to realize this innovative multimedia program. This is an important step in the continuing evolution of the scientific article."

Two original video articles have been published in the May issue of Fertility and Sterility and are openly available.

"Single port laparoscopy" by L. Caravalho et al., Cleveland Clinic, demonstrates a new surgical principle (http://fertstertforum.com/2012974caravalho; indexed in PubMed at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22542145).

"Chromosome transfer in mature oocytes," by M. Tachibana et al., Oregon National Primate Research Center, shows the innovative laboratory technique (http://fertstertforum.com/2012974tachibana; indexed in PubMed at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22542144).

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Notes for editors

The ASRM's news release may be viewed at http://www.asrm.org/news/index.aspx?id=123.

About Fertility and Sterility®

Fertility and Sterility® is an international journal for obstetricians, gynecologists, reproductive endocrinologists, urologists, basic scientists, and others who treat and investigate problems of infertility and human reproductive disorders. The journal publishes juried original scientific articles in clinical and laboratory research relevant to reproductive endocrinology, urology, andrology, physiology, immunology, genetics, contraception, and menopause. Fertility and Sterility® encourages and supports meaningful basic and clinical research, and facilitates and promotes excellence in professional education, in the field of reproductive medicine. http://www.fertstert.org

About the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, founded in 1944, is an organization of 8,000 physicians, researchers, nurses, technicians, and other professionals dedicated to advancing knowledge and expertise in reproductive biology. Affiliated societies include the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology, the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, the Society of Reproductive Surgeons, and the Society of Reproductive Biologists and Technologists. http://www.asrm.org

About Elsevier

Elsevier is a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. The company works in partnership with the global science and health communities to publish more than 2,000 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and close to 20,000 book titles, including major reference works from Mosby and Saunders. Elsevier's online solutions include ScienceDirect, Scopus, Reaxys, MD Consult and Mosby's Nursing Suite, which enhance the productivity of science and health professionals, and the SciVal suite and MEDai's Pinpoint Review, which help research and health care institutions deliver better outcomes more cost-effectively.

A global business headquartered in Amsterdam, Elsevier employs 7,000 people worldwide. The company is part of Reed Elsevier Group PLC, a world-leading publisher and information provider, which is jointly owned by Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV. The ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).

Media Contact:
Andrea Boccelli
Publisher
+1-215-239-3713
a.boccelli@elsevier.com