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pnasnexus-abstract

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Use to write the PNAS Nexus abstract — a single self-contained paragraph of up to 250 words, with no headings, quantified and accessible to a broad scientific audience. Distinguishes the abstract (what/how/found, for scientists) from the 50–120-word Significance Statement (why-it-matters, for everyone). Late-stage polish.

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Source SKILL.md: https://github.com/brycewang-stanford/Awesome-Journal-Skills/blob/HEAD/PNAS-Nexus-Skills/skills/pnasnexus-abstract/SKILL.md

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Abstract (pnasnexus-abstract)

When to trigger

  • Fit, open access, structure, figures, stats, and data are settled (do this late).
  • The abstract reads like a methods recap with no result.
  • The abstract is being confused with, or duplicated from, the Significance Statement.
  • The abstract is over 250 words, has subheadings, or is jargon-dense.

The PNAS Nexus abstract: ≤250 words, single paragraph, no headings

  • Length: up to 250 words (PNAS Nexus states a 250-word maximum — confirm in current guidelines).
  • A single paragraph with no headings, no reference citations, no figure/table callouts. (PNAS Nexus's wording: "They should appear as a single paragraph with no headings.")
  • Self-contained: a reader who sees only the abstract should understand the question, what was done, what was found (quantified), and what it means.
  • Accessible to the broad PNAS Nexus readership spanning biological/health/medical, physical sciences & engineering, and social & political sciences — define or avoid acronyms.

The short, plain artifact PNAS Nexus requires is the Significance Statement (pnasnexus-significance, 50–120 words) — it is separate from the abstract. Do not merge them.

Abstract vs Significance Statement (keep them distinct)

AbstractSignificance Statement (pnasnexus-significance)
What/how/found, for scientistsWhy it matters, for everyone
≤250 words, quantified, technical-but-clear50–120 words, plain language
Stands in for the paperStands in for the "so what"

If the two read the same, the Significance Statement is wrong — fix it in pnasnexus-significance.

Recommended five-move structure (no labels in the text)

  1. Context / stakes (1–2 sentences) — the broad problem.
  2. Gap / question (1 sentence) — what was unknown.
  3. What we did (1–2 sentences) — approach, in plain terms.
  4. Key results, quantified (2–3 sentences) — the advance, with numbers and uncertainty.
  5. Conclusion / implication (1 sentence) — what it means for the field, ideally across fields.

Hard constraints

  • ≤ 250 words (confirm the current cap).
  • Single paragraph, no subheadings, no citations, no figure/table references.
  • Define any acronym on first use, or avoid it.
  • At least one quantified result — magnitude + unit + uncertainty (CI/P), not "significantly increased".
  • First sentence comprehensible to a scientist outside the field.
  • Distinct in content and register from the Significance Statement.

Jargon blacklist (rewrite on sight)

  • "Herein we report…", "Importantly,", "Interestingly,", "Notably,"
  • Strings of ≥2 undefined acronyms in one sentence.
  • "elucidate", "delineate", "interrogate", "leverage" as filler verbs.
  • Hedging stacks: "may potentially suggest that it could…".

Output format

【Abstract】 single paragraph (word count: N ≤ 250)
【Single paragraph, no headings?】 yes/no
【Five moves present?】 context / gap / approach / quantified result / implication
【Quantified headline result?】 yes/no + the number
【Distinct from Significance Statement?】 yes/no
【Jargon hits removed】 [...]
【Next】 pnasnexus-citation

Anti-patterns

  • Do not reuse the 50–120-word Significance Statement as the abstract (or vice versa).
  • Do not add subheadings — PNAS Nexus abstracts are single unstructured paragraphs.
  • Do not open with method or organism; open with the stake.
  • Do not end on "further work is needed" — end on the implication.
  • Do not exceed 250 words "to be thorough".