English Punctuation 101
If you're going to provide lessons in English Grammar, CathayBrat, you need to ensure that you know what you're talking about. Allow me to provide you with a lesson highlighting your own failings in this field.
Quote: ". . . Blair et al.................."
There is no recognized English punctuation which includes the use of eighteen consecutive periods. The closest would be the use of four periods, each separated by a space, and that would comprise either an ellipsis followed by a period, or a period followed by an ellipsis.
Many have trouble understanding the concept . . . . It does exist, however.