Each year brings challenges and opportunities. The rise of the coronovirus pandemic challenged the scientific community to make advances rapidly. Scientists adapted to alternative interaction with colleagues and students. Instruction shifted to online or hybrid methods. Individual and group virtual meetings became more conventional through remote work. The Poultry Science Association held a successful virtual meeting. Before the development of virtual conferences, the Poultry Science Association canceled previous annual meetings during wartime. Overall, resiliency will be tested by our adjustments to fluctuating circumstances until the pandemic subsides.
This year has brought multiple changes to Poultry Science. The journal transferred publication to Elsevier at the start of the year. Manuscript submission and handling shifted from Manuscript Central to Editorial Manager. At the same time, the Poultry Science Association, led by the board of directors, adopted an open access publishing format leaving behind the subscription model that had been in place since the publication's inception. The works published in Poultry Science, the number one poultry research journal with a 2.659 impact factor for 2019, will be available widely through open access. For example, individuals from more than 110 countries used ScienceDirect to download 1.5 million full-text articles from the journal in the first 6 months of 2020. Articles on ScienceDirect feature links that allow the reader to download the article pdf, navigate throughout the different article sections, retrieve article citation data, access multiple alternative metrics including social media usage, and discover recommended articles. Further explanation can be found at https://poultryscience.org/About-Publications-Navigating-Open-Access#article. Elsevier has digitized the complete Poultry Science back file, which can be accessed as an open archive on ScienceDirect (https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/poultry-science/issues).
Several operational changes have been made. The first change allowed author proofs to be managed online using Proof Central. After a proof is produced for an accepted manuscript, the corresponding author is notified by e-mail. A link in the e-mail is connected to the proof, which can be edited in a manner similar to a word processor. The manuscript is approved by the author once editing is completed. This new system will enhance the publication process.
Second, journal pre-proofs are now published for Poultry Science. Accepted manuscripts are published online 5 days after receipt by the production unit. These articles are enhanced by a cover page, metadata, and simple formatting for readability. By publishing journal pre-proofs, authors' research can be available and cited soon after acceptance. After proof editing by the authors, the pre-proof is replaced by the corrected version. More information about journal pre-proofs can be found at https://service.elsevier.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/22799/supporthub/sciencedirect/.
The third operational change affected 2 manuscript categories. The “Contemporary Issues” section has been retired, and the Research Note format has been modified, as described in the guide for authors (https://www.elsevier.com/journals/poultry-science/0032-5791/guide-for-authors) and listed as follows: “Research Notes report the results of complete experiments but are less comprehensive than full-length articles. These short papers may convey preliminary or final data fulfilling one or more of the following criteria: a single experiment, low sample numbers, or limited replication. Manuscripts should be prepared according to the guidelines for full-length articles. The title of a Research Note must begin with the words “Research Note:." The running head shall be “RESEARCH NOTE.” Results and Discussion should be a unified section with concise data interpretation. A conclusions heading is not permitted. Supplementary data are not permitted. These papers are limited to: 1) 3,000 words or approximately 9 typed, double-spaced pages; 2) 2 tables or figures or one of each; and 3) maximum ten (10) references. Authors must also indicate the section under which the manuscript is to be reviewed on the manuscript title page and on the Manuscript Submission Form. Editors may request that submitted full-length papers be revised for publication as Research Notes.”
During manuscript review and processing, several authors have requested alteration of the author list as well as the institutional order. The journal was asked to add or remove authors or to shift their order. Other individuals requested that the order of institutions changes. Care should be exercised during manuscript preparation. The order of authors and their affiliations should be confirmed among all authors of a manuscript before submission. Affiliations are listed in the order that their associated authors appear in the article. Both author and affiliation changes must be approved by the Editor-in-Chief. Once a paper has reached the proof stage, no changes to the author list are permitted as such requests often seek to manipulate the system rather than to correct a clerical error.
Review articles, one component of Poultry Science, synthesize data and conclusions from multiple publications. These articles give readers the latest information on important research topics. Furthermore, the works are a valuable source for individuals seeking to explore a new field or to consider interrelationships with their research to area. Please consider producing a review article. Preparing a review would provide a learning opportunity for new faculty, postdoctoral fellows, or graduate students and a mentoring experience for veteran faculty. Please contact the editorial staff with your ideas.
I thank Diana Jones and Nicole Scott at Elsevier for their valuable comments.
Stay well and be safe.