"Journal" - what is it, definition of the term
It denotes a serial academic publication that disseminates peer‑reviewed research articles, reviews, and scholarly commentary within a specific discipline, released at regular intervals, indexed for citation, and overseen by an editorial board that upholds rigorous scholarly standards.
Detailed information
Scientific periodicals devoted to rodent research provide a centralized venue for reporting experimental findings, methodological advances, and theoretical analyses concerning rats and mice. Articles typically fall into categories such as original research, review papers, methodological notes, and short communications. Each submission undergoes a peer‑review process that evaluates experimental design, statistical rigor, and relevance to the field, ensuring that published content meets established standards of quality and reproducibility.
Key characteristics of these publications include:
- Scope: Focus on genetics, physiology, behavior, disease models, pharmacology, and environmental influences affecting murine species.
- Indexing: Indexed in databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, facilitating citation tracking and literature retrieval.
- Impact metrics: Impact factor and CiteScore reflect citation frequency and are used by researchers to assess journal prestige.
- Access models: Options range from subscription‑based to open‑access, with article processing charges applicable to the latter.
- Ethical standards: Require compliance with animal welfare regulations, declaration of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval, and transparent reporting of sample sizes and randomization procedures.
Prominent titles within this niche include Rodent Biology, Mouse Genetics and Physiology, and Rat Neurobiology. Each maintains a regular publication schedule, typically monthly or quarterly, and provides online archives that allow retrospective searches of past issues.
For authors preparing manuscripts, the following steps are recommended:
- Identify a suitable outlet by matching the manuscript’s thematic focus with the journal’s stated scope.
- Review the author guidelines for formatting, reference style, and figure specifications.
- Prepare a cover letter summarizing the study’s contribution to rodent science and confirming adherence to ethical standards.
- Submit the manuscript through the online portal, monitor the peer‑review progress, and respond promptly to reviewer comments.
Researchers accessing these serials benefit from features such as searchable abstracts, supplementary data repositories, and alert services that notify subscribers of new publications matching specified keywords. The combination of rigorous peer review, comprehensive indexing, and specialized content makes these scholarly outlets essential resources for advancing knowledge about rats and mice.