Beginning January 2019 the editing committee has decided to adopt a continuous publishing model for Journal publication. Individual articles will be released online as they become ready, allowing a steady stream of informative quality articles. We will also be moving to a calendar year issue cycle. In traditional terms, each volume will encompass a single year and consist of a single issue. Publishing on a just-in-time basis allows authors to present their results in a timely fashion, and our readers, students, and colleagues to access our content and cite articles more quickly and free from the restrictions of a predefined timetable. As a result of these changes, the look and style, as well as the function, of the Journal will be different, and hopefully improved.

Frequently asked questions

• Why are you introducing continuous publication?

There are many benefits to publishing articles in this manner. In addition to quicker access, easier citation, and improved flow of information, archival and retrieval are simplified. More generally, overall trends towards greater digital access to scientific information and improvements in (internet) technology are such that the efficiencies that benefitted physical publication schedules no longer apply, and continuous publication is in line with these developments.

• What is the difference between continuous publication and the posting of manuscripts at a regular schedule?

In continuous publication, articles may be submitted at any time. They still undergo the same process of peer review and preparation, but this can begin right away and ends as soon as the article is ready. At the end of each year, the articles for that issue are collected, and a new issue witll begin. With continuous publication, the article posted online is a fully formatted final version of record, and includes the same full citation details. Articles are available to be read online, and can be downloaded for viewing offline or to be printed.

• What does the introduction of continuous publication mean for readers and contributors?

Our reader have instant access to new information. Contributors can see their results in print in a timely fashion. The pace of scientific achievement continues to grow and continuous publication means obstacles that impeded the spread of knowledge can be overcome.

• Will the journal articles still allow traditional citations and page numbering?

As in traditional citations, each article includes a unique citation that includes the article's title, the authors' name, the issue, volume, and date of publication. In addition, it will include a notation for the article type (Full article, Mini Review, etc.) This information can be used to locate and identify uniquely the article online when used in references and bibliographies as in the traditional system. One difference is that each article's page numbering begins at 1, rather than continuing from the previous article's. Nonetheless, continuous publication still provides an equivalent and effficient form of data needed to correctly manage citations as needed.