| |
• Guide to Online Submission
• Information
for Authors
Guide to Online Submission
All manuscripts, including letters to the editor, replies to the editor, and correspondence, must be submitted
online via the Elsevier Editorial System (EES) web site. Go to http://ees.elsevier.com/jcrs and select "log in." You
will immediately see the screen "Elsevier Editorial System Log-In." You will be asked for your username and password. If you have not
yet registered, you will see a place to do so. If you are registered, type in your username and password and click on author login. You
will be guided step-by-step through the creation and uploading of various files including the manuscript, synopsis, figures, and tables.
Once the uploading is complete, the system will automatically generate an electronic (PDF) proof, which is used for reviewing. All correspondence
regarding submitted manuscripts will be handled via e-mail through EES.
The article must be in 12-point type, double-spaced, with
1-inch margins (with all pages numbered consecutively). It should follow the general instructions for authors about content and style.
The text should use the wrap-around-end-of-line feature; ie, returns at the end of paragraphs only. Place 2 returns after every element
such as title, headings, paragraph. Please do NOT use any automatically generated numbering or bulleting systems or hidden text
(eg, for references, footnotes, lists).
See the JCRS Information for Authors for descriptions of the content and format
of each type of article (full length article, case report, technique, review/update, letter, correspondence). Manuscripts with incorrect
formating will be returned unreviewed for modifications.
Files Required for New Submission
The following files must
be included with each submission. The files should be in the following order:
Manuscript File (with the Following Items)
1. Title page: The title of the paper should be short and specific. A short running head should also be provided. The title page should
include the following: (1) each author's full name (ie, first name, middle initial if used, and last name) and highest degree; (2) affiliation
of each author; (3) if presented at a meeting, provide the exact name of meeting and city, country, and month and year of the meeting;
(4) sources of public and private financial support, including organization's name, city, and country; (5) statement about the authors'
financial or proprietary interest in a product, method, or material, or lack thereof; and (6) name and address of author to receive reprint
requests.
2. Abstract: Include this after the title page.
3. Text of the article, including the references. If there are figures,
the figure legends must follow the references. (The figures themselves go in a separate file.)
Synopsis File
A synopsis is required for full-length articles and review/date articles, but not for case reports or techniques. The synopsis goes in
the table of contents. It should be no more than 30 words and should describe the main finding(s) of the paper and the significance
but should not duplicate the abstract conclusion.
Figure File
Each figure should be attached in a separate file.
(All figures legends should be in the manuscript file, not with the figure itself.) The preferred formats are TIF or EPS (jpg and gif
formats are more suitable for viewing on the Web, not for print) at the standard resolutions (ie, 300 dpi for photos - final size in
print journal; 1200 dpi for line art).
Table File
All tables can be in 1 file. Include the legends with the
tables.
Video File
Preferred video files are MPEG-4 video/MP3 audio. If another format file is used, the typesetter
will have to convert it to .mpg format so it can be accepted by the online platforms.
Elsevier recommends 10 MB as the optimal size
as this ensures that end users are able to download and view files in a reasonable timeframe. Elsevier can handle up to 160 MB but anything
more than that will have to be compressed for conversion as a zip file, meaning the video will be online as a .zip file.
REMINDERS FOR SUBMITTING A NEW MANUSCRIPT
Abstract is required in 2
places: at the beginning of the submission process, where requested; in the manuscript file, following the title page.
-
Techniques
and case reports: 150-word descriptive abstract
Full length articles: 250-word structured abstract
Text must be submitted as a Word (.doc) file, not as a PDF.
Figures and tables should not be embedded in the text;
they must be submitted as separate figure and table files.
Figure legends should be included in the manuscript file, following
the references.
Synopsis (required for full length articles and review/update articles) should be no more than 30 words.
Files Required for Revised Submission
The following files must be included, in the order given, with a revised
submission:
Revision Notes
Indicate the specific changes that were made to the submission.
Revised
Manuscript with Highlighted Changes
Highlight all the changes that were made to the text.
Revised Manuscript
(without highlighting)
Do not include any highlighting or notations in this file as it is the one that will be used for
production purposes.
Synopsis File
Include the synopsis even if it is the same as the one in the first submission.
Figure File
Attach the figures even if they are the same as the ones in the new submission. (The figure legends
should be in the revised manuscript files.)
Table File
Attach the tables with their legends even if they are
the same as those in the new submission.
Technical Support
If you need technical support with the online system, please
contact authorsupport@elsevier.com.
Information for Authors
The Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery is produced by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and the
European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.
The Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery is published by Elsevier Science Inc., New York, NY, USA.
Submission Information
Manuscripts
should be submitted via the online submission system at www.jcrsjournal.org.
See the Guide to Online Submission for specific submission instructions.
Manuscripts submitted to the journal must be original
material that has not been published or accepted for publication, in whole or in part, in English or in another language, elsewhere.
All papers are submitted to an international panel for peer review. Criteria for editorial review include suitability of subject matter,
originality of content contribution to the field, and timeliness.
Manuscript Preparation
The title of the paper should be
short and specific. A short running head should also be provided.
The title page should include the following: (1) each author's full
name (ie, first name, middle initial if used, and last name) and highest degree; (2) city, state, and country in which work was carried
out; (3) if presented at a meeting, name of the organization, city, country, and exact date of presentation; (4) sources of public and
private financial support, including organization's name, city, and country; (5) name and address of author to receive reprint requests;
(6) statement about the authors' proprietary or financial interest in a product or lack thereof.
Credit for authorship requires substantial
contributions to the area enumerated in the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals (www.icmje.org).
The number of authors is limited to 8 for a single-center study and 12 for a multi-center study. If more authors are included, each must
sign a statement confirming that he or she fulfills the authorship criteria. No more than 8 and 12 authors, respectively, will be listed
under the title; other names will appear in a footnote.
Groups of people who have contributed materially to the paper but do not meet
the authorship criteria will be listed in an appendix (eg, Clinical Investigators, Participating Investigators, Study Group).
References
and legends for figures should be typed, double-spaced, on separate sheets and should follow the text of the paper.
All papers are
subject to revision to conform with terminology and style used by the journal. Authors should adhere to accepted English usage and syntax.
Suggested references: American Medical Association Manual of Style, 9th ed. Baltimore, MD, Williams & Wilkins, 1998; Scientific Style
and Format; the CBE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers, 6th ed. New York, NY, Cambridge University Press, 1994.
Content
Clinical Studies
Reports of clinical studies should be prefaced by a 250-word structured abstract. The structured
abstract should have the following sections:
Purpose: Indicate the question that the study answers or the hypothesis that it tests.
Setting: Indicate where the study took place; this enables readers to assess the study's applicability to their practice.
Methods:
Describe the study design, indicating randomization and masking and whether the data collection was retrospective or prospective. Identify
the patients, including selection procedures, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and numbers. Indicate the intervention procedures and
the outcome measurements.
Results: Present the outcomes and measurements. Data should include the level of statistical significance.
Conclusions: State the conclusions and their clinical pertinence.
Reports of clinical studies should also include a synopsis for
the table of contents. The synopsis should be no more than 30 words and should describe the main finding of the paper but not duplicate
the abstract conclusion.
The text must follow a standard format: introduction, materials and methods used, presentation of results,
and discussion. Conclusions can be incorporated into the discussion or placed in a separate section.
The description of materials
and methods must be explicit enough that the study can be repeated by others; results must be reproducible. If a method has been published
in an English language, peer-reviewed journal, a reference is adequate. Use generic or descriptive nomenclature for drugs and instruments,
with the brand name in parentheses.
In clinical studies involving experimental investigations, the manuscript must state that informed
consent was obtained from all participants and that the study was reviewed by an ethics committee or review board (IRB) or that no IRB
approval was required.
In experimental studies using animals, the manuscript must describe the care of the animals and indicate ethics
committee or IRB approval. These studies should conform to principles of animal maintenance such as those described in the Association
for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Statement for Use of Animals in Ophthalmic and Vision Research.
Statistical methods should
be defined; any not in common use should be described in detail or supported by references. General guidelines on the use of statistical
methods and specific recommendations on statistical estimation and significance are given under Statistical Guidelines.
Visual acuity
should be reported in Snellen format for means and ranges. Mean visual acuity should be determined by calculating the geometric mean
with standard deviation stated in logMAR format (Holladay JT, Prager TC. Mean visual acuity. Am J Ophthalmol 1991; 111:372-374 )
In
the results section, avoid redundant data presentation; as a rule, information stated in the text should not be repeated in the tables.
Graphs and tables should be used for detailed lists of findings.
Techniques
Articles that describe a technique
should be prefaced by a 150-word descriptive abstract. The text should include an introduction, description of the technique, discussion,
and references. If the technique was used in patients, the results should be presented as a subsection of the technique section; in a
technique article, the emphasis should be on the technique, not on the clinical results.
As of January 2010, all technique articles
must include a video. See "Format for Video" section for a description of the formats that are accepted.
The video must be cited in
the text, and a legend that fully describes the video should be included with the figure legends. The video and legend will appear on
the ASCRS and JCRS web sites.
The purpose of the video is to supplement but not replace the description of the technique in the article
itself. Therefore, the manuscript should be self-contained; ie, the reader should be able to understand and repeat the technique based
on the text and figures in the manuscript alone. The article and video will be reviewed according to the journal's standard review process.
Format for Video: Preferred video files are MPEG-4 video/MP3 audio. If another format file is used, the typesetter will have
to convert it to .mpg format so it can be accepted by the online platforms.
Elsevier recommends 10 MB as the optimal size as this
ensures that end users are able to download and view files in a reasonable timeframe. Elsevier can handle up to 160 MB but anything more
than that will have to be compressed for conversion as a zip file, meaning the video will be online as a .zip file.
Case
Report
Case reports should be prefaced by a 150-word descriptive abstract. The text should include 4 primary sections: introduction,
case report(s), discussion, and references.
Letters to the editor about recent articles should be submitted within 6 weeks
of publication of the article. The text should not exceed 300 words. A letter should have no more than 5 references and 1 figure or table.
It cannot include more than 3 authors. A title page or cover sheet must provide full names of all authors and the address and e-mail
address of the corresponding author. Letters are reviewed by the journal editors and are subject to editing. The authors of the article
will be given an opportunity to reply.
Correspondence submissions (short reports) do not require an abstract or a structured
format. They should not exceed 500 words and can have no more than 8 references and 2 figures or tables. It cannot include more than
4 authors. A title page or cover sheet must provide the full names of all authors and the address and e-mail address of the corresponding
author. Correspondence is reviewed by the journal editors and is subject to editing.
References
All sources must be acknowledged
by a reference, and all references must be cited in the text. The list of references should be numbered in the order that the references
are cited in the text. Journal names must be abbreviated according to the form used by Index Medicus. All authors should be listed. Papers
are judged in part on the appropriateness of the references cited, and references are expected to reflect the most current literature
on the subject.
References supporting scientific conclusions should, in general, be drawn from primary, preferably refereed, sources
available in the open literature. Summary or review articles are less appropriate references for specific technical matters, although
they may certainly be included to help the reader appreciate the broad view of a topic. Un-refereed "news" publications are generally
not satisfactory scientific references, although they may be appropriate for certain historical purposes. References to these publications
should be followed by a citation in parentheses in the text and not in the list of references. The citation should include author, title
of article, name of publication, issue date, and page numbers.
Information from manuscripts that are not yet in press or have been
reported at meetings may be cited only in the text, not as formal references. Personal communications from others should be dated and
included parenthetically in the text. The author should obtain written permission from individuals cited in personal communications and
include a copy of this permission with the manuscript.
Unpublished research documents that are not easily available to the public
should be avoided as references if possible. If such materials are used, the author must ensure that the corporation or agency involved
will make the information available to others on request. A copy of any such reference should be enclosed with the submitted manuscript
to assist in editorial review. The material in such references must satisfy the criterion of public verifiability, which will be applied
to the manuscript as a whole. For example, a study claiming superior performance of a drug that is not commercially available and whose
structure is unspecified could not be reproduced by others. Such a study would be inappropriate as an article or a reference.
Reference
format:
Yildirim R, Aras C, Ozdamar A. Reproducibility of corneal flap thickness in laser in situ keratomileusis using the Hanstome
microkeratome. J Cataract Refract Surg 2000; 26:1729-1732
Apple DJ, Kincaid MC, Mamalis N, Olson RJ. Intraocular Lenses; Evolution,
Designs, Complications, and Pathology. Baltimore, MD, Williams & Wilkins, 1989
Bains RA, Anderson Penno EE, Gimbel HV. Laser in
situ keratomileusis. In: Gimbel HV, Anderson Penno EE, eds, Refractive Sugery: A Manual of Principles and Practice. Thorofare, NJ, Slack,
Inc, 2000; 127-157
Video/Computer Graphics
An original, edited CD-ROM in IBM compatible PC format will be the standard format
for submission of videos and computer graphics (ie, slide presentations with or without animation). Journal of Cataract & Refractive
Surgery (JCRS) will not edit any video or computer graphics, but reviewers, following the usual policy with illustrations, may suggest
changes in the video or computer graphic. A sound track is highly recommended. Maximal cumulative length of videos or computer graphics
is 8 minutes, and may be divided into several smaller clips not to exceed 8 minutes in total. If the video or animation is divided into
several clips, each clip should be identified at the beginning of the section and on the CD-ROM, eg, Video Clip 1 or Graphic 1. Several
videos/graphics may be on the same CD-ROM, but if they are separate clips, the separation must be clearly indicated. Concise legends
(typed on a separate page) must accompany each video clip or computer graphic presentation.
The following formats for video will
be accepted: MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 (.mpg), Quicktime (.mov), Audio/Video Interface (.avi) or Compuserve GIF (.gif). Please contact the publisher
about the use of other formats. A graphic will be used to indicate the location of a video clip or computer graphic. Videos/computer
graphics for accepted manuscripts will not be returned. Videos and computer graphics will not be accepted separately from a manuscript
that has been rejected. If the article is accepted for publication, the video will be digitized and archived on the JCRS website (http://www.jcrsjournal.org).
The location of the video on the Web will be linked in the online version of the article.
Statistical Guidelines
To ensure
meaningful statistical analysis of the study results, authors should consider the following questions:
1. Was the source of subjects
satisfactorily stated?
2. Were concurrent controls used (as opposed to historical controls)?
3. Were the treatments well defined?
4. Was random allocation to treatment used?
5. Was the randomization method described?
6. Was the duration of posttreatment
follow-up satisfactory (at least 6 months)?
Conduct of Study
7. Were the treatment and control groups comparable
with relevant measures?
8. Did a high proportion of subjects achieve adequate follow-up?
9. Were the dropouts characterized by
treatment received?
10. Were the side effects of treatment reported?
Analysis and Presentation
11. Was there
a statement adequately describing or referencing all statistical procedures used?
12. Were the statistical analyses appropriate?
13. Were confidence intervals given for the main results?
14. Was the level of significance stated for outcomes that were reported
as significant?
15. Was the reported level of significance corrected for the number of statistical analyses that were performed?
16. When the null hypothesis was accepted (no difference between experimental groups), was the statistical power of the study calculated
and reported?
17. Was the conclusion justified by the statistical analysis?
Alterations
If authors make extensive changes
to the text or the figures at the production stage (on page proofs), the journal reserves the right to charge the cost of the changes
to the authors. No charge will be made for correcting errors made during the editorial process or by the printer.
Recommendations
Manuscripts from non-English-speaking countries should be reviewed and edited by someone proficient in the use of English.
Study
design should be reviewed by a methodologist.
Reprints
The senior author of each article will receive a reprint order form,
which must be sent to the publisher at the time the page proofs are returned.
Submission Checklist
1. Complete title page
(including acknowledgment of financial and proprietary interests and public and privatesupport (if any)
2. Structured abstract
(for clinical articles)
3. Descriptive abstract (for techniques, case reports)
4. Synopsis of article (for clinical articles)
5. Acknowledgment of financial and proprietary interests
6. Acknowledgment of public and private support
Manuscripts will
not be reviewed until all these items have been submitted.
Submission Information
New manuscripts should be submitted
through the JCRS submission and review web site (http://ees.elsevier.com/jcrs). See Guide for Online Submission for an explanation
of the files required for a new manuscript. Once the submission files are uploaded, the system automatically generates an electronic
(PDF) proof, which is used for reviewing.
Updated November 2008
|
| |
|
