Special Issues/Supplements submitted to INTERNATIONAL LIFE SCIENCES PUBLISHERS (Abbreviated as ILS) are published based on Supplements, Theme Issues, and Special Series by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and Conflict of Interest Disclosure and Journal Supplements in MEDLINE by the NLM guidance.
2. The Publication Process for Special Issues/Supplements
4. Disclosure of Conflict of Interest
(1) Special Issues
Special Issue, as a part of a regular issue in the journal, is dedicated to offering a venue for the critical analysis and comprehensive overview of unique and innovative topics in current hot research areas within the scope of a journal. Guest editors, who are typically authoritative international experts on a particular topic, are responsible for ensuring the quality of publications in Special Issues.
(2) Supplements
A Supplement, either published as a separate issue of the journal or as part of a regular issue, is a collection of papers concerning customized topics, meeting special requirements of a journal in a certain period.
2. The Publication Process for Special Issues/Supplements
(1) Applications of special issue proposals for ILS journals can be made by contacting the editorial office at "EDITORIAL OFFICE" under the journal's official website.
(2) Core aspects of submitted proposals may include:
The guest editor's name and correspondence address;
Appropriate description of the proposal scope and significance (about 200-350 words)
Resume of the proposed Guest Editors (including their research area);
Concise information about the other contributors ,including their institutional affiliation;
A tentative schedule for preparing the special issue;
Adherence to the instructions (available at the official website of the journal below "For Authors") for the preparation of manuscripts; Editorial Office commissioned to review the proposal is in full charge of relevant policies, practices, and content of Special Issues/Supplements (e.g., the selection of authors, recruitment of peer reviewers and content for special issues/supplements). Funding organizations only retain the right to choose which publications to fund.
All manuscripts proposed for Special Issues/Supplements are subject to initial review to determine if they meet the minimum editorial standards and the fit of the suggested topic. Once approval, they will be sent to external peer reviewers recruited by the journal Editorial Office. Guest editors are in charge of assisting the initial review and administration of Special Issues. The final approval of any proposal will be decided by the journal’s academic editors (generally the Editor-in-Chief/Editorial Board Member of a journal or the Guest Editor of a Special Issue)
(3) Acceptance or rejection of a proposal is measured based on the core aspects below:
Whether the proposed idea can arouse the interest of substantial identifiable readers worldwide and be relevant to their research areas?
Does the elaboration of this topic integrate international insights and theoretical developments in the corresponding area?
Is the research protocol involved in manuscripts carefully and appropriately designed?
Are the logic and content of the proposal clear and reasonable enough to recruit the proposer as a guest editor?
Are there any researchers in the list of contributors who have a high reputation in their field?
Is this special issue likely to make a significant contribution to further educational research?
For all manuscripts submitted as a Special Issue/Supplement, peer-review process organized by the Editorial Office is necessary to maintain the quality of content within the coverage of the journal.
A general introduction must be provided and clearly stated in the manuscripts submitted as Special Issues/Supplements, including but limited to the contents such as the sources of ideas, funding and any funded products involved in the work.
(4) The issues of Supplements have an additional "S" symbol relative to the regular editorial issues.
The final decision to reject or accept the content of all Special Issues/Supplements in ILS is at the discretion of the journal Editor(s)-in-Chief, who are in full charge of the editorial work.
The same terms for authorship and relationship disclosure, and editorial policies of the journal are applicable to the manuscripts submitted for Special Issues/Supplements.
All manuscripts for Special Issues/Supplements undergo the standard peer review process managed by journal Editorial Office and supervised by the Editor(s)-in-Chief.
Final decisions to reject or accept the manuscript are at the discretion of the journal editors (generally the Editor-in-Chief/Editorial Board Member of a journal or the Guest Editor of a Special Issue).
Guest editors, who are commissioned after rigorous consultation with the Editor(s)-in-Chief of the journal, have an obligation to declare any potential Conflicts of Interests concerning the manuscripts for special issues/supplements.
4. Disclosure of Conflict of Interest
(1) Conflict of Interest in Manuscripts for Special Issues/Supplements should be disclosed in light of the guidance below:
Supplements, Theme Issues, and Special Series by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and Conflict of Interest Disclosure; Journal Supplements in MEDLINEby the NLM guidance.
(2) A clarification statement should be contained in "Conflict of Interests" section, in case that any product from sponsors has been involved in the manuscripts for special issues/supplements sponsored by a for-profit organization.
(3) Source of funding for publication should be stated in the manuscript.
(4) Any financial relationships, together with other Conflict of Interest, should be declared if involved with the editors, authors and sponsors.