Journal of Global Radiology Author Guidelines

Contents

General Instructions

Journal of Global Radiology (JGR) is a peer-reviewed, open access journal, with an international Board of Editors. JGR publishes articles as they become available for publication, following a thorough review process. Once enough material is received, the accumulated material is republished as the next issue of the journal.

Authors must follow the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts (URM) and fulfill the Conflict of Interest mandates, as per the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) Recommendations.

Submission of a manuscript implies:

  • The work described has not been published before (except in the form of an abstract or as part of a published lecture, or thesis)
  • The work is not under consideration for publication elsewhere

Peer Review Process

All submissions are subject to review and publication at the discretion of the editors. Manuscripts within scope will be reviewed by at least two reviewers. On completion of this process, usually within 6-8 weeks, the editors will notify authors of their decision and provide review guidance or additional editing if deemed necessary. Authors are encouraged to write in a style that is clear and concise, and use visuals and references as necessary to document statements.

JGR uses an anonymous peer review process, which means that the identities of the authors are concealed from the reviewers, and vice versa, throughout the review process. To facilitate this process, authors should make every effort to ensure that the manuscript contains no clues to the authors' identity. Follow the specific guidelines under Manuscript Preparation.

Reporting Standards

Types of Articles

All articles should be in the context of global radiology, access to more cost-effective radiology, capacity building, or advocacy.

Book/Software Review/Video: Reviews should be no more than 400 words long. Video clips should be no more than 30 seconds. Standard video file formats will be accepted, including MPG, MOV, AVI, and WMV, and should be no more than 15MB in size.

Editorial: Editorials may be invited and are written on current hot topics or ongoing discussions.

Global Vision: These articles envision future developments in radiology pertaining to service delivery, education, research, business, equipment or consumables.

Imaging Challenge: Images or video clips are used to challenge readers to make a diagnosis. The results of the Quiz are published in the following issue, and the winners announced in the subsequent issue.

Letter to the Editor: Letters to the Editor should be no more than 400-words long.

Original Research: This is the most common type of article accepted for publication in JGR. Original research provides material that advances knowledge, impacts access to radiology services, and has implications on patient care.

Pictorial Essay: A pictorial essay has figures, illustrations, pictures, and minimal text. The images and picture legends impart descriptive information about a disease and can make great learning cases. The essay does not have new data or statistics. There can be as many as 40 pictures (including parts) with textual content limited to not more than 1,500 words. The material is educational and relevant to the mission of, and within the scope of, the journal.

Review and Invited Commentary: Reviews and commentary pieces are invited by the editor and written by experts in their respective fields. The material is educational and relevant to the mission of, and within the scope of, the journal.

Scholar-Twinning Article: Collaboration between scholars in developed countries and authors in developing countries results in high-quality research worthy of publication in JGR. See section below entitled Scholar Twinning Program for further details about this article category.

State of Radiology: Describes the current state of radiology, profiling a region or a developing country. The report shall contain data on the equipment, the radiology personnel, the list of common diseases amenable, unmet personnel demand, economic environment of government, and private healthcare investment and business opportunities for entrepreneurs. See section below entitled State of Radiology (Country Report) for further details about this article category.

Technical Note: A short communication describing soft technology equipment innovation, the study protocol, and consumables. Preference will be given to inventions and developments that address cost reduction with improved proficiency, such as innovative catheter material for interventional procedures, new needle designs, Cloud-based PACS system, and design of a cheaper CT scanner.

Permissions

Prior to submission of the manuscript, authors are responsible for obtaining permission to publish any figures or illustrations that are protected by copyright, including figures published elsewhere and pictures taken by professional photographers. The journal cannot publish images downloaded from the internet without appropriate permission. Permission statements and owner details should be documented in the manuscript for all third-party content included in the submission or used in the research.

If an existing method or tool is used in the research, it is the author's responsibility to check the license and obtain the necessary permissions. Statements confirming that permission was granted should be included in the Materials and Methods section.

Manuscript Preparation

  • Submissions must be made in English.
  • The manuscript must be submitted as a Microsoft Word 2010 or later Word document (.docx or .doc) file, or as a Rich Text Format (RTF) file
  • Double space the entire manuscript, including title, abstract, body, references, tables, and legends
  • Use left justification only, so that the right margin is ragged, and allow adequate margins
  • Format the manuscript text in a single column
  • Number pages consecutively at the bottom of each page
  • The following fonts may be used: Arial, Garamond, Calibri, Helvetica, Times, or Times New Roman
  • Use font size 12 points (for tables as well as text)
  • Special or mathematical characters and Greek letters must be created using Insert > Symbol. Equations should be embedded where they are cited in the text.
  • All articles must be accompanied by a structured abstract section of no more than 300 words, and containing the following subheadings: Purpose, Methods and Materials, Results, Conclusion. If this list of headings is inappropriate, variations are permitted. The abstract should not include institutional affiliations or other clues to the authors’ identity.
  • The body of all original articles and full-length papers should be arranged using the following headings: Introduction, Methods and Materials, Results, Discussion, Conclusion
  • Each component of the article should be included in one single file and begin on a separate page, as follows: title, abstract, body text, references, appendices
  • Prepare a separate title page that includes author identification information - follow the specific guidelines under Title Page
  • Prepare a separate cover letter to introduce your manuscript to the editors - follow the specific guidelines under Cover Letter
  • The manuscript itself should not include authors' names, institutional affiliations, contact information, funding statements, or acknowledgements. This information should instead be included in the title page and entered into the submission system during the submission process. Within the manuscript, follow these guidelines:
    • Replace any information in the abstract and text that would identify the authors, including institution names and URLs, by substituting words such as: [institution name hidden for review]
    • Limit citations to your previous work to papers that are relevant for those reviewing the submitted paper. If it is necessary to cite your own work, cite papers published by the authors in the text and in the reference list as follows: ‘[Anonymous, 2015 – hidden for review]’. Use the third person to refer to work the authors have previously undertaken, e.g. replace any phrases like “as we have shown before” with “… has been shown before [Anonymous, 2015 – hidden for review].”
    • Make sure figures do not contain any affiliation-related information.
    • Name your files with care (for example, do not include author names) and ensure that Microsoft Word document properties are also anonymized.
    • If your manuscript is accepted for publication, you will be required to put back in information that was anonymized for peer review (references to the authors, their institutions, self-citations, etc.) before final copyediting can take place.

Title Page

Prepare a separate title page with author identification information. The title page must be submitted as a Microsoft Word 2010 or later Word document (.docx or .doc) file, or as a Rich Text Format (RTF) file. The title page should include the following:

  • Title of manuscript
  • Author(s), with each author's highest academic degree or professional certification
  • Institutional affiliation for each author, with city, state and country
  • Name, address, telephone number and email address of the author responsible for correspondence

Cover Letter

Prepare a separate cover letter to introduce your manuscript to the editors. The cover letter must be submitted as a Microsoft Word 2010 or later Word document (.docx or .doc) file, or as a Rich Text Format (RTF) file. This information may additionally be entered in the "Comments to the Editor" field on the submission form. The cover letter should include the following:

  • Title of manuscript
  • Name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address of the author responsible for correspondence
  • Clearly state the purpose of the paper and its expected contribution
  • Funding statements and/or other acknowledgments
  • Any previous presentation of the data or findings in a preliminary report or abstract

Abbreviations

Abbreviations should be used only when the full term is very long and used often. Each abbreviation should be spelled out and introduced in parentheses () the first time it is used in the text. Only recommended international system (SI) units should be used. Authors should use the solidus presentation (mg/ml). Standard abbreviations such as US, CT, MRI need not be defined.

Article Length

Scientific articles should be no longer than 4,000 words with 40 references, 10 figures, and five tables. Review articles, country reports, and invited commentary can be twice as long. Pictorial essays should be no longer than 1,500 words. Technical reports and other short communications should be no more than 400 words.

Article Structure

All articles must be accompanied by a structured abstract section of no more than 300 words, and containing the following subheadings: Purpose, Methods and Materials, Results, Conclusion. If this list of headings is inappropriate, variations are permitted. The abstract should not include institutional affiliations or other clues to the authors’ identity.

The body of all original articles and full-length papers should be arranged using the following headings: Introduction, Methods and Materials, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion.

Introduction: Provides a clear statement of the problem, the relevant literature on the subject, and the proposed approach or solution.

Methods and Materials: Provides sufficient information to allow experiments to be reproduced. However, only truly new procedures should be described in detail; previously published procedures should be cited only with important modifications mentioned. Trade names should be capitalized and include the manufacturer's name and address. Radiological technique should be described in sufficient detail to be easily understood by general physicians.

Results: Presents findings with clarity and precision. Findings from the authors' experiments should be described in the past tense, whereas previously published findings should be described in the present tense. Results should be explained without referring to the literature.

Discussion: Interprets the findings in view of results obtained in the current and in past studies on the topic under discussion.

Conclusion: Should be stated in no more than four sentences at the end of the paper.

Tables, Charts, Figures and Illustrations

Tables and charts:

  • Prepare tables with the Microsoft Word table editor, double-spaced
  • Include tables and charts where they should appear in the manuscript (not at the end of the manuscript file)
  • Number tables and charts in the order in which they are cited in the text using parentheses () and Arabic numerals, e.g. (Table 1)
  • Provide a descriptive title for each table and chart
  • Design tables to be as simple as possible and to be self-explanatory without reference to the text. The same data is not to be presented in both table and graph form or repeated in the text.
  • When possible, the files used to create tables and charts (e.g., Excel and PowerPoint files) should additionally be submitted as separate files to be processed for publication

Figures and illustrations:

  • Include all figures, photographs, and illustrations where they should appear in the manuscript (not at the end of the manuscript file) AND submitted as separate files
  • Number figures in the order in which they are mentioned in the text using parentheses () and Arabic numerals, e.g. (Figure 1)
  • Do not include titles and legends in illustration files
  • Provide a brief but descriptive caption (legend) for each figure. Each legend should begin with a title and include sufficient description to ensure the figure is understandable without reading the text of the manuscript. Axes of graphs should be clearly labeled.
  • The required format for image files is TIFF, JPEG, or EPS with the following resolutions: 1,200 dpi for line figures (e.g., graphs), 600 dpi for grayscale figures (e.g., photographs), and 300 dpi for color figures.

References

References should be cited in the text by means of numbers in parentheses (e.g., "(1)"). Bibliographic references should be listed at the end of the paper in numerical order, in the order in which they appear in the text. Articles in preparation, articles submitted for publication, unpublished observations, personal communications, etc. are not included in the reference list but are mentioned in the text (e.g., “A. Kingori, University of Nairobi, Kenya, personal communication”). Journal names should be abbreviated without periods, and follow the style of the National Library of Medicine. Reference lists must follow ICMJE Recommendations, also known as Vancouver style. Submissions containing improperly formatted references will be returned to the authors for revisions.

Authors are fully responsible for the accuracy of all references, and accessibility of all hyperlinked Internet references. Authors are requested to check all references for completeness, including year, volume number, and pages for journal citations. It is imperative that authors check to be sure that all references mentioned in the text are listed in the reference section. Where available, DOIs (digital object identifiers) for the references must be provided in the Word document. Please include the entire URL, e.g. https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2020200988. Use the free DOI lookup on Crossref's website to check your citations. If no DOI is available, include the URL in the citation.

Checklist for Submissions

As part of the submission process, authors are required to check off their submission's compliance with all the following items. Submissions may be returned to authors that do not adhere to these guidelines.

  1. The submission has not been previously published, nor is it before another journal for consideration (or an explanation has been provided in the cover letter to the editors).
  2. The authors have obtained permission to publish any material that is protected by copyright, including figures published elsewhere, pictures taken by professional photographers, methods and tools. Permission statements and owner details are documented in the manuscript.
  3. The manuscript, title page and cover letter are in Microsoft Word or RTF file format.
  4. The manuscript, including the abstract, has been prepared for anonymous peer review by masking author names, affiliations, URLs, and self-citations.
  5. References follow the format guidelines specified in the Author Guidelines.
  6. Where available, DOIs and URLs for the references have been provided.
  7. The text is double-spaced; single column; uses a 12-point font; and pages are numbered.
  8. All tables and figures are numbered and also uploaded as separate files.
  9. The text adheres to all stylistic and bibliographic requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines.
  10. A title page has been prepared and uploaded separately with author identification information.
  11. A cover letter has been prepared and uploaded separately to introduce the manuscript to the editors.

Acceptance

Once a manuscript is accepted for publication, authors will be required to put back information that was anonymized for peer review (references to the authors and their institutions, self-citations, etc.) before final copyediting can take place. All manuscripts undergo reformatting by the Managing Editor to fit the design layout of the journal.

Corresponding Author Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of the corresponding author to submit the manuscript and all related files (appendices, data, tables/charts/figures/illustrations, media, etc.) and be prepared to receive and comply with all communications from the editors. Revised manuscripts should be uploaded in the online system in a timely fashion and must also include a separate document, uploaded as a supplementary file, outlining the changes that have been made and point-by-point replies to each of the reviewers’ comments. It is the corresponding author’s responsibility to ensure all listed authors are aware of the submission process and approve the final article for publication.

Scholar Twinning Program

A great deal of worthy research conducted by radiologists and scholars in the developing world remains unpublished, or is accepted in regional literature with little impact. Inability to publish can be due to several reasons: absence of mentorship, difficulty with English language or data analysis, past rejections, etc. The Journal of Global Radiology (JGR) has instituted a Scholar Twinning program to facilitate collaboration between international radiologist researchers and faculty radiologists in North America or the UK. Provided all review standards are met, JGR will publish the resulting manuscript. It is our hope that these collaborations will bring convey important research on regional pathologies, cultural and social implications on capacity-building strategies, and ideas for bringing about positive change in health policy.

Sarwat Hussain, MD, FRCR, FACR (Founding Editor-in-Chief) will be responsible for the integrity of this program, which will follow this process:

  • The project will be registered with Dr. Hussain.
  • An international lead investigator will initiate the request for assistance.
  • A Western twin will accept the request to assist.
  • An agreement will be signed by the Principle Investigator, the International Twin, and the Western Twin, and countersigned by Dr. Hussain.
  • The International Twin shall be the first author on the article.
  • The Western Twin shall be the last senior author.
  • All other investigators shall be placed according to the principal investigator.
  • Once complete, the manuscript must be submitted to JGR.
  • The manuscript shall go through the standard review process, and not receive any preferential treatment.
  • Upon publication, the article shall be identified as resulting from JGR's Scholar Twinning program.
  • No fees of any kind shall be involved.

State of Radiology (Country Report)

A review of the state of radiology in a country or particular region. These reports should be written in such a way that readers are able to visualize the status of radiology services, strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats.

David Rosman, MD (Associate Editor) will be responsible for the integrity of Country Reports. A Country Report should cover the following topics:

  • Number of radiologists and technologists, their certification, and training level
  • List of diagnostic and intervention skills
  • Status of power supply
  • Inventory of radiology equipment, including make, type, age, level of functionality and replacement plan
  • Equipment service contract present or absent, in terms of maintenance, preventive and corrective
  • Maintenance and service availability (local, regional or out of country); nearest availability depot of spare parts and service-call response time
  • Radiologist and technologist trainings; any CME activity; any local or national certification, diploma, degree or masters, awarded
  • Job opportunities for indigenous and expatriate radiologists and technologists, including part-time work or consultancy opportunities
  • State of local medical economy; readiness for radiology entrepreneurship
  • Radiology market and service capacity, in private or government sector
  • Business partnership prospects with local investors
  • Interest and equipment lease rates
  • Investment policies, regulation and risk of investment
  • Availability and cost of Internet connections and available bandwidth
  • Disease profile and differentiating demographic and cultural factors
  • Cultural, vacation, or activity attractions
  • Languages spoken, medium of education, and training
  • Travel access, flight and other travel times, currency, local accommodations
  • Local security and safety situation
  • Health advisory, vaccination, health hazards, communicable, contagious or seasonal diseases
  • Most suitable time of the year to travel, climates, special needs