Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences: Translational and Integrative Mission

Abstract

Initiated four years ago, Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences (J Mind Med Sci.) established the mission to publish papers on mental and medical topics in distinct but closely interrelated domains. The editorial policy especially encourages interdisciplinary and integrative perspectives, being equally focused on basic research and clinical investigations and short reports. The journal adheres to the philosophy that high quality, original ideas and information should be readily accessible and freely shared within and amongst the scientific community. Accordingly, J Mind Med Sci. is an online, open access, non-for-profit journal which, because of individual/private support, has levied no charges for submission, review, and publication of articles. All published articles may be freely downloaded and used by anyone from anywhere for scientific purposes. Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences is published by ValpoScholar/Valparaiso University using the leading institutional repository platform of Digital Commons (powered by Bepress and under the local management of Jon Bull, Library Services, Valparaiso University), which combines submission management, editorial, and peer-review tools into a unique and flexible publishing software system. These editorial and publishing norms have facilitated the journal’s evolution, now indexed and abstracted in several international respected databases. Journal visibility is wide among international academic institutions and readers, as documented by the number of downloaded articles cited in respected journals, some indexed by Thomson Reuters and having high impact factors. In addition, published authors in J Mind Med Sci. periodically receive a statistical report about views/downloads of their articles. It is a pleasure and honor to thank all those who have thus far supported the journal activity (authors, reviewers, editorial board and assistance, publishing support), and to further invite and encourage scientists to contribute to the general progress of knowledge, and in particular to the development of mental and medical disciplines, using our academic platform, available at http://scholar.valpo.edu/jmms/.

1. The download map

J Mind Med Sci. has international visibility, as demonstrated by the download map on the Home page. Previously published articles have had an average rate of more than 150 downloads/article. The quality of accepted articles, the free and open access policy, the journal indexation in several international databases, and software solution from Digital Commons (including submission management, editorial, and peer-review tools into a unique and flexible publishing software) have been the most important factors contributing to the worldwide distribution of articles.

2. Author Dashboard

Authors publishing in J Mind Med Sci. periodically receive statistical updates through e-mail. Each author has a personal Dashboard, which presents the Readership Distribution for his/her published articles, the number of downloads/day and by country, institutions from where articles were downloaded, and many other useful tools, including the possibility of sharing the dashboard with collaborators to increase article visibility/statistics, referrers, etc.