2 Prati Pal Singhinvolved in decisions related to the acceptance or non- parasitology. This certainly does not mean that theacceptance of a manuscript. Rather, he or she is newer cellular and molecular, and other important andsupposed to provide the Editor-in-Chief various emerging dimensions of parasitology shall besupport services during the review process. However, neglected. Second, the journal should orient itself inthe main function of a Managing Editor starts only such a way, that it must make an impact on the conductafter a manuscript has been accepted <strong>for</strong> publication, of the theory and practice (including clinical) ofand he or she takes the responsibility to convert it into a parasiotology in our country. This may not turn out toprinted product i. e. a published paper. <strong>The</strong> Copy be an easy task. <strong>The</strong> third, I feel is that there are severalEditors and Production Editors, usually associated areas in parasitology which continue to remainwith big journals are responsible <strong>for</strong> the final product controversial, conflicting, confusing andas related to grammar, spellings, syntax, style conjecturing. <strong>The</strong>re<strong>for</strong>e, Journal of Parasiticpolishing etc., and the quality of page layout and Diseases must specifically publish comprehensiveimage resolution, respectively. <strong>The</strong>re<strong>for</strong>e, in my and accessible reviews which should try to focus onopinion, the entire Editorial Board must meet at least these areas of parasitology. Towards this end, I intendonce during the year, and our annual meetings can be to invite manuscripts from experts who would bethe most appropriate occasions <strong>for</strong> such meetings. willing to specifically contribute such reviews.However, this notwithstanding, the journal intends toIt is aptly said that the reputation of a journal primarilypublish at least two invited reviews on variousdepends upon the quality of research papers itimportant aspects of parasitology in its each issue.publishes. I shall, there<strong>for</strong>e, with the help of Advisors,Members of the Editorial Board and Reviewers/ <strong>Parasitology</strong> research is a very big field spanningReferees/Consultants, strive hard to take the standards mainly into areas like agricultural, veterinary, medicalof our journal to new heights. Towards this end, I shall and general parasitology. <strong>The</strong>se areas, in turn, haveexpand the current Editorial Board, both in terms of their own sub-areas and allied areas. Put together, theythe number of its Members and the diversity of their all constitute a big world of parasitology. In ourfields of specialization to encompass various aspects country Journal of Parasitic Diseases is probably theof parasitology. <strong>The</strong> speed of the editorial processing only journal that is specifically devoted to parasitesof the manuscripts submitted <strong>for</strong> publication leading and the diseases caused by them. <strong>The</strong>re<strong>for</strong>e, it shouldto its final acceptance or non-acceptance is also be the aim of the journal to adequately address all suchimportant. I shall try to strictly follow the 15-day areas and sub-areas effectively. Additionally, Journalduration <strong>for</strong> the Reviewers/ Referees/Consultants to of Parasitic Diseases should also try to address tosubmit their reports. To the extent possible, I shall areas related to parasitology and community/society,encourage the use of electronic mail <strong>for</strong> sending the parasitology and economics, and parasitology andmanuscripts <strong>for</strong> review and <strong>for</strong> receiving the review nation development.reports. This can be expected to reduce both time andcost.One of the most important policies that I have alreadyintroduced is the “Tutorial Editorial Policy”. This<strong>The</strong> job of an Editor-in-Chief is a very responsible one. policy aims towards working of the Editorial BoardI would, there<strong>for</strong>e, be a remiss if I did not acknowledge with the authors, to improve the quality of theirthe attendant challenges that I expect to face. First, I submitted manuscripts so as to make thembelieve, is to implement again the very vision with publishable. Experience has shown that a greater andwhich the journal was conceived and started. <strong>The</strong>re is intense interaction between the authors and Editorialno doubt that the primary constituency of Journal of Board has always been beneficial in improving bothParasitic Diseases is basic parasitology. During my the quality of science and of writing. Scientificin<strong>for</strong>mal discussions with various members of the writings are different from any other type of writings<strong>Society</strong>, I gathered the impression that a large number and at times not easy, and thus require considerableof them feel that the journal has seriously departed practice. Un<strong>for</strong>tunately, in our country, unlike infrom its primary constituency. Certainly, such wheels several other countries, most of the universities do notmust have turned slowly over a period of time. I would, have a <strong>for</strong>mal course related specifically to scientificthere<strong>for</strong>e, with the help of our authors/contributors writings. It is now well known that in many reputedand Editorial Board Members, like to improve upon journals, mostly the manuscripts are not turned downthis state and try to move the journal back to basic because of bad science but bad writing. <strong>The</strong> effects of
Editor's Note3this policy may not become visible very soon, but sets of problems, and may not be able to make printcertainly in the long run it is going to be beneficial, journals obsolete so soon.both to the authors and the journal. I would like to takethis opportunity to assure our authors that the entireIn closing, I would like to sincerely thank Dr. V. P.Editorial Board is on their side, to help them inSharma (Chairman) and Members of the committee topublishing good science. Here, I must bring to yourconstitute new Editorial Board Prof. M. S. Jairajpurikind attention that our journal has a big problem of not(<strong>for</strong>mer President of the <strong>Society</strong>), Prof. Veena Tandonhaving a suitable number of quality manuscripts(President of the <strong>Society</strong>), Prof. Nancy Malla (<strong>for</strong>meravailable <strong>for</strong> publication. And, this often results in theEditor-in-Chief), Dr. J. K. Saxena (Secretary of thedelayed release of a particular issue of the journal.<strong>Society</strong>), Dr. L. M. Tripathi (Treasurer of the <strong>Society</strong>),Dr. S. Dutta and Dr. S. L. Hoti, and to the <strong>Society</strong> atIn an editorial titled “On the Future of Scholarly large, <strong>for</strong> the honour of offering me this importantJournals”, published in Science (17 April 1998, 279, responsibility and <strong>for</strong> reposing confidence in me. I359), the author Alen M. Edelson has very should like to take this opportunity to especially thankappropriately emphasized the potential impact of Prof. R. C. Mahajan and Dr. G. P. Dutta <strong>for</strong> theirdigital/electronic publishing on print publishing. valuable suggestions. I should also like to thank thePresently, most of our print journals are suffering from authors of this issue and to the future authors. I deem itfinancial crunch because of declining library budgets, my greatest pleasure to thank Prof. P. Ramarao,escalating costs, reduction/cancellation in Director, National Institute of Pharmaceuticalsubscriptions and, of course, increasing manuscript Education and Research, <strong>for</strong> his help andpressure. Digital/electronic publishing, on the other encouragement without which it would not have beenhand, can be expected to be cost-effective and would possible <strong>for</strong> me to undertake this responsibility.allow greater and relatively more convenient Finally, I thank our printer Mr. Lalit Azad, <strong>for</strong> his keenaccessibility to scientific in<strong>for</strong>mation. <strong>The</strong>re<strong>for</strong>e, I interest and excellent work in a timely manner. I ambelieve in the need that Journal of Parasitic Diseases confident that with our joint ef<strong>for</strong>ts, Journal ofalso must run with the times, and should evolve Parasitic Diseases will continue to maintain its highstrategies to digitalize it in a bigger way, including on- standards and surge to new heights. I shall continue toline submission and processing of manuscripts. interact with you all from time to time.Nevertheless, it is becoming increasingly clear thatelectronic journals will also be fraught with their ownPrati Pal Singh, Ph. D., F. N. A. Sc.Editor-in-Chief
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