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Summary
The journal remains healthy with good submission rates. The number of papers received in 2002 has been the
highest ever, plus a record for cellular engineering papers. As already noted, the Impact Factor has risen
steadily since 1996.
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MBEC Submissions (excluding Cellular Engineering submissions)
Submissions
A record number of papers were received in 2002. This increased submission rate shows no signs of abating.
Acceptance rate
The acceptance rate for papers received in 2001 was 47%. If all the papers currently being revised from the
calendar year 2002 (86 papers already accepted) are also accepted, then the maximum acceptance rate would again
be 47%. It should be noted that this is encouraging the submission of top quality papers.
Time to first decision
Editorial decisions on papers submitted to MBEC are taken in less than three months in over
90% of cases. First decisions have been made on all MBEC papers received before January 2003, and on all but
six MBEC papers received before February 2003.
Time to publication
Approximately 65% of papers are published within nine months of first receipt. Nearly all are published within a
year.
In the November 2002 issue, all 12 papers were first received in or later than January 2002; they were in their
final form between April 2002 and October 2002. Of the 14 papers in the January 2003 issue, all but one was first
received in or after March 2002; they were received in their final form between July and September 2002. In the 18
paper March issue, papers were first received in or after March 2002 and in their final form between September and
December 2002.
Subject reviews
Two reviews have recently been sent for publication. We expect the first to be published soon.
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Critical review of non-invasive respiratory monitoring in medical care (M Folke, L Cernerud, M Ekström,
B Hök).
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Bioengineering insulin-secreting cells from embryonic stem cells. How far are we? (E Roche, P Sepulcre,
R Enseñat-Waser, I Maestre, J A Reig, B Soria).
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Cellular Engineering submissions
Submissions
Cellular engineering papers have been incorporated in MBEC as a separate section since the beginning of 1998.
After a lean period for cellular engineering papers in the years 2000 and 2001, the year 2002 saw a significant
submission improvement. Four scientific papers have been published in the March 2003 issue.
The following review is being published in the May 2003 issue:
- Large-scale expansion of mammalian neural stem cells: a review (M S Kallos, A Sen, L A Behie).
Submission rate
The submission rate has clearly picked up considerably. Professor Åke Öberg has managed to encourage
an increased number of submissions. The restructuring of the IFMBE Working Group, chaired by Professor Gerhard Artmann
(Department of Cell Biophysics and Bioengineering, University of Applied Sciences, Aachen) has also helped.
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Journal issues
The majority of papers published fall into the category of 'Scientific Paper', with between 15 and 20 papers per issue.
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Impact factor
The Impact Factor has more than doubled in five years.
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Subject Indexes
The Subject Indexes for MBEC are available on the worldwide web at
http://www.iee.org/Publish/Journals/ProfJourn/MBEC.
Once you are at the site, simply click "subject index". The Subject Index in booklet form for papers published in
MBEC for 2002 is sent out to all authors and referees.
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Free access to the on-line version of MBEC
The on-line version of MBEC is available. Those who subscribe this year will also have access to previous years,
and now includes 2000, 2001 and 2002.
The June 2001 meeting of the IFMBE Administrative Council decided to encourage as many IFMBE members as possible to
use the on-line version of MBEC. It was hoped that this marketing strategy would continue to increase the visibility
of MBEC, and further increase library subscriptions. It was made available free of charge in 2002 for
individuals who registered on the IFMBE web site. The publisher has agreed to continue the no cost access
throughout 2003. The effect of access to the on-line MBEC is being assessed.
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Marketing
The publishers are now regularly providing publicity material for all IFMBE conferences. We aim to establish a
single contact person for each conference.
The Editor lectured on MBEC and gave much informal advice at the Singapore meeting (International Congress on Biological
and Medical Engineering, December 2002). The journal leaflet could be found in all delegate packs and sample
journals were also available. There was a simultaneous IFMBE Conference in Vienna, December 2002.
Professor Richard Kirsner is arranging for MBEC to be publicised at the Sydney, World Congress on Medical Physics and
Biomedical Engineering. Biomedical engineering papers from this Conference (invited and contributed) will be
considered by the Editor for publication in MBEC. The Editor will be at the conference to give advice.
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Medline
The current version of Medline includes papers up to the January 2003 issue of MBEC. MBEC
is also cited in PubMed and other databases.
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Special Issues
Notes on guidance to editors of Special Issues have been prepared and circulated. Discussions are underway on producing
the following Special Issues:
- Bio-optics: Åke Öberg, editor (to mark his retirement from his post at the University of Linköping)
The Bio-optics Special Issue has made significant progress with six papers submitted. Four are about to be published
in the May 2003 issue (2 were rejected). With more papers in the pipeline, there may be enough for a second Special
Issue at a later date.
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Biomechanical Interactions in Tissue Engineering and Surgical Repair. This is a Special Cellular Engineering
Theme Issue from the European Union project (BITES): Alicia el Haj and Åke Öberg, editors.
Seven papers have been submitted and they are currently with the referees.
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Deputy Editor
Professor Åke Öberg has now retired as Deputy Editor. I again wish to record my thanks for the help
and support of Åke Öberg.