International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
Indexed in: Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, ProQuest, EBSCOhost, Google Scholar
Print ISSN: 1555-0265
Online ISSN: 1555-0273
2023 Impact Factor: 3.5
2023 CiteScore: 5.8
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The International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance (IJSPP) focuses on sport physiology and performance and is dedicated to advancing the knowledge of sport and exercise physiologists, sport-performance researchers, and other sport scientists. The journal publishes authoritative peer-reviewed research in sport physiology and related disciplines, with an emphasis on work having direct practical applications in enhancing sport performance. IJSPP publishes monthly.
Mission
The International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance (IJSPP) is an international peer-reviewed journal that examines practical and research aspects of sport physiology and sport performance. The editorial mission of IJSPP is to advance the knowledge of sport and exercise physiologists, sport scientists, sport physicians, and sport-performance researchers. The journal promotes the publication of research in sport physiology and related disciplines that has direct practical application to enhancing sport performance, preventing decrements in performance, or enhancing recovery of athletes. The journal publishes original research reports, invited reviews, commentaries, brief reports, and an editorial section. The intended breadth of IJSPP includes team sports, individual sports, performance aspects of environmental physiology, applied sport nutrition, strength and conditioning, biomedical science, and applications of sport technology. Controlled experimental and observational research of a comprehensive or systematic nature is welcome, provided that appropriate standards of scientific methodology and analysis are met. Studies using animal models do not fit within our mission statement and should be submitted elsewhere. The journal will be of interest to sport scientists, sport physicians, coaches, academic researchers, students, and related professionals.
Editor
Øyvind Sandbakk, PhD
UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Norway
Email: Oyvind.Sandbakk@ntg.no
Øyvind became Editor of IJSPP in 2022, after previously serving as an Associate Editor for the journal. He is a professor with the Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, as well as Director of the Centre for Elite Sports Research. He has a background both as a coach and as a sport scientist and was previously head of Research and Development at the Norwegian Top Sport Centre (Olympiatoppen). His close cooperation with sport coaches and the world’s best-performing athletes and his practically oriented research approach have facilitated the implementation of scientific findings in the services and training practices of Norwegian top sport, through his membership in expert groups for the Norwegian government and executive board positions. Øyvind earned his PhD in human movement science from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in 2011.
Editors Emeriti
David Pyne, University of Canberra, Australia (founding editor, 2006–2009)
Carl Foster, University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, USA (2010–2013)
Ralph Beneke, Philipps-University Marburg, Germany (2014–2017)
Jos de Koning,Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands (2018–2021)
Editorial Assistant
Dionne Noordhof, PhD
Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
Email: dionne.a.noordhof@ntnu.no
Associate Editors
Iñigo Mujika, PhD
University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), Spain
Email: inigo.mujika@inigomujika.com
Karim Chamari, PhD
Manouba University, Tunisia
Email: karim.chamari66@gmail.com
Bart Roelands, PhD, FECSS
Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
Email: Bart.Roelands@vub.be
Sabrina Skorski, PhD
Saarland University, Germany
Email: s.skorski@mx.uni-saarland.de
Thomas Haugen, PhD
Kristiania University College, Norway
Email: thomas.haugen@kristiania.no
Daniel Boullosa, PhD
Universidad de León, Spain
Email: daniel.boullosa@gmail.com
Robert P. Lamberts, PhD, FECSS
Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Email: rplamberts@gmail.com
Xanne A.K. Janse de Jonge, PhD
Griffith University, Australia
Email: x.jansedejonge@griffith.edu.au
Cristina Cortis, PhD
University of Cassino and Lazio Meriodionale, Italy
Email: c.cortis@unicas.it
Irineu Loturco, PhD
Nucleus of High Performance in Sport, Brazil
Email: irineu.loturco@terra.com.br
Kerry McGawley, PhD
Mid Sweden University, Sweden
Email: kerry.mcgawley@miun.se
Christopher Stevens, PhD
Southern Cross University, Australia
Email: Christopher.Stevens@scu.edu.au
Editorial Board
Daniel Bok, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Pitre Bourdon, University of South Australia, Australia
Mark Burnley, University of Kent, UK
Daniele Conte, University of Rome “Foro Italico,” Italy
Oliver Faude, University of Basel, Switzerland
Florentina Hettinga, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Martin Hoffman, University of California, Davis, USA
Will Hopkins, Victoria University, Australia
Olivier Hue, University of West Indies and Guyana, Guadeloupe
Andrew Jones, University of Exeter, UK
Liam Kilduff, Swansea University, UK
Don Kirkendall, Duke University Medical Center, USA
Renate M. Leithäuser, Philipps-University Marburg, Germany
Thomas Losnegard, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway
Grégoire P. Millet, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
Fábio Y. Nakamura, University of Maia, Portugal
Maria F. Piacentini, University of Rome “Foro Italico,” Italy
José Rodríguez-Marroyo, University of Leon, Spain
Stephen Seiler, University of Agder, Norway
Trent Stellingwerff, Canadian Sport Institute Pacific, Canada
Montassar Tabben, Aspetar Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Qatar
Randy Wilber, United States Olympic Committee, USA
Human Kinetics Staff
Julia Glahn, Senior Journals Managing Editor
Prior to submission, please carefully read and follow the submission guidelines detailed below. Authors must submit their manuscripts through the journal’s ScholarOne online submission system. To submit, click the button below:
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Each author should have participated sufficiently in the work to take public responsibility for the content. Authorship credit should be based only on substantial contributions to:
- Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; AND
- Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; AND
- Final approval of the version to be published; AND
- Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Conditions a, b, c, and d must all be met. Individuals who do not meet the above criteria may be listed in the acknowledgments section of the manuscript.
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Submission Fee
As of June 2020, the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance (IJSPP) requires a nonrefundable submission fee of US $40 for Original Investigation and Brief Report articles. The fee is collected through the journal's ScholarOne site.
Guidelines for Waiving the Submission Fee
Authors may apply by email to the Editor to have the submission fee for IJSPP waived if they can provide documentation showing that they are affiliated with a country classified as low to lower-middle income (LMIC) by the World Bank and can also demonstrate that their institution is unable to cover the cost of the fee.
General Guidelines
All Human Kinetics journals require that authors follow our manuscript guidelines in regards to use of copyrighted material, human and animal rights, and conflicts of interest as specified on our author resource page.
Manuscripts
All manuscripts must be written in English, typed single-spaced in Times New Roman size 12 font with wide margins, and include an abstract of no more than 250 words. Please activate continuous line numbering. Clearly label any figures and submit them as separate files (Word documents, PDFs, Excel files, JPGs, TIFFs, etc). Number all pages in this order: title page (page 1), abstract, text, acknowledgments (if any), references, figure captions, tables. Authors who speak English as an additional language should seek the assistance of a colleague experienced in writing for English-language scientific journals. Carefully proofread the final revision and keep a copy of the manuscript. Do not submit the manuscript to another journal at the same time.
All submissions must be accompanied by a cover letter including the following information:
- A statement indicating that the manuscript has been read and approved by all the listed co-authors and meets the requirements of co-authorship as specified in the Authorship Guidelines (above).
- A statement that prior written permission has been obtained for reproduction of previously published material (where appropriate).
- A statement detailing any potential conflicts of interest (where appropriate).
Pre-print Repositories and Servers
Human Kinetics does not consider a manuscript's availability on a pre-print server as a disqualifier for submitting to any of our journals as long as the repository or server is noncommercial (not for profit). Note that these manuscripts must still undergo the same peer review process as manuscripts that were not made available via pre-print repository or server. Please see our author resource page for information about article copyright, open access, sharing your article, and more.
Style
Manuscripts should be written in first person using the active voice. Writing should be concise and direct. Avoid using unnecessary jargon and abbreviations, but use an acronym or abbreviation if it is more commonly recognized than the spelled-out version of a term. Formats of numbers and units and all other style matters should follow the AMA Manual of Style, 10th edition. Measurements of length, height, mass, and volume should be reported in metric units (m, kg). Only standard physiological abbreviations should be used because nonstandard abbreviations are unnecessary and confusing. Avoid abbreviations in the title. The full wording should precede the first use of an abbreviation.
Peer Review
Manuscripts that do not fall within the scope and mission statement of the journal or fail to comply with the submission guidelines will not enter the formal review process. The corresponding author is required to nominate 3 potential reviewers for the manuscript with suitable expertise in the area addressed by the manuscript. The journal is under no obligation to use any of the nominated reviewers. The corresponding author can also identify up to 3 potential reviewers who might have a potential conflict of interest with the content of the submitted manuscript and/or with one or more of the manuscript co-authors. Manuscripts will be read by the editor, associate editor, and 2 reviewers through a single-anonymous review process in which the reviewer’s identity is concealed from the submitting authors. In contrast, peer reviewers will have access to all the metadata associated with a submitted manuscript, including the authors’ names and affiliations. This process will take 4 to 8 weeks.
Conflict of Interest
Authors must identify potential conflicts of interest in the areas of financial, institutional, and/or personal relationships that might inappropriately influence their actions or statements. Financial relationships that could form a potential conflict of interest include employment, consultancy, honoraria, and other payments. Personal conflict of interest can relate to personal relationships, academic or sporting competition, and intellectual passion. Authors must disclose potential conflicts of interest to the subjects in the study being reported and state this explicitly in the Methods section of the manuscript. Disclosure of conflict of interest applies to all submissions to IJSPP, including original articles, reviews, invited commentaries, and other features.
Authors must state explicitly whether potential conflicts of interest exist. In instances where the study has been funded by a third party with a proprietary or financial interest in the outcomes, the corresponding author should include the following statement in the cover letter accompanying submission: “I had full access to all of the data in this study and take full responsibility for their integrity and analysis.” The following statement should be included with the published manuscript in the Acknowledgments section: “The results of the current study do not constitute endorsement of the product by the authors or the journal.” The name of any funding agency or company, manufacturer, or third-party institution or organization that provided funding, equipment, or technical support should be stated.
Article Types
IJSPP features the following article types:
Original Investigation
Traditional investigative articles encompassing experimental or observational research, limited to 3500 words (not inclusive of abstract, acknowledgments, references, tables, and figure captions) and ~30 references. Only studies involving human subjects will be published. As the mission of IJSPP is to advance the knowledge of sport and exercise physiologists, sport scientists, sport physicians, and sport-performance researchers, authors need to clearly identify the athletic level and background of subjects and make some statement on the transferability of the outcomes to other athletic cohorts and/or other sports. Authors should clearly detail the physiological measures (or surrogates) used in the study, their importance, and implementation or translation to performance in the field.
Brief Report
A shorter article encompassing experimental or observational research, a case study, or a detailed technical/analytical report of interest to practitioners, researchers, or coaches, limited to 1500 words, 3 tables or figures, and 12 references. Case studies should describe a single case or a small case series of physiological and/or performance aspects of a highly trained athlete, team, event, or competition. A case study is appropriate when a phenomenon is interesting, novel, or unusual but logistically difficult to study with a sample. The case can exemplify identification, diagnosis, treatment, measurement, or analysis.
Letter to the Editor
Limited to 400 words and 6 references. Readers wishing to submit commentary or intellectual debate on published articles can do so in the Letters to the Editor section within 6 months of the appearance of the original article. Letters must declare any conflicts of interest. Authors of the original article will be given the opportunity to respond in the same issue of the journal as the letter. When submitting your letter, please use the title “Comment on [Author/Author et al]” or “Response to [Author/Author et al],” adding a subtitle if you wish. Published correspondence might be edited for length and style with approval of editorial changes by the author.
The following features are by invitation only from the editor:
Brief Review
A concise and insightful review of literature, limited to 4500 words and 50–100 references. The abstract should at least include the following headings: Purpose, Conclusions. The Brief Review should contain separate Practical Applications and Conclusions sections.
Invited Commentary
Examining a topic relevant to the research and/or practical aspects of sport physiology and sport performance, limited to 2000 words. The abstract should at least include the following headings: Purpose, Conclusions. The Invited Commentary should contain a separate Practical Applications and Conclusions section.
Format
Title Page
The title page should contain the following information:
- Title of the article. The title should accurately reflect the content of the manuscript and be limited to 25 words in length. Authors should include specific and sensitive wording appropriate for electronic retrieval.
- Submission type. Original Investigation, Technical Report, Case Study, or Letter to the Editor.
- Full names of the authors and institutional/corporate affiliations. Do not list academic degrees. Names should be listed as First name Middle initial. Surname (eg, John A. Citizen [or, if appropriate, J. Andrew Citizen]).
- Contact details for the corresponding author. The name, institution, mail address, telephone and fax numbers, and email address of the corresponding author.
- Preferred running head. Limited to 40 characters in length, including spaces.
- Abstract word count. Limited to 250 words.
- Text-only word count. The total word count for the text only (excluding the abstract, acknowledgments, figure captions, and references) (limited to 3500 words).
- Number of figures and tables.
Parts and Order of the Manuscript
Original Research articles and Brief Reports should include the following elements, in order: Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Practical Applications, Conclusions, Acknowledgments (where needed), References, and figure captions, and tables (if any).
Abstract. Abstracts must be limited to 250 words or fewer and accurately reflect the content of the manuscript. For reports of original data, include the following headings: Purpose, Methods, Results, and Conclusions. The abstract should provide the context or background for the study and the appropriate details under the specified headings. The results should state the magnitude of effects, precision of estimation, and/or statistical significance. The conclusions should emphasize the practical application of the main findings and not simply restate the results. A list of 5 keywords or phrases, not repeating wording used in the title, should follow the abstract to assist in indexing and cross-referencing of the article.
Introduction. The Introduction should provide a succinct statement of the context or background of the study. The justification, practical importance of the study, and specific purpose or research objective should be clearly stated. Secondary objectives can also be presented. The purpose stated as a research question or objective is preferable to an explicit hypothesis. Only pertinent references should be cited, and data or conclusions from the work being reported should not be presented here.
Methods. The Methods section should be limited to material available at the time of the study design, whereas information obtained during the study should appear in the Results section. The Methods section should include a description of the design, subject information (including a statement that institutional review board approval was granted, in the spirit of the Helsinki Declaration), interventions, outcome measures, and statistical analyses.
- Subjects—The study subjects or participants should be described in terms of number, age, and sex. All investigations with human subjects should conform to the Code of Ethics of the World Medical Association (Declaration of Helsinki).
- Design—The experimental approach should be clearly stated (eg, randomized controlled study, case study, observational research), as well as the incorporation of control subjects, if appropriate.
- Methodology—The methodology, including facilities, equipment, instruments, and procedures, should be presented with sufficient detail to permit an independent researcher to repeat the study. References should be cited for established methods. Sufficient explanatory detail should be provided for new or unconventional methods.
- Statistical Analysis—Authors are encouraged to consult a statistician in the planning and analysis phases of the study. The experimental design and statistical methods should be clearly detailed. Sample variability should be reported with standard deviation and uncertainty (or precision) of estimates indicated using confidence limits or intervals. Magnitudes of effects can be shown and interpreted with established criteria. Reporting the clinical or practical significance in a sport setting will help readers determine the real-world value or application of the main findings. Precise P values should be shown, as indirect indications such as P < .05 or P = NS are unacceptable and difficult for other researchers undertaking meta-analyses. Results should be reported so the number of digits is scientifically relevant. Standard and nonstandard statistical terms, abbreviations, and symbols should be defined and details of computer software provided.
Results. The results should be presented in a logical sequence, giving the most important findings first and addressing the stated objectives. Do not duplicate results between the text and the figures or tables. Use graphs to summarize large amounts of information, and avoid creating large tables of numeric data. Avoid inappropriate use of statistical terms such as random, significant, normal, sample, and population.
Discussion. Authors should emphasize new and important findings of the study and the practical applications and conclusions that follow from them. Material from the Results section should not be repeated, nor new material introduced. The relevance of the findings in the context of existing literature or contemporary practice should be addressed.
Practical Applications. The Practical Applications section is an important feature of manuscripts published in IJSPP. Authors should summarize how the findings could be useful for coaches and athletes and/or other researchers in sport physiology and sport performance. The study’s limitations and generalizability should also be addressed and, where necessary, recommendations made for future research.
Conclusions. Only include conclusions supported by the study findings.
Acknowledgments. List individuals making a limited contribution to the study, with their institutional affiliations and a brief statement of their involvement. These might include individuals who provided technical assistance, expert opinion, access to facilities and equipment, manuscript review, and/or coaches and athletes (subjects) involved in the study. Acknowledge any financial and material support, providing specific details of research grants if appropriate. All individuals cited in the acknowledgments should be advised of their inclusion before submission, because their appearance in this section can be inferred as endorsement of study findings and applications.
References. Designate each citation in the text by a superscripted numeral, and provide full and accurate information in the reference list. Limit references to published works or papers that have been accepted for publication; usually this can be achieved with fewer than 30 references, although review papers might have more extensive reference lists. Order the reference list in the order the works are first cited, numbered serially, with no repeated entries in the list. Entries in the reference list should follow the latest edition of the AMA Manual of Style. Examples of the main types of publications follow:
- Journal articles—Cordova ML, Jutte LS, Hopkins JT. EMG comparison of selected ankle rehabilitation exercises. J Sport Rehabil. 1999;8:209–218.
- Book references—Pearl AJ. The Female Athlete. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics; 1993.
- Chapter in an edited book—Perrin DH. The evaluation process in rehabilitation. In: Prentice WE, ed. Rehabilitation Techniques in Sports Medicine. 2nd ed. St Louis, MO: Mosby Year Book; 1994:253–276.
Figures and Tables. Provide each figure and table with a brief caption or title that defines all abbreviations used within it. Figures and tables must be numbered and called out in the text in consecutive numerical order. Figures should be in JPG or TIF format and no larger than approximately 19.5 cm (7.5 in.) by 23.5 cm (9.5 in.), which is the size of the print area on a single journal page, with all labels then legible at that size. Figures should be professional in appearance and have clean, crisp lines. Hand drawing and hand lettering are not acceptable. Although our online articles support color figures, bear in mind that the journal prints in black and white, and most color PDFs will be printed in black and white. Make sure that any color figures submitted will be interpretable in grayscale/black and white. Photographic images should be at a resolution of 300 dots per inch (dpi) for full-size photos and 600 dpi for line art. Figure captions must be listed separately, on a page by themselves; however, each figure must be clearly identified (numbered), preferably as part of its filename. Authors are urged to submit illustrations rather than tables. When tabular material is necessary, it should not duplicate the text. Tables must be prepared using Microsoft Word’s table-building functions. Tables should be single-spaced, include brief titles, and be uploaded as separate files. Explanatory notes should be shown in footnotes below the table. Authors wishing to reproduce previously published material should obtain prior written permission to reprint from the copyright holder(s) of the figure or table. The phrase "used by permission" should appear in the caption of the figure or table.
Copyright Transfer
Authors of manuscripts accepted for publication will be required to transfer copyright to Human Kinetics, Inc. This transfer of copyright form will be provided to authors.
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Guidelines for IJSPP Reviewers
General Considerations
- Does the manuscript fall within the scope of the journal and have as its focus both physiology and performance in sports?
- Does the manuscript report important findings that add to the body of scientific knowledge and have useful practical application in sport?
- Have the main findings or applications been published previously?
- Is the purpose of the study stated clearly, and is an adequate justification for the study provided?
- Is the experimental design sound and appropriate for the stated purpose of the study?
- Are the methods and analysis appropriate and sufficiently clear to be readily repeated by other scientists?
- Does the discussion address and explain the main findings of the study?
- Are the conclusions justified and logically consistent?
- Are the practical applications of the study clear and concise?
- Are the references to existing studies pertinent and complete?
- Do the content and tone of your general and specific comments align with your recommendation on publication?
Presentation
- Is the manuscript concise, consistent in format, and clearly written? Are the grammar, expression, and use of English up to an acceptable standard?
- Are all the figures and tables relevant and well presented? Is there unnecessary duplication of results between figures, tables, and the text?
- Are the figures and tables properly prepared in accordance with the instructions for authors?
- Do the title and abstract accurately reflect the contents and findings of the study?
- Is the written text clear and unambiguous? Without rewriting the manuscript or imposing your own style, identify text that is verbose and/or ambiguous. Please identify text that should be expanded or condensed by specific reference to sentences (line numbers) as appropriate.
- Be mindful of specified word counts for different types of manuscripts when formulating your review. Avoid asking authors to provide large amounts of new material that would translate into a substantial overrun of the word count and number of references.
Statistical Considerations
- Have the authors clearly identified the experimental design and statistical methods?
- Are there any concerns with sampling bias or measurement bias? Is there any notion of a reporting bias where underpowered studies and/or statistically nonsignificant results have been neglected or underemphasized? These results may have some practical (clinical) importance and could be useful for generating research questions and for researchers conducting meta-analyses.
- Have the authors quantified measurement imprecision with details on the typical or technical error of measurement?
- Has the sample variability been reported with standard deviation and uncertainty (or precision) of estimates indicated using confidence intervals?
- Have magnitudes of effects been reported and interpreted with established criteria? Reporting the clinical or practical significance in a sport setting will help readers determine the real-world value or application of the main findings.
- Are precise P values shown? Indirect indications such as P < .05 or P = NS make it difficult for other researchers undertaking meta-analyses. Results should be reported so that the number of digits is scientifically relevant.
- Is the use of standard and nonstandard statistical terms, abbreviations, and symbols defined appropriately, and are the details of software packages cited?
Ethical Considerations
- The manuscript under review is a confidential document that should not be discussed or shown to others without the permission of the editor.
- In the rare situation that you as the reviewer discover a potential conflict of interest in relation to the authors or content of the manuscript you have been invited to review, please contact the Associate Editor or Editor as soon as possible.
- Is there any evidence of plagiarism, duplicate submission to another journal, or excessive fragmentation of results to achieve multiple publication of manuscripts? Please contact the Associate Editor or Editor if there are any ethical concerns in this regard.
- Is there any suggestion of unethical practices with the experimental procedures involving the care, treatment, and management of human subjects?
- Given that the authors will carefully read your comments, we request that you avoid harsh, abrasive, arrogant, or patronizing statements that might offend. Your comments and assessments should be logical, systematic, and written in moderate language. Comments specifically for the Associate Editors and Editor can be written in more direct language. Reviewers should provide polite and constructive comments on the manuscript.
- Please give specific rather than general comments whenever possible. Comments and recommendations should be helpful for both the authors and the editorial team. Provide specific recommendations on how the manuscript could be improved, and where necessary refer to appropriate studies in the literature. Even if your recommendation is to reject the manuscript, it is still appropriate to provide recommendations on how the manuscript could be improved.
- Your anonymity as a reviewer will be preserved, and you are asked not to identify yourself to the authors without the permission of the Editor. You can elect to be identified as the reviewer when your comments are posted online at ManuscriptCentral.
- Please submit your reviewers report within the specified time limit of 21 days. If your circumstances change and you cannot complete the review in time, please contact the Associate Editor as soon as possible.
Return of Reviewer’s Comments
- Use ManuscriptCentral to give your final recommendation and complete all check boxes to rate various aspects of the submitted manuscript.
- Use ManuscriptCentral to provide brief confidential summary comments to the Associate Editor.
- Use ManuscriptCentral to provide general comments for both authors and the Associate Editor.
- For specific comments, you can either
- Write them out in full, identifying the page, paragraph, and line number together with your comment in the appropriate box in ManuscriptCentral (the preferred option to avoid missing attachments).
- Use Microsoft Word Track Changes directly on the manuscript and then upload this as an attached file (if you choose this option, you should remove any identifying user information in MS Word to maintain anonymity).
Please see our our Editors & Reviewers resource center to view our generative AI policy for editors and reviewers. Further details about the duties and responsibilities of editors and reviewers can be found on our Ethics Policy page and our Editors & Reviewers resource center.
Revised March 2025
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