What is OnlineFirst?

OnlineFirst is a feature offered by The Journal of Diagnostic and Theranostic Imaging (TheJODTI) to provide early access to finalized manuscripts before they are assigned to a specific journal issue. This process, often referred to as “publish ahead of print”, allows articles to be made available online once they have completed the peer-review and editing process, ensuring that cutting-edge research reaches the scientific community more quickly.

Benefits of OnlineFirst

OnlineFirst offers distinct advantages to both authors and readers:

For Researchers: Authors can share their findings with the community more rapidly, enabling earlier citations and usage.
For Readers: Subscribers and users gain access to the latest research in diagnostic imaging and theranostics without waiting for the full issue release.
OnlineFirst reduces the lead time between submission and publication, accelerating knowledge dissemination.

How to Cite OnlineFirst Articles

Articles published through OnlineFirst are assigned a Digital Object Identifier (DOI), ensuring a persistent and permanent online identity. Until volume, issue, and page numbers are assigned, OnlineFirst articles should be cited as follows:

Example Citation (OnlineFirst):
Smith, JR, Brown, AB. Article title. The Journal of Diagnostic and Theranostic Imaging. Prepublished Month, day, year, DOI: 10.1234/abcd56789

Once the article is assigned to an issue, it can be cited with volume and page numbers while retaining the DOI:

Example Citation (Final Issue):
Smith, JR, Brown, AB. Article title. The Journal of Diagnostic and Theranostic Imaging. 2024, 10: 123-130 DOI: 10.1234/abcd56789

The DOI remains the most reliable reference for locating the article.

Transition to a Final Issue

When an OnlineFirst article is assigned to a specific journal issue:

The article transitions from the OnlineFirst listing to the main archive.
The final version will include bibliographic details (volume, issue, page numbers).
Citations to the article using either the DOI or bibliographic data will redirect to the definitive version.

Notifications and Alerts

Readers and authors can subscribe to email alerts to stay updated on new OnlineFirst publications. Alerts are customizable by author name, keyword, or general journal updates, ensuring you never miss groundbreaking research.

Do Citations to OnlineFirst Articles Count Towards Impact Factors?

Yes, citations to OnlineFirst articles contribute to the Impact Factor calculation, provided they meet the necessary criteria. Citations using the DOI of an OnlineFirst article will be included in the Impact Factor for the year the article was made publicly available online.

Is the OnlineFirst Article Final?

The OnlineFirst version is considered the final, peer-reviewed version of the article. However:

Pagination and volume/issue details are added once assigned to an issue.
Minor corrections may be made in exceptional cases before the final issue publication.
After the issue is finalized, corrections are issued via an erratum.