April 28, 2014 North Andover, MA, USA -Peer review practices vary widely. Consequently readers and research funders lack a convenient and standardized way to assess the quality of peer review undertaken by scholarly journals. In response to this need, STRIATUS/JBJS is developing a transparent metric that will help readers identify journals that conduct ethical and rigorous peer review, called PRE-score.

The PRE-score algorithm uses a variety of inputs such as the number of review cycles to determine the PRE-score for a manuscript. These data inputs are stored in the journal’s peer review system such as Aries Systems’ Editorial Manager® currently used by more than 5,500 scholarly journals.

Aries Systems and STRIATUS/JBJS, Inc. are pleased to announce a development partnership that will allow relevant workflow data to be automatically transferred from Editorial Manager to PRE-score so that the PRE-score can be calculated and published with the manuscript. Aries anticipates that the new functionality will be available to Editorial Manager customers in late 2014.

Aries Systems is known for being on the forefront of new developments in scholarly and scientific publishing, and for producing effective software and interfaces to help publishers meet the needs of a changing environment. By being the first to commit to supporting PRE-score data delivery, Aries further cements its reputation as an innovator in this space.

“Aries has been a strong provider for decades now, but they don’t rest on their laurels,” said Kent Anderson, CEO/Publisher of STRIATUS/JBJS, Inc. “Lyndon Holmes and his staff are very thoughtful about addressing changes in the market, and proactive about adapting to them. We’re happy they’re the first to pledge to support PRE-score metadata delivery solutions.”

Lyndon Holmes, CEO of Aries Systems commented: “Scholarly journals live and die by the quality of their peer review. Now, with PRE-score, they have a way to quantify and improve their processes. We are delighted to be collaborating with STRIATUS/JBJS – it’s hard to imagine a group that knows more about peer review and innovation.”

About Aries
Aries Systems transforms the way scholarly publishers bring high-value content to the world. The company’s innovative and forward-looking workflow solutions manage the complexities of modern print and electronic publishing – from submission, to editorial management and peer review, to production tracking and publishing channel distribution. As the publishing environment evolves, Aries Systems is committed to delivering solutions that help publishers and scholars enhance the discovery and dissemination of human knowledge. Publish faster, publish smarter, with Aries Systems.

About PRE-score
PRE-score is a new, patent-pending system that produces a metric (“Peer Review Evaluation Score” or PRE-score) that measures the level of peer review conducted prior to the publication of scholarly material. The goal of PRE-score is to represent the quality of the peer review process, based on the belief that a strong peer review process results in a more trustworthy final product.

About STRIATUS/JBJS, Inc.
STRIATUS/JBJS, Inc., produces a family of print and online publications and learning products, all related to the field of orthopaedics. Publications include The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, JBJS Case Connector, JBJS Essential Surgical Techniques, and JBJS Reviews. The flagship publication, The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, traces its origins back to the 1889 Transactions of the American Orthopedic Association, and is the gold standard in peer-reviewed scientific information in the field of orthopaedics.

STRIATUS/JBJS, Inc. also produces online Continuing Medical Education activities.