On top: Another great year for Acta Physiologica.

Abstract

This year has brought many happy events for Acta Physiologica. Of course, our launched Acta Physiologica Award over $100 000 (probably the greatest prize of its type)1 was reason of great delight, not only for the awardees from Regensburg.2 Because we had so many outstanding manuscripts to choose from,3 we will include manuscripts from 2016 in 2017 once more for our next Acta Physiologica Award selection. What makes our hearts beat faster too is that Acta Physiologica has maintained its position as the leading Journal in Physiology, which publishes original articles from all of physiology's several fields. Indeed, this year's impact factor increase is very impressive (5.93). However, should the forecast prove true, we are looking at an even larger increase in the impact factor of 2018. Although we all recognize the drawbacks of the impact factor and the consequences of focusing too much on that measure,4 we are happy that Acta Physiologica's 2017 impact factor leaves no room for disappointment. The greatest change coming about in the publishing landscape is the appearance of evermore predatory journals that unfortunately take profit from the open access movement. Open access seems to have become a value in itself. Few decision-makers recognize that publishing comes at a cost that will be covered either by the author or by the reader. As for traditional books, scientific publishing has been covered by the price paid by the reader. However, why should government-sponsored research only be assessable to the lucky few affording to pay for costly journals? On the other hand, we should not leave those scientists behind that come from countries, which simply cannot afford to pay page charges for open access.5 It is our great pleasure that your articles in Acta Physiologica can be published as either open access or free to publish. On top, we provide free reading to less privileged regions of the world. In fact, these licenses outnumber paid licensing. Is it not nice to know that all money that is left over, something you can see as a prophet, is given back to physiology? That is how Acta Physiologica can afford this enormous award. Acta Physiologica belongs to the Scandinavian Physiological Society, which is a charitable organization and therefore does not make a profit! Being a non-profit journal makes us so much different from other journals. Again, may I thank you as authors and readers of Acta Physiologica for the great success you have made out of this Journal. None.