A New Chapter of <i>Aggregate</i> : Embracing Changes From Submission to Review to Publication

How time flies—Aggregate has turned 5! What began as a blank page has now grown into a first chapter filled with achievement and promise. In just 5 years, Aggregate has built its academic reputation from the ground up and achieved remarkable milestones, including strong journal metrics, broad database indexing, a well-established readership, and steady growth in both publication volume and scholarly impact (Figure 1). As outlined in my previous editorial charting the future direction of the journal [1], we will continue to prioritize the publication of high-quality research, expand our global influence, and strengthen connections with researchers worldwide, with the ultimate goal of establishing Aggregate as the flagship journal in aggregate science. To realize this vision, resting on our laurels is not an option; instead, we must pursue proactive reforms and provide improved publishing services to better serve the scientific community. As Aggregate enters the first year of its second 5-year chapter, we are pleased to introduce a series of optimizations across the entire publishing lifecycle—from submission to peer review to publication. Specifically, we are officially adopting Free Format Submission, Research Exchange Review, and Continuous Publication. These changes go beyond procedural refinement; they reflect our commitment to simplifying the author experience and accelerating the dissemination of high-quality research. To reduce the burden on authors at the submission stage, Aggregate now offers Free Format Submission. Authors are no longer required to conform to specific templates or reference styles prior to submission. Instead, manuscripts need only include the essential components—such as the title, abstract, keywords, introduction, and references—with citations containing key information including author names, article title, year of publication, issue number, and article locator [2]. Once a manuscript is accepted, our production team will handle all formatting to ensure consistency with the journal's style. We hope this initiative enables researchers to submit their work more easily and efficiently, allowing them to devote more time and energy to the scientific quality of their research. Research Exchange (Rex) is an artificial intelligence-powered platform developed by Wiley to enhance the experience of authors, editors, and reviewers alike [3]. Aggregate has utilized the Rex Submission Module for the past 2 years, during which we have received highly positive feedback from authors. The system significantly improves submission efficiency through automated metadata extraction: once a manuscript is uploaded, information such as the title, author names, and affiliations is instantly identified, requiring only a simple confirmation from the author. This feature is particularly valuable for manuscripts involving large author teams and multiple affiliations. To further streamline the workflow and minimize cross-system errors, Aggregate has now migrated its manuscript screening and peer review processes to the Rex Screening and Rex Review Modules. With this fully integrated platform, authors can expect a smooth and seamless experience from initial submission through peer review and into production. In today's research environment, scholars predominantly discover and access articles through search engines, academic databases, reference management software, and AI-assisted tools. These pathways typically direct readers straight to individual article webpages, significantly reducing traffic to journal issue pages [4]. Consequently, the traditional workflow—where articles remain in early view and are later batch-organized into issues—has gradually lost its practical relevance. In response to this shift in researcher behavior, Aggregate has adopted a Continuous Publication model [5]. Under this approach, once a manuscript has completed editing and proofreading, it is immediately published in its final form and added to the current active issue, which closes on a scheduled date (Figure 2). This model eliminates delays associated with issue assignment, avoids repeated metadata updates, and ensures that each article receives a fixed issue designation, a single publication date, and finalized citation details upon online release. As a result, access inconsistencies and citation errors are significantly reduced. It is often comfortable to adhere to established routines, yet meaningful reform requires both courage and determination. Our transition to Continuous Publication is grounded in a sufficient publication volume and a strong, positive outlook on the continued growth of submissions [1]. This solid foundation is owed to our entire community—authors, reviewers, readers, and editors—whose trust and support have reinforced our confidence in the journal's sustained development and bright future. We sincerely hope that these three initiatives deliver tangible benefits and a markedly improved experience for all stakeholders. Finally, it is worth emphasizing that while Aggregate continues to adopt new models and tools, our commitment to academic excellence remains unwavering. Our peer review process will remain as rigorous as ever, upholding the standards that define the journal. We are confident that these changes will further strengthen Aggregate's position as a leader in aggregate science by delivering faster, more reliable, and more impactful publishing services. Let us join hands to write the next brilliant chapter of Aggregate together. The author has nothing to report. The author has nothing to report. The author declares no conflicts of interest.