1. Manuscript Formatting Requirements
- Template usage
Authors are encouraged to prepare their manuscripts using the official journal template. The template ensures consistency in formatting, section organization, headings, and reference style. Using the template at the initial submission stage helps facilitate the editorial screening and review processes.
- File format and structure
Manuscripts should be submitted in an editable file format (such as Microsoft Word). All text, tables, and figures should be embedded or clearly referenced within the manuscript. Authors should structure the document according to the guidelines in Section 2.2 Manuscript Structure, ensuring that each required section is included and clearly labeled.
- Language and style
Manuscripts must be written in clear, academically appropriate English. Authors are encouraged to ensure grammatical accuracy, clarity of expression, and consistency in terminology.
- Units, symbols, nomenclature
All measurements should be reported using SI units. Symbols, formulas, and abbreviations should be used consistently and defined at first mention. Scientific names, chemical formulas, and technical nomenclature should follow accepted conventions.
2. Manuscript Structure
The manuscript is generally expected to follow the structure outlined below, which supports clarity and facilitates a smooth review process.
- Title
The title page should clearly present the full title of the manuscript, followed by the names and institutional affiliations of all authors. Affiliations must include department, institution, city, and country. One author should be designated as the corresponding author, and their email address must be provided to ensure smooth communication throughout the editorial and publication processes.
- Abstract
The abstract should summarize the essential elements of the study, including its purpose, the main methods employed, key results, and principal conclusions. It should be written as a single paragraph, typically not exceeding 300 words. Citations, abbreviations that are not defined, and non-essential details should be avoided. A well-constructed abstract helps readers and reviewers quickly understand the focus and value of the work.
- Keywords
Authors should provide three to five keywords that accurately represent the main themes, methodologies, or application areas of the study.
- Introduction
The introduction should offer sufficient background to contextualize the research problem, explaining its relevance within the broader scientific field. It should outline existing knowledge, highlight gaps or challenges the study aims to address, and clearly state the objectives or hypotheses.
- Materials and Methods
This section should describe the materials, experimental design, data collection procedures, analytical techniques, and statistical methods used in the study. The level of detail should enable other researchers to replicate the work or validate its findings. When established methods are used, appropriate references should be provided; when new methods are introduced, they should be explained thoroughly.
- Results
The results section should present the main findings of the study in a clear, objective, and well-organized manner. Tables, figures, and other illustrative materials may be used to support the narrative and improve clarity. This section should focus on reporting observations without interpretation, ensuring that the data speaks for itself before analysis is provided in the discussion.
- Discussion
The discussion should interpret the results in the context of existing literature, highlighting their significance, implications, and relation to previous studies. Authors may also discuss potential limitations, unexpected findings, and directions for future research.
- Conclusion
The conclusion should concisely summarize the study’s key outcomes and their broader implications. This section may also highlight potential applications, recommendations, or avenues for further investigation. Authors should ensure that conclusions are evidence-based and supported by the results presented.
- Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments may be used to recognize individuals, institutions, or organizations that contributed to the study but do not meet authorship criteria. Funding sources, grant numbers, or institutional support should also be mentioned clearly when applicable.
- Conflict of Interest statement
Authors should include a brief statement disclosing any potential conflicts of interest or confirming that none exist.
- Ethics Approval statement (if applicable)
For studies involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data, authors should provide the name of the ethics committee that approved the study, approval number, and a brief confirmation that the research adhered to relevant ethical guidelines. If ethics approval was not required, authors may include a short explanatory statement.
- Data Availability Statement
A Data Availability Statement should be included to inform readers where the data supporting the findings can be accessed, or to explain any justified restrictions.
- References
The reference list should include all sources cited in the manuscript and should follow the journal’s prescribed citation style. Authors should ensure accuracy, completeness, and consistency.
3. Figures and Tables
Figures and tables should be prepared clearly, numbered consecutively, and referenced in the text. Each figure and table must include an informative caption that explains its content. Authors should ensure that the visual elements submitted are readable and prepared at a quality suitable for digital publication. When applicable, editable versions of figures (such as vector formats) may be requested during production. Detailed formatting instructions for figures, tables, and captions are provided in the journal template.
- Numbering
Figures and tables should be numbered consecutively in the order they appear in the manuscript. Each figure and table should be cited in the text using its designated number to ensure consistency.
- Captions
Every figure and table must include a concise caption that describes its content. Captions should be placed below figures and above tables. Abbreviations or symbols used in the visuals should be defined either in the caption or in a note accompanying the table or figure.
- Resolution requirements
Images, photographs, and graphical elements should be submitted at a resolution suitable for high-quality digital publication. Graphics should be clear and legible, with no pixelation or distortion when viewed at typical reading size.
- Accepted formats
Figures may be submitted in common image formats such as JPEG, TIFF, or PNG. Tables should be prepared directly in the manuscript file rather than inserted as images. If figures include complex graphics, authors may submit additional files in PDF or vector-based formats.
- Editable figure requirements
When figures contain diagrams, charts, or other elements that may need adjustments during production, authors should provide an editable version if available. Editable files help ensure accurate rendering during layout and typesetting.
4. References
References should follow the citation style indicated in the journal template. In-text citations must use numerical referencing, and the reference list should appear in the order of citation. Authors are asked to ensure accuracy, consistency, and completeness in all reference entries. Examples of reference formats for journals, books, conference proceedings, and theses are provided within the template.
- Citation style
Citations within the text should follow a numerical system. Each reference should be indicated by a number in square brackets corresponding to its position in the reference list. The same number should be used throughout the manuscript for repeated citations of the same source.
- Order of listing
References should be listed at the end of the manuscript in the order in which they first appear in the text. Each reference number should correspond to a single entry in the list.