Miscellaneous

• Review Process: Single blind
• Language: Any English (consistently used)
• Acceptable manuscript formats: MS Word (.doc/.docx) or LaTeX (.tex)
• PDFs not acceptable
• Word files should have a single-column layout. Double-column layout only allowed for LaTex submissions.
• Template provided for LaTex submissions.
• Ensure the equations, if any, are editable
• SI units throughout the article
• Numbered sections: 1, 2, ….; 1.1, 1.2, …; etc.
• Headings on separate lines
• Abstract excluded from section numbering

 

Title Page

• Title: Concise and informative. Avoid formulae and abbreviations.
• Author names and affiliations
• Corresponding author details
• The publisher offers a paid Video Abstract creation service

 

Abstract

• Unstructured
• Word-limit: 250 words
• Avoid references
• 1–7 keywords

 

Highlights

• Mandatory
• Submitted in a separate file titled “Highlights”
• 3–5 bullet points, each less than 85 characters long (including spaces)

 

Figures

• Submit each figure as a separate file, named as Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.
• High quality
  • 1000 dpi for line art
  • 500 dpi for combination art
  • 300 dpi for halftone images
• Number and cite the figures sequentially
• Accepted file formats: JPEG, TIFF, MS Word, EPS, PDF, MS Excel, MS Powerpoint
• Captions submitted in the main manuscript file; define all abbreviations used in a figure and its legend at the end of the corresponding legend

 

Tables

• Editable text and not images
• Number and cite sequentially
• Avoid duplicating the information in the main text
• Placed in the main manuscript file near their first citations or on separate pages at the end of the manuscript
• Avoid shading in cells and vertical rules

 

Citations and References

• Any style can be used, but consistently

 

Supplementary Files

• Published as is
• Cite all material in the manuscript
• Ensure no tracked changes if submitted in MS Office format

 

Funding Sources

• Format: “This work was supported by the <Funding Entity #1> [Grant <number xx>]; <Funding Entity #2> [Grant <number xx>]; and <Funding Entity #3> [Grant <number xx>].”
• If no funding obtained, mention: “This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.”

 

Declaration of Competing Interests

• Declare any non-financial or financial relationships that might impact the study.
• For example: Employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony, patent applications or registrations, grants or any other funding, affiliation with the journal, etc.
• If no competing interest, mention: “The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.”

 

Declaration of AI Use

• Declare whether and how generative AI has been used for research and manuscript preparation. Place the statement before the references.
• Format:
  • Title Section: “Declaration of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the manuscript preparation process”
  • Description: “During the preparation of this work the author(s) used [NAME OF TOOL / SERVICE] in order to [REASON]. After using this tool/service, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the published article.”
• If generative AI not used, no statement is required.

 

Ethical Aspects

• Written statement regarding ethical approval containing the reference number and date of the ethical approval(s)
• Studies on humans must follow the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki and International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)
• Studies not requiring any ethical approval must include a statement giving relevant explanation
• All animal studies must be in accordance with the ARRIVE guidelines, and relevant statement of confirmation to be added in the manuscript

 

Consent for Publication

• This consent required for human studies.

 

Acknowledgments

• List individuals who helped with the research
• Placed after the reference list

 

Author Contributions

• Corresponding authors to acknowledge the contributions of authors using CRediT roles, including the following:
  • Conceptualization
  • Data curation
  • Formal analysis
  • Funding acquisition
  • Investigation
  • Methodology
  • Project administration
  • Resources
  • Software
  • Supervision
  • Validation
  • Visualization
  • Writing – original draft
  • Writing – review and editing

 

Graphical Abstract

• Optional but encouraged
• Submitted as a separate file
• Maximum width: 525 pixels
• Image with a minimum of 531 × 1328 pixels (h × w)
• Accepted file formats: TIFF, EPS, PDF or MS Office files