Instructions for Authors

The journal welcomes submissions of original research, replication studies, negative/null results, registered reports, systematic reviews, protocols, software, and databases across natural sciences, medical research, engineering, social sciences, and humanities. These instructions provide detailed guidance to ensure manuscripts meet the journal’s standards for scientific rigor, ethical compliance, and transparency.

Manuscript Preparation

General Formatting

• File Format: Submit manuscripts in Microsoft Word (.docx) or LaTeX (for mathematical or technical content). LaTeX submissions must include a PDF version for review.
• Text Formatting: Use double-spaced text, 12-point font (e.g., Times New Roman, Arial, or Computer Modern for LaTeX), with 2.5 cm (1 inch) margins. Number all pages and lines sequentially for reviewer reference.
• Language: Manuscripts must be written in clear, professional English. Non-native speakers are encouraged to use professional editing services before submission to ensure clarity.
• Length: No strict word limits apply, but conciseness is encouraged. Typical research articles range from 3,000–8,000 words, while systematic reviews or protocols may be longer. Contact the editorial office for guidance on unusually long manuscripts.
• File Naming: Use descriptive file names (e.g., “Smith_Research_Article.docx”, “Figure1.tiff”). Avoid generic names like “manuscript.docx”.

Manuscript Structure

Organize manuscripts into the following sections, adapting as appropriate for the discipline or submission type (e.g., humanities manuscripts may use alternative structures):

Title Page:

• Title: Concise, informative, and under 250 characters. Avoid jargon, abbreviations, or overly broad terms.
• Authors: List full names, affiliations, and contact details (email and ORCID ID) for all authors. Designate a corresponding author.
• Keywords: Provide 4–8 keywords for discoverability, specific to the study’s focus.
• Running Title: A short title (under 50 characters) for page headers.

Abstract:

• Up to 300 words, summarizing the background, objectives, methods, key results, and conclusions.
• Structured abstracts (e.g., Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions) are preferred for research articles but optional for other submission types.
• Avoid citations, abbreviations (unless defined), or overly technical language.

Main Text:

1. Introduction: Provide context, state the research question or hypothesis, and outline the study’s significance and interdisciplinary relevance.
2. Methods: Describe the study design, materials, and procedures in sufficient detail to allow replication. Include:
   • Ethics approvals (e.g., IRB or IACUC numbers) for human or animal research.
   • Statistical methods, software, and parameters (e.g., p-values, confidence intervals).
   • Details of data collection, including dates, locations, and sample sizes.
3. Results: Present findings clearly, using figures, tables, and text. Avoid interpretation or discussion here.
4. Discussion: Interpret results, compare with prior work, and discuss limitations and implications.
5. Conclusions: Summarize key findings and their broader impact. Avoid repeating the abstract.
6. For non-traditional formats (e.g., humanities, protocols), adapt sections to suit the content while maintaining clarity.

Acknowledgments:

• Acknowledge contributions not qualifying for authorship (e.g., technical assistance, funding support). Do not include funding sources here (see Financial Disclosure).

Financial Disclosure:

• List all funding sources, including grant numbers, funders’ names, and roles (e.g., “This work was supported by the National Science Foundation, grant #123456”).
• State if no external funding was received (e.g., “The authors received no specific funding for this work”).

Competing Interests Statement:

• Declare all potential competing interests (financial or non-financial) or state, “The authors declare no competing interests.” Examples include funding, employment, patents, or personal relationships that could influence objectivity. 

References:

• Use a numbered citation style (Vancouver). 
• Cite references in the text using numbers in square brackets (e.g., [1], [2–4]).
• Ensure all cited works are accessible and include DOIs or URLs where available.
• Example format: [1] Smith J, Doe A. Title of article. Journal Name. 2023;10(2):123–130. doi:10.1000/j.jname.2023.123.

Figures and Tables:

• Embed figures and tables in the manuscript for review, with captions and legends immediately below or on a separate page.
• Submit high-resolution figures (300 dpi) in TIFF, JPEG, or EPS format as separate files.
• Ensure figures are colorblind-friendly and legible in grayscale.
• Number figures and tables sequentially (e.g., Figure 1, Table 1) and cite them in the text.
• Maximum file size: 20 MB per figure or supporting file.

Supporting Information:

• Include datasets, multimedia, protocols, or additional methods as separate files.
• Label files clearly (e.g., “S1_Dataset.xlsx”, “S1_Video.mp4”).
• Provide captions for all supporting files, describing their content and relevance.
• Supporting files are subject to peer review and must be under 20 MB each.

Submission Types

The journal accepts various submission types, each with specific requirements:

• Original Research: Novel findings, structured as above, with clear methods and results.
• Replication Studies: Reproduce or re-analyze prior work. Include a cover letter explaining the relationship to the original study and consent to inviting a signed review from the original authors.
• Registered Reports: Two-stage submission:
  • Stage 1: Submit protocol (Introduction, Methods, Analysis Plan) for review before data collection. Accepted protocols receive in-principle acceptance.
  • Stage 2: Submit full manuscript with results and discussion, adhering to the approved protocol.
• Systematic Reviews: Follow PRISMA guidelines, including a flow diagram and risk of-bias assessment.
• Protocols: Detailed methodological descriptions, including rationale and intended use.
• Software and Databases: Include documentation, source code (deposited in GitHub/Zenodo with a DOI), and user instructions.
• Negative/Null Results: Scientifically valid studies with non-significant outcomes, structured like original research.

Data Availability

• Deposit datasets in public repositories (e.g., Fig share, Dryad, GenBank, Zenodo) with a citable DOI or accession number.
• Provide a Data Availability Statement in the manuscript, specifying repository details or restrictions (e.g., “Patient data are restricted due to ethical constraints; contact [email] for access”).
• Exceptions for sensitive data (e.g., human subjects) require ethics committee approval and a clear justification.
• Data must be accessible at submission for peer review, either publicly or via secure access for reviewers.

Code and Software

• Deposit custom code in repositories like GitHub or Zenodo with a citable DOI.
• Provide detailed documentation, including installation instructions, dependencies, and example use cases.
• Ensure code is licensed (e.g., MIT, GPL) to permit reuse, consistent with the journal’s CC BY policy.

Materials

• Non-commercially available materials (e.g., cell lines, reagents) must be accessible via repositories or material transfer agreements (MTAs).
• Include details of material sources in the Methods section, including catalogue numbers or contact information for custom materials.
• For restricted materials (e.g., pathogens), provide biosafety permits and handling protocols.

Authorship and Contributions

• Follow ICMJE authorship criteria:
  • Substantial contributions to conception, design, data acquisition, or analysis.
  • Drafting or revising the manuscript critically.
  • Final approval of the version to be published.
  • Agreement to be accountable for the work’s accuracy and integrity.
• Use the Credit taxonomy to specify contributions (e.g., conceptualization, methodology, writing – original draft) in a dedicated section (e.g., “Author Contributions”).
• Example: “JS: conceptualization, data curation, writing – original draft; AD: methodology, formal analysis, writing – review & editing.”
• All authors must approve the final manuscript and submission. Changes to authorship post-submission require agreement from all authors and editorial approval.

Cover Letter

A cover letter is required and should include:

• A brief (1–2 paragraphs) description of the study’s significance, novelty, and alignment with the journal’s interdisciplinary scope.
• Confirmation that the manuscript is original, not under consideration elsewhere, and not previously published (except as a preprint).
• Disclosure of any related manuscripts, preprints, or prior work, including DOIs or URLs.
• For replication studies, a statement explaining the relationship to the original work and consent to inviting a signed review from the original authors.
• Any additional information (e.g., suggested reviewers, conflicts of interest, or special considerations).

Ethical Requirements

• Human Subjects: Provide ethics approval details (e.g., IRB number, institution) in the Methods section. Document informed consent for identifiable data or waive consent requirements with ethics committee approval.
• Animal Research: Comply with ARRIVE guidelines and provide Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) or equivalent approval details.
• Clinical Trials: Register in a WHO-approved registry (e.g., ClinicalTrials.gov) and follow CONSORT guidelines for reporting.
• Biosecurity: For research involving pathogens or restricted materials, include biosafety permits and compliance with national/international regulations.
• Plagiarism and Originality: Manuscripts are screened for plagiarism using tools like iThenticate. Self-plagiarism (e.g., reusing text from prior publications) is not permitted unless properly cited and justified. Supporting Documentation
• Ethics Approvals: Upload approval letters or certificates for human, animal, or restricted material research.
• Funding Information: List all funding sources in the Financial Disclosure section, not in the Acknowledgments.
• Competing Interests: Declare all financial (e.g., grants, patents) and non-financial (e.g., personal relationships) conflicts in the Competing Interests Statement.

Submission Checklist

Before submitting, ensure:

• Manuscript is formatted according to guidelines (double-spaced, numbered pages/lines, correct file formats).
• All required sections (Title Page, Abstract, Main Text, etc.) are included and complete.
• Figures and tables are high-quality, properly labelled, and cited in the text.
• Supporting information (datasets, code, multimedia) is uploaded with captions.
• Data availability statement specifies repository details or restrictions.
• Ethics approvals, funding disclosures, and competing interests are documented.
• Cover letter addresses significance, originality, and any special considerations.
• All authors have reviewed and approved the manuscript and submission.

Post-Submission

• Tracking: Use the manuscript ID to track status.
• Revisions: If revisions are requested, submit a revised manuscript with a point-by point response to reviewer comments. Highlight changes in the manuscript (e.g., using track changes or coloured text).
• Appeals: Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a formal appeal letter to the editorial office, outlining the grounds for reconsideration.
• Publication: Upon acceptance, authors will receive proofs for review. Ensure timely corrections to avoid publication delays.

Additional Guidance

• Interdisciplinary Considerations: For manuscripts spanning multiple disciplines, ensure methods and terminology are accessible to a broad audience. Provide sufficient context in the Introduction and Discussion.
• Preprints: If the manuscript is a preprint, include the DOI or URL in the cover letter and confirm compatibility with the journal’s licensing (see Preprint Policy).
• Language Support: Authors needing assistance with English can contact the editorial office for recommended editing services.

These instructions are designed to streamline the submission process, ensure compliance with ethical and transparency standards, and support the journal’s mission to publish rigorous, accessible, and interdisciplinary research.