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Instructions for Authors

Manuscript Preparation

Click Here to download word template 

Word Template

*Permissions

Authors wishing to include figures, tables, or text passages that have already been published elsewhere are required to obtain permission from the copyright owner(s) for both the print and online format and to include evidence that such permission has been granted when submitting their papers. Any material received without such evidence will be assumed to originate from the authors.  

*Authors are strongly encouraged to use Mendeley Reference Manager or a similar citation management tool to ensure consistency, accuracy, and proper formatting of references in accordance with APA 7th edition style. Using a reference manager will streamline the citation process and help maintain the professional quality of your manuscript.


Title page

The title page should include:  

  • The name(s) of the author(s)
  • A concise and informative title  
  • The affiliation(s) and address(es) of the author(s)  
  • The e-mail address, telephone and fax numbers of the corresponding author 

Abstract 

  • Please provide an abstract of 200 to 250 words. The abstract should not contain any undefined abbreviations or unspecified references.

Keywords

  • You are required to provide 1 to 6 keywords for indexing purposes. Keywords should be written in English. Please try to avoid keywords consisting of multiple words (using "and" or "of").
  • We recommend that you only use abbreviations in keywords if they are firmly established in the field.

Highlights

  • Highlights should consist of 3 to 5 bullet points, each a maximum of 85 characters, including spaces.

Text

Text Formatting

  • Manuscripts should be submitted in Word. 
  • Use a normal, plain font (e.g., 10-point Times New Roman) for text; Line spacing 1.15; Margins: 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides; Page Numbers: Bottom right corner; Alignment: Justified.
  • Length should be ~20 to 25 pages (8000 - 12000 words or more) [ excluding references, tables, and figures]
  • Use italics for emphasis. 
  • Use the automatic page numbering function to number the pages. 
  • Do not use field functions. 
  • Use tab stops or other commands for indents, not the space bar. 
  • Use the table function, not spreadsheets, to make tables. 
  • Use the equation editor or MathType for equations. 
  • Save your file in docx format (Word 2007 or higher) or doc format (older Word versions) or google docs.

Headings 

  • Please use the decimal system of headings with no more than three levels.

Abbreviations 

  • Abbreviations should be defined at first mention and used consistently thereafter.

Footnotes 

  • Footnotes can be used to give additional information, which may include the citation of a reference included in the reference list. They should not consist solely of a reference citation, and they should never include the bibliographic details of a reference. They should also not contain any figures or tables. Footnotes to the text are numbered consecutively; those to tables should be indicated by superscript lower-case letters (or asterisks for significance values and other statistical data). Footnotes to the title or the authors of the article are not given reference symbols. Always use footnotes instead of endnotes. 

Acknowledgments 

  • Acknowledgments of people, grants, funds, etc. should be placed in a separate section before the reference list. The names of funding organizations should be written in full.

Scientific style

  • Please always use internationally accepted signs and symbols for units (SI units). Please use the standard mathematical notation for formulae, symbols etc.: Italic for single letters that denote mathematical constants, variables, and unknown quantities Roman/upright for numerals, operators, and punctuation, and commonly defined functions or abbreviations, e.g., m, kg, mol, Pa, J, L, °C, log, max, min.

References

Citation (Style: APA 7th edition)

Cite references in the text by name and year in parentheses (Should be new (e.g. 2015 to 2025)). 

Some examples: 

  • Negotiation research spans many disciplines (Thompson 2024) (If more than three authors (Thompson et al., 2024). 
  • This result was later contradicted by Becker and Seligman (2020).  
  • This effect has been widely studied (Abbott 2012; Barakat et al. 2018; Kelso and Smith 2021; Medvec et al. 2025).

Reference list (Style: APA 7th edition)

The list of references should only include works that are cited in the text and that have been published or accepted for publication. Personal communications and unpublished works should only be mentioned in the text. Do not use footnotes or endnotes as a substitute for a reference list. Reference list entries should be alphabetized by the last names of the first author of each work.

Journal Article

Book

  • Format: Author(s). (Year). Title of the book (Edition, if any). Publisher.
  • Example: Brown, P. D. (2018). Plant biotechnology: Principles and applications (2nd ed.). Springer.

Book Chapter

  • Format: Author(s) of chapter. (Year). Title of the chapter. In Editor(s) (Ed./Eds.), Title of the book (pp. page range). Publisher.
  • Example: Taylor, L. R. (2019). Advances in tissue culture. In R. A. Kumar & P. Singh (Eds.), Recent trends in plant biology (pp. 102–119). Academic Press.

Report

Online Document

Website

Dissertation or Thesis

  • Format: Author. (Year). Title of thesis or dissertation [Doctoral dissertation/Master's thesis, Institution Name]. Database or URL
  • Example: Martinez, H. E. (2020). Molecular mechanisms in plant defense [Doctoral dissertation, University of California]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. https://www.proquest.com/docview/2398475920

Please provide each reference with an English translation of title (if not written in English). DOI number is only required if the reference is not yet published in print.

Tables  

  • All tables are to be numbered using Arabic numerals. (e.g. Table 1).
  • Tables should always be cited in text in consecutive numerical order. 
  • For each table, please supply a table caption (title) explaining the components of the table.  
  • Identify any previously published material by giving the original source in the form of a reference at the end of the table caption. 
  • Footnotes to tables should be indicated by superscript lower-case letters (or asterisks for significance values and other statistical data) and included beneath the table body.

Figures, images and artwork

Figures, images, artwork, diagrams and other graphical media must be supplied as separate files along with the manuscript. We recommend that you read our detailed artwork and media instructions. Some excerpts:

When submitting artwork:

  • Figures should always be cited in text in consecutive numerical order. (e.g. Figure 1)
  • Number images according to the sequence they appear within your article.
  • Text graphics may be embedded in the text at the appropriate position.
  • To add lettering, it is best to use Helvetica or Arial (sans serif fonts)
  • Avoid effects such as shading, outline letters, etc. 
  • Do not include titles or captions within your illustrations.
  • All figures are to be numbered using Arabic numerals. 
  • Figure parts should be denoted by lowercase letters (a, b, c, etc.). 
  • Each figure should have a concise caption describing accurately what the figure depicts. Include the captions in the text file of the manuscript, not in the figure file.   

Artwork formats

When your artwork is finalized, "save as" or convert your electronic artwork to the formats listed below taking into account the given resolution requirements for line drawings, halftones, and line/halftone combinations:

  • Vector drawings: Save as EPS or PDF files embedding the font or saving the text as "graphics."
  • Color or grayscale photographs (halftones): Save as TIFF, JPG or PNG files using a minimum of 300 dpi (for single column: min. 1063 pixels, full page width: 2244 pixels).
  • Bitmapped line drawings: Save as TIFF, JPG or PNG files using a minimum of 1000 dpi (for single column: min. 3543 pixels, full page width: 7480 pixels).
  • Combinations bitmapped line/halftones (color or grayscale): Save as TIFF, JPG or PNG files using a minimum of 500 dpi (for single column: min. 1772 pixels, full page width: 3740 pixels).

Please do not submit:

  • files that are too low in resolution (for example, files optimized for screen use such as GIF, BMP, PICT or WPG files).
  • disproportionally large images compared to font size, as text may become unreadable.

Figure captions

  • All images must have a caption. A caption should consist of a brief title (not displayed on the figure itself) and a description of the image. We advise you to keep the amount of text in any image to a minimum, though any symbols and abbreviations used should be explained.
  • Provide captions in a separate page following to reference.

Generative AI and Figures, images and artwork

Please read our policy on the use of generative AI and AI-assisted tools in figures, images and artwork, which can be found in Elsevier’s GenAI Policies for Journals. This policy states:

  • We do not permit the use of Generative AI or AI-assisted tools to create or alter images in submitted manuscripts.
  • The only exception is if the use of AI or AI-assisted tools is part of the research design or methods (for example, in the field of biomedical imaging). If this is the case, such use must be described in a reproducible manner in the methods section, including the name of the model or tool, version and extension numbers, and manufacturer.
  • The use of generative AI or AI-assisted tools in the production of artwork such as for graphical abstracts is not permitted. The use of generative AI in the production of cover art may in some cases be allowed, if the author obtains prior permission from the journal editor and publisher, can demonstrate that all necessary rights have been cleared for the use of the relevant material, and ensures that there is correct content attribution.

Structure 

Article sections

  • Divide your article into clearly defined and numbered sections. Number subsections 1.1 (then 1.1.1, 1.1.2, ...), then 1.2, etc.
  • Use the numbering format when cross-referencing within your article. Do not just refer to "the text."
  • You may give subsections a brief heading. Headings should appear on a separate line.
  • Do not include the article abstract within section numbering.

Manuscripts should be structured into following main sections: 

  • Abstract (should not contain any undefined abbreviations)
  • Keywords
  • Abbreviations   
  • Introduction (at the end describing objective of the manuscript) 
  • Discussions
  • Conclusion
  • Acknowledgments
  • Conflict of Interest Statement
  • References

📌 Note on Plagiarism and AI Use in Manuscript Preparation

​All submitted manuscripts must be original, unpublished, and free from any form of plagiarism. Plagiarism, including direct copying, improper paraphrasing, or uncredited reuse of text, data, images, or ideas from other sources, is strictly prohibited. Authors are responsible for ensuring proper citation and adherence to ethical writing standards. Manuscripts found to contain plagiarized content will be rejected without review.

​Submissions will be screened using plagiarism detection tools such as Turnitin to ensure originality. The acceptable similarity index should be below 15%, with no single source exceeding 2–3% (excluding references and commonly used phrases).

🧠 Use of AI Tools

​Authors may use AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Grammarly) for language editing, grammar checks, and improving readability, but not for content generation or critical analysis. The use of AI must be disclosed in the acknowledgments or methodology section (if applicable). Authors retain full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the content.

​Improper or undisclosed use of AI to generate data, interpretations, or substantial portions of the manuscript is considered unethical and may lead to rejection or retraction of the publication.