File format

Submissions can be in the following formats: DOC, or DOCX.
LaTeX manuscripts must be submitted as PDFs.

Length

Submissions can be any length. We encourage you to present and discuss your findings concisely.

Layout and spacing

Manuscript text should be double-spaced.
Do not format text in multiple columns.

Page and line numbers

Include page numbers and line numbers in the manuscript file. Use continuous line numbers (do not restart the numbering on each page).

Footnotes

Footnotes are not permitted. If your manuscript contains footnotes, move the information into the main text or the reference list, depending on the content.

Language

Manuscripts must be submitted in English.
You may submit translations of the manuscript or abstract as supporting information.

Abbreviations

Define abbreviations upon first appearance in the text.

Do not use non-standard abbreviations unless they appear at least three times in the text.

Keep abbreviations to a minimum.

Reference Style

Use APA style

Equations

We recommend using MathType for display and inline equations, as it will provide the most reliable outcome. If this is not possible, Equation Editor or Microsoft’s Insert→Equation function is acceptable.

Manuscripts should be organized as follows. Instructions for each element appear below the list.

Beginning section

The following elements are required, in order:

• Title page: List title, authors, and affiliations as first page of the manuscript in this format. 
• Abstract
• Introduction

Middle section

The following elements are required, in order:

• Materials and Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusions (optional)

Ending section

The following elements are required, in order:

• Acknowledgments
• References
• Supporting information captions (if applicable)

Abstract

• Describe the main objective(s) of the study
• Explain how the study was done without detail
• Summarize the most important results and their significance
• Not exceeding 250 words

Introduction

• Background
• What was the problem that you addressed, and why
• A brief review of the previous work
• Are there relevant controversies or disagreements
• A brief concluding statement that summarizes the aim, and if that aim was achieved in the work

Materials and Methods

• What data was used?
• What was the approach?
• What tools were used?

 Results, Discussion, Conclusions

Together, these sections should describe the results of the experiments, the interpretation of these results, and the conclusions that can be drawn.

Authors should explain how the results relate to the hypothesis presented as the basis of the study and provide a succinct explanation of the implications of the findings, particularly in relation to previous related studies and potential future directions for research.