AUTHOR GUIDELINES FOR REVISION & ACCEPTANCE
Authors who submit their manuscripts (in Word format only) should read the following carefully, and follow the guidelines. Complete compliance from the authors is required. Any non-compliance may lead to manuscript rejection or revision.
I. Paper Format Requirements
II. Style Conventions
III. Optimizing Titles and Abstracts
IV. Avoiding Plagiarism
V. Downloads (Word/LaTex templates, etc.)
I. Paper Format Requirements
1. Figures
Cite figures in numerical order (Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.) as they appear in the text. Figures must be submitted as separate files saved in JPEG, TIFF, GIF, EPS, or PPT format (do not embedded the figures in the Microsoft Word manuscript file). All images should exceed the following image resolutions: Line Art (an image composed of lines and text) 1,000 dpi; Halftone (a continuous tone photograph, which contains no text) 300 dpi; or Combination (Line Art and Halftone) 600 dpi. Photographs of recognizable persons should be accompanied by a signed release from the person in the photograph or an appropriate legal guardian authorizing publication. Legends for figures must appear on a separate page at the end of the manuscript file.
2. Tables
Tables should be set up in Word and should usually contain three horizontal lines. Do not use vertical lines. Each table must have a brief title that describes its contents. The title should be understandable without reference to the text. Details such as explanatory material, specific entries, and definitions of non-standard abbreviations should be put in table footnotes, not in the title. In setting up tables, authors should keep in mind the area of the Journal’s page (16.4 cm×22.8 cm) and the column width (8.0 cm) and should make tables conform to the limitations of these dimensions.
All tables must be mentioned in the text in consecutive order and must be numbered with Arabic numbers. Tables should be cited in the text using the following format: Table 1, Tables 1 and 2, or Tables 1–3.
3. Variables and formulae
Variables, regardless of the context (formula, figure or table), should be in Italics (e.g., x1); if a variable represents a vector or a matrix, it should be in Italics & bold (e.g., x1). Numerals and operators should never be italicized unless they are components of a variable.
Authors are encouraged to import symbols and simple equations using normal text and fonts, e.g., “α” (not “” in MathType), “?” (not “-“) for a minus. A Word list of commonly used symbols that can be copied and pasted into manuscripts is available at http://www.（等待连接）
For complex formulae, use a formula editor (e.g., MathType) and define the sizes as follows:
Full: 10.5 pt;
Subscript/Superscript: 58%;
Sub-subscript/Superscript: 42%;
Symbol: 150%;
Sub-symbol: 100%.
4. Units
Units should be metric and follow SI convention:
M→mol/L, rpm→r/min, etc.
Some units such as ppb, ppm, A, wt%, mol% are not SI ones and need to change into SI format:
ppm→10?6, ?→0.1 nm, etc.
Short forms:
30 minutes→30 min, 2 hours→2 h, 10 days→10 d, etc.
Put a space between a numeral and its unit of measure (exceptions: no space between a number and the percent “%?”, degree “°”, angular minute “′” or angular second “″”).
5.Text Citation
Unpublished data and personal communications may be cited in the text (including the initials and surnames of all authors, and the year in which the observation was made), but should not be listed as references. One copy of any in-press article that is cited in the references should be sent to the editorial office or submitted as supplementary data. Do not reference papers that are "submitted"; these can be specified as unpublished data in the body of the text. Personal communications should also be mentioned in the body of the text only.
The accuracy of reference data is the author's responsibility. Verify all entries against original sources, especially journal titles, inclusive page numbers, publication dates, accents, diacritical marks, and spelling in languages other than English. The format of references should conform with that specified in "Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals." Journal abbreviations should conform to the style used in the Cumulated Index Medicus.
List all authors when there are 6 or fewer; when there are 7 or more, list only the first 6 and add "et al." Do not list the month/issue/day (the number in parentheses) in the reference.
6. Reference List (for accepted papers)
The reference list provides complete information of the author-date citation in English and lists in alphabetical order of authors’ surnames. For references with more than six authors, the first three names should be given, followed by et al. The references mentioned in the text should accord with the reference list. For a reference published other than in English, the language used should be noted at the end of the reference list, e.g., (in Chinese). The publisher and place of publication should be given for a book or proceedings. The DOI (refer to http://www.doi.org) should be provided if it is available.
Reference list examples:
1. Journal article
[1] Lalzad A, Wong F, Singh N, Coombs P, Brockley C, Brennan S, et al. Knowledge of Safety, Training, and Practice of Neonatal Cranial Ultrasound: A Survey of Operators. J Ultrasound Med 2018;37(6):1411-1421.
[2] Milliner BHA, Tsung JW. Lung Consolidation Locations for Optimal Lung Ultrasound Scanning in Diagnosing Pediatric Pneumonia. J Ultrasound Med 2017;36(11):2325-2328.
[3] Maasland L, van Oostenbrugge RJ, Franke CF, Scholte Op Reimer WJ, Koudstaal PJ, Dippel DW; Netherlands Stroke Survey Investigators. Patients enrolled in large randomized clinical trials of antiplatelet treatment for prevention after transient ischemic attack or ischemic stroke are not representative of patients in clinical practice: the Netherlands Stroke Survey. Stroke 2009;40:2662-2668.

2. Book
[1] Minematsu K, Bang OY, Uehara T. Risk factors. In: Kim JS, Caplan LR, Wong KS. Intracranial Atherosclerosis. 1st ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell, 2008;45-54.

3. Web sites
Web sites generally follow this format: Author names (if any). Title of information or page. Name of website. URL. Publication date (if any). Access date.

4. Otherwise follow uniform requirements for manuscripts submitted to biomedical journals (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/uniform_requirements.html)
II. Style conventions
1. Abbreviations
When a term appears for the first time in the Abstract or in the formal text, it should be expanded, with its abbreviation in parentheses following immediately:
epidermal growth factors (EGFs)
2. Capitalization
Capitalize genus names in their singular form, but not in their plural form:
Streptococcus pneumoniae streptococci
Do not capitalize chemical names:
In the fixation, formaldehyde was used.
3. Genus and Species
In “Escherichia coli,” “Escherichia” is the genus and “coli” the species name. After the first mention of the singular form in the text, abbreviate the genus name when used with species:
Escherichia coli E. coli
4. Italics
Italicize genera and species in their singular form, but not in their plural form:
Salmonella salmonellae
Mycobactrium tuberculosis mycobacteria
5. Numbers
(1) Use words for numbers one through nine when no abbreviation or symbol follows the number:
Two patients, nine rats
(2) Use Arabic numerals for numbers greater that nine:
10 patients, 30 subjects
(3) Use words when a number is the first word of a sentence:
Two studies reported that …
One hundred and eighty-five participants were included …
(4) Use Arabic numerals before an abbreviation or symbol, even at the beginning of a sentence:
2 mg, 25 mm
5 ml lysis buffer was added to the tube.
(5) Use Arabic numerals in a sentence in which some numbers are above 10 and some below 10:
Thirteen rats in treatment group received 1 shot of the compound, whereas 13 control rats received 1 shot of PBS.
(6) Use Arabic numerals for measures of years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, and seconds:
Readings were recorded every 1 s.
The treatment was continued for 3 d.
(7) Use Arabic numerals for all ages:
7-day-old mice were used in this study.
The baby was 5 months old.
(8) Use words and Arabic numerals in the following case for clarity:
ten 200-g rats, two 3-year studies
6. Percentage
(1) Use Arabic numerals plus the symbol %:
30%, 50%
(2) Use word number and “percent” in the beginning of a sentence:
Ten percent of the orange trees were infected.
(3) When a concentration is expressed as a percentage, include v/v, v/w, or w/w:
10% (v/v) H2O2, 10% (w/v) NaCl
7. Patient or subject
A patient is a person with a target disease recruited in a study, while a subject is a healthy person without that target disease who serves as a control in the study. Both a patient and a subject are participants in a study.
8. Punctuation
For clarity and consistency, always put a comma before “and” in a series:
The inhibition increased by 10%, 22%, and 29%.
Cells were treated for 2, 5, 10, 20, and 30 min.
9. Quotation marks
Place commas and periods inside quotation marks:
Zhang (2008) reported that this finding was a “turning point.”
Ever since this “turning point,” many new approaches have emerged.
III. Optimizing Titles and Abstracts
1. The title and Abstract are key for a paper to be cited after publication for the following reasons:
(1) They are available online to every reader.
(2) The reader may read only the Title/Abstract in their literature search; they may not read the full text if the Abstract is not attractive.
(3) Search engines mostly identify key words in the Title, and some may scan the Abstract as well for repeated key words or phrases; therefore, appropriate wording, phrasing, and organizing are crucial for increasing the chances of being caught by search engines.
2. Tips for optimizing the Title
(1) The title should be clear and descriptive.
(2) The title should contain key words.
(3) Put yourself in the shoes of the reader, thinking what searching terms they are likely to use.
3. Tips for optimizing the Abstract
(1) Use the same key words and phrases in the Title and Abstract, to increase the chances of being found by search engines.
(2) Organize messages logically and clearly, and make points flow and text readable to encourage the reader to read it through.
(3) Include sufficient necessary information (objective, methods, results, and conclusion) so that the reader will gain a clear impression of the whole study.
Avoid being too lengthy or too short (generally, aim for 150–250 words).
IV. Avoiding plagiarism
1. Recognizing plagiarism
In dealing with specific knowledge, plagiarism can occur in the following situations:
(1) Using ideas and words of others without clearly acknowledging the source of that information.
(2) Copying another person’s phrases or sentences without putting quotation marks around them.
(3) Even if the writer cites the source of the phrase or sentence, but substantially changes the way the original message was written, or in other words, the writer constructs unacceptable paraphrases.
2. How to construct acceptable paraphrases
(1) Thoroughly understand the original message, and then rewrite the message in your own words without peeking the original text.
(2) Use a combination of rhetorical measures such as replacing words, changing the orders of words or sentences, altering voice, or adding/removing conjunctives.
(3) Check your paraphrase against the original text to avoid accidental use of the same phrases or words.
(4) Make sure that your paraphrasing is accurate to the original.
3. Examples of unacceptable paraphrases
Original text:
In DC-9815–treated mice, cell line-derived BRAF tumors exhibited stronger and more sustained pharmacodynamic inhibition (>85% for 12 h) compared with mutant KRAS-expressing tumors [1] (Chen et al., 2006).
Unacceptable paraphrase:
It was reported that, in DC-9815–treated mice, cell line-derived BRAF tumors presented stronger (>85%) and more sustained pharmacodynamic inhibition (12 h), in comparison with mutant KRAS-expressing tumors [1] (Chen et al., 2006).
The sentence was paraphrased by replacing “exhibited” with “presented” and other slight changes; however, it remains basically unchanged.
Acceptable paraphrase:
Chen et al. [1] reported that DC-9815 pharmacodynamically inhibited the growth of cell line-derived BRAF tumors in mice (>85% for 12 h) compared with mutant KRAS-expressing tumors.
The writer used DC-9815 as the subject, thus generating a feeling of a new, distinct sentence.
4. What is common knowledge
If a message is within the category of common knowledge, then a writer does not need to cite its source. Common knowledge consists of facts that are generally known to many people and can be found in numerous places. However, the writer needs to use common sense to make a judgment:
Hepatitis B is an infectious disease. (Common knowledge, needs no reference)
The serum positivity of hepatitis B virus in Asian countries is around 10% of the general population (Chen et al., 1991). (Specific, needs a reference)
5. Examples of reporting commonly-used methods
When reporting a commonly-used method, a writer should not completely copy from others, but needs to use his/her own wording or sentencing to report the key, important points of the procedure. The following examples show how Western blot analysis, a method very commonly used in biology, can be presented in different ways, indicating enormous room for various styles of wording and sentencing to avoid copying.
(1) Western blot analysis was performed using a phospho-specific FGFR antibody (pFGFR Tyr653/654; Cell Signaling). The Western blot was then stripped and reprobed for total FGFR2 (Bek C-17, Santa Cruz).
(2) Cells were homogenized in lysis buffer [50 mmol/L Tris/HCl (pH 7.5), 150 mmol/L NaCl, 1% (v/v) Triton X-100, 1% (v/v) deoxycholate, 0.1% (w/v) NaN3, 1 mmol/L EGTA, 0.2 mmol/L Na3VO4, protease inhibitor cocktail, and phosphatase inhibitor cocktail]. Lysates were centrifuged at 14000×g for 20 min, and frozen at ?20 °C overnight. Protein concentration was then measured using BCA protein assay kit (Bio Rad). Equal amounts of total protein (30 μg) were loaded into 4%–20% NuPage Bis-Tris gels (Invitrogen), electrophoresed in 2-(N-morpholino) ethanesulfonic acid buffer, and transferred to nitrocellulose membranes (Invitrogen). Detection of phospho-MEK was accomplished with antibody against pMEK (Phospho-Ser 218, 222) (1:1000, Cell Signaling). A monoclonal antibody against glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) (Sigma) was used as a loading control. The enhanced chemiluminescence Advance Western Blotting Detection Kit from Amersham Biosciences, Inc. (Piscataway, NJ) was used to develop the blots.
V. Downloads
Word/LaTex templates, Endnote/Mendeley templates, and other frequently used files are available here.