INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
Structure, Function and Interactions
Guide for Authors
Please follow these instructions carefully to ensure that the review and publication of your paper is as swift and efficient as possible.
These notes may be copied freely.
The International Journal of Biological Macromolecules is an established
international journal of research into the structure of natural macromolecules. It presents the latest findings of studies on the molecular
structure of proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. The scope includes biological interactions, molecular associations, and functional
properties as well as related model systems, conformational studies, new techniques, and theoretical developments.
Types of papers
Contributions falling into the following categories will be considered for publication: Original high-quality research papers (preferably
no more than 20 double-line-spaced manuscript pages, including tables and illustrations). Short communications, for rapid publication
(no more than 10 double-line-spaced manuscript pages including tables and figures). International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
also publishes book reviews, conference reports and a calendar of forthcoming events.
Authorship
Each author should have
participated sufficiently in the work to justify authorship. This participation must include: (a) critically important intellectual contribution
to the conception, design, and/or analysis and interpretation; (b) drafting the manuscript or critically reading it; and (c) thorough
reading and final approval of the version to be published. Participation solely in the collection of data or provision of funds, space
or equipment does not justify authorship. All authors take public responsibility for the paper as a whole, i.e., conception and design,
data, analysis, and interpretation.
The acknowledgement section should list (a) other contributors for whom authorship is not justified,
e.g. technical help; (b) financial and material support.
Previously published material
Results submitted for publication
must not repeat findings that have already been, or are intended to be, published by the authors elsewhere. They should refer to their
previous findings in the same way as they would refer to results from a different group. This applies not only to figures or tables,
or parts of them, but has to be understood in a wider sense.
Ethics
The research described in papers submitted to International
Journal of Biological Macromolecules that involve the use of human beings, including healthy volunteers, must adhere to the principles
of the Declaration of Helsinki as well as to Title 45, U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Part 46, Protection of Human Subjects, Revised
November 13, 2001, effective December 13, 2001. Research involving animals must adhere to the American Physiological Society's Guiding
Principles in the Care and Use of Animals. All investigations involving humans or animals that are reported in the journal must be conducted
in conformity with these principles, and that a statement of protocol approval from an IRB or IACUC or equivalent is included in the
methods section of the paper. Manuscripts reporting the results of experiments on human subjects, including healthy volunteers, must
include a statement that informed consent was obtained.
Online submission of papers
Authors are requested to submit their
manuscripts electronically, by using the EESubmit submission tool at http://ees.elsevier.com/ijbiomac/. After registration,
authors will be asked to upload their article and associated artwork. The submission tool will generate a PDF file to be used for the
reviewing process. The submission tool generates an automatic reply which incorporates the manuscript number for future correspondence.
Submission items (details are provided online in EES)
The following files must be uploaded when submitting a manuscript
(* indicates mandatory files):
1. * Cover letter
2. * Manuscript
3. * Referee suggestions (for new submissions only)
4. * Rebuttal notes
(for revised manuscripts only)
5. Figures
6. Permission note(s)
Cover Letter
Manuscripts submitted must be accompanied
by a cover letter. It must state (a) that the work is original in that it has not been published before or submitted for publication
elsewhere, and will not be submitted elsewhere before a decision has been taken as to its acceptability by International Journal
of Biological Macromolecules; (b) that each author meets the criteria for authorship above and assumes the corresponding responsibility.
Referee suggestions
Authors are requested to submit at least four names (with full addresses, including phone, fax and
e-mail) of appropriate reviewers for their manuscripts. The editors will consider these nominations even though they are not constrained
to follow them.
Review process
All contributions are read by two or more referees to ensure both accuracy and relevance,
and revisions to the script may thus be required. On acceptance, contributions are subject to editorial amendment to suit house style.
When a manuscript is returned for revision prior to final acceptance, the revised version must be submitted as soon as possible after
the author's receipt of the referee's reports. Revised manuscripts returned after four months will be considered as new submissions subject
to full re-review.
Copyright The submission of a paper will imply that, if accepted for publication, it will not be published
elsewhere in the same form, in any language, without the consent of the publisher. Before publication, authors are requested to assign
Copyright to Elsevier B.V. to sanction reprints and photocopies, and to authorize the reprinting of complete issues or volumes according
to demand. It is the author's responsibility to obtain written permission to quote material that has appeared in another publication.
Preparation of scripts You should write in clear and concise English. Spelling should follow the Oxford English Dictionary. Authors
are responsible for ensuring that all manuscripts (whether original or revised) are accurately typed before final submission. Manuscripts
will be returned to the authors with a set of instructions if they are not presented to these Instructions to Authors.
Language
Editing
International Science Editing and Asia Science Editing can provide English language and copyediting services to authors
who want to publish in scientific, technical, and medical journals and need assistance before they submit their article or before
it is accepted for publication. Authors can contact these services directly: International Science Editing (http://www.internationalscienceediting.com) and Asia Science Editing (http://www.asiascienceediting.com) or, for more information about language editing services,
please contact authorsupport@elsevier.com who will be happy to deal with any questions.
Please note that Elsevier neither endorses
nor takes responsibility for any products, good or services offered by outside vendors through our services or in any advertising. For
more information please refer to our terms and conditions (http://www.elsevier.com/termsandconditions
Arrangement
of papers You should arrange your contribution in the following order:
1. The paper title should be short, specific and informative.
All author's names and affiliations should be clearly indicated. Please also indicate which author will deal with correspondence and
supply full postal address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address.
2. Self contained abstract of approximately 100 words,
outlining in a single paragraph the aims, scope and conclusions of the paper.
3. Three keywords, for indexing purposes;
4. The text suitably divided under headings.
5. Acknowledgments (if any).
6. References (double spaced,
and following the journal style).
7. Appendices (if any).
8. Tables (each on a separate sheet).
9. Captions
to illustrations (grouped on a separate sheet or
sheets).
10. Illustrations, each on a separate sheet containing no text,
and clearly labelled with the journal title, author's name and illustration number.
Style of text
Subdivide your paper
in the simplest way possible, consistent with clarity. The text should usually follow the standard sequence of Introduction, Method,
Results and Discussion. Headings and subheadings for different sections of the paper should be clearly indicated. Main section headings,
with the exception of Abstract, Acknowledgments and References should be numbered. Ensure that all figures and tables are mentioned in
the text, and that all references are cited in number order. Note that trade names should have an initial capital letter.
Units
and abbreviations All measurements and data should be given in SI units, or if SI units do not exist, in an internationally accepted
unit. If you use any symbol or unit that may not be generally recognized, please include an explanatory footnote the first time it is
used, to help the referees, editors and readers. Abbreviations and acronyms should only be used for unwieldy terms and names which occur
frequently in the manuscript. Abbreviations should be used consistently throughout the text, and must be clearly defined in full on
first use.
Illustrations, Tables and Equations:
Figures (to be uploaded as separate file(s), see below) and tables
should be numbered in Arabic numerals. In the text they should be referred to as Fig. 1, Table 2, e.g. 3 etc. (not as fig. 1, figure
1; tab. 2, table 2). The lettering of the figures must be large enough to be legible after reduction to the final size; the maximal print
width is 7.5 cm for narrow figures (one column width) and 16 cm for wide figures (two columns). A calibration bar should be given on
all micrographs. Each table should be typed on a separate sheet and numbered correctly. Each illustration and table should have a caption
and these should be typed on a separate sheet of the manuscript. The approximate position of figures and tables should be indicated in
the margin of the text.
Figure files:
Figures should be uploaded as separate file(s). please make sure that artwork files
are in an acceptable format (TIFF, EPS or Microsoft Office files) and with the correct resolution. Please note that normally the resolution
needs to be correct before conversion to an acceptable format.
Reproduction of Colour Illustrations:
For colour reproduction
in print, you will receive information regarding the costs from Elsevier after receipt of your accepted article. For submitting colour
illustrations online, authors are recommended to go to the web page describing the preparation of electronic artwork (http://www.elsevier.com/artworkinstructions) for detailed information.
If, together with your accepted article, you submit usable colour figures then Elsevier will
ensure, at no additional charge, that these figures will appear in colour on the web (e.g., ScienceDirect and other sites) regardless
of whether these illustrations are reproduced in colour in the printed version.
Please note: Because of technical complications
which can arise by converting colour figures to 'grey scale' (for the printed version should you opt to not pay for colour in print)
please submit, in addition, usable black and white prints corresponding to all colour illustrations. As only one figure caption may be
used for both colour and black and white versions of figures, please ensure that the figure captions are meaningful for both versions,
if applicable.
Tables:
Tables should be typed on separate pages, numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals in accordance
with their appearance in the text, and collected at the end of the manuscript. All tables must have descriptive headings and should be
understandable without reference to the text. Place footnotes to tables below the table body and indicate them with superscript lowercase
letters. Avoid vertical rules. Be sparing in the use of tables and ensure that the data presented in tables do not duplicate results
described elsewhere in the article.
References In the text, indicate references to the literature by superior Arabic numerals
enclosed between square brackets, running consecutively through the paper. If you cite a reference more than once in the text, use the
same number each time. References should follow the style in the journal. Please ensure that references are complete, i.e. that they
include, where relevant, author's name, journal or book title, year of publication, volume number, page number, editors, publishers and
place of publication. If in doubt, please include all available information. Take care that references are mentioned in the text in the
correct number order.
Articles in Special Issues: Please ensure that the words this issue are added (in the list
and text) to any references to other articles in this Special Issue.
Supplementary data
Elsevier now accepts electronic
supplementary material to support and enhance your scientific research. Supplementary files offer the author additional possibilities
to publish supporting applications, movies, animation sequences, high-resolution images, background datasets, sound clips and more. Supplementary
files supplied will be published online alongside the electronic version of your article in Elsevier web products, including ScienceDirect.
Authors should submit the material in electronic format together with the article and supply a concise and descriptive caption for each
file. For more detailed instructions please visit http://www.elsevier.com/locate/guidepublication.
Proofs
One set of page proofs in PDF format will be sent by e-mail to the corresponding author, (or the first-named author if no corresponding
author is identified on multi-authored papers) to be checked for typesetting/editing. No changes in, or additions to, the accepted (and
subsequently edited) manuscript will be allowed at this stage. Proofs should be returned within 48 hours of receipt, preferably by e-mail.
Corrections should be restricted to typesetting errors; any other amendments made may be charged to the author. Any queries should be
answered in full. Elsevier will do everything possible to get your article corrected and published as quickly and accurately as possible.
Therefore, it is important to ensure that all of your corrections are returned to us in one all-inclusive e-mail or fax. Subsequent additional
corrections will not be possible, so please ensure that your first communication is complete.
Offprints
The corresponding
author will receive 25 offprints of the paper free of charge. Additional offprints may be purchased using the order form accompanying
the proofs
Page Charges
There are no page charges.
Author Enquiries
For enquiries relating to the submission
of articles (including electronic submission where available) please visit http://www.elsevier.com/locate/guidepublication.
The Author Gateway also provides the facility to track accepted articles and set up e-mail alerts to inform you of when an article's
status has changed, as well as detailed artwork guidelines, copyright information, frequently asked questions and more. Contact details
for questions arising after acceptance of an article, especially those relating to proofs, are provided after registration of an article
for publication.
