Preparation of Manuscripts

Manuscripts should be written in simple, concise and grammatical English (Either UK or US spellings but not a mixture), within the size limits specified for each type of article, prepared according to the guidelines below. The manuscripts should be written for a worldwide readership including many in non-English speaking countries. Authors whose first language is not English must have their manuscripts proofread by other colleagues.

• Prepare main text in a standard PC-compatible word processing program (e.g., Microsoft Word) using Times New Roman font size 12, double-spaced throughout and submit as .doc, .rtf or .pdf file.
• Provide unjustified text and inactivate auto-hyphenation.
• DO NOT embed figures, tables or any other non-textual features or footnotes in the main text body. Figures and table may be added at the end of the manuscript text.
• Greek and other special characters may be used but these should be inserted in the text (e.g., using the ‘Insert >> Symbol’ menu in Microsoft Word) and not by changing English characters into ‘Symbol’ font which may be lost during subsequent file processing. DO NOT USE 'SYMBOL' FONT.

Ideally, articles should be contained within the following limits:-

*Includes supplementary data

Articles should be organised into the following sections:-

Reviews and Mini-reviews

• Title Page
• Abstract and Keywords
• Introduction
• Main text, divided into subheadings
• Conclusions
• Acknowledgements
• Statement of Competing Interests
• List of Abbreviations
• References
• Figure Legends
• Tables

Research Articles (full and short)

• Title Page
• Abstract and Keywords
• Introduction
• Materials and Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusions
• Acknowledgements
• Statement of Competing Interests
• List of Abbreviations
• References
• Figure Legends
• Tables

New Methods/Technologies Articles should also be arranged as above. However, considerably greater detail of the experimental procedures should be provided than would normally be given for a research article.

Opinions, Letters, Meeting Reports and News should not be divided into subheadings. Full contact details of all authors, including mailing address, telephone number, fax and email should be provided.

Sections of Manuscript

Title Page: The title page should provide (i) manuscript title, (ii) full names of all authors, (iii) institutional addresses of all authors, (iv) name, address, telephone, fax and email of the corresponding author and (v) running title of no more than 50 characters, excluding spaces.

Abstract and Keywords: The abstract should be comprehensive but concise consisting of no more than 300 words and should be structured to give a brief introduction to the study, main findings of the study, conclusions drawn from the study and their significance. Do not include references, headings and non-standard abbreviation. Also provide 5-7 carefully chosen keywords.

Introduction: Here authors should make a case for the study, providing a brief literature survey (avoid citing literature older than five years) and background to the study, the hypothesis and the significance of the presented research.

Materials and Methods: Experimental procedures should be given in sufficient detail to allow these to be replicated by other researchers. The source of the various reagents and materials used in the study should be given, where possible.

Results: Results should be presented in a logical fashion avoiding repetition of the data and excluding material suitable for Discussion, unless the two sections have been combined. Data suitable for presentation in the form of a table or a figure should not be included in the main text.

Discussion: This section should present comprehensive analysis of the results in the light of any previous research. Discussion may also be combined with results.

Conclusions: Here provide main conclusions of the study, preferably in bulleted form.

Acknowledgements: The authors should first acknowledge the source of funding for the research presented in their article followed by any personal credits.

Statement of Competing Interests: Include an explicit disclosure of any competing interests (financial or others) that may have influenced the study or the conclusions drawn from the study. If none, state 'the authors have no competing interests'.

List of Abbreviations: Define all non-standard abbreviations in parenthesis on their first appearance in the text as well as provide a list. Standard abbreviations need not to be included in the list.

References: Authors must ensure that all references are cited accurately and those in the main text body are also included in the list of references and vice versa. Standard abbreviations should be used for journal names. References older than five years should only be cited if absolutely necessary.

Personal communications should be cited as sparingly as possible and where used should be accompanied by written authorisation from the provider of the information. Manuscripts in preparation or submitted for publication, but not yet accepted, should only be included in the main text as 'in preparation' or 'submitted'.

In the main text, cite references in chronological order. Separate two or more citations by a semicolon and append a lowercase letter to the year to distinguish between two or more citations from the same authorship, in the order in which they appear in the list of references. Cite the references using the following format:-

• Two authors: (Linxa and Brownee, 2000)
• More than two authors: (Linxa et al, 2000)
• Articles in press: (Linxa and Brownee, in press)
• Personal communication or unpublished data: (JK Linxa and EGN Brownee, personal communication or unpublished data)
• In preparation or submitted manuscript: (Linxa JK and Brownee EGN, in preparation or submitted)

In the list, the references should be given in an alphabetical order in the following format:

Journal Article

• Two authors: Linxa JK and Brownee EGN. 2000. Molecular basis of spindle formation. J Adv Mol Cell Sci, 5, 221-230.
• Three authors: Linxa JK, Smythen TCA and Brownee EGN. 2000. Molecular basis of spindle formation. J Adv Mol Cell Sci, 5, 221-230.
• More than six authors: Linxa JK, Smythen TCA, Brownee EGN et al. 2000. Molecular basis of spindle formation. J Adv Mol Cell Sci, 5, 221-230.

Book Chapter

• Linxa JK and Brownee EGN. 2000. Molecular Basis of spindle formation. In: Smythen TCA and Tubber BCN (Eds) Advances in Molecular Biology of Cell Division, Publisher, City, Country, Edition, pp 221-230.

Book

• Smythen TCA. Advances in Molecular Biology of Cell Division, Publisher, City, Country, Edition.

Articles in Press

• Linxa JK, Smythen TCA, Brownee EGN et al. 2000. Molecular basis of spindle formation. J Adv Mol Cell Sci, in press.

Figures Legends: Figure legends should be comprehensive but concise and should not duplicate information given in the main text, and should be included in the main text file after References.

Figures/Line Drawings: These must be prepared electronically (most preferably in Adobe Illustrator) in actual publication size and provided in .jpg, .eps, .tif, or .pdf format. Single column figures (ca. 8 cm wide) are most preferable unless such dimensions seriously impair quality and make data difficult to follow. At the initial manuscript submission stage, combine all figures into a single file (e.g., a Word, PowerPoint or a .pdf file). Figures will be published in the size provided by the authors unless otherwise agreed. For labelling figures use Verdana or Arial font size 8 or larger. Label parts of figures with capital letters (Verdana or Arial font size 10, bold). High quality figures may be required at the publication stage.

Colour figures are welcomed for online publication, however, the costs incurred to print hardcopy reprints of coloured pages will be borne by the authors, and unless critical for understanding of the data may not be reproduced as colour in hardcopies of the Journal (if any).

A charge will be made to authors if figures or line drawings are of insufficient quality and standard and have to be re-drawn by the Publisher. Authors are notified of this at the time of manuscript revision.

Tables: Large tables are discouraged unless they are vital for proper tabulation and understanding of data. However, tables must not be larger than a single page. Tables should complement, but not repeat, information given in the main text. Each table should be given on a separate page with a comprehensive but concise legend on the top. Give appropriate units for each column, where possible, and define any abbreviations in footnotes.

Sequence Information

Submit DNA/protein sequences to appropriate databases and provide electronic link to the specific databases and the accession numbers of the submitted sequences.

Copyright Permissions

Please ensure that you have obtained permission for reproduction of any previously published figures, tables, any other objects or textual materials included in your manuscript from the original copyright owner. Such responsibility lies entirely with the authors and the Publisher or the Journal will not be liable for infringement of anyone’s copyright or other rights by the authors.

Cover Page Art

Authors may submit with the manuscript an attractive and scientifically appealing figure for front page of the Journal. The figure may not necessarily be from their article, however, it should be related to the general theme of the Journal. Also, include a brief description of the figure in non-specialist language (no more than 100 words).