Submissions

Author Guidelines

Manuscript preparation

 

Manuscript Template

The manuscript template is available here

 

General

• Save files in an editable format, using the extension .doc/.docx for Word files. A PDF is not an acceptable source file.
• Format Word files in a single-column layout.
• Remove any strikethrough and underlined text from your manuscript, unless it has scientific significance related to your article.
• Use spell-check and grammar-check functions to avoid errors.
• The official language of writing in AJBCS is English Language. Please write your text in good English (British).
• Authors who feel their English language manuscript may require editing to eliminate possible grammatical or spelling errors and to conform to correct scientific English may wish to use the Language Editor Service by contacting ajbcs@abuad.edu.ng
• Manuscripts must be articles that have neither been published or submitted for publication elsewhere.
• Where significant portions of a manuscript have appeared in thesis or dissertation, peer-reviewed workshop/conference proceedings, or preprint, at least 30% of the manuscript submitted must contain new contents over previous publication. The latter MUST be cited in the submitted manuscript.
• Author(s) is/are required to confirm during the submission process that (i) the manuscript has not been published elsewhere and that (ii) there is no conflict of interest of any sort on the manuscript and its content.
• All manuscripts must be typewritten with 1.5 line-spacing throughout. Pages should be numbered in succession with the Abstract page being no. 1.
• The manuscript must use a page size corresponding to A4 which is 210mm (8.27″) wide and 297mm (11.69″) long with the margins set as 1″ for top/bottom and 0.7″ for left/right.
• All paragraphs must be indented, and the entire document must be justified.
• All revised submissions should be submitted as one manuscript file with all the revisions/changes highlighted in yellow font to clearly show the revisions that have been made. If accepted, this is the version that will be the sent to print.
• When submitting your revised paper, you are required to include a separate document called "Response to Reviewers’ Comments" providing a point-by-point response to the comments of the editors and reviewers. Please keep in mind that it is important to make changes in the manuscript, and not simply to clarify for the reviewers.
• In your reply, you should indicate where exactly in the text (page, section/subsection, and line numbers) the changes were implemented and highlight in yellow font the corresponding changes in the text (do not use 'track changes'). When reasonable, cite those changes in the rebuttal letter itself.

 

Structure

Title Page

The Title page shall be prepared and submitted as a separate document from the manuscript. All author details shall be contained within the Title page only. The main manuscript document must not contain any author information.

You are required to include the following details in the title page information:

• The title should be concise and informative. It should be a direct statement from the key findings of the research rather than generic opening statements like “Effects of ABC on XYZ”
• The title must be centralized; in bold Times New Roman 14 font. Title case should be adopted with the exceptions of prepositions and conjunctions.
• Please avoid abbreviations in the title unless they are widely understood e.g. RNA
• Provide the full name(s) of each author in the FIRSTNAME_MIDDLENAME_LASTNAME order. The order of authors should match the order in the submission system.
• All author(s) name(s) should be written in Title case as well.
• Author details must be written right below the title and be centralized; in regular Times New Roman 12 font.
• Add affiliation addresses below the author names. Indicate affiliations using a superscript number immediately after each author's name. Affiliation addresses must be justified; in regular Times New Roman 12.
• Also indicate the Corresponding Author using asterisk (*). This author will handle correspondence for your article at all stages of the review, publication process and post-publication.
• Include the email addresses and 16-digit ORCID of all author(s). Email addresses are compulsory for all authors

 

Journal Paper Structure

Abstract

You are required to provide a concise, structured and factual abstract in a single paragraph which does not exceed 300 words. This is the first page of the main manuscript document.

The abstract should be structured; justified; in regular Times New Roman 12 font and in single line spacing. It should include sections such as:

• Background and Objective: give a brief introduction to your research and state the purpose of your research.
• Methods: state the main procedures and analytical methods used in the research.
• Results and Discussion: describe your major findings and statistical significance, if possible.
• Conclusion: state your principal conclusions while emphasizing new aspects of the study.

Keywords

You are required to provide no more than 6 keywords for indexing purposes. Keywords (no abbreviations) should be written in English. Please try to avoid keywords consisting of multiple words requiring a conjunction. Note that keywords MUST NOT be found in the Title of the Manuscript.

 

Body of Article

The entire main body of the manuscript should be in Times New Roman 12-point font in single line spacing.  Font sizes may vary for certain sections (Please download the Manuscript template for clarity).

1. Introduction

This should provide the scientific rationale for the research that is reported. No results should be reported but it should finish with a succinct description of the main finding and conclusion.

2. Materials and Methods

Procedures used in the research should be described in sufficient detail to permit the replication of the work by others. Previously published procedures should be referenced and briefly summarized. The source of all materials, including animals and human tissue, must be provided. The location of each supplier should be detailed on first use in the text. Investigative procedures must be clearly outlined. Statistical techniques must be clearly stated.

3. Results

This section presents findings without discussion of their significance. Subsections should be used in order to present results in an organized fashion.

4. Discussion

This section presents the authors' interpretations of their findings and an assessment of their significance in relation to previous work. Avoid repetition of material presented in the Results section. The Results and Discussion sections MUST NOT be combined.

5. Conclusion

Provide a concise summary of the main findings and their relevance. Avoid introducing new data or references. This section must not contain any citations/references.

 

Section Headings

No more than 3 levels of headings should be used.  All headings must be in 12 point Times New Roman font and formatted as follows:

First-level Heading:  All capital letters

Second-level Heading:  Initial capital letters

Third-level Heading: Only first letter capital

 

Figures and Tables

Figures and tables must be centred on the page. Graphics may be full colour, and include fill patterns.  Please use patterns and colours which contrast well both on screen and on a black-and-white hardcopy.

Figures must be numbered using Arabic numerals.  Figure captions must be in 11-point Regular Times New Roman font in sentence case.  Captions with figure numbers must be under their associated figures.

Tables must be numbered using Arabic numerals. Table captions must be centred and in 11 -point Regular Times New Roman font in sentence case. Captions with table numbers must be above their associated tables.

Human Subjects/ Ethical Approval

For studies involving human or animal subjects, institutional ethical approval and informed consent from human subjects must be obtained and copies included in the submission.

 

Acknowledgement

The heading of the Acknowledgment Section must not be numbered.

References and Referencing

The heading of the References Section must not be numbered.  All reference items must be in 12-point Times New Roman font.  APA referencing style should be used throughout.

 

Manuscript Submission

A manuscript can be submitted in Word format via the submission page (http://ajbcs.abuad.edu.ng/manuscript-submission/).

 

Manuscript Review

Manuscripts submitted to AJBCS for consideration for publication shall undergo double-blind peer-review.

 

Article Processing Charges (APC)

See Payment Instructions for more information

 

For further enquiries, kindly contact AJBCS via ajbcs@abuad.edu.ng