Instructions for Authors

Sohag Journal of Sciences is dedicated to rapid publication of the highest quality regular papers, review papers and expository papers.

 

Submission of Manuscripts 

The manuscripts submitted to the Sohag Journal of Sciences are thoroughly evaluated by our international team of associate editors and reviewers, focusing on the quality and accuracy of the science presented.  Authors must submit original work that is not under review elsewhere and must adhere to ethical standards, obtaining necessary approvals from relevant institutional authorities. The SU holds no legal responsibility for disputes or claims related to plagiarism, copyright infringement, data fabrication, ethical violations, defamation, or conflicts of interest.

 

Before submitting your manuscript, please ensure the following:

• Novelty and Advancement: Does the work provide a significant advance over the existing literature? If possible, include a cover letter with your submission highlighting how your work contributes to the field. The cover letter should contain Authors affiliation, E-mail address, and phone number as well as indicate the intended publication format (Short paper, Regular paper or Expository paper).  
• Evidence and Support: Have you provided sufficient data and evidence to support your conclusions?
• Contextual Discussion: Are the results thoroughly discussed within the context of existing literature?
• References: Are your references relevant, comprehensive, and reflective of current literature?

 

Permission Guidelines

The journal assumes that all necessary institutional approvals, permissions, and disclosures have been obtained by the authors before submission. Authors who intend to include previously published figures, tables, or text must obtain permission from the copyright holder(s) for both print and online formats. Proof of permission must be submitted along with the manuscript. Without such evidence, the material will be considered original.

 

Online Submission

The submitted manuscripts must be written in LaTeX format or MS-Word, (All Latex Formats are accepted).  Authors are responsible for converting their manuscripts to LaTeX format, if not initially in LaTeX format. Figures should be in EPS (PostScript Format).

New user to SJS has to register first, in order to submit manuscript via "Submit manuscript TAB" and upload all of your manuscript files following the instructions. New submissions should follow the SJS templates, with a maximum number of 10 pages. Online templates can be down loaded from here Ms-Word Template or LaTeX template. The submitted manuscripts may not be considered unless meet the publisher formatting standard. 

 

Source Files

Authors are required to submit all relevant editable source files (e.g., manuscripts in Word or LaTeX format, figures in high-resolution formats, tables, and supplementary materials) with every submission and revision. Ensuring the availability of these files facilitates the review and production process. Failure to provide a complete set of editable source files may result in delays or the manuscript not being considered for review.

 

Title

The title of the manuscript should be clear, concise, and informative, accurately reflecting the study's content while avoiding unnecessary words. The title should be written in Time New Roman with 10-point Font Size.

Author information

• Author Name(s): Full names of all contributing authors.
• Author Affiliation(s): Institutional details, including department (if applicable), city, state (if relevant), and country.
• Corresponding Author: Clearly indicate the corresponding author and provide an active email address for communication.
• ORCID iD: If available, include the 16-digit ORCID identifier for each author to ensure proper academic attribution.
• Affiliation Address: If an address is provided with the institutional affiliation, it will be published alongside the author details.

Large Language Models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, do not meet authorship criteria as they cannot be held accountable for the work. Their use should be documented in the Methods section or an appropriate alternative part of the manuscript. However, "AI-assisted copy editing," which involves improving readability, style, grammar, and formatting of human-generated text, does not require disclosure. Generative content creation or autonomous editorial work by AI is not permitted. Authors remain fully accountable for the final text and must ensure edits align with their original work.

Abstract

Please submit an abstract of no more than 200 words, providing a clear and concise summary of the study. The abstract should be self-contained and should not include undefined abbreviations or unspecified references to ensure clarity and readability for a broad audience. The abstract should be written in Time New Roman with 10-point Font Size.

Keywords

Please provide 4 to 6 relevant keywords that accurately represent the main topics of your manuscript. These keywords will be used for indexing and search optimization, helping to enhance the visibility and discoverability of your work.

Manuscript Text

• Manuscripts should be submitted in Microsoft Word format.
• Use a standard, plain font (e.g., 10-point Times New Roman) for the main text.
• Italics should be used for emphasis where necessary.
• Enable the automatic page numbering function to number all pages.
• Avoid using field functions in the document.
• Use tab stops or formatting commands for indentation—do not use the space bar.
• Create tables using the table function in Word rather than inserting spreadsheets.
• For equations, use the Equation Editor or MathType for proper formatting.
• Save the manuscript in .docx (Word 2007 or later) or .doc (older Word versions) format.
• Manuscripts containing mathematical content may also be submitted in LaTeX.

Headings

Use a decimal numbering system for headings (e.g., 1, 1.1, 1.1.1). Limit the structure to a maximum of three levels for clarity and readability.

Abbreviations

Define all abbreviations upon first use in the text. Maintain consistency in abbreviation usage throughout the manuscript.

Footnotes

Footnotes may be used to provide additional information, including reference citations. Number footnotes in the main text sequentially. Use superscript lowercase letters for footnotes in tables (e.g., a, b, c). Apply asterisks for statistical data or significance values. Always use footnotes instead of endnotes for additional clarity.

Conclusion

The conclusion should clearly summarize the main findings of the study and highlight their importance and relevance to the field. It should provide a concise interpretation of the results, emphasizing their scientific contribution and potential implications for future research or practical applications.

Authorship contribution statement

Authors must provide a detailed Authorship Contribution Statement, outlining their specific roles in the research and manuscript preparation. Contributions should be categorized based on the CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) guidelines, including but not limited to:

• Conceptualization: Idea generation, study design, and research framework.
• Methodology: Development or application of methods, models, or protocols.
• Data Collection & Analysis: Acquisition, processing, and interpretation of data.
• Writing – Original Draft: Preparation of the initial manuscript.
• Writing – Review & Editing: Critical revisions, proofreading, and final approval.
• Supervision & Project Administration: Oversight of the research process and coordination.
• Funding Acquisition: Securing financial support for the project.

Each author should be listed alongside their respective contributions. All listed authors must have substantially contributed to the work and agree to its final version before submission. Guest or honorary authorship is not permitted.

Data Availability Statement

Authors must provide a Data Availability Statement specifying the accessibility of the data used in the study. This statement should indicate whether the data:

• Is publicly available and provide the repository name, DOI, or direct link.
• Is available upon reasonable request and provide contact details for access.
• Is subject to restrictions due to ethical, legal, or privacy concerns.
• Is not available due to specific limitations (e.g., proprietary restrictions).

For studies involving datasets from third parties, authors should clarify how the data can be accessed and whether permission is required. If the study does not involve any data, a statement confirming this should be included.

Acknowledgments

Include acknowledgments for contributors, funding sources, and grants in a dedicated section in the Ms. word Template.

 

References

Citation: Cite references in the text by number in square brackets

Reference list: The reference list should include only sources that are cited in the text and have been published or formally accepted for publication. Unpublished works, personal communications, or manuscripts under review should not be included in the reference list but may be cited within the text if necessary.

 

Journal articles

[1] S. Zhang, X. Chai, G. Hou, F. Zhao, and Q. Meng, Phytomedicine, 106 (2022) 154422.

[2] C. Ajish, S. Yang, S.D. Kumar, C.W. Lee, D.-M. Kim, S.-J. Cho, and S.Y. Shin, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 666 (2023) 21-28.

[3] B. Shivaraj, M.C. Prabhakara, H.S. Bhojya Naik, E. Indrajith Naik, R. Viswanath, and M. Shashank, Chemical Physics Letters, 818 (2023) 140421.

Books

Brown, M. Aaron, The politics of nature. In: Smith J (ed) The rise of modern genomics, 3rd Ed. Wiley, New York, (2001), pp 230-257

 

Competing Interests Statement

Authors must disclose any competing interests that could influence the interpretation of their research. Competing interests include, but are not limited to:

• Financial interests: Funding, grants, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, or patents related to the study.
• Non-financial interests: Personal or professional relationships, affiliations, or any other potential conflicts that may impact objectivity.

If no competing interests exist, authors should include the following statement:
"The authors declare that they have no competing interests."

Full transparency is essential to maintain the integrity and credibility of the research.

 

Table Formatting Guidelines

• Numbering: All tables should be numbered sequentially using Arabic numerals (e.g., Table 1, Table 2).
• Citation: Tables must be cited in the text in numerical order.
• Title & Caption: Each table should have a descriptive title (caption) that clearly explains its contents.
• Source Attribution: If a table includes previously published material, cite the original source as a reference.
• Footnotes: Footnotes should be placed below the table body for clarity. Use superscript lowercase letters (e.g., a, b, c) for general footnotes and asterisks (*) for statistical significance or specific numerical data.

 

Electronic Figure Formatting Guidelines

• Color art is free of charge for print and online publication.

• File Submission: All figures must be submitted electronically within the body of the text in the M.S word Template.
• Software Specification: Indicate the graphics program used to create the artwork.
• Preferred Formats:
• Vector graphics: Use EPS format.
• Halftone images: Use TIFF format.
• MS Office files (e.g., Word, PowerPoint, Excel) are also acceptable.
• Font Embedding: Ensure that any vector graphics containing text have fonts embedded in the file to maintain consistency.
• Numbering: All Figures should be numbered sequentially using Arabic numerals (e.g., Fig.1, Fig. 2).
• Citation: Figures must be cited in the text in numerical order.
• Title & Caption: Each Figure should have a descriptive title (caption) that clearly explains its contents.

 

Supplementary Information (SI) Guidelines

SJS accepts the submission of electronic multimedia files (e.g., animations, movies, audio) and other supplementary materials to be published online alongside the articles. These materials can enhance the content by providing additional information that is not suitable for print or is more easily presented in digital form.

 

After Acceptance

Once your article is accepted, it will be moved to the Production stage for typesetting. Shortly thereafter, the corresponding author will receive an email including article’s proofs for final review and approval before publication. Proofs must be corrected and returned to the publishers within 48 hours of receipt. Authors' corrections must be restricted to printers and/or factual errors.

Please ensure that all information is accurate and that proofs are reviewed promptly to avoid delays in the publication process.

 

Online First

Once the corrected proofs are received, your article will be published online first. This marks the official first publication, and the article will be citable using its DOI (Digital Object Identifier). Following the release of the printed version, the article can also be cited by issue and page numbers. This allows for immediate access and citation of your work while awaiting the final print

 

Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections

Sohag Journal of Sciences recognizes the importance of maintaining the integrity of the scientific record and offers several mechanisms for post-publication engagement, corrections, and updates. By implementing these policies, SJS aims to foster a transparent, ethical, and engaging post-publication environment in line with COPE guidelines that upholds the quality and credibility of its scholarly contributions.

1- Post-Publication Discussions

• Commenting Platform: The journal encourages academic dialogue and post-publication peer review through a designated commenting system or platform. Readers can provide feedback, discuss findings, or raise concerns about published articles.
• Letters to the Editor: Readers and researchers are invited to submit letters addressing published articles. These letters undergo editorial review and may be published to stimulate scholarly debate.

2- Corrections and Retractions

• Errata (Corrections): Minor errors that do not affect the findings or conclusions of the article will be corrected through an erratum. The corrected version will include a notice highlighting the changes.
• Corrigenda (Author-Initiated Corrections): Authors who identify significant errors in their published work must notify the editorial team. Upon verification, a corrigendum will be issued.
• Retractions: Articles with significant ethical violations (e.g., plagiarism, data fabrication) or errors that invalidate findings will be retracted. Retraction notices will include reasons for the action and remain accessible alongside the original article.
• Expressions of Concern: When issues arise that require further investigation but do not yet warrant retraction, the journal may issue an expression of concern.

3- Updates and Follow-Up

• Addenda: Substantial additional information or follow-up findings related to a published article may be included as an addendum, provided they do not alter the original conclusions.
• Linked Corrections: Corrections, addenda, or retractions will be linked to the original article for transparency and ease of access.

4- Engagement with Authors and Readers

• The journal will notify the corresponding author about post-publication comments, corrections, or concerns.
• Authors may be invited to respond to comments or participate in discussions to clarify or elaborate on their findings.

 

Suggesting Reviewers

Authors have the option to suggest suitable reviewers when submitting their manuscripts. When suggesting potential reviewers, authors should ensure that the individuals are completely independent of the work, with no direct connection to the study or the authors. It is strongly recommended to suggest a diverse group of reviewers from different countries and institutions, which helps maintain a broad and balanced perspective during the review process. For each suggested reviewer, the Corresponding Author must provide an institutional email address to verify their identity. Please note that while the journal values and appreciates reviewer suggestions, there is no guarantee that the suggested reviewers will be selected, and the journal retains the discretion to choose reviewers independently.

 

Authorship Changes

Authors are strongly encouraged to confirm the correct author group, the Corresponding Author, and the order of authors at the time of manuscript submission. No changes to authorship (such as adding or deleting authors), changes in the Corresponding Author, or alterations to the order of authors will be accepted after the manuscript is accepted for publication.

Adding or deleting authors during the revision stage is generally not allowed, exceptions may apply in certain cases. If such changes are necessary, authors must provide a clear explanation for the modification. Approval of these changes during revision is at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief. Please note that journals may have individual policies regarding changes to authorship at the revision stage.

Please be aware that author names will be published exactly as they appear in the accepted submission. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that all authors' names are accurately spelled and that their affiliations and addresses are current.

 

Authorship Issues or Disputes

In the event of an authorship dispute during the peer review process, or after acceptance and publication, the journal is not responsible for investigating or resolving the issue. Authors will be expected to handle and settle any disputes among themselves.

If the dispute cannot be resolved, the journal reserves the right to withdraw the manuscript from the editorial process or, in the case of a published paper, to escalate the issue to the authors' institution(s). The journal will adhere to the institution's guidelines to address the matter appropriately.

 

Submit Manuscript

The Sohag Journal of Sciences (SJS) is an Open Access, multidisciplinary journal that publishes high-quality, original research quarterly. Publishing open access offers numerous advantages for researchers, institutions, and the global scientific community, ensuring that research reaches a wider audience, including researchers, policymakers, and the general public.

 

Fees and funding

Sohag Journal of Sciences (SJS) publishes free of charge articles since Sohag University (SU) covers the open access publishing costs.