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Information for Authors

About the Journal

Al-Mustaqbal Journal of Pharmaceutical & Medical Sciences is an open-access international, peer-reviewed journal publishing high-quality, original research. Please see the journal's Aims & Scope for information about its focus and peer-review policy.
Open Access means you can publish your research so it is free to access online as soon as it is published, meaning anyone can read (and cite) your work. Please note that this journal only publishes manuscripts in English. Al-Mustaqbal Journal of Pharmaceutical & Medical Sciences accepts the following types of articles: original papers, reviews, and mini-reviews.

Language

All manuscripts must be written in English with clarity and conciseness. Authors who are not proficient in idiomatic English are encouraged to seek assistance with manuscript preparation before submission. Reviewers are not required to correct grammatical errors, and any shortcomings in this regard may impact the scientific content of the paper, potentially leading to delays in acceptance or rejection.

Types of Articles

The journal seeks to publish four types of contributions in the form of original articles, reviews, and mini-reviews.

  1. Original articles: Articles that represent in-depth research in various scientific disciplines.
  2. Review articles: Should normally comprise less than 10,000 words; contain an unstructured abstract and include up-to-date references. Meta-analyses are considered as reviews. Special attention will be paid to the teaching value of review papers.
  3. Mini-reviews: These are reviews of important and recent topics that are presented in a concise and well-focused manner. The number of words is limited to 5,000 words.

Before Submission

Ensure that your manuscript aligns with the following criteria:

  1. The manuscript is an original work and has not been previously published or is presently under review by another journal or conference proceedings.
  2. Your work adheres to all research ethics, with a dedicated "Ethics Approval" section included in the manuscript if it involves human or animal subjects.
  3. The English in the manuscript is of acceptable quality, free from grammatical and spelling errors.
  4. Figures are of satisfactory quality and uploaded as separate files.
  5. Format your references accurately, numbering them as they appear in the text. Please clearly indicate the chosen reference style.
  6. Only manuscripts meeting the journal's aims and scope and of sufficient quality will undergo review.
  7. Manuscripts must adhere to the journal guidelines outlined below. Submissions failing to comply with these guidelines will be rejected or returned to the author before the peer review process begins.

Preparation of Manuscripts

Authors are requested to submit their manuscripts to the editorial office in Word format (Word 2007 or higher) through the online Manuscript Tracking System.

  • Manuscripts containing mathematical content may alternatively be submitted in LaTeX.
  • The original manuscript should be formatted with double line spacing, utilizing Times New Roman fonts (10 pt), and fully justified on both the right and left sides.
  • The text should be in a single-column format with justified margins, incorporating boldface, italics, subscripts, and superscripts where appropriate.
  • To minimize errors, authors are strongly encouraged to employ the "spell-check" and "grammar-check" functions of their word-processing software.
  • Continuous line numbering should be applied throughout the text, and all manuscript pages must be numbered.
  • Equations should be created using the equation editor or Math Type, and tables should be generated using the table function.
  • Headings should follow the decimal system with no more than three levels, such as 1., 2., 2.1, 2.1.1, etc.

Online Submission

One of the manuscript authors is required to submit the manuscript through the online Manuscript Tracking System (MTS) following the on-screen instructions. Only Word (.doc, .docx, .rtf) files are acceptable for submission through the MTS, and there is no specified page limit. Submissions by individuals other than the authors will not be considered. The submitting author assumes responsibility for the manuscript throughout the submission and peer-review process. In the event of technical difficulties preventing MTS submission, the author can reach out for assistance to for support.

Initial Evaluation

The Editorial Office will assess all submitted manuscripts to ensure proper preparation and adherence to the journal's ethical policies. Utilizing iThenticate software, all submissions will be screened for potential plagiarism. Manuscripts that fail to align with the journal's ethical standards or do not meet its criteria will be rejected prior to peer review. Incomplete manuscripts not complying with the advised style will be returned to authors without scientific review.
Following these evaluations, the Editorial Office will collaborate with the journal's Editor-in-Chief to ascertain whether the manuscript aligns with the journal's scope and maintains scientific rigor. Manuscripts lacking sufficient priority for publication will be promptly rejected. Authors are encouraged to use good English (American usage is accepted), as the Editor reserves the right to reject a manuscript based on inadequate language quality. Decisions to reject at this stage will be confirmed by the Editor-in-Chief.

Submission Declaration and Verification

The submission of an article indicates that the described work has not been previously published (except as an abstract, published lecture, or academic thesis), is not currently under consideration for publication elsewhere, and has received approval for publication from all authors as well as the responsible authorities where the work was conducted. Furthermore, if accepted, the article will not be published elsewhere in the same form, either in English or any other language, including electronically, without the written consent of the copyright holder.
To ensure originality, all manuscripts submitted to the Al-Mustaqbal Journal of Pharmaceutical & Medical Sciences undergo screening using Crossref Similarity Check, powered by Turnitin, to identify any instances of plagiarism.

Article Structure

  1. Title page
  2. Abstract, Keywords
  3. Introduction
  4. Material and methods (Experimental or Methodology or Patients and methods)
  5. Results
  6. Discussion
  7. Conclusion
  8. Acknowledgment(s)
  9. Conflicts of Interest
  10. References
  11. Tables
  12. Figures

Title page

  1. Title: Make it concise and informative, avoiding abbreviations and formulas when possible, as titles are often used in information-retrieval systems.
  2. Author Names and Affiliations: Clearly indicate the given names and family names of each author, ensuring accurate spelling. Add your name in your own script within parentheses behind the English transliteration. Below the names, provide the authors' affiliation addresses (where the actual work was done). Use a lower-case superscript letter immediately after the author's name and in front of the appropriate address to indicate affiliations. Include the full postal address for each affiliation, including the country name, and if available, provide the email address of each author.
  3. Corresponding Author: Clearly specify who will handle correspondence throughout the refereeing and publication process, including post-publication. This responsibility encompasses responding to any future queries about Methodology and Materials. Ensure that the corresponding author's email address is provided, and keep contact details up to date.
  4. Present/Permanent Address: If an author has relocated since the work described in the article was conducted or was visiting at the time, a 'Present address' (or 'Permanent address') can be indicated as a footnote to that author's name. The address where the author actually conducted the work must be retained as the primary affiliation address. Superscript Arabic numerals are used for such footnotes.

Abstract

A brief and factual abstract is necessary. It should succinctly outline the review's purpose, main points of discussion, and key conclusions. Since an abstract is often viewed independently of the article, it should be self-contained. Consequently, the use of references is discouraged. Additionally, it is advisable to refrain from using non-standard or uncommon abbreviations. If such abbreviations are indispensable, they must be defined at their initial mention within the abstract. The abstract should be typed in Times New Roman, 9-point, non-italic and non-boldface.

Keywords

Following the abstract, include up to a maximum of 10 keywords, utilizing British spelling. Avoid general and plural terms as well as multiple concepts (e.g., refrain from using "and" or "of"). Exercise caution in employing abbreviations, considering only those that are well-established in the field. These selected keywords will serve for indexing purposes, and should be typed in Times New Roman, 10-point, non-italic and non-boldface.

Introduction

This section should be concise, without subheadings. The author(s) should aim to articulate the significance of the work and the rationale for its publication. Keep any background discussion brief and limited to relevant material.

Material and methods (Experimental or Methodology or Patients and methods)

This section should provide sufficient detail for the replication of all procedures, with the option of dividing it into subsections if multiple methods are outlined. Authors are encouraged to be concise in describing experiments while ensuring that the experimental section includes all information essential for reproducibility. Any previously published methods should be referenced, with only pertinent modifications detailed. Essential vendor details, such as the company, city, and country, must be provided for chemicals, reagents, strains, etc. For statistical analysis, specify the relevant test(s) along with a hypothesized p-value or significance level (e.g., 0.05).

Results

The results of the study should be presented in a clear and succinct manner. Limit the use of tables and figures to showcase data that is crucial for conveying the study's message and interpretation. Present the results in a logical sequence throughout the text, tables, and illustrations.

Discussion

This should explore the significance of the topic of the review.

Conclusion(s)

The primary conclusion(s) of the study should be encapsulated in a brief concluding statement, emphasizing the study's objectives and significance. Introduce new hypotheses if applicable, and include recommendations when appropriate.

Acknowledgment(s)

Compile acknowledgments in a distinct section located at the conclusion of the article, preceding the references. Avoid including acknowledgments on the title page, as a footnote to the title, or elsewhere. Enumerate individuals who contributed to the preparation of the review (e.g., offering financial support, aiding with language, providing writing assistance, or proofreading the article, etc.).

Conflicts of Interest

Authors are required to disclose any pertinent interests that might be perceived as conflicting, providing an explanation for each interest and why it may pose a conflict. In instances where no conflicts are present, authors should explicitly mention this. The submitting authors bear responsibility for ensuring that co-authors declare their interests.

References

  • Text: Indicate references by number(s) in square brackets in line with the text. The actual authors can be referred to, but the reference number(s) must always be given. Example: '..... as demonstrated [3,6]. Barnaby and Jones [8] obtained a different result ....'
  • List: Number the references (numbers in square brackets) in the list in the order in which they appear in the text. Examples:
    • Reference to a journal publication:
      [1] J. van der Geer, J.A.J. Hanraads, R.A. Lupton, The art of writing a scientific article, J. Sci. Commun. 163 (2010) 51–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.Sc.2010.00372.
    • Reference to a journal publication with an article number:
      [2] J. van der Geer, J.A.J. Hanraads, R.A. Lupton, 2018. The art of writing a scientific article. Heliyon. 19, e00205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e00205.
    • Reference to a book:
      [3] W. Strunk Jr., E.B. White, The Elements of Style, fourth ed., Longman, New York, 2000.
    • Reference to a chapter in an edited book:
      [4] G.R. Mettam, L.B. Adams, How to prepare an electronic version of your article, in: B.S. Jones, R.Z. Smith (Eds.), Introduction to the Electronic Age, E-Publishing Inc., New York, 2009, pp. 281–304.
    • Reference to a website:
      [5] Cancer Research UK, Cancer statistics reports for the UK. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/aboutcancer/statistics/cancerstatsreport/, 2003 (accessed 13 March 2003).

Figures

Figures and tables should not be submitted in separate files. If the article is accepted, authors will be asked to provide the source files of the figures. Each figure should be supplied in a separate electronic file. All figures should be cited in the manuscript in consecutive order. Figures should be supplied in either vector art formats (Illustrator, EPS, WMF, FreeHand, CorelDraw, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.) or bitmap formats (Photoshop, TIFF, GIF, JPEG, etc.).
Bitmap images should be of 300 dpi resolution at least unless the resolution is intentionally set to a lower level for scientific reasons. If a bitmap image has labels, the image and labels should be embedded in separate layers. Figures should be referred to as Fig. 1, Figs. 2, 3-5, using Arabic numerals. Ensure that all tables, figures, and schemes are cited in the text in numerical order. Figure parts should be denoted by lowercase letters (a,b,c,..etc).

Figure Captions

Ensure that each illustration has a caption. Supply captions separately, not attached to the figure. A caption should comprise a brief title (not on the figure itself) and a description of the illustration. Keep text in the illustrations themselves to a minimum but explain all symbols and abbreviations used.

Tables

Tables should be referenced sequentially in the text. Each table should be accompanied by a descriptive title, and if numerical measurements are provided, the units must be included in the column heading. Avoid the use of vertical rules. Captions for figures and tables should be in 9-point Times New Roman, boldface, and non-italicized. Capitalize only the first word of the caption. Table titles should be fully justified on both the right and left above the table.

Funding Statement

Authors should specify the funding source(s) that supported the research and publication of their article by explicitly naming the financial supporting body or bodies (spelled out in full). If applicable, include associated grant number(s) in square brackets, such as: "This work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [grant numbers xxxx, yyyy]; the National Science Foundation [grant number zzzz]; and a Leverhulme Trust Research Project Grant." In cases where the research was not funded explicitly but was conducted as part of the authors' employment, the employer should be mentioned. If the funder played a role in the manuscript's writing, editing, approval, or decision to publish, this information should be disclosed.

Nomenclature and Units

All measurements and data should be presented in SI units whenever feasible, or in other globally accepted units (provided in parentheses) throughout the text. Illustrations and tables should employ conventional units, and conversion factors should be included in legends or footnotes.

Proofs

A single set of page proofs (in PDF format) will be dispatched via email to the corresponding author. Please utilize this proof exclusively to review the typesetting, editing, completeness, and accuracy of the text, tables, and figures. We strive to facilitate the rapid and precise publication of your article, making it crucial to ensure that any corrections are consolidated and communicated in a single response within 48 hours. The responsibility for proofreading rests entirely with you. Please be aware that in the absence of a response, the publisher may proceed with the publication of the article.

Revised Manuscripts

Submit the revised manuscript online using a process similar to the initial submission. However, the "First Page" or "Covering Letter" file is not required for resubmission. When submitting a revised manuscript, contributors should incorporate referees' remarks and provide point-to-point clarification at the start of the revised file. Additionally, changes made in the article should be clearly marked as underlined or colored text.

After Acceptance

Upon acceptance, your article will be exported to production to undergo typesetting. Once the typesetting is complete, you will receive the proofs.

Peer Review

All submitted manuscripts undergo a thorough peer review process to ensure they meet the standards of academic excellence. If approved by the editor, submissions will be evaluated by peer reviewers in a double-blind process, where the identities of both authors and reviewers remain anonymous to each other. The decision on manuscript acceptance or rejection lies with the editorial board and is based on the recommendations of the peer reviewers. Additionally, our Research Integrity team may seek external advice, especially for submissions with significant ethical, security, biosecurity, or societal implications. This may involve consulting experts and the academic editor to determine appropriate actions, such as recruiting reviewers with specific expertise, additional editorial assessments, or deciding not to further consider a submission.

Ethical Guidelines

In any study involving human or animal subjects, it is imperative to adhere to the following ethical principles. For experiments conducted on humans, all procedures must align with the Declaration of Helsinki (1964). Manuscripts detailing experimental work posing a risk of harm to human subjects must explicitly state that the experiments were carried out with the subjects' comprehension and consent, along with confirmation that the Ethical Committee responsible has granted approval.
In the case of animal experiments, authors must furnish a comprehensive account of any anesthetic or surgical procedures employed, accompanied by evidence demonstrating meticulous measures were taken to minimize animal suffering at every phase of the experiment.

Complying with Ethics of Experimentation

Please ensure that all research reported in submitted papers has been conducted in an ethical and responsible manner, and is in full compliance with all relevant codes of experimentation and legislation. All original research papers involving humans, animals, plants, biological material, protected or non-public datasets, collections, or sites, must include a written statement under an Ethics Approval section including the following:

  • The name of the ethics committee(s) or institutional review board(s) involved.
  • The number or ID of the ethics approval(s).
  • A statement that human participants have provided informed consent before taking part in the research.
  • Research involving animals must adhere to ethical standards concerning animal welfare. All original research papers involving animals must:
    • Follow international, national, and institutional guidelines for the humane treatment of animals.
    • Receive approval by the ethics review committee at the institution or practice at which the research was conducted and provide details on the approval process, names of the ethics committee(s) or institutional review board(s) involved, and the number or ID of the ethics approval(s) in the Ethics Approval section.
    • Provide justification for the use of animals and the species selected.
    • Provide information about housing, feeding, and environmental enrichment, and steps taken to minimize suffering.
    • Provide mode of anesthesia and euthanasia.

Studies in humans and animals

If the work involves the use of human subjects, the author should ensure that the work described has been carried out in accordance with The Code of Ethics of the World Medical Association (Declaration of Helsinki) for experiments involving humans. The manuscript should be in line with the Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals and aim for the inclusion of representative human populations (sex, age, and ethnicity) as per those recommendations. The terms sex and gender should be used correctly.

Authors should include a statement in the manuscript that informed consent was obtained for experimentation with human subjects. The privacy rights of human subjects must always be observed.

All animal experiments should comply with the ARRIVE guidelines and should be carried out in accordance with the U.K. Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act, 1986 and associated guidelines, EU Directive 2010/63/EU for animal experiments, or the National Research Council's Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the authors should clearly indicate in the manuscript that such guidelines have been followed. The sex of animals must be indicated, and where appropriate, the influence (or association) of sex on the results of the study.

Supplementary materials

Authors have the option to publish supplementary files online alongside their articles or book chapters. Each supplementary file should encompass an article title, journal name, authors' names, affiliations, and the email address of the corresponding author. Supplementary files will be published in the form received from the authors, undergoing no conversion, editing, or reformatting.

Article Publishing Charge

There are no Article Processing Charges (APC) for publication of the journal on all submissions.