Submissions

Author Guidelines

Manuscript Categories and Requirements

All manuscript submissions must present original work and must not be simultaneously under review elsewhere. Submissions must provide sufficient methodological transparency and experimental detail to ensure reproducibility.

Accepted Article Types:

• Research Articles:

These manuscripts report original empirical findings. They must be based on rigorous experimental design and reproducible methods. Authors should include contemporary references and use the following structure:

Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusions (optional).

• Review Articles:

These synthesize existing literature to evaluate trends, identify knowledge gaps, and propose future research directions. Review Articles must not contain unpublished or original experimental data. The recommended structure includes:

Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Thematic Sections, Discussion, Conclusions, and Future Directions.

• Scoping Reviews:

These must follow the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) framework. Authors are strongly advised to preregister their protocol on recognized platforms such as the Open Science Framework or Inplasy. A completed PRISMA checklist must be submitted as supplementary material, and a flow diagram should be embedded within the main manuscript.

 

Submission Procedure

All manuscripts must be submitted electronically via the Scientia Naturalis Letters submission portal at Open Journal System.

• The corresponding author is responsible for managing the entire submission process. This includes ensuring the accuracy of author affiliations and confirming that:
• All listed authors meet SCIENTIFIA’s authorship criteria.
• Each co-author has approved the final submitted version.
• All author details, including institutional affiliation and email addresses, are correctly entered into the submission system.

After submission, authors may use the portal to track the progress of their manuscript through the peer review and editorial processes.

 

File Format and Technical Specifications

To facilitate efficient review and production, all manuscripts must conform to SCIENTIFIA’s formatting standards. The total size of the submission should not exceed 120 MB.

Accepted File Formats:

• Microsoft Word:

Submit as a single consolidated file. Figures and tables should be placed immediately after their first in-text citation, not at the end of the document.

• Supplementary Materials:

Supplementary files may be submitted in widely-used formats. Non-proprietary formats (e.g., CSV, TXT, PDF) are preferred to ensure long-term accessibility.

 

Important: The official templates provided are exclusively for submission to Scientia Naturalis Letters and must not be repurposed for preprint servers or other publication platforms.

 

 

Cover Letter Requirements

Each manuscript submission must include a cover letter that:

• Clearly articulates the relevance and novelty of the research, particularly in the context of Scientia Naturalis Letters’ thematic focus.
• Discloses any prior related submissions to SCIENTIFIA journals (if applicable), including manuscript identification numbers.
• Provides a list of suggested or excluded peer reviewers via the online system only (not within the cover letter itself).

The following declarations are mandatory in all cover letters:

“We confirm that the manuscript is original and not under review or previously published elsewhere.”

“All authors have approved the submission to Scientia Naturalis Letters.”

Failure to include these declarations may delay peer review initiation.

 

Author Identification and Affiliations

Each author must submit a short biographical summary (between 300 and 1500 characters), which should include:

1. Full name and current academic/professional position
2. Educational qualifications (institution, degree type, and graduation year)
3. Relevant professional experience and roles
4. Research areas and interests
5. Honors, awards, and society memberships

Author affiliations must reflect both the current institutional affiliation and the institution where the research was conducted, if different. Independent researchers (those unaffiliated with a university or research institute) must clearly indicate this status in the affiliation line.

All authors must be correctly listed in the submission system. Post-acceptance changes to author names, order, or institutional affiliations will not be permitted unless justified by an exceptional circumstance and approved by the editorial board.

 

 

Manuscript Structure and Formatting Requirements

Manuscripts submitted to Scientia Naturalis Letters must adhere to a clear, standardized structure to ensure editorial consistency, scientific rigor, and ease of interpretation by reviewers and readers. Below are detailed formatting requirements for both Research Articles and Review Articles, followed by general standards applicable to all submission types.

 

Research Article Structure

Research Articles should be organized into the following core sections. Each section must be clearly labeled and presented in the order listed:

Front Matter

• Title

The title should be concise, specific, and reflective of the study’s primary focus. Avoid vague descriptors such as “novel” or “first,” unless strongly justified. If the manuscript reports a systematic review, meta-analysis, clinical trial, or replication study, this must be stated explicitly in the title. Gene/protein names should follow standard nomenclature using accepted abbreviations.

 

• Author List and Affiliations

Include the full names of all authors. Each author’s institutional affiliation must include the full department/institute name, city, state/province (if applicable), and country. The corresponding author should be clearly indicated with an asterisk (*) and must provide a current institutional email address.

 

• Abstract

A single-paragraph abstract of approximately 200 words must be included. The abstract should objectively summarize the context, methods, principal results, and conclusions of the study. Avoid citations, abbreviations (unless essential), and speculative claims.

 

• Keywords

Provide 3 to 10 keywords immediately following the abstract. Keywords should be highly relevant, specific, and searchable. Avoid overly general terms or duplication of words used in the title.

Main Body

• Introduction

The introduction should briefly describe the research context, highlight relevant previous studies, and identify existing knowledge gaps. The rationale for the study should be clearly stated, followed by the research objectives or hypotheses.

• Results

Results should be reported clearly and concisely, supported by figures and tables where appropriate. Avoid duplicating data across formats (e.g., describing in text what is already shown in a figure). Statistical analyses must be detailed and include measures of significance and confidence intervals where relevant.

• Discussion

The discussion should interpret the results in relation to existing literature, emphasizing both the implications and limitations of the study. Unexpected findings and negative results should be addressed where appropriate. This section may be merged with the Results section if logically justified.

• Materials and Methods

This section must include sufficient methodological detail to enable independent replication of the study. Include names and versions of any software used, access links for datasets, and specifics of experimental procedures. Established methods may be cited, but any modifications or novel techniques must be described comprehensively. Use of generative AI or machine learning tools must be explicitly declared.

• Conclusions

When appropriate, provide a concise summary of the major findings and their broader implications. Avoid overstating the significance of the work.

• Patents (optional)

If applicable, list any patents arising from the work, including patent numbers and titles.

 

Review Article Structure

Review Articles must be clearly structured to guide the reader through the literature landscape and to synthesize findings meaningfully.

Required Components

• Front Matter (Title, Abstract, Keywords): As described above for Research Articles.
• Main Sections

The body of the review should be divided into logical thematic sections with clear subheadings. Authors are encouraged to critically appraise included literature rather than merely summarize it. Comparative tables, figures, and conceptual diagrams are strongly recommended to aid reader understanding.

• Discussion and Future Directions

This section should highlight unresolved questions in the field and propose specific areas for further investigation. A forward-looking synthesis distinguishes impactful reviews from descriptive summaries.

• Back Matter

Include: Acknowledgments, Author Contributions (using the CRediT taxonomy), Funding Statement, Conflicts of Interest, References, and any relevant Appendices.

 

Structural Requirements for Scoping Reviews

Scoping Reviews must adhere to the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Authors are required to:

• Register the review protocol in advance using platforms such as OSF or Inplasy.
• Submit a completed PRISMA-ScR checklist as supplementary material.
• Include the PRISMA flow diagram within the main manuscript to illustrate the literature screening process.
• Clearly define eligibility criteria, databases searched, and search strategies employed.

These requirements ensure methodological transparency and reproducibility of the review process.

 

Additional Formatting Considerations

• Headings

Use a clear and consistent heading hierarchy (e.g., 1., 1.1., 1.2., etc.). Avoid overly long or informal headings. Subsections should be logically organized to enhance readability.

• Footnotes

Use sparingly and only when essential. Avoid using footnotes for citations or critical data.

• Figures and Tables

Figures and tables must be embedded in the main text immediately after their first citation. Each must be numbered sequentially (e.g., Figure 1, Table 2) and include a descriptive title and legend. Abbreviations used in figures must be defined either in the legend or the caption.

• Supplementary Material

Supplementary materials (e.g., datasets, extended methods, raw data files) must be submitted as separate files and referenced appropriately in the manuscript.

 

 

Style, Scientific Visual Standards, and Units

To ensure clarity, consistency, and reproducibility, authors must adhere to Scientia Naturalis Letters’ style and formatting requirements. These standards apply to all manuscript types and supplementary materials.

Style and Language

• Language:

Manuscripts must be written in clear, concise, and grammatically correct English. Either American or British English is acceptable, but usage must be consistent throughout the manuscript.

• Spelling and Punctuation:

Follow standard English conventions. Avoid contractions and informal language. Hyphenation, capitalization, and punctuation should follow conventional academic rules.

• Tense Usage:
• Use the past tense to describe methods and results.
• Use the present tense when discussing established knowledge or interpreting findings in the discussion section.
• Voice:

Both active and passive voice are acceptable; however, the active voice is preferred for clarity when identifying the agent of action.

 

Abbreviations and Acronyms

• Define all abbreviations and acronyms upon first mention in each section of the manuscript (abstract, main text, figure captions, and tables).
• Use standard, widely recognized abbreviations. Avoid excessive or unnecessary abbreviation, especially for terms used fewer than three times.
• Maintain consistency in abbreviation usage across the entire manuscript and supplementary materials.

 

Units of Measurement

• Scientia Naturalis Letters requires the use of SI (International System of Units). All measurements must be reported in SI units or SI-derived units.
• If it is necessary to include non-SI units (e.g., historical units or those in common usage within a specific field), provide SI equivalents in parentheses upon first mention.
• Use a space between the numerical value and unit (e.g., “10 mL,” not “10mL”).
• Decimal points must be used (e.g., “3.5 mM”), not commas.

 

Equations and Mathematical Content

• Equations must be editable and not embedded as images. Use Microsoft Equation Editor, MathType, or LaTeX math formatting (in LaTeX submissions).
• Number equations sequentially throughout the manuscript if they are referenced in the text. Place the equation number flush to the right in parentheses:

E = mc^2 \quad (1)

• Clearly define all variables and constants upon first use. Avoid ambiguity in mathematical expressions.

 

Figures and Scientific Visuals

High-quality visuals are essential for the clear communication of scientific findings. Figures should be designed for reproducibility and visual clarity.

General Requirements:

• All figures must be numbered consecutively (Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.) and cited in the main text in numerical order.
• Each figure must include a concise, descriptive caption, placed directly beneath the figure.
• Figures must be embedded within the manuscript after their first mention, not at the end of the document.
• Use vector formats (EPS, SVG, PDF) for line art and high-resolution raster formats (TIFF, PNG, JPEG) for photographic images. Minimum resolution: 300 dpi.

Graphical Standards:

• Avoid excessive color or stylistic elements. Use color to convey meaning, not decoration.
• Ensure all symbols, axes, and labels are legible when the figure is resized to half-page width. Minimum font size: 8–9 pt.
• Use consistent units, labels, and formatting across all figures.
• When presenting multiple panels (e.g., A–D), include panel labels in the top-left corner of each subfigure.

Chemical Structures and Reaction Schemes

• Use professional chemical drawing software such as:
• ChemDraw®
• ACD/ChemSketch®
• ISIS/Draw®
• ChemWindow®
• Chemical structures must be clear, accurate, and formatted with standardized bond lengths and angles.
• Reaction schemes should be labeled with reagents, conditions, and yields where applicable.
• All chemical names and abbreviations must conform to IUPAC standards. Abbreviated reagents (e.g., DCM, EtOH) must be defined on first use.

 

Spectroscopic and Analytical Data

• For studies involving spectroscopic data (e.g., NMR, IR, MS), authors must provide clear spectra or summaries as figures or tables.
• Report chemical shifts in parts per million (ppm) relative to internal standards (e.g., TMS).
• Include coupling constants, multiplicity, and integration values for NMR peaks.
• Provide mass-to-charge ratios for MS results and specify the ionization method used.

 

Experimental Data Reporting

• New Compounds: Provide complete analytical data, including elemental analysis, spectral data, and purification method.
• Known Compounds: Cite appropriate literature and confirm identity via melting point, TLC, or other standard techniques.
• For studies involving large compound libraries, present compound properties in tabulated form for clarity and accessibility.

 

Supplementary Data and Figures

• Supplementary data files (e.g., additional figures, extended tables, raw datasets) must be uploaded as separate files and referenced appropriately in the main text.
• Accepted formats include: PDF, DOCX, XLSX, CSV, and common image formats.
• Clearly label supplementary files (e.g., Supplementary Figure S1, Supplementary Table S2) and maintain consistent formatting throughout.

 

Visual Accessibility and Design

• Figures and visuals must be designed to be accessible to readers with color vision deficiencies. Avoid using red-green color pairs.
• Use pattern fills, grayscale contrast, or annotations to ensure clarity when color is removed.
• Do not include decorative images, watermarks, or non-scientific visual elements.

 

Abstract, Keywords, and Back Matter Requirements

This section outlines the formatting and content expectations for the abstract, keywords, and back matter components required in all manuscript types, including research articles, reviews, and scoping reviews. These components support discoverability, transparency, and scholarly integrity.

Abstract Guidelines

The abstract is a critical element that provides a concise summary of the manuscript and is often the most widely read component. Authors must ensure clarity, completeness, and accuracy.

Requirements:

• The abstract must not exceed 200 words and should be presented as a single paragraph.
• It should provide a self-contained summary that reflects the content of the entire manuscript.
• Avoid references, undefined abbreviations, and speculative claims.
• Do not include results that are not supported or discussed in the main text.

Recommended Structure:

Although not labeled, the abstract should implicitly follow the four-part structure below:

1. Background: Briefly describe the scientific problem or context.
2. Methods: Outline the key methods, experimental systems, or analytical approaches.
3. Results: Summarize the primary findings or trends observed.
4. Conclusions: Indicate the main implications, interpretations, or future relevance of the study.

 

Keywords

Keywords support indexing, searchability, and classification. They must accurately represent the manuscript’s core content.

Guidelines:

• Provide 3 to 10 keywords immediately following the abstract.
• Keywords must be separated by commas.
• Use standard scientific terms that reflect the main topics, techniques, or systems studied.
• Avoid overly broad terms (e.g., “biology”) or duplication of words in the manuscript title unless essential.

Example: “plant secondary metabolites, metabolomics, LC-MS, phenolic compounds, drought stress, Arabidopsis thaliana”

 

Back Matter Components

The back matter includes mandatory declarations and supporting information that ensure compliance with publication ethics and editorial policy.

Author Contributions

All submissions must follow the CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy). Each author must be assigned one or more specific contributions. Please check the taxonomy here. Examples include:

• Conceptualization
• Methodology
• Formal analysis
• Investigation
• Data curation
• Writing—original draft
• Writing—review and editing
• Visualization
• Supervision
• Funding acquisition

 

Example Statement:

“Conceptualization, A.B. and C.D.; Methodology, A.B.; Formal analysis, A.B.; Writing—original draft, A.B.; Writing—review and editing, C.D.; Supervision, C.D.”

Authors contributing equally must be identified with a superscript symbol (†) and a statement:

“These authors contributed equally to this work.”

Funding Statement

Authors must declare all financial support received for conducting the research and publishing the manuscript.

Examples:

• “This research was funded by the National Science Foundation, Grant No. ABC123.”
• “The APC was funded by the Department of Chemistry, University X.”
• “This research received no external funding.”

Note: Ensure accuracy in funder names. Incorrect information may affect indexing and compliance with grant reporting.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) / Ethics Approval

This section is required for research involving human participants or animals. Indicate ethical oversight status with a brief formal statement.

Examples:

• Human studies:

“This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Institutional Review Board of [Institution Name] (Protocol Code: XXX, Approval Date: DD/MM/YYYY).”

 

• Animal studies:

“Animal procedures were approved by the Ethics Committee of [Institution Name] under protocol number [XXXX].”

 

• Approval waived:

“Ethical review and approval were waived due to [justification].”

 

• Not applicable:

“Not applicable.”

 

Data Availability Statement

Clearly state how and where data supporting the findings can be accessed.

Examples:

• “The datasets generated during this study are available in the [Repository Name] repository, [DOI/link].”
• “Data are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.”
• “No new data were created or analyzed in this study.”

Authors must comply with SCIENTIFIA’s open data policy where applicable.

Acknowledgments

This section recognizes contributions from individuals or organizations who do not meet authorship criteria but contributed to the work (e.g., technical assistance, editorial support, provision of resources).

Example:

“The authors thank Dr. Jane Doe for assistance with statistical modeling and the Department of Botany, University Y, for access to the greenhouse facilities.”

 

Conflicts of Interest

All authors are required to disclose any financial or non-financial interests that could influence the research.

Examples:

• “The authors declare no conflict of interest.”
• “Author A received consulting fees from Company B, which may benefit from the publication of this research.”

If applicable, include a sponsor disclosure:

“The sponsor had no role in the design, execution, interpretation, or writing of the study.”

Note: Manuscripts funded in whole or in part by the tobacco industry will not be considered for publication.

 

 

References and Citation Standards

Proper referencing is fundamental to scholarly communication. Scientia Naturalis Letters follows a standardized referencing style that supports indexing, data transparency, reproducibility, and academic integrity. Authors must ensure that all cited materials are properly formatted, verifiable, and relevant to the manuscript’s content.

 

General Citation Guidelines

• References must be cited numerically in the order of first appearance in the manuscript.
• Citation numbers should be placed in square brackets [ ] and appear before punctuation.

Examples:

• “This result supports previous studies [1].”
• “Similar outcomes were observed in related models [2–4].”
• “Multiple hypotheses were considered [3,5,6].”

 

• When page numbers are required in-text, use the following format:
• “[7] (p. 153)” or “[8] (pp. 101–106)”
• All references must be included in a numbered reference list at the end of the manuscript.
• References cited only in figure legends, table footnotes, or supplementary materials must also be included in the main reference list to maintain completeness.
• Non-verifiable citations (e.g., personal communications, unpublished observations) should be used sparingly and clearly identified as such.

 

Reference List Formatting

• The reference list must be arranged in the numerical order corresponding to their citation in the text.
• Include all authors for works with up to six authors. For works with more than six authors, list the first six followed by “et al.”
• Use journal name abbreviations consistent with the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS).
• Include the full article or chapter title for each reference.
• Use standard punctuation and spacing. Refer to the examples below.

 

 

 

Examples by Source Type

(A) Journal Articles

Format:

Author 1, A.B.; Author 2, C.D. Title of the article. Abbreviated Journal Name Year, Volume, page range.

 

Example:

Smith, J.L.; Kumar, A. Structural analysis of enzyme X under oxidative stress. J. Biol. Chem. 2022, 297, 113214–113222.

 

(B) Books

Format:

Author 1, A.; Author 2, B. Book Title, 3rd ed.; Publisher: Location, Country, Year; pp. xxx–yyy.

 

Example:

Jones, R.A.; Miller, S.M. Principles of Chemical Biology, 2nd ed.; Academic Press: Cambridge, MA, USA, 2019; pp. 154–196.

 

(C) Chapters in Edited Books

Format:

Author 1, A.; Author 2, B. Chapter title. In Book Title; Editor 1, A., Editor 2, B., Eds.; Publisher: Location, Country, Year; Volume, pp. xxx–yyy.

 

Example:

Chen, T.; Rogers, L. Enzyme mechanisms in extremophiles. In Advances in Protein Chemistry; Lee, P., Ed.; Springer: New York, USA, 2017; Vol. 89, pp. 99–126.

 

(D) Theses and Dissertations

Format:

Author, A.B. Title of Thesis. Degree Type, Degree-Granting University, City, Country, Year.

 

Example:

Patel, M.R. Genomic Signatures of Fungal Resistance. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, 2021.

 

(E) Conference Proceedings

Format:

Author 1, A.B.; Author 2, C.D. Title of Presentation. In Title of Proceedings, Conference Name, Location, Date; Editor(s); Publisher: City, Country, Year; Abstract Number or Pages.

 

Example:

Lopez, S.; Kim, J.H. Modeling groundwater contamination. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Hydrogeology, Vienna, Austria, June 2020; White, T., Ed.; Springer: Berlin, Germany, 2021; pp. 45–50.

 

(F) Unpublished Work

Submitted / In Press:

Author 1, A.B.; Author 2, C. Title. Journal Name Year, status (submitted; accepted; in press).

 

Example:

Nguyen, L.; Cho, H.J. Role of cytokines in liver fibrosis. J. Hepatol. 2024, in press.

 

Not Intended for Publication:

Author 1, A.B. (Affiliation, City, Country); Author 2, C.D. (Affiliation, City, Country). Nature of communication, Year. (e.g., personal communication; unpublished data).

 

(G) Websites and Online Resources

Live Website:

Title of Site. Available online: URL (accessed on Day Month Year).

 

Example:

World Health Organization. Available online: https://www.who.int (accessed on 15 September 2023).

 

Archived Website:

Title of Site. URL (archived on Day Month Year).

 

Example:

NASA Earth Data. https://earthdata.nasa.gov (archived on 10 January 2022).

 

Authors are encouraged to archive URLs using tools such as WebCite or Perma.cc to ensure long-term access.

 

(H) Software, Datasets, and Code Repositories

Cite software, datasets, and code with a DOI or permanent URL when possible.

 

Examples:

• R Core Team. R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing; R Foundation for Statistical Computing: Vienna, Austria, 2023.
• Smith, D. Dataset: Microbial diversity in Arctic soils. Zenodo. 2022. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1234567

 

Use of Reference Management Tools

Authors are strongly encouraged to use reference management software (e.g., EndNote, Zotero, Mendeley) to format references according to SCIENTIFIA’s style.

 

Supplementary Materials and References

• References that appear exclusively in supplementary files are allowed only if they are also cited in the main manuscript and included in the reference list.
• All references must be publicly accessible and verifiable. Avoid citing unpublished materials unless essential and clearly justified.

 

Preparation of Figures, Schemes, and Tables

Scientia Naturalis Letters accepts figures, schemes, tables, and multimedia content, which may be embedded within the manuscript or submitted as supplementary materials. For multimedia files (e.g., videos, animations, or interactive data), authors must contact the editorial office at support@scientifia.com for guidance prior to submission.

 

Image Resolution, Color, and File Format

• Figures must be submitted in high resolution, preferably ≥600 dpi, using TIFF, PNG, or JPEG formats.
• Full-color figures are encouraged. Images should be submitted using RGB color mode (8-bit per channel). No additional fees apply for color printing.
• Figures must be flattened and combined into a single image where applicable. Editable layers should be removed to prevent formatting errors.
• Tables must be created with the Microsoft Word Table tool, and should include descriptive headers. Font sizes below 8 pt should be avoided unless necessary for clarity.

 

Placement and Numbering

• Visual elements (figures, tables, and schemes) should be:
• Placed within the manuscript near their first mention in the text.
• Numbered sequentially by order of appearance (e.g., Figure 1, Table 1, Scheme 1).
• Each figure or table must include:
• A concise and descriptive title
• A clear legend or caption describing the content, experimental design, or key findings
• Definitions for any symbols or annotations (e.g., *, #)

Scientific Notation and Presentation Standards

• Figures must use English text and standard scientific notation, including:
• Minus signs (–) instead of em-dashes (—)
• Decimal points, not commas
• Comma separators for thousands (e.g., 10,000)
• Labels, symbols, and units must be legible and consistently formatted.
• Unnecessary visual clutter (e.g., underlines, stray marks, formatting characters) must be removed.

 

Copyright and Permissions

• Figures, tables, or content adapted from previously published works must be accompanied by written permission from the copyright holder.
• Proper attribution must be included in the figure or table caption (e.g., “Adapted from [Author], [Year], with permission from [Publisher]”).
• Refer to the Intellectual Property and Licensing Policy on [scientifia.com] for detailed requirements.

 

Original Image Requirements

To maintain transparency and research integrity, authors may be requested to provide original, unprocessed images for microscopy, gel electrophoresis, or blot-based experiments.

• Raw images should be submitted as a compressed ZIP archive in the Supplementary Materials section.
• Minimum resolution: ≥300 dpi or at least 1000 pixels (height or width).
• Acceptable formats: TIFF, PNG, EPS, or GIF.

 

Electrophoresis, Gels, and Microscopy

For gel, blot, and microscopy-based images, the following practices are required:

• Run all experimental samples and controls on the same blot or gel.
• Any cropping or reuse of lanes or controls must be clearly marked and described in the figure legend.
• For spliced images, a visible line must separate spliced sections, and the legend must explain the procedure.
• Molecular weight markers must be visible and labeled.
• Image processing should be:
• Minimal
• Applied uniformly
• Free of artificial enhancements (e.g., over-contrasting or flattening backgrounds)
• Include the following in the figure legend or Methods section:
• Instrument model (e.g., microscope, camera)
• Acquisition software and settings
• Magnification and scale bars

Quantitative comparisons across gels must be clearly justified in the legend, and all compared images must originate from the same experiment or be processed in parallel conditions.

 

Image Data Archiving and Metadata

Authors are encouraged to deposit original, unprocessed image data in public repositories where feasible. Metadata accompanying deposited images should include:

• Image acquisition parameters (e.g., pixel size, temperature, filter sets, bit depth)
• Processing software used (e.g., deconvolution, thresholding, rendering techniques)
• Experimental conditions

 

Supplementary Materials, Data Sharing, and Code Archiving

 

SCIENTIFIA Data Sharing Policy

As part of its commitment to Open Science and reproducibility, Scientia Naturalis Letters adheres to the FAIR data principles: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable.

Recommended deposits include:

• Experimental protocols and workflows
• Raw and processed datasets
• Analytical tools and software
• Supporting materials such as questionnaires, calibration files, or extended results

 

Data Deposit Guidelines

• Deposit data in a trusted public repository appropriate to the research domain. A list of recommended repositories is available under the Data Availability guidelines.
• If data cannot be made publicly available:
• Provide a justification in the Data Availability Statement
• Indicate that access is available upon request

Authors are encouraged to preserve their datasets for a minimum of five years after publication.

 

Ethical Considerations

• Data sharing must comply with ethical, legal, and institutional requirements.
• Do not upload identifiable human data without explicit, documented participant consent.
• For restricted or proprietary data, authors must describe limitations and grant access for peer review when feasible.

 

Data Availability Statement (DAS)

All manuscripts must include a Data Availability Statement. This section provides readers with clarity about where and how the data supporting the study can be accessed.

Examples of Standardized Statements:

Availability Status	Recommended Statement
Open Access	“The data presented in this study are openly available in [Repository] at [DOI/URL], under accession number [XXXX].”
Upon Request	“The data are available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author. Restrictions apply due to [reason].”
Third-Party	“These data were obtained from [source] and are available with permission from [third party] at [contact/URL].”
Embargo	“The data will be made available in [Repository] at [DOI/URL] following an embargo period to enable commercialization.”
Ongoing Study	“Data are not currently available due to ongoing analysis. Requests may be directed to [name/contact].”
Public Domain	“Data are available in [Repository] at [DOI], derived from public sources: [list sources].”
No Data Generated	“No new data were generated or analyzed in this study.”
Included in Manuscript	“All data supporting this study are included in the article and its supplementary files.”
Request from Authors	“The raw data supporting the conclusions are available upon request from the corresponding author.”

 

 

Data and Research Ethics Requirements

Long-Term Data Preservation

Authors must retain all primary data for at least five years post-publication. If repositories become inaccessible or datasets are withdrawn, authors are expected to re-upload files and notify the editorial office.

 

Suitable Repositories

Use certified, domain-specific repositories that support:

• Persistent identifiers (e.g., DOIs)
• Open licenses (e.g., CC-BY, CC0)
• Peer reviewer access (anonymous when applicable)

 

Data Citation Standards

All datasets cited in the manuscript must include:

• Dataset title
• Repository name
• DOI or accession number
• URL

Example: “The RNA-seq data supporting this study are available at GEO under accession number GSE123456.”

 

Software and Code Availability

Authors must deposit original code, scripts, or models in public repositories such as GitHub, Zenodo, or institutional archives.

Example: “Custom scripts are available at: https://github.com/user/projectname.”

 

Supplementary Files

Submit supplementary files in standard, non-proprietary formats (e.g., PDF, CSV, TXT, JPEG). All supplementary material must be referenced in the main text.

Avoid ambiguous phrases such as “data not shown.”

 

Sequence and Proteomics Data

Sequence and proteomics data must be submitted to:

• GenBank, EMBL, or DDBJ (nucleotide sequences)
• GEO or SRA (transcriptomic data)
• ArrayExpress (microarray data)
• UniProt (protein sequences)
• PDB (structure data)
• PRIDE, jPOST, or ProteomeXchange (proteomics datasets)

Research Involving Human Participants

Manuscripts must include an Institutional Review Board (IRB) statement with:

• Ethics committee name
• Approval number
• Approval date

Example: “This study was approved by the University X Ethics Committee (IRB2023-101, approved 12 March 2023).”

 

Informed Consent

For human studies, include a statement confirming:

• Informed consent was obtained
• Written or verbal consent (with justification)
• Publication permission for identifiable content (e.g., photos)

 

Vulnerable Populations and Organ Transplantation

Authors must confirm:

• Legal and ethical sourcing of tissues or organs
• No use of data derived from unethical practices (e.g., from executed prisoners)
• Justification for subgroup classifications (e.g., ethnicity, disability)

 

Clinical Trial Registration

Clinical trials must be prospectively registered in an accepted registry:

• ClinicalTrials.gov
• EU Clinical Trials Register
• WHO ICTRP

Include registry name, number, and registration date.

 

Example: “Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT12345678), 15 January 2023.”

 

CONSORT Compliance

Manuscripts reporting randomized controlled trials must adhere to CONSORT 2010 guidelines and include:

• A completed CONSORT checklist
• A participant flow diagram

Templates are available at: www.consort-statement.org

 

Extended Ethical and Publishing Policy Guidelines

Ethical Use of Animals in Research

All research involving animal subjects must demonstrate that the scientific benefit outweighs any potential harm to the animals involved. Authors are required to adhere to the internationally recognized “3Rs” principle:

• Replacement: Employ alternative, non-animal methods whenever feasible.
• Reduction: Use the minimum number of animals required to achieve scientifically valid results.
• Refinement: Optimize experimental procedures to minimize pain, distress, or discomfort.

Manuscripts must provide detailed information on housing, husbandry, and pain management protocols. Ethical practices should align with internationally accepted guidelines such as the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals Used in Scientific Procedures, the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, and the European Animal Research Association.

When required by national legislation, authors must obtain prior approval from an institutional or national animal ethics committee. The Institutional Review Board Statement must include the project identification number, the name of the approving committee, and the date of approval. For studies involving client-owned animals, written informed consent must be obtained from the owners, with appropriate disclosure of risks and publication intentions.

In cases where ethical approval is not legally mandated, authors must clearly state the reason, including a formal exemption if available. In the absence of a formal ethics board, the authors must provide an ethical justification consistent with utilitarian review frameworks.

Compliance with the ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments) guidelines is strongly encouraged, and submission of a completed ARRIVE checklist may be required during the review process.

 

Research Involving Cell Lines

Manuscripts involving the use of cell lines must disclose their origin, source, and authentication status. For established cell lines, appropriate citations or supplier references must be included. If newly established or donated cell lines—particularly of human origin—are used, authors must confirm that ethical approval and informed consent were obtained.

Example:

“The HCT116 cell line was obtained from ATCC. The MLH1+ line was provided by Dr. X (Company Y). All procedures involving cell lines were approved by the institutional ethics committee (Approval No. XX).”

 

Research Involving Plants

Plant-based research, including field sampling and laboratory analysis, must comply with institutional, national, and international laws. Authors must demonstrate compliance with the Convention on Biological Diversity and CITES regulations. For rare or non-model species, voucher specimens must be deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium or museum, with full documentation (e.g., GPS coordinates, collection date, specimen ID, plant part used).

Example:

“Torenia fournieri cultivars ‘Crown White’ and ‘Crown Violet’ were obtained from Dr. X, Institute Y. Arabidopsis thaliana mutant lines (SALKxxxx) were provided by Dr. Z, Institution A.”

 

Dual Use Research of Concern

Research that could be misused for biological, chemical, or military purposes—commonly referred to as “dual use research of concern (DURC)”—must be identified in both the manuscript and the cover letter. Such submissions will be assessed for societal benefit versus risk. Authors must comply with all applicable national and international regulations.

 

Sex and Gender in Research

Authors are encouraged to follow the SAGER (Sex and Gender Equity in Research) guidelines. Sex (biological characteristics) and gender (socially constructed roles) must be clearly distinguished in both study design and data analysis. Where relevant, data should be reported disaggregated by sex/gender. Any exclusion of such analysis must be justified in the Discussion section.

 

Geopolitical Neutrality

Authors must exercise care when referring to territories or institutions located in politically sensitive or disputed regions. Scientia Naturalis Letters adheres to a policy of geopolitical neutrality. Editorial decisions are based solely on academic merit and remain independent of territorial or jurisdictional claims.

 

Publication Ethics and Research Integrity

The journal upholds the principles established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). All manuscripts are subjected to editorial review and plagiarism screening via iThenticate. The journal enforces a zero-tolerance policy for:

• Plagiarism
• Data fabrication or falsification
• Undisclosed image manipulation
• Inappropriate authorship attribution
• Duplicate or simultaneous submission

Authors must retain original data and provide access upon request. Any post-publication errors must be promptly communicated to the editorial office.

Image manipulation is only permitted for uniform adjustments (e.g., brightness, contrast) and must not alter the scientific meaning. Unacceptable modifications include selective enhancement, element removal, or insertion unless clearly disclosed and justified.

 

Citation and Referencing Standards

Authors must accurately cite all referenced material. Direct quotations must be enclosed in quotation marks and properly attributed. Excessive self-citation or citation of unread or non-academic sources (e.g., promotional materials) is discouraged. All citations must serve a clear scholarly purpose and comply with the journal’s referencing style.

 

Accurate Identification of Natural Products

Manuscripts reporting the biological activity of natural extracts (e.g., marine, fungal, or plant-derived) must include detailed chemical characterization of active constituents. For novel compounds, spectra (^1H, ^13C NMR, and 2D) must be included as supplementary material. Known compounds must be characterized through comparison with authentic standards or literature-reported data.

 

Reviewer Suggestions

During submission, authors are encouraged to suggest up to three reviewers with demonstrated expertise in the manuscript’s field. Each suggestion must include the reviewer’s full name, institutional affiliation, contact email, and a professional website. Reviewers must not have recent collaborations or institutional affiliations with the authors within the last three years.

 

Language and Editorial Assistance

Manuscripts must be written in clear, grammatically correct English. Minor English editing is included in the article processing charge (APC). Submissions requiring extensive language revisions may be returned to the authors prior to peer review. Authors are encouraged to utilize professional editing services or seek assistance from fluent English speakers before submission.

 

Preprints and Conference Papers

The journal permits the submission of manuscripts that have been previously posted as preprints, provided they have not undergone peer review. Authors must disclose any preprint versions at the time of submission. Conference papers are acceptable only if significantly expanded and revised into full-length articles. All prior versions must be cited, and major differences explained in the cover letter.

 

Authorship Criteria

Scientia Naturalis Letters follows the authorship criteria established by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). All authors must meet the following four criteria:

1. Substantial contributions to the conception, design, data acquisition, or analysis.
2. Drafting the manuscript or critically revising it for important intellectual content.
3. Final approval of the version to be published.
4. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work, ensuring integrity and accuracy.

Requests to alter the authorship list post-submission must be justified and approved by all co-authors. Individuals who contributed but do not meet authorship criteria should be listed in the Acknowledgments section.

 

Editorial Independence

All editorial decisions are made independently and are based solely on academic merit. Editors and editorial staff are not permitted to manage their own submissions. Manuscripts authored by editors undergo blind external review and are handled by a designated independent editor to avoid conflicts of interest.

 

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

All authors must declare any actual or perceived conflicts of interest that could influence the interpretation of results. Conflicts may be financial (e.g., grants, stock ownership, consultancies) or non-financial (e.g., affiliations, personal relationships).

A dedicated Conflicts of Interest section must be included in the manuscript.

Examples:

• “Conflict of Interest: Author A received funding from Company B.”
• “Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.”

 

Editorial Procedures and Peer Review Process

Initial Editorial Assessment (Pre-Check)

Following manuscript submission, the Managing Editor and Assistant Editor performs a technical and administrative review to assess compliance with the journal’s formatting guidelines and ensure alignment with the journal’s aims and scope.

Subsequently, an academic editor—typically the Editor-in-Chief, a Guest Editor (for Special Issues), or an Editorial Board Member (in cases of conflict of interest)—conducts a scientific pre-check. This stage evaluates:

• Methodological rigor
• Relevance to the field
• Quality and originality of the work
• Ethical compliance (e.g., IRB approval, informed consent)
• Appropriateness and currency of references

Based on this assessment, the manuscript may be:

• Rejected outright (e.g., due to scope misalignment or critical deficiencies),
• Returned for preliminary revision (minor technical corrections prior to review), or
• Forwarded to external peer review, with suggested reviewers.

 

Peer Review Process

Manuscripts deemed eligible are sent for evaluation by at least two independent subject-matter experts. Scientia Naturalis Letters employs a double-blind review model, where reviewers are not aware of the authors’ identities, and vice versa. Reviewer identities and reports remain confidential unless authors and reviewers explicitly agree to disclosure.

Reviewer selection is based on expertise and impartiality. Editors ensure that suggested reviewers have no recent collaborations or institutional affiliations with the authors. While authors may recommend potential reviewers, those with conflicts of interest are excluded.

 

Editorial Decisions and Revision Stages

Following peer review, manuscripts receive one of the following editorial decisions:

Decision Category	Description
Accept with Minor Revisions	Minor editorial or technical changes required. Authors are given 5–7 days.
Major Revisions Required	Substantial modifications are needed. Authors must provide a detailed response.
Reject with Resubmission Option	Manuscript is declined but may be resubmitted following new data or experiments.
Reject	Manuscript is unsuitable for publication and will not be reconsidered.

All revisions must be accompanied by a point-by-point rebuttal addressing each reviewer comment. Authors are encouraged to respectfully clarify disagreements with supporting evidence.

 

5. Appeals

Authors may appeal rejection decisions within three months by submitting:

• A formal appeal letter,
• A complete, point-by-point response to all reviewer and editor comments,
• Any revised manuscript and supporting documents.

Appeals are evaluated by a senior Editorial Board member unaffiliated with the original decision. The final ruling by the Editor-in-Chief is binding and non-negotiable.

 

6. Production and Publication

After acceptance, manuscripts undergo:

• Copy-editing (to correct formatting and style inconsistencies),
• Author proofreading (final approval required before typesetting),
• Typesetting and pagination, and
• Online publication on the Scientia Naturalis Letters website.

Note: Changes to scientific content post-acceptance are not permitted unless justified and formally approved by the editorial team.

 

Additional Data and Reporting Requirements

To promote reproducibility and transparency, all authors must adhere to the following domain-specific standards:

Western Blotting

• Include loading controls and molecular weight markers on each blot.
• Each figure panel representing a blot must show its own control.
• Blots must be replicated at least three times, with quantification and statistical analysis reported.

 

Animal Studies

Report:

• Species, strain, age, and sex of animals used
• Total number of animals per group
• Randomization and blinding protocols
• Ethical approval reference, in line with institutional/national regulations

 

Cell Line Research

Specify:

• Cell line origin and number of passages
• Media composition and supplements
• Seeding densities and incubation parameters
• Authentication status (if applicable)

 

Anticancer Studies and Cell Viability Assays

• Compare effects in cancerous and non-cancerous lines.
• Provide IC₅₀ or EC₅₀ values for dose-response data.
• Use a validated positive control in cytotoxicity assays.

 

Statistical Reporting Requirements

Each manuscript must detail:

• Number of independent biological replicates and technical replicates
• Statistical tests used (e.g., one-way ANOVA, t-test, Mann-Whitney)
• Correction methods for multiple testing (e.g., Bonferroni, FDR)
• Confidence levels, p-values, and effect sizes
• In figure captions: define error bars (e.g., SEM vs. SD), p-value thresholds (p < 0.05, etc.), and any symbols used to indicate significance

 

Molecular Biology Protocols

For PCR, qPCR, RNAi, or CRISPR-based studies:

• List primer sequences, oligonucleotides, or guide RNAs in full
• Include target gene identifiers and accession numbers
• Describe validation steps for knockdown or editing efficiency