Review report template at IgMin Research

Preparing Your Manuscript

Introduction

Review articles serve as invaluable resources for researchers and professionals, offering comprehensive insights into specific academic domains. In IgMin Research – STEM, a multidisciplinary journal, we aim to feature review articles that adhere to the highest academic and ethical standards. This section provides a detailed overview of the criteria your manuscript must meet for each subtype of review article in order to be considered for publication.

Subtypes of review articles

We welcome the following subtypes of review articles:

• Literature reviews: These reviews provide an overview of the existing studies on a particular topic. They offer summaries, compare findings, and elucidate the current state of research.
• Systematic reviews: These articles summarize and synthesize the findings of multiple studies on a particular research question. This subtype is characterized by a methodological approach.
• Meta-analyses: These are extensions of systematic reviews that include statistical methods to summarize the results of the included studies.
• Scoping reviews: These are used to map the key concepts, types of evidence, and gaps in research related to a defined area or field of study.
• Narrative reviews: These reviews are discursive with a more flexible structure, aiming to provide insights on a particular topic based on personal interpretation.

Criteria for acceptance

The criteria for acceptance encompass various dimensions including scope, originality, methodological rigor, quality of sources, and ethical compliance. Below are detailed explanations for each:

1. Scope and relevance: The submitted article should resonate with the multidisciplinary focus of IgMin Research – STEM. The manuscript should be particularly pertinent to one or more fields within Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. It is crucial that your review article brings a fresh perspective or synthesizes existing information in a way that is useful for researchers, educators, or industry professionals involved in STEM disciplines.

2. Originality and novelty: While review articles are fundamentally summaries of existing research, they must contribute novel insights, hypotheses, or theoretical frameworks. This can manifest as a unique aggregation of previously disparate findings, a new interpretation of existing literature, or identifying gaps in the current knowledge that necessitate further research.

3. Methodological rigor: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses must follow recognized guidelines like PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) or MOOSE (Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology). Authors must transparently outline the search strategies, criteria for study selection, and data extraction methodologies used. For scoping and literature reviews, while standardized reporting guidelines are less stringent, the methodology section should still be detailed, reproducible, and transparent.

4. Quality of sources: All referenced articles must have undergone peer-review and have been published in accredited journals. The credibility of your review article is fundamentally tied to the quality of the original research it cites. Sources should be recent unless the seminal works in the field are older and still hold relevance.

5. Clarity and depth of understanding: The article should be written in a clear, precise language suitable for an academic audience. A good review article is comprehensive but also discerning, focusing on the most impactful and relevant studies. It should elucidate complex concepts in an understandable manner, and engage critically with the material, rather than simply summarizing it.

6. Ethical compliance: The ethical dimension is vital. If your article reviews studies involving human or animal subjects, it must confirm that all such studies have received ethical approval from appropriate boards. Furthermore, the manuscript itself should not contain any plagiarized content and must give due credit through proper citations.

Additional guidelines

• Conflict of Interest: Authors must declare any conflict of interest that could compromise the objectivity of the review.
• Data Availability: While review articles typically do not present new data, if they do, all data must be made openly available unless there are ethical or confidentiality constraints.
• Author Contributions: All authors should have significantly contributed to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the review. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all authors meet these criteria.

In summation

Preparing a review article for submission to IgMin Research – STEM is a nuanced process that requires adherence to a set of rigorous criteria. By following these guidelines, you significantly improve the likelihood of your manuscript not only being accepted for review but also contributing meaningfully to the academic discourse in your chosen field within STEM. Whether you aim to provide an exhaustive overview of existing literature, a structured analysis following rigorous methodology, or a critical synthesis offering novel insights, the overarching goal should be the same: to advance understanding and knowledge in your field.

Standards and Guidelines for Review Articles

Adhering to the correct reporting standards and guidelines is crucial for the academic rigor, transparency, and reproducibility of review articles. This section will offer an exhaustive discussion on why these standards are vital and which specific guidelines are relevant to the different subtypes of review articles: Literature Reviews, Systematic Reviews, Meta-Analyses, Scoping Reviews, and Narrative Reviews.

Importance of reporting standards and guidelines

Before we delve into the specific guidelines, it’s crucial to understand why these standards are vital. They serve multiple purposes:

1. Quality assurance: Ensures the methodological rigor of the review process.
2. Transparency: Provides a detailed roadmap of the research methodology.
3. Reproducibility: Allows other researchers to validate or refute the findings.
4. Integrity: Ensures responsible conduct of research, adhering to ethical guidelines.
5. Interdisciplinary communication: Facilitates better understanding across different research areas, which is essential for a multidisciplinary journal like IgMin Research – STEM.

General reporting standards

These standards are relevant irrespective of the subtype of the review article:

1. Disclosure of conflicts of interest: Authors must clearly disclose any personal, financial, or academic conflicts that might bias their work.
2. Data availability statement: Authors should state whether the data supporting their review is publicly available and, if so, provide links or references.
3. Funding and acknowledgments: Declare the sources of funding and any other resources received.

Subtype-specific guidelines

Literature reviews

Authors should clearly state the scope of their literature review and indicate how literature was selected. Inclusion and exclusion criteria should be defined.

Guideline to follow: No standardized guideline exists, but authors should strive for comprehensiveness and rigor.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses: For these subtypes, the methodological approach should be predefined and reproducible.

Guideline to Follow:

1. PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses): Provides an evidence-based minimum set of items to report, enhancing transparency in systematic reviews.

Scoping reviews: These aim to map the key concepts underpinning a research area, especially when it is complex or has not been reviewed comprehensively before.

Guideline to follow:

1. JBI manual for evidence synthesis: Provides specific guidance for conducting scoping reviews.

Narrative reviews

These reviews are usually broader in scope and may focus on a specific question without trying to capture all the literature available on a topic.

Guideline to follow:

1. RAMESES (Realist And Meta-narrative Evidence Syntheses: Evolving Standards): While not compulsory, it provides useful standards for narrative forms of synthesis.

Guideline adherence in manuscript submission

Authors must specify which guidelines they have followed in the methods section of their paper. For example, if PRISMA guidelines were followed, the authors should explicitly state this and also submit a PRISMA checklist.

Guidelines for future updates

It's worth noting that guidelines and best practices are evolving. Authors should refer to the latest edition of the relevant guidelines when preparing their manuscript.

Training and resources

Since adherence to these guidelines requires specialized knowledge, authors should consider investing time in training programs and workshops that focus on these aspects. Online tutorials and webinars are valuable resources for understanding the nuances of these guidelines.

Peer review and compliance

During the peer review process, reviewers will assess the adherence to these guidelines and may request clarifications or additional information. Non-compliance without a justified reason may lead to rejection.

Conclusion

In a multidisciplinary journal like IgMin Research – STEM, the diverse range of topics and methodologies necessitates strict adherence to globally recognized reporting standards and guidelines. These not only provide a framework for conducting robust reviews but also ensure the quality, integrity, and reproducibility of the scientific discourse.

Back-Bone Structure of the Article

The structure of a review article is critical to conveying the information in an organized and accessible way. Each section has a specific purpose and is vital for the integrity of the scholarly work. Below, the backbone structure for review articles is laid out in detail:

Introduction

The introduction serves as the gateway to your review article, offering essential context and setting the stage for the subsequent content.

• Background: Provide a broad outlook of the field or topic under review. Introduce key concepts, theories, or variables that are relevant. State the prevalence or significance of the problem or issue being reviewed.
• Objectives: Clearly outline the aims and scope of the review. What questions will be answered? Is the review focusing on a particular aspect like methods, theoretical approaches, or practical applications?

Methods

This section explains the methodology followed during the preparation of the review. It offers transparency and allows others to understand the process and possibly replicate it.

• Criteria for selection: Discuss how studies were included or excluded. Provide details such as time span, language, geographic limits, and criteria for scientific validity.
• Data sources: Name the databases, search engines, libraries, or archives you’ve searched. Specify the date ranges for your search.
• Data extraction: Describe the process of filtering the obtained material. How were quality and relevance determined? Did you use a coding method?

Results

This section is where the review article starts to synthesize the extracted information.

• Study characteristics: Summarize the studies you’ve reviewed. Discuss the number of studies, types of methodologies used, years of publication, etc.
• Synthesis of results: Provide the main outcomes of the reviewed articles. Cluster them into themes or trends and discuss how they interact or conflict with each other.

Discussion

The discussion section is the platform for deeper analysis and synthesis of the findings.

• Summary of evidence: Summarize the key findings and their implications. Discuss how the results answer the objectives laid out in the introduction.
• Limitations: Address any shortcomings in the data, methodology, or scope of the studies reviewed.
• Implications for future research: Suggest avenues for further studies, highlighting gaps or unanswered questions.

Conclusions

This section should succinctly wrap up the key findings and their implications.

• Summary: Provide a condensed version of the key findings and their significance.
• Recommendations: Make any recommendations based on the findings. These could be academic, policy-oriented, or practice-based.

Supplementary material

Though not always mandatory, supplementary material can include additional data sets, tables, or a more detailed methodology section for researchers who seek to replicate your study.

Detailed Guide to Formatting for Pagination

Pagination is an often underemphasized but vital part of the manuscript preparation process. Proper pagination ensures that your document is well-organized, easily navigable, and professional-looking—traits that help your paper get the attention it deserves. It also facilitates the peer-review process, making life easier for editors and reviewers.

Importance of pagination in academic journals

Pagination helps to maintain the structure of the document. It is essential for indexing and citing purposes, as academic articles are often quoted and referenced based on page numbers. Given the multidisciplinary nature of IgMin Research – STEM, we anticipate a diverse range of articles, each with unique formatting and organizational needs. Consistent pagination allows for a coherent layout, making it easier to compile multiple papers into a single journal issue.

Page number placement

Page numbers should be placed at the bottom-center of each page, starting from the title page. The title page is considered as page one, even though the number may not be explicitly displayed. Each subsequent section, including the abstract, introduction, main text, references, tables, and figures, should continue the numbering consecutively.

Starting new sections

Each major section, such as the Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion, should ideally start on a new page. This separation provides clear demarcation between sections, enhancing readability and aiding in quick navigation.

Dealing with tables and figures

1. Tables: Insert tables close to their first mention in the text. Number tables consecutively, and ensure that all tables fit within the margins of the page.
2. Figures: Figures should also be numbered consecutively. If a figure is too large to fit within the designated margins, it should be placed on a page by itself.

Avoiding common pagination pitfalls

1. Orphan lines: An "orphan" is the first line of a paragraph that appears alone at the bottom of a page. Avoid this by adjusting the text to ensure that at least two lines of a paragraph appear together.
2. Widow lines: A "widow" is the last line of a paragraph appearing alone at the top of the next page. Similar to avoiding orphans, ensure that widow lines do not appear by making minor text adjustments.
3. Inconsistent numbering: Ensure that the numbering style is consistent throughout the document. For example, do not switch from Arabic numerals to Roman numerals.
4. Clutter: Avoid placing too many elements (e.g., text, tables, figures) on a single page, as it may make the page appear cluttered and disorganized.

Software-specific tips

Microsoft Word: Use the 'Insert > Page Number' option for automatic pagination. For sections starting on new pages, use the 'Page Break' feature rather than manually hitting 'Enter' until a new page appears.

LaTeX: The \pagenumbering command can control the style and location of page numbers. The \newpage command helps in starting a new section on a fresh page.

Proofreading for pagination

Once the document is complete, it is crucial to go through it meticulously to check for pagination errors. This includes ensuring that all pages are accounted for and that page numbers appear in sequence without any repetition or omission.

Importance of collaboration

Always collaborate with your co-authors and make sure everyone is aligned on the pagination guidelines. Use version control systems to manage different versions of the manuscript to avoid conflicting formats and numbering.

Final submission

Before the final submission, authors are advised to convert their manuscript into a PDF to ensure that the pagination remains consistent across different viewing platforms. This is crucial because the layout can sometimes change when opened on different computers or software, affecting the pagination.

Post-acceptance revisions

Upon acceptance, the editorial team may make slight adjustments to the pagination to fit the article into the journal's layout. However, these adjustments will be minimal if the guidelines provided are strictly adhered to.

Summary

Proper pagination not only enhances the readability and professionalism of your article but also facilitates easier peer review and post-acceptance processing. By adhering to these guidelines, authors can ensure that their manuscript aligns well with the high standards set by IgMin Research – STEM.

Formatting Guidelines

Creating a polished, professionally formatted article is essential for effective scholarly communication. Correct formatting is crucial for the peer-review process, helping reviewers focus on the content of your manuscript. Below are detailed formatting guidelines for authors preparing review articles for submission to IgMin Research – STEM, covering aspects like text, fonts, figures, tables, and supplementary files.

Text

General layout

• Page size: Standard A4 (210 x 297mm)
• Margins: 2.54 cm on all sides
• Page numbers: Inserted at the bottom-right corner
• Line spacing: Double-spaced throughout

Headings and sub-headings

• Font: Times New Roman, bold
• Size:
  
  • Headings: 14 pt
  • Sub-Headings: 12 pt
• Spacing: Keep a single empty line before and after each heading and sub-heading for clarity.

Paragraphs

• Indentation: First line of each paragraph should be indented by 0.5 inches.
• Alignment: Left-aligned
• Spacing: Double-spaced
• Justification: Do not justify the text; leave a ragged right edge.

Bullet points and numbering

• Use bullet points for lists that do not require a specific order.
• Use numbers for lists that detail steps or are hierarchical in nature.

Hyperlinks

• Remove all hyperlinks from the text, tables, and figures. These can be included in the reference section.

Footnotes and endnotes

• Footnotes should be used sparingly and placed at the bottom of the page where they are referenced.
• Endnotes should be reserved for explanatory text and appear at the end of the document.

Language and grammar

• Use formal, academic language.
• Avoid first-person pronouns like "I" and "we" unless your guidelines specifically allow them.
• Proofread carefully for grammatical errors and typos.

Fonts

• General Text: Times New Roman, 12 pt
• For emphasis: Italics or bold, not underline
• Figure and table labels: Arial, 10 pt
• Headings and sub-headings: Times New Roman, 14 pt for headings and 12 pt for sub-headings

Figures

• Format: Preferably TIFF or JPEG with minimum 300 dpi resolution for quality reproduction.
• File Naming: Label as 'Figure 1', 'Figure 2', etc.
• Captioning: Provide captions beneath the figure and aligned centrally.
• Color and shading: Use color figures where necessary. However, make sure to check that the figure is understandable when printed in black and white.

Graphs

• Use clean, simple designs.
• Avoid 3D effects unless they genuinely improve clarity.

Photos

• Use high-resolution images.
• If the photo includes text, make sure it’s clear and legible.

Artwork

• Must be professionally designed and scanned at high resolution.

Tables

• Font: Arial, 10 pt
• Numbering: Consecutive, as mentioned in text ('Table 1,' 'Table 2,' etc.)
• Title: Above the table, centered, in bold
• Footnotes: Below the table to explain abbreviations or references
• Alignment: All data in cells should be center-aligned
• Borders: Use simple, unobtrusive borders

Complementary file information

Supplementary data

• This should be submitted separately.
• Mark clearly what the supplementary material is: e.g., Additional Video 1, Supplementary Table 1, etc.

Source files

• Provide the source files for figures and tables, to facilitate editing if needed.

Data sets

• If your article refers to additional data sets, make these available and clearly marked.

Referencing

• Use the National Library of Medicine (NLM) citation style for all references.
• List all authors when there are six or fewer; when there are seven or more, list the first six and add "et al."

Precautions

• Check and double-check that you have adhered to all these formatting guidelines.
• Submitting an incorrectly formatted manuscript may delay the review process or lead to rejection.

By adhering to these formatting guidelines, you not only ease the work of reviewers and editors but also make your work more accessible and understandable to readers. This attention to detail will undoubtedly enhance the visibility and impact of your research.

Image Submission and Copyright Considerations

When you are preparing your manuscript for IgMin Research – STEM, it's not just the text that speaks volumes; images, figures, and supplementary data often provide a more comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. They serve as visual aids that can make complex concepts easier to understand. However, there are critical considerations to keep in mind, especially concerning copyright issues and image quality.

Copyright issues

1. Ownership rights: Ensure that you own the rights to the images you're submitting or that they fall under public domain. Using copyrighted images without permission can result in legal consequences and delay the publication process.
2. Permission from copyright holders: If the image is not in the public domain and you do not own the rights, you must obtain written permission from the copyright holder. This often involves a formal request and sometimes a fee. Please keep all records of correspondence.
3. Fair use doctrine: Sometimes copyrighted material can be used under the "Fair Use" doctrine. However, this is a complicated legal area and varies by jurisdiction. If in doubt, seek legal counsel.
4. Attributions and citations: Ensure all images are appropriately cited and attributed. Even if an image is in the public domain, proper citation should be maintained to respect the original creator's work.

Image quality

1. Resolution: Images should be high-resolution, ideally a minimum of 300 dpi, for clarity and quality in print and online versions. Lower resolution images are often pixelated when printed, compromising the journal's professional appearance.
2. File formats: Use standard image formats like JPEG, PNG, or TIFF. Vector formats like SVG can be used for diagrams and illustrations that do not contain raster data.
3. Color space: Images should be submitted in the CMYK color space for better color reproduction in print. However, for online versions, RGB is usually acceptable.
4. Size and aspect ratios: Adhere to the specified size and aspect ratios as mentioned in the "Article Preparatory Guidelines." Inconsistent sizes and ratios could result in delays during the publication process.

Tables, charts, and graphs

These are often not treated as traditional 'figures,' but they still require careful consideration. They should be easily readable and understandable. Use only horizontal lines for separating sections and avoid vertical lines where possible.

Data integrity: Ensure that your tables, charts, and graphs accurately represent your data. Double-check for errors before submission as inaccuracies undermine the integrity of the entire paper.

Supplementary files

Supplementary files may include data sets, videos, or additional images that provide further context to the study but are not essential for the understanding of the manuscript. These should be cited within the manuscript and a legend should be provided.

Image descriptions and alt text

For accessibility, it's good practice to include image descriptions and alternative text to describe the content and function of each visual element.

Ethical considerations

Images featuring human subjects must have documented informed consent for publication. Ethical clearance must also be obtained for any images that include animal subjects.

Pre-submission check

Before you submit, do a final check:

• Are all your images of high quality?
• Have you verified the copyright status of each image?
• Are all figures and tables appropriately cited and labeled?

Understanding and adhering to these guidelines will facilitate a smoother review and publication process. Poorly sourced or prepared images can delay this process and may even result in the rejection of the manuscript. Therefore, while these steps might seem laborious, they are crucial for maintaining the academic integrity and quality of the journal.

By following these guidelines carefully, you increase the likelihood of your manuscript being accepted for publication, and you also contribute to the broader academic community by providing well-documented and visually rich content that can aid in the understanding of complex STEM subjects.

Precautions and Cautions

Submitting a review article to IgMin Research – STEM is a significant academic endeavor. Even experienced researchers can miss vital steps or overlook journal-specific requirements that can lead to the delay or even the rejection of the manuscript. Therefore, we strongly encourage all authors to consult our "Article Preparatory Guidelines" meticulously before preparing and submitting their manuscript. Here's why this is critical:

Alignment with journal's scope and objectives

Each journal has its unique focus and aim. Our guidelines will detail the kinds of topics and disciplines that are within the scope of IgMin Research – STEM. Authors need to ascertain that their topic aligns with these parameters to avoid immediate rejection or time-consuming revisions.

Adherence to reporting guidelines

Our guidelines explicitly state the reporting standards that are applicable to different types of review articles. Whether it’s PRISMA for systematic reviews or MOOSE for meta-analyses, these standards ensure consistency, transparency, and credibility. Ignoring these can make the manuscript less reliable or incomparable with other studies in the field.

Methodological rigor

Review articles, particularly systematic reviews and meta-analyses, require a rigorous methodology to be considered reliable. Our guidelines provide a checklist of items and a structure that authors should follow for methodological rigor. This ensures that the review provides trustworthy and actionable insights.

Ethical compliance

Our guidelines contain necessary information about ethical approvals needed for the types of research cited in your review. Since reviews often synthesize data from multiple studies involving human or animal subjects, it’s vital to adhere to ethical norms. Overlooking this aspect can result in the retraction of the article and tarnish an author’s academic reputation.

Formatting requirements

A manuscript may contain groundbreaking insights, but if it fails to adhere to the journal’s formatting guidelines, it will be returned for revision. This results in a needless delay in the publication process. Authors should pay particular attention to how the manuscript should be formatted, from text to tables and figures. This includes, but is not limited to, font size, page margins, and reference citation styles.

Data sharing and supplementary materials

Increasingly, journals are emphasizing the need for data sharing and the provision of supplementary material to accompany submissions. Our guidelines will clarify what types of supplementary materials are accepted and in what formats. Not adhering to this can also delay the review and publication process.

Peer-review process

Understanding the peer-review process can help authors be better prepared for revisions and potential criticisms. Our guidelines outline what authors can expect during this phase, including common reasons for revisions or rejection, thus aiding in better manuscript preparation.

Copyright and licensing

Our guidelines provide important information about copyright and licensing agreements. Authors need to understand the permissions needed for reproducing material from other sources and how their work will be disseminated under various open-access licenses.

Financial and conflict of interest disclosures

Failure to disclose financial conflicts of interest or funding sources can result in manuscript rejection. Our guidelines lay out the procedure for making these necessary disclosures, safeguarding the integrity of the work.

Special sections and features

Occasionally, our journal may have special issues or features that have unique guidelines. Being aware of these can provide authors with additional opportunities for submission and align their work with timely topics in the STEM fields.

Revision and resubmission protocols

Receiving a "revise and resubmit" decision is common in academic publishing. Our guidelines elucidate what steps authors should take in these scenarios, including how to address reviewers’ comments comprehensively and resubmit the revised manuscript.

Contact points for queries

Even the most seasoned authors may have questions or uncertainties. Our guidelines provide contact information for editorial support, helping authors throughout the submission process.

Timeline for publication

The guidelines give a general idea of the timeline from submission to publication, which is crucial for authors who may be working under academic or research deadlines.

Post-publication corrections and errata

Mistakes happen. Knowing the procedure for correcting these after publication is valuable information available in the guidelines.

Importance of author contributions

Our guidelines specify how each author's contributions should be detailed, ensuring transparency and credibility.

By thoroughly reviewing and adhering to our "Article Preparatory Guidelines," authors fortify their submissions against common pitfalls, thereby expediting the peer-review process and enhancing the possibility of publication. We strongly encourage this step as an essential element in the preparation of your manuscript for IgMin Research – STEM.

Manuscript Text Formatting Guidelines

Introduction

Effective text formatting is critical for the readability, accessibility, and overall impact of your manuscript. Adhering to uniform guidelines enhances the quality of the publication and facilitates efficient peer review and publication processes. Below are the formatting requirements for text, tables, figures, panels, and references.

Text formatting

1. Font & size: Use Times New Roman, 12-point font.
2. Spacing: The text should be double-spaced.
3. Margins: 1-inch margins on all sides.
4. Alignment: Justify the text.
5. Paragraphs: Indent the first line of each paragraph by 0.5 inches.
6. Page numbering: Number pages consecutively, starting with the title page.
7. Headings and subheadings: Use bold for headings and italics for subheadings. They should also be numbered as 1, 1.1, 1.1.1, etc., for easy navigation.

Sections

1. Introduction: Describe the research background and the problem you aim to solve or review.
2. Methods: Explain your methodology in detail.
3. Results: Summarize your findings.
4. Discussion: Interpret your results, relating them to existing literature.
5. Conclusions: Sum up the study and its implications.

Tables

1. Placement: Insert tables close to where they are first mentioned in the text.
2. Numbering: Tables should be numbered consecutively.
3. Captions: Use descriptive captions above the table.
4. Footnotes: Use footnotes to explain abbreviations or additional information. Label them as *, **, *** for the first, second, and third footnotes, respectively.
5. Formatting: Stick to basic grid lines—avoid using colors, unless necessary for comprehension.

Figures and panels

1. File format: Submit figures in high-resolution PNG, JPEG, or TIFF formats.
2. Labeling: Figures should be numbered and include a descriptive caption below.
3. Size and resolution: Maintain a minimum resolution of 300 dpi.
4. Color: If using color figures, ensure they are distinguishable when printed in grayscale.
5. Panels: If a figure has multiple panels, label them as 1A, 1B, etc., and refer to them specifically in the text and caption.

References (NLM Style)

References should be listed at the end of the manuscript and cited in the text using superscript numbers. Here are some examples of how references should be formatted:

1. Journal article: Smith JJ, Jones M Jr, Houghton L et al. Future of health insurance. N Engl J Med. 1999;965:325–329.
2. Book: Jones M. The Health Care Handbook. New York: Norton; 1997.

The NLM style should be rigorously followed for all types of citations including but not limited to journal articles, books, conference proceedings, and web links.

Web links and URLs

Only include web links and URLs for material that is not available in published form. They should be listed as footnotes and not as references. For example:

• Data repository: (footnote) Data available from: URL

Additional information

1. Authorship: A separate section should detail the contributions of each author.
2. Acknowledgments: This is optional but encouraged. Here you may acknowledge non-authors who contributed to your research.
3. Conflict of interest: Declare any financial interests or conflicts of interest.
4. Ethical compliance: State all ethical clearances your research has received.
5. Supplementary material: Any supplementary tables, data sets, figures, or additional information can be submitted as supplementary material.

Article Preparatory Guidelines

The submission process for a research journal is often a daunting task for authors, seasoned and new alike. To ease this journey and to ensure that each submission meets the high-quality standards of IgMin Research – STEM, we have prepared comprehensive guidelines to assist authors in preparing their manuscripts for submission. The following extensive guide serves as a step-by-step roadmap for authors, elucidating key aspects they must pay attention to.

Why consult article preparatory guidelines?

Firstly, it is essential to understand why adhering to preparatory guidelines is crucial. Not only do they provide a structured format that maintains uniformity across all articles, but they also aim to minimize the chances of the manuscript getting rejected due to formatting issues or lack of essential elements. These guidelines serve as a set of best practices that have evolved to meet the academic and ethical standards of scholarly publishing.

Initial manuscript preparation

Before diving into the specifics of each article type, it’s important for authors to familiarize themselves with the general guidelines that apply to all submissions. This involves ensuring that the manuscript is written in clear, academic English and that it is free of grammatical errors. If English is not your first language, it is highly recommended to consult language editing services.

Document formatting: Ensure that the document is formatted according to the following:

• Page size: A4
• Margins: 1 inch on all sides
• Line spacing: Double
• Text alignment: Justified

Version control: Maintain a version control system so that all edits and changes can be tracked effectively. This can be crucial when multiple authors are involved in preparing the manuscript.

Preparing different sections

1. Title page: The title page should contain essential details like the title of the article, authors' names, affiliations, and contact information for the corresponding author.
2. Abstract and keywords: Write a concise abstract summarizing the main findings or conclusions of your study. The abstract should not exceed 250 words. Also, include 3-5 relevant keywords for search engine optimization.
3. Introduction: The introduction sets the stage for your research. Provide adequate background, identify the gaps in existing research, and clearly state your research question.
4. Methods: For review articles, this could involve detailing your criteria for article selection, data sources, and any meta-analysis techniques employed.
5. Results: Present your findings in a structured manner, use tables and figures to support your statements.
6. Discussion and conclusions: Discuss the implications of your findings, limitations, and potential for future research. The conclusion should succinctly summarize the key points of your study.

Tables and figures

Detailed guidance on preparing tables, figures, and other visual aids can significantly enhance the article’s readability and impact. Legends must be precise, and all visual elements should be of high quality and resolution.

Referencing

Use NLM referencing style to cite other works. Ensure that each citation is accurate, as errors can lead to delays and could compromise the integrity of the article.

Author statements and ethical compliance

Include all required statements concerning ethics approval, consent to participate, and any conflicts of interest.

The final checklist

Before submitting your manuscript, make sure you have:

1. Thoroughly proofread the text
2. Checked all references
3. Ensured all tables and figures are correctly formatted and labeled
4. Completed all author statements, including ethics and consent forms

Revision and resubmission

Post-submission, your article will undergo a rigorous peer-review process. Be prepared to revise and resubmit your manuscript according to the feedback provided.

Plagiarism check

Your manuscript will go through a plagiarism check. Make sure that all text is original or properly cited to avoid any academic misconduct.

Editorial decision

Once the peer-review process is completed and any required revisions have been made, an editorial decision will be communicated to you.

Final thoughts

Adherence to these preparatory guidelines will streamline the publication process, making it easier for both the authors and the editorial team. It ensures that your hard work receives the attention to detail it deserves and expedites the path from submission to publication.

By carefully following these guidelines, authors equip themselves with the tools needed to produce articles that are not just academically rigorous but are also presented in a manner befitting the esteemed standards of IgMin Research – STEM. It elevates the discourse of multidisciplinary research by ensuring that each article adds value, not just in content but also in form.
We strongly urge all prospective authors to consider these guidelines as a valuable resource in preparing their manuscripts for submission to IgMin Research – STEM.

Mandatory Submission List

Covering letter

The covering letter serves as an introduction to the editorial team about the significance and relevance of the submitted manuscript. This letter should include:

1. Article title: Clearly state the title of the article.
2. Authors: List all the authors and their affiliations.
3. Corresponding author: Clearly identify who the corresponding author is, complete with contact details including email and phone number.
4. Rationale: Explain why your study is a good fit for this journal, articulating the importance of the work and its potential impact on the field.
5. Ethical compliance: Confirm that you have complied with all ethical standards and mention any necessary approval from ethical committees.
6. Previous submission: If the work has been submitted or published elsewhere, mention this and explain how the current submission is different.
7. Data availability: State whether the data in the study is available for sharing and where it can be accessed.

Manuscript including tables and panels

The manuscript is the core of your submission and must be prepared meticulously. It must include:

1. Title page: Featuring the article title, list of authors, and corresponding author's contact details.
2. Abstract: A concise summary of the article’s objectives, methodology, results, and conclusions.
3. Introduction: A background that sets the stage for your research.
4. Methodology: Detailing how the research was conducted.
5. Results: The findings of your research.
6. Discussion: Interpretation of the results.
7. Conclusions: Summarizing the study and its implications.
8. Tables and panels: These should be integrated into the manuscript and should provide additional information or data supporting the research.
9. Appendices: If necessary, supplementary material can be added here.
10. Acknowledgments: Here you can thank individuals or organizations that contributed to the study but are not listed as authors.

Figures

Figures include all types of visual representations other than tables. These could be graphs, photos, or any other kinds of illustrative material.

1. Quality: High-resolution images only. Ensure they are legible and professionally prepared.
2. Format: Acceptable formats typically include JPEG, PNG, and TIFF.
3. Caption: Each figure must have an accompanying caption that explains the figure in detail.
4. Referencing: Make sure the figures are cited in the text where they are relevant.

Author statement form

The Author Statement Form is a crucial document where all authors must declare that:

1. They have contributed significantly to the research.
2. Approve the manuscript in its current form.
3. Agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

This form acts as a written consent among the authors and sets the stage for collective responsibility.

Declarations

1. Declaration of interests: All authors must declare any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence (bias) their work.
2. Source of funding statements: It's essential to provide a statement describing the role of the study sponsor(s), if any, in the study design; collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; writing of the report; and the decision to submit the report for publication.

It is essential that authors carefully adhere to each point in the mandatory submission list. This ensures not only a smoother editorial process but also adds credibility and integrity to the work being presented. Remember, a missing or incomplete component could result in the delay of the review process or outright rejection of the submission.

In line with the multidisciplinary nature of IgMin Research – STEM, we stress the importance of inter-disciplinary contributions. Therefore, kindly make sure that your contributions reflect this ethos whenever applicable. Note that failing to comply with any of these guidelines may result in your manuscript being returned or rejected.

Note on Large Language Models

The recent technological advancements in the field of machine learning and natural language processing have led to the development of increasingly sophisticated Large Language Models (LLMs), such as GPT-3 and GPT-4 by OpenAI. While these models have the ability to generate human-like text, analyze data, and even simulate original research to some extent, it's crucial to clarify their role and limitations within the context of academic authorship for our journal, IgMin Research – STEM.

The scope of LLMs in research

LLMs like ChatGPT can perform a wide array of tasks, including but not limited to:

1. Literature summarization: They can scan and summarize large sets of academic literature.
2. Hypothesis generation: These models can propose research questions or hypotheses based on available data.
3. Data analysis: While not their primary function, some LLMs can assist in statistical interpretation, although the actual computational work is often outside their scope.
4. Drafting: They can assist in writing introductions, literature reviews, and discussions, which could potentially save time for researchers.

Limitations of LLMs

Despite the capabilities mentioned above, LLMs have significant limitations:

1. No independent verification: LLMs can't perform independent verification of data or peer review.
2. Ethical constraints: They can't make ethical judgments or adhere to ethical research protocols.
3. Lack of originality: The output generated is based on existing data and does not qualify as original research.
4. Context sensitivity: LLMs might not fully grasp the nuanced requirements of specialized academic fields.

Ethical concerns

Using an LLM to generate substantial parts of an academic article may lead to several ethical concerns:

1. Attribution: If an LLM contributes significantly, how should it be credited? The current academic framework does not provide guidelines for this.
2. Data integrity: LLMs can inadvertently introduce errors or biases in the data interpretation process.
3. Plagiarism: As LLMs generate text based on a large corpus of existing literature, they could inadvertently produce content that is not entirely original.

Authorship criteria and LLMs

Given these limitations and ethical concerns, it's important to establish that LLMs like ChatGPT do not currently meet our journal’s authorship criteria, which demand:

1. Substantial contributions: Authors should have a significant intellectual contribution to the research.
2. Accountability: Authors must take public responsibility for the content.
3. Approval of final manuscript: Each author should have reviewed and approved the manuscript.

LLMs fail to meet these criteria in several key ways. Most notably, they cannot be accountable for research findings or ethical considerations, and they don't have the capability to approve or disapprove of the final manuscript content.

Recommendations for authors

1. Transparency: If you used an LLM for tasks like literature search, mention it in the acknowledgments but not as an author.
2. Ethical compliance: Make sure to review any text generated by an LLM for possible ethical violations, such as plagiarism.
3. Verification: Always independently verify any data interpretation or statistical analysis conducted with the assistance of an LLM.

Conclusions

The development of LLMs like ChatGPT represents a technological marvel that can assist researchers in numerous ways. However, they lack the ability to perform as independent researchers or co-authors. Their limitations, both ethical and functional, disqualify them from fulfilling our journal's criteria for academic authorship.

For this reason, we strongly urge our prospective authors to not include LLMs as authors and to be transparent about any assistance received from such models. Failing to do so could result in the rejection of the manuscript based on ethical grounds.
By clearly setting these guidelines, we hope to maintain the integrity and quality of research published in IgMin Research – STEM, thereby contributing positively to the broader academic community.

In Summation

Standards

The term "standards" here refers to the recognized measures and best practices that your manuscript must meet. Adherence to the reporting standards and guidelines assures quality and comprehensive coverage of your review article. The standards often serve as a tool for peer reviewers and editors to evaluate the quality and significance of your manuscript.

Structuring your document

In this context, structuring your document refers to how you should organize the various components of your manuscript. These include:

1. Front page: Also known as the title page, this is the first point of contact between your manuscript and the reader. It should contain vital details such as the title of the paper, author names, affiliations, and corresponding author contact details.
2. Summary: Often termed as an abstract, the summary condenses your paper into a brief, easy-to-read format that provides readers an insight into what your paper is about.
3. Key phrases: These are essential terms that relate to the primary subject of your research. Including pertinent keywords ensures that your article appears during relevant academic searches.
4. Intro: This term shortens to introduction, and it sets the background for your study, explaining why the topic is essential and what gap your review aims to fill.
5. Techniques: These are the methods you used for gathering data, conducting analyses, or any other procedures that were crucial to your review. Techniques must be outlined clearly for transparency.
6. Findings: This is another term for results. Here, you present the data collected or analyses done during your study. The findings should be outlined in a structured manner, often using tables, figures, or text to best represent the data.
7. Interpretation: Also known as the discussion, this is where you dissect the findings, compare them with existing literature, and determine their implications.
8. Final thoughts: The conclusion or summary of your paper. It should encapsulate your findings and their implications succinctly.
9. Abbreviations used: Any short forms or acronyms used within the paper should be listed here for clarification.

Statements

Statements are official declarations that accompany your manuscript, usually mandatory for most academic journals. They often include:

1. Moral approval: Also known as Ethics Approval, this statement verifies that your study complies with ethical norms and practices, particularly if human or animal subjects were involved.
2. Agreement to publish: This statement confirms that the authors consent to publish the paper in the journal, understanding the terms and conditions that apply.
3. Data accessibility: Here, authors confirm that the data supporting the results can be accessed in public repositories or through other means stated in the paper.
4. Conflicting interests: Any conflicts of interest, such as financial, personal, or other relationships that could affect the research, should be disclosed here.
5. Monetary support: Also known as Funding, this statement outlines the financial sources that supported the research.
6. Contributions by authors: This section elaborates on the specific roles each author played in the research process.
7. Gratitude: Also called Acknowledgments, here you recognize people, organizations, or entities that contributed to the research but are not listed as authors.
8. Additional author data: This is optional but can include further information about the authors, such as academic qualifications, affiliations, or contributions to other works.

Moral approval

This is an expanded version of the Ethics Approval. It's usually necessary for studies involving human or animal subjects. All procedural details, including the name of the ethics committee and the approval number, should be included here.

Agreement to publish

This statement specifies that the authors are willing to publish their paper and are aware of all the terms and conditions of publication, including the journal's policy on open access, copyright, and reprints.

Data accessibility

This statement is often required to confirm that the data supporting the results are available and can be accessed in public repositories or through other means as stated in the paper. The journal may have specific guidelines on data sharing.

Conflicting interests

This statement discloses any financial or personal relationships that could potentially influence (bias) the work. Transparency is key here, even if the conflict doesn't directly affect the research findings.

Monetary support

Also known as Funding, this section discloses the financial backing for the project. It could be in the form of grants, donations, or internal funding.

Contributions by authors

In this statement, the distinct roles and contributions of each author are outlined. This helps establish accountability and credit for the work done.

Gratitude

Acknowledgments are where the authors express thanks to those who contributed to the work but didn't qualify for authorship. This could include technical help, financial support, or intellectual contributions.

Additional author data

This optional section can be used to add biographical details or other specific information about the authors which may not be critical but informative.

Endnotes

Endnotes serve as additional comments or explanations that can provide the reader with further clarity on specific points made in the text.

Citations

This includes all references made within the text, citing other research works that contributed to your article. It encompasses:

• Online resources: Any websites or online databases cited.
• Citation example: Specific styles may be required, like NLM for medical articles.

Visuals, tables, additional files

This covers all non-textual elements that help explain or support the paper's findings. Tables should be formatted correctly, and figures should be of high quality.

Document submission

This indicates the final step of the manuscript preparation process, where all necessary components should be collated for submission, often through an online portal.