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Instructions to Authors (provisional)
The International Journal of Gerontology (IJG) is the peer-reviewed publication of the Taiwan Society of Geriatric Emergency and Critical Care Medicine. The IJG invites original contributions relating to all fields of geriatrics and gerontology, especially those dealing with critical care and emergency medicine.
Ethical Considerations
Manuscripts will only be considered if they comply with internationally recognized standards of ethical research. The authors must be able to demonstrate that:
- Research involving humans or animals has been approved by an institutional review board and has been conducted according to accepted national and international standards.
- Informed consent has been obtained from human subjects or their guardians prior to their participation in a study.
- Privacy of study subjects is maintained, or informed consent obtained if they are in any way identifiable.
- Any potential conflicts of interest are disclosed.
- All individuals named as authors qualify for authorship.
All persons listed as authors should have participated sufficiently in the work to take public responsibility for the content of the manuscript.
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
All authors are required to sign and submit the following financial disclosure statement. The Conflicts of Interest statement must be stated on the second page of the manuscript at the time of manuscript submission.
I certify that all my affiliations with or financial involvement in, within the past 5 years and foreseeable future, any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript are completely disclosed (e.g., employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, royalties).
Authors who have no relevant financial interests should provide a statement indicating that they have no financial interests related to the material in the manuscript.
Manuscript Submission
Method of Submission
Manuscripts may be submitted by
1. e-mail to IJGE.editor@gmail.com
OR
2. saving onto a CD-R and mailing, together with 4 paper copies of your manuscript (including 4 sets of figures), to:
Editorial Office
International Journal of Gerontology 3 Floor -3. No. 20, Ming-Chuan West Road,
Taipei 10449,
Taiwan.
Manuscript File Requirements
The complete manuscript, with the exception of the figures, should be formatted in 1 Microsoft Word document (*.doc) file. The manuscript should be arranged in the following order: title page; abstract and key words; main text, acknowledgments and references; tables; figure legends. Submitted manuscripts are considered with the understanding that they have not been published previously in print or electronic format (except in abstract or poster form) and are not under consideration by another publication or electronic medium.
Article Categories
The categories of articles published are:
- Original articles
- Case reports
- Brief communications
- Letters to the editor
- Review articles (by invitation only)
- Medical images
Manuscript Preparation
Manuscripts not complying with the following guidelines will be returned to the authors without review. The format of manuscripts for the IJG must comply with the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals (available at http://www.icmje.org ). All text, including references, tables and figure legends, should be typed double-spaced on 1 side of A4 (297 ~ 210 mm) paper in a single column with a ragged right margin, using 12-point Times New Roman font. Pages should be numbered consecutively using Arabic numerals, beginning with the title page. The main headings for each section should be clear, with subheadings used only as needed in longer sections.
The following instructions are for original articles, but they apply generally to other article categories as well.
Title Page
The title page is the first page and must contain the following information:
- Category of paper
- Manuscript title
- The names (spelled out in full) of all authors and their affiliations
- Corresponding author details (mailing address, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail address)
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
The second page should contain the Conflicts of Interest statement. (See relevant section above). The "Conflicts of Interest" statement must be submitted at the time of submission.
Abstract
The third page should contain a concise abstract of no more than 250 words and up to 5 relevant key words in alphabetical order. Abstracts for original articles should be structured using the following sections:
- Background: briefly explain the reasons and importance of the study
- Methods: briefly introduce the methods used to perform the study
- Results: briefly present the most important results, including both numeric data and details of statistical significance
- Conclusion: state the meaning and usefulness of your findings
- Key Words: these must be taken from the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) database of Index
Medicus ( http://www.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/meshhome.html ) and ideally should not repeat words already in the article title
Abstracts for Case Reports and Brief Communications are unstructured and limited to 200 words. They should consist of a concise summary of the content and importance of the report.
Main Text
The main text should begin on the fourth page and include the following sections: Introduction, Materials (or Patients or Subjects) and Methods, Results, and Discussion.
- The Introduction should briefly provide important background information and the rationale for the study or observation.
- The Materials and Methods should identify the population, patient samples or animal specimens used, explain the laboratory or study methods followed, and state the statistical procedures employed in the research. This section must also include a statement regarding approval of the study by an institutional review board and informed consent from human subjects where applicable.
- The Results section should include the findings of the study, including numeric data and the results of statistical analysis. Data presented in tables and figures should not be listed in the text. Rather than simply stating numerical results, the text in this section should interpret the data.
- The Discussion should begin with a clear statement of the major findings of the study and their implications. The findings should be compared with those of other relevant reports. Limitations of the study should be noted. The conclusion should emphasize the important implications of the study, but only as supported by the actual results. Comments about specific future directions may be made as appropriate, e.g., work still needed to translate bench findings into clinical applications or particular studies needed to advance understanding of the topic. Avoid, however, vague calls for further studies. Material in the Introduction should not be repeated in the Discussion, nor should specific study results be repeated except as necessary to emphasize a specific point.
- Acknowledgments may be given following the Discussion. Individuals acknowledged should not include secretarial, clerical, or technical staff whose participation was limited to the performance of their normal duties.
Abbreviations
Abbreviations should be kept to a minimum. Where a long, complex term will be referred to at least 5 times in the main text, it may be abbreviated. At the first mention in both the abstract and text, the term must be written out in full, followed by the abbreviation in parentheses. Thereafter, the abbreviation alone should be used.
Units
Please use the metric system for the expression of length, height, weight, mass, area and volume. Temperatures are to be given in degrees Celsius. Please use Systems International (SI) units for all hematology and clinical chemistry values.
References
The References should be listed beginning on a new page. In general, the number of references should not exceed 50. Authors are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of their references. Only references actually consulted by the authors should be listed.
- References must be numbered consecutively in order of appearance in the text and listed in numerical order in the reference list.
- Identify references in the text, tables, or figure legends using a superscript Arabic number without parentheses outside periods and commas, but inside colons and semicolons.
- References cited in tables or figure legends should be included in the reference list in sequence at the point where the table or figure is first mentioned in the text.
- List the last names and initials of all the authors up to 3 for each reference. If there are more than 3 authors, include the first 3 authors only followed by "et al".
- References to journals should include the authors'last names and initials, complete title of the article, journal name, year, volume number, and first and last page numbers.
- Abbreviate journal titles, using the abbreviations listed for Index Medicus.
- References to books should include the authors' last names and initials, complete title of the chapter, names of the book's editors, complete title of the book, city of publication, publisher, volume and edition numbers, year of publication, and the inclusive page numbers of the cited chapter.
- References to websites should include the authors' names, article title, URL, and the date you last accessed the information.
Examples are given below. Authors should refer to AMA Manual of Style, A Guide for Authors and Editors, 10th edition, for the reference style to be followed.
Journal articles
- Yeh HI, Lee PY, Su CH, et al. Reduced expression of endothelial connexins 43 and 37 in hypertensive rats is rectified after 7-day carvedilol treatment. Am J Hypertens. 2006;19:129135.
- Shih SC, Chien CL, Tseng KW, et al. Immunohistochemical studies of transforming growth factor- and its receptors in the gastric mucosa of patients with refractory gastric ulcer. J Formos Med Assoc. 1999;98: 613620.
- Aoyama N, Shirasaka D, Okumura K. [Progress of tailormade treatment of peptic ulcer]. Nippon Rinsho. 2002; 60:174181. [In Japanese]
Books
- Adkinson N, Yunginger J, Busse W, et al, eds. Middleton's Allergy: Principles and Practice. 6th ed. St Louis, MO: Mosby; 2003.
- Bergeron C, Lowe J. Frontotemporal degeneration: introduction. In: Dickson DW, ed. Neurodegeneration: The Molecular Pathology of Dementia and Movement Disorders. Basel, Switzerland: ISN Neuropath Press; 2003:342348.
Tables
Begin tables on a new page. They should be labeled with Arabic numerals and titled concisely. Number all tables in the order of their citation in the text. Tables should be formatted using the Table function in Word and typed double-spaced with the simplest layout possible. Define abbreviations by listing each abbreviation and definition below the table. Other comments should be referenced in the table using lowercase superscripted letters. These are then explained in footnotes to the table. Exact P values must be stated to no more than 3 decimal places, along with other measures of statistical significance as appropriate. The statistical tests used for comparisons should be identified.
Figures
Figure legends should begin on a new page. The number of figures should be restricted to the minimum number necessary to support the textual material. Figures should be labeled in Arabic numerals in the order of their citation in the text. Figure legends should indicate the anatomic area and/or pathologic condition shown. For histology slides, the stain used and original magnification must be stated. All symbols and abbreviations not defined in the text should be defined in the legend.
Each figure should be submitted as a separate picture file in *.EPS or *.TIFF format. They should not be embedded in the text files. The minimum acceptable resolution is 600 dpi. Printed figures should be in the form of unmounted, unretouched glossy prints (about 3 ~5 inches in size), marked on the back with the figure number, an arrow to indicate the top of the figure, and the first author's name, using a soft lead pencil or stick-on labels. Anything that might allow identification of a patient must be obscured. If this is not possible or the patient can be identified in some other way, written consent from the patient or family must be submitted along with the article. Do not mark directly on the prints. Arrows, labels, or other indicators may be marked on a photocopy of the original print to indicate subtle but salient points. Include internal scale markers in photomicrographs and electron micrographs. Illustrations should be drawn with black ink on white paper. The size of arrows and other symbols must permit some reduction in the final copy. Please note that the cost of color illustrations will be charged to the author. Figures will not be returned if the article is not accepted.
Other Article Styles
Case Reports
Case reports should have no more than 6 authors. The unstructured abstract should be no longer than 200 words and should include a brief statement of the background, clinical findings, and management and outcome. The Introduction should include a concise statement of the background of the problem. This is followed by a Case Report section which includes a focused patient history, physical examination, and results of diagnostic studies, the definitive diagnosis, treatment and outcome, and any other information pertinent to the case(s). The Discussion should begin with a clear statement of the main point(s) illustrated by the case(s), along with reference to relevant reports in the literature. The focus should be on the particular points the authors wish to make but should not include a textbook review of the entire disease entity. The number of references should not exceed 25.
Brief Communications
Brief communications should have no more than 6 authors and should be concise presentations of clinical observations, novel techniques, or preliminary experimental results. The unstructured abstract should be no longer than 200 words. The main text should not exceed 1500 words, with no more than 2 tables and no more than 3 figures. The number of references should not exceed 20. The editors reserve the right to determine what constitutes a Brief Communication.
Letters to the Editor
Letters to the editor are welcome in response to articles previously published in the IJG. They should be no more than 250 words long and may include 1 table or 1 figure and up to 4 references. The editors reserve the right to edit any letter received.
Review Articles
Review articles are usually written by invited authors. They are critical assessments of current topics in research or practice. A Methods section should be included which explicitly states the methods used to search for all relevant sources of information, e.g., search terms and search engines used and whether published bibliographies were also searched. The article should include a critical review of the source material. The maximum length of a review is 4000 words, and the number of references should not exceed 100.
Medical Images
Medical images are interesting and classic images of medical issues related to gerontology. They are important to facilitate the learning and understanding in both basic research and clinical medicine. This category aims to feature medical images with novelty, innovation and an educational sense in any field of gerontology, especially those images from emergency and critical situations. It is not intended to be another form of case report.
Medical images should have no more than 2 authors. The title of no more than 10 words, the text, and 1 figure legend of no more than 150 words should be typed doublespaced and contained within the title page. Images must be original and of high quality to be considered for publication. The figure can have up to 3 photographs or images, and should have appropriate labeling and arrows identifying specific structures. All labeled structures in the image should be precisely described and explained in the legend. Relevant clinical information, including a short description of the patient's history, physical and laboratory findings, and clinical course should also be succinctly presented in the legend
Editorial and Peer Review
Submitted manuscripts are reviewed initially by the Editorial Board, whose members will determine which articles will be considered for publication based on their scientific merit, readability, and interest. Manuscripts not thought to be of sufficient priority for publication will be rejected promptly. All other manuscripts will be sent to 2 or more experts for peer review. The board reserves the right to make revisions to the manuscript. Generally, an editorial decision is made within 3 months of manuscript submission.
Preparation for Publication
All manuscripts must be written in clear, grammatically correct English, using American English spelling. Authors whose native language is not English are urged to have an English consultant check the text before submission. The Editorial Office reserves the right to correct or modify the English as necessary, with any fees for English revision charged to the authors. Once a manuscript has been accepted for publication by the Editorial Board and the final version is approved by the authors, authors should submit the final manuscript in Microsoft Word format using the same method by which the manuscript was originally submitted.
Accepted manuscripts are sent to the publisher to be copyedited and typeset according to the house style. Galley proofs are then returned to the corresponding author for final approval. Authors are responsible for all statements made in their work, including changes made by the copy editor and subsequently authorized by the corresponding author. All authors must sign a statement of responsibility for the content of the article and a copyright transfer prior to publication. A Copyright Transfer Agreement will be provided by the Publisher together with the galley proofs.
Publication Charges and Reprints
Authors will bear the cost of publication (US$400/NT$10,000) for each article of 6 printed pages or less for original articles, and 4 printed pages or less for case reports and brief communications. The color illustrations, if required, will be charged at the rate of US$100/NT$3,300 per page to authors
Authors will receive 50 offprints of their article free of charge. Additional professional reprints (including a cover page for the article) may be ordered at terms based on the cost of production. Reprint Order Forms are available on the IJG website, http://www.ijge-online.com.
Copyright
Published manuscripts become the permanent property of the publisher, Elsevier (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. and may not be published elsewhere in any medium or any language without written permission.
Updated December 2010
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