For research articles, please follow the structure outlined below. This ensures clarity and consistency across all submissions.

Maximum Page Count:
The final manuscript, once formatted, should not exceed 5 pages, excluding the reference list. We understand that some research may require more space for full explanation, so we advise submitting your manuscript in a longer form. Our team will work to edit your manuscript down to fit the page limit without removing important content, if necessary.

Title (≤ 20 words):
The title should be concise yet descriptive of the main focus of your research. It should clearly indicate the subject matter without being overly technical or detailed. Avoid the use of abbreviations or acronyms in the title unless they are widely recognised.

Abstract (≤ 250 words):
Your abstract should provide a brief yet comprehensive summary of your study. It should include the following key components:

• A clear statement of the study’s aim or objective

• A brief description of the methods used

• A summary of the main results

• The conclusion or implications of the findings
  The abstract should be self-contained, without references to figures, tables, or citations. Avoid technical jargon to ensure it is accessible to a broader audience.

Introduction:
The introduction should provide a clear context for the research, highlighting the problem or question being addressed. This section should include:

• A brief overview of the background and significance of the study

• A review of relevant literature or previous work in the field

• A clear statement of the research question or hypothesis

Methods:
In the methods section, you should describe the materials and procedures used in your study. This section must provide enough detail for the study to be reproducible. Include:

• Study design and setting

• Sampling methods and participant details (if applicable)

• Instruments, materials, or data sources used

• Analytical techniques employed

Results:
The results section should present your findings clearly and succinctly. Include:

• Data in the form of tables, figures, or graphs (if applicable)

• A description of the results without interpretation

• Statistical analysis and significance, if applicable
  This section should focus solely on presenting data; interpretation or discussion of the results should be reserved for the discussion section.

Discussion:
In the discussion, you should interpret your findings in the context of existing research. This section should include:

• A summary of the main findings and how they address the research question

• A comparison with previous research or literature

• An exploration of the implications of the findings for the field

• Limitations of the study and suggestions for future research

Conclusion:
The conclusion should succinctly summarise the main findings of the study and their broader implications. It may also include recommendations based on the results. Keep this section concise and focused on the key takeaways from your research.

Reference List:
The reference list should follow our specific referencing guidelines, which are outlined in the ‘referencing guidance’ section. Ensure all citations are accurate and formatted according to the required style. Only include references that are directly cited in your manuscript.

For review articles, we provide flexibility in structuring the content based on the author's preference. However, the following general outline can be used as a guide to ensure clarity and consistency. The review manuscript should focus on critically analysing and synthesising the existing literature around a particular topic or research question.

Maximum Page Count:
The final manuscript for review articles should not exceed 5 pages, excluding the reference list. We recommend submitting the review in a longer form, as our team will edit and condense it to fit the page limit while maintaining the essential content.

Title (≤ 20 words):
The title should be clear, concise, and reflect the core theme of the review. Avoid vague or overly broad titles, and refrain from using abbreviations unless they are well recognised within the field.

Abstract (≤ 250 words):
The abstract should provide a concise summary of the review, including:

• The main focus of the review

• Key themes or areas explored

• Major insights or conclusions drawn from the literature
  Avoid references to figures, tables, or citations in the abstract.

Introduction:
The introduction should outline the background and purpose of the review. This section should include:

• A clear statement of the topic or research question being reviewed

• A brief rationale for why the review is important in the current context

• An overview of the structure or approach of the review

Main Body & Discussion:
The main body and discussion should synthesise the findings from the literature and provide critical analysis. This section can be organised by thematic topics or questions chosen by the author. Each theme or section should be clearly marked with headings and may include:

• Key studies, findings, or advances in the field

• Current trends, challenges, or controversies

• Gaps in the literature or areas for future research
  In the discussion, you should:

• Summarise key insights from the reviewed literature and how they contribute to the understanding of the topic

• Discuss the implications of the findings and their relevance to the field

• Identify contradictions, gaps, or unanswered questions in the literature

• Suggest future research directions or areas needing further exploration

Conclusion:
The conclusion should briefly summarise the main points of the review and highlight significant insights. Avoid introducing new content in this section, and focus on reflecting on the broader implications of the literature reviewed.

Reference List:
The reference list for review articles should follow our specific referencing guidelines, as detailed in the ‘referencing guidance’ section. Ensure all citations are accurate and formatted according to the required style. Only include references that are directly cited in your manuscript.

An appendix is optional and may be included at the end of your manuscript. If you wish to include supplementary material, such as detailed tables, additional data, or complex figures, the appendix can serve as a space to provide this information without overcrowding the main body of the manuscript.

Guidelines for Including an Appendix:

• The appendix should be clearly labelled as “Appendix” and can be numbered if there is more than one (e.g., Appendix 1, Appendix 2).

• Ensure all appendices are referenced appropriately within the main text.

• The appendix should be included in a seperate file to the submitted manuscript document.

• If figures or tables are included in the appendix, ensure they are clearly labelled and described in the main manuscript.

• Keep the content concise and relevant to the manuscript, ensuring it enhances the understanding of your study without introducing unnecessary detail.

If you are unsure whether to include an appendix, please feel free to contact us for advice.

At BioShorts, we will format the final manuscript according to our in-house style. Authors should focus on submitting the written content in a clean, easily editable format. We ask that you submit your manuscript as a Word document, ensuring it contains only the text and any necessary figures.

Figures:
Please insert figures as clear images within the text. Alternatively, you may submit figures as separate files, ensuring that each image is labeled and corresponds to the appropriate figure reference in the text. We recommend using high-quality images for clarity and legibility.

Text Formatting:
If you are submitting a research article, please use the predefined headings to structure your manuscript (abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, conclusion). For review articles, authors are free to define their own structure. However, each section should be clearly delineated with an appropriate heading.

Our citation format is similar to that of Nature. In-text citations should be numbered using superscript. Please use the following example as a template:

"1. Lastname, Firstname. Article title. Journal title volume, page-page (year). DOI"

Considerations:

• Articles with ≤3 should list all authours; articles with 4≤ should list the primary author followed by 'et al.'

• DOIs will be hyperlinked by BioShorts prior to publication.