Author Guidelines

1) Journal Profile & Aims (Summary)

APPS publishes original research, reviews, case studies, short communications, perspectives, and methodological papers in all areas of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, including pharmaceutics, pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical technology, pharmacovigilance, regulatory science, health outcomes, and related translational research. Submissions must contribute new knowledge or synthesize evidence relevant to researchers, clinicians, and practitioners.

• Peer Review: Double-blind, with authors and reviewers anonymized; submit a separate Title Page and Blinded Manuscript.
• Access & License: Articles are open access under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0). 
• Plagiarism Screening: iThenticate screening is applied prior to external review (site notes iThenticate usage). 

2) Article Types & Length

Authors should select the most appropriate article type during submission. Typical length guidelines (excluding abstract, references, tables/figures) are below; well-justified deviations are considered.

These article-type ranges support consistent handling and efficient peer review in line with APPS’ double-blind policy and submission workflow.

3) Manuscript Preparation (Files & Formatting)

To facilitate double-blind review, upload two primary files: (i) Title Page with author information; and (ii) a Blinded Manuscript with no identifying details. Figures may be embedded at first submission or uploaded as separate files for production.

• File formats: DOC/DOCX (preferred) or LaTeX (zip with .tex, .bib, figures). Final accepted figures: TIFF/PNG/JPEG/SVG at ≥300 dpi.
• Language & style: Clear scientific English; use SI units; define abbreviations at first use.
• Page layout: A4/US Letter; margins ≥2.5 cm; line spacing 1.5; 11–12 pt serif or sans-serif fonts.
• Line numbers: Continuous line numbering is recommended to aid review.
• Blinding: Remove author names, affiliations, self-citations phrased in first person, and identifying acknowledgments in the blinded file.

Required Sections (Blinded Manuscript)

1. Title (concise; include key variables and study design where relevant).
2. Abstract (200–300 words). For research: structured (Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions).
3. Keywords (3–8 terms).
4. Introduction (brief rationale and objectives).
5. Methods (study design, setting, participants/data sources, materials, procedures, endpoints, statistics; ethics approvals for human/animal work).
6. Results (primary and secondary outcomes; appropriate tables/figures; avoid duplication).
7. Discussion (interpretation, limitations, generalizability, future work).
8. Conclusions (one paragraph).
9. Data availability statement (repository and accession numbers where applicable).
10. References (see citation style below).

Non-Blinded Elements (Upload as Separate Files)

• Title Page: full names, affiliations, ORCID iDs, corresponding author contact, author contributions (CRediT), funding, conflicts of interest, ethics approvals/registration numbers, acknowledgments.
• Cover Letter: significance, fit to scope, compliance with ethical and reporting standards.
• Supplementary Materials: extended methods, datasets, checklists (e.g., PRISMA, CONSORT), and high-resolution figures.

4) Reporting Standards & Research Ethics

APPS aligns with widely used reporting standards where applicable (e.g., CONSORT for clinical trials, PRISMA for systematic reviews, ARRIVE for animal research, STROBE for observational studies). For human participants, include IRB/ethics committee approval and informed consent. For animal research, include institutional approval and humane endpoints. Conflicts of interest and funding sources must be disclosed on the Title Page and in the article footer.

• Publication Ethics: Follow the journal’s ethics pages and COPE guidance; suspected misconduct is handled following COPE flowcharts.
• Peer Review: Double-blind process; submit separate blinded and unblinded files as described. 
• Open Access: CC BY 4.0 license applies to published articles; include appropriate attribution when reusing materials.

5) References & Citation Style

Use a numbered citation style (Vancouver-like) in the text as superscripts or bracketed numbers in order of appearance. Provide full author list (up to six; use et al. thereafter), article title, journal title (abbrev. if desired), year; volume(issue):page range; DOI where available. For datasets or preprints, include persistent identifiers (DOI, accession). Check that all references are publicly accessible and accurately linked.

Ensure consistency between in-text citations and the reference list. Where a study has a registered protocol, cite the registry (e.g., PROSPERO, ClinicalTrials.gov).

6) Figures, Tables, and Data

• Figures: Preferred formats: TIFF/PNG/JPEG/SVG at ≥300 dpi; include readable axis labels and legends; provide accessible alt text in the manuscript for key figures where possible.
• Tables: Use the Word table tool or LaTeX tabulars; avoid embedded images of tables; include concise titles and footnotes defining abbreviations.
• Data sharing: Deposit datasets, code, or protocols in suitable repositories (e.g., Zenodo, Figshare, OSF, domain repositories) and cite them with DOIs. Align with the journal’s repository/archiving guidance.

7) Submission & Editorial Workflow

Submissions are made through the online portal (see “Submit Article”). Initial editorial screening evaluates scope fit, formatting, and plagiarism check. Suitable manuscripts are assigned to associate editors and sent to peer reviewers. Decision outcomes include: accept, minor/major revision, or reject. The journal indicates a rapid but rigorous turnaround; authors should respond to reviewer comments comprehensively and track changes for clarity.

• Submission Portal: Use the “Submit Article” link on the APPS site. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
• Anonymization: Upload Title Page and Blinded Manuscript separately to maintain double-blind review. 
• Revisions: Provide a point-by-point response letter and a marked-up manuscript highlighting changes.
• Final files: On acceptance, supply high-resolution figures, source files, and any required forms (copyright/licensing confirmations as applicable to CC BY 4.0).

8) Publication Charges, Waivers, Refunds & Withdrawal

APPS does not levy submission fees. Article Processing Charges (APCs) are applied only upon acceptance. Waivers or discounts may be available in line with the journal’s policies. Authors should review the relevant pages before submission and contact the editorial office with questions.

• APCs: See the current schedule on the journal’s APC page (e.g., research/review/case report, etc.). 
• Waiver Policy: Up to 50% waiver may be available under specified circumstances; apply via email with manuscript number and justification.
• Withdrawal & Refunds: Consult Withdrawal and Refund policies for conditions and any applicable fees/timeframes.

Institutional or funder agreements may cover APCs; authors should verify internal processes prior to payment authorization.

9) Authorship, Contributions & Conflicts of Interest

Authorship should reflect substantial scholarly contributions to conception/design, data acquisition, analysis/interpretation, drafting or critical revision, and final approval of the version to be published. Provide CRediT contribution statements on the Title Page. All authors must disclose conflicts of interest and funding. Disputes regarding authorship are handled per the journal’s ethical policies.

• Corresponding Author: Ensures all co-authors approve the submission and any subsequent revisions; serves as point of contact post-publication.
• Acknowledgments: List non-author contributors (e.g., technical editing, statistical advice) with permission.
• Conflicts of Interest: Financial and non-financial conflicts must be declared; a statement will be published with the article. (See examples on article pages.)

10) Plagiarism, Redundancy & Prior Publication

Manuscripts are screened using plagiarism-detection software. Duplicate submission, salami slicing, and redundant publication violate journal policy. If overlap is unavoidable (e.g., preprints, dissertations), disclose this in the cover letter and cite the source clearly. The journal follows COPE guidance for handling suspected misconduct.

11) After Acceptance: Production, Proofs & Publication

Accepted manuscripts proceed to copyediting, typesetting, and author proof review. Authors must check proofs carefully for accuracy of data, references, affiliations, ORCID iDs, funding statements, and license notices. Final articles are published online with article identifiers/DOIs and included in the journal’s issue/archives. Corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions are posted and linked to the Version of Record according to Crossref/COPE guidance and the journal’s policies.

• License display: CC BY 4.0 badge/text appears on the article landing page and PDF. 
• Indexing & discoverability: Article pages are structured for discovery and archiving as outlined across APPS’ policies (Open Access/Indexing/Archives).

12) Accessibility & Research Data Integrity

Prepare manuscripts with accessibility in mind: use descriptive headings, meaningful link text, alt text for key figures, and high-contrast figure elements where feasible. For data integrity, archive datasets and analysis code in stable repositories and cite them. The journal’s preservation and archiving guidance supports long-term availability and discoverability of your work.

13) Pre-Submission Checklist

• Cover letter states novelty, relevance, ethical compliance.
• Title Page with authors/affiliations, ORCIDs, contributions (CRediT), funding, COI, ethics approvals, and acknowledgments.
• Blinded Manuscript with required sections; line numbers; figures/tables referenced appropriately.
• References complete and DOI-linked where available.
• Data availability and permissions for third-party materials in place.
• APC, waiver, and policy pages reviewed before submission. 

14) Contact the Editorial Office

If you have questions before submitting, write to us—we respond promptly.

• Email: [email protected]
• Contact form: https://www.pharmacyscijournal.com/contact