Guide for Authors

Original contributions are welcomed by AIMJ from any country, but the prose used in manuscripts must conform to acceptable English usage. 

Plagiarism Status / Check similarity:

All submissions from all over the countries should be reviewed officially for plagiarism before submission.

In case your article did not pass the first plagiarism (similarity check), It will be turned back to authors and an official Plagiarism clearance certificate should be submitted at time of online re-submission. Editorial office will check again plagiarism (similarity check) for the re-submission and if plagiarism is still unaccepted immediate rejection will be sent to Authors.

Editorial office considers originality, academic integrity, and novelty of each article, so Editors will check again the Plagiarism clearance, regarding every single paragraph, including cited quotes, in-text citations and commonly used phrases in similarity (individual cannot change or rephrase e.g., names of liver function tests, thyroid function tests, names of diseases, or methodology…etc.) before assignment to reviewers. The unavoidable mentioned similarity is Ok, but plagiarism is not allowed. Editors have the total wright for immediate article rejection if plagiarism clearance is found in any percent. 

Copyright:

AIMJ is an Open Access journal. Users have the right to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of articles under the following conditions: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International Public License (CC BY-SA 4.0).

If accepted, This journal is open access, making your article freely available to all at any time without limitations. 

Editorial policy

The text must be clear, logical, and concise. In assessing a manuscript for publication, the Editor will also consider its originality, educational value, and validity. Recommendations regarding major reforming or corrections may be offered to help authors re-write their submission in a way that is acceptable to the journal. 

Contributions are accepted on the understanding that they have not been submitted simultaneously to another Journal and have not been published elsewhere. Dual publication or redundant publication is unethical. Redundant publication occurs when two or more papers, without full cross-reference, share the same hypothesis, data, discussion points, or conclusions. 

All contributions will be assessed by the editors for suitability for the journal. Suitable Papers are then sent to two expert reviewers to assess independently the scientific quality of the paper. The Editor's decision is final regarding the acceptance or rejection of articles. 

As peer review process is double-blind peer review, please prepare your manuscript in a way that conceals the identities of all the authors and tick the appropriate care during online submission. 

For double-blind review please do the following:

Do not include names or affiliations anywhere in the manuscript or Supplementary Information. 

When referring to your own work in the manuscript, use neutral terminology. Do not put phrase refers to your identity. 

Remove any author names from the figures. 

Include acknowledgments, author information/contributions, and author name order in the cover letter, not in the manuscript. 

Note that editors do not ensure that the paper is properly anonymized; that is the authors' responsibility. 

Authors can greatly assist the process of submission of correctly formatted papers in accordance with the following guidelines. 

Language editing services:

Authors who require information about language editing and copyediting services pre- and post-submission please visit Egyptian Knowledge bank (EKB) for more information. Use of an English-language editing service is not mandatory and will not guarantee acceptance or preference for publication. (EKB) neither endorses nor takes responsibility for any products, goods or services offered by outside vendors through our services or in any advertising. For more information, please refer to our Terms & Conditions (EKB). 

Online submission

All material should be submitted through the online submission and review system on (EKB). Separate file should be prepared for each of the following.

1-    Title page

2-    Manuscript main file (without Authors names)

3-    Figure

4-    Tables

5-    Research highlights

6-    Graphical Abstract

7-    Supplementary files

8-    Cover letter.  

Title page includes:

  • Type of manuscript original article/ metanalysis……etc.
  • Title: of the article
  • Short title:  running not more than 5 words.
  • Initials and name of each author 
  • The name, address, telephone, fax and e-mail details of the corresponding author.
  • Authors (ORCID)
  • Affiliations: Name and address of the department or institution to which the work should be attributed
  • Details of any meeting at which the work was presented, wholly or in part.
  • Corresponding author:
  • E-mail of corresponding Author:                                         
  • Address:     
  • Mobile No.:
  • No. of pages:           No. of Words: 
  • No. of figures:         No. of tables: 
  • Statements declaring that:   Conflict of interest and Authors’ contribution. 

Manuscript main file (without Authors names) in the following order:

9-   Title

2-   Abstract

3-   Main text

4-   Conflict of interest disclosure statement

5-   Authorship (Authors’ Contribution)

6-   Acknowledgment

7-   References

8-   Figure’s legends

9-   Tables’ descriptions

All above components should be prepared in a single file. 

  • Figures: Illustrations (Figures, diagrams) Each one should be submitted in a separate file.
  • Tables: Each one should be submitted in a separate file.
  • Research highlights: Short 4 phrases describing the article findings for non-specialized reader.
  • Graphical Abstract: submitted in a separate file if required. It is a single, concise, pictorial, and visual summary of the main findings of the article. This could either be the concluding figure from the article or a figure that is specially designed for the purpose, which captures the content of the article for readers at a single glance.
  • Supplementary files when indicated is submitted in a separate file: For example, Data files / Documents files / Digital media- video…. Or any additional files author finds it necessary or required by Editorial office.
  • Cover letter. Submitted in a separate file. 

Conflict of interest statement:

At the end of the text, under the subheading 'Conflict of interest statement', all authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence (bias) their work. 

Authorship:

All authors should have made substantial contributions to the article and should be mentioned in brief.  Please provide each author's contribution e.g. The conception and design of the study, or acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data, drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content or final approval of the version to be submitted. 

Acknowledgments:

All contributors who do not meet the criteria for authorship as defined above should be listed in an acknowledgements section. e.g., person who provided purely technical help, writing assistance, or a department chair who provided general support.  

Cover letter:

Manuscripts must be accompanied by a cover letter stating that confirms the following:

Guide for Authors" has been read, i.e., indicating compliance with those instructions and acceptance of the conditions posed.

Authors have seen and agreed to the submitted version of the paper, and bear responsibility for it; that all who have been acknowledged as contributors or as providers of personal communications have agreed to their inclusion.

The material is original; and that it has been neither published elsewhere nor submitted for publication simultaneously. 

Standardized reporting guidelines:

AIMJ is committed to standardize reporting of clinical trials, meta-analyses, and other studies as follows: 

-    Systematic Review 

A summary of the clinical literature. A systematic review is a critical assessment and evaluation of all research studies that address a particular clinical issue. The researchers use an organized method of locating, assembling, and evaluating a body of literature on a particular topic using a set of specific criteria. A systematic review typically includes a description of the findings of the collection of research studies. The systematic review may also include a quantitative pooling of data called a meta-analysis. 

-    Meta-Analysis 

A way of combining data from many different research studies. A meta-analysis is a statistical process that combines the findings from individual studies. 

-    Randomized Controlled Trial 

A controlled clinical trial that randomly (by chance) assigns participants to two or more groups. There are various methods to randomize study participants to their groups. 

-    Cohort Study (Prospective Observational Study) 

A clinical research study in which people who presently have a certain condition or receive a particular treatment are followed over time and compared with another group of people who are not affected by the condition. 

-    Case-control Study 

Case-control studies begin with the outcomes and do not follow people over time. Researchers choose people with a particular result (the cases) and interview the groups or check their records to ascertain what different experiences they had. They compare the odds of having an experience with the outcome to the odds of having an experience without the outcome.  

-    Cross-sectional study 

The observation of a defined population at a single point in time or time interval. Exposure and outcome are determined simultaneously.  

-    Case Series 

A report on a series of patients with an outcome of interest. No control group is involved. 

-    Case Reports 1-3 Cases study 

-    Ideas and Innovations, Editorial letter, and Opinions 

-    Personal observations and comments provided by experts in the field regarding the scientific topics. 

Preparation of manuscripts:

Failure to submit papers in accordance with these instructions will result in the return of the manuscript for correction before it is sent out for review. All copy must be typed double spaced, including text, bibliographies, figure legends and tables. Use a standard, easy-to-read word processor font such as Times New Roman or Arial. All pages should be numbered in the bottom right corner or bottom center. 

Papers should be set out as follows: title, abstract, keywords, text, Conflict of interest disclosure statement, Authorship statement, acknowledgements, references, figure legends, table legends. 

Main article types:

-    Original research articles should generally be no more than 3000 words in length, with 50 references and 10 figures/illustrated images/ tables. Please note that composite figures count as individual items. 

-    Review papers and Meta-analysis should be no more than 4000 words, with 100 references and 16 figures/illustrated imaged/tables. Please note that composite figures count as individual items. 

Other article types

-   Case Reports and Series:  Limited acceptance, Only AIMJ will accept the unique findings in diagnosis and management. Article should be no more than 800 words in length with 10 references and 4 tables/figures. 

-   Ideas and Innovations, Editorial letter and Opinions should be no more than 500 words in length, with five references and two tables/figures. If the letter is in response to a published article, then the article should be included in the reference list. 

Abstract and keywords:

The article abstract should consist of no more than 250 words. The journal requires structured abstracts, briefly describe the background, purposes or aims of the study, patient, and methods the subjects studied and the methods used, results; the main findings (including specific data and statistical analysis) and the conclusions.

Key Words: 5 in maximum describing the article findings and each word should be separated by semicolon (;)

-   Case Reports and Series / Ideas and Innovations, Editorial letter, and Opinions, put summary, in not more than 50 words without structured abstract. 

Text:

Headings should be appropriate to the nature of the paper. Research papers should usually be split into sections under the headings: Introduction, Materials/Patients and Methods, Results Discussion and Conclusion. Subcategories of heading may be used in methods section when indicated, e.g., technical steps, exclusion criteria. 

Drug/device names: Use generic names of drugs, suture materials and instruments whenever possible. Give the trade name in brackets after the generic or approved name, followed by manufacturer, city, state and country. 

Abbreviations should be avoided in the title and Abstract /summary. Explain abbreviations when they first occur in the text. 

Statistical Analysis:  Numerical data should be analyzed by appropriate statistical methods. When evaluating a manuscript, the Editor and statistical referees will consider the design of the study, the presentation of the data, the analysis of the data and the interpretation of the results. The use of standard deviation and standard error should be clearly distinguished. The statistical test(s) used should be stated clearly in the 'Methods' section of the paper. Statistical significance should not be confused with clinical significance. In particular, 'negative' findings should be interpreted using confidence intervals. Authors should beware of placing undue emphasis on secondary analyses, especially when they are suggested by an inspection of the data. 

Figures:

Figures should be cited in the text in an appropriate position and submitted online as separate files. The minimum resolution for high quality reproduction is 300 dpi.

Permission to reproduce illustrations from other sources should always be obtained before submission, and details included with the legend. The journal is published in full color (in print and online), so color photographs should be submitted wherever possible. Photographs must be in sharp focus with good contrast and should not be altered or retouched in any way. 'Before' and 'after' photographs of patients should be standardized in terms of size, position, and lighting. Provide scale bars on photomicrographs rather than stating the magnification in the legend. Legends are required for figures and should be included as part of the manuscript. All figures should be numbered in a single sequence. If the figure is composite author should indicate each image portion by Arial letter e.g., A.B.C... and write in legends as the following:  Figure 1(a) Pre-operative…. (b) Postoperative…. 

Please note that composite figures count as individual items. 

Patient confidentiality: where illustrations include individuals of whatever age who are recognizable or whose identity may be deduced from the context, written consent must be obtained for publication. All identifying features not considered relevant to the text should be obscured. 

Tables:

Tables should be cited in the text in an appropriate position. Tables should be double-spaced Microsoft word, and contain only horizontal rules. Do not submit tables as photographs. A short descriptive title should appear above each table and any footnotes, suitably identified, below. Care must be taken to ensure that all units are included. 

Supplementary data including Digital multimedia and video (DMM):

In not more than 3 minutes length for each DMM and a maximum 3, the journal accepts electronic supplementary material to support and enhance your scientific research. Supplementary files allow the author to submit supporting applications, movies, animation sequences, high-resolution images, background datasets, sound clips and more, which will be published online alongside the electronic version of your article. To ensure that your submitted material is directly usable, please ensure that data is provided in simple video formats.  DMM should be original of authors' own work. 

References:

Please ensure that you include all relevant references to previous articles in the AIMJ. The accuracy of references is the responsibility of the authors. Limit citations to those that are essential to the study. It is not necessary or appropriate to quote each historical reference unless there is a specific point to be made. 

References should be cited in the text in numerical order, not alphabetically, and be indicated in the text by superscript numbers, e.g., 1, 2 the reference list should be typed double-spaced and in numerical order. If there are more than 5 authors list only the first five followed by 'et al.' Journal titles should be abbreviated according to Index Medicus (see http://www.nlm.nih.gov/tsd/serials/lji.html). Internet resources should have their accessibility verified and all URLs should be checked again at proof stage. 

Examples:

-       Journal article: Helmy Y, Abo-Elghait H, McGregor P, Samir A and George John e al. Skin Graft Complications in Children. AIMJ. 2019; 15 (5): 220-4. 

-       Book chapter: Lister GD. Skin flaps. In Green DP, ed. Operative Hand Surgery. 3rd Ed. New York: Churchill Livingstone. 2015; 1741-1823. 

-       Book: Mathes SJ, Nahai F. Reconstructive Surgery: principles, anatomy, and technique. New York: Churchill Livingstone. 1997. 

-       Internet resource: International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Uniform requirements for manuscripts submitted to biomedical journals. Available at: http://www.icmje.org. Accessed 5th October 2019. 

Data References:

This journal encourages you to cite underlying or relevant datasets in your manuscript by citing them in your text and including a data reference in your Reference List. Data references should include the following elements: author name(s), dataset title, data repository, version (where available), year, and global persistent identifier. Add [dataset] immediately before the reference so we can properly identify it as a data reference. The [dataset] identifier will not appear in your published article.  

Clinical Trial Registry:

This journal advice all researchers for appropriate Clinical Trial Registry at any Known suitable registry on which you can register your trial. 

Clinical Trial Registry will be mandatory requirement for AIMJ at any time. 

The WHO Registry is an International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP). It has Pan African Clinical Trial Registry. Pan African Clinical Trial Registry (PACTR) is available to all African countries. It is free of charge and available at http://www.pactr.org/. 

Proofs

One set of page proofs in PDF format will be sent by e-mail to the corresponding author, which are requested to correct and return within 48 hours. Editor sends PDF proofs which can be annotated; for this you will need to download Adobe Reader version 7 available free from Adobe. The exact system requirements are given at the Adobe site. 

Significant changes to the article as accepted for publication will only be considered at this stage with permission from the Editor. We will do our best, to get your article published quickly and accurately. Therefore, it is important to ensure that all your corrections are sent back to us in one communication: please check carefully before replying, as inclusion of any subsequent corrections cannot be guaranteed. Proofreading is solely your responsibility. Note that AIMJ may proceed with the publication of your article if no response is received. 

Response to reviewers' comments:

When the Author does the required responses to reviewers' comments, He/she should send it in a separate word file and, put a different color (green or blue) for each correction made in manuscript. This makes it easier for reading.

The Authors should be informed that; The editor of a journal will receive their comments and might forward them on to reviewers. Responses should be answered point by point in a polite, organized, objective and scientific way.

Keep in your mind your response is concise and complete. There is no room for ego in your response. Start by thanking the reviewers for their efforts in revision. Answer each weakness they found in your paper in a satisfactory way for each comment. For sure strong revision gives an opportunity to have a high-quality article prior to publication.