1. Introduction

Networking (this journal) is a leading international, peer-reviewed journal that publishes rigorously high quality original articles and authoritative reviews that focus on Networking. All articles are published fully Open Access. The journal welcomes Original Papers, Commentaries, Comprehensive Reviews, Perspectives, Brief Reports, Letter to the Editor on all aspects of networking and its applications. Conference papers may be accepted if they have been substantially extended. Special issues of the journal that focus on a particular aspect of the field are also occasionally published.

Authors are advised to follow the instructions in these Author Guidelines to ensure that their manuscript is processed efficiently and adheres to the journal's scope, which spans fundamental, practical, and Intersecting science of this field.

 

2. Manuscript Types

The journal accepts the following categories:

· Original Paper: Full-length articles reporting novel findings in this field.

· Commentary: Short opinion pieces that discuss recent developments, emerging topics, or controversial issues in research.

· Review: Comprehensive overviews of recent advances in science of this field, including fundamental research, practical studies, and new technologies.

· Perspectives: Overview articles that analyze worldwide developments, research directions, and emerging priorities in this field, highlighting regional differences and global perspectives.

· Brief Reports: Short articles reporting novel findings in this field.

· Letter to the Editor: Invited or unsolicited expert commentaries on current trends or challenges in research.

 

3. Manuscript Structure

3.1 Title Page

· The title page should include:

· Full title: The title should be clear, concise, and accurately reflect the content of the manuscript.

· Running title: ≤ 50 characters.

· Authors’ full names: Include all authors and their institutional affiliations in the order of contribution.

· Institutional affiliations: Include department names, institutions, cities, and countries.

· Corresponding author: Name, full address (including postal code), email address, and ORCID iD (recommended).

· Funding information: If applicable, include the names of funding sources and grant numbers.

3.2 Abstract, Keywords and Funding Information

· Abstract: For Original Papers, Commentaries, Comprehensive Reviews, Perspectives, Brief Reports, the abstract must follow the structure and word count guidelines outlined below:

Original Paper/Brief Reports: (Structured Abstract ≤ 300 words)

Should include the following sections:

—Background: Brief context of the research question and purpose.

—Materials and Methods: Key methods used, including study design, sample size, and analysis techniques.

—Results: Summary of key findings with statistical significance (if applicable).

—Discussion: Brief interpretation of the findings or their implications.

—Conclusion: Implications of the findings, including scientific relevance.

Commentary/Letter to the Editor: (Structured Abstract ≤ 300 words)

Should include the following sections:

—Introduction: A concise statement describing the reason for reporting.

—Presentation: Essential information, including history, examinations and management.

—Results: Research outcomes and key observations.

—Discussion: Brief comment on the importance of the findings.

—Conclusion: Key takeaways from the research, highlighting its novelty or significance.

Review / Perspective: (Unstructured Abstract ≤ 300 words)

Should provide a concise overview of: 

—Scope and purpose of the review/perspective

—Major themes or topics covered

—Key recent advances or updates in the field

—Overall conclusions and implications for future research or practice

An unstructured abstract is preferred for review/perspective articles.

· Keywords

Original Papers, Commentaries, Comprehensive Reviews, Perspectives, Brief Reports:

—Provide 3–8 keywords.

—Use singular noun forms and avoid overly broad or overly specific phrases.

· Funding Information

Original Papers, Commentaries, Comprehensive Reviews, Perspectives, Brief Reports: If applicable, include Funding Information in this section. This should specify the source of any financial support received for the work presented in the article.

—The funding details should be provided, including the name of the funding body, grant numbers, and the role of the funders (if applicable).

—If no external funding was received, state: This research received no external funding.

3.3 Main Text

URLs are not allowed to appear in main text.

Original Paper/Brief Reports

Manuscripts should be organized into the following sections:

· Introduction: Provide the scientific background, rationale, and primary objectives of the study.

· Materials and Methods: Describe the study design, participants or specimens, procedures, interventions, outcome measures, and statistical analyses in sufficient detail to allow reproducibility.

· Results: Present key findings in a clear and logical sequence, supported by tables and figures where appropriate.

· Discussion: Interpret major findings, compare them with existing literature, clarify strengths and limitations, and explain their scientific or significance.

· Conclusion: Summarize the main conclusions and implications of the study.

Commentary/Letter to the Editor

· Should be concise and focused.

· No section numbering is required.

· The content may include expert opinion, context for current developments, or discussion of emerging issues in the field.

Review / Perspective

Reviews may use flexible, unstructured sectioning. Suggested structure:

· Introduction

· Main body with thematic subsections

· Conclusion

· future direction (optional)

Authors should ensure the review is comprehensive, balanced, and appropriately referenced.

3.4 References

· Citation Style: APA style.

· References should be numbered in the order they appear in the text and listed accordingly.

· Excessive self-citations should be avoided.

· The number of references is restricted. Please refer to the Temple document. (see For Authors-Manuscript Preparation)

3.5 Figures and Tables

· Resolution: Figures should be ≥ 300 dpi (JPEG/PNG), ≥ 600 dpi (line art).

· Titles and Legends: Figures and tables must have descriptive titles and legends. The first word and proper nouns should be capitalized.

· Editable files for figures and tables must be provided.

· URLs are not allowed to appear in figures or tables.

· Permissions: Obtain permission for previously published material. Include the necessary documents from the copyright holder.

3.6 Supplementary Materials

· Include datasets, additional figures, video files, extended tables, or source code. Supplementary materials will be published online as submitted.

 

4. Formatting Requirements

· File format: Microsoft Word.

· Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt.

· Line spacing: Double-spaced.

· Margins: 2.5 cm (1 inch).

· Page and line numbering: All pages and lines should be numbered.

· Units: Use the International System of Units (SI) exclusively.

 

5. Ethical Standards

5.1 Human and Animal Research

Research involving human participants must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki (https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-declaration-of-helsinki-ethical-principles-for-medical-research-involving-human-subjects/), and authors must provide IRB approval and informed consent statements.

• Animal research must adhere to national or institutional guidelines, and ethics approval must be provided.

5.2 Conflict of Interest

· Authors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest. A Conflict of Interest statement should be included in the manuscript.

5.3 Research Misconduct

· Fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, inappropriate image manipulation, and duplicate publication are strictly prohibited. Any suspected misconduct will be handled according to COPE guidelines (https://publicationethics.org/guidance/Flowcharts).

 

6. Data Availability

· Authors must include a Data Availability Statement (DAS):

—Data available in public repositories (e.g., Dryad, Figshare, Zenodo) is highly encouraged.

—Data available from authors upon reasonable request.

—Data cannot be shared due to privacy or ethical restrictions, with reasons stated.

 

7. Reporting Guidelines

· Authors should follow the appropriate reporting guidelines based on the study type:

—CONSORT for clinical trials (https://www.consort-statement.org/)

—PRISMA for systematic reviews (http://www.prisma-statement.org/)

—STROBE for observational studies (https://www.strobe-statement.org/)

—ARRIVE for animal experiments (https://arriveguidelines.org)

—CARE for case reports (https://www.care-statement.org/)

—CHEERS for health economics studies (https://www.cheers-statement.org/)

 

8. Preprint Policy

· Manuscripts posted on non-peer-reviewed preprint servers (e.g., bioRxiv, medRxiv, arXiv, HEP Preprint) are accepted.

· Authors must disclose preprint details (DOI/URL) during submission.

 

9. Authorship Criteria

· Authorship must meet ICMJE criteria (https://www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/roles-and-responsibilities/defining-the-role-of-authors-and-contributors.html):

· Substantial contribution to conception, design, data acquisition, analysis, or interpretation.

· Drafting or revising the manuscript.

· Final approval of the version to be published.

· Accountability for all aspects of the work.

Changes to authorship require written approval from all authors.

 

10. Copyright and Licensing

· Copyright: Authors retain copyright of their work.

· Licensing: Articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

· Article Processing Charges (APCs): The journal charges an APC upon manuscript acceptance. Waivers or discounts are available for authors from low-income countries or those facing financial hardship.

 

11. Language and Editing

· Manuscripts must be written in grammatically correct English.

· Authors requiring language support may use professional editing services before submission.

 

12. Submission Checklist

Before submitting, ensure that:

· The manuscript follows the required structure.

· The title page is complete.

· All authors meet the authorship criteria.

· IRB approval and consent statements are included.

· Figures and tables have correct resolution.

· References are formatted according to APA style.

· A Data Availability Statement is included.

· COI (Conflict of Interest) forms are completed.

· Reporting guideline checklists are uploaded. (see 7. Reporting Guidelines)

· The manuscript is checked for plagiarism.