Author Guidelines

The American Journal of Applied Sciences (TAJAS)
ISSN: 2689-0992

The American Journal of Applied Sciences welcomes original research articles, review articles, and short communications in applied sciences and related interdisciplinary fields. Manuscripts should make a clear scientific contribution and explain the practical relevance or potential applications of their findings.

Authors should follow these guidelines when preparing a submission.

1. General Submission Requirements

• Manuscripts must be written in clear English and submitted in an editable Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx).

• Submissions must be original and must not be under consideration by another journal.

• All authors must approve the manuscript and agree to its submission.

• Related publications, preprints, and substantial overlap with earlier work must be disclosed.

• Submit manuscripts through the journal’s online submission system. Any alternative submission method must be confirmed by the editorial office.

2. Manuscript Formatting

Use a consistent, readable layout throughout the manuscript:

• Font: Times New Roman, 12-point.

• Line spacing: Double spacing.

• Margins: 2.54 cm (1 inch) on all sides.

• Page numbering: Number all pages consecutively.

• Headings: Use a clear hierarchy for sections and subsections.

• Abbreviations: Define abbreviations at their first appearance.

• Units: Use SI units where appropriate.

Provide tables and equations in editable form wherever possible. Explain mathematical symbols and technical terminology clearly.

3. Files Required for Submission

To support double-blind peer review, submit the following separately:

Title page: Include author names, affiliations, contact details, and identifying declarations.

Anonymized manuscript: Remove author names, affiliations, acknowledgements, and identifying information from the text and file properties. Refer to previous work objectively without revealing authorship.

Additional files: Provide figures, supplementary materials, datasets, code, and supporting documentation where relevant.

4. Title Page

The title page should include:

• A concise and informative article title.

• Full names of all authors in the agreed order.

• Department, institution, city, and country for each author.

• Corresponding author’s name and email address.

• ORCID iDs, where available.

• Funding information and conflict-of-interest declarations.

• Author contributions and acknowledgements.

The corresponding author is responsible for communication with the journal and sharing relevant updates with all coauthors.

5. Abstract and Keywords

Provide an abstract that summarizes the research objective, methods, principal findings, and conclusions. Explain the significance or practical relevance of the work without overstating its implications.

Avoid references and unexplained abbreviations in the abstract.

For original research, a structured abstract may use:

Background · Objective · Methods · Results · Conclusion

Review articles and short communications may use an unstructured abstract appropriate to their content.

Include four to six keywords that accurately describe the subject, methods, or applications of the study.

6. Structure of Original Research Articles

Introduction

Explain the research background, relevant literature, knowledge gap, and objectives. Identify the scientific or practical problem addressed by the study.

Materials and Methods

Describe the methods in sufficient detail to support evaluation and reproducibility. Where applicable, include:

• Research design and experimental procedures.

• Materials, equipment, instruments, and relevant specifications.

• Sampling methods and inclusion or exclusion criteria.

• Measurement procedures, calibration, and quality controls.

• Mathematical models, assumptions, and boundary conditions.

• Software, algorithms, computational settings, and version information.

• Statistical methods and measures of uncertainty.

• Ethical approvals and relevant permissions.

For computational studies, explain data sources, preprocessing, validation procedures, and performance measures. For experimental studies, describe controls, replication, and potential sources of error.

Results

Present findings clearly and logically using text, tables, and figures. Report relevant numerical results and uncertainty where appropriate.

Avoid unnecessary duplication between the text and visual material.

Discussion

Interpret the results in relation to the objectives and existing research. Explain the study’s contribution, practical implications, limitations, and applicability beyond the conditions examined.

Distinguish demonstrated findings from proposed applications or future possibilities.

Conclusion

Summarize the principal findings and their significance. Recommendations must follow from the evidence presented.

7. Other Article Types

Review Articles

Reviews should define their scope, critically assess existing literature, identify limitations, and explain research gaps or future directions.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses must describe the search strategy, eligibility criteria, selection process, quality assessment, and synthesis methods. Provide protocol registration details where applicable.

Short Communications

Short communications should present focused findings concisely while providing sufficient methodological detail and supporting evidence for assessment.

8. Tables, Figures, and Equations

• Number tables and figures consecutively in the order they are cited.

• Give each table a descriptive title and each figure a clear caption.

• Explain abbreviations, symbols, and statistical indicators in accompanying notes.

• Label graph axes clearly and include units.

• Supply high-resolution figures suitable for publication.

• Number equations consecutively when they are referenced in the text.

• Define variables and symbols at their first use.

• Disclose image processing that affects interpretation.

• Obtain permission for copyrighted material where required and provide appropriate credit.

Images must not be altered in ways that conceal, exaggerate, or misrepresent findings.

9. References

Use a consistent numbered reference style, with sources numbered in the order of their first appearance in the text.

Include author names, source title, publication details, and DOI or persistent identifier where available.

Journal article format:

Author surname and initials. Article title. Journal title. Year;volume(issue) range or article number. DOI.

Cite datasets, software, and other research resources where they contribute materially to the study. Identify preprints as preprints.

Authors must verify reference accuracy and ensure that each source supports the associated statement. Avoid irrelevant citations and excessive self-citation.

10. Research Ethics and Permissions

Research involving human participants, identifiable personal data, animals, or other regulated activities must include the relevant approval, exemption, consent, or permit information.

Where applicable, state:

• The approving committee or responsible authority.

• The approval or permit reference.

• The basis for any exemption or waiver.

• How informed consent and participant privacy were addressed.

• Relevant safety, environmental, or fieldwork permissions.

Authors must comply with applicable institutional and regulatory requirements and explain relevant ethical considerations in the manuscript.

11. Reporting and Reproducibility

Use reporting guidelines appropriate to the research design, where available.

Describe procedures, assumptions, analytical choices, and validation methods transparently. Claims about performance, accuracy, efficiency, or superiority should be supported by suitable comparisons and evidence.

Provide access to supporting data, code, protocols, or supplementary materials where feasible. Explain restrictions that prevent sharing.

12. Required Declarations

Include the following statements, as applicable:

Funding: Identify financial support and explain the funder’s role.

Conflicts of Interest: Declare relevant financial and non-financial interests, including commercial relationships or patents. State explicitly if none exist.

Author Contributions: Describe each author’s contribution to the work.

Data Availability: Explain where supporting data can be accessed or why access is restricted.

Code Availability: Provide access details for relevant software or code, or explain any restrictions.

Acknowledgements: Recognize contributions that do not qualify for authorship, with permission from the individuals named.

Ethics Approval and Consent: Provide applicable approval, exemption, and consent information.

During double-blind review, identifying declarations should be supplied separately through the title page or submission fields.

13. Use of Artificial Intelligence

Disclose substantive use of generative AI in manuscript preparation, analysis, or content creation. Identify the tool and explain its purpose.

When AI methods form part of the research, describe the models, data, evaluation procedures, and limitations sufficiently for scientific assessment.

AI tools cannot be listed as authors. Human authors remain responsible for the accuracy, originality, references, and integrity of submitted content. Confidential information must be protected.

14. Peer Review and Revisions

Submissions undergo initial editorial assessment followed by independent peer review where suitable.

If revisions are requested, submit:

• A revised manuscript.

• A point-by-point response to reviewer and editor comments.

• An explanation of changes and scientifically justified disagreements.

Acceptance depends on satisfactory editorial assessment of the manuscript and any revisions. An invitation to revise does not guarantee acceptance.

15. Publication Charges

Any applicable Article Processing Charge, payment conditions, and available waivers or discounts are disclosed on the journal’s Article Processing Charges page.

Payment does not guarantee acceptance or influence editorial decisions.

16. Copyright and Open Access

Authors retain copyright in their work. Published articles are freely available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), unless otherwise stated.

The license permits sharing and adaptation, including commercial reuse, provided that appropriate attribution is given, the license is linked, and changes are indicated.

Authors may deposit their published articles in institutional or subject repositories without an embargo, with acknowledgement of the original publication.

17. Proofs and Corrections

Authors must check publication proofs carefully, including names, affiliations, numerical results, equations, tables, figures, and references.

Substantial changes after acceptance require editorial approval. Authors must promptly inform the journal of significant errors discovered before or after publication and cooperate in correcting the scholarly record.

Submission Checklist

Before submitting, confirm that:

• The manuscript is original and is not under consideration elsewhere.

• All authors have approved the submission.

• The title page and anonymized manuscript are provided separately.

• The abstract, keywords, references, tables, and figures are complete.

• Methods and analytical procedures are described sufficiently.

• Ethical approvals, consent, and permissions are included where applicable.

• Funding, conflicts of interest, and author contributions are declared.

• Data and code availability statements are provided where relevant.

• Permissions for third-party material have been obtained where required.

• Substantive use of generative AI has been disclosed.

For submission assistance, contact the editorial office through the journal’s official Contact page.