Information for Authors

1. Submission Overview

All manuscripts destined for journals under Bytran Publishing Services (BPS) may be submitted through the online submission platform linked on each journal’s website. While online submission is preferred for efficient tracking and peer-review management, BPS also accepts submissions made through the official editorial office email or other approved communication channels..

A maximum of two authors may be designated as corresponding authors. They are responsible for all communication with the editorial office during peer review, revision, and production.

Before uploading a manuscript, authors should carefully review the journal’s Aims and Scope to confirm that the topic, methods, and article type are appropriate for the journal.

BPS welcomes contributions from all countries and from all academic and clinical disciplines represented by its journals. Each submission must present original research or a substantive, well-founded review of existing literature.

2. Manuscript Types

Each journal may offer several article categories. In general, the following types are accepted:

  • Article: full length reports of new studies including complete methods and data
  • Review: in depth analyses and syntheses of published work on a defined subject
  • Short communication: concise reports describing new findings, pilot data, or early observations
  • Perspective or conceptual paper: scholarly discussions of emerging ideas, theories, models, or directions in the field
  • Editorial: invited commentary, policy reflection, or opinion pieces prepared by editors or experts

Journals may specify additional categories in their individual instructions.

3. Manuscript Preparation

Authors are expected to prepare manuscripts in clear, precise academic English. For original research articles, the main text should usually follow the IMRAD structure:

  • Introduction: explain the background, motivation, knowledge gap, and purpose of the study
  • Methods: describe study design, materials, participants, procedures, and analytical techniques in sufficient detail to allow replication
  • Results: present key findings in a logical order, supported by tables and figures where appropriate
  • Discussion: interpret the results, relate them to existing evidence, highlight strengths and limitations, and outline implications or future work

For review articles, authors should use logical thematic sections with descriptive subheadings instead of a strict IMRAD layout. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses should additionally describe the search strategy, eligibility criteria, study selection, and synthesis methods.

Formatting guidance:

To support efficient peer review and production, authors are encouraged to follow a consistent, journal-style format. A manuscript template may be downloaded from the journal website and used as a starting point. Careful adherence to the template helps maintain professional presentation and reduces technical revisions.

4. Manuscript Length and Overall Structure

The main text (excluding references, tables, and figure legends) should typically range from 4,000 to 8,000 words. The manuscript should usually include:

  • Title page
  • Abstract
  • Keywords
  • Main text
  • Back matter sections must follow the exact order specified in the official BPS manuscript template. Typically, this includes: Author Contributions, Funding Statement, Ethical Approval, Informed Consent Statement, Data availability statement, Acknowledgments (optional), Conflict of Interest Statement, followed by any required supplementary information.Reference list
  • Appendices if needed

All pages should be numbered in sequence, and continuous line numbering must be activated throughout the document to assist reviewers and editors in referring to specific sections.

5. Abstract and Keywords

For original research articles, the abstract should not exceed 250 words and should briefly summarise:

  • Background or context
  • Study objectives
  • Key methods
  • Principal results
  • Main conclusions

For review articles, short communications, perspectives, and other article types, a structured or unstructured abstract may be used. Regardless of format, the abstract should remain concise (up to 250 words) and accurately reflect the content and scope of the manuscript.

Authors should provide three to eight keywords, listed in alphabetical order and separated by semicolons. Keywords should represent the main concepts, methods, or populations studied and support indexing and discoverability.

6. Figures and Tables

All figures and tables must be cited in the text in the order in which they appear. Use “Figure 1, Figure 2”, “Figure 1 (A) or Figure 1 (a)”, “Table 1, Table 2”, “Table 2 (A), or Table 2 (a)”, and so on. Every figure and table requires:

  • Short, Informative Title    
    A brief label that identifies what the figure or table is about.   
    Example: Figure 2. Trends in annual CO₂ emissions
  • Descriptive Caption     
    A fuller explanation that helps readers interpret the figure or table without referring back to the main text. Captions may include clarification of variables, abbreviations, methods, or key observations.      
    Example: “CO₂ emissions increased steadily from 2010 to 2024, with the sharpest rise observed in industrial sectors. Error bars indicate 95% confidence intervals.”

A figure/table title provides a concise label of the content, whereas the caption offers explanatory detail required to fully understand the visual or numerical information presented. They are complementary but not interchangeable.

Figure captions must be placed below the figure, while table captions are placed above the table.

Example of figure caption:

Figure 1. Relationship between duration of the intervention and patient quality of life scores.

Example of table caption:

Table 1. Summary of participant demographic characteristics.

Within the text, refer explicitly to the figures and tables, for example:

  • “As shown in Figure 2, the treatment group reported higher mean scores.”
  • “Baseline characteristics are summarised in Table 1.”

All images must be of high quality with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi and submitted in standard formats such as JPEG, TIFF, or PNG. Authors must ensure that all labels, symbols, and legends are legible and that fonts and styles are consistent across all figures.

7. Text Formatting

Manuscripts should be prepared in Microsoft Word (.docx) using Times New Roman, 11-point font and 1.2 line spacing throughout the entire document. Page numbers and continuous line numbers must appear on every page.

Headings and subheadings should be numbered to reflect the structure of the article and to guide readers through the text. A typical layout for research articles is:

  • Introduction
  • Materials and methods
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • Conclusion

Subsections follow a double numbering system, such as:

  • 1.1. Background
  • 1.2. Objectives
  • 2.1. Participants
  • 2.2. Data collection
  • 2.3. Data analysis

The first three levels of headings should be in bold. A fourth level (if unavoidable) may be presented in italics with no numbering. Each section begins on a new line but does not need to start on a new page.

To maintain a uniform and reader-friendly layout, authors should observe the following conventions:

  • Keep 1.2 line spacing throughout, including references
  • Use italics for scientific names, Latin expressions, variables, and statistical symbols
  • Avoid underlining except when strictly necessary
  • Define all abbreviations and acronyms at first use
  • Write numbers below ten in words unless attached to a measurement or percentage (for example, “five samples” but “5 mg” or “5%”)
  • Express all measurements using the International System of Units (SI)

8. Reference List Format

References must be cited in the order they first appear in the text and identified by Arabic numerals in square brackets such as [1], [2], or [3–5]. Every in-text citation must correspond to a full entry in the reference list at the end of the manuscript, and every reference in the list must be cited in the text.

Examples of citation in the text:

  • Single citation:     
    “Previous studies have reported improved survival among patients receiving early intervention [1].”
  • Multiple separate citations:
    “Similar findings have been observed under varying conditions in several studies [2,3,7].”
  • Consecutive references presented as a range:
    “This trend has been documented in multiple clinical investigations [4–6].”
  • Repeated use of a previously cited reference:      
    “These results are consistent with the observations described by Tan et al. [1].”

Authors must verify that author names, journal titles, publication years, volume and issue numbers, and page ranges are correct and complete. Whenever available, include the Digital Object Identifier (DOI).

Examples of reference style:

  • Journal article         
    Lee YK, Ahmad R. Circular economy adoption and industrial waste reduction in Southeast Asia. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2024; 452: 141289. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.141289
  • Book
    Kumar S, Tanaka H. Principles of Sustainable Infrastructure Development, 2nd edition. Routledge; 2023.
  • Book chapter      
    Nordin M, Perez G. Community engagement for climate resilience in urban planning. In: Choi L (editor). Sustainability and Smart Cities in the Asia Pacific Region. Springer Nature; 2024. pp. 105–128.
  • Thesis/Dissertation

Andolfi L. Empowering individuals to engage in the energy transition (PhD thesis). Université du Luxembourg; 2025.

  • Conference paper or proceeding
    Aroba OJ, Xulu T, Msani NN, et al. The adoption of an intelligent waste collection system in a smart city. In: 2023 Conference on Information Communications Technology and Society (ICTAS); 8–9 March 2023; Durban, South Africa. IEEE; 2023. pp. 1–6. doi: 10.1109/ICTAS56421.2023.10082750
  • Online source      
    United Nations Environment Programme. Global progress report on sustainable consumption and production. Available online: https://www.unep.org/resources/report (accessed 1 July 2025).

9. Language and Style

Authors must use clear, grammatically accurate, and professional English. Either American or British spelling is acceptable, but the selected convention must be followed consistently throughout the manuscript.

If needed, authors may obtain assistance from professional language editing services or from colleagues proficient in academic English before submission. Language quality is an important consideration during peer review and editorial assessment.

10. Artificial Intelligence Use Policy

Bytran Publishing Services supports transparent and responsible use of artificial intelligence tools in manuscript preparation.

Authors may use AI tools for:

  • Spelling and grammar checking
  • Language and style refinement
  • Assistance in designing or sketching figures

However, authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the work.

If AI tools are used in any part of manuscript preparation, including text editing, data visualisation, or image generation, this must be clearly acknowledged in the manuscript, usually in the Acknowledgments section or in a short note. The statement should specify which tool was used and for what purpose, for example:

“The authors used [tool name] to assist with grammar checking and figure visualisation.”

AI tools must not be used to generate or fabricate research data, statistical analyses, study results, or citations. All scientific content, interpretation, and conclusions must originate from human authors. The editorial office may request clarification about AI use during review. Inappropriate or undisclosed use of AI may lead to requests for revision, rejection of the manuscript, or retraction in serious cases, in line with the publisher’s ethics policy.

11. Ethical Responsibilities

Bytran Publishing Services follows international standards for publication ethics and integrity. Authors are expected to:

  • Submit only original work that has not been published previously and is not under review elsewhere
  • Cite all relevant sources accurately and avoid plagiarism, self-plagiarism, or data manipulation
  • Provide a statement of ethical approval for studies involving human participants or animals
  • Include a statement of informed consent when required, particularly for research that involves human subjects, identifiable data, or images
  • Disclose all sources of funding and any potential conflicts of interest

To help authors meet ethical requirements, BPS provides an official Informed Consent Template. Authors may use this template or provide an institutional version that satisfies equivalent ethical standards.

Any serious ethical breach may result in rejection, correction, or retraction, following the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

12. Additional Ethical Requirements for Medical and Clinical Research

For journals that publish medical, clinical, or biomedical research, BPS expects enhanced ethical compliance consistent with international norms. Authors must ensure that all work involving human participants, patient data, or biological materials meets the following standards:

  • Institutional Review Board or Ethics Committee approval:      
    All research that involves human participants, clinical records, patient images, or biological specimens must obtain prior approval from an ethics committee, research ethics board, or institutional review board. The manuscript should clearly state the committee name, approval number or reference code, and date of approval.
  • Compliance with international guidelines:
    Clinical and biomedical studies must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and any applicable national or regional regulations.
  • Written informed consent:     
    Written informed consent is required for all prospective clinical studies and any research in which participants are contacted, examined, or exposed to interventions. Consent may be given by participants or by legally authorised representatives in accordance with local law. Editors may request copies of consent forms or related documentation during peer review.
  • Consent to publish identifiable data:  
    If a manuscript includes identifiable patient information such as clinical photographs, videos, radiological images, or detailed case descriptions, separate written consent for publication must be obtained. Anonymization alone is not considered sufficient if individuals could still be recognised.
  • Clinical trial registration:       
    Interventional clinical trials must be registered in a publicly accessible registry (for example, ClinicalTrials.gov, ISRCTN, or a registry recognised by the World Health Organization) before enrolment of the first participant. The trial registration number should be stated on the title page or in the Methods section.
  • Vulnerable populations:         
    Research involving children, pregnant individuals, older adults with cognitive impairment, critically ill patients, or other vulnerable groups must include special safeguards. Authors should describe the rationale for including these populations, the consent procedures, and any additional protections implemented.
  • Use of human biological materials and genetic data:    
    Studies that use tissues, blood, DNA, or other biological materials must confirm that collection, storage, and subsequent use were approved by the relevant ethics committee and conducted in line with biosafety and data protection rules. Where applicable, informed consent should cover potential future use of samples and data.
  • Confidentiality and clinical data protection:   
    Patient privacy must always be protected. Data should be deidentified or anonymized before analysis and submission. Identifiable clinical datasets must not be placed in public repositories. Authors must comply with relevant data protection laws such as PDPA, GDPR, or equivalent national regulations.
  • Required ethical statements:  
    For medical and clinical studies, the manuscript must clearly describe ethics approval, informed consent procedures, consent for publication of identifiable information (when relevant), clinical trial registration, and adherence to recognised ethical and regulatory frameworks.

13. Peer Review Process

All manuscripts submitted to BPS journals undergo double blind peer review. Both reviewers and authors remain anonymous during the review process to promote fairness and reduce bias.

The typical steps are:

  • Initial assessment:
    The editorial office screens the submission for scope, basic quality, and adherence to journal policies. A similarity check is conducted using Crossref Similarity Check (iThenticate) or an equivalent tool.
  • External peer review:
    Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are sent to at least two independent experts with appropriate subject expertise.
  • Editorial decision:
    The Editor-in-Chief or handling editor evaluates the reviewers’ reports and decides whether to accept, request revision, invite resubmission, or reject the manuscript.
  • Revision and resubmission:
    If revisions are requested, authors are invited to respond to each reviewer comment and to submit a revised version. Further rounds of review may be arranged if needed.

On average, the time from submission to first editorial decision is approximately four to six weeks. Once a manuscript is accepted, it proceeds to professional editing, typesetting, and proofing, with online publication typically within two weeks.

For more detailed information, authors may consult the Editorial Process section on the BPS website.

14. Conflict of Interest

Authors must declare any financial, personal, academic, or professional relationships that could influence, or appear to influence, the research process, interpretation of the findings, or preparation of the manuscript. Examples include:

  • Paid employment or consultancies
  • Grants, honoraria, or speaker fees
  • Ownership of stocks or shares in relevant companies
  • Paid expert testimony
  • Close personal or professional relationships

A clear conflict of interest statement must be included in the manuscript. If there are no conflicts, authors should state:     
“The authors declare no conflict of interest.”

All disclosures must be recorded using the Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form, which is required for authors, editors, and reviewers.

15. Funding Disclosure

Authors must provide complete information about all sources of financial support for the research and for manuscript preparation. The funding statement should specify:

  • Name of the funding agency or sponsor
  • Grant number, if applicable
  • Brief description of the funder’s role, if any, in study design, data collection, analysis, or publication

If the work did not receive external funding, authors should include the statement:
“This research received no external funding.” or "None".

16. Data Availability

To support transparency and reproducibility, authors are encouraged to make underlying research data accessible whenever possible.

A Data Availability Statement should be included, indicating:

  • Whether data are openly available, restricted, or available on request
  • Where the data are stored (for example, Zenodo, Dryad, or an institutional repository)
  • Any conditions governing access

Authors must not upload peer reviewed but unpublished manuscripts to preprint or public repositories. Only datasets, code, protocols, and non confidential supplementary materials may be deposited prior to or during peer review, provided that these actions do not compromise participant privacy or violate legal or ethical restrictions.

17. Preprint Policy

BPS journals permit submission of manuscripts that have previously been posted as preprints on recognised servers such as arXiv, bioRxiv, or medRxiv.

Authors must:

  • Disclose any preprint at the time of submission
  • Provide the DOI or URL of the preprint
  • Ensure that the preprint version has not been formally peer reviewed and published elsewhere

Posting a preprint does not influence editorial decisions. Manuscripts are evaluated on their scientific quality and suitability for the journal.

Authors are not allowed to upload peer reviewed but not yet published versions of the manuscript to preprint platforms. Once the article is formally published by BPS, authors are encouraged to update the preprint record with a link to the final version on the journal website.

18. Copyright and License

Authors retain copyright to their work. Upon acceptance, they grant Bytran Publishing Services permission to publish and disseminate the article.

All articles are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which allows others to share, adapt, and build upon the work, including for commercial purposes, provided that proper credit is given to the authors and original source.

The full license text is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

19. Proofs and Publication

After acceptance, authors will receive article proofs in electronic form for final checking. Authors should carefully review the proofs for typographical errors, formatting issues, and minor corrections.

Corrections must usually be returned within three working days. Substantial changes to the content, such as new data or major revisions, are not normally permitted at this stage.

Once the corrected proofs are approved, the article is published online as the version of record, assigned a DOI, and made immediately available in open access.

20. Appeals and Complaints

If authors believe that their manuscript has not been treated fairly or that an editorial decision was made in error, they may submit a written appeal to the journal’s editorial office. The appeal should clearly state the reasons and provide any supporting information.

Appeals are reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief, and in some cases by independent editorial advisors or additional reviewers. Complaints involving editorial decisions, peer review, or publication ethics are handled in a transparent and respectful manner, in accordance with the recommendations of COPE.

21. Contact Information

Bytran Publishing Services Sdn. Bhd.

No. 55-S-12(A)-F&G, Menara Northam, No. 55, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, 10050 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.

Email: editorial_office@bytran-pub.com

Website: https://journal.bytran-pub.com

Authors with questions about submission, ethics, or journal policies are encouraged to contact the editorial office using the above details.