JALA Instructions for Authors
- JALA accepts manuscript submissions on an ongoing basis from SLAS members and nonmembers via the JALA SAGETrack online manuscript submission and management system.
- JALA publishes manuscripts in four main categories — original reports, review articles, technology briefs and feature stories.
- Submissions will be returned to authors if they do not comply with manuscript and figure guidelines. Information follows.
- Please read these Instructions for Authors completely and carefully.
Content Focus
JALA authors, readers and reviewers are academic, commercial and government researchers, scientists and engineers who conduct research and develop new technologies to increase productivity, elevate data quality, reduce lab process cycle times or enable experimentation that otherwise would be impossible.
JALA's scientific content reflects an expanding population of laboratory researchers, engineers, practitioners/clinicians, educators, administrators, undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, policy makers, global health researchers and others who recognize the profound value of interdisciplinary collaboration.
With this in mind, JALA accepts method-focused manuscripts covering a wide range of technologies, which include sample processing (liquid handling, sample storage, sample analysis, and system integration); microfluidics (design, applications, and integration); informatics (LIMS, data acquisition and management, electronic laboratory notebooks and integration).
JALA does not limit the industries or research areas in which these technologies might be used, and has accepted manuscripts from pharmaceutical, biotechnology, chemistry, clinical, biochemistry, diagnostics, genetics, food technology, food safety, forensics, biosafety, university and government laboratories and materials science-based companies, vendors, and researchers.
Manuscript Guidelines
All manuscripts must be written in the English language (American English) and submitted as Microsoft Word documents. Manuscripts must be prepared with standard 12-point fonts (e.g. Times New Roman, Ariel, Symbol), double-spaced with one inch margins, and pages should be consecutively numbered. Text should appear in black (not in color or with colored highlights). Please include all elements except for figures in one MSWord manuscript document.
Manuscripts should include an introductory abstract of approximately 200 words or less that states the purposes of study or investigation, main findings, and the principal conclusions. In addition, three to five keywords should be provided for indexing purposes.
Manuscripts are expected to be concise, well organized and clearly written. (Click here for helpful advice.) The manuscript must follow ACS Style Guidelines (© 2006 by the American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C.), but the format of the paper should be organized as follows:
- Cover Sheet (includes title, author names and affiliations, keywords)
- Abstract (200 words)
- Introduction
- Materials and Methods
- Results
- Discussion (includes conclusions and summary)
- Acknowledgements
- References
- Tables
- Figure Legends
Authors who speak English as a second language may wish to consider working with English language editing services.
Manuscripts that require approval by an author's employer should be reviewed and cleared before they are submitted to JALA.
Manuscript Categories
Original Reports
Original Reports contribute new, original, novel, significant information and applications. Original Reports are a minimum of 2,000 words with no maximum word limit. Comparisons or conclusions must be supported by data. Original Reports may concentrate on improved quality, increased process speed, reductions in sample volume, reductions in process costs, or innovations in informatics or data handling to list a few examples. The editorial staff and reviewers will evaluate a manuscript's content against its length and may suggest shortening the manuscript as appropriate. Original Reports are peer reviewed by at least two experts in the field. [MANUSCRIPT EXAMPLE]
Review Articles
Review Articles do not cover original research but rather accumulate the results of many different reports on a particular topic into a coherent narrative about the state of the art in that field. Review articles provide information about the topic and also provide journal references to the original research. Reviews may be entirely narrative, or may provide quantitative summary estimates. Original Reports are a minimum of 2,000 words with no maximum word limit, and are peer reviewed by at least two experts in the field. [MANUSCRIPT EXAMPLE]
Technology Briefs
Technology Briefs are practical descriptions of an innovative new process, technique, instrumentation, device or software containing technical content that would be of interest and use to readers of JALA, but do not contain the same level of data or existing comparisons to justify publication as an Original Report. Innovation Briefs are typically shorter than original reports (approximately 2,000 words). Innovation Briefs are peer reviewed by at least two experts in the field. [MANUSCRIPT EXAMPLE]
Feature Stories
Feature Stories explore topics of general interest to the laboratory automation community. They may support the editorial theme of a special issue, or profile a unique or otherwise pertinent technology, person or company. They vary in length and may be invited by the editors or submitted without invitation. Feature articles are peer reviewed by at least one expert in the field. [MANUSCRIPT EXAMPLE]
Figure Guidelines
It is the author's responsibility to provide original, high-resolution images for all figures, photos and illustrations. Images should be at least five inches wide and may be saved as TIF, JPG, EPS or Microsoft PowerPoint files. PPTX files and ZIP files are NOT acceptable. If possible, save all images in one file, such as PowerPoint (but not PPTX or ZIP). The file name should include the lead author's name and indicate content (eg. Smith Figures 1 to 5).
There is no charge for images that appear in black and white. Authors who wish to publish color images may do so for a fee to subsidize additional printing expenses. Color charges are $800 for the first color page and $200 for each color page thereafter. Otherwise, figures will print in black and white free of charge and they will appear in color online only. If authors choose the color option for print, an invoice will be sent later in the production process.
Figures should be presented as simply and clearly as possible with the minimum symbology necessary to convey the information contained. Each variable in a figure should be represented in only one way — for example, either by a different symbol or by a different line pattern, but not both. To the extent possible, labels and annotations should be placed directly on the figure rather than in the caption below the figure. Recommended approaches for improving the clarity and style of figures can be found in The Visual Display of Quantitative Information by Edward Tufte. All abbreviations in figures should be spelled out in figure legends.
Tables
Prepare each table with a title. User Arabic numerals to number tables. Each table must be understandable independent of the text. Tables should be included in the MSWord manuscript document and positioned at the end (after the references), not within the text of the manuscript.
Supplemental Material
Authors may provide supplemental data for online publication to accompany their articles. Clearly label supplemental files and submit them separately from the manuscript. For supplemental text, figures and tables, the files should be submitted in one all-inclusive file as a PDF. Acceptable file formats for videos/movies are .mov, .mpg, and .avi. Supplemental data files should not exceed 15 MBs. Note that, if accepted, supplemental files will appear online only exactly as provided by the authors.
Mathematical Equations
Mathematical equations should be numbered sequentially using Arabic numbers in parentheses, for example, Eq. (1). In the text, equations should be referred to as Eq. (1), Eqs. (2)-(6). All equations should be legible so that every character is easily recognized. All symbols used should be defined in the text. If a special font (other than Symbol) is required for symbols, this should be indicated in a note to the editor.
Permissions Guidelines
Any text, tables, or figures reproduced from previously published work can only be reprinted with written permission from the copyright holder. Permissions must be submitted with the manuscript, and must include print and online publication. Acquiring permission is the sole responsibility of the author. The publication from which the material is taken must be listed in the references. For more detailed information about permissions, visit the SAGE Publications website.
Copyright and Simultaneous Submissions
Manuscripts are considered for publication with the understanding that if a paper is accepted, copyright is transferred to the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening, and that no paper presenting the same information has been or will be published elsewhere. If part of a contribution has appeared or will appear elsewhere, the author must specify the details in the comments portion of his or her submission. Simultaneous submissions of manuscripts to multiple journals at the same time is not acceptable — please do not submit manuscripts that may be under consideration by another publication or electronic medium. Published manuscripts may be published elsewhere only with the written permission of SLAS. Authors whose research was funded by an NIH grant may submit the final, accepted version of the manuscript for deposit in PubMedCentral. JALA requires such authors to specify a release date of 11 months following the date of print publication of the manuscript.
Conflicts of Interest
All prospective authors must recognize and disclose any conflict of interest, or potential conflict of interest, that may bias their work, or could be perceived to bias their work, and acknowledge all financial support and any other personal connections. JALA follows the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, especially as they relate to conflicts of interest.
Scientific Misconduct
In accordance with the Council of Science Editors, JALA recognizes that as a general guide, the term "research misconduct" applies to any action that involves purposeful manipulation of the scientific record such that it no longer reflects observed truth, or mistreatment of research subjects. The concepts of negligence and deceit are central to the definition of research misconduct. Research misconduct generally falls into one of four areas: fabrication of data, falsification of data, plagiarism, and unethical treatment of research subjects. [MORE]
If JALA suspects misconduct by authors, reviewers, editorial staff, or other editors, it will take action. This duty extends to both published and unpublished papers. JALA will first seek a response from those accused. If JALA is not satisfied with the response, JALA will ask the employers of the authors, reviewers, or editors, or some other appropriate body (perhaps a regulatory body) to investigate. In the case of its own editorial staff, JALA will conduct the investigation itself. JALA will make all reasonable efforts to ensure that a proper investigation is conducted. If this is not possible, or does not happen for whatever reason, JALA will make all reasonable attempts to persist in obtaining a resolution to the problem and a correction of the record if it is needed.
The Peer Review Process
The review process is confidential, and reviewers are obliged not to discuss papers or authors with anyone outside of the JALA editorial staff. Manuscripts are typically evaluated in response to these general Peer Review Guidelines and initial feedback is usually provided to authors within four weeks after submission. Manuscripts can be accepted as written by reviewers, declined as inappropriate, or as is more often the case, reviewers will suggest revisions in the spirit of mentorship. Authors are then offered the opportunity to revise and re-submit their manuscripts, or provide explanations in response to reviewer questions or suggestions. Revisions and responses are re-reviewed by the editor-in-chief and/or peer reviewers before final publishing decisions are made. Invited reviewers are asked to decline their invitation if they have any perceived conflict of interest with the author, the author's affiliation and/or the topic of the paper.
Offprints and Reprints
SAGE Publications will provide order forms and pricing information with page proofs of accepted manuscripts.
Other Submissions
Letters to the Editor
Comments on published articles are welcome and will be published if deemed appropriate by the editor. Letters should not exceed three double-spaced manuscript pages. Please include a brief title succinctly stating the topic of your letter. Letters to the editor are screened, but also may be peer-reviewed or subjected to rebuttal by the authors of the initial article. Send letters to the editor in MSWord file format to nhallock@slas.org.
News Releases
New product and company news announcements that may be of interest to JALA readers should be sent to nhallock@slas.org. They will be considered for publication in JALA and/or online in The Market Place at SLAS.org.
Editorial Contact
Send any questions, suggestions, ideas or concerns regarding JALA to:
Nan Hallock
Director, Publishing
Journal of the Association for Laboratory Automation
819 Shorewood Boulevard
Manitowoc, WI 54220
USA
Tel: +1.630.256.7527, ext. 106
E-mail: nhallock@slas.org
