ISSN: 2453-7209 CRICKETT

INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUTHORS


ARTICLE TYPES

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TELEGRAM

Telegrams are used in exceptional situations or for conveying express information (such as infection spreading updates; interim progress reports from complex surgeries; milestone achievements during expeditions or lengthy experiments; and similar urgent rapports, especially when needed for the record-keeping or time logging). Each CRICKETT Telegram is a short condensed message composed of ASCII symbols only, not exceeding 1,024 bytes, submitted as a plain ANSI-encoded text file (*.txt). The mandatory parts are the tags preceding each segment - the heading (tagged as "H:"), body text (B:), author name, author contact, and date. The optional components are bibliographic references and web links, placed anywhere within or immediately after the body text. All mandatory and optional parts count towards the file size limit. Heading: An informative title passing the major message; typically not exceeding 128 bytes; individual words must not be capitalized unless they are names, official abbreviations, or similar terms. Author: A single physical person; surname first and preceded by the ''AU:" tag, separated from given names with a colon. Author contact: At least one telecommunication address shall be included ( E: e-mail address; T: / F: phone number for text messages / fax, format +COUNTRYCODE-AREAOROPERATORCODE-NUM.BER-EXTENSION). Date: The day of submission, optionally with a time stamp, format D: YYYY-DD-MM, or optioanlly D: YYYY-MM-HH - hh:mm:ss. Example telegram:

H: This is the Telegram heading; fonts and formatting are applied by the CRICKETT Redaction. B: This is the Telegram body text (and this is the inline link to the CRICKETT journal home page: https://sites.google.com/view/crickett-index), all written as plain ASCII text. The following is just a mock placeholder to fill the remaining space up to the maximum file size - to give the potential Authors an idea about how big the 1024-byte text actually is. Text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text. AU: Dudas, Marek E: marek.dudas.sk@gmail.com T: +000-000-000.000 D: 2999-99-99 - 00:00:00

IMAGE

A visual documentation of important, surprising or unusual facts or processes (including videos, sounds, and various other signals), accompanied with a descriptive text. The graphical part is limited to a single front picture (photograph, drawing, map, graph, vector graphics, or other static visual representation, including composite images constructed from multiple such components). The aspect ratio or canvas shape can be deliberate, but the front image size must be easily viewable on handheld mobile screens (e.g., smartphones), and therefore must not exceed 8 x 8 cm (3.15 x 3.15 inch) in dimensions, 1,890 x 1,890 in pixel resolution, 600 DPI in granularity, and 2 MB in file size.

Additional sounds, videos, image galleries, or combined audiovisual records, including items with much higher resolution or size, can be submitted as supplementary materials (see the specifications in a separate chapter below), while the front picture must be a representative summary or a representative sample of the entire data collection (for example, the most interesting image(s) from a gallery, or a series of important still moments from a video, spectral analysis, a sound wave graph, Fourier decomposition, etc.). When accepted for publication, all images and sub-images (individual graphical components of composite images) must be provided in two formats: (1) as device independent bitmaps (*.bmp) without any compression or color distortion, and (2) as JPEG (*.jpg) or PNG (*.png) files with transparency settings and compression levels optimized for maximum data reduction without compromising the overall visual appearance and detail. The color encoding should always match the nature of the image (e.g., duotone, greyscale, limited color palette, full color of the appropriate bit depth).

The textual part should follow the general structure of Research articles (see below), but the total size of the text including the abstract, references and all other written elements shall not exceed 8,192 bytes (keystrokes, including spaces). The title must be written so that it is suitable as the article title and the picture name at the same time. The abstract must be written to be suitable for publication as a classical summary in scientific journals and bibliographic databases, and to serve as the figure legend at the same time.

SPOTLIGHT

Spotlight articles are short reports highlighting recent breakthroughs in sciences and/or the related societal aspects. The purpose can be (i) to document the existence, or to analyze the factual or future impact, of any scientific effort, result, or an objectively observable phenomenon or a unique or rare incident; (ii) to enhance deeper understanding of a certain discovery or of a series of discoveries; (iii) to derive a new hypothesis or to make a qualified and duly justified scientific prediction; (iv) to raise an important question or concern; (v) or to achieve any similar goal that is too complex for a Telegram or Image report but too preliminary or too simple for a full-featured Research, Review, or Knowledge article. Typical spotlight articles are clinical case reports, database or data collection descriptions pointing to external archives or online services, book critiques, mini-reviews, proper narrative conference proceedings (not just bundled abstracts), commentaries, or letters to the editors; other short article types can also be considered by the Redaction on an individual basis. Novelty for the entire scientific community is the key decision factor: For example, when a new case of a rare clinical diagnosis is observed, there is no need to write a CRICKETT Spotlight / Case Report as the sixth reference to the same clinical picture if five similar reports were already published anywhere (or, instead, writing a Telegram might be appropriate, if it is for some reason important to inform others about the existence of the 6th case). However, if something is very different in the recent case (for example, a whole-genome sequencing or cell-by-cell transcriptome analysis was performed for the first time and new insights of any kind can be provided for this disease), submitting a short report to CRICKETT is justified. Authors can freely choose from the writing styles defined for the CRICKETT Research, Review and Knowledge articles, but the Spotlight articles shall not exceed 32,768 bytes (keystrokes, including spaces) of all textual components, two A4 / Letter pages of total graphics, and two additional pages of total tables. Omission of graphics or tables shall not be compensated by inflated text.

PROTOCOL

Each Protocol article should provide a detailed description of a single experimental procedure, clinical examination, surgical intervention, therapeutic scheme, chemical compound synthesis, drug mixture formulation, or similar. Step-by-step instructions must be provided, together with example good results and example failures, possible deviations or alternative routes, explanations of the underlying principles, and with troubleshooting tips. There is no size limit, and the Protocol articles should reflect the general structure and length of Research articles.

RESEARCH

Research reports have no size limits, but must be written in the best possible balance between the clarity, detail, and brevity. They must contain original research findings together with their thorough analysis. The following structure and order of major headings are mandatory:

Title
Article name, not exceeding 256 characters, reflecting accurately its contents.

Running Title
A short abbreviated phrase derived wisely from the full title, not exceeding 64 characters, which can be repeated on every page of the published article.

Authors
Full names and affiliations of all authors, detailed correspondence contacts for corresponding authors only.

Abstract
A structured summary not exceeding 3,072 bytes (keystrokes, including spaces) with the following subheadings starting on a new line each:
BACKGROUND: Explain the key terms, the unknowns, and the overall status in the field before the presented research took place.
NOVELTY: Indicate precisely, which new knowledge was found or technological progress achieved, or briefly explain the eventual failure of prior expectations.
METHODS: Describe how you performed your study, how many samples were analyzed, and other relevant major facts.
DEPLOYMENT: State literally whether your outcomes can or cannot be directly utilized in medical practice or industrial production, indicate how / or why not, and classify the end-stage of your study in terms of the Technology Readiness Levels (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology_readiness_level) at the end of Abstract in parentheses. For example: (TRL-3)

Key Words
Up to 10 words or expressions pertinent to the article contents.

Introduction
Short but informative summary of the knowns and unknowns in the field.

Results
Present your research outcomes objectively, followed by clearly distinguished interpretations, meaning, and the conclusions drawn.

Supplementary Data
This article is (or is not) accompanied with the supplementary data. (If yes, make list them all and indicate the total size in KB, GB, TB, etc.).

Methods
Sufficient information must be provided, including references, for any Baccalaureate-level educated person to repeat the study and test the reproducibility of results.

Discussion
Critical analysis of the results, eventual failures, unresolved issues, contradictory studies by others, and the related aspects of the presented research.

Practical Applicability
Describe how, where and when the study outcomes can be used in practical life (medicine, industry, governing, etc.), or state why this is not currently possible and what could be done to elevate the achieved TRL.

Ethics and Legal Considerations
Describe all relevant issues, such as informed consent, conflicts of interest, animal welfare, ecological impacts of research procedures and research waste, and any other mandatory or voluntary disclosures.

Acknowledgements
Funding sources, help and support by other persons or organizations, and similar expressions of recognition or gratitude.

References
A list of published or other verifiable information sources, printed or digital. Personal communications and unpublished manuscripts cannot be referenced in CRICKETT publications. Ordered alphabetically by the surnames of the first authors.

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REVIEW

Reviews have no size limits, but must be written in the best possible balance between the clarity, detail, and brevity. They must bring new quality to human knowledge through summarizing and harmonizing various sources of information, extraction of essential messages, and thorough analysis of eventual inconsistencies or discrepancies. A typical use of CRICKETT Reviews is to understand the current status of research outcomes and research directions in a given field, as a starting point for new projects. The following structure and order of major headings are mandatory:

Title
Article name, not exceeding 256 characters, reflecting accurately its contents.

Running Title
A short abbreviated phrase derived wisely from the full title, not exceeding 64 characters, which can be repeated on every page of the published article.

Authors
Full names and affiliations of all authors, detailed correspondence contacts for corresponding authors only.

Abstract
A concise summary not exceeding 3,072 bytes (keystrokes, including spaces), written as a single paragraph, or following a logical substructure chosen or developed by the Author(s).

Key Words
Up to 10 words or expressions pertinent to the article contents.

Supplementary Data
This article is (or is not) accompanied with the supplementary data. (If yes, make list them all and indicate the total size in KB, GB, TB, etc.).

Introduction
Short but informative summary of the knowns and unknowns in the field, and the reason for reviewing the existing body of information.

Review
Free structure of subheadings and text organization, decided by the Author(s).

Practical Applicability
Describe how, where and when the study subjects an the study outcomes can be used in practical life (medicine, industry, governing, etc.), or state why this is not currently possible and what could be done to elevate the achieved TRL.

Ethics and Legal Considerations
Describe all relevant issues, such as private data access, conflicts of interest, and any other mandatory or voluntary disclosures.

Acknowledgements
Funding sources, help and support by other persons or organizations, and similar expressions of recognition or gratitude.

References
A list of published or other verifiable information sources, printed or digital. Personal communications and unpublished manuscripts cannot be referenced in CRICKETT publications. Ordered alphabetically by the surnames of the first authors.

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KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge treatises have no size limits, but must be written in the best possible balance between the clarity, detail, and brevity. They must bring new quality to human learning far beyond the level of research reports or literature reviews. This is achieved through using the mentioned and other information sources and through (i) adding further layers of abstraction and generalization alongside illustrative examples and complete lists of paradoxes or exceptions from the rules; (ii) exhaustive collection of absolutely all information available on the given topic (at least in scholarly publications); (iii) highlighting the most important facts while not forgetting even the tiniest detail, and sorting the pieces of information by relevance and placing them in appropriately delimited and visually formatted locations in the text; (iv) putting all facts in proper historical contexts, summarizing all prior successes and failures of the humankind in the given area of interest, and showing all dead ends in former research; (v) analyzing all previous hypotheses and theories, and creating new ones. A typical CRICKETT Knowledge treatise must allow a capable (top-quartile-ranking) high-school graduate to become an expert in the area covered, without studying other sources, and it must ignite creative thinking needed for further research or other progress in the field. Unlike other CRICKETT articles, which are more or less narrowly focused or broadly summarizing snapshots of science at a certain time point, the Knowledge treatises must be fully designed to grow and change in time (so that the updated versions can be readily published when needed, preserving absolutely all outdated information and clearly marking the newest additions). The following structure and order of major headings are mandatory:

Title
Article name, not exceeding 256 characters, reflecting accurately its contents.

Running Title
A short abbreviated phrase derived wisely from the full title, not exceeding 64 characters, which can be repeated on every page of the published article.

Authors
Full names and affiliations of all authors, detailed correspondence contacts for corresponding authors only.

Abstract
A concise summary not exceeding 3,072 bytes (keystrokes, including spaces), written as a single paragraph, or following a logical substructure chosen or developed by the Author(s).

Key Words
Up to 10 words or expressions pertinent to the article contents.

Supplementary Data
This article is (or is not) accompanied with the supplementary data. (If yes, make list them all and indicate the total size in KB, GB, TB, etc.).

Introduction
Short but informative summary of the knowns and unknowns in the field, and the reason for reviewing the existing body of information.

Knowledge
Free structure of subheadings and text organization, decided by the Author(s).

Ethics and Legal Considerations
Describe all relevant issues, such as private data access, conflicts of interest, and any other mandatory or voluntary disclosures.

Acknowledgements
Funding sources, help and support by other persons or organizations, and similar expressions of recognition or gratitude.

References
A list of published or other verifiable information sources, printed or digital. Personal communications and unpublished manuscripts cannot be referenced in CRICKETT publications. Ordered alphabetically by the surnames of the first authors.

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FREELANCE

Occasional additions to the journal contents, such as editorials, humor, advertisements, job postings, artistic creations, journal statistics, announcements, and other contributions. Free form and no size limits. These items are typically not subject to peer-review, just to editorial approval.

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS

For example, videos, sound records, extensive data sets, large maps, large tables or spreadsheets, scientific posters and wallpapers, exhaustive lists of bibliographic references (more than 200), exhaustive lists of Co-Authors (more than 10), programs or computer code libraries, material gifts or samples for distribution to readers, or any other materials. Details are discussed with the Redaction on an individual basis.

As a general rule, large datasets (such as genomes, microarrays, whole-organ image stacks, etc.) must be submitted to a designated repository (such as the Gene Expression Omnibus, ArrayExpress, Human Cell Atlas, etc.) before manuscript submission. Both the raw and transformed datasets for each experiment or series must be provided through the repository, and the accession number for each experiment or series must be provided in the Methods section of the manuscript. If data are password-protected, the user name and password must be provided in the Methods section. CRICKETT will reject manuscripts not enabling full access to the relevant datasets through a publicly accessible repository.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES

These are the major rules that apply to all types of CRICKETT articles (unless there is a good reason to make an exception):

  • Articles should be written in a neutral tone.

  • Whenever possible, articles should be impersonal.

  • It must be always clear what are verifiable facts (properly referenced) and what are theories, hypotheses, opinions, personal or collective beliefs, traditions, etc..

  • Whenever possible, articles should be written from the perspective of an objective narrator.

  • When the names and professional affiliations are removed, our anonymous peer-reviewers should not be able to identify the authors or their workplaces. Therefore, statements like "the growth factor XY was first discovered in my laboratory" are generally not allowed in CRICKETT. Instead, formulate a sentence like "the growth factor XY was discovered in 1997 by Scientist et al. (and give the reference)".

AUTHORSHIP

Only physical persons can become CRICKETT Authors. Even if someone is registered as a legal entity, submissions are only accepted in the Author's personal capacity as a physical person. Every CRICKETT Author must have contributed to every submitted article in a meaningful and identifiable manner, including the design, conduction, recording, analysis, and reporting of the work. In addition, as required by the external international standards for scientific publishing, every CRICKETT Author must agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

CRICKETT adheres, and all CRICKETT Authors must adhere, to the principles of Defining the Role of Authors and Contributors by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). Each CRICKETT Author is fully responsible for such adherence, before publication, they must sign a statement attesting that they fulfill the authorship criteria. For groups, at least one person’s name must accompany the respective group name (e.g., Dr. John Doe, for the Joint Laser Laboratories). As an integral part of the submission process, Authors must indicate whether any writing assistance other than copy editing was provided to them. The major authorship criteria for authorship attribution include:

  • Substantial contributions to conception and design; or acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data;

  • Drafting of the article or critical revision for important intellectual content;

  • Final approval of the version to be published;

  • Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the article are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Equal Contribution: First and Senior Co-Authorship
The CRICKETT Redaction will indicate when two or more Authors contributed equally to a given work. In the final version, this attribution can be worded as follows: "Drs. XX, YY and ZZ contributed equally to this article.". When submitting an equally co-authored manuscript, Authors must indicate the eventual first or senior co-authorship with asterisks on the title page.

Complex Authorship Relations
If relevant, any additional information about individual Author contributions shall be placed into the Methods section.

Corresponding Authorship
CRICKETT permits only one corresponding author per each manuscript submission. This person is solely responsible for all correspondence with CRICKETT and will receive all e-mails regarding instructions, forms, authorship disputes, manuscript files, or any other issues. CRICKETT Editors will communicate only with the Corresponding Authors associated with the respective manuscript submissions. However, after acceptance for publication, the Corresponding Authors may designate more than one person to be contacted by Readers, which will be indicated in the final form of the given article.

Relay Authorship - CRICKETT Compilations of Knowledge
Telegrams, Images, and Spotlight articles are always static (their contents and Authors never change). However, two groups of CRICKETT articles are designed to update perpetually (even after the original Authors are no longer with us or when they become inactive for other reasons). These are: (i) the post-publication "Addenda" attached to all articles, static or dynamic; and (ii) the original "Protocol", "Research", "Review", and "Knowledge" articles, which can dynamically grow. For an overview of static and dynamic articles, see the comparison diagram in our Submission Portal. Exceeding the lifespans of individual persons, such long-term publishing goal requires specific attribution arrangements for dynamic articles: The First Author is the person who writes the very first initial version, and that person shall remain listed as the First Author forever. All other Authors are listed alphabetically, and they will remain listed forever, too. Nobody can be deleted from the Authors list, ever, but everybody listed has the right to openly agree or disagree with the newest article version or its parts. Only a single Corresponding Author is allowed at any moment before or after publication (a mandatory condition for perpetual articles), but this role can and must change in time. If the Corresponding Author quits this role without finding the next successor, or is removed by the CRICKETT Redaction on the grounds of failing standards, CRICKETT steps in and designates a new Corresponding Author. A history of corresponding authorship is maintained within every article. If the lists of contributors become too long, extensive Author lists or complex Corresponding Author histories are moved to the "Supplementary Materials", and the article header will show a simplified notation based on this example:

Adam Beginner, and 99 other contributors
(Corresponding Author: John C. Writer, the 9th successor, since 1 January 2099)

IMAGES

All relevant details of image acquisition and processing must be included in the article, either in Methods or in the individual figure legends, or as a combination of both approaches, whichever option is best for smooth reading of the article and mutual comparison of various contained pictures. Authors must fully describe and clearly indicate all modifications, selective adjustments, corrections, masking, filtering, and any other enhancements or alterations made to any digital or analog images, by any means (electronic, optical, mechanical, etc.). No specific feature in any image can be selectively enhanced, obscured, moved, removed, or introduced. Any adjustments to brightness, color, channels, or contrast must be either avoided completely or made to an entire image, and do not misrepresent any features of the original image. No image can be duplicated within the manuscript (unless there is a specific scientific reason for doing so) or published elsewhere. Original unprocessed images with the original image metadata must be preserved ad submitted together with the processed images.