Annals of Surgical Intelligence & Practice is committed to advancing global scientific dialogue across surgery, surgical intelligence, biomedical engineering, clinical medicine, and interdisciplinary research domains. The journal’s Author Guidelines ensure high ethical standards, transparency, and publishing excellence across all articles published in the journal.

1. Scope and Article Types

Annals of Surgical Intelligence & Practice accepts a broad spectrum of scholarly works. Authors must ensure that manuscripts align with the journal’s aims and contribute meaningful surgical, clinical, or methodological insights.

1.1. Acceptable Article Types

• Original Research Articles – Comprehensive studies presenting novel data, robust methodology, and clear conclusions. Full transparency in research design and statistical analysis is required.
• Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses – Evidence syntheses following PRISMA guidelines with documented search strategies, eligibility criteria, and bias assessments.
• Narrative Reviews & Expert Reviews – Critical overviews of current literature providing conceptual integration and future research recommendations.
• Clinical Case Reports – Unique or instructive clinical cases including diagnostic challenges, therapeutic outcomes, or rare presentations. Requires consent and adherence to CARE Guidelines.
• Short Communications / Brief Reports – Concise but impactful research results, pilot data, preliminary analyses, or methodological innovations.
• Technical Notes – Detailed descriptions of laboratory protocols, device innovations, computational tools, algorithm development, or new analytical techniques.
• Editorials / Commentaries – Opinion pieces from subject matter experts highlighting emerging issues, policy implications, or research directions.
• Study Protocols – Pre-study manuscripts describing detailed methodology, sample sizes, outcomes, and statistical plans to foster transparency and prevent selective reporting.

2. General Requirements

2.1. Originality

Submitted manuscripts must:

• Be original works not previously published (except preprints)
• Not be under review elsewhere
• Include a clear declaration of originality in the cover letter

If using preprint versions, authors must:

• Disclose the preprint DOI
• Confirm that the manuscript has not undergone peer review elsewhere

2.2. Authorship & Contributions

Annals of Surgical Intelligence & Practice adheres to ICMJE authorship principles. Authors must meet all four criteria:

1. Intellectual contribution (concept, methodology, data, or analysis)
2. Drafting or critically revising the manuscript
3. Approval of the final version
4. Accountability for all aspects of the work

A Contributor Statement using CRediT taxonomy (e.g., Methodology, Software, Supervision, Writing) is mandatory.

2.3. Ethical Compliance

Human Studies

• Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee approval is required.
• Details of informed consent must be described clearly.
• Consent for publication is required if patient images or identifiable data are included.

Animal Studies

• Must follow ARRIVE guidelines.
• Ethical approval from an accredited animal research committee is mandatory.
• Provide housing, care, and humane endpoints details.

Clinical Trials

• Prospective trials must be registered in an approved registry (e.g., ClinicalTrials.gov).

3. Manuscript Format & Structure

3.1. Title Page

Include:

• Full title (≤ 20 words recommended)
• All authors with affiliations (institution, department, city, country)
• Corresponding author’s contact details
• Funding sources
• ORCID IDs (recommended)
• Conflicts of interest
• Author contributions (optional here if not in a separate file)

3.2. Abstract

Structured abstracts (250–350 words) must include::

• Background
• Methods
• Results
• Conclusions
• Keywords (4–8; use standard terminology such as MeSH)

3.3. Main Text

Original Research
Introduction • Methods • Results • Discussion • Conclusion
Systematic Reviews
Abstract • Introduction • Methods (search strategy, eligibility, bias assessment) • Results • Discussion • Conclusion • PRISMA Flowchart
Case Reports
Introduction • Case Description • Diagnostic Assessment • Therapeutic Intervention • Outcome • Discussion • Lessons Learned

4. References

A rigorous and complete reference list is essential for indexing, metadata accuracy, and scientific reproducibility.

4.1. Reference Style

• Follow the journal’s mandated style (Vancouver, APA, AMA, or Harvard).
• Apply the format consistently throughout.
• Use official journal abbreviations (for Vancouver style).

4.2.  Required Information

Each reference must include:

• Full author list (up to 6; then use et al. if required by style)
• Full article title
• Journal name / abbreviated journal title
• Publication year
• Volume and issue number
• Page range
• DOI or PMID where available

4.3.  In-Text Citations

• Must match the reference list precisely.
• No reference may appear in text without appearing in the list.

4.4. Reference Quality Standards

Authors must:

• Check for accidental mismatches (common cause of desk rejection)
• Verify DOI correctness through CrossRef
• Avoid excessive self-citations
• Exclude retracted papers unless discussing the retraction

4.5. Preprints, Datasets & Software

These must be cited transparently:

• Include repository name
• Include persistent identifiers (e.g., DOI)
• Note relevant version numbers for software or datasets

5. Figures, Tables & Multimedia

High-quality visuals enhance clarity and ensure proper indexing.

5.1. Figures

Resolution & Format

• Minimum: 300 dpi
• Accepted formats: TIFF, JPEG, PNG
• For computer-generated graphics, vector formats (EPS, SVG) are encouraged.

Scientific Image Integrity

• Avoid inappropriate manipulation
• Maintain original data integrity
• Use consistent adjustments to brightness/contrast
• Add dividing lines where images are spliced, with explanation in captions

Raw data may be requested during peer review.

Figure Captions

• Fully describe the content
• Explain abbreviations and statistical indicators
• Indicate scale bars, magnification, or color representations
• Not be embedded inside the image

5.2. Tables

Formatting Requirements

• Editable (Word or Excel)
• Clearly organized with headings, units of measurement, and footnotes
• Free from merged cells, images, or embedded graphics

Statistical Reporting

• Provide exact p-values
• Report confidence intervals
• Use consistent decimal places across similar variables

5.3. Supplementary Materials & Multimedia

Acceptable Supplementary Files

• Videos (MP4 preferred)
• High-resolution images
• Interactive content (datasets, 3D models, code repositories)
• Detailed methodological appendices
• Raw data files (CSV, JSON, XLSX)

Submission Requirements

• Label files clearly (e.g., “Supplementary Figure S1”).
• Provide a short description in the manuscript.
• Ensure files are accessible without proprietary software when possible.

Ethical Requirements

• Images containing identifiable individuals require explicit publication consent.
• Clinical videos must follow privacy laws and ethical standards.

6. Reporting Standards

Authors must follow internationally recognized guidelines:

• CONSORT – Randomized clinical trials
• STROBE – Observational studies
• PRISMA – Systematic reviews
• CARE – Case reports
• ARRIVE – Animal research
• EQUATOR Network – Specialty-specific guidelines

Completed checklists must be submitted with the manuscript.

7. Data Transparency & Reproducibility

Annals of Surgical Intelligence & Practice promotes open science and reproducible research.

7.1. Data Availability Statement

Each manuscript must include a statement specifying:

• Where the data is stored
• How it can be accessed
• Any restrictions (ethical, legal, proprietary)

7.2. Data Repositories

Examples:

• Dryad
• Figshare
• Zenodo
• GEO / SRA for genomic data
• Institutional repositories

7.3. AI Transparency

Authors must disclose:

• Any use of AI tools in data analysis, image processing, or manuscript drafting
• Full responsibility for the accuracy of AI-generated content

8. Conflict of Interest & Funding

Authors must disclose:

• Financial interests
• Advisory or consultancy roles
• Institutional or industry relationships
• Equipment donations or in-kind contributions

No conflict of interest declared must stated when applicable.

9. Plagiarism & Misconduct

Annals of Surgical Intelligence & Practice uses advanced plagiarism detection tools.

Misconduct includes:

• Plagiarism
• Duplicate publication
• Data fabrication or manipulation
• Image manipulation
• Inaccurate reporting of methodology or results
• Peer review fraud

Violations may result in rejection, retraction, or institutional notification.

10. Submission Process

Manuscripts must be submitted through our online submission system.

Authors should prepare:

1. Manuscript (Blinded if applicable)
2. Title page (separate)
3. Figures and tables
4. Supplementary files
5. Cover letter
6. Contributor statement
7. Ethics approval
8. Conflict of interest forms
9. Data availability statement

11. Peer Review Process

Annals of Surgical Intelligence & Practice follows double-blind peer review process.

11.1. During Review

• Authors must respond to each reviewer comment in a point-by-point format.
• Revised manuscripts must highlight changes.
• Deadlines must be respected unless extensions are granted.

11.2. After Acceptance

• Authors receive galley proofs.
• Only minor corrections (typos, factual clarifications) are allowed.

12. Copyright & Licensing

Zenith Publications operates on a Gold Open Access model.

• Authors retain copyright.
• Articles are published under Creative Commons licences (e.g., CC BY).
• Zenith Publications has the right to archive, host, and disseminate the article.

13. Post-Publication Responsibilities

Authors must report:

• Errors discovered after publication
• Ethical issues
• Misuse or misrepresentation of their data
• Requests for corrections or updates

Corrections and retractions follow COPE guidelines.