Instructions to authors
Format for submitting articles to SIM News

Format
Use a minimum of 11 pt. font and double-spacing throughout all text, tables, references and figure captions. All tables and figure captions should be separated from the text at the end of the manuscript. All figures should be sent as separate files as instructed below. Provide a separate title page with the authors' names.

Include a sentence or two of relevant biographical information and research interests (and e-mail address) for each author in an "About the authors" section (located after the "References"). Detailed contact information (address and telephone/fax numbers) should be provided for the corresponding author.

Style
Consult the CBE Style Manual (6th ed.).

Symbols, acronyms and measurement
Define all symbols and spell out all acronyms the first time they are used. All weights and measures must be in the metric system, SI units. Abbreviations may be used for units of weight or measurement that describe data.

References
Typically no more than 50 references should be cited in feature articles and no more than 10 in PPR columns and biographies.

In the text, citations must take the form: (Authors' last name, date). Multiple citations should be listed in alphabetical order: (Authors' last name, date; Authors' last name, date). Use the first author's name and "et al." for all in text citation of works with more than two authors or editors; list every author or editor in the "References cited" list. All works cited in the text must be listed alphabetically in references cited; works not cited must not be listed.

References for journals listed at the end of the article should be in alphabetical order and cited in this order: first author's surname and initials, other authors' names (surname and initials), year of publication, full title of article, abbreviated name of journal (the PubMed/NCBI Journal search function can be used to determine abbreviations; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&DB=journals), volume number, and first and last relevant page numbers. For books, provide in this order: first author's surname and initials, other authors' names (surname then initials), year of publication, title of the article, title of the book preceded by "In:", editor's surname and initials, other authors' names (surname then initials), first and last page numbers, and publisher's name and location.

Example citations are:
Baltz, R.H. 2001. Molecular genetic and combinatorial biology approaches to produce novel antibiotics. In: Antibiotic resistance and development, Hughes. D. and Anderson, D., eds., pp 233-257 (Amsterdam; Harwood Academic Publishers).

Brikun, I.A., Reeves, A.R., Cernota, W.H., Luu, M.B., and Weber, J.M. 2004. The erythromycin biosynthetic gene cluster of Aeromicrobium erythreum. J Indust Microbiol Biotechnol 31: 335-344.

"In press" articles may be included in the Reference list but a preprint may be requested for review. Citations of unpublished data or personal communications should appear only in the text parenthetically. Refer to recent issues of SIM News for additional formatting styles.

Figures and photos
Graphs, line drawings, and photographs should preferably be submitted in JPG, TIFF or EPS format (All graphs, drawings, and photos submitted should be at least 300dpi, at or larger than the size you wish them to appear). Photomicrographs should have a scale bar. Photographs may be used, but they must be untrimmed and unmounted, 4 x 5 to 8 x 10 inches in size and clearly focused.

Authors of biographies are strongly encouraged to submit photographs of the subjects.

Authors of feature articles are encouraged to submit color photos or diagrams (related to the manuscript) for consideration as cover art. Cover images must follow the same guidelines listed for other figures and photos.

Note: All articles undergo review of content and writing style. The Editors reserve the right to edit all manuscripts for style and clarity. Consult current issues of SIM News for examples of acceptable formats and styles.

Electronic submissions
Feature articles or biographies should be submitted electronically in Microsoft Word or text format to Susan T. Bagley, Editor-in-Chief. Figures may be sent in separate files.

PPR items should be submitted electronically in Microsoft Word or text format to Linda Lasure, Chair of the PPR Committee.