Authors Guide

Introduction

The Nigerian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Researches (NJPBR) is an official publication of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri. The Journal provides the platform to reveal current scientific findings established with the aim of motivating researchers and personnel in the field of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Research and Development. The journal will be published three times a year (Jan-Apr; May-Aug; Sept-Dec) in collaboration with Pharmacy practise and biomedicalgroups within and outside of Maiduguri metropolis. The Journal shall publish innovative research in the pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharmaceutical Technology, Pharmaceutics, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Analysis, Pharmacognosy, Pharmacology, Toxicology, Phytochemistry, Bio-pharmaceutics, Medicinal Inorganic Chemistry, Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmacogenomics, BioInformatics) and Basic Medical Sciences (Anatomy, Biotechnology, Cancer Biology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Genomics, Molecular Biology, Immunology, Proteomics, Physiology, Radiography).

Types of Manuscripts Accepted by the NJPBR

The journal accepts original research articles, concise and current review, short communications and invited reviews, case reports, personal opinion papers and commentaries.

Preparation of Manuscripts

Manuscripts written in Standard English Language. Prepare manuscript text in Microsoft word (Times New Roman and Font size 12). Maximum length of manuscripts should not be more than 20 typewritten pages for original research articles, short communications not more than 10 pages, review articles not more than 25 pages. Font size should be 12 and double-line spacing. Structure of the Manuscript: The manuscript should consist of essentially five sections: Title page, Abstract, Main text, Tables and figures, and References. Components of each section is as described below.
I. Title Page: Title of the manuscript, running title, authors’ names, addresses (contact and electronic), specialty, and contribution of each author to the work. The corresponding author must be indicated with the tag (corresponding author). The title page should be printed in a single page.
II. Abstract and five key words on another single page.
III. Main text: The body of the manuscript must be divided into Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion and Conclusion, Acknowledgement and References.
IV. Tables and Figures
V. References
All research submissions should be formatted in the following sections:

1. Title Page (single page)

Include a separate title page with:
Title (maximum 85 characters or ≤ 20 words)
All authors names, full addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, and roles or contribution to the work. Corresponding author should be clearly indicated with (corresponding author) in the list of authors above.
A short title (maximum of 50 characters, including spaces)
Word count of the full article, excluding references and figure legends.

2. Abstract Page (single page)

This page should contain the abstract and not more than 6 key words. The abstract should be a single paragraph of not more than 350 words, clearly stating the objective of the study or review, the methods used (where applicable), and summarizing results and conclusions. There should be no abbreviations and references in this section.

3. Main Text

I) Introduction
The introduction should set the study in context by briefly reviewing relevant knowledge of the subject; follow this with a concise statement of the objectives of the study. State the objectivves of the study and its relationship to the reported information in the field.

II) Materials and methods

Provide sufficient information for other workers to repeat the study. If well-established methods are used give a reference to the technique and provide full details of any modifications. Include the source of chemicals, reagents and hormones and give the manufacturer’s name and location (town, country) in parentheses.
Give the generic name, dose and route of administration for drugs.
Specify the composition of buffers, solutions and culture media.
Use SI symbols, give concentrations in mol/L and define the term % as w/v or v/v for all solutions. For international units use IU (U should be used for enzyme activity).
Specify the type of equipment (microscopes/objective lenses, cameras, detectors) used to obtain images.
Specify any image acquisition software used, and give a description of specialized techniques requiring large amounts of processing, such as confocal, deconvolution, 3D reconstructions, or surface and volume rendering.

III) Results

The results should be reported in figures, tables and text. The text should read as a narrative leading the reader through the experiments and investigations performed. While the text is under the results, tables and figures should be added after the reference section.
It is the author’s responsibility to document that the results are reproducible and that the differences found are not due to random variation. No absolute rules can be applied but, in general, quantitative data should be from no fewer than three replicate experiments. Appropriate statistical methods should be used to test the significance of differences in results. The term ‘significant’ should not be used unless statistical analysis was performed, and the probability value used to identify significance (eg P < 0.05) should be specified.
When several t-tests are employed, authors should be aware that nominal probability levels no longer apply. Accordingly, the multiple t-test, multiple range test or similar techniques to permit simultaneous comparisons should be employed. Also, in lieu of using several t-tests, it is often more appropriate to utilize an analysis of variance (ANOVA) to permit pooling of data, increase the number of degrees of freedom, and improve reliability of results. Authors should use appropriate nonparametric tests when the data depart substantially from a normal distribution. In presenting results of linear regression analyses, it is desirable to show 95% confidence limits. Your article may be sent to the Statistical Advisor for comments.

IV) Discussion and Conclusion

Should not simply re-state results, but should put them in the broader context and highlight the importance and novelty of the work.

V) Declaration of interest, Funding and Acknowledgements

Declaration of interest
Actual or perceived conflicts of interest for all authors must be declared in full. Please either (a) declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported; or (b) fully declare any financial or other potential conflict of interest.
Conflicts of interest include, but are not limited to: Employment and consultancies; Grants, fees and honoraria Ownership of stock or shares; Royalties; Patents (pending and actual); and Board membership.
Funding
Please detail all of the sources of funding relevant to the research reported in the following format: This work was supported by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (grant numbers xxxx, yyyy) Where research has not been funded please state the following: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.
Acknowledgements
Please be as brief as possible.

4. Tables and Figures

Each table should be type on a separate sheet, with double spacing and numbered consecutively in Arabic numerals. Legends should briefly describe contents in such a way as to render the contents understandable without reference to text. Titles should be located at the top of each table. No grid lines, border lines and inside border lines except top and bottom lines.
Figures should be prepared as publication – quality TIFF, EPS or JPEG files and inserted at the end of the reference section. Keys to symbols in the figure should be incorporated into the legends. Symbols should be open or closed circles, diamonds, triangle or squares. Good quality computer generated graphs are acceptable. Additional charges shall be charged for coloured figures. Legends should be on separate pages.

5. References

In- Text-Use Harvard and arrange name alphabetically. Take care to check all entries against original sources, especially authors and journal titles, taking note of spellings and any other connotations.
End – text – References should be arranged in alphabetical order, with each reference arranged in the order – Authors names, date, title of article, series title volume, first and last page numbers.

Examples

Dreon DM, Vranizan KM, Krauss MAA and Wood PD(1990). The Effect of Poly Unsaturated Fat and Mono-saturated Fat on Plasma Lipoproteins.J, Am. Med. Assoc., 263: 24-62. Benzie l(2003) {Evolution of dietary antioxidants}. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, 136(1) :113-26. Clarke EGC and Clarke ML (1977). Veternary Toxicology. 2nd ed. Balliere Tindall New York,U.S.A. p.10.

Reference to chapter in a book should be as follows:

Tracy WT and Webster Jr LT: Drugs used in the chemotherapy of protozoal infections (Malaria). In: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeuties. Eds.Hardman JG, Limbird LE and Gilman AG 10th edition (McGraw-Hill Med, Publ. Div), p.24-56.

Thesis

Grayson SJ (2001). The impact of constructive thinking and doctor-patient relations on cardiac patient adherence. Unpublished Master̕ s Thesis. University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Web Page Reference, Web document or On-line Books

Schrader B (2004). Building families. In We call it home: Ahistory of state housing in New Zealand. http://www.nzhistory.net .nz/Galley/ family .html Retrieved June, 2016. Peckinpaugh J (2003). Change in the Nineties. In J.S Bough and G.B. Dubois (Eds), A century of growth in America. Retrieved from Gold star data base (doc 12568)