Document version: 1.1. Date: 31/01/2024.

Preparation of Manuscripts

  1. Preparation of Manuscripts 
  2. The first page of the material
  3. The main text part of the material
  4. Guidelines for References
  5. Figures
  6. Tables
  7. Mathematical expressions
  8. Supplementary material

1. Preparation of Manuscripts

(template)

All manuscripts must be written in English or Portuguese and submitted as a Microsoft Word document only using the template (CLICK HERE) of the Journal. Manuscripts should be written following the guidelines below.

Please observe the following points in preparing manuscripts. Papers not conforming strictly to these instructions may be returned to their authors for appropriate revision or may be delayed in the review process.

READABILITY: Manuscripts should be written in clear, concise, and grammatically correct English (American English). The editors cannot undertake wholesale revisions of poorly written papers. Every paper must be free of unnecessary jargon and readable by any specialist in the related field. The abstract should be written in a structured format that will be comprehensible to readers who are not experts in the subject matter.

PROOFREADING: Please proofread carefully for both errors and inconsistencies in the following: spelling (especially of scientific terminology, proper names, and foreign words), mathematical notation, numerical values in tables and text, and accuracy of quotations. The Journal will evaluate the file, seeking English grammatical issues, correctness, clarity, and engagement errors. There will be a tolerance of up to 100 errors in all manuscripts. In case more errors are found, editors will allow the authors to resubmit again and, in case these errors persist, a proofreading fee will be charged.

GENERAL FORMAT: The completed paper has to be written in English and submitted as a Word document only using the template of the Journal. Page size: A4, line spacing: single, font type: Arial. Please leave headers and footers unchanged since the editors should fill them. Please check the guidelines for accurate information based on all categories (review articles and technical notes). A single file of the whole manuscript should then be submitted through the e-mail of Periódico Tchê Química e-mail (journal.tq@gmail.com) along with the COVER LETTER. The Journal no longer accepts submissions in any other form than by E-MAIL (journal.tq@gmail.com).

FORMAT FOR INITIAL SUBMISSION: Title, Author(s), abstract (maximum 300 words), Keywords (at least 3, maximum 5), Main text (Introduction, Review of Literature, Definitions (if any), Materials and Methods or Methodology, or Development, or Background, Results and Discussion or Findings, Conclusions), Acknowledgements (if any), References, Appendix (if any). This structure of the main text is not obligatory, but the paper must be logically presented. Footnotes should be avoided. The main text must be written with font size 11, justify. Within each main section, three levels of subheadings are available, and the titles must be bold, bold, and italic, italic, respectively. The manuscript should contain the whole text, figures, tables, and explanations. For more details, please check the journal template.

2. THE FIRST PAGE OF THE MANUSCRIPT

TITLE: PORTUGUESE, ENGLISH, and the third language if the author's native language is not English or Portuguese. The editors can provide the title in Portuguese for those for whom Portuguese is not the first language. It should be brief and informative. The title should reflect essential aspects of the article in a preferably concise form of not more than 100 characters and spaces: font size 12, capital letters, center alignment.

BY-LINE: Names (size 12, Arial, small capital) of the authors. No inclusion of scientific titles is necessary. For two or more authors, place their names in different lines, and please indicate the corresponding author with * in superscript. The corresponding author should be the one submitting the article online, and an e-mail given (only one e-mail) below the addresses of all authors. Authors from different institutions must be labeled with numbers in superscript after the names. The affiliation of the authors should also be given (size 10).
As in:
Author Complete Name* (Arial, size 11, bold)
University name, Faculty or Institute name, Department name. Country (Arial, size 9, italics)

ABSTRACT: PORTUGUESE, ENGLISH, and a third language if the author's native language is not English or Portuguese. The editors can provide the Abstract in Portuguese for those for whom Portuguese is not the first language. Required for all manuscripts in which the problem, the principal results, and conclusions are summarized. The abstract must be self-explanatory, preferably typed in one paragraph, and limited to 300 words. It should not contain formulas, references, or abbreviations. The name ABSTRACT should be written in capital letters, Arial, size 12, bold, left alignment. The abstract should be written in Arial, size 10, justify.

KEYWORDS: PORTUGUESE, ENGLISH, and a third language if the author's native language is not English or Portuguese. The editors can provide the Keywords in Portuguese for those for whom Portuguese is not the first language. Authors should provide appropriate and short keywords that encapsulate the principal topics of the paper. The maximum number of keywords is 5 not including items appearing in the title. The keywords should be supplied, indicating the scope of the paper. Size 10, italic, justify, only the word Keywords must be bold, left alignment.

The authors should include Abbreviations and Nomenclature listings when necessary.

3. THE MAIN TEXT PART OF THE MANUSCRIPT

The words 1. Introduction, Review of Literature, Definitions (if any), 2. Materials and Methods or Methodology, or Development, or Background, 3. Results and Discussion of Findings, 4. Conclusions, 5. DECLARATIONS, and 6. HUMAN AND ANIMAL-RELATED STUDIES must be written in capital letters, Arial, font size 12, left alignment, bold. Sections that are not necessary in the manuscript can be subtracted.

1. INTRODUCTION

The introduction must clearly state the problem, the reason for doing the work, the hypotheses or theoretical predictions under consideration, and the essential background. It should not contain equations or mathematical notation. A brief survey of the relevant literature so that a non-specialist reader could understand the significance of the presented results. A good introduction should ideally have 3-5 well-explained paragraphs and should finish pointing out the AIM of the study.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

Provide sufficient details to the reader to understand how the study was performed. Using subsections to present the materials and methods separately is good practice.

2.1 MATERIALS

The materials section of a scientific manuscript describes the materials and methods used in the study, including the equipment, reagents, and procedures used to conduct the research. It should provide enough detail for another researcher to replicate the study. Typically, the materials section should include:

  • A description of the study design, including the specific methods and procedures used.
  • Information on the equipment and materials used in the study, including the sources and specific models of any equipment used.
  • Information on the reagents and chemicals used in the study, including the sources and specific products used.
  • A detailed description of the methods used, including the procedures followed and any specific techniques or procedures used.
  • Information on any ethical considerations, including any permits or approvals obtained for the study, should be placed in section 6.

2.2 METHODS

The methods section of a scientific manuscript is a detailed description of the procedures and techniques used in the study. It should provide enough information for another researcher to replicate the study. Typically, the methods section should include:

  • A detailed description of the study design, including the specific methods and procedures used.
  • Information on the subjects or samples used in the study, including the number, characteristics, and how they were selected.
  • Information on the equipment and materials used in the study, including the sources and specific models of any equipment used.
  • A detailed description of the procedures, including any specific techniques or protocols.
  • Information on the data analysis methods, including any statistical methods and software used.

It is important to note that the methods section should be written clearly and concisely and accessible to a general scientific audience. The methods should be described in detail to allow another researcher to replicate the study. Additionally, it should be consistent with the aims and objectives of the study and should be supported by the results and data presented in the manuscript.

  • It should be clear from the Methods section how all of the data in the Results section were obtained.
  • The study system should be clearly described. In medicine, for example, researchers need to specify the number of study subjects; how, when, and where the subjects were recruited; that the study obtained appropriate 'informed consent' documents; and what criteria subjects had to meet to be included in the study.
  • In most cases, the experiments should include appropriate controls or comparators. The conditions of the controls should be specified.
  • The outcomes of the study should be defined, and the outcome measures should be objectively validated.
  • The methods used to analyze the data must be statistically sound.
  • For qualitative studies, an established qualitative research method (e.g., grounded theory is often used in sociology) must be used as appropriate for the study question.
  • If the authors used a technique from a published study, they should include a citation and a summary of the procedure in the text. The method also needs to be appropriate for the present experiment.
  • All materials and instruments should be identified, including the supplier's name and location.
  • The Methods section should not have information that belongs in another section (such as the Introduction or Results).
  • You may suggest if additional experiments would greatly improve the quality of the manuscript. Your suggestions should be in line with the study's aims. Remember that almost any study could be strengthened by further experiments, so only suggest further work if you believe that the manuscript is not publishable without it.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The Results and Discussion section of a research paper should succinctly present the key findings while discussing their significance in the context of existing literature and theoretical frameworks. This section is crucial and often challenging to write, requiring careful planning to effectively communicate scientific data. It should be organized into separate subsections for results and discussions, with clear subheadings to enhance readability and coherence.
Tables and figures should be numbered and accompanied by descriptive titles, guiding readers to relevant information during the discussion of results. Emphasize significant or interesting findings, including relevant P-values for statistical tests, negative results, and potential study limitations. The section should cover the following aspects:
  • Findings
  • Comparison with prior studies
  • Limitations of the work
  • Causal arguments
  • Speculations
  • Deductive arguments

3.1. Results

The results section of the manuscript presents the findings of the study and should provide a clear and concise summary of the data and analysis. Typically, the results section should include:

  • A clear and concise summary of the data collected, including tables, figures, and graphs as appropriate.
  • A description of the statistical methods used to analyze the data, including any statistical tests performed and the results of these tests.
  • A presentation of the main findings of the study, including any patterns, trends, or significant results.
  • A description of any outliers or unexpected results and how they were handled.
  • A discussion of the results in relation to the research question or hypothesis, including any implications or conclusions that can be drawn from the data.

It's important to note that the results section should be written clearly and concisely and accessible to a general scientific audience. The results should be presented logically and coherently and supported by the data and analysis presented in the manuscript. Additionally, the results should be consistent with the aims and objectives of the study and should be supported by the methods used.

It's also important to note that the results section should not include any interpretation or discussion, as this should be presented in the discussion section.

3.2. Discussion

Discussion of the results. Point out the significance of the results and place the results in the context of other work and theoretical background.

The discussion section of a scientific manuscript is where the authors interpret the results of the study and place them in the context of existing literature and knowledge. It should provide insight into the significance of the study and its findings. Typically, the discussion section should include:

  • A summary of the main findings of the study and their implications.
  • A comparison of the results with previous studies and existing literature in the field.
  • An analysis of the strengths and limitations of the study, including any potential sources of bias or error.
  • An assessment of the generalizability of the findings and any potential applications or implications of the study.
  • Suggestions for future research or areas for improvement.

It's important to note that the discussion section should be written in a clear and concise manner, and should be accessible to a general scientific audience. The discussion should be based on the results presented in the manuscript and should provide insight into the significance of the study and its findings. Additionally, the discussion should be consistent with the aims and objectives of the study and should be supported by the methods and results.

It's also important to note that the discussion section should not include any new data or results that were not presented in the results section of the manuscript.

4. CONCLUSIONS

Summarize the data discussed in the Results and Discussion showing the relevance of the work and how different it is from other researches. Also, point out the benefits and improvements that can be observed to develop new science standards that can change something in the related field.

The conclusion section of a scientific manuscript summarizes the main findings of the study and highlights the key takeaways from the research. Typically, the conclusion section should include:

  • A summary of the main findings and their significance
  • A summary of the main contributions of the study to the field.
  • An overview of the main limitations and future directions for research
  • A brief statement that reiterates the main objective of the study and whether it was achieved.

It's important to note that the conclusion section should be written in a clear and concise manner and should be accessible to a general scientific audience. The conclusion should be based on the results, discussion, and interpretation presented in the manuscript and provide insight into the significance of the study and its findings. Additionally, the conclusion should be consistent with the aims and objectives of the study and should be supported by the methods, results, and discussion.

It's also important to note that the conclusion section should not include any new data or results that were not presented in the results section of the manuscript. The conclusion should be a brief summary that reiterates the main findings, contributions, and limitations of the study and should not introduce any new information.

5. DECLARATIONS

5.1. Study Limitations

Please, present all possible limitations faced in the study which might significantly affect the research outcome. If not applicable, write "No limitations were known at the time of the study".

5.2. Acknowledgements

If any, the acknowledgments should be placed in this paragraph and may include a list of people who contributed to the work in the manuscript but not listed in the author list.

5.3. Funding source

Please, provide the funding sources, supporting grants with grant numbers. The name of funding agencies should be written in full. If no funding source exists, write "This research was funded by the authors".

5.4. Competing Interests

Declare any potential conflict of interest that exists in this publication.

5.5. Open Access

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution, and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third-party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons license unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons license and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

6. HUMAN AND ANIMAL-RELATED STUDIES

If the work involves the use of human or animal subjects, each manuscript should contain the following subheadings under the declarations section. If not applicable, please delete all section 6.

6.1. Ethical Approval

Please present the ethical approval authority name with the reference number. The author should send a scan of a PDF copy of the ethical approval letter obtained from IRB/ethical committee or institutional head.

6.2. Informed Consent

Write a statement of informed consent taken from the participants to publish this research work. The editor may request to upload a scanned copy.

7. REFERENCES

References should be numbered consecutively as follows. Use the link https://www.tchequimica.com/doi_to_apa.htm to format the references, preferably in the APA 5 Ed style.

REFERENCES References should be cited in the text using the name-and-year system (Author, year) (APA FORMAT). Alternatively, the author's surname may be integrated into the text, followed by the year of publication in parentheses. Examples: Grasslands are regarded as important foraging areas for many insectivores in Europe, such as birds (Vichery, 2001; Barnet et al., 2004), bats (Guttinger, 1997) or amphibians and reptiles (Langton and Burton, 1997). However, the knowledge of the overall arthropod availability in such grasslands is scarce since many studies about insect populations concentrate on extensive grasslands on poor, dry or wet soils include only few species or systematic groups (Ellgsen et al., 1997; Gibson et al., 1992; Hansel and Plachter, 2004; Manhart et al., 2004; Kruess and Tscharntke, 2002a, b; Wingerden et al., 1992; Sjodin, 2007a, b; Perner et al., 2005). Carbon dioxide produced by the combustion of biodiesel can be recycled by photosynthesis, thereby minimizing the impact of biodiesel combustion on the greenhouse effect (Korbitz, 1999; Agarwal and Das, 2001).

Cite only essential resources, avoid citing unpublished material. References to papers "in press" must mean that the article has been accepted for publication. At the end of the paper list references alphabetically by the last name of the first author. Please, list only those references that are cited in the text and prepare this list as an automatically numbered list. The word References with size 12, bold, capital letters, left alignment

7.1. GUIDELINES FOR REFERENCES

The Journal uses the APA (American Psychological Association) FORMAT CITATION;

GENERAL RULE FOR ACADEMIC PAPERS:

Author's surname, initial(s). Year of publication after the name of the authors (between parentheses). Title of the paper. Name of the Journal in italic, number of the edition also in italic, volume between parentheses and finally initial and final page, and, if the case, retrieved from (what website) or DOI

Examples:
1. Nikolaeva, L.P., Cherdantsev DV., Titiv K.S. (2017). Characteristics of bone marrow stem cells in patients with complicated diabetes mellitus. The Russian biotherapeutic journal, 16(1): 47-50.

2. Mitchell, J.A. (2017). Citation: Why is it so important. Mendeley Journal, 67(2), 81-95. Retrieved from https://www.mendeley.com/reference-management/reference-manager

3. Karthiga, N., Rajendran, S., Prabhakar, P., Rathish, R.J. (2015). Corrosion inhibition by plant extracts - An overview. Int. J. Nano. Corr. Sci. Eng, 2(4):31-49.

4. Akbulut, S., and Bayramoglu, M.M. (2013). The Trade and Use of Some Medical and Aromatic Herbs in Turkey. Ethno Med, 7(2): 67-77.

For different types of references than scientific papers, the Journal recommends visiting the websites below for more detailed information.
https://www.mendeley.com/guides/apa-citation-guide
https://libguides.murdoch.edu.au/APA6/all
https://aut.ac.nz.libguides.com/APA6th/referencelist

8. FIGURES

The number of pictures (including graphs and diagrams) should not exceed 15 and should be submitted either in JPEG or PNG formats. All photographs, charts, and diagrams should be numbered consecutively (e.g., Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3,…..) in the order in which they are referred to in the text. The caption must appear below the figure (size 11, bold, italic) and should be sufficiently detailed to enable us to understand apart from the text. Explanation of lettering and symbols should be also given in the caption and only exceptionally in the figures. Figures should be of good quality. Scanned figures should be at a resolution of 800 dpi/bitmap for line graphs. Diagrams containing chemical structures should be of high graphical quality and always be of the same size so that they can be uniformly reduced. Figures should have a maximum width of one Journal column (8.5 cm) to be inserted on the body of the text so that they can be applied to the standards of the Journal. If the figures exceed 8.5 cm, they will be placed at the end of the article. Also, authors may be requested to submit each figure as an image file in one of the following formats: jpeg or png. For pictures, graphs, diagrams, and tables identical to material already published in the literature, authors should seek permission for publication from the companies or scientific societies holding the copyrights and send it to the editors of Periódico Tchê Química along with the final form of the manuscript

Important summarized information:
  • Upload the images either in JPEG or PNG formats. Poor quality and resolution figures will not be accepted. Pay attention when scanning or making a print screen of an image. In these cases, the resolution is usually low, and it becomes challenging for the reader to see the information in the figure;
  • Figures should be numbered consecutively, in Arabic numerals, according to the order in which they have been first cited in the text;
  • All information, including numbers and symbols, should be clear and of uniform size. The lettering for figures should be large enough to be legible either in the two or one-column format;
  • Any details to point out a specific view, like symbols, arrows, or letters used in photomicrographs, should contrast with the background;
  • Titles and detailed explanations belong in the legends for illustrations, not on the illustrations themselves.
  • When graphs, scatter-grams, or histograms are submitted, the numerical data they are based on should also be supplied and clear enough.
  • The photographs and figures should be trimmed to remove all the unwanted areas. Also, if photographs of individuals are used, their pictures must be accompanied by written permission to use the photograph.
  • If a figure has been published elsewhere, acknowledge the source and submit written permission from the copyright holder to reproduce the material. A credit line should appear in the legend for such figures.
  • Legends for illustrations: When symbols, arrows, numbers, or letters are used to identify parts of the illustrations, identify and explain each in the legend. Explain the internal scale (magnification) and identify the method of staining in photomicrographs when suitable;
  • The Journal reserves the right to crop, rotate, reduce, or enlarge the photographs to an acceptable size.

9. TABLES

Tables should be self-explanatory and should not duplicate textual material. They should be mentioned in the text, numbered consecutively (e.g., Table 1, Table 2, Table 3,....), and accompanied by a title at the top (size 11, bold, italic). Please insert all the tables in the text, and do not enclose huge tables that cannot fit within the page margins. Other important considerations.

  • Tables with more than 15 columns and 30 rows are not acceptable.
  • Number tables, in Arabic numerals, consecutively in the order of their first citation in the text and supply a brief title for each.
  • Place explanatory matter in footnotes, not in the heading.
  • Explain in footnotes all non-standard abbreviations that are used in each table. Use symbols to explain and make all abbreviations clear to the reader.
  • Obtain permission for all fully borrowed, adapted, and modified tables and provide a credit line in the footnote.
  • Tables with their legends should be provided at the end of the text after the references. The tables and their number should be cited at the relevant place in the text.
  • In the text, do not use Tab. For an abbreviation of a Table. Write Table 1, Table 2 instead of Tab.1, Tab.2;

10. MATHEMATICAL EXPRESSIONS

In general, minimize unusual typographical requirements use solidus, built-up fractions. Avoid lengthy equations that will take several lines (possibly by defining the terms of the equation in separate displays). For drawing equations, please use the Equation Editor of Word, if possible. Make subscripts and superscripts clear. Display only those mathematical expressions that must be numbered for later reference or that need to be emphasized. The equations displayed should be consecutively numbered throughout the paper. The numbers should be placed in parentheses on the right of the equation, e.g. (Eq. 1).

11. SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL

Any Supplementary material (extra figures, tables, diagrams, appendix, abbreviations list) should be placed at the end of the manuscript and indicated as such. All supplementary material should also be cited in the text.

At any time of the editing process, editors may ask authors to split off part of the manuscript, presenting it as supplementary material.