Instructions to Authors
About the Journal
Life Metabolism (ISSN 2755-0230, CN10-1885/R) is a fully open access peer-reviewed journal published by Higher Education Press and Oxford University Press.
All papers published in Life Metabolism are made freely available online under an open access licence, with applicable charges. Please refer to the open access section below.
Once a paper is accepted, Life Metabolism will publish a precopyedited, preproofed version of the paper online within 2-3 working days of receiving a signed licence. This is replaced by a copyedited, proofed version of the paper as soon as it is ready.
Please read these instructions carefully and follow them closely. The Editors may return manuscripts that do not follow these instructions.
Scope of the Journal
The journal aims to provide an open access platform for the publication of works of high significance and broad interest in all areas of metabolism, including but not limited to energy metabolism; nutrient sensing and signalling; immunometabolism; neurometabolism; exercise metabolism; circadian rhythms; aging; microbiome metabolism; plant metabolism; obesity and metabolic syndrome; cancer metabolism; and metabolism-related clinical studies and advanced technologies.
Editorial Policies
Details of Oxford University Press’s editorial policies are available.
Peer Review
This journal uses single blind peer review. Full details about the peer review process are available.
Manuscripts submitted to Life Metabolism are initially pre-checked by the Deputy Editor-in-Chief, together with other Life Metabolism Associate Editors, to determine fit with the journal’s scope and the basic acceptance criteria. Manuscripts that pass this initial triage will be sent out for peer review. The editors (including the Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Associate Editors) will invite at least two independent experts to review the paper during the peer review process. The Deputy Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with Associate Editors and the Editorial Board as needed, will assess the reviewers’ comments and make a recommendation. The Editors-in-Chief will make the final decision based on the feedback from editors, reviewers and their own judgment. The journal is committed to providing a fair, fast, and transparent review process for all submitted manuscripts.
Plagiarism
Manuscripts submitted may be screened with iThenticate anti-plagiarism software in an attempt to detect and prevent plagiarism. Any manuscript may be screened, especially if there is reason to suppose part or all of the text has been previously published. Prior to final acceptance any manuscript that has not already been screened may be put through iThenticate. Please see more information about iThenticate.
Preprint Policy
Authors retain the right to make an Author’s Original Version (preprint) available through various channels, and this does not prevent submission to the journal. For further information see our Online Licensing, Copyright and Permissions policies. If accepted, the authors are required to update the status of any preprint, including your published paper’s DOI, as described on our Author Self-Archiving policy page.
Self-Archiving Policy
You may self-archive versions of your work on your own webpages, on institutional webpages, and in other repositories. If you want more information about the reuse rights you retain if you publish with us, please visit our Author Self Archiving Policy page.
Conflict of Interest
When submitting a paper, you and your co-authors must declare any potential conflicts of interest. You must do this by including a Conflict of Interest statement in your submitted manuscript. For papers do not have any conflict of interests, please also mention 'The authors declare that no conflict of interests exists' in the COI section. Members of the editorial staff of the journal should include the following COI disclosure in their article: '[Author initial] holds the position of [Editor-in-Chief/Deputy Editor-in-Chief/Assistant Editor/Editorial Board Member] for Life Metabolism and is blinded from reviewing or making decisions for the manuscript'.
A detailed definition of conflicts of interest is available.
CRediT
The Journal uses the contributor roles taxonomy (CRediT), which allows authors to describe the contributor roles in a standardized, transparent, and accurate way. Authors are encouraged to choose from the contributor roles outlined on the CRediT website and supply this information upon submission. You may choose multiple contributor roles per author. Any other individuals who do not meet authorship criteria and made less substantive contributions should be listed in your manuscript as non-author contributors with their contributions clearly described.
Patient Confidentiality
Journals publishing studies using human subjects should ensure that a patient's right to privacy has not been infringed without prior consent. We encourage journals to follow the ICMJE guidelines and Enhancing the Quality and Transparency of Health Research (EQUATOR) network for reporting on human subjects. For publication of material that contains detailed patient information about a living individual, it is compulsory for a signed patient consent to be obtained. Any identifier that might reveal a patient’s identity must be removed (i.e., x-rays, MRIs, charts, photographs, etc.). Written informed consent is required from any potentially identifiable patient or legal representative, and should be presented in either the Methods section or the Acknowledgements.
Animal Experimentation
Where animals are used in research we expect them to have been treated in a humane manner and in line with the ARRIVE guidelines. The International Council for Laboratory Animal Science has published guidelines specifically for editors and Reviewers on how to handle submissions involving animal research. OUP supports these guidelines and, wherever possible, encourages editors and society partners to adopt them. Authors may be required to provide evidence that they obtained ethical and /or legal approval prior to conducting the research. If any concerns arise, the editors reserve the right to request comments from reviewers or additional information from authors.
Registering Clinical Trials
All clinical trials should be registered prospectively in publicly accessible databases (e.g. Clinical Trials and Clinical Trials Register) and manuscripts should include registration numbers and the name of the register, along with the approved trial design and any changes to it, the completely defined primary and secondary outcomes, sample size determination, and the CONSORT diagram. Please provide us with the name of the committee that approved the studies and confirmation that all subjects provided informed consent. Post hoc or exploratory analyses must be clearly indicated in the manuscript. The STROBE protocol should be followed for observational studies.
Availability of Data and Materials
Where ethically feasible, Life Metabolism strongly encourages authors to make all data and software code on which the conclusions of the paper rely available to readers. We suggest that data be presented in the main manuscript or additional supporting files, or deposited in a public repository whenever possible. Information on general repositories for all data types, and a list of recommended repositories by subject area, is available here.
Data and Software Citation
Life Metabolism supports the Force 11 Data Citation Principles and the recommendations of the FORCE11 Software Citation Implementation Group. When data and software underlying the research article are available in an online source, authors should include a full citation in their reference list.
For details of the minimum information to be included in data and software citations see the guidance on Citing research data and software.
Submission
We will consider your manuscript as long as
- it is your own original work and does not duplicate any previously published work, including your own;
- it is not under consideration, in peer review, or accepted for publication in any journal other than Life Metabolism;
- it has not been published in any other journal; and
- it contains nothing abusive, defamatory, libelous, obscene, fraudulent, or illegal.
Authors should observe high ethical standards and obey publication best practices. The following are all unacceptable:
- data falsification or fabrication
- plagiarism, including duplicate publication of your own work without proper citation
- misappropriation of work
We treat any case of ethical or publication malpractice very seriously. We will address them in accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines. Further information about OUP’s ethical policies is available.
How to Submit
You must submit your paper via our web-based submission system. If you have not published with Life Metabolism before, you will need to create an account. More information is available on the ScholarOne Manuscripts FAQ and help page. Questions about submitting can be sent to the editorial office at life_metab@fudan.edu.cn
1. Timeline for editorial evaluation
Our goal is to minimize the time it takes to publish a paper. To do this, we work closely with authors, reviewers, and other experts in the field on each submission. Generally each step takes about：
- Initial decision to review: 3-5 days after submission
- First round of review: 3-5 weeks after submission
- Anticipated timeframe for suggested revisions: 2 months or so (with flexibility if needed)
- Time to publish a precopyedited, preproofed version of the paper: within 48 hours of receiving a signed license agreement
- Time to publish a copyedited, proofed version of the paper will be published as soon as it is ready
2. Presubmission inquiry
Feel free to send us a presubmission inquiry to life_metab@fudan.edu.cn. We will get back to you within 1–3 business days.
3. Fast track and Green channel
In the case of time-sensitive manuscripts and/or manuscripts with competing stories, we can provide the rapid editorial and review services.
Article Type
Life Metabolism publishes several different article types, among which original research is published either as an Original Article, Resource, Method, Clinical and Translational Study, Letter, and Technical Note. Below please find detailed information about all categories:
Original Article—Maximum Word Count: 6,000−8,000
Original Article is a full paper containing original and significant work that is of general interest in the field. Each submission should be laid out according to the generally accepted format of Title, Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Results, Discussion, Limitations of the study, Materials and Methods, References, Figures, Tables.
- abstract—unstructured abstract; maximum word count: 250
- keywords—maximum keywords: 6. Each keyword can be a maximum of 15 characters.
- references—maximum references: 100
- tables and figures—maximum of 10 figures and 6 tables
Letter—maximum word count: 3,000
Letter is a concise and rapid report of novel findings that are brief in nature but of great interest to the metabolism community. It should contain a brief experimental section as well as Limitations of the study. No structured sections required for Letters.
- abstract—no abstract.
- keywords—no keywords
- references—maximum references: 12
- figures—maximum of 1 figure
Method—Maximum Word Count: 6,000−8,000
Method publishes novel methods and significant improvements in metabolic research techniques. Each submission should be laid out according to the generally accepted format of Title, Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Results, Discussion, Limitations of the study, Materials and Methods, References, Figures, Tables.
- abstract—unstructured abstract; maximum word count: 250
- keywords—maximum keywords: 6. Each keyword can be a maximum of 15 characters.
- references—maximum references: 100
- tables and figures—maximum of 10 figures and 6 tables
Resource—Maximum Word Count: 6,000−8,000
Resource features significant technological advances, as well as important databases relevant to metabolism. Each submission should be laid out according to the generally accepted format of Title, Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Results, Discussion, Limitations of the study, Materials and Methods, References, Figures, Tables.
- abstract—unstructured abstract; maximum word count: 250
- keywords—maximum keywords: 6. Each keyword can be a maximum of 15 characters.
- references—maximum references: 100
- tables and figures—maximum of 10 figures and 6 tables
Clinical and Translational Study—Maximum Word Count: 6,000−8,000
Clinical and translational study links the bench with the bedside, backed by preclinical and clinical mechanisms. Each submission should be laid out according to the generally accepted format of Title, Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Results, Discussion, Limitations of the study, Materials and Methods, References, Figures, Tables.
- abstract—unstructured abstract; maximum word count: 250
- keywords—maximum keywords: 6. Each keyword can be a maximum of 15 characters.
- references—maximum references: 100
- tables and figures—maximum of 10 figures and 6 tables
Technical Note—maximum word count: 3,000−6,000
Technical note is a relatively short article that describes a new technique, procedure, or device on the bench or beside. It can also describe a modification of an existing device, procedure, or technique. It should contain a brief experimental section as well as Limitations of the study. No structured sections required for Technical Note.
- abstract—no abstract.
- keywords—no keywords.
- references—maximum references: 12
- figures—maximum of 1 figure
Review Article—invited only; maximum word count: 15,000
- abstract—unstructured abstract; maximum word count: 250
- keywords—maximum keywords: 6. Each keyword can be a maximum of 15 characters.
- references—maximum references: 250
- tables and figures—maximum of 6 figures and 6 tables
No structured sections required for Review Articles.
Minireview—invited only; maximum word count: 10,000
- abstract—unstructured abstract; maximum word count: 250
- keywords—maximum keywords: 6. Each keyword can be a maximum of 15 characters.
- references—maximum references: 150
- tables and figures—maximum of 6 figures and 6 tables
No structured sections required for Minireview.
Practice Guideline—invited only; maximum word count: 6,000−8,000
- abstract—unstructured abstract; maximum word count: 250
- keywords—maximum keywords: 6. Each keyword can be a maximum of 15 characters.
- references—maximum references: 150
- tables and figures—maximum of 6 figures and 6 tables
No structured sections required for Practice Guideline.
Perspective—invited only, maximum word count: 3,000−6,000
- abstract—unstructured abstract; maximum word count: 100
- keywords—maximum keywords: 6. Each keyword can be a maximum of 15 characters.
- references—maximum references: 100
- tables and figures—maximum of 4 figures and 4 tables
No structured sections required for Perspectives.
Research Highlight—invited only; maximum word count: 3,000
- abstract—no abstract; a brief stand first of only one or two sentences.
- keywords—no keywords
- references—maximum references: 10
- figures—maximum of 1 figure
No structured sections required for Research Highlights.
Editorial—invited only, maximum word count: 3,000
- abstract—no abstract; a brief stand first of only one or two sentences.
- keywords—no keywords
- references—maximum references: 10
- figures—maximum of 2 figures
No structured sections required for Editorials.
Third-Party Permissions
If you wish to reproduce any material for which you do not own the copyright—including quotations, tables, or images—you must obtain permission from the copyright holder. The permissions agreement must include the following documents:
- nonexclusive rights to reproduce the material in your article in Life Metabolism
- both print and electronic rights, preferably for use in any form or medium
- lifetime rights to use the material
- worldwide English-language rights
Further information on obtaining permissions is available.
Manuscript Preparation: Format, Structure, and Style
Presubmission Language Editing
If you are not confident in the quality of your English, you may wish to use a language-editing service to ensure that editors and reviewers understand your paper. Language editing is optional and does not guarantee that your manuscript will be accepted. Edited manuscripts will still undergo peer review by the journal.
Title Page
Please include the following:
- the title of your paper
- all author names and affiliations
- mailing address and email address of the corresponding author(s)
- a short running head of 50 characters or less
Alternative name in simplified Chinese
The author can add an alternative name in simplified Chinese together with the English name to appear in both PDF and HTML versions of the article. The alternative name will not display in search results or indexing services such as Scopus or Web of Science.
This is an optional functionality. At submission the author can include the simplified Chinese name in parentheses after their primary English name on the manuscript, for example: Wei Zhang (张伟) and Fang Wang (王芳)
Abstract
Abstracts have a maximum length of 250 words and must not contain reference citations or abbreviations.
Style
The journal follows Oxford SCIMED style. Please refer to these requirements when preparing your manuscript. More information on the style guide is available. [UK/US] spelling should be used throughout, except in quotations and in references.
Abbreviations
Please define nonstandard abbreviations at the first occurrence.
Tables
You must number all tables (e.g., table 1, table 2, table 3) and reference them in the text. You must place all tables at the end of the main text. Tables should be in an editable format, and not embedded as an image file.
References
You may format references in any readable style at submission. You are responsible for the accuracy of reference information. Style files for reference managers
Acknowledgments and Funding
Acknowledgments and funding information should be included at the end of your manuscript. Please fully cite any relevant funding information, including specific grant numbers.
LaTeX
Information on LaTeX files and formatting is available.
Figures
You must include figure titles and legends within the manuscript file—they should not be included in the image file.
You must submit each figure as an individual image file. Submit all panels of a multipanel figure on a single page as one file. For example, if the figure has 3 panels, the figure should be submitted as one file. Each panel should be labeled as a letter (a, b, c, d, etc.) in the upper-left corner of each panel.
Images of photographs or paintings can be provided as raster images. Common examples of raster images are .tif/.tiff, .raw, .gif, and .bmp file types. The resolution of raster files is measured by the number of dots or pixels in a given area, referred to as “dpi” or “ppi.”
- minimum resolution required for printed images or pictures: 350dpi
- minimum resolution for printed line art: 600dpi (complex or finely drawn line art should be 1200dpi)
- minimum resolution for electronic images (i.e., for on-screen viewing): 72dpi
Images of maps, charts, graphs, and diagrams are best rendered digitally as geometric forms called vector graphics. Common file types are .eps, .ai, and .pdf. Vector images use mathematical relationships between points and the lines connecting them to describe an image. These file types do not use pixels; therefore resolution does not apply to vector images.
Figures prepared as .doc/.docx or .jpeg/.jpg files will not be accepted.
Figure accessibility and alt text
Incorporating alt text (alternative text) when submitting your paper helps to foster inclusivity and accessibility. Good alt text ensures that individuals with visual impairments or those using screen readers can comprehend the content and context of your figures. The aim of alt text is to provide concise and informative descriptions of your figure so that all readers have access to the same level of information and understanding, and that all can engage with and benefit from the visual elements integral to scholarly content. Including alt text demonstrates a commitment to accessibility and enhances the overall impact and reach of your work.
Alt text is applicable to all images, figures, illustrations, and photographs.
Alt text is only accessible via e-reader and so it won’t appear as part of the typeset article.
Detailed guidance on how to draft and submit alt text.
Supplementary Material
You must submit supplementary data or supplementary material at the same time as the main manuscript.
- Supplementary material must be cited in the text of the main manuscript.
- Supplementary material will be available online only and will not be copyedited or typeset.
- Style and formatting of supplementary material should be consistent with that of the manuscript.
- Supplementary material should be formatted to function on any internet browser.
- Supplementary material files should be no larger than 2MB each.
Open Access
Licence to Publish and Open Access Options
All papers are freely available online upon publication under an open access licence. Please note that, in the first three years, there will be no publication costs for publishing in Life Metabolism, and Open Access fees will be waived.
After your manuscript is accepted, you must sign a licence to publish form on our Author Services website.
Life Metabolism articles can be published under the following Creative Commons licence:
- Creative Commons Attribution licence (CC BY)
Your funding agencies may have specific requirements for what type of open access licence to use, so please check before selecting a licence. Please see Creative Commons licences for more information. Please check with your funding body if you are unsure of any licence requirements.
OA Licence Charges
Charges for the open access licence options offered by Life Metabolism are listed below.
Details of the open access licences and open access charges.
Creative Commons Attribution licence (CC BY) - $0
