1. ARTICLES reporting original research : (normal length 8 Journal pages) :
see below for Preparation of manuscripts. Manuscripts written in English, should be submitted to the Editorial Office or to one of the Editors indicated. Manuscripts should be prepared in triplicate, (one original, printed double spaced on one side of the paper only, and two copies printed both sides) with one set of original figures and two sets of photocopies. Manuscripts will normally be refereed by two independent reviewers reporting to the responsible Editor. Authors are free to name up to three persons whom the Editor may invite to evaluate the manuscript.
2. REVIEWS : these will normally be invited and will be refereed. Unsolicited reviews will be considered for publication, but intending authors are recommended to consult the Managing Editor initially.
3. BIOPHYSICS LETTERS : these are shorter articles for accelerated publication, representing significant results and technical advances or discussion of a current proposition within the Journal’s field of interest. To facilitate review, the work should be effectively acceptable in the form submitted, meeting the normal criteria of scientific rigour. Letters (normal length 4 Journal pages) should have an Abstract of one paragraph, and sub-headings as required. Normal Journal format should be used for references, tables etc. Three copies should be submitted to the Editor for Biophysics Letters, or to the Editorial Office.
Submission of any manuscript implies that it has the approval of all the named authors, that it represents unpublished work, and that it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.
A Copyright form is sent with final proofs. Authors transfer the copyright to their article to Springer Verlag effective if and when the article is accepted for publication. The copyright covers the exclusive and unlimited rights to reproduce and distribute the article in any form of reproduction (including printing or electronic media) ; it also covers translation rights for all languages and countries. For U.S. authors, the copyright is transferred to the extent transferable.
Authors will receive copies of the final proofs. It is therefore essential that manuscripts should be complete as submitted. Changes to the text at proof stage are time-consuming and expensive and may be charged to the author.
Authors should submit diskettes only after the manuscript has been accepted for publication. Diskettes should be accompanied by a paper copy of the final version. Authors are requested to follow the technical instructions given below.
1. A title page, giving a concise but informative title, the names of the authors (indicating by the symbol * address for correspondence), the address of the institutions where the work was carried out. Any necessary footnotes (e.g. giving author's present addresses) should be given on the title page. To facilitate communication between the authors, editors and publishers, the corresponding author should furnish a telex or fax number on the title page of the manuscript.
2. An abstract of about 250 words, which should be as informative as possible for abstracting journals, followed by not more than five key words.
3. The text, comprising
The style to be used for journal papers, articles and books is shown as follows:
Bryant G, Wolfe J (1989) Can hydration forces induce lateral phase
separation in lamellar phases? Eur Biophys J 16:369-374
Dustin P (1984) Microtubules, 2nd edn. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York
Buchanan S, Michel H (1990). Investigation of quinone reduction in
Rhodopseudomonas viridis by FTIR difference spectroscopy and X-ray
diffraction analysis. In: Michel-Beyerle M-E (ed) Springer series in
biophysics, vol 6. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 75-85
5. Tables should be numbered consecutively in arabic numerals and their approximate positions should be marked in the left hand margin of the main text. Tables should be clearly set out and footnotes kept to a minimum. Each table should have a brief title to indicate its content. See note 6 as regards units.
6. Figure legends and figures. Figures should be restricted to the minimum needed to illustrate the text. They should be numbered consecutively in arabic numerals and the approximate positions marked in the left margin of the main text. Each figure should have a legend making the general meaning clear without reference to the text.
Figures will normally be printed single-column width (8.6cm).
Line drawings and graphs, with labelled and numbered axes and clear symbols, should be submitted as good-quality prints so that in the final size the letters, numbers and symbols will be about 2mm high. Computer drawings are acceptable provided they are of comparable quality to line drawings. Lines and curves must be smooth. Particular care is needed in the citation of units and powers of 10. Any numerical factor should precede the quantity in the form: 10³ x time(s) (where a unit of 1 indicates a time of 0.001s).
Half-tone illustrations will be acceptable where they provide important scientific illustration. They should be submitted as well-contrasted prints in the desired final size. The magnification (e.g. of electron micrographs) should be indicated by a bar representing a stated length. Requests for alternative presentations (e.g. stereo drawings, molecular structures, colour graphics, colour photographs) should be noted in a covering letter. All graphical materials should be submitted in the original form in a quality suitable for direct reproduction, and should be clearly identified on the back with the author's names and the figure number.
Colour illustrations will be accepted; however, the authors will be
expected to make a contribution towards the additional costs (approx. DM
1.200. - for the first and DM 600. - for each additional page).
Equations should be typewritten whenever possible, and any special typefaces or alphabets required should be indicated in the left margin. They should be numbered consecutively in arabic numerals (Eq. 1) inside the right margin. Formulae should, as far as possible, be written in 'linear' form, i.e. a/b(b+c).
Footnotes to the text should be kept to a minimum and numbered consecutively throughout the paper. They should be collected together and placed at the end of the text.
Genus and species names should be underlined once for italics.
Safety and ethics. Authors are responsible for drawing the attention of
the reader to hazards associated with any procedures described, and for
ensuring that their work complies with normal ethical practices.
Full technical information for electronic submission is given regularly in the Journal and can be viewed on http://link.springer.de/cgi/diskse.pl?00249
