Author Guidelines

PDF Layout & Article Design Standards

Longevity Horizon (Online ISSN: 3088-4063)

Authors are invited to make a submission to this journal. All submissions will be assessed by an editor to determine whether they meet the aims and scope of this journal. Those considered to be a good fit will be sent for peer review before determining whether they will be accepted or rejected.

Before making a submission, authors are responsible for obtaining permission to publish any material included with the submission, such as photos, documents and datasets. All authors identified on the submission must consent to be identified as an author. Where appropriate, research should be approved by an appropriate ethics committee in accordance with the legal requirements of the study's country.

An editor may desk reject a submission if it does not meet minimum standards of quality. Before submitting, please ensure that the study design and research argument are structured and articulated properly. The title should be concise and the abstract should be able to stand on its own. This will increase the likelihood of reviewers agreeing to review the paper. When you're satisfied that your submission meets this standard, please follow the checklist below to prepare your submission.

Purpose of the PDF Layout

The PDF layout of Longevity Horizon is designed to ensure clarity, precision, and long-term readability, while conveying the visual authority expected of a high-impact scientific journal. The layout prioritizes data density, typographic discipline, and consistent figure integration across theoretical, computational, and empirical manuscripts.

Page Format and Typography

Page Size

• A4 (210 × 297 mm)

• Margins:

• Top: 25 mm

• Bottom: 25 mm

• Inner: 20 mm

• Outer: 20 mm

Font Families

• Main text: Serif font (e.g., Times New Roman, Libertinus Serif, or STIX Two Text)

• Headings: Sans-serif (e.g., Helvetica, Source Sans Pro)

• Mathematics: STIX-compatible math fonts

Font Sizes

• Title: 16–18 pt, bold

• Author names: 11–12 pt

• E-mail: 9–10 pt

• Abstract: 10 pt

• Main text: 10.5–11 pt

• Figure captions: 9 pt

• References: 9 pt

Line spacing: 1.15–1.2
Paragraph spacing: minimal; no first-line indentation.

Article Structure (Mandatory Order)

1. Title

2. Author List and Affiliations

3. Corresponding Author E-Mail

4. Abstract

5. Keywords (3–7)

6. Highlights (Optional but encouraged)

7. Main Text

8. Acknowledgements

9. Funding Statement

10. Author Contributions

11. Competing Interests

12. Data Availability

13. References

14. Figures and Tables (embedded or end-of-document)

Title and Author Block

Title

• Concise, declarative, and mechanism-focused

• Avoid metaphors or speculative language

Author Names

• Full names (Given name + Family name)

• ORCID iDs encouraged

Affiliations

• Numbered superscripts

• Full institutional names, city, country

Abstract

• Length: 150–250 words

• Single paragraph

• Structured implicitly (Background → Methods → Results → Interpretation)

• No citations

Highlights

• 1–3 bullet points

• Maximum 25 words per bullet

• Declarative, result-driven statements

• Designed for rapid comprehension and indexing

Example:

• Centriolar damage accumulation links subcellular aging to organismal decline.

Main Text Structure

Section Headings

• Level 1: Bold

• Level 2: Italic

• Numbering optional but consistent

Typical sections:

• Introduction

• Conceptual Framework / Model

• Methods / Computational Architecture

• Results

• Discussion

• Limitations and Outlook

Figure Captions

• Positioned below figures

• Begin with Figure X | Short descriptive title

• Followed by concise explanatory text

Example:

Figure 2 | Accumulation of damage in the mother centriole across stem cell divisions.
Schematic representation illustrating irreversible molecular alterations affecting ciliogenesis and asymmetric division fidelity over time.

Captions must allow understanding without reference to the main text.

Mathematical Expressions

• Display equations centered

• Number equations when referenced

• Define all symbols at first occurrence

References (APA Style)

All submissions must follow the APA 7th edition citation style. Please ensure the following:

• In-text citations: Use the author-date format. For example: (Smith, 2022) or (Smith & Johnson, 2020) for two authors. For three or more authors, use (Smith et al., 2021).

• Reference list: Include all cited works in a separate References section at the end of your manuscript. Arrange entries alphabetically by the first author’s last name.

• Formatting:

• Book: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle. Publisher.

• Journal article: Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume(issue), page range. https://doi.org/xxxxx

• Online sources: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of page. Website Name. URL

Important: DOIs must be included where available. References should be accurate, verifiable, and complete.

Figures and Tables

Figures and tables must be prepared clearly and professionally. Please follow these guidelines:

• Resolution: Minimum 300 dpi for figures (graphs, illustrations, images).

• Format: Acceptable formats include TIFF, JPEG, PNG. Graphs generated in Excel, GraphPad, or similar software should be exported in high resolution.

• Legibility: All text within figures must be readable at the journal’s print size. Use clear fonts such as Arial or Helvetica.

• Numbering: Number figures and tables sequentially (Figure 1, Figure 2; Table 1, Table 2).

• Captions: Provide concise captions below figures and above tables. Captions must describe the content, methods, or experimental conditions clearly.

• Citing in text: All figures and tables must be cited in the main text in order of appearance.

Tip: Use color only if essential, as the journal may print in grayscale.

Graphical Abstract (Optional but Encouraged)

• Single-panel conceptual figure

• Emphasizes mechanism or model

• Minimal text

• Designed for online visibility

Color and Visual Identity

• Restrained palette

• Avoid gradients in figures

• Emphasis on grayscale readability

• Color used only to encode information

PDF Metadata Requirements

• Embedded title

• Author names

• Abstract

• Keywords

• DOI (if assigned)

Accessibility and Archival Compliance

• Selectable text (no scanned PDFs)

• Embedded fonts

• Tagged PDF structure encouraged

• Compatible with long-term archiving (LOCKSS/CLOCKSS)

Journal Manifesto

The journal does not impose article processing charges (APCs) on student authors

All publication costs for student submissions are fully covered by the Ilia Vekua Young Scientists Club. This initiative ensures equitable access to scientific publishing and supports the development of emerging researchers.

Konstantin Chichinadze Prize

In addition to its student-focused awards, the journal also supports broader scholarly excellence through the Konstantin Chichinadze Prize, established to honor outstanding contributions to biomedical, clinical, and interdisciplinary research.

The Prize recognizes exceptional originality, methodological rigor, and scientific impact. It is awarded annually to authors whose work demonstrates significant advancement in their respective fields.

Awarding

To further promote academic excellence, the Ilia Vekua Young Scientists Club annually recognizes outstanding contributions to the journal by awarding First, Second, and Third Prizes to the best student research articles. These awards highlight the commitment to nurturing early-career scholarship and fostering a culture of high-quality scientific work.