XML Submission Guidelines

Overview

World Nutrition requires that all articles accepted for publication be prepared in Journal Article Tag Suite (JATS) XML format to support long-term preservation, discoverability, interoperability, and indexing, including eligibility for PubMed Central (PMC) and other full-text repositories.

These guidelines describe the technical, structural, and metadata requirements for XML files submitted to or generated for World Nutrition.

Applicable Standards

World Nutrition follows:

  • NISO JATS (ANSI/NISO Z39.96) standard
  • PMC/JATS Archiving and Publishing Tag Sets
  • Crossref XML deposit requirements for DOI registration

All XML files must validate against the appropriate JATS DTD prior to submission.

Who Is Responsible for XML Preparation

XML preparation may be completed by:

  • The journal’s production team, or
  • Approved external service providers, or
  • Authors submitting funder-mandated manuscripts (e.g., NIH-funded research)

Regardless of who prepares the XML, authors remain responsible for the accuracy of the scientific content, while the journal ensures technical compliance prior to publication or repository submission.

File Package Requirements

Each XML submission must include the following components:

  1. Main XML File
    • JATS-compliant full-text XML document
  2. PDF Proof
    • Final published version corresponding exactly to the XML content
  3. Figure Files
    • High-resolution figures in TIFF, JPEG, PNG, or EPS format
    • Figures must be cited sequentially in the XML
  4. Supplementary Materials (if applicable)
    • Tables, datasets, appendices, or multimedia files

Mandatory XML Structure

The XML document must contain the following core elements:

  1. Front Matter (<front>)
  • Journal title and ISSN
  • Article title and running title
  • Author names, affiliations, ORCID iDs (where available)
  • Corresponding author details
  • Abstract and keywords
  • Funding information and grant numbers
  • Conflicts of interest declarations
  • Article history (received, revised, accepted dates)
  • Licensing and copyright statements (CC BY 4.0)
  1. Body (<body>)
  • Structured sections (e.g., Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion)
  • Clearly tagged tables, figures, equations, and references
  • Ethical approval statements where applicable
  • Clinical trial registration numbers (if applicable)
  1. Back Matter (<back>)
  • Acknowledgements
  • Author contributions (where provided)
  • Data availability statements
  • References (fully tagged and validated)

Abstract and Keywords

  • Abstracts must be tagged using <abstract> elements
  • Structured abstracts should use <sec> tags within the abstract
  • Keywords must be tagged using <kwd-group>

References and Citations

  • References must be tagged using <ref-list> and <ref> elements
  • Each reference should include:
    • Author(s)
    • Article or book title
    • Journal title (for articles)
    • Year, volume, issue, and page numbers
    • DOI or persistent identifier where available

In-text citations must be correctly linked to the reference list.

Figures and Tables

  • Figures must be tagged using <fig> elements
  • Tables must be tagged using <table-wrap> elements
  • Each figure and table must include:
    • A title
    • A legend or caption
    • Sequential numbering consistent with the manuscript

Ethical and Funding Metadata

The XML must explicitly include:

  • Ethics approval statements (human research)
  • Informed consent statements where applicable
  • Funding sources and grant identifiers
  • Conflicts of interest disclosures

These elements are mandatory for PMC eligibility.

Licensing and Copyright

All articles must include:

  • Creative Commons license tagging (<license>)
  • Attribution to CC BY 4.0
  • Author copyright retention statement

Validation and Quality Control

Before submission, XML files must:

  • Validate against the appropriate JATS DTD
  • Be free of structural and syntax errors
  • Match the final published PDF exactly
  • Pass automated checks for PMC and Crossref compliance

World Nutrition performs internal validation prior to DOI registration or repository deposition.

PMC Deposition

For articles eligible for PubMed Central:

  • XML files must conform to PMC Archiving Tag Set requirements
  • All required metadata must be present and correctly tagged
  • Figures and supplementary files must be packaged according to PMC specifications

The journal supports both direct PMC submission and author-initiated deposition where funder policies apply.

Version Control and Corrections

  • The submitted XML must reflect the final, published version of record
  • Post-publication corrections or retractions require updated XML files
  • All versions are clearly documented to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record

Technical Support

Authors and editors requiring assistance with XML preparation or validation should consult the journal’s production team or approved service providers. Detailed guidance is cross-linked with the Manuscript Preparation Guidelines and Publishing Ethics Policies.

Compliance Statement

Adherence to these XML Submission Guidelines ensures that World Nutrition articles meet international standards for indexing, archiving, interoperability, and long-term accessibility, including full compliance with PubMed Central (PMC) technical requirements.