Submission preparation checklist

All submissions must meet the following requirements.

• This submission meets the requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines.
• This submission has not been previously published, nor has it been before another journal for consideration.
• All references have been checked for accuracy and completeness.
• All tables and figures have been numbered and labeled.
• Permission has been obtained to publish all photos, datasets, and other material provided with this submission.
• Cover letter in PDF format, signed by the author for correspondence. You can add an electronic or scanned handwritten signature to the document.
• Title page of the manuscript in Microsoft Word format according to the journal's Author Guidelines.
• Authors' contribution in Microsoft Word format, according to the template available on the journal's website.
• Anonymized manuscript in Microsoft Word format, according to the template available on the journal's website.
• Publication agreement and copyright license must be in PDF format and signed by all authors, according to the template on the journal's website. An electronic or handwritten signature may be used to sign the document.
• Authorization from the relevant ethics committee is mandatory for research involving human participation. In Ecuador, approval from a Human Research Ethics Committee (CEISH) is required to ensure the proper protection of the subjects involved in the research.