Authors reporting results of original
research should present an accurate account of the work performed as well as an
objective discussion of its significance. Underlying data should be represented
accurately in the manuscript.
A paper should contain sufficient detail and
references to permit others to replicate the work. Fraudulent or knowingly
inaccurate statements constitute unethical behaviour and are unacceptable.
The authors should ensure that they have
written entirely original works, and if the authors have used the work and / or
words of others that this has been appropriately cited or quoted.
An author
should not in general publish manuscripts describing essentially the same
research in more than one journal or primary publication. Parallel submission
of the same manuscript to more than one journal constitutes unethical
publishing behaviour and is unacceptable.
Proper acknowledgment of the work of others
must always be given. Authors should also cite publications that have been
influential in determining the nature of the reported work.
Authorship should be limited to those who
have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or
interpretation of the reported study. All those who have made significant
contributions should be listed as co-author.
Where there are others who have participated
in certain substantive aspects of the research project, they should be named in
an Acknowledgement section.
All authors should disclose in their
manuscript any financial or other substantive conflict of interest that might
be interpreted to influence the results or their interpretation in the
manuscript. All sources of financial support for the project should be disclosed.
When an author discovers a significant error
or inaccuracy in his/her own published work, it is the author’s obligation to
promptly notify the journal’s Editor-in-Chief or publisher and cooperate with
them to either retract the paper or to publish an appropriate erratum.
In case of alleged or proven scientific
misconduct, fraudulent publication or plagiarism the publisher, in close
collaboration with the Editors-in-Chief, will take all appropriate measures to
clarify the situation and to amend the article in question. This includes the
prompt publication of an erratum or, in the most severe cases, the complete
retraction of the affected work.
