Reporting standards: Authors of reports 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 paper. A paper should
contain sufficient detail and references to permit others to replicate the work. Fraudulent
or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unethical behavior and are unacceptable.
Data Access and Retention: Authors are asked to provide the raw data in connection
with a paper for editorial review, and should be prepared to provide public access to such
data (consistent with the ALPSP-STM Statement on Data and Databases), if practicable, and
should in any event be prepared to retain such data for a reasonable time after publication.
Originality and Plagiarism: 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.
Multiple, Redundant or Concurrent Publication: An author should not in general
publish manuscripts describing essentially the same research in more than one journal or
primary publication. Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal concurrently
constitutes unethical publishing behaviour and is unacceptable.
Acknowledgement of Sources: Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must always
be given. Authors should cite publications that have been influential in determining the
nature of the reported work.
Authorship of the Paper: 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-authors. Where there are others who have participated in certain substantive aspects of
the research project, they should be acknowledged or listed as contributors. The
corresponding author should ensure that all appropriate co-authors and no inappropriate
co-authors are included on the paper, and that all co-authors have seen and approved the
final version of the paper and have agreed to its submission for publication.
Authorship Changes: Authors are strongly advised to ensure the correct author
group, the Corresponding Author, and the order of authors at submission. Changes of
authorship by adding or deleting authors, and/or changes in Corresponding Author, and/or
changes in the sequence of authors are not accepted after acceptance of a manuscript.
Hazards and Human or Animal Subjects: If the work involves chemicals, procedures or
equipment that have any unusual hazards inherent in their use, the author must clearly
identify these in the manuscript.
Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: All authors should disclose in their manuscript
any financial or other substantive conflict of interest that might be construed to influence
the results or interpretation of their manuscript. All sources of financial support for the
project should be disclosed.
Fundamental errors in published works: 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 editor or publisher and cooperate with the editor to retract or correct
the paper.