Authors

• Reporting standards: Authors of reports of original research should present an accurate account of the work performed and an objective discussion of its significance. The underlying data should be accurately presented in the paper/book. A paper/book should include sufficient detail and references to allow others to replicate the work. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unethical behaviour and are unacceptable.
• Data Access and Retention: If applicable, authors are asked to make available for editorial review the raw data associated with a paper/book. They should be prepared to provide public access to these data and in any case be prepared to retain these data for a reasonable time after publication.
• Originality and plagiarism: Authors should ensure that they have written their work entirely in the original, and if the authors have used the work and/or words of others, that they have been appropriately cited or quoted.
• Multiple, redundant or simultaneous publication: An author generally should not publish manuscripts describing essentially the same research in more than one journal, book, or primary publication. Simultaneous submission of the same manuscript to more than one journal or book series constitutes unethical publishing behaviour and is unacceptable.
• Acknowledgement of sources: The work of others should always be appropriately acknowledged. Authors should cite publications that were instrumental to the type of work reported.
• Authorship of the paper/book: Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, conduct, or interpretation of the reported study. All individuals who have made a significant contribution should be listed as co-authors. The corresponding author should ensure that all appropriate co-authors and no inappropriate co-authors are listed in the paper/book and that all co-authors have seen and approved the final version of the paper/book and agree to its submission for publication.
• Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: All authors should disclose in their manuscript any financial or other significant conflicts of interest that could be construed as influencing the results or interpretation of their manuscript. All sources of financial support for the project should be disclosed.
• Fundamental errors in published work: If an author discovers a fundamental error or inaccuracy in his/her own published work, it is his/her duty to immediately notify the journal/series editors or publisher and work with the editor to retract or correct the paper/book.