Author Ethical Guidelines

Authors must

• Present an accurate account of research performed as well as an objective discussion of its significance.
• Accurately represent underlying data in the paper.
• Present sufficient detail and references to permit others to replicate the work.
• Cite all relevant references.
• Identify any hazards inherent in conducting the research.
• Ensure they have written and produced entirely original work and ensure that where they have used the work and/or words of others, this has been properly attributed and accurately quoted.
• Not submit the same or similar article or substantially similar material, concurrently to any other journal or primary publication, nor do so until the outcome of their submission to the journal is known.
• Avoid self-plagiarism, i.e. not submit the same or substantially similar material (data or text) as contained in any article, including review articles, that the author(s) have published previously.
• Avoid fragmenting research to maximise the number of articles for publication.
• Avoid libellous or defamatory statements in their work.
• Limit authorship to, and include all, those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution or interpretation of the work as recommended by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).
• Ensure all contributors have approved the final version of the manuscript and its submission to the journal.
• Ensure research involving human subjects complies with the Declaration of Helsinki (http://www.wma.net/en/30publications/10policies/b3/index.html) and, in particular, include a statement in the manuscript itself that the subjects have given their informed, written consent.
• Ensure research involving animal experimentation complies with the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare guidelines (http://www.ufaw.org.uk/public-list.php#pl05).
• Report any significant error or inaccuracy in the work to the publisher as soon as it is discovered.