| 1.1. An author must not submit a manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously, nor should an author submit previously published work, nor work which is based in substance on previously published work. |
| 1.2. An author should present an accurate account of research performed and an objective discussion of its significance, and present sufficient detail and reference to public sources of information so to permit the author's peers to repeat the work. |
| 1.3. An author must cite all relevant publications. Information obtained privately, as in conversation, correspondence, or discussion with third parties, should not be used or reported in the author's work unless fully cited, and with the permission of that third party. |
| 1.4. An author must avoid making statements in submitted articles which might be construed as impugning any person's reputation. |
| 1.5. An author must ensure all named co-authors consent to publication and being named as a co-author, and, equally, that all those persons who have made significant scientific or literary contributions to the work reported are named as co-authors. Additionally, the author understands that co-authors are bound by these same principles. |
| 1.6. An author must declare and acknowledge any research funding for the research work. |
Peer reviewers must make every reasonable effort to ensure the following criteria are taken into account for those submitted manuscripts they have agreed to peer review.
| 2.1. Although authors' identities are normally not disclosed, content within a manuscript may reveal an author's identity, or aspects of identity. In such cases, a peer reviewer of a manuscript must give unbiased consideration to each manuscript submitted for consideration for publication, and should judge each on its merits, without regard to race, religion, nationality, sex, seniority, or institutional affiliation of the author(s). |
| 2.2. A peer reviewer should declare any conflict of interest when the manuscript under review is related to the peer reviewer's own work. A peer reviewer should not evaluate a manuscript authored or co-authored by a person with whom the peer reviewer has a personal or professional connection if the relationship would bias judgment of the manuscript. |
| 2.3. A peer reviewer should treat the peer review process as entirely confidential, and neither the submitted manuscript, nor information about the submitted manuscript, nor correspondence related to their peer review should be shared or circulated to any person not engaged in the peer review process. |
| 2.4. A peer reviewer should provide a comprehensive peer review report. |
| 2.5. A peer reviewer should make all reasonable effort to submit her or his report and recommendation in a timely manner. |
| 2.6. A peer reviewer must avoid making statements in submitted articles which might be construed as impugning any person's reputation. |