Mandatory Author Declaration

The Mandatory Author Declaration is a crucial part of the manuscript submission process. It ensures that all authors adhere to the ethical and logistical requirements of the journal. The declaration covers several key areas to maintain the integrity and transparency of the publication process. Below is an overview of what this declaration entails:

  1. Originality and Prior Submissions
    • Authors must declare that the manuscript is an original piece of work that has not been published elsewhere and is not under consideration by any other journal. If applicable, any prior publications related to the manuscript should be disclosed, and copies should be provided.
  2. Conflicts of Interest and Financial Support
    • Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence their judgment regarding the research, whether or not the judgment is actually affected. This includes financial relationships with industry or other ties that might bias the work. Authors are responsible for acknowledging all financial support received for the research and any other financial or personal connections that could be perceived as influencing their work. If there are no conflicts of interest or financial support to declare, authors should explicitly state: "The authors confirm that there are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome."
  3. Authorship and Order of Authors
    • All named authors must confirm that they have read and approved the manuscript and that the list of authors is complete. The order of authors must be agreed upon by all authors and is final. Requests to add, remove, or rearrange author names in the accepted manuscript must be submitted by the Corresponding Author to the Journal Manager. These requests must include:
      • The reason for the addition, removal, or rearrangement.
      • Written confirmation from all authors agreeing to the changes, including the author being added or removed if applicable.
    • Requests not sent by the Corresponding Author will be forwarded to the Corresponding Author for compliance with the procedure described. Note that publication of the accepted manuscript will be suspended until authorship issues are resolved. After publication in an online issue, changes to authorship will be handled through a corrigendum.
  4. Intellectual Property
    • Authors must ensure that all aspects of intellectual property related to the work are properly addressed. This includes obtaining necessary permissions and confirming that there are no barriers to publication concerning intellectual property.
  5. Ethical Approval
    • For research involving human subjects or animals, authors must confirm that ethical approval has been obtained from relevant bodies. This section can be omitted if not applicable to the manuscript.
  6. Consent for Identifiable Data
    • Authors must confirm that any identifiable data shared in the manuscript has been obtained with the consent of the respective parties. This section can be omitted if not relevant.
  7. Impact Statement
    • Authors are required to provide a brief statement on the potential impact of their research findings. This should outline the significance and relevance of the research within the field and explain how the work advances the field or addresses a specific problem.
  8. Acknowledgements
    • Authors must acknowledge any individuals or organizations that contributed to the research but do not meet the criteria for authorship. This includes recognizing any non-author contributions such as administrative support, technical assistance, or funding sources. The contributions of these individuals or organizations should be clearly described.
  9. Corresponding Author Responsibilities
    • The Corresponding Author will be the primary contact for all communications related to the manuscript, including those with the Editorial Manager and journal office. The Corresponding Author must ensure that their email address is up-to-date and able to receive communications from the journal.

Please review and complete the Mandatory Author Declaration carefully. Ensure that all sections are filled out accurately and that the declaration is signed by all authors. Incomplete or incorrect declarations may delay the review process or affect the publication of the manuscript.