A.  For Editors 

The editors serve as the gatekeepers of research integrity.

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a. Editorial Decisions - should be based on the merit of the submitted work and its general suitability for the journal's scope.  They assess the authenticity of submitted work (e.g., checking for plagiarism, data fabrication/falsification). Reject unethical work, including submissions with ethical breaches like improper authorship or unethical experimentation.

 

b. Confidentiality - The chief editor and any editorial board editor must not disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, other editorial advisers, and the publisher, as appropriate. Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted paper will not be used by the editor or the members of the editorial board for their research purposes without the author's explicit written consent

 

B.  For Authors 

a. Reporting Protocol - Authors must ensure that methods and findings are reported with clarity, accuracy, and completeness, including appropriate references to allow others to replicate the study. 

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b. Intellectual Ownership - Authors must submit only original work that has not been published elsewhere or submitted to another journal concurrently. All publications that have significantly influenced the nature of the reported work should also be appropriately cited and referenced. Using previously published content or third-party materials requires proper citations and permissions. Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal at the same time is considered self-plagiarism and is unethical.

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c.  Data Storage and Access - Authors could be asked to provide access to raw data when requested and retain data for a reasonable period after publication. In any event, authors should ensure the accessibility of such data to other competent professionals, being transparent about data sources and methodologies, provided that confidentiality is maintained and no legal restrictions apply to proprietary data, or rights are not violated.

 

d. Author Participation - Only individuals who made a significant contribution to the research should be listed as authors. All those who have made contributions should be listed as co-authors. Acknowledge the contributions of others appropriately (e.g., co-authors, funding bodies, institutions). The corresponding author will also verify that all co-authors have approved the final version of the paper and have agreed to its submission for publication.

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e.  Disclosure of Competing Interest - All authors should include a statement disclosing any financial or other substantive conflicts of interest that could influence the research or its interpretation.

 

f. Fundamental Errors in Published Works - Authors should notify the journal promptly if a significant error or inaccuracy is discovered in the published work. Cooperate with editors in issuing corrections or retractions as needed. Recuse themselves if they cannot provide an unbiased assessment.

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C.  For the Reviewers

The peer-reviewing process assists the chief editor and the editorial board in making editorial decisions and may also serve the author in improving the paper. They should take conscientious steps to provide constructive feedback that supports authors in addressing any issues within the manuscript

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a.  Timeliness - Respond to review invitations promptly within four to six weeks of receipt. Reviewers who feel unqualified to evaluate the research in a manuscript, or who cannot complete the review promptly, should notify the editor and withdraw from the review process.

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b. Non-disclosure - Reviewers should treat all manuscripts received as confidential documents. All research submissions undergo a peer review process to ensure fairness, impartiality, and academic rigor. They must not share, discuss, or disclose any part of the manuscript with others without permission from the Chief editor.

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d. Objectivity - Reviewers are expected to remain fair, impartial, and free from bias in their evaluations. Reviews should be conducted objectively - express their views clearly with supporting arguments. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate.  

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e.  Source attribution - Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors. They should notify the editor of any suspicion of plagiarism, duplicate publication, or unethical research practices. 

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f.  Respect for the Review Process - Do not use information from the manuscript for personal gain or to discredit the authors. Reviewers must provide feedback that reflects a professional understanding of the topic. They should refrain from contacting the authors directly. 

 

D.  For the Publisher

Neural Press™ has a supporting, investing and nurturing role in the scholarly communication process but is also ultimately responsible for ensuring that best practice is followed in its publications. Neural Press™ as publisher, takes seriously its role as steward of the scholarly record. By these guidelines, Neural Press™ adopted these policies and procedures to assist editors, reviewers, and authors in fulfilling their ethical duties. Finally, Neural Press™ collaborates with other publishers and associations as part of its efforts to set standards - advocates for best practices on matters of ethics, errors, and retractions.​​​​​

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