Editorial Policies

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become increasingly prevalent in the field of writing. As AI technologies continue to advance, it is important for authors to consider the editorial policies that govern the use of AI in their work. Insights Publisher adopts the following policies to help ensure that AI is used ethically and accurately in the writing process.

 

  • By establishing clear guidelines for the use of AI tools, authors can avoid the risk of plagiarism or unethical practices. This is critical in academic and professional writing, where accuracy and originality are paramount. By adhering to editorial policies, authors can maintain the integrity of their work and build trust with their readers.
  • By setting standards for quality, accuracy, and consistency, authors can use AI tools effectively to enhance their writing process. This might include guidelines for fact-checking, grammar and style consistency, and overall content coherence. By following these policies, authors can improve the overall quality and readability of their work.
  • As AI technologies continue to evolve, there are ethical concerns about the impact of these tools on society, including issues of bias, privacy, and accountability. Authors should ensure that their work is fair and respectful of diverse perspectives.
  • Authors should be transparent about the use of AI tools in their work, including disclosing any automated assistance or generated content. By being open about the use of AI, authors can demonstrate their commitment to ethical and responsible writing practices.
  • Authors should protect sensitive information and ensure that they are compliant with relevant laws and regulations. This can help authors avoid potential legal and ethical risks associated with the use of AI in writing.

 

Beginning in April 2024, all journals hosted by Insights Publisher will mandate that all submissions include a statement outlining how AI aided in the manuscript preparation process, with the published work demonstrating a declaration on the title page as “The author(s) affirm that artificial intelligence did (not) contribute to the process of preparing the work”.

 

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COMPETING INTERESTS

For Authors

It is absolutely mandatory for all manuscripts submitted to the journals published by Insights Publisher to include disclosure declarations. The authors assume sole accountability for the accuracy of the information incorporated within the study. Submissions that do not adhere to the regulations outlined within this particular section shall be summarily dismissed by the Editor-in-Chief, without any further contemplation or consideration.

 

Any financial or other relationships that may have an indirect or direct impact on the research that an author submits for publication in an Insights Publisher-supported journal must be disclosed. It is critical to disclose any interests that have arisen during the last five years before beginning the study and getting the material ready to be submitted. Disclosure is required in cases where there is a reasonable expectation that interests spanning more than five years would impact the work’s submission. By being transparent about one’s personal interests, one may assure readers of an honest and comprehensive approach, and they can judge for themselves whether the author is biased. There is zero indication that receiving paid for consulting services or having a financial relationship with an organization that supported the study is immoral.

 

While not all-inclusive, the following are some examples of interests that should be considered and articulated: (i) Funding: Acceptable sources of funding include research grants obtained from funding agencies, with the funder’s identity and grant number being essential information. Additionally, research support received from organizations that have a vested interest, either in terms of financial gain or loss, in the publication of this manuscript, such as salaries, equipment, supplies, symposia reimbursement, and other related expenses, can also be considered as valid sources of funding. (ii) Employment: The individual’s professional trajectory, be it ongoing or prospective, within any organization that possesses a vested financial interest in the dissemination of this literary creation (encompassing employment throughout the duration of the research endeavor). These are enumerated in the event that a multitude of associations are present. (iii) Financial Interests: The textual composition may encompass equities or stock interests pertaining to the spouse and/or offspring’s commercial enterprises, thereby subjecting them to potential gains or losses contingent upon its widespread dissemination. It may also encompass the remuneration of consulting fees or other forms of compensation from organizations that stand to gain or suffer from its dissemination. The literary work has the potential to alter the intrinsic worth of patents or applications for patents. (iv) Non-Financial Interests: In conjunction with pecuniary concerns, it is imperative for authors to divulge their professional affiliations, personal associations, and individual convictions that may potentially exert an adverse influence on their work. Illustrative instances encompass affiliations with editorial boards, advisory boards, boards of directors, and other managerial associations; scholarly composition and consultancy; testimonies as an expert witness; mentorship engagements; and various analogous undertakings.

 

For Editors

 

Members of the Editorial Board

It is incumbent upon the members of the Editorial Board to duly disclose any potential conflicts of interest. Should such conflicts arise, it is conceivable that their participation in the peer review process could be rendered null and void. Parties with conflicting interests should refrain from managing manuscripts. Editors and members of the editorial board are required to identify any conflicts of interest related to their authorship of submitted papers. If an Editor or member of the Editorial Board is an author or has a conflicting interest in a contribution, another individual will oversee the peer review process. These contributions undergo a thorough and rigorous peer-review process, similar to that of other academic papers.

 

Editorial Personnel

Every member of the editorial staff of Insights Publisher publication is required to disclose any financial or other interests that could potentially impact their editorial decisions. Noncompliance with this rule is a disciplinary violation. While individual acceptance decisions are bound by a stringent editorial independence policy, Insights Publisher maintains that editorial excellence and relevance should never be compromised. Although certain editors may receive financial incentives for boosting journal submissions, our internal policies, contracts, and formal objectives all specify that this should only be achieved by assuring the submission of high-quality articles and never by lowering editorial standards.

 

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DUPLICATED PUBLISHING

 

Articles submitted to journals hosted by Insights Publisher must be completely original and not be in the review process for any other journals when the submission is being considered. Authors are required to be forthright and honest whenever their work could potentially be compared to another’s. All authors are required to mention any conflicting previously published works in their manuscript submissions. You should cite any two or more publications that are quite comparable. Please make any cited or unpublished paper, whether it is in press or not, available to the editor upon request. This will help the editor and reviewers evaluate the manuscript more accurately. Whether two or more publications may be potentially overlapping or redundant is something that Insights Publisher decides for each specific case.

 

Insights Publisher, being an esteemed participant in CrossCheck‘s diligent endeavor to detect plagiarism, demonstrates an unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of scholarly integrity. It is imperative to emphasize that any and all claims pertaining to publication misconduct are treated with utmost gravity, irrespective of the origin of such allegations.

 

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HUMAN PARTICIPANTS OR BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS

 

Ethical Approval

 

A statement acknowledging approval (or lack thereof) from the relevant institutional and/or national research ethics committee, specifying which one, must be included by the authors. If the process is unclear, the authors must explain their methodology and show that the controversial parts of the study were approved by an unbiased institutional review board or ethics board. If there is no need for ethical approval for the study, an explanation must be included in the report.

 

Cell Lines

In the event that human cells are utilized, it is imperative that the manuscript encompasses the following particulars: an all-encompassing explication of the cell lines employed, encompassing their provenance, date of acquisition, and geographical source; verification of the cell line’s genuineness, preferably through contemporary authentication; and affirmation of the cell line’s recent authentication. In the event that the cells were procured from a life science enterprise, it is imperative that the manuscript incorporates the subsequent particulars: the nomenclature of the establishment (from which the cells were sourced), the classification of the cellular entity, the magnitude of the cellular lineages, and the consignment of cells.

 

The International Cell Line Authentication Committee has more information, which you may find on their website (ICLAC).

 

Reporting Procedures and Standards

 

Insights Publisher is a proponent of thorough and transparent reporting of biomedical and biological research, as well as research with biological applications, in the scientific literature. When drafting their submission, authors are advised to adhere to the minimal reporting criteria maintained by the EQUATOR Network.

 

Please see the checklist below for different study designs:

  • Animal pre-clinical studies (ARRIVE)                       
  • Economic evaluations (CHEERS)
  • Observational studies (STROBE)                               
  • Qualitative research (SRQR) and (COREQ)            
  • Randomized trials (CONSORT) and Study protocols (SPIRIT)        
  • Systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA)

 

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ANIMAL RESEARCH

Vertebrate or controlled invertebrate research must follow institutional, national, or international norms and should have been authorized by an appropriate ethical committee where such rules are available. The Animal Research Tomorrow and the International Council for Laboratory Animal Science (ICLAS) have both issued ethical standards for doing animal research.

 

Anesthesia and euthanasia procedures not in line with generally established veterinary best practice norms will not be considered for publication in manuscripts. According to the AVMA, authors should refer to their own professional judgment when it comes to euthanasia and anesthesia in animals, as well as the AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals (2020).

 

When doing research on endangered or threatened species, authors should adhere to the IUCN Policy Statement (PDF) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

 

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EMBRYOS, GAMETES, AND STEM CELLS FROM HUMAN

 

It is required that any inquiries concerning human embryos, gametes, embryonic stem cells, and related substances, as well as the clinical implementation of stem cells, be accompanied by comprehensive documentation that verifies adherence to pertinent regulations and standards within the manuscript. It is required that the names of the ethics committees that approved the studies be made public and included in the paper’s ethical statement along with any relevant information. When it comes to receiving or donating cells or tissues, writers must state clearly that they have obtained informed consent from all people involved, if applicable. Furthermore, it is imperative that writers furnish comprehensive particulars of the conditions of procurement of human embryos or gametes, in addition to other materials employed in the investigation. The respected journal has the right to request and receive properly authorized and modified permission forms.

 

The editorial board of each journal published by Insights Publisher scrupulously assesses a multitude of factors in their prudent deliberation on whether to publish a scholarly paper elucidating the intricate domain of human germline modification. The aforementioned factors encompass the current state of public discourse surrounding the subject matter, the extent to which the proposed modification adheres to relevant regulations, and the seriousness of safety concerns that may arise as a result of such endeavors. The final assessment regarding the suitability of a manuscript for publication rests solely within the jurisdiction of the Editors-in-Chief of the respective academic journals.

 

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PALEONTOLOGICAL AND GEOLOGICAL MATERIALS

 

In order to attain a state of utmost transparency in the realm of scientific inquiry, it is imperative that the particulars pertaining to paleontological specimens and geological materials be accompanied by meticulous provenance information. However, it is worth noting that this requirement may be relaxed in the case of antiquated museum collections. It is imperative that paleontological specimens of type, figured, and referenced nature be duly placed within a reputable museum or collection, thereby guaranteeing their enduring accessibility for future researchers. Adequate details pertaining to the repository, such as the allocation of distinct catalogue numbers to the specimens, if applicable, must be furnished in order to facilitate the tracking of said specimens.

 

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BIOSECURITY AND BIOSAFETY

 

Authors seeking to contribute their works to the journals published by Insights Publisher are expected to diligently adhere to the institutional protocols pertaining to biosafety and biosecurity. The Editor may request that authors elucidate their approach towards mitigating said risks and their adherence to institutional, funder, and national legislative frameworks. Insights Publisher retains the prerogative to solicit expert counsel in instances of prospective apprehensions and to conduct a peer evaluation of an article in order to gauge its potential for dual utilization hazards. It is not uncommon for authors to be solicited for the purpose of revising their manuscript prior to its submission for journal peer-review.

 

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NEW TAXA

 

Plants, Algae, and Fungi

 

Field experiments involving genetically modified plants must strictly adhere to the pertinent national and local legislations. Furthermore, the article in question must incorporate a comprehensive statement elucidating the requisite permits and/or licenses, if deemed necessary. The authors must perform their research in accordance with the Nagoya Protocol when they use genetic plant resources obtained from local suppliers/collectors, such as species taken from protected regions or endangered species having medicinal.

 

Prior to publication, authors doing research on quarantine organisms should conform to applicable national regulations and inform the relevant North American Plant Protection Organization of new discoveries. Additional information is available from the International Plant Protection Convention.

 

Voucher specimens serve as a crucial tool in the validation of the taxonomic identity of organisms scrutinized both in their natural habitats and controlled laboratory settings. Furthermore, they facilitate the implementation of innovative species concepts in the context of prior scientific investigations. It is imperative that voucher specimens documenting all researched accessions, with a minimum of one specimen per population for population samples, be deposited in a publicly accessible herbarium, such as the esteemed Index Herbarium, or any other public collection that facilitates access to deposited materials. The article necessitates the inclusion of pertinent details concerning the voucher specimen, encompassing its taxonomic classification at the genus and species level, the esteemed author responsible for its recognition, and the precise year of publication.

 

Zoological Nomenclature

 

Any work that proposes new names for taxa or engages in other nomenclature-related activities must follow the guidelines set out by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. Insights Publisher requires ZooBank to be notified of the new taxon name and the publication of the article containing it. The article ought to have ZooBank’s distinct identifier. Authors will have the opportunity to update ZooBank with the final citation after publication.

 

Bacterial Nomenclature

 

As per the regulations outlined by the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes (ICSP), it is imperative for authors to duly furnish a conclusive version of the published manuscript, accompanied by certificates validating the deposition of the type of strain. This deposition serves the purpose of facilitating unrestricted dissemination of the strain in question.

 

Virus Etymology

 

New viral names must adhere to the rules outlined in the International Code of Virus Classification and Nomenclature. Proposals for novel viral taxa should be submitted to the ICTV’s appropriate Study Group for consideration.

 

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SEX AND GENDER

 

Sex and gender definitions should follow the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Research on Women’s Health. Insights Publisher encourages authors to incorporate sex and gender topics whenever feasible. Authors should use caution when using the terms sex (referring to biological characteristics) and gender (referring to social and cultural constructs) to prevent any confusion or merging of these two groups. The titles and/or abstracts of articles should clearly indicate the specific gender(s) to which the study is relevant.

 

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IMAGE CONSISTENCY

 

It is not allowed to change, hide, move, remove, or add any part of a picture. Grouping or consolidation of images from multiple sources must be clearly indicated by the figure’s layout and legend. As long as the adjustments are made to the entire image and do not hide, erase, or deceive any information in the original, including backdrops, it is acceptable to adjust brightness, contrast, or color balance. It is possible that the editors may ask for the authors’ original data to compare with the produced figures if they have questions about images that were identified throughout the image screening process. Rejection is possible if the paper cannot be written using the original data. We shall reject the work and notify the home institution or funding agency of the author in cases of intentional data manipulation. Any distribution of statistics with discernible human faces must get explicit consent.

 

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Please contact us at [email protected] for any issues not mentioned in this statement or on other parts of our website, or for any inquiries or concerns regarding our publication policies.

 

Updated: March 7th, 2024