Authors, reviewers and editors should disclose relationships relevant to the research or its assessment. A disclosure allows the journal to manage independence and gives readers the context needed to interpret the work.

Author declarations

Declare relevant employment, consultancy, grants, paid advisory roles, shareholdings, intellectual-property interests and other financial relationships. Describe the connection to the submitted work and the role of any funder or sponsor.

Relevant non-financial interests may include close personal relationships, institutional responsibilities or commitments directly connected to the subject or outcome. Explain the relationship concretely. Where no relevant interest exists, provide an explicit statement to that effect.

Reviewers

Before accepting, notify the editor of recent collaboration, close professional or personal relationships, supervision, institutional connections or other interests that could affect impartiality. The editor evaluates the circumstances and reassigns the manuscript when needed.

Declare a conflict that becomes apparent after acceptance and pause assessment pending editorial advice. Authors may explain a conflict relevant to reviewer selection in the cover letter; the editor makes the appointment.

Editors and guest editors

An editor transfers handling when their relationship with the work or authors affects independence. Editors and guest editors do not make decisions on their own submissions. Contributions from editorial board members undergo the journal’s normal scholarly assessment.

An independent editor oversees the affected manuscript. Guest-edited collections remain under the journal’s editorial oversight and follow the same conflict-management principles.

Changes and concerns

Update disclosures when a new or omitted interest is identified during review or production. After publication, the editor considers whether an amended statement or further action is required.

Report a suspected undisclosed interest to [email protected] with the article or submission details and relevant evidence. The journal assesses the effect on the research and editorial process.