Editorial Policies
Upholding the highest standards of scientific integrity in spine and neuroscience publishing
Core Principles
Scientific Rigor
Rigorous peer review evaluating methodology, clinical validity, and statistical appropriateness
Impartiality
Decisions based solely on scientific merit without regard to author characteristics
Transparency
Clear communication regarding processes, decisions, and any concerns
Confidentiality
Unpublished manuscripts and reviewer identities treated as confidential
Peer Review
JSN employs double-blind peer review. Manuscripts are first evaluated for scope and quality, then assigned to associate editors who coordinate review by expert referees with relevant clinical or research expertise. We aim for initial decisions within 21 days. Reviewers evaluate scientific validity, clinical significance, methodological rigor, and presentation clarity.
Authors may suggest preferred or excluded reviewers, though editors retain final discretion in reviewer selection. We seek geographic and institutional diversity to ensure balanced evaluation of spine and neuroscience research.
Research Integrity
Originality: Manuscripts must represent original work not previously published. JSN employs plagiarism detection software on all submissions.
Data Integrity: Authors must ensure accuracy of all presented data including clinical outcomes, imaging measurements, and statistical results. Fabrication or falsification constitutes misconduct.
Human Subjects Research: Studies involving patients must have IRB approval with consent documented. Clinical trials must be registered. Case reports require patient consent for publication.
Conflicts of Interest
All authors must disclose financial relationships with device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, or other entities with interests in research outcomes. Non-financial conflicts including institutional affiliations and personal relationships must also be disclosed. Failure to disclose conflicts may result in correction or retraction.
Appeals: Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting detailed responses addressing reviewer concerns. Appeals are evaluated by senior editors not involved in the original decision to ensure fair reconsideration.
Authorship Guidelines
JSN follows ICMJE criteria for authorship. All listed authors must have made substantial contributions to conception, design, data acquisition, analysis, or interpretation. Authors must have drafted or critically revised the work, approved the final version, and agreed to accountability for all aspects.
Contributors not meeting authorship criteria should be acknowledged. Ghost authorship, gift authorship, and guest authorship are misconduct. Changes to authorship after submission require written agreement from all authors and editor approval.
Clinical Research Standards
Clinical trials must be registered in recognized registries such as ClinicalTrials.gov before enrollment. Studies should follow appropriate reporting guidelines: CONSORT for trials, STROBE for observational studies, PRISMA for systematic reviews, CARE for case reports.
Research involving patients requires IRB approval with informed consent. Device and pharmaceutical studies must disclose manufacturer relationships. Surgical outcome studies should include appropriate follow-up duration and complication reporting.
Post-Publication
Errors identified after publication are addressed through formal correction notices. Articles with fraudulent data, plagiarism, or serious errors may be retracted following COPE guidelines. We investigate all concerns thoroughly while ensuring fair process.
JSN upholds the highest standards of publication ethics and clinical research integrity. We follow COPE guidelines and ICMJE recommendations ensuring fair evaluation and transparent processes. Our policies support responsible communication of spine and neuroscience research benefiting patients, clinicians, and the scientific community through rigorous quality standards.
These policies reflect our commitment to ethical excellence in clinical publishing. We continuously review practices in accordance with evolving international standards and COPE recommendations maintaining leadership in responsible communication of spine and neuroscience research. Authors, reviewers, and readers may report concerns confidentially.
Authors, reviewers, and readers may report concerns confidentially to the editorial office. We protect whistleblower confidentiality while conducting thorough investigations. JSN maintains the highest standards of publication ethics in spine and neuroscience research.
JSN maintains rigorous ethical standards following COPE guidelines for responsible scholarly communication in spine and neuroscience research. We investigate all concerns thoroughly while ensuring fair process for all parties involved.
Our commitment to ethical excellence ensures fair evaluation, transparent processes, and scientific integrity in all published spine and neuroscience research benefiting patients and the clinical community.
We follow international best practices maintaining leadership in responsible clinical publishing.
JSN maintains rigorous ethical standards for all published clinical research.
High quality assured.
Quality publication standards.
