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ALife Robotics Corporation Ltd. Ethical Standards and Procedure

ALife Robotics Corporation Ltd. Proceedings
Ethical Standards

ALife Robotics Corporation Ltd (abbreviated AROB) publishes over 170 papers per year. Our mission
statement specifies that we aim to ‘further through publication the company’s objective of advancing
learning, knowledge and research worldwide’. As part of this objective, the company itself adopts aneutral position on issues treated within its Proceedings. Those Proceedings serve to further academic
discussions of topics, irrespective of their nature – whether religious, gender-based, environmental,ethical, political or other potentially or topically contentious subjects.
Publication of an article in an academic peer-reviewed high quality proceedings serves several functions,one of which is to validate and preserve the “minutes” of research. It is therefore of immense importancethat these “minutes” are accurate and trustworthy. The act of publishing involves many parties, each ofwhich plays an important role in achieving these aims. It therefore follows that the author, the proceedings
editor, the peer-reviewer, the publisher and the owner of Society-owned proceedings have responsibilities
to meet expected ethical standards at all stages in their involvement from submission to publication of anarticle.
AROB is committed to meeting and upholding standards of ethical behavior at all stages of the publication
process. We follow closely the industry associations, such as the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE),
International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICJME) and World Association of Medical Editors (WAME),
that set standards and provide guidelines for best practices in order to meet these requirements. Below is asummary of our key expectations of editors, peer-reviewers and authors.
1. ETHICAL EXPECTATIONS
Editors’ responsibilities

To act in a balanced, objective and fair way while carrying out their expected duties, without
discrimination on grounds of gender, sexual orientation, religious or political beliefs, ethnic or
geographical origin of the authors.

To handle submissions for sponsored supplements or special issues in the same way as othersubmissions, so that articles are considered and accepted solely on their academic merit and without
commercial influence.

To adopt and follow reasonable procedures in the event of complaints of an ethical or conflict nature,in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Society where appropriate. To give authors areasonable opportunity to respond to any complaints. All complaints should be investigated nomatter when the original publication was approved. Documentation associated with any suchcomplaints should be retained.

In order to keep high academic quality of a paper, Editor-in-Chief can appoint as persons who review
to select 3 reviewers by members of International Program Committee and International OrganizedCommittee or other professional souse. Editor-in-Chief should publish only peer-reviewed highacademic quality paper in the Proceedings.

Reviewers’ responsibilities

To contribute to the decision-making process, and to assist in improving the quality of the publishedpaper by reviewing the manuscript objectively, in a timely manner

To maintain the confidentiality of any information supplied by the editor or author. To not retain orcopy the manuscript.

To alert the editor to any published or submitted content that is substantially similar to that underreview.

To be aware of any potential conflicts of interest (financial, institutional, collaborative or otherrelationships between the reviewer and author) and to alert the editor to these, if necessary
withdrawing their services for that manuscript.

Authors’ responsibilitiesTo maintain accurate records of data associated with their submitted manuscript, and to supply orprovide access to these data, on reasonable request. Where appropriate and where allowed byemployer, funding body and others who might have an interest, to deposit data in a suitable
repository or storage location, for sharing and further use by others.

To confirm/assert that the manuscript as submitted is not under consideration or accepted forpublication elsewhere. Where portions of the content overlap with published or submitted content,
to acknowledge and cite those sources. Additionally, to provide the editor with a copy of any
submitted manuscript that might contain overlapping or closely related content.

To confirm that all the work in the submitted manuscript is original and to acknowledge and cite
content reproduced from other sources. To obtain permission to reproduce any content from othersources.

Authors should ensure that any studies involving human or animal subjects conform to national, local
and institutional laws and requirements (e.g. WMA Declaration of Helsinki, NIH Policy on Use oflaboratory Animals, EU Directive on Use of Animals) and confirm that approval has been sought andobtained where appropriate. Authors should obtain express permission from human subjects andrespect their privacy.

To declare any potential conflicts of interest (e.g. where the author has a competing interest (realor apparent) that could be considered or viewed as exerting an undue influence on his or her duties
at any stage during the publication process).

To notify promptly the proceedings editor or publisher if a significant error in their publication isidentified. To cooperate with the editor and publisher to publish an erratum, addendum,
corrigendum notice, or to retract the paper, where this is deemed necessary.

Publisher or Society responsibilities


AROB and the Societies on behalf of which it publishes shall ensure that good practice is maintained
to the standards outlined above.

For Syndicate-owned Proceedings, more detailed ethical procedures will be set out and brought tothe attention of Proceedings editors and editorial boards.

For Society-owned Proceedings, Societies will provide assurance that they subscribe to the principles
outlined above, or to substantially similar principles, either adopting these formally or producing
their own for the attention of their editors and editorial boards.

2. PROCEDURES FOR DEALING WITH UNETHICAL BEHAVIOUR
Identification of unethical behaviour·Misconduct and unethical behaviour may be identified and brought to the attention of the editor and publisher
at any time, by anyone.

·Misconduct and unethical behaviour may include, but need not be limited to, examples as outlined above.

·Whoever informs the editor or publisher of such conduct should provide sufficient information and evidence
in order for an investigation to be initiated. All allegations should be taken seriously and treated in the sameway, until a successful decision or conclusion is reached.
Investigation
An initial decision should be taken by the editor, who should consult with or seek advice from thepublisher, if appropriate.

Evidence should be gathered, while avoiding spreading any allegations beyond those who need toknow.

Minor breaches
Minor misconduct might be dealt with without the need to consult more widely. In any event, theauthor should be given the opportunity to respond to any allegations.

Serious breaches
Serious misconduct might require that the employers of the accused be notified. The editor, inconsultation with the publisher or Society as appropriate, should make the decision whether or notto involve the employers, either by examining the available evidence themselves or by furtherconsultation with a limited number of experts.

Outcomes (in increasing order of severity; may be applied separately or in conjunction)
Informing or educating the author or reviewer where there appears to be a misunderstanding ormisapplication of acceptable standards.



A more strongly worded letter to the author or reviewer covering the misconduct and as a warning
to future behaviour.



Publication of a formal notice detailing the misconduct.

Publication of an editorial detailing the misconduct.

A formal letter to the head of the author’s or reviewer’s department or funding agency.

Formal retraction or withdrawal of a publication from the proceedings, in conjunction with informing
the head of the author or reviewer’s department, Abstracting & Indexing services and the readershipof the publication.

Imposition of a formal embargo on contributions from an individual for a defined period.

Reporting the case and outcome to a professional organisation or higher authority for furtherinvestigation and action.

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Copyright Statement
Rights & Permissions© ALife Robotics Corporation Ltd. 2016

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