ConflictofInterestFormConflictofInterestPolicy:Authorsarerequiredtodisclosecommercialorsimilarrelationshipstoproductsorcompaniesmentionedinorrelatedtothesubjectmatterofthearticlebeingsubmitted.Affiliationsofauthorsshouldincludecorporateappointmentsrelatingtoorinconnectionwithproductsorcompaniesmentionedinthearticle,orotherwisebearingonthesubjectmatterthereof.Sourcesoffundingforthearticleshouldbeincludedintheacknowledgments.Otherpertinentfinancialrelationships,suchasconsultancies,stockownership,orotherequityinterestsorpatent-licensingarrangements,shouldbedisclosedinthecoverlettertotheEditor-in-Chief,onaseparateconflictofinterestpageinthemanuscript(seebelowforexamplesofhowtoformattheconflictofinterestpageinyourmanuscript)andontheconflictofinterestformaccompanyingthearticleatthetimeofsubmission.Theconflictofinterestform,whichisavailableat:http://www.springer.com/774,shouldbesigned,scannedandsubmittedthroughEditorialManager.Theconflictsofinterestdisclosedontheconflictofinterestformshouldbethesameasthosedisclosedontheconflictofinterestpageinthemanuscript.QuestionsaboutthispolicyshouldbedirectedtotheEditor-in-Chief.Pleasenote:Whenconsiderednecessary,therawdataofamanuscriptwillberequestedtobesubmittedandexaminedbyathird-party.Examples:Theconflictofinterestpageshouldtaketheformofastatementasshowninthefollowingexamples.-Dr.YYYYYservesasaconsultantforCompanyX.-Dr.XXXXXisanemployeeofCompanyY.-Dr.XXXXXownsstockinCompanyZ.-Allotherauthorshavenoconflictsofinterest.-Ifnoauthorhasaconflict,thestatementshouldread“Allauthorshavenoconflictsofinterest.”Ifthereisaconflictofinterest,checktheappropriate“Yes”boxbelowandprovidedetails.Ifthelistedrelationshipdoesnotapplytoyouorafamilymember,checktheappropriate“No”box.CategoryNoYesIfyes,givenamesofauthorsandentities.ConsultantEmploymentStockOwnershipOtherequityinterestsorpatent-licensingarrangementsDate:Firstauthor’ssignature:http://www.springer.com/journal/774
