Publication Ethics

1. Authorship and Contributions

  • Only those individuals who have significantly contributed to the research should be listed as authors.
  • All authors must take responsibility for the integrity and accuracy of their contributions.
  • Any changes to the author list (addition, deletion, rearrangement) must be approved by all authors and the journal's editorial board.

2. Originality and Plagiarism

  • Manuscripts submitted must be the original work of the author(s) and should not have been published elsewhere.
  • Authors must appropriately cite the work and words of others. Plagiarism in any form constitutes unethical publishing behavior and is unacceptable.

3. Data Access and Retention

  • Authors should provide raw data related to their manuscript for editorial review if required and must retain such data for a reasonable time after publication.
  • Authors must be prepared to provide public access to such data if possible and must be willing to allow such data to be reviewed and used by others. Data availability statements may be required depending on the nature of the research.

4. Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication

  • Authors should not submit manuscripts describing essentially the same research to more than one journal.
  • Concurrent submission of the same manuscript to multiple journals is unethical and unacceptable.

5. Acknowledgment of Sources

  • Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must always be given. Authors should cite publications that have been influential in determining the nature of the reported work.

6. Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

  • All authors should disclose any financial or other substantive conflict of interest that might be construed to influence the results or interpretation of their manuscript.
  • All sources of financial support for the project should be disclosed.

7. Peer Review Process

  • Authors are obliged to participate in the peer review process and should respond promptly to editors' requests for raw data, clarifications, and proof of ethical approval.
  • Reviewers should conduct their reviews objectively, with no personal criticism of the author. They should express their views clearly with supporting arguments.

8. Fundamental Errors in Published Works

  • When an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, it is the author's obligation to promptly notify the journal editor or publisher and cooperate to retract or correct the paper.

9. Ethical Oversight

  • Research involving human participants, personal data, or sensitive information should comply with applicable ethical standards and, where required, receive approval from an appropriate ethics committee or institutional review body.
  • Authors must ensure that participants' rights, privacy, confidentiality, and informed consent are appropriately protected.

10. Editorial Responsibilities

  • The editorial board must keep information pertaining to submitted manuscripts confidential.
  • Editors should evaluate manuscripts exclusively on the basis of their academic merit.
  • Editors and editorial staff must not use unpublished materials disclosed in submitted manuscripts for their research without the author's explicit written consent.

11. Corrections and Retractions

  • The journal will correct the scholarly record when errors or inaccuracies are identified. Corrections, retractions, or withdrawals will be issued when necessary in accordance with applicable publication ethics standards and COPE guidelines.
  • Retraction may be considered in cases of serious errors, plagiarism, research misconduct, fabricated or falsified data, or other forms of serious publication malpractice.

12. Complaints and Appeals

  • Authors may submit complaints or appeals regarding editorial or peer-review decisions through the journal's designated complaints and appeals mechanism.
  • Complaints and appeals will be handled fairly, confidentially, and independently in accordance with the journal's policies.

13. Citation and Publication Manipulation

  • The journal does not permit citation manipulation, including coercive or unnecessary citation practices intended to artificially increase citation counts or journal metrics.
  • Editors, reviewers, and authors must not require or encourage citations solely to influence journal or author metrics.