Publication Ethics
- Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that their work is entirely original and has not been published elsewhere. Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is unacceptable and will result in immediate rejection.
- Authorship: All individuals who have made significant contributions to the research should be listed as authors. Those who have contributed in a minor way should be acknowledged appropriately. Authors must ensure that all co-authors have seen and approved the final version of the manuscript and have agreed to its submission for publication.
- Conflict of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could be perceived as influencing the research or its interpretation. Conflicts of interest may influence judgments regarding the validity of the research and must be declared.
- Data Integrity and Reproducibility: Authors should provide accurate and detailed descriptions of the methods used in their research to allow others to reproduce the results. Raw data should be made available if requested by the editors.
- Ethical Treatment of Subjects: Research involving human or animal subjects must be conducted ethically and in accordance with relevant guidelines. Authors must provide evidence of approval from institutional review boards or ethics committees.
- Accuracy of Information: Authors are responsible for the accuracy and integrity of the information presented in their manuscripts. Any errors discovered after publication must be promptly corrected through a published erratum or correction.
- Review Process: Editors must ensure a fair and unbiased review process. Reviewers should provide constructive feedback to authors and maintain the confidentiality of the review process. Reviewers with conflicts of interest should decline to review the manuscript.
- Editorial Independence: Editors should make decisions based solely on the quality and relevance of the manuscript to the journal's scope. They should not allow personal or professional biases to influence their decisions.
- Publication Decisions: Editors reserve the right to reject submissions that do not meet the journal's standards of quality, relevance, or ethical conduct. Decisions regarding publication should be based on the manuscript's originality, significance, and contribution to the field.
- Post-Publication Discussions: Authors should be prepared to respond to critiques and engage in post-publication discussions about their work. Constructive criticism should be welcomed as an opportunity for improvement and further dialogue.
