Publication Ethics

Responsibilities of Authors

1. Accuracy in Reporting:
Authors must provide a truthful and thorough description of their research, including an impartial analysis of its significance. All data should be presented precisely, and the manuscript should contain enough detail and references to allow others to reproduce the study. Misrepresentation or fabrication of data is strictly unethical.

2. Data Availability and Storage:
Authors should be ready to share the raw data related to their manuscript for editorial review and, where feasible, make such data publicly accessible. Authors are also expected to retain these data for a reasonable period after publication.

3. Originality and Proper Citation:
Manuscripts must be the authors’ own original work. If other sources or ideas are referenced, they must be properly cited or quoted.

4. Avoiding Multiple Submissions:
Authors should not submit the same research to more than one journal at the same time or publish similar content in multiple places. Such actions are not acceptable.

5. Recognition of Others’ Work:
Proper credit must be given to the work of others. Influential publications that shaped the research should be cited appropriately.

6. Authorship Criteria:
Only those who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study should be listed as authors. All contributors should be acknowledged, and all co-authors must approve the final manuscript before submission.

7. Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest:
Authors must disclose any financial or personal interests that could be seen as influencing their research. All sources of funding must be acknowledged.

8. Addressing Errors:
If an author discovers a significant error in their published work, they must promptly inform the journal editor and cooperate to correct or retract the article.

9. Safety and Ethical Compliance:
If the research involves hazardous substances, equipment, or procedures, or the use of human or animal subjects, these must be clearly identified and described in the manuscript.

Responsibilities of Editors

1. Impartial Evaluation:
Editors must assess manuscripts solely on their academic merit, without discrimination based on the authors’ background or beliefs.

2. Confidentiality:
Editors and editorial staff must keep all information about submitted manuscripts confidential, sharing it only with those involved in the review and publication process.

3. Managing Conflicts of Interest:
Editors must not use unpublished information from submitted manuscripts for their own research without the author’s explicit permission.

4. Publication Decisions:
Editors are responsible for deciding which manuscripts are published, guided by the journal’s policies and legal requirements. They may consult with reviewers or other editors as needed.

5. Peer Review Oversight:
Editors must ensure that submitted manuscripts are reviewed for originality and quality, using qualified, impartial reviewers and clearly communicating the peer review process to authors.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

1. Supporting Editorial Decisions:
Reviewers play a crucial role in helping editors make publication decisions and in providing constructive feedback to authors.

2. Timeliness:
Reviewers who are unable to review a manuscript promptly should notify the editor and withdraw from the review process.

3. Objectivity:
Reviews should be conducted fairly and objectively, with clear, reasoned feedback. Personal criticism of authors is not permitted.

4. Confidentiality:
Manuscripts under review must be treated as confidential and not shared or discussed with others unless authorized by the editor.

5. Conflict of Interest:
Reviewers must not use information obtained through peer review for personal gain or review manuscripts where they have a conflict of interest.

6. Identifying Relevant Work:
Reviewers should point out relevant published work not cited by the authors and alert the editor to any significant overlap with other published material.