POLICY and ETHICS

Contents

 

Communicate with Respect

All interactions between authors, editors, reviewers, and readers must be conducted with respect and professionalism. Discriminatory, abusive, or inappropriate language will not be tolerated under any circumstances. The journal encourages constructive and courteous communication throughout the publication process. Feedback provided during peer review should be objective, respectful, and aimed at improving the quality of the manuscript. Personal attacks or disparaging remarks are strictly prohibited. Authors, editors, and reviewers are expected to handle disagreements professionally and seek resolution through constructive dialogue. The journal reserves the right to intervene in cases of disrespectful conduct and may take appropriate actions, including, in severe cases, removing individuals from the peer review process or retracting manuscripts.

 

Ethics and Consent

Research involving human or animal subjects must comply with institutional, national, and international ethical guidelines. This includes adherence to protocols designed to protect the rights, dignity, and well-being of participants. Authors must provide documented evidence of ethical approval from an appropriate ethics committee or institutional review board. For studies involving human participants, written informed consent must be obtained prior to participation and clearly documented. In cases involving vulnerable populations, additional safeguards must be in place to ensure ethical compliance. Authors are encouraged to provide a statement on how ethical considerations were addressed in their research methodology.

 

Consent for Publication

Authors must obtain consent from all contributors whose work or non-publicly available data is included in the manuscript. This includes obtaining explicit permission from co-authors, data providers, and any third parties whose work is incorporated into the manuscript. Consent for publication must be documented and available upon request. Documentation should specify the contributors’ agreement to the publication, their acknowledgment of contributions, and their understanding of the publication’s scope. In cases involving sensitive data or non-publicly available information from external organizations, additional approvals or agreements may be required to ensure compliance with ethical and legal standards.

 

Availability of Data and Materials

Authors are encouraged to share data that support their findings where possible to promote transparency and reproducibility in research. Data repositories should be cited, and any restrictions on data access must be clearly justified, including reasons related to confidentiality, security, or proprietary information. Authors should provide detailed descriptions of how the data can be accessed, including links to publicly available repositories where applicable. When data cannot be shared, authors are encouraged to supply sufficient metadata or alternative information to facilitate validation and further exploration of the research findings.

 

Competing Interests

Authors, editors, and reviewers must disclose any financial, personal, or professional relationships that could influence their work. This includes funding sources, consultancy roles, or any affiliations that could be perceived as a conflict of interest. Disclosures must be made at the time of submission and should be transparent enough to allow readers to assess potential biases. If a competing interest is identified after publication, the journal reserves the right to issue a correction or retract the publication if necessary. Failure to disclose competing interests may result in rejection during the review process or withdrawal of publication if discovered post-publication.

 

Authorship

Authorship should be based on substantial contributions to the research, including conception, design, data collection, analysis, or manuscript drafting. Contributions to data interpretation, critical revisions, and final approval of the published version also qualify for authorship. All contributors who meet authorship criteria should be listed. The corresponding author holds the responsibility for ensuring that all authors have reviewed and approved the manuscript prior to submission and that all contributors agree on the order of authorship. Disputes regarding authorship should be resolved collaboratively among the authors before submission.

 

Artificial Intelligence

Authors must disclose the use of AI tools in data analysis, writing, or other parts of the research process. This includes paraphrasing or translation. The authors bear full responsibility for the content, including any inaccuracies or ethical concerns arising from AI usage. Authors should provide a clear statement specifying the AI tools used and describe the role these tools played in the research process. The journal reserves the right to request further details about the use of AI and may reject submissions where AI usage is deemed to compromise the originality of the work.

 

Citations

Authors must accurately cite all sources. Citations should be formatted in accordance with the journal’s specified style guidelines to ensure consistency and clarity. Authors should exercise diligence in citing the original source of ideas or data and must avoid relying solely on secondary sources. Plagiarism or inappropriate citation practices, such as misattribution or excessive self-citation, will not be tolerated and may result in manuscript rejection or retraction.

 

Duplicate Publication

Submissions must not be published or under consideration elsewhere. Simultaneous submission to multiple journals is prohibited and may result in rejection. Authors must notify the journal if significant overlap with previous publications exists, including reuse of data reuse, similar findings, or overlapping text. If overlapping content is identified after publication, the journal reserves the right to issue a correction or retraction, or take other appropriate measures. Authors are encouraged to clearly differentiate new findings from previously published work in their submissions and provide appropriate references to past publications.

 

Misconduct

The journal has a zero-tolerance policy for research misconduct, including plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, and unethical research practices. Plagiarism includes the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author without proper acknowledgment. Data fabrication involves inventing data or results, while falsification refers to manipulating research materials, processes, or findings to misrepresent outcomes. Allegations of misconduct will be investigated thoroughly by the editorial board in collaboration with relevant experts and, if necessary, the author’s institution. Depending on the severity of the violation, outcomes may include manuscript rejection, publication retraction, a formal statement of concern, or reporting to appropriate authorities. The journal may also impose sanctions on individuals found responsible for misconduct, including bans on future submissions. Authors, reviewers, and editors are encouraged to report any suspected misconduct promptly and confidentially to the journal.

 

Open Access Policy

The journal provides immediate open access to its content, supporting the principle that research should be freely available to the public. No subscription fees are required to access journal content. Authors are assured that making their work freely accessible will not compromise its quality, credibility, or impact.

 

Editorial Independence

The editorial board operates independently to ensure fair and unbiased decision-making. Decisions are based solely on the manuscript’s academic merit, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal’s scope. The journal upholds strict ethical standards to avoid any potential conflicts of interest during the editorial process. Editorial members who identify a conflict of interest with a submitted manuscript must recuse themselves from the decision-making process. Transparency in editorial operations is maintained by regularly reviewing and refining editorial policies to ensure integrity and accountability.

 

Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

Authors are obligated to promptly report any errors or inaccuracies in their published work, whether related to data, interpretations, or conclusions. Corrections will be issued to address minor errors that do not affect the overall findings or conclusions of the work. Retractions will be issued for major errors or ethical breaches that significantly undermine the validity or integrity of the research. The editorial board will assess the nature and extent of the error to determine the appropriate corrective action. Notices of corrections or retractions will be clearly linked to the original publication and made openly accessible to maintain the integrity of the academic record.