Publication Ethics
- Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that their work is entirely original and has not been published elsewhere. Any form of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism or recycling of content, is unacceptable.
- Authorship: Authorship should be limited to those who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study. All authors must have agreed to the submitted manuscript and its publication.
- Conflict of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that may influence the content of their manuscript. This includes any conflicts of interest related to funding sources, employment, consultancies, or direct competing interests.
- Data Integrity and Reproducibility: Authors are responsible for the accuracy and integrity of the data presented in their manuscript. They should provide sufficient detail and references to allow others to replicate the study if deemed necessary.
- Ethical Treatment of Subjects: Research involving human subjects or animals must comply with relevant ethical standards and regulations. Authors should provide evidence of ethical approval for such studies and ensure that informed consent was obtained from participants.
- Acknowledgment of Sources: Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must be given. Authors should cite all relevant sources and provide proper attribution for any previously published work, including their own.
- Peer Review Process: The peer review process is essential for ensuring the quality and integrity of published research. Editors should select qualified reviewers who can provide constructive feedback on the manuscript. Authors should cooperate with the peer review process and address any concerns raised by reviewers or editors.
- Editorial Independence: Editors should evaluate manuscripts based on their scientific merit and relevance, without bias or influence from external factors. They should avoid conflicts of interest and disclose any potential conflicts to authors and reviewers.
- Publication Decisions: Editors are responsible for making fair and impartial decisions regarding the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts. These decisions should be based on the manuscript's quality, originality, and relevance to the journal's scope.
- Correction and Retraction: If errors are discovered in a published manuscript, authors should promptly notify the journal editor and cooperate in issuing corrections or retractions as necessary to maintain the integrity of the scientific record.
- Compliance with Guidelines: Authors, reviewers, and editors should adhere to relevant guidelines and standards, such as those provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and other relevant organizations.
- Transparency and Openness: Authors, reviewers, and editors should strive to promote transparency and openness in research and publication practices. This includes sharing data, materials, and methods when feasible and appropriate.
