Ethics Policy

Our journal is committed to the highest ethical standards in research and publishing. We expect all parties involved—authors, reviewers, and editors—to adhere to these principles to maintain the scientific process's integrity, transparency, and fairness.

1. Responsibilities of Authors

1.1. Authorship

  • Only individuals who contributed significantly to the research should be listed as authors. Ghost, guest, and gift authorship are prohibited (see Plagiarism and Misconduct Policy).
  • The corresponding author must ensure all co-authors approve the final version of the manuscript and consent to its submission.

1.2. Originality and Plagiarism

  • Authors must submit original work that has not been published or is under consideration elsewhere. Proper citation and attribution of others’ work are required.
  • All manuscripts will be screened for plagiarism, and cases of plagiarism will be handled in accordance with the Plagiarism and Misconduct Policy.

1.3. Data Integrity and Fabrication

  • Authors must present accurate data and results. Data fabrication, falsification, or manipulation is strictly prohibited.
  • Authors should retain raw data and provide it for editorial review upon request.

1.4. Ethical Considerations in Research

1.4.1. Human Research Ethics
  • Any research involving human participants must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki and other relevant ethical guidelines.
  • Authors must include an ethics statement in the manuscript detailing approval from a recognized Ethics Committee or Institutional Review Board (IRB).
  • The ethics statement should include the name of the approving institution, the approval number, and confirmation that informed consent was obtained from participants or that a waiver was granted.
  • Identifiable human data must be anonymized.
1.4.2. Animal Research Ethics
  • Animal research must comply with the International Council for Laboratory Animal Science (ICLAS) guidelines and other relevant national and institutional ethical standards.
  • Authors must include an ethics statement confirming approval from an Animal Care and Use Committee or equivalent body.
  • The statement should specify the institution that approved the research and the ethics approval number and confirm adherence to humane treatment and animal welfare standards.
1.4.3. Clinical Trials
  • All clinical trials must be prospectively registered in a recognized registry such as ClinicalTrials.gov.
  • Authors must provide the clinical trial registration number in the manuscript.
  • The trial must adhere to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines, and the authors must confirm that informed consent was obtained from participants.
  • The trial's results should be reported according to CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) guidelines to ensure transparency and rigor.

1.5. Conflicts of Interest

  • Authors must disclose any conflicts of interest, whether financial, personal, or institutional, that could influence the research or its interpretation.
  • Complete transparency about the funding sources and support for the study is required.

2. Responsibilities of Reviewers

2.1. Confidentiality

  • Reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of the manuscript and the peer review process. Manuscripts should not be shared or discussed with others unless authorized by the editor.

2.2. Objectivity

  • Reviewers should provide fair, constructive, and objective feedback. Personal criticism is not acceptable.
  • Reviews must be based solely on the merit of the research, without bias.

2.3. Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

  • Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from reviewing if necessary.

2.4. Reporting Ethical Concerns

  • Reviewers are encouraged to report any suspected ethical violations, such as plagiarism or unethical research practices, to the editor.

3. Responsibilities of Editors

3.1. Fair Decision-Making

  • Editors are responsible for ensuring that submissions are evaluated based solely on their intellectual content, free from discrimination based on the authors' race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, or political views.

3.2. Confidentiality

  • Editors must protect the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and the peer review process. Information about submissions should not be shared with anyone outside the review process, except in cases of ethical misconduct.

3.3. Ethical Oversight

  • Editors are responsible for upholding the journal's ethical standards and ensuring that research adheres to applicable human and animal ethics guidelines.
  • In cases of suspected misconduct, editors must follow appropriate investigative procedures in line with COPE guidelines.

3.4. Conflicts of Interest

  • Editors must disclose any conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from managing manuscripts where conflicts exist.

4. Ethical Violations and Misconduct

4.1. Investigating Misconduct

  • We will thoroughly investigate any suspected ethical violations, including plagiarism, data falsification, and unethical research practices.
  • If misconduct is confirmed, the journal will take appropriate action, including rejection, retraction, correction, or notification of relevant institutions.

4.2. Retractions and Corrections

  • In cases where misconduct is discovered after publication, the journal will issue retractions, corrections, or editorial expressions of concern as necessary. These actions will be clearly linked to the original article.

5. Consent for Publication

Authors must ensure that any individuals whose data, images, or personal information are included in the manuscript have provided explicit consent for publication. Personal and identifiable information must be removed unless necessary and legally permitted.