The journal is committed to upholding high standards of publication ethics and to preventing publication malpractice at all stages of the editorial and publication process. This statement sets out the ethical principles, responsibilities, and procedures that apply to authors, editors, reviewers, and the editorial office from manuscript submission through peer review and post-publication.
The journal follows internationally recognized publication ethics and research integrity guidelines and addresses allegations of misconduct in a fair, transparent, consistent, and timely manner. These measures are intended to safeguard the integrity of the scholarly record and to maintain trust in the editorial and peer-review process.
Responsibilities of Authors
Authors are expected to adhere to accepted standards of scholarly publishing and to take full responsibility for the integrity, accuracy, and originality of their work throughout the submission, peer-review, and publication process.
Authors are responsible for ensuring that their research is conducted and reported honestly, transparently, and in accordance with ethical and legal requirements. This responsibility applies to all stages of the research and publication lifecycle, including manuscript preparation, submission, revision, and post-publication.
In particular, authors must ensure that:
- submitted manuscripts are original, have not been previously published, and are not under consideration for publication elsewhere;
- all listed authors meet the criteria for authorship, have made a meaningful contribution to the work, and have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript;
- all sources, data, methods, and materials used in the research are appropriately cited, acknowledged, and referenced;
- data and results are presented accurately and completely, without fabrication, falsification, selective reporting, or inappropriate manipulation of data, images, or analyses;
- any use of artificial intelligence–based or digital tools is disclosed in accordance with journal policy, and authors retain full responsibility for all content of the manuscript;
- all relevant conflicts of interest, financial or non-financial, as well as all sources of funding, are fully and transparently disclosed;
- ethical approvals, permissions, and informed consent have been obtained where required and are clearly stated in the manuscript;
- the necessary rights, permissions, or licenses have been obtained for any third-party data, materials, or content included in the work.
Authors are expected to maintain accurate and complete research records and to provide underlying data, documentation, or clarifications when reasonably requested during the editorial or peer-review process.
If significant errors, inaccuracies, or ethical concerns are identified after submission or publication, authors must promptly inform the editorial office and cooperate fully in the investigation and, where appropriate, in the publication of corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions.
Any form of unethical behavior, including plagiarism, duplicate or redundant publication, data fabrication or falsification, misrepresentation of authorship or contributions, or false or misleading declarations, is considered unacceptable and may result in editorial action in accordance with the journal’s policies and accepted standards of publication ethics.
Responsibilities of Editors
Editors are responsible for making publication decisions based solely on the scientific merit, originality, clarity, and relevance of submitted manuscripts, and for safeguarding the integrity of the scholarly record.
Editors are expected to conduct the editorial and peer-review process in a fair, objective, and confidential manner, in accordance with accepted standards of publication ethics.
In particular, editors are expected to:
- ensure a fair, unbiased, and confidential editorial and peer-review process;
- evaluate manuscripts without discrimination based on authors’ race, gender, nationality, institutional affiliation, political views, or personal beliefs;
- handle submissions independently and objectively, without being influenced by commercial, financial, or personal interests;
- identify, disclose, and avoid conflicts of interest, and recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where such conflicts exist;
- take appropriate and timely action when ethical concerns or allegations of misconduct are identified, either prior to or after publication;
- take reasonable steps to prevent manipulation or abuse of the peer-review process.
Editorial decisions are not determined solely by reviewer recommendations and remain the responsibility of the handling editor.
Editors may consult reviewers, members of the editorial board, ethics committees, or external experts when assessing ethical issues or potential misconduct.
Editors are also responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of all submitted materials and for ensuring that unpublished information disclosed in a manuscript is not used for personal advantage.
Where necessary, editors are responsible for initiating corrective actions, including corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions, to maintain the accuracy and integrity of the published record.
Editors are expected to handle appeals and complaints in a fair, objective, and timely manner.
All editorial decisions and actions are guided by principles of fairness, transparency, consistency, and proportionality.
Responsibilities of Reviewers
Peer reviewers play a critical role in maintaining the quality, integrity, and credibility of the scholarly record.
Reviewers are expected to conduct the peer-review process in an objective, constructive, and professional manner and to adhere to accepted standards of publication ethics.
In particular, reviewers are expected to:
- provide objective, constructive, and timely evaluations that are based on the scientific merit of the manuscript;
- treat all manuscripts and associated materials as confidential documents and not disclose or discuss them with others;
- not use unpublished information, data, or ideas obtained through peer review for personal advantage or professional gain;
- disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest that could affect their impartiality and decline the review where appropriate;
- accept review assignments only when they have the appropriate expertise and are able to complete the review within the agreed timeframe, and to promptly inform editors if delays arise;
- alert editors to any suspected ethical issues, including plagiarism, duplicate or redundant publication, data fabrication or falsification, image manipulation, or other research integrity concerns;
- refrain from uploading, sharing, or processing submitted manuscripts or related materials using artificial intelligence tools or other external services that could compromise confidentiality.
Reviewers are expected to communicate their comments respectfully and professionally, avoiding personal criticism or inappropriate language.
Failure to comply with these responsibilities may result in removal from the journal’s reviewer pool.
Publication Malpractice
Publication malpractice refers to any unethical behavior that undermines the integrity of the scholarly record, the editorial process, or the trust placed in academic publishing. This policy applies to all stages of the publication process, including submission, peer review, revision, and post-publication.
Publication malpractice includes, but is not limited to:
- plagiarism, self-plagiarism, or unattributed reuse of text, data, or ideas;
- duplicate, redundant, or simultaneous publication of substantially similar content;
- data fabrication, data falsification, or selective reporting of results;
- inappropriate manipulation of images, figures, or graphical data;
- misrepresentation of authorship, contributions, or affiliations;
- false, misleading, or undisclosed conflicts of interest or funding information;
- unethical research practices, including failure to obtain required ethical approvals or informed consent;
- manipulation or abuse of the editorial or peer-review process, including the use of fabricated reviewer identities;
- misuse of artificial intelligence–based tools in ways that compromise transparency, authorship responsibility, or research integrity.
Allegations of publication malpractice are handled in accordance with accepted international publication ethics guidelines. The editorial office may request explanations, supporting documentation, or corrections, and may initiate an investigation in consultation with reviewers, editorial board members, authors’ institutions, or other relevant bodies, where appropriate.
Confirmed cases of publication malpractice may result in editorial actions, including rejection of the manuscript, publication of corrections or expressions of concern, retraction of the article, notification of relevant institutions, or other measures deemed necessary to safeguard the integrity of the scholarly record.
Handling of Ethical Misconduct
When potential ethical misconduct is identified, either before or after publication, the editorial office will follow established procedures to investigate the matter in a confidential, impartial, and timely manner.
Allegations of misconduct are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Authors are given the opportunity to respond to concerns raised and to provide explanations, documentation, or corrections, where appropriate.
The editorial office may consult reviewers, members of the editorial board, ethics committees, relevant institutions, or external experts when investigating complex or serious cases, in accordance with accepted publication ethics guidelines.
Depending on the nature and severity of the case, and following appropriate investigation, editorial actions may include:
- requests for clarification, explanation, or correction;
- rejection of the manuscript at any stage of the editorial process;
- publication of corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions;
- notification of authors’ institutions, funders, or relevant authorities, where appropriate.
All decisions related to ethical misconduct are guided by principles of fairness, transparency, proportionality, and due process, and are made to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.
Appeals and Complaints
Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions or to submit complaints regarding the editorial or peer-review process. Appeals and complaints are reviewed in an objective, fair, and independent manner, in accordance with accepted standards of publication ethics.
Appeals must be submitted in writing through the journal’s designated communication channels and should clearly state the grounds for the appeal, with reference to the editorial decision, peer-review comments, or the application of journal policies. Disagreement with reviewers’ opinions alone does not constitute sufficient grounds for an appeal.
Complaints related to the editorial process, peer review, or ethical matters may also be submitted in writing and are handled confidentially.
Where possible, appeals and complaints are assessed by an editor who was not involved in the original handling of the manuscript, or by a member of the editorial board, to ensure impartiality.
Following review, the outcome of an appeal or complaint may include confirmation of the original decision, reconsideration of the manuscript, or further evaluation where appropriate. Decisions on appeals are final.
The journal aims to address appeals and complaints within a reasonable timeframe and in a transparent and respectful manner. All decisions are guided by principles of fairness, consistency, and proportionality.
Contact
Questions regarding publication ethics, alleged misconduct, appeals, complaints, or the application of this statement may be directed to the editorial office.
Communications related to ethical matters are handled confidentially and reviewed in accordance with the journal’s ethical policies and accepted standards of publication ethics.
Authors and reviewers are encouraged to provide clear, relevant information when contacting the editorial office to facilitate a timely and appropriate response.