Publication Ethics

The journal is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics, adhering to principles of transparency and best practices as outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Responsibilities of Editors

Fair Play and Editorial Independence
Editors evaluate submissions solely based on academic merit, including the significance, originality, validity, and clarity of the research, as well as its relevance to the journal’s scope. Decisions are made without regard to the authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, citizenship, religion, political beliefs, or institutional affiliation. Editorial decisions are not influenced by external entities such as governments or other agencies. The Editor-in-Chief holds full authority over the journal’s content and publication timeline.

Confidentiality
Editors and editorial staff must maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts. Information about a submission may only be shared with the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, editorial advisors, and the publisher, as necessary.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Editors and editorial board members are prohibited from using unpublished information from submitted manuscripts for their own research without the authors’ explicit written consent. They must also avoid any personal advantage derived from handling manuscripts. Editors with conflicts of interest—due to competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with authors, companies, or institutions—must recuse themselves and delegate the manuscript to another editor.

Publication Decisions
The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for deciding which manuscripts are published, based on the validity of the research, its importance to the field, reviewer feedback, and legal considerations such as libel, copyright infringement, and plagiarism. The Editor-in-Chief may consult with other editors or reviewers during this process.

Involvement in Investigations
Editors, in collaboration with the publisher, will address ethical concerns raised about submitted or published manuscripts. Any reported unethical behavior will be investigated, even if discovered years after publication. Editors follow COPE guidelines when handling cases of suspected misconduct. If ethical concerns are substantiated, appropriate actions—such as corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern—will be taken.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Contribution to Editorial Decisions
Peer review assists editors in making informed decisions and helps authors improve their manuscripts. It is a cornerstone of scholarly communication and scientific integrity.

Promptness
Reviewers who feel unqualified to evaluate a manuscript or cannot complete the review promptly should notify the editors immediately and decline the invitation.

Confidentiality
Manuscripts under review are confidential and must not be shared or discussed with others unless authorized by the Editor-in-Chief. This applies even to reviewers who decline the invitation.

Objectivity
Reviews should be objective, with clear and constructive feedback to help authors enhance their work. Personal criticism of authors is inappropriate.

Acknowledgment of Sources
Reviewers should identify relevant uncited works and notify editors of any significant overlap between the manuscript under review and other published or unpublished works.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Reviewers with conflicts of interest related to the manuscript or its authors must disclose these to the editors and decline the review invitation. Unpublished information from the manuscript must not be used for personal gain.

Responsibilities of Authors

Reporting Standards
Authors must present accurate and objective accounts of their research, with sufficient detail to allow replication. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements are unacceptable.

Data Access and Retention
Authors should be prepared to provide raw data for editorial review and ensure its accessibility for at least 10 years post-publication, provided confidentiality and legal rights are maintained.

Originality and Plagiarism
Submissions must be original, with proper attribution to prior works. Plagiarism in any form is unethical and unacceptable.

Multiple or Concurrent Submissions
Manuscripts describing the same research should not be submitted to multiple journals simultaneously. Exceptions, such as translations or clinical guidelines, require approval from all involved editors and proper citation of the original work.

Authorship Criteria
Only individuals who have made significant contributions to the research and manuscript preparation should be listed as authors. All co-authors must approve the final version and agree to its submission.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Authors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could influence the research or its interpretation. All funding sources should be acknowledged.

Acknowledgment of Sources
Authors must properly cite influential works and obtain permission to use privately obtained information.

Hazards and Ethical Compliance
Manuscripts involving hazardous materials, animals, or human participants must include statements confirming compliance with ethical standards and institutional approvals. Informed consent must be obtained for human studies.

Peer Review Participation
Authors must cooperate with the peer review process, providing requested data, clarifications, and revisions promptly.

Correction of Errors
Authors are obligated to notify the journal of significant errors in their published work and cooperate in issuing corrections or retractions.

Responsibilities of the Publisher

Addressing Unethical Behavior
The publisher, in collaboration with editors, will investigate and address cases of scientific misconduct, fraudulent publication, or plagiarism. Appropriate measures, such as errata or retractions, will be taken to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

Accessibility and Preservation
The publisher ensures the permanent availability and preservation of published content through partnerships with archival organizations and its own digital archive.

Contact Information
For concerns regarding publication ethics or published manuscripts, please contact the Research Integrity and Publication Ethics team at ijfreditor@journalss.com.

The journal is committed to upholding ethical standards and encourages the use of COPE resources to address any ethical issues.