Publication Ethics

1. Authorship and Originality:

a. Authorship Criteria: - All authors must have made substantial contributions to the research and manuscript. - All listed authors should have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.

b. Originality: - Manuscripts must be original and should not have been published elsewhere.

c. Plagiarism: - Plagiarism in any form is considered unethical and will not be tolerated.

2. Research Integrity:

a. Data and Results: - Authors should provide accurate and authentic data. - Falsification or manipulation of data is strictly prohibited.

b. Ethical Approval: - Authors conducting research involving human subjects must obtain ethical approval and adhere to relevant guidelines.

3. Peer Review Process:

a. Reviewer Selection: - Reviewers are selected based on their expertise, impartiality, and absence of conflicts of interest.

b. Confidentiality: - Reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of the review process.

c. Constructive Feedback: - Reviewers should provide constructive and objective feedback to help authors improve their manuscripts.

4. Editorial Responsibilities:

a. Fair and Unbiased Decisions: - Editors make decisions based on the manuscript's merit, avoiding any form of discrimination.

b. Conflicts of Interest: - Editors and editorial staff should disclose and manage conflicts of interest.

5. Ethical Concerns:

a. Corrections and Retractions: - Corrections or retractions will be issued if errors or ethical concerns are identified post-publication.

b. Expression of Concern: - An expression of concern may be issued if ethical concerns are raised but investigation is ongoing.

6. Open Access and Copyright:

a. Open Access: - Authors and readers have the right to access published content freely.

b. Copyright: - Authors retain copyright of their work and agree to license it under a Creative Commons Attribution License.

7. Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest:

a. Authors: - Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence the research or its interpretation.

b. Reviewers: - Reviewers should disclose conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from the review process if necessary.

8. Post-Publication Discussions:

a. Response to Criticism: - Authors are encouraged to respond professionally to criticism and engage in scholarly discussions.

b. Community Standards: - Authors, editors, and reviewers should uphold community standards for ethical behavior.