Editorial Policies and Publication Ethics

1.0 Introduction

Scholarly publishing began in 1665, with the first peer-reviewed journal published in 1731. Today, we are in an era of digital management of scholarly publications. The primary purpose of scholarly communication is to develop a network of knowledge, with ethical publishing as a foundational element. It is essential to establish standards for ethical behavior in publishing, ensuring that all involved parties adhere to best practices. This policy aims to guide all participants in the publication process, ensuring the highest ethical standards are maintained. The guidelines are based on the Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

2.1 Chief Responsibilities

  • The Editors are responsible for making decisions on the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts based on their validity, originality, novelty, and relevance to the scope of the journal.
  • Editors ensure the secure archiving of published materials, with the publisher providing the necessary digital support.
  • Editors must evaluate manuscripts fairly and on their intellectual merit while ensuring confidentiality and deciding when to publish articles.

2.2 Editors with the Publisher

  • Editors work in collaboration with the Publisher to continually improve the journal and revise its policies as needed.
  • Editors independently decide whether to accept or reject a manuscript based on its quality and relevance.
  • Editors help resolve conflicts between stakeholders and assist the Publisher in investigating any suspected misconduct related to both published and unpublished papers.

2.3 Editors with Authors

  • Editors should address the needs and suggestions of authors, improving the journal's processes and management.
  • Editors are responsible for checking for research and publication misconduct, including plagiarism or fabricated content, using plagiarism-detection software.
  • Editors must verify that authors have acknowledged research funding, provided informed consent for publication, and secured necessary permits and ethical approvals.
  • Editors should ensure that the publishing guidelines and instructions are clear and available to authors. Peer reviewer reports should be shared with authors unless the reports are inappropriate.

2.4 Editors with Reviewers

  • Editors ensure all articles are reviewed promptly by unbiased, qualified reviewers with the appropriate expertise, free from conflicts of interest.
  • Editors maintain a database of suitable reviewers and remove those who consistently submit poor reviews.
  • Editors guide reviewers on preparing reports and ensure confidentiality during the review process.
  • Reviewers are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest before agreeing to review a manuscript.
  • Reviewers must ensure the originality of submissions, identify ethical misconduct, and report any issues to the Editor.

2.5 Editors with Editorial Board Members

  • Editors should select qualified editorial board members who actively contribute to the journal's success.
  • Clear guidelines and terms of reference should be provided to editorial board members.
  • Editorial board members should contribute to the development of the journal and actively promote it.

2.6 Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

  • Editors must not disclose any manuscript details to third parties or use the research data for personal benefit.
  • Editors should avoid conflicts of interest, including financial or personal interests that could influence their editorial judgment. If a conflict arises, they must disclose it and refrain from making decisions regarding the manuscript.
  • Editors may submit their own manuscripts for publication consideration but must disclose this and refrain from being involved in the review process.

2.7 Timeliness of the Publication Process

  • Editors must monitor and ensure timely manuscript handling, from receipt to publication or rejection.
  • Editors should track performance metrics, such as review times, and ensure that accepted manuscripts are published promptly.

2.8 Errata, Retractions, and Clarifications

  • The journal adheres to the ICMJE guidelines for errata, retractions, and clarifications.
  • Errata or corrections will be published as needed, and a direct link between the original article and the errata will be provided.

3.1 Authorship

  • An author is defined as someone who has significantly contributed to the research design, data analysis, and manuscript preparation.
  • All contributors who meet the criteria for authorship should be listed as co-authors.
  • The corresponding author must ensure that all co-authors have approved the manuscript submission.
  • Requests to add or remove authors must be approved by the Editors.

3.2 Author Responsibilities

  1. Authors must present their research findings clearly, honestly, and without manipulation of data. Methods should be described in detail to allow replication of results.
    ii. If errors or inaccuracies are found post-publication, authors are responsible for notifying the Editor or Publisher for corrections or retractions.
    iii. Authors must submit only original work and refrain from submitting previously published content.
    iv. Authors should avoid simultaneous submissions to other journals.
    v. Once a manuscript is rejected or withdrawn, authors are free to submit it elsewhere.
    vi. Authors should be accountable for any flaws in their work.

3.3 Research Misconduct

  1. Plagiarism, fabrication, and manipulation of data are considered research misconduct. All authors must refrain from such actions.
    ii. Instances of misconduct will be reported to the Editors, and an investigation will be initiated.

3.4 Image Manipulation

  1. Authors are prohibited from manipulating images in ways that alter data integrity, except for minor adjustments (e.g., brightness, contrast, or color balance) that do not obscure or remove essential details.
    ii. Any suspicious image manipulation will be investigated by the Editors, and if proven, the manuscript may be rejected.

3.5 Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publications

  1. Authors must properly acknowledge sources and obtain permission when reusing data or figures from other publications.
    ii. Authors must confirm that the work submitted has not been published elsewhere and will not be concurrently submitted to another journal.
    iii. Simultaneous submission of the same research manuscript to multiple journals is unethical.
    iv. Abstracts, lectures, or academic theses may be submitted elsewhere but must be acknowledged as prior submissions.

3.6 Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

  1. Authors must disclose any financial or personal conflicts of interest that might influence their manuscript's publication.
    ii. Undeclared conflicts may undermine the credibility of the journal and its publications.

3.7 Availability of Materials and Data Access

  1. Authors must agree to make data and materials available to the scientific community for non-commercial purposes once their manuscript is accepted.
    ii. Manuscripts should provide sufficient details for replication of research. Confidentiality agreements may be used to protect proprietary information.

3.8 Biosecurity, Animal Use, and Research Permits

  1. Authors must comply with all laws related to the use of biological materials and animals in research.
    ii. Research involving animals or humans must have ethical approval from relevant committees, and documents proving such approval should be provided.
    iii. Authors must include research permit numbers and ethical approval references where applicable.

3.9 Reporting Guidelines

  • Authors must adhere to relevant reporting guidelines, including:
    • CONSORT for randomized controlled trials
    • STROBE for observational studies
    • PRISMA for systematic reviews and meta-analyses
    • STARD for diagnostic accuracy studies
    • CARE for case reports
  • Other useful guidelines include EQUATOR and NLM’s Research Reporting Guidelines.

3.10 Article-Processing Charges (APC)

  • There are no article processing charges for publication in the journal.

3.11 Reviewer Suggestions

  • The journal follows a double-blind peer-review process. Authors can suggest potential reviewers but cannot influence the final decision.
  • Authors may request that certain individuals be excluded from reviewing their manuscript due to potential conflicts of interest.

3.12 Confidential Process

  • All communication between authors and the journal is confidential, including reviewers' comments.
  • Authors may not post confidential material on any website or publication without the journal’s permission.

4.1 Peer Review Ethics

  1. The journal follows a double-blind peer-review process. Reviewers are selected based on their expertise and availability to provide timely feedback.
    ii. Reviewers must evaluate manuscripts based on originality, significance, and relevance to the research community. They must ensure that the methods and conclusions are well-supported by evidence.
    iii. Reviewers should maintain professionalism and avoid making offensive, libellous, or discourteous comments.
    iv. Reviewers must adhere to the deadlines for reviewing manuscripts. Extensions may be granted with approval from the Editors.
    v. Reviewers must maintain confidentiality regarding the manuscript’s contents and the review process.

4.2 Disclosure and Conflict of Interest

i. Reviewers must disclose any conflict of interest, such as personal or financial relationships with the authors.
ii. Reviewers must inform the Editors if they have any potential conflicts before agreeing to review.
iii. Reviewers may decline to review a manuscript if they feel they have insufficient expertise or a conflict of interest.

  • Copyright Retention: Authors retain the copyright to their articles.
  • Exclusive License: Authors grant the Publisher an exclusive license to publish their original research papers and to reproduce, distribute, and extract content in various forms and media worldwide.
  • Author Rights: Authors may use their work for educational purposes (e.g., presentations, dissertations, lecture notes) and for further dissemination (e.g., on personal or institutional websites) without requiring permission from the Publisher, as long as these uses are non-commercial.

Creative Commons License: All articles are published under the CC-BY-NC 4.0 license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License). This allows unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction of the work in any medium for non-commercial purposes, provided that the original work is properly cited. Authors retain copyright under this license.

6.1 Definition of Publication Malpractice or Research Misconduct

  • Research Misconduct is defined according to the United States Public Health Service Policies on Research Misconduct (42 CFR Part 93, June 2005). It includes:
    • Fabrication: Making up data or results and recording or reporting them.
    • Falsification: Manipulating materials, equipment, or processes, or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented.
    • Plagiarism: Appropriating another person's ideas, processes, results, or words without proper credit.
  • Research misconduct does not include honest errors or differences of opinion.
  • The Journal also adheres to the COPE, WAME, and ICMJE guidelines on research misconduct.

6.2 Provision for Action

  • Allegations Handling: Allegations of research misconduct or publication malpractice should be addressed to the Journal Editors.
  • The journal follows the Ethical Oversight Flowcharts of COPE's Core Practices when handling such allegations. These include step-by-step guidelines for dealing with issues like redundant publication, plagiarism, fabricated data, authorship problems, undisclosed conflicts of interest, and reviewer misconduct.
  • Research Misconduct Findings:
    • Allegations must be supported by compelling evidence of significant deviation in research practices.
    • The misconduct must be intentional and/or reckless.
    • If necessary, the institution of the authors may be informed for further investigation.
    • If plagiarism is found, the corresponding author will be notified, and the manuscript will either be rejected or revised. For plagiarism in published articles, the work may be retracted or corrected.

6.3 Erratum, Corrigendum, Retractions, and Addendums

  • Erratum: Correction of an error made by the journal.
  • Corrigendum: Correction of an error made by the authors.
  • Retraction: Removal of a previously published article due to issues like fabricated data or invalid research.
  • Addendum: Addition of new information to a published article.
  • Sanctions: Individuals found guilty of serious publication malpractice or research misconduct may face sanctions, such as retraction of articles or a ban on submitting future manuscripts.

Transparency: Reports of misconduct investigations may be made available on the journal’s webpage to inform the scientific community, but the identities of those involved in misconduct will be protected.

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