1. Fair Play and Editorial Independence
The editors evaluate submitted manuscripts exclusively on the basis of their academic merit, including originality, significance, and clarity, and the relevance of the research to the journal’s scope. All evaluations are conducted without bias towards authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, citizenship, religious beliefs, political views, or institutional affiliations. Decisions on editing and publishing are made independently of external influences, ensuring the integrity of academic discourse. The Editor-in-Chief holds complete authority over the journal’s editorial content and publication timelines.
2. Confidentiality
The editorial team ensures that all information about submitted manuscripts is treated with strict confidentiality. This information will not be disclosed to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, or other editorial advisers unless required by exceptional circumstances approved by the Editor-in-Chief.
3. Conflicts of Interest and Disclosure
Editors are obligated to recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where a conflict of interest arises due to competitive, collaborative, or other affiliations with the authors, institutions, or companies involved in the manuscript. Privileged information acquired in the process of reviewing manuscripts must be kept confidential and not exploited for personal or professional gain. Editors will transfer the responsibility of the manuscript to an unbiased colleague in such instances.
4. Publication Decisions
Manuscripts are thoroughly reviewed by at least two subject experts, ensuring the validity of the research and its contribution to the field. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for final publication decisions, considering reviewer feedback, manuscript relevance, and compliance with ethical and legal standards, including copyright laws and plagiarism policies.
5. Ethical Investigations
In collaboration with the publisher, editors will address any ethical concerns raised about submitted or published papers. All allegations of misconduct are investigated thoroughly, following established protocols, such as COPE guidelines. If verified, necessary corrective actions, including retraction or corrections, will be taken to maintain the integrity of the journal.
Duties of Reviewers
1. Contribution to Editorial Decisions
Reviewers play a crucial role in ensuring the quality of the journal by providing constructive feedback that helps authors improve their manuscripts. Peer reviews contribute significantly to the editorial decision-making process, aligning with the journal’s commitment to advancing scientific understanding.
2. Promptness
Reviewers should promptly inform the editors if they feel unqualified to review a manuscript or cannot meet the review deadline, allowing the journal to assign an alternative reviewer.
3. Confidentiality
Manuscripts submitted for review are confidential and should not be shared with or discussed with anyone except those authorized by the Editor-in-Chief. This confidentiality extends to reviewers who decline to review the manuscript.
4. Objectivity and Fairness
Reviews should be objective, providing clear and constructive critiques that help authors improve their work. Personal criticism of authors is inappropriate, and all judgments must be supported by valid reasoning.
5. Acknowledgement of Sources
Reviewers are expected to identify missing citations and notify the editors of any substantial overlap between the manuscript under review and other published works.
6. Conflicts of Interest
Reviewers must declare any conflicts of interest and withdraw from the review process if a conflict arises due to affiliations with the authors or the research in question. Manuscripts under review must not be used for the reviewer’s personal research without explicit consent from the authors.
Duties of Authors
1. Reporting Standards
Authors must present an accurate and objective account of their research. The manuscript should provide sufficient detail and references to allow replication of the study by others. Review articles should be comprehensive and balanced, while editorial pieces should clearly express their viewpoint.
2. Data Access and Retention
Authors should be prepared to provide raw data to the editorial board if requested and ensure data accessibility for at least 10 years following publication, respecting participant confidentiality.
3. Originality and Plagiarism
Authors must submit only original works and properly cite any referenced material. Plagiarism, in any form, is strictly prohibited.
4. Multiple Submissions
Manuscripts must not be submitted to more than one journal at a time. The submission of duplicate manuscripts is unethical and unacceptable.
5. Authorship Criteria
All listed authors must have made significant contributions to the manuscript, approved its final version, and agreed to its submission. Contributions that do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged separately with the consent of the individuals involved.
6. Conflicts of Interest
Authors are required to disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence the research. All sources of financial support for the work must also be disclosed.
7. Ethical Considerations
Research involving human or animal subjects must comply with relevant laws and ethical guidelines, and authors must provide evidence of approval from appropriate institutional review boards.
Duties of the Publisher
1. Ethical Oversight
The publisher will work closely with editors to prevent and address any form of scientific misconduct, including plagiarism and fraudulent research. In cases where misconduct is identified, corrective actions, such as retractions or corrections, will be promptly undertaken.