Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics

This statement reflects our journal's commitment to ethical publishing practices.

Authorship: We recognise the importance of accurately reflecting contributions to scholarly work. Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study. All contributors who do not meet the criteria for authorship may be listed in an acknowledgments section.

AI and Authorship: Authors must not attribute co-authorship to AI and AI-assisted technologies. Authorship involves responsibilities and duties exclusively pertinent to humans. The use of generative AI in producing parts of the manuscripts, figures or diagrams is not permitted.

Intellectual Property: Respect for intellectual property is fundamental. We expect authors to cite sources appropriately and obtain permission for use of any copyrighted material. Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable.

Peer Review Processes: Our blind peer review process is designed to ensure the integrity and quality of published work. Reviewers play a crucial role in maintaining these standards and as such they are expected to conduct their assessments objectively and confidentially.

Conflicts of Interest/Competing Interests: To maintain transparency and objectivity, conflicts of interest or competing interests must be declared. This includes financial, personal, or professional associations that could influence the work. Undisclosed conflicts of interest may lead to rejection or retraction of manuscripts.

Allegations of Misconduct: Our journal is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and ethics.If there are any allegations of misconduct, be it in research or publication, we will investigate them, ensuring fairness and confidentiality throughout the process.

Complaints and Appeals: We welcome feedback and address all complaints constructively. Authors, reviewers, and readers can lodge appeals or complaints regarding ethical breaches or the decision-making process.

Data and Reproducibility: Our journal encourages authors to present their data clearly and accurately. We support the reproducibility of research and urge authors to make their data available where possible when such requests are made to them.

Ethical Oversight: Ethical oversight is integral to our publication process. Submissions involving human or animal subjects must include a statement of ethical approval. We reserve the right to reject manuscripts that do not comply with ethical standards.

Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections: We support ongoing scholarly discourse and welcome post-publication discussions. Corrections, clarifications, retractions, and apologies will be published as necessary to maintain the integrity of the academic record.