Ethical Principles and Publication Policy

To publish the research in this journal, all the author(s) must follow principles for ethical professional practices. 

The author(s) must verify and ensure that the submitted paper followed all established submission requirements.

The journal upholds the highest standards of integrity in the published work. The journal and its publisher follow the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)’s core practices. We expect authors, reviewers, and editors to adhere to the best-practice guidelines on ethical behaviour outlined in these guidelines.

 

We also list the key points below:

Plagiarism policy:

The journal maintains an anti-plagiarism policy that aims to guarantee that all evaluated and published works have been previously verified.

The journal maintains a zero-tolerance policy against plagiarism. The issue is checked via two methods: a plagiarism prevention tool (Turnitin) and a reviewer check. All submissions will be reviewed with Turnitin before being sent to reviewers.

Our journal maintains a strict policy against self-plagiarism. We consider self-plagiarism (the reuse of one’s own previously published work without proper citation or significant new contribution) to be a form of academic misconduct. 

Authors must ensure that submitted manuscripts are original, properly cite prior work (including their own), and do not substantially overlap with previously published materials. 

Use of AI Tools

Authors may use AI tools solely to enhance the language, grammar, and clarity of their manuscripts. Full responsibility for the integrity and quality of the manuscript rests with the authors.

Authorship

Authors must meet the criteria for authorship, as defined by the COPE, and must accurately list all co-authors who have made significant contributions to the study.

Data Integrity and Fabrication:

Authors are required to present their research findings truthfully and precisely, without any form of data fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate manipulation. Any errors or inaccuracies discovered, whether before or after publication, must be promptly corrected or addressed to uphold the integrity of the scientific record.

Research Involving Human Subjects:

Research involving human participants must ensure the autonomy, privacy, and confidentiality of all individuals involved. Authors are required to provide documented evidence of informed consent obtained from participants, affirming that they were fully informed about the research and agreed to participate voluntarily.

Peer Review Confidentiality:

This journal utilises a double-anonymised peer review process, which conceals the identities of both the authors and reviewers during the review process. Authors are therefore required to maintain strict confidentiality and must ensure that their manuscripts do not include any personally identifiable information that could reveal their identity. Preserving anonymity is essential to uphold the integrity and impartiality of the peer review process.

Author's responsibilities

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers who accept an invitation to evaluate a manuscript are expected to:

• Inform the editor immediately if they are unable to undertake the review or if they identify a potential conflict of interest that could compromise their impartiality.

• Treat all information related to the manuscript as confidential and privileged, and do not disclose or use it for personal advantage.

• Conduct their reviews objectively and fairly, providing constructive feedback that aids editorial decisions and helps authors improve their work.

• Complete their reviews within the agreed timeframe to support the timely processing of submissions.

Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are selected from among distinguished researchers in their respective scientific fields. They oversee the management of manuscript submissions, coordinating the peer review process by soliciting evaluations from qualified external reviewers to ensure a rigorous assessment. Editors then make publication decisions based on these reviews, combined with their objective and impartial judgement.

Editors are expected to:

• Treat all submissions and authors fairly and equally, without discrimination, and maintain strict confidentiality throughout the editorial process.

• Disclose any potential competing interests from handling manuscripts where such conflicts exist.

• Address any instances of suspected misconduct by taking appropriate actions, which may include corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions.

• Ensure that any errors identified in published articles are corrected through formal correction or retraction notices.

• Uphold transparency by ensuring that manuscripts submitted by members of the editorial board are managed by another editor to avoid conflicts of interest.

Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher supports the journal by providing essential resources, including the manuscript submission and publication platforms, plagiarism detection tools, DOI assignment services, online hosting, and long-term content preservation systems.

The publisher is also responsible for taking reasonable measures to safeguard the editorial independence of the journal, ensuring that editorial decisions are made without influence from commercial interests or external pressures.