Our Publication Ethics are based on COPE’s Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.

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Duties of Authors

Reporting Standards: Authors should present an accurate account of the original research performed, along with an objective discussion of its significance. Researchers must report their results honestly, without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation. A manuscript should contain sufficient detail and references to enable others to replicate the work. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements are unethical and unacceptable. Manuscripts should follow the submission guidelines of the journal.

Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that their work is entirely original. The manuscript should not be submitted concurrently to more than one publication unless the editors have agreed to co-publication. Relevant prior work, both by other researchers and the authors themselves, should be properly acknowledged and referenced. Primary sources should be cited whenever possible. Direct quotations from other researchers' publications should be enclosed in quotation marks with appropriate citations.

Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publications: Authors should not submit the same manuscript to multiple journals concurrently. It is also expected that authors will not publish redundant manuscripts or describe the same research in more than one journal. Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal concurrently constitutes unethical publishing behavior. Multiple publications arising from a single research project should be clearly identified as such, and the primary publication should be referenced.

Acknowledgment of Sources: Authors must acknowledge all sources of data used in the research and cite publications that have influenced the nature of the reported work. Proper acknowledgment of others' work must always be given.

Authorship of the Paper: The authorship of research publications should accurately reflect individuals’ contributions to the work and its reporting. Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study. Others who have made significant contributions should be listed as co-authors. Those who made less substantial or purely technical contributions should be mentioned in the acknowledgment section. Authors should ensure that all authors have reviewed and agreed to the submitted version of the manuscript and their inclusion as co-authors.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: All authors should clearly disclose any financial or other substantial conflicts of interest that might influence the results or interpretation of their manuscript. All sources of financial support for the project should also be disclosed.

Fundamental Errors in Published Works: If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in a submitted manuscript, they should promptly notify the journal editor or publisher and cooperate with the editor to retract or correct the paper.

Hazards and Human or Animal Subjects: Authors should clearly identify in the manuscript if the work involves chemicals, procedures, or equipment that have any unusual hazards inherent in their use.

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Duties of Editors

Publication Decisions: Based on the review reports from the editorial board, the editor can accept, reject, or request modifications to a manuscript. The validation of the work and its significance to researchers and readers must always drive these decisions. Editors may be guided by the policies of the journal's editorial board and must comply with any legal requirements, such as those related to libel, copyright infringement, and plagiarism. Editors may consult with other editors or reviewers in making these decisions. Editors are responsible for everything they publish and should have procedures in place to ensure the quality of published material and the integrity of the published record.

Review of Manuscripts: Editors must ensure that each manuscript is initially evaluated for originality. The editor should organize and utilize peer review fairly and wisely. Editors should explain their peer review processes in the information for authors and indicate which sections of the journal are peer-reviewed. Editors should select appropriate peer reviewers for manuscripts, choosing individuals with sufficient expertise and avoiding those with conflicts of interest.

Fair Play: Editors must ensure that each manuscript received by the journal is reviewed based on its intellectual content, without regard to the authors' sex, gender, race, religion, citizenship, etc. Editorial decisions should be fair, unbiased, and based solely on the merit of the work. Upholding editorial independence and integrity is a key responsibility of the editor.

Confidentiality: Editors must ensure that information regarding manuscripts submitted by authors remains confidential. They should critically assess any potential breaches of data protection and patient confidentiality, including obtaining proper informed consent for research and publication.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Editors should not use unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript for their own research without written consent from the author. They should avoid involvement in decisions about manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest.

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Duties of Reviewers

Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat information regarding submitted manuscripts as confidential and privileged. They must not show or discuss the manuscript with others except as authorized by the editor.

Acknowledgment of Sources: Reviewers must ensure that authors have properly acknowledged all sources of data used in their research. They should identify relevant published work that the authors may not have cited. Any statement about previously reported observations, derivations, or arguments should be accompanied by the appropriate citation. Reviewers should notify the journal immediately if they detect any irregularities or suspect misconduct, such as plagiarism, in the research or writing of the manuscript.

Standards of Objectivity: Manuscript reviews must be conducted objectively, and reviewers should express their views clearly with supporting arguments. They should provide constructive feedback to help authors improve their manuscripts. Reviewers should also indicate any necessary additional investigations to support claims made in the manuscript.

Disclosure and Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must keep confidential any privileged information or ideas obtained through the peer review process and should not use them for personal gain. Reviewers should not evaluate manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest due to competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with any of the authors or institutions connected to the paper. If they suspect the identity of the author(s) in a double-blind review, they must notify the journal if this knowledge creates any potential conflict of interest.

Promptness: Reviewers should respond within a reasonable timeframe. They should only agree to review a manuscript if they are confident they can return the review within the proposed or agreed timeframe. If they need an extension, they should promptly inform the journal. If a reviewer cannot complete the review in the allotted time, they should notify the editor so that the manuscript can be sent to another reviewer.