Publication Ethics
Home » Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement
I. Publication Malpractice Statement
The International Journal of Environmental Reports, published by Research Floor, is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical publishing and follows the Core Practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The journal applies a strict zero-tolerance policy toward any form of publication malpractice.
Publication misconduct includes, but is not limited to: plagiarism or inappropriate text reuse; duplicate or simultaneous submission; fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting of data (including improper image manipulation); citation manipulation; interference with or manipulation of the peer-review process; failure to disclose competing interests; and unauthorized use of copyrighted or third-party material. All submitted manuscripts undergo screening for textual similarity and, where necessary, for irregularities in images or metadata. These screening tools serve as aids only; final judgments are made by the editorial team. Allegations of misconduct are handled objectively, confidentially, and in accordance with COPE guidance. Editors may request access to original data, analytical code, raw images, documentation of ethical approvals, or other supporting materials to verify the integrity of the work. When misconduct is confirmed, appropriate editorial actions will be taken proportionate to the severity of the issue. These actions may include rejection during peer review, or after publication, the issuance of a correction, an expression of concern, or a formal retraction. All post-publication notices will be clearly labeled, transparently explained, and linked to the affected article. In serious cases, the journal reserves the right to notify relevant institutions, funding bodies, or regulatory authorities. Complaints and appeals are evaluated by an editor who was not involved in the original decision and may involve additional independent expert review. Editorial independence is strictly maintained, and editorial decisions are not influenced by commercial, financial, or institutional interests. Allegations of misconduct or ethical concerns may be reported to the editorial office.
II. Research Integrity Statement
The journal expects all published research to be conducted and reported with accuracy, originality, transparency, and scientific rigor. Authors must describe their methodologies, analyses, and experimental procedures in sufficient detail to allow verification and, where feasible, reproducibility. Data presentation, statistical analyses, and image processing must be truthful and free from manipulation intended to mislead readers.
Authors are required to include a clear and appropriate Availability of Data and Materials statement. Where ethically and legally permissible, underlying datasets, models, and code should be shared through public repositories or made available upon reasonable request.
Authorship must reflect substantial intellectual contribution, responsibility, and accountability for the work. Gift, honorary, or ghost authorship is not permitted. Contribution statements are encouraged to clarify individual roles. All sources of financial support and any potential conflicts of interest must be fully disclosed within the manuscript.
Research involving human participants, animals, or environmentally sensitive materials must have received prior approval from an appropriate ethics committee or regulatory authority and must comply with relevant international, national, and institutional guidelines. For studies involving human subjects, informed consent and protection of privacy and confidentiality are mandatory.
Authors are responsible for securing permissions for any third-party material used in their work. The use of artificial intelligence or generative tools must be transparent and comply with the journal’s policies. Only human contributors may qualify for authorship. Any substantive use of AI tools beyond basic language editing must be clearly disclosed, including the purpose of use and measures taken to verify accuracy. Confidential or personal data must not be uploaded to external tools lacking appropriate safeguards, and any synthetic or illustrative content must be clearly identified.
Concerns regarding the integrity of published articles are evaluated in accordance with COPE recommendations and the journal’s malpractice procedures. When necessary, corrective actions will be taken to preserve the accuracy and trustworthiness of the scholarly record.
III. Online Statement on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI)
Effective date: June 2024
Reviewed/Updated: June 12, 2025
Next review: June 2026
Applies to: All journals published by Research Floor (authors, reviewers, editors)
Version: 1.1
1. Scope and Definition
For this policy, Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) refers to digital systems capable of generating or transforming content such as text, code, images, audio, video, or datasets in response to user prompts (for example, large language models, code-generation tools, or image generators). This statement should be read in conjunction with the journal’s policies on publication ethics, authorship, data and image integrity, privacy, and copyright.
2. Guiding Principles
Human Accountability: Authorship is restricted to natural persons. GenAI tools cannot be credited as authors or co-authors.
Transparency: Any substantive use of GenAI must be clearly disclosed by the authors.
Scientific Integrity: GenAI must not be used to fabricate, alter, falsify, or misrepresent data, images, results, or citations.
Confidentiality and Privacy: Manuscripts, peer-review materials, proprietary information, or personal data must not be uploaded to external GenAI platforms without adequate contractual and data-protection safeguards.
Intellectual Property: Authors remain fully responsible for securing permissions, licenses, and rights for all content, including GenAI-assisted outputs.
3. Permitted Uses Without Disclosure
The following uses are allowed, provided authors retain full intellectual control and independently verify all outputs; disclosure is not required for these limited activities:
Language editing for grammar, clarity, or style of the authors’ original text.
Suggestions for manuscript organization, headings, or formatting.
Assistance with code structuring or refactoring, where results are fully tested and validated by the authors.
Technical enhancement of figures (e.g., resolution or accessibility improvements) that do not alter the scientific meaning.
4. Uses Requiring Disclosure
When GenAI contributes beyond minor language or formatting assistance, authors must disclose its use in the Methods section (for research-related use) or Acknowledgments (for writing or presentation support). Disclosures must include the tool name, provider, model or version, date(s) of use, purpose, and steps taken to verify accuracy.
Typical examples include:
GenAI-assisted data analysis, statistical modeling, or code generation.
Creation of clearly labeled synthetic data or conceptual illustrations (not representing real observations).
Translation of manuscript content, verified by human experts.
Disclosure example:
“Generative AI tools (tool name, provider, model/version; used on [date]) were employed for [specific purpose]. All outputs were reviewed and validated by the authors, who accept full responsibility for the content. No confidential or personal data were uploaded.”
5. Prohibited Uses
The following practices are strictly forbidden:
Fabrication or manipulation of data, images, results, or references.
Use of GenAI-generated citations or reference lists without independent verification.
Undisclosed use of GenAI to draft substantial portions of the manuscript.
Paraphrasing existing literature to circumvent originality or plagiarism checks.
Presenting synthetic media or AI-generated outputs as genuine experimental or observational results.
Uploading confidential, proprietary, or personal information to unsecured external tools.
6. Data, Code, and Images
If GenAI has materially influenced data analysis, code, or visual content, authors must provide sufficient methodological detail to allow understanding and reasonable reproducibility. This may include relevant prompts, parameters, model versions, or post-processing steps. Synthetic or illustrative content must be clearly identified in figure legends or captions.
7. Reviewers
Reviewers must not upload manuscripts or related content to external GenAI tools. Limited use of GenAI to improve the clarity of the reviewer’s own written comments is acceptable; if assistance goes beyond minor editing, a brief note should be included in the review.
8. Editors and Editorial Office
Editors and editorial staff may use GenAI tools with appropriate human oversight for administrative or technical support (e.g., metadata checks, workflow assistance, copyediting). GenAI tools do not make editorial decisions. Confidential content will not be processed through external systems lacking appropriate data-protection agreements.
9. Screening and Editorial Response
The journal may use automated tools, including AI-assisted systems, to identify potential integrity concerns such as text overlap, image anomalies, or citation irregularities. These tools serve as indicators only. Editorial decisions are made by human editors, who may request explanations, revisions, or access to underlying data or code. Confirmed violations may result in rejection, correction, expression of concern, or retraction, and in serious cases, notification of institutions or funders.
10. Compliance and Contact
Submission of a manuscript implies agreement with this policy. Failure to comply may affect editorial decisions or lead to post-publication actions. Questions regarding this policy should be directed to the editorial office.
IV. Ethics for Authors
The International Journal of Environmental Reports requires all authors to adhere to internationally accepted standards of research and publication ethics. Authors are expected to:
Submit manuscripts to only one journal at a time.
Ensure that all research findings are original and accurately reported.
Obtain written permission for any previously published or third-party material used.
Clearly present results and explain their scientific or societal significance.
Include all individuals who meet authorship criteria and clearly describe their contributions.
Disclose all potential conflicts of interest and sources of funding.
Provide research data and methodologies in a manner that supports verification and reproducibility.
Comply with applicable institutional, national, and international regulations and academic standards.
Authors are responsible for ensuring that all third-party materials are used with appropriate permissions and attribution, and that a clear Availability of Data and Materials statement is included, consistent with ethical, legal, and privacy obligations.
1. Authorship and Contributorship
Authorship is restricted to individuals who have made substantial intellectual contributions to the work. Only natural persons may be listed as authors; software tools, automated services, or artificial intelligence systems are not eligible for authorship or co-authorship.
To qualify as an author, all of the following conditions must be met:
Meaningful contribution to the conception or design of the study, or to the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data;
Active involvement in drafting the manuscript or critically revising it for important intellectual content;
Review and formal approval of the final version submitted for publication;
Agreement to be accountable for the accuracy and integrity of the work, including the investigation and resolution of any concerns related to any part of the study.
Individuals who contributed to the research but do not meet these criteria (for example, those providing technical assistance, language editing, or administrative support) should be acknowledged in the Acknowledgments section.
Corresponding Author Responsibilities
The corresponding author serves as the primary point of contact with the journal and is responsible for coordinating communication among co-authors. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and integrity of the manuscript;
Managing revisions and resubmissions throughout peer review;
Confirming that all authors meet authorship criteria and approve the final version;
Handling article processing charges (where applicable);
Responding to post-publication inquiries related to ethics, data access, authorship, or content reuse.
Author Contributions Statement
For transparency, manuscripts are encouraged to include a detailed Author Contributions statement describing each author’s role. Contributions should reflect substantial involvement in one or more of the following: study design, data generation, analysis, interpretation, software development, drafting or revising the manuscript, and project oversight. All authors must approve the submitted version and accept responsibility for their individual contributions and the integrity of the work as a whole.
A recommended format is:
“Conceptualization, A.A. and B.B.; methodology, A.A.; software, A.A.; validation, A.A., B.B., and C.C.; formal analysis, A.A.; investigation, A.A.; resources, A.A.; data curation, A.A.; writing—original draft, A.A.; writing—review and editing, A.A.; visualization, A.A.; supervision, A.A.; project administration, A.A.; funding acquisition, B.B. All authors have read and approved the published version of the manuscript.”
The journal supports the use of persistent identifiers such as ORCID and recognizes standardized contribution frameworks such as the CRediT taxonomy.
Changes to Authorship
The list and order of authors must be finalized at the time of submission.
Before acceptance: Requests to add, remove, or reorder authors must be accompanied by a written justification, signed consent from all authors (including those affected), a description of contributions, and editorial approval. The editor may suspend review or seek further evaluation.
After acceptance but before publication: Authorship changes are generally not permitted, except for minor clerical corrections (e.g., spelling, name order, affiliations, ORCID).
After publication: Changes to authorship are not allowed. Minor factual corrections may be addressed through a formal Correction notice.
Disputes over authorship, or practices such as ghost, guest, or fabricated authorship, are considered research misconduct and will be handled under the journal’s malpractice procedures.
Deceased Authors
If an author is deceased prior to submission or during the editorial process, the editorial office must be informed. The manuscript must clearly describe the deceased author’s contribution. If the deceased individual was the corresponding author, another author must assume this role. A note acknowledging the deceased author will appear in the published article.
Affiliations
Author affiliations should accurately reflect the institution(s) where the research was conducted, supported, or approved. For non-research articles, affiliations should represent the authors’ current institutional associations.
2. Plagiarism, Redundant Publication, Data Fabrication, and Image Integrity
Plagiarism
Plagiarism includes the use of text, ideas, images, data, code, or other content from any source—published or unpublished—without appropriate acknowledgment. This applies to material drawn from articles, books, websites, datasets, theses, conference materials, or digital media.
All submissions may be screened using similarity-detection tools such as iThenticate or Crossref Similarity Check. Detection tools serve as indicators; editorial judgment determines whether misconduct has occurred.
If plagiarism is identified during peer review, the manuscript will be rejected. If discovered after publication, the journal will investigate and may issue a correction, expression of concern, or retraction. Suspected cases may be reported to authors’ institutions.
Self-Plagiarism and Redundant Publication
Self-plagiarism refers to the reuse of substantial portions of an author’s own previously published work without proper citation, disclosure, or justification. Limited overlap may be acceptable only when:
The new manuscript provides clear scholarly advancement.
The original source permits reuse.
The prior work is transparently cited.
The following do not constitute self-plagiarism:
Posting a manuscript on a preprint server or institutional repository;
Material derived from a thesis, provided the manuscript is substantially revised and disclosure is made at submission.
Redundant or “salami” publication and citation manipulation are not permitted.
Data Fabrication and Falsification
All data presented must be genuine and accurately reported. Fabrication, falsification, selective reporting, inappropriate exclusion of data points, or manipulation of analytical methods to achieve desired outcomes is strictly prohibited.
Image Manipulation
Images must faithfully represent the original data. Adjustments are acceptable only if applied uniformly and do not alter the interpretation of the results. Unacceptable practices include:
Adding, removing, relocating, or enhancing image features;
Combining images that should be presented separately.
Selectively modifying contrast, brightness, or color to obscure or exaggerate findings.
Authors may be required to provide original, unprocessed image files for verification.
3. Research Involving Humans, Animals, and Plants
All research involving humans, animals, or plants must comply with applicable ethical, legal, and institutional standards and must receive approval from appropriate oversight bodies before initiation.
Research Involving Human Participants
Studies involving human participants, biological materials, or personal data must adhere to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and relevant national regulations. Manuscripts must include:
The name of the approving ethics committee or institutional review board (IRB);
Approval or reference numbers, where applicable;
A statement confirming that informed consent was obtained from all participants.
For interventional clinical trials, prospective registration in a publicly accessible registry is mandatory, and the registration number must be reported in the manuscript.
For surveys and other non-interventional studies, participants must be informed about:
Whether participation is anonymous.
The purpose of the research;
How their data will be used;
Any potential risks associated with participation.
Written consent for publication is required when identifiable information, images, or personal details are included. Authors should minimize the disclosure of identifying characteristics wherever possible.
If participants are categorized by characteristics such as race, gender, disability, or ethnicity, authors must provide a clear scientific justification for such classifications.
Research Involving Animals
The journal is committed to the ethical use of animals in research and requires authors to demonstrate that animal welfare has been given the highest priority. Authors must apply the principles of Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement (the 3Rs) by using non-animal alternatives wherever feasible, minimizing the number of animals used, and refining experimental procedures to reduce pain, distress, or suffering.
All studies involving animals must comply with relevant national, institutional, and international regulations governing animal research. Manuscripts must clearly state that the study received prior approval from an appropriate animal care and use committee, including the name of the approving body and the approval or permit number, where applicable.
Authors are required to provide sufficient methodological detail to allow assessment of animal welfare, including information on:
Housing and husbandry conditions;
Anesthesia, analgesia, and pain management strategies;
Humane endpoints and monitoring procedures;
Steps taken to reduce animal stress and discomfort.
If research involves client-owned animals, authors must confirm that owners were fully informed of any potential risks associated with the procedures and of the intention to publish the results. In such cases, informed owner consent must be obtained, and animals must receive the highest standard of veterinary care reasonably available.
The journal expects authors to follow the ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments) guidelines when reporting studies involving live animals. Submissions may be rejected if there are serious concerns regarding ethical standards, regulatory compliance, or animal welfare.
Research Involving Plants
Research involving cultivated, wild, or endangered plant species must be conducted in accordance with applicable international agreements and local regulations, including the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), where relevant.
Authors must clearly describe the origin of plant materials used in the study, including geographic location, collection permits, and relevant genetic or accession information. For studies involving rare, endangered, or non-model plant species, authors are required to deposit voucher specimens in a recognized and accessible herbarium or museum and provide the corresponding voucher numbers in the manuscript.
Failure to comply with ethical, legal, or conservation requirements for plant research may result in rejection of the manuscript. The journal reserves the right to request additional documentation to verify compliance with biodiversity and conservation standards.
Inclusiveness and Respect
The journal is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and equitable scholarly environment. Discrimination or bias based on gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, age, religion, disability, or socioeconomic background is not tolerated.
Authors are expected to use inclusive and respectful language throughout their manuscripts. Content must not contain expressions, assumptions, or implications that suggest superiority, inferiority, or exclusion of any individual or group based on personal or social characteristics. Research design, interpretation, and reporting should reflect awareness of diversity and avoid harmful stereotypes.
Borders, Territories, and Institutional Neutrality
The journal maintains a neutral position with respect to jurisdictional claims, political boundaries, and territorial disputes as represented in maps, figures, affiliations, or institutional descriptions.
When a manuscript involves regions or territories subject to dispute, authors should present information objectively and factually. The editorial office may request revisions to ensure neutrality and may work with authors to reach a presentation that avoids political or legal bias while preserving scientific accuracy.
Libel, Defamation, and Freedom of Expression
The journal supports academic freedom and the responsible expression of scholarly opinions. However, manuscripts must not include false, misleading, or unsubstantiated statements that could harm the reputation of individuals, institutions, or organizations.
Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of factual claims and allegations. Where necessary, the publisher may conduct pre-publication legal review and may request revisions or supporting evidence. Allegations of defamation arising after publication will be investigated promptly and handled in accordance with applicable laws and ethical guidelines.
Copyright and Licensing
Authors retain the copyright of their published articles. All articles are published under an open access Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license, which permits unrestricted use, sharing, adaptation, and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original work is properly cited.
The following notice will appear on published articles:
© 2025 by the author(s). Published by Research Floor. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license, which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
If the CC BY license cannot be applied due to legal or contractual reasons, authors must notify the editorial office before publication. Exceptions may be considered at the publisher’s discretion.
Use of Third-Party Copyrighted Material
Authors are responsible for obtaining written permission to reproduce or reuse copyrighted material, including figures, tables, photographs, and substantial text excerpts, unless such material is clearly exempt.
Permission is required for:
Previously published work where authors do not retain copyright;
Unaltered or minimally modified figures, tables, or images;
Photographs or artworks not owned by the authors.
Permission is generally not required for:
Original figures and tables created by the authors, even if based on previously published data (with proper citation);
Figures or tables that have been substantially redrawn or transformed;
Short quotations used with appropriate attribution.
All reused or adapted material must be clearly acknowledged in captions or legends.
Translations
Previously published articles may be republished in translation only with explicit permission from the original publisher and copyright holder. Authors must disclose the publication history, upload permission documentation at submission, and clearly acknowledge the original source in the manuscript.
Patents and Intellectual Property
Authors are responsible for resolving all patent applications and intellectual property matters before publication. The journal’s editorial and production timelines will not be delayed due to pending patent or intellectual property issues. Once an article is accepted, it may be published online with a DOI without delay.
Conflicts of Interest and Funding Disclosure
To preserve the integrity and transparency of scholarly publishing, all authors must disclose any financial or non-financial interests that could be perceived to influence the research, its interpretation, or its publication.
Conflicts of interest may include, but are not limited to, employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership, grants, paid expert testimony, personal relationships, or professional affiliations.
Authors must include a Conflicts of Interest statement in their manuscript. Examples include:
“Author A serves as a consultant for Organization X.”
“Author B is a member of Organization Y.”
“Author C has received research funding from Organization Z.”
If no conflicts exist, authors should state:
“The authors declare no conflicts of interest.”
In addition, all sources of funding must be disclosed in a separate Funding statement. Authors should list each funding body followed by the relevant grant number, using standardized funder names. Authors must also describe the role of funders, if any, in study design, data collection, analysis, manuscript preparation, or the decision to publish.
The editorial office may request supporting documentation to verify disclosures where necessary.
Concerns related to conflicts of interest or funding transparency may be reported to:
editor@researchfloor.org or info@researchfloor.org
9. Citation Policy
In accordance with COPE best practices, authors are required to cite sources responsibly, accurately, and transparently. All ideas, data, wording, or materials derived from other publications, including an author’s own previously published work, must be properly acknowledged.
Direct quotations must be enclosed in quotation marks and accompanied by appropriate citations. Paraphrased content must be sufficiently distinct from the original source and clearly referenced. Where required, authors must obtain permission for reuse of copyrighted material.
To promote ethical citation behavior, authors must adhere to the following principles:
Avoid excessive self-citation that is not directly relevant to the submitted work;
Do not cite advertisements, sponsored content, or advertorial material as scholarly sources;
Do not replicate reference lists from other publications without consulting the original sources.
Ensure that all cited references have been read and accurately reflect the cited content.
Editors and reviewers will not request citations to the journal, publisher, or themselves unless such references are scientifically justified. Suspected citation manipulation, coercive citation practices, or citation cartels will be investigated and may result in editorial action, including rejection or post-publication correction.
10. Data Availability and Supporting Evidence
The journal promotes transparency, reproducibility, and openness in research by encouraging authors to make underlying data, software, code, and other supporting materials accessible whenever possible. Authors are expected to retain and document sufficient evidence to enable verification and replication of their findings.
Unless restricted by ethical, legal, or confidentiality considerations, authors should make supporting materials available upon reasonable request. In line with the Transparency and Openness Promotion (TOP) Guidelines, authors are encouraged to:
Deposit relevant data and materials in recognized repositories; and
Include a clear Data Availability Statement describing where and how the materials can be accessed.
Data Availability Statement Templates
Authors may use one of the following formats, as appropriate:
The data [data type] supporting the findings of this study are available in [repository name] under accession number or DOI [identifier].
The data [data type] supporting the findings of this study are available in [repository name], which does not issue DOIs, and can be accessed via [link or accession number].
The data [data type] supporting the findings of this study are included within the article and/or supplementary materials.
The data [data type] supporting the findings of this study are subject to ethical or privacy restrictions and are available from [contact person or institution] upon reasonable request to qualified researchers.
The data [data type] supporting the findings of this study were obtained from [third party] under license and may be accessed by contacting [name, contact information].
The data [data type] supporting the findings of this study may be accessed following approval by [data access committee or ethics board] via [contact information].
Authors may also submit supplementary materials that enhance understanding of the study but are not essential to the main text. Unless otherwise specified, supplementary materials are not subject to peer review.
V. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers
1. Peer Review Process
Peer review is fundamental to the integrity and quality of published research. Each manuscript undergoes evaluation by a minimum of two independent reviewers with relevant subject expertise. Reviewers are selected by the editorial team based on qualifications, independence from the authors, and availability to complete reviews promptly.
The journal provides guidance and training to editors and reviewers on ethical peer review practices and adheres to COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers. Any suspected manipulation of the peer review process should be reported to the editorial office.
2. Reviewer Conflicts of Interest
Reviewers must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest that could compromise their impartiality. Such conflicts may include recent collaboration, shared affiliation, financial interests, or personal relationships with the authors. Reviewing a manuscript previously assessed for another journal does not, in itself, constitute a conflict of interest.
3. Confidentiality
Reviewers must treat all manuscript materials as confidential. Manuscripts, including abstracts, figures, tables, and data, must not be shared, discussed, or uploaded to external platforms or tools. Co-reviewing with a junior colleague or trainee is permitted only with prior editorial approval, and all co-reviewers must declare relevant competing interests.
4. Anonymity
The journal operates a double-blind peer review system. Reviewers must not disclose their identities to authors, and the journal will not release reviewer identities or personal information.
VI. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors
1. Editorial Independence and Decision-Making
The journal is committed to editorial independence, fairness, diversity, and equity. Discrimination based on personal characteristics or identity is strictly prohibited. Submissions are evaluated solely on scholarly merit, relevance to scope, and compliance with ethical standards.
Each manuscript is initially assessed by a managing editor for scope, ethical compliance, and scientific soundness. Suitable manuscripts are then assigned to an academic editor and sent for external peer review. Editorial decisions are based on reviewer reports and the editor’s independent judgment.
Abusive or inappropriate correspondence directed at editorial staff or reviewers will not be tolerated and may result in withdrawal of the manuscript or other corrective actions.
2. Ethical Oversight
Editors are responsible for identifying and addressing ethical concerns both during review and after publication. Investigations follow COPE procedures and may involve:
Verification of authorship and contributor roles;
Assessment of ethical approvals for human or animal research;
Evaluation of plagiarism, redundant publication, or misuse of published material.
Editors must ensure that conflicts of interest are disclosed, research findings are presented objectively, and methods and data are described with sufficient clarity to support reproducibility.
3. Editors’ Conflicts of Interest
Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist. Submissions authored by editors or editorial board members are managed by independent editors with no involvement from the conflicted party.
VII. Appeals and Complaints
1. Appeals Against Editorial Decisions
Authors may appeal only decisions of rejection with no option for resubmission. Appeals must be submitted within three months of the decision date and must clearly identify the manuscript and provide a reasoned, point-by-point response to reviewer or editor comments.
Appeals are assessed by an editor not involved in the original decision and may involve consultation with additional reviewers. The final decision rests with the Editor-in-Chief or an appointed advisory editor.
2. Complaints
Complaints may be submitted by authors, reviewers, readers, institutions, or other stakeholders concerning editorial conduct, peer review, delays, or ethical concerns. Complaints should be supported by relevant documentation and will be investigated confidentially in accordance with COPE guidance.
All complaints and outcomes are documented internally to support transparency and quality assurance.
VIII. Revenue Sources, Advertising, and Direct Marketing
1. Revenue Transparency
Journal operations may be supported through article processing charges, institutional support, or publisher subsidies. Where applicable, publication fees are charged only after acceptance and do not influence editorial decisions. Fee structures and waiver policies are publicly disclosed.
2. Advertising Policy
Advertising is permitted only if relevant to the scholarly community and compliant with ethical and legal standards. Advertisements are clearly labeled, separated from editorial content, and not influence editorial decisions. Behavioral targeting and tracking are not used.
3. Direct Marketing
Professional communications such as calls for papers or journal announcements are conducted responsibly, truthfully, and in compliance with data protection regulations. All communications include clear opt-out mechanisms.
IX. Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern
The journal follows COPE Retraction Guidelines to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.
Corrections
Corrections are issued for errors that affect interpretation, accuracy, or transparency. Minor typographical errors that do not alter meaning are not corrected. Correction notices are published separately and linked to the original article.
Retractions
Retractions are issued for serious errors, research misconduct, data fabrication, or plagiarism. Retracted articles remain accessible with a clear retraction notice and watermark. In rare legal or safety cases, content may be removed with justification provided.
Expressions of Concern
Expressions of Concern may be published when investigations are ongoing or inconclusive, but raise significant issues affecting the reliability of the work.
X. Digital Preservation and Archiving
To ensure long-term accessibility, all published content is assigned a persistent DOI and preserved through secure backups and trusted third-party archiving services, including Portico and CLOCKSS. These services provide continued access in the event of content unavailability or journal cessation.
XI. Contact
The journal encourages the scholarly community to report concerns related to research integrity, publication ethics, copyright infringement, or related matters. All enquiries and reports may be directed to:
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