Ethical principles of publication are an integral part of the editorial and peer review process. Authors, editors, reviewers, the publisher, and affiliated institutions involved in the publication process share responsibility for maintaining academic integrity and preventing misconduct such as plagiarism, fabrication, and data falsification.

The journal’s editorial policy is developed in accordance with the principles and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and follows internationally recognized standards of publishing ethics.

The Editorial Board ensures that advertising, reprints, or any commercial revenue do not influence editorial decisions.

Editorial Decisions

Editorial decisions are based on:

• the scientific quality of the manuscript;
• relevance to the journal’s scope;
• adherence to academic standards;
• independent peer review reports.

The Editorial Board undertakes to consider all substantiated ethical complaints regarding submitted or published materials and to take appropriate action where necessary.

Handling Allegations of Misconduct

The journal considers all substantiated allegations of academic misconduct related to submitted or published manuscripts.

Upon receiving a complaint, the Editorial Board conducts a preliminary assessment and, if necessary, initiates an internal review or consults independent experts. Authors are given the opportunity to provide explanations and supporting documentation.

If misconduct is confirmed, the journal may take appropriate actions in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), including issuing corrections, publishing an Expression of Concern, retracting the article, or notifying the relevant academic institution.

All investigations are conducted in accordance with principles of fairness, objectivity, and confidentiality.

 

 

Confidentiality

The Editorial Board does not disclose information about submitted manuscripts (including authorship, content, and review status) to anyone other than:

• the corresponding author;
• reviewers;
• the publisher (if necessary).

All submitted manuscripts are treated as confidential documents.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used by editors, reviewers, or any other party without the authors’ written consent.

Privileged information obtained through peer review must be kept confidential and not used for personal advantage or the advantage of third parties.

Editors and Editorial Board members must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest (personal, professional, financial, or institutional relationships with the authors).

If a conflict of interest is identified after publication, appropriate corrections or disclosures will be published.

Duties of Reviewers

Peer review is a fundamental component of editorial decision-making and contributes to improving the quality of scholarly publications.

Reviewers are expected to:

• notify the editor if they lack sufficient expertise or cannot complete the review within the required timeframe;
• treat manuscripts as confidential documents;
• provide objective, reasoned, and constructive comments;
• avoid personal criticism of the author;
• identify relevant published work not cited by the authors;
• report any substantial similarity between the manuscript and other published works;
• disclose any conflicts of interest and withdraw from the review process if necessary.

Allegations of reviewer misconduct are addressed at the institutional level.

Duties of Authors

Authors are expected to:

• submit original work;
• avoid plagiarism, fabrication, and data falsification;
• properly acknowledge and cite the work of others;
• refrain from submitting the same manuscript simultaneously to multiple journals;
• disclose all potential conflicts of interest and sources of funding;
• ensure the accuracy and integrity of the data presented;
• provide raw data upon request by the Editorial Board, where appropriate.

Authorship must be limited to individuals who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study. All co-authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and agree to its submission.

If a significant error or inaccuracy is discovered after publication, authors are obligated to promptly notify the Editorial Board and cooperate in issuing corrections or retractions if necessary.

Responsibility for Content

The Editorial Board and the publisher are not responsible for the views expressed in published articles. Responsibility for the originality, accuracy, and integrity of the content rests solely with the authors.