Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

1. Duties of the Editorial Board

• Publication Decisions: The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for deciding which articles submitted to the journal shall be published based on scientific merit and relevance, without regard to race, gender, religious belief, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy.
• Confidentiality: Editors and editorial staff must not disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, and potential reviewers.
• Conflicts of Interest: Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used in an editor’s own research without the express written consent of the author.

2. Duties of Reviewers

• Contribution to Editorial Decisions: Peer review assists the editor in making editorial decisions and may also assist the author in improving the paper.
• Promptness: Any selected referee who feels unqualified to review the research or knows that its prompt review will be impossible should notify the editor and excuse himself from the review process.
• Standards of Objectivity: Reviews should be conducted objectively. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate. Referees should express their views clearly with supporting arguments.

3. Duties of Authors

• Reporting Standards: Authors of original research should present an accurate account of the work performed as well as an objective discussion of its significance.
• Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that they have written entirely original works. If authors have used the work and/or words of others, this must be appropriately cited or quoted. Plagiarism in all its forms constitutes unethical publishing behavior and is unacceptable.
• Multiple or Concurrent Publication: An author should not in general publish manuscripts describing essentially the same research in more than one journal or primary publication.
• Authorship of the Paper: Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study.

4. Procedure for Handling Unethical Behavior

Misconduct and unethical behavior may be identified and brought to the attention of the editor and publisher at any time, by anyone.

• Investigation: The editor should initiate an investigation, seeking evidence while avoiding spreading allegations beyond those who need to know.
• Minor Breaches: May be settled without the need for wider consultation. The author should be given the opportunity to respond to any allegations.
• Serious Misconduct: May require the notification of the employers of the accused. The publisher, in consultation with the editors, will make the final decision on whether to involve relevant organizations or experts.
• Outcomes: Publication of a formal notice detailing the misconduct (Retraction), or a formal letter to the author's head of department or funding body.