Ethical principles of the author

According to the guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), authors are expected to uphold high ethical standards throughout the entire process of conducting research and publishing the results. The editorial board of this journal fully supports and adheres to the principles declared by COPE to ensure the integrity and credibility of the scholarly publication process. Below are the key ethical principles that authors must adhere to in scholarly publishing.

1. Honesty and Accuracy

Authors must present research data and findings honestly and without distortion. A detailed, objective, and truthful presentation of methodology, data, and results is a cornerstone of scientific ethics. If errors are discovered post-publication, they should be corrected promptly through errata or retractions.

2. Originality and Plagiarism

Work must be entirely original, and authors should not plagiarize by copying materials without proper acknowledgment. Plagiarism, which includes copying text, ideas, data, or images from others without proper citation, is a serious breach of scientific ethics. All sources that have contributed to the research should be appropriately cited.

3. Authorship and Acknowledging Contributions

Authorship should accurately reflect the substantial contributions made by each individual in the research process. Only those who have significantly contributed to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study should be listed as authors. It is important to avoid "ghost authorship" (where contributors are not listed as authors despite substantial involvement) and "honorary authorship" (where individuals with no significant contribution are included as authors).

4. Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the objectivity or interpretation of their research findings. This includes financial support, ties to commercial organizations, or personal or professional relationships that might affect the perception of the work.

5. Reproducibility and Data Availability

Authors should provide sufficient details on the research methods and procedures to enable other researchers to replicate the study. This includes making data, materials, and methods available in a transparent manner. Transparency in statistical methods and the availability of datasets are vital for the reproducibility of results.

6. Publication of Original and Unpublished Results

Authors should only submit articles that report original work and have not been published elsewhere, unless explicitly agreed with the journal's editor. Duplicate publication or "self-plagiarism" violates ethical standards and can lead to severe consequences for authors.

7. Respect for Participants' Rights

If the research involves human participants or animals, authors must follow ethical guidelines to protect participants' rights. This includes obtaining informed consent from human participants and ensuring compliance with ethical and legal standards for research involving animals.

8. Interaction with Editors and Reviewers

Authors should respect the decisions made by editors and reviewers and engage constructively with their feedback. All comments and suggestions from reviewers should be carefully considered and addressed in the final version of the manuscript. Responses to reviewer comments should be honest and well-supported.

9. Handling Misconduct

If authors become aware of any form of scientific misconduct, such as data fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism, they are obligated to report this to the journal’s editorial board or relevant authorities. Authors should cooperate with investigations to ensure the integrity of the scientific record.