Policies

Advertising Policy

The journal may include advertisements; however, advertising must never compromise editorial independence, scientific integrity, or the peer review process. All editorial decisions—including acceptance, rejection, or revision of manuscripts—are made solely by the editorial team based on scientific merit and compliance with journal policies, without influence from commercial interests or advertisers.

Guidelines for Advertisements

  • Advertisements must be truthful, non-misleading, and relevant to the readership.
  • Advertisements for products, services, or events that conflict with the journal’s mission or raise ethical concerns (e.g., unapproved medical treatments, misleading claims) are not accepted.
  • Advertisements are clearly separated from editorial content using visual or textual markers so that readers can distinguish advertising from peer-reviewed material.
  • Advertising that could create a conflict of interest with editorial content, including promotion of studies by advertisement sponsors, is not allowed.

Editorial Independence

  • Editors and editorial staff do not participate in advertising negotiations.
  • Advertisers have no influence over manuscript selection, peer review decisions, or publication schedule.
  • Any potential conflicts of interest related to advertising are fully disclosed in accordance with COPE and ICMJE recommendations.

Ethical Standards

  • Advertising practices comply with international ethical guidelines and applicable laws and regulations.
  • The journal reserves the right to reject or remove advertisements at any time if deemed inappropriate, misleading, or inconsistent with the journal’s values.

Appeals and Complaints Policy

The journal is committed to ensuring a transparent, fair, and impartial editorial process, and provides clear mechanisms for authors, reviewers, and readers to raise concerns related to editorial decisions, peer review, or publication ethics.

Appeals by Authors

  • Authors who disagree with an editorial decision may submit a written appeal to the editorial office.
  • The appeal must include:
    • The manuscript title and ID
    • A detailed justification, outlining specific concerns regarding the editorial decision
    • Any supporting documentation that may aid the review of the appeal
  • Appeals are evaluated independently by the Editor-in-Chief or a designated senior editor who was not involved in the original decision, ensuring objectivity.
  • Authors will be informed of the outcome of the appeal in a timely manner.

Complaints

  • Complaints may relate to:
    • Editorial processes
    • Peer review procedures
    • Alleged ethical violations, including plagiarism or conflicts of interest
  • All complaints are handled confidentially, according to COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines.
  • The editorial office may consult independent experts if necessary to resolve complex complaints.

Principles

  • All appeals and complaints are reviewed impartially, fairly, and transparently.
  • Decisions on appeals or complaints are final, but the journal reserves the right to reassess the process if new evidence arises.
  • Authors and readers are encouraged to raise concerns promptly and constructively to maintain the integrity of the publication process.

Article Processing Charges (APC) Policy

The journal does not charge any fees for manuscript submission, peer review, editorial processing, or publication. No article processing charges (APCs) or other publication fees are required from authors.

  • The journal operates under a diamond open access model, ensuring that all published content is freely accessible to readers worldwide without financial barriers.
  • Authors can publish their work without incurring any costs, promoting equitable access to scholarly communication and supporting global participation in research.
  • Any future changes to this policy will be clearly communicated on the journal’s website prior to implementation, ensuring transparency and allowing authors to make informed decisions regarding their submissions.

Copyright and Licensing Policy

Authors retain copyright of their published work. Unless otherwise specified, all articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

  • This license permits use, distribution, reproduction, and adaptation in any medium, provided that the original work is properly cited.
  • Commercial use of the published material is permitted, as long as proper attribution is given.
  • This approach ensures that authors maintain ownership of their work while promoting open access, wider dissemination, and responsible reuse within the global research community.

Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

The journal follows the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) for handling post-publication issues. It is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scientific record and will take appropriate actions when errors or ethical concerns are identified.

Corrections

Corrections (errata or corrigenda) are issued for minor errors that do not compromise the overall validity or conclusions of the article. Examples include:

  • Typographical errors
  • Minor mistakes in data presentation or units
  • Errors in author names, affiliations, or acknowledgements
  • Minor inaccuracies in references

Corrections are published promptly and are clearly linked to the original article.

Retractions

Retractions are issued when an article contains major errors, evidence of misconduct, or findings that are unreliable. Reasons for retraction may include, but are not limited to:

  • Data fabrication or falsification
  • Plagiarism or duplicate publication
  • Serious ethical violations (e.g., lack of ethical approval, consent issues)
  • Major errors that invalidate the conclusions

Retraction notices clearly state the reason for retraction and are linked to the original article. The original article remains accessible with a clear retraction watermark or note, in line with COPE guidelines.

Expressions of Concern

Expressions of Concern may be issued when:

  • Serious allegations have been raised and an investigation is ongoing
  • The outcome of the investigation is delayed or uncertain
  • There is insufficient evidence to warrant an immediate retraction, but concerns remain significant

Expressions of Concern are clearly linked to the original article and updated when the investigation concludes.

Transparency and Record Keeping

All post-publication notices (corrections, retractions, expressions of concern) are published transparently and linked to the original article. The journal maintains an accurate record of all actions taken to ensure accountability and trust in the scientific literature.

Disclaimer

The content published represents the views, interpretations, and opinions of the individual authors and contributors. These views do not necessarily reflect the opinions, policies, or positions of the Editors, the Editorial Board, or the Publisher of the journal.

While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of the information published, no guarantee is given regarding the completeness, timeliness, or applicability of the content for any particular purpose. Readers are advised to use their own judgment and consult appropriate experts or authorities before acting on the information contained herein.

The journal, editors, editorial board, and publisher shall not be held responsible or liable for any errors, omissions, or outcomes resulting from the use or interpretation of the material published. This includes, but is not limited to, legal, medical, technical, financial, or professional consequences.

Publication does not constitute endorsement of any product, service, method, or commercial entity mentioned in the articles. Advertisements, if any, are clearly distinguished from editorial content and do not imply endorsement by the publisher.

By submitting or accessing articles, readers acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer and understand that all responsibility for the use of published information lies with the reader or user.

Open Access and Archiving Policy

All articles published are immediately made available as open access and are freely accessible to readers worldwide. To ensure the long-term preservation and integrity of published content, the journal uses its own digital archiving system, which securely stores all articles and associated metadata. This system provides continuous access to the journal’s content, even in the event of technical disruptions or platform changes.

In addition to the internal archiving system, indexing and long-term preservation are supported through recognized repositories and databases, in line with best practices in scholarly publishing.

Authors are permitted to deposit the published version of their articles in institutional or subject-specific repositories. Such deposits must acknowledge the original publication and comply with the archiving guidelines.

The archiving system is designed to meet international standards for digital preservation, ensuring that articles remain accessible, citable, and protected for the long term. This commitment reflects a dedication to sustainable scholarly communication and open access principles.

Post-Publication Discussions and Correspondence Policy

This policy provides a framework for scholarly discussion and constructive critique of published articles through letters to the editor, correspondence, or formal commentaries. Such post-publication dialogue contributes to scientific transparency, correction of the record, and ongoing scholarly debate.

Submission and Review Process

All correspondence submissions are subject to editorial review to assess relevance, scientific merit, and adherence to the journal’s policies. When appropriate, submissions may also undergo peer review. The editorial team reserves the right to reject correspondence that does not meet scientific or ethical standards.

Author Response

Authors of the original article may be invited to respond to correspondence. Responses are reviewed by the editorial team and, if necessary, may also be peer reviewed. Correspondence and responses may be published together to provide balanced context.

Content Requirements

Correspondence should be:

  • Evidence-based and supported by appropriate references or data
  • Focused on scientific content, methodology, interpretation, or implications
  • Clearly written and concise

Conduct and Language

All correspondence must adhere to professional and ethical standards. Submissions must be:

  • Respectful and free of personal attacks
  • Non-defamatory and non-discriminatory
  • Free of inflammatory or abusive language
  • Compliant with applicable laws and journal policies

Editorial Discretion

The editorial team retains full discretion over whether correspondence is published. The journal may decline correspondence that is:

  • Redundant, irrelevant, or lacking scientific merit
  • Primarily aimed at promoting a commercial product or service
  • Based on unsubstantiated claims or speculation
  • Already addressed in published corrections or discussions

Post-Publication Updates

When correspondence raises significant concerns about the validity or integrity of a published article, the editorial team may initiate further investigation and, if necessary, publish corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Roles of the Publisher

Handling of Unethical Publishing Behavior

In cases of alleged or proven scientific misconduct, including fabrication, falsification, fraudulent publication, or plagiarism, the Publisher, in close collaboration with the Editors, will take all appropriate measures to investigate and clarify the situation.

Such measures may include the prompt publication of an erratum, expression of concern, clarification, or—where necessary—the retraction of the affected article.

The Publisher, together with the Editors, shall take reasonable and proactive steps to identify and prevent the publication of manuscripts in which research misconduct has occurred. Under no circumstances shall the Publisher encourage, support, or knowingly permit unethical publishing practices.