Ethical Publishing Standards
This journal is committed to honest, fair and transparent publishing. We follow the ethical guidelines set by COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics). Below are the key responsibilities of editors, authors and reviewers to help ensure high ethical standards in publishing.

Editor Responsibilities

• Publication Decisions: Editors have full responsibility for deciding which articles to publish, based on scholarly value and journal policies, while considering legal and ethical standards.
• Peer Review: Editors must ensure fair, timely and unbiased peer review using qualified, independent reviewers and checking for conflicts of interest.
• Fairness: Manuscripts are judged on academic merit, without discrimination based on personal characteristics or beliefs.
• Transparency: Editors must promote honest reporting and clear guidelines for authors and reviewers. Appeals processes must be available.
• Journal Metrics: Editors must not manipulate citations or metrics for personal or journal benefit.
• Confidentiality: Submitted work and reviewer identities must be kept confidential. Unpublished content must not be used without permission.

Responsibilities of Peer Reviewers

• Support Editorial Decisions: Peer reviewers help editors decide whether to publish a manuscript and provide authors with feedback to improve their work. Reviewers should flag ethical concerns or suspected plagiarism or duplication.
• Review Quality and Ethics: Reviewers must assess manuscripts thoroughly, ensure proper referencing and notify the editor of any conflicts or previously reported work.
• Professional Conduct: Reviews should be respectful, constructive and free of personal criticism. If a reviewer feels unqualified or unable to meet the deadline, they must inform the editor promptly.
• Objectivity and Conflict of Interest: Reviews should be impartial. Any potential conflict of interest—such as personal relationships, recent collaborations, or shared affiliations with authors—must be disclosed.
• Citation Ethics: Suggestions to cite the reviewer’s own work must be justified by scholarly relevance—not self-promotion.
• Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat manuscripts as confidential and must not share, use, or discuss them without the editor’s consent. Information from the review process must not be used for personal research or benefit.

Author Responsibilities

• Accurate Reporting: Authors must present truthful, complete and objective accounts of their research. Data should be reliable and reproducible. Fraudulent or misleading statements are not acceptable.
• Data Access: Authors may need to share their data upon request and are encouraged to retain it for future reference, in line with the journal’s open data policy.
• Originality and Citations: Submitted work must be original. Any use of others’ ideas, data, or words must be properly cited and permission obtained when required. Plagiarism in any form is strictly prohibited. Please read our plagiarism policy.
• No Duplicate Submissions: Manuscripts must not be submitted to more than one journal at the same time, nor should previously published work be resubmitted unless under exceptional, justified circumstances.
• Citations: References should be relevant, reliable and support the claims made. Self-citations or citation manipulation (including coercion) must be avoided.
• Confidentiality: Privileged information from peer reviews must not be used without permission.
• Authorship Criteria: Only those who made a meaningful contribution to the study should be listed as authors. All co-authors must approve the final version and agree to submission. Changes to authorship after submission are only allowed in exceptional cases with full consent.
• Accountability: Authors share responsibility for the integrity and accuracy of the published work and must address any issues raised post-publication.

Handling Misconduct
Misconduct includes any form of dishonesty, plagiarism, data manipulation, or ethical breach by any party involved in the publishing process. Suspected violations should be reported to the editorial board or ethics committee. The journal ensures a confidential and unbiased investigation, offering all involved parties the opportunity to respond. Proven cases may result in rejection, retraction, bans, or formal notifications to institutions. Preventive measures and transparency underpin the journal’s integrity, with an appeals process in place for disputed decisions.

Managing Complaints
Complaints concerning editorial decisions, reviewer conduct, or ethical concerns must be submitted in writing with full details. All complaints will be acknowledged within 10 business days and investigated thoroughly. Final decisions will be communicated in writing, maintaining strict confidentiality. Complainants may appeal within 30 days if unsatisfied. Feedback is used to refine policies and improve operations.

Conflicts of Interest
All authors, reviewers and editors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may affect their judgment or involvement. Declared conflicts will be published with the article when relevant. The journal investigates undeclared conflicts post-publication and may issue corrections or retractions if necessary. Regular training will be offered to strengthen ethical awareness.