Allegation of Research Misconduct

The journal takes allegations of research and publication misconduct seriously and assesses them fairly, confidentially, and on the basis of available evidence. The journal’s existing Publication Ethics statement refers to COPE guidelines and flowcharts.

Examples of Misconduct

·       Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or research records.

·       Plagiarism, unattributed use of others’ work, or inappropriate image manipulation.

·       Redundant or duplicate publication, including inappropriate fragmentation of findings.

·       Unethical authorship, undisclosed conflicts of interest, breaches of research ethics, or manipulation of editorial or peer-review processes.

Handling Reports

·       Reports should identify the article or submission, describe the concern clearly, and provide supporting evidence where available.

·       The editor conducts an initial assessment and may request an explanation or supporting documents from the relevant authors or other parties.

·       Where necessary, the journal may consult independent experts or contact the authors’ institution or other relevant body.

·       Individuals with a conflict of interest must not participate in the investigation or decision.

·       Possible actions include clarification, revision, rejection, correction, an expression of concern, retraction, or notification to an institution, depending on the evidence and seriousness of the case.

Fairness and Confidentiality

A report is not proof of misconduct. The journal will give relevant parties a reasonable opportunity to respond, protect good-faith reporters as appropriate, and keep records of the assessment and outcome.