Publication ethics
Relationships between authors, editors and reviewers in our journal are based on academic benevolence, objectivity of ratings and priority of scientific quality. We are following the principles of Code of Conduct for Editors as defined by the Committee of Publication Ethics (COPE), in particular
FAIR PLAY
Manuscripts shall be evaluated for their scientific quality, regardless of author’s race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality or political opinions.
Elimination of the Plagiarism, Libel and Copyright Infringement
Our journal rejects any material that breaks legal requirements regarding plagiarism, libel and copyright infringement. If the text of the article contains data borrowed from other literary sources, then these fragments should be marked with bibliographic references. All submitted manuscripts are checked by online plagiarism search service "Turnitin".
The author is responsible for the scientific content of the materials provided. In case of plagiarism or self-plagiarism, or the use of generative AI, the manuscript will be rejected. If the manuscript contains borrowed text, figures, tables, or illustrations without references to the original source, the manuscript will be rejected. The criticality of the percentage of plagiarism established using automated verification systems is assessed by members of the editorial board.
EDITORS RESPONSIBILITIES
The editor-in-chief shall be guided by the policies of the journal's editorial board and consults with other editors or reviewers about the decision to publish.
EDITORS
● have full authority to reject / accept the article, guided by objective scientific criteria and findings reviewers;
● ensure the quality of the material they publish;
● must disclose any conflicts of interest;
● keep information pertaining to submitted manuscripts confidential;
● champion freedom of scientific expression.
If editors suspect the authenticity, originality or ethical correctness of an article, publication of the last is delayed until any doubt is clarified. Unpublished materials from submitted manuscript must not be used in an Editor’s own research without the express written consent of the author.
AUTHOR RESPONSIBILITIES
Authors must
● ensure that they have written truly original works;
● have significant contribution to the research (if a paper has several authors);
● guarantee obtained permission for use of copyrighted materials;
● certify that the manuscript has not previously been published elsewhere and is not currently being considered for publication elsewhere;
● identify all sources used in the creation of their manuscript;
● disclose in their manuscript any substantive conflict of interest that might be construed to influence the assessment of their manuscript.
By submitting an article to the editorial board, the authors agree that (in the case of publication in the paper version journal) their text will be automatically published in the online version of the journal (under open access).
REVIEWER RESPONSIBILITIES
Reviewer must:
● notify Editorial staff of any conflicts of interest that may determine their findings;
● keep information pertaining to the manuscript confidential;
● be objective and constructive in their reviews.
Unpublished materials from submitted manuscript must not be used in reviewers' own research without the express written consent of the author.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Conflict of Interest Policy
The journal adheres to the principles of transparency and academic integrity in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics.
Definition of Conflict of Interest
A conflict of interest occurs when personal, financial, professional, or institutional relationships may influence, or be perceived to influence, the objectivity of the evaluation, peer review, or editorial decision-making process regarding a manuscript.
Declaration of Conflict of Interest
- Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest at the time of manuscript submission and include the relevant information in the Conflict of Interest section of the article.
- Reviewers must inform the editorial office of any circumstances that may affect their impartiality and decline to review the manuscript if a conflict of interest exists.
- Editors must refrain from making editorial decisions on manuscripts if a conflict of interest with the authors or the subject of the research exists.
Conflict of Interest Management Procedure
If a conflict of interest is identified, the following measures are applied:
- recusal of the editor or reviewer from the manuscript evaluation process;
- appointment of an independent handling editor to oversee the peer review process;
- engagement of independent reviewers;
- documentation of the basis for the conflict of interest and the decision taken in the editorial records.
Handling of Manuscripts Submitted by Editors
Manuscripts submitted by the Editor-in-Chief, editors, or members of the editorial board are handled under a special procedure to ensure impartiality:
- the editor-author is not involved in the editorial handling of their manuscript;
- an independent handling editor without any conflict of interest is appointed;
- the manuscript is sent to at least two independent reviewers;
- all editorial decisions are made by the independent editor based on the reviewers’ reports.
The editorial office ensures confidentiality and transparency in the management of conflicts of interest.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that there are no commercial, financial, or personal relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest in relation to this study.
If any potential conflict of interest exists, the authors are required to disclose it to the editorial office at the time of manuscript submission and include the relevant information in the article.
Alternatively, the authors declare (confirm) that there is no CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
Procedure for Handling Complaints on Academic Integrity and Publication Ethics
The journal considers all complaints regarding possible violations of academic integrity and publication ethics in accordance with the international guidelines of COPE. A complaint should be submitted to the editorial office in written form and must include a clear description of the alleged violation and, where possible, supporting evidence.
The Editor-in-Chief conducts an initial assessment of the complaint and, if necessary, initiates an investigation involving members of the editorial board or independent experts. The parties concerned are given the opportunity to provide explanations.
Based on the results of the review, the editorial office may decide to reject the complaint, issue corrections to the publication, publish an expression of concern, or retract the article. The complainant and the relevant parties are informed of the decision. The review process is conducted confidentially and impartially. The editorial team will confirm receipt of your complaint within 5–10 working days. The investigation of a complaint usually takes 30–60 days, although more complex cases may require additional time to resolve.
