Publication Ethics

Duties of Reviewers
Contribution to Editorial Decisions
The journal uses a double-blind review process. The reviewers advise the editor-in-chief in making the editorial decision. The editor-in-chief communicates with authors, as required, and helps them in improving the quality of their research papers.

Promptness
The journal editors are committed to providing timely reviews to the authors. If a reviewer does not submit his/her report in a timely manner, the paper is immediately sent to another qualified reviewer.
Confidentiality Manuscript content is treated with at most confidentiality. The journal uses a double-blind process. Except for the editor-in-chief, the editors and reviewers cannot discuss the paper with any other person, including the authors.

Standards of Objectivity
The editors and reviewers are required to evaluate papers based on the content. The review comment must be respectful to the authors. The reviewers are required to justify their decision and recommendation.

Acknowledgment of Sources
Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors. Any statement that an observation, derivation, or argument had been previously reported should be accompanied by the relevant citation. A reviewer should also call to the editor's attention any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under consideration and any other published paper of which they have personal knowledge.

Disclosure and Conflict of Interest
Privileged information or ideas obtained through peer review must be kept confidential and not used for personal advantage. Reviewers should not consider manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships or connections with any of the authors, companies, or institutions connected to the papers.
 
Duties of Authors
Reporting standards
Authors should present an accurate account of the work performed as well as an objective discussion of its significance. Underlying data should be represented accurately in the paper. A paper should contain sufficient detail and references to permit others to replicate the work wherever possible. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unethical behavior and are unacceptable.

Data Access and Retention
Authors may be asked to provide the raw data in connection with a paper for editorial review. They should be prepared to provide such data within a reasonable time.

Originality and Plagiarism
The authors should ensure that they have written entirely original works, and if the authors have used the work and/or words of others that this has been appropriately cited or quoted. Papers found with such problems are automatically rejected and authors are so advised.

Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication
When a paper is submitted for possible publication, the submitting author makes a written statement that the paper has not been published nor it is currently under publication with any other journal. Simultaneous submission is considered unethical and is therefore unacceptable.

Acknowledgment of Sources
Proper acknowledgment of the work of others is required. Authors must cite publications that have led to the authors’ current research.

Authorship of the Paper
Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the research reported in the manuscript. The corresponding author has a responsibility to keep co-authors posted on the review process. If accepted, all authors are required to give a signed statement that the research work is their original research work.

Hazards and Human or Animal Subjects
If the work involves chemicals, procedures, or equipment that have any unusual hazards inherent in their use, the author must clearly identify these in the manuscript.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
All authors should disclose in their manuscript any financial or other substantive conflicts of interest that might be construed to influence the results or interpretation of their manuscript. All sources of financial support for the project should be disclosed.

Fundamental errors in published works
When an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in his/her own published work, it is the author’s obligation to promptly notify the journal editor or publisher and cooperate with the editor to retract or correct the paper.