Publication Ethics

Scope

This policy applies to all parties involved in the publication process at Scientivora Publishers, including authors, editors, reviewers, and editorial staff. It is designed to maintain transparency, accountability, and trust in published work.

Authorship and Contributorship

• Substantial contribution: All listed authors must have made a meaningful and verifiable contribution to the conception, design, data collection, analysis, or interpretation of the work.
• Approval and accountability: Each author must approve the final version of the manuscript and accept responsibility for its content.
• Corresponding author responsibility: The corresponding author confirms that all listed authors agree to submission and publication.
• Changes to authorship: Any request to add, remove, or reorder authors after submission must be supported by a clear written explanation from all authors and reviewed by the editorial team.
• No honorary authorship: Authorship based solely on position, affiliation, or courtesy is not acceptable.

Originality and Plagiarism

• Original work: Submissions must be original and not published elsewhere. Any use of previously published material must be clearly identified and properly cited.
• Self-citation: Appropriate reuse of an author's own prior work is acceptable if disclosed, cited, and not presented as new without justification.
• Screening: Manuscripts may be assessed for similarity before review. Submissions found to contain substantial unattributed content may be returned or rejected.
• Duplicate submission: Simultaneous consideration by another publication is not permitted.

Research Integrity

• Accuracy: Authors are responsible for the accuracy of data, methods, and results presented.
• Data transparency: Where appropriate, authors should be prepared to provide supporting data or clarify methods if requested.
• Misconduct: Fabrication, falsification, selective reporting, or other forms of research misconduct are not tolerated.
• AI-assisted tools: If generative or AI-assisted tools are used in drafting, editing, analysis, or figure preparation, authors must clearly describe their use and the extent of human review and verification. AI tools cannot be credited as authors.

Conflicts of Interest

• Author disclosure: Authors must disclose any financial, personal, or professional relationships that could be perceived to influence the work.
• Editor and reviewer disclosure: Editors and reviewers must declare potential conflicts of interest and recuse themselves when necessary.
• Transparency: Relevant disclosures will be considered in editorial decision-making.

Peer Review

• Objective evaluation: Reviews should focus on scientific merit, clarity, and validity.
• Confidentiality: Manuscripts and review content must remain confidential throughout the review process.
• Constructive feedback: Reviewers are expected to provide clear, respectful, and actionable comments.
• Impartiality: Editorial decisions are based on scholarly evaluation, not on personal, institutional, or commercial considerations.

Consent and Privacy

• Human studies: Research involving human participants must comply with applicable ethical standards. Authors should indicate appropriate approval or justification where required.
• Informed consent: Necessary consent must be obtained for studies involving identifiable human data or images.
• Animal research: Studies involving animals should follow recognized welfare principles and relevant guidelines.
• Data protection: Identifying information must not be published without explicit consent.

Corrections, Expressions of Concern and Retractions

• Corrections: If a significant error is identified that affects accuracy but not the overall conclusions, a formal correction notice may be published linking to the original article.
• Expression of concern: In cases where credible concerns arise but investigations are ongoing, an expression of concern may be issued to inform readers.
• Retractions: If it is determined that the findings are unreliable due to misconduct, serious errors, or ethical violations, the article may be retracted. The retraction notice will clearly state the reason, and the original record will remain accessible with appropriate labeling.
• Due process: All post-publication actions are taken following careful review and, where appropriate, communication with affected parties.

Complaints and Appeals

• Appeals: Authors may appeal an editorial decision by providing a reasoned response through the contact form, quoting the manuscript tracking ID.
• Complaints: Concerns about editorial processes or conduct should be submitted in writing with relevant details. Each complaint will be reviewed objectively and addressed as promptly as possible.
• Fair review: Where feasible, appeals and complaints are handled by individuals not involved in the original decision.