ATPBR Journal Ethical Guidelines

1. Purpose

The ATPBR Journal is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in scholarly publishing. These guidelines outline the responsibilities of authors, reviewers, editors, and the journal to ensure integrity, transparency, and fairness in research dissemination.

2. Research Ethics

2.1 Compliance with Ethical Standards

• All research must comply with institutional, national, and international ethical guidelines (e.g., COPE, ICMJE).
• Studies involving humans, animals, or genetically modified organisms must receive prior approval from an appropriate ethics committee, with an approval statement included in the manuscript.
• Informed consent must be obtained from human participants, ensuring they understand the research purpose, risks, and benefits.

2.2 Data Integrity & Transparency

• Authors must ensure that data is accurate, complete, and reproducible.
• Fabrication (inventing data) and falsification (manipulating data or images) are strictly prohibited.
• Raw data must be available upon request for verification.

2.3 Plagiarism & Misconduct

• The journal strictly prohibits plagiarism, self-plagiarism, and duplicate publication.
• All manuscripts undergo plagiarism detection software screening.
• Cases of research misconduct will be reported to relevant institutions, and may lead to rejection, retraction, or author bans.

3. Authorship & Contributions

3.1 Authorship Criteria

• Authorship should be limited to individuals who made significant contributions to the research, including study design, data collection, analysis, or manuscript writing.
• The corresponding author must ensure all co-authors approve the final version before submission.

3.2 ORCID iD Requirement

• Corresponding authors must provide an ORCID iD for proper attribution.
• Co-authors are encouraged to register for an ORCID iD.

3.3 Acknowledgments & Funding Disclosure

• Individuals who contributed to the research but do not qualify for authorship should be acknowledged.
• Funding sources must be fully disclosed, including grant numbers where applicable.

3.4 Conflict of Interest Disclosure

• Authors must disclose any financial, academic, or personal conflicts that could influence their research.

4. Manuscript Submission & Peer Review

4.1 Submission Types

ATPBR Journal accepts:

• Research Articles
• Review Articles
• Short Communications
• Case Studies

Authors must follow the journal’s manuscript preparation guidelines, including a Statement of Novelty, highlighting the unique contribution of their study.

4.2 Peer Review Policy

• The journal follows a double-blind peer review process.
• Manuscripts are reviewed by at least two independent experts.
• Reviewers must:
  • Provide objective, constructive, and timely feedback.
  • Maintain confidentiality and avoid sharing manuscript content.
  • Declare conflicts of interest and recuse themselves if necessary.

4.3 Editorial Transparency & Appeals

• Manuscripts undergo:
  1. Initial editorial screening
  2. Double-blind peer review
  3. Reviewer feedback & revisions
  4. Final editorial decision
• Authors may appeal editorial decisions with a justification and supporting evidence.

5. Research Integrity & Ethical Violations

5.1 Image Manipulation

• Figures must not be digitally enhanced or manipulated to misrepresent results.
• Adjustments (e.g., brightness, contrast) must apply to the entire image without altering interpretation.

5.2 Data Sharing & Availability

• Authors should share data openly through repositories like Dryad, Zenodo, or institutional databases.
• A Data Availability Statement must be included in the manuscript.

5.3 Handling Misconduct

• The journal follows COPE guidelines for investigating:
  • Plagiarism
  • Data fabrication or falsification
  • Duplicate publication
• Consequences may include:
  • Article rejection or retraction
  • Reporting misconduct to authors' institutions
  • Banning authors from future submissions

6. Retraction & Correction Policy

• Corrections will be issued for minor errors (e.g., data misinterpretation).
• Retractions will occur in cases of:
  • Serious ethical breaches (plagiarism, fraud).
  • Unreliable data or conclusions.
• Authors must notify the journal if they identify errors post-publication.

7. Preprints & Prior Publication

• Preprints are allowed, but authors must disclose preprint history upon submission.
• Manuscripts previously published in another peer-reviewed journal will be rejected.

8. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Research & Publishing

• AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) cannot be listed as authors.
• AI-generated content must be disclosed in the Methods or Acknowledgments section.
• AI-based predictive models in research must be validated with real-world data.

9. Editorial Responsibilities & Complaint Handling

• The Editor-in-Chief ensures fair, unbiased editorial decisions.
• Complaints about editors, reviewers, or publication ethics will be handled by an Ethics Review Committee.

10. Diversity, Inclusion & Bias-Free Publishing

• The journal actively promotes geographical, gender, and disciplinary diversity in authorship and peer review.
• Discriminatory language or bias will not be tolerated.
• Authors from underrepresented groups are encouraged to submit manuscripts.

11. Post-Publication Engagement

• Authors are encouraged to engage in discussions through post-publication commentary platforms.
• Readers can submit formal responses or commentaries, which may be reviewed for publication.

12. Journal Indexing & Metrics

• The ATPBR Journal aims to be indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, DOAJ, and Google Scholar.
• Impact metrics such as citations, downloads, and alternative metrics will be reported annually.

13. Publication Fees & Waivers

• Article Processing Charges (APCs) apply, and fee details are available on the journal’s website.
• Waivers may be granted to authors from low-income countries or those facing financial hardship.
• Authors must disclose funding when applying for a waiver.

Conclusion

The ATPBR Journal adheres to the highest ethical standards to ensure integrity, transparency, and inclusivity in scholarly publishing. All stakeholders—including authors, reviewers, and editors—must comply with these guidelines to uphold academic excellence.