Conflict of Interest Policy

The journal is committed to maintaining transparency, objectivity, and integrity throughout the publication process. All authors, reviewers, and editors are required to disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest that could influence, or appear to influence, the conduct, evaluation, or publication of scholarly research. This policy follows the principles and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Conflicts of Interest for Authors

Authors must disclose any financial or non-financial relationships that could potentially influence the research findings, interpretation, or conclusions. These may include research funding, employment, consultancy arrangements, honoraria, institutional affiliations, personal relationships, intellectual property interests, or other relevant circumstances.

All manuscripts must include a Conflict of Interest Statement before the reference section. If no conflicts exist, authors should include the following declaration:

"The authors declare that they have no known financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could have influenced the research reported in this manuscript."

When conflicts exist, authors must clearly describe their nature and identify the individuals or organizations involved. Authors must also disclose the role of funding organizations, where applicable, in the study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, manuscript preparation, and publication decisions.

2. Conflicts of Interest for Reviewers

Reviewers must disclose any relationships or circumstances that could compromise their independence or impartiality, including personal, professional, financial, or academic connections with the authors or their institutions.

Reviewers should decline review invitations when significant conflicts exist and immediately inform the editorial office if a potential conflict becomes apparent during the review process.

3. Conflicts of Interest for Editors

Editors and editorial board members must declare any conflicts of interest that could affect editorial decisions. Editors must not participate in the evaluation or decision-making process for manuscripts involving their own research, close collaborators, family members, or other relevant competing interests.

Manuscripts submitted by editors or editorial board members will be assigned to an independent editor to ensure impartial assessment and appropriate peer review.

4. Disclosure and Management

The editorial team will assess disclosed conflicts of interest and determine appropriate measures to maintain the fairness and credibility of the publication process. These measures may include assigning independent reviewers or editors, requesting additional disclosures, or excluding individuals from particular editorial decisions.

Failure to disclose relevant conflicts of interest may result in manuscript rejection, publication of a correction or disclosure notice, or further editorial action in accordance with COPE guidelines.

5. Transparency and Responsibility

Disclosure of a conflict of interest does not automatically disqualify a manuscript from publication. However, complete and accurate disclosure is essential to support informed editorial decisions and maintain public confidence in published research.

The journal reserves the right to request additional information regarding potential conflicts of interest at any stage of the submission, review, or post-publication process.