Publication Ethics

The Journal of Anatomical Sciences follows ethical standards for publication to ensure high-quality scientific publications trustworthy scientific findings and that authors receive proper credit for their work.

The Journal of Anatomical Sciences endorses the guidelines and core practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

The ICMJE Guidelines on Authorship criteria can be accessed Here.

Article assessment

All manuscripts submitted to the Journal of Anatomical Sciences undergo a double-blinded peer review process to ensure standards of academic excellence. Submitted manuscripts adhering to the ‘Author Guidelines’ are evaluated by peer reviewers with the identities of both reviewers and authors remaining anonymous to each other.

The editorial team may seek advice from the panel of expert advisory board members on submissions with serious ethical, security or social implications.

More information regarding authorship and contributorship can be found here.

Plagiarism

Authors submitting to the Journal of Anatomical Sciences must not use the work of others in any form without proper attribution. To maintain the original meaning and context, it is necessary to cite all sources when they are used, and to limit the reuse of wording. When the wording is reused, it should be attributed or quoted within the text.

The journal uses multiple software (including 'Similarity Check' from Crossref) to check for overlapping content of submitted manuscripts with other published or submitted articles. Authors submitting manuscripts which are found to be plagiarized from another work will run the risk of being rejected and sanctioned.

Intellectual property

The journal respects the intellectual property rights of authors and contributors. Submitted manuscripts must be original work, not previously published or under consideration elsewhere. Authors are responsible for obtaining necessary permissions for any copyrighted material used in their submissions. Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is strictly prohibited.

Authors retain ownership of their intellectual property, granting the journal the right to publish and distribute their work under a Creative Commons Attribution CC - BY 4.0 International License. Any disputes regarding intellectual property will be addressed promptly and fairly, in accordance with established guidelines and legal requirements.

Duplicate submission

Only original content is accepted to be published in the Journal of Anatomical Sciences, i.e. articles which have not been previously published. However, articles based on content from a thesis may be considered.

Manuscripts under consideration at the Journal of Anatomical Sciences must not be submitted elsewhere and should be withdrawn before being submitted elsewhere. Duplicate submission by authors may incur sanctions.

If authors have used their own previously published work, or work that is currently under review, as the basis for a submitted manuscript, they must cite the previous articles and indicate how their submitted manuscript differs from their previous work. Reuse of the authors’ own words outside the Methods should be attributed or quoted in the text. Reuse of the authors’ own figures or substantial amounts of wording may require permission from the copyright holder (if not the author themselves) and the authors are responsible for obtaining this.

Citation manipulation

Submitted manuscripts suggestive of including citations whose primary purpose is to increase the number of citations to a given author’s work or to articles published in a particular journal may result in the authors incurring sanctions.

Editors and reviewers should refrain from requesting authors to include references solely for the purpose of boosting the citations of their own or a colleague's work, promoting the journal, or endorsing another journal that they are affiliated with.

Fabrication and falsification

Authors who submit manuscripts or publish articles are subject to penalties if it is discovered that they have fabricated or falsified their results, including manipulating images. These penalties may include sanctions and the retraction of published articles.

Conflict of Interest

It would be the responsibility of the authors to disclose any and all conflicts of interest associated with the publication of their manuscript. This includes the mention of an institution or product in the manuscript which is related to the outcome of the research study conducted.

Conflicts can arise in several ways:

i. Financial conflicts involve funding, payments, and goods and services received or expected by the authors in relation to the subject of their work. This can also include support from an organization that has a vested interest in the outcome of their work.

ii. Affiliation conflicts occur when authors are employed by, serve on the advisory board of, or members of an organization that has a vested interest in the outcome of their work.

iii. Intellectual property conflicts involve patents or trademarks owned by individuals or their organizations, which may create a conflict of interest.

iv. Personal conflicts can arise from personal relationships, such as friendships or family connections, which may influence the objectivity of the work.

v. Ideological conflicts pertain to the beliefs or activism of the authors, such as political or religious affiliations, that could be relevant to the work and potentially bias the results.

vi. Academic conflicts may arise from competition with other researchers or individuals whose work is being critiqued.

Please note that these conflicts should be addressed and managed appropriately to maintain the integrity and objectivity of the work.

The ICMJE Guidelines on Conflicts of Interest can be accessed Here.

Research misconduct

The Journal of Anatomical Sciences is deeply committed to upholding integrity and ethics in research publication. Allegations of research misconduct, including plagiarism, data fabrication, and falsification, are taken with utmost seriousness. Upon receiving such allegations, an immediate investigation will ensue, involving all relevant parties. Confidentiality and impartiality are maintained throughout the process. If misconduct is confirmed, appropriate actions will be taken, including retraction of the affected publication and notification of relevant parties. We adhere strictly to COPE guidelines and ensure transparency in addressing such matters to uphold the integrity of scientific inquiry.

Sanctions

In cases of a breach in the publication ethics policies of the Journal of Anatomical Sciences, sanctions may be imposed in the form of –

i. The author(s) will have their manuscript and any other manuscripts they submit rejected.

ii. Not allowing submission for 1–3 years.

iii. Prohibition from acting as an editor or reviewer.

Additional sanctions may be imposed in cases of severe violations.

Complaints and Appeals

The Journal of Anatomical Sciences is firmly committed to upholding the utmost ethical standards in its publications. Upon the occurrence of any concerns or complaints regarding published content, authors, reviewers, or editorial decisions, they will be taken seriously and promptly investigated. If authors or readers have complaints or appeals, they should directly contact the editorial office, supplying detailed information and supporting evidence.

All complaints will be treated with confidentiality, fairness, and transparency. If necessary, an independent committee will assess the matter and provide an equitable resolution. We are devoted to preserving the integrity and trustworthiness of our publication process.

Investigations

Any suspected violations of the publication ethics policies of the Journal of Anatomical Sciences, either before or after publication, including concerns about research ethics, may be reported to the Editor-in-Chief. Such reports may be kept anonymous if required by the claimant.

The editorial board may commence an investigation in the form of contacting the authors for data/images or may contact the institution to raise concerns.

Data sharing and reproducibility

The journal prioritizes transparency and reproducibility in research. Authors are encouraged to share their data, including raw data and analysis codes, upon publication. This facilitates the verification and replication of findings, fostering scientific integrity. While respecting ethical and legal considerations, authors should provide detailed descriptions of data sources and methodologies to enable others to reproduce the results.

Failure to adhere to these standards may result in delayed publication or editorial action. By promoting open data sharing, we aim to enhance the credibility and impact of published research in anatomical sciences.

Ethical oversight

The Journal of Anatomical Sciences is committed to upholding ethical standards in all aspects of publication. Authors are required to adhere to ethical guidelines, including obtaining informed consent for human or animal subjects, and disclosing any potential conflicts of interest. Editors and reviewers are expected to maintain confidentiality and objectivity throughout the peer review process.

Additionally, the journal follows COPE guidelines and seeks to address any ethical concerns promptly and transparently. Ethical oversight ensures the integrity of published research and upholds the trust of readers and the scientific community in the Journal of Anatomical Sciences.

Post-publication discussions

The journal encourages constructive post-publication discussions to foster scholarly exchange and enhance scientific discourse. Readers, authors, and researchers are welcome to engage in discussions, critiques, and clarifications regarding published content through various channels, such as letters to the editor and social media platforms.

However, all discussions must adhere to ethical standards of professionalism, respect, and integrity. Authors are encouraged to respond to queries and criticisms in a timely and transparent manner, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in anatomical sciences. The journal values open dialogue and constructive feedback to maintain scholarly integrity and credibility.

Corrections and retractions

Any errors identified in published manuscripts may be corrected by a corrigendum in case of errors by the author(s) or by an erratum in case of errors by the publisher.

Significant errors affecting the conclusions or cases of gross misconduct may require retraction according to the COPE retraction guidelines.

(The COPE guidelines for publication ethics can be downloaded from the 'Downloads' page under the 'AUTHOR GUIDELINES' link.)