Authors are responsible for ensuring that their submitted work is original, accurate and ethically conducted.

Authors must:

• Submit only original work.
• Ensure that the manuscript is not simultaneously under consideration by another journal.
• Properly acknowledge all sources, ideas, data and materials used.
• Ensure that all listed authors have made genuine contributions to the work.
• Obtain approval from all authors before submission.
• Ensure that research findings and data are reported honestly and accurately.
• Obtain appropriate ethical approval and informed consent where required.
• Disclose relevant funding and conflicts of interest.
• Obtain permission for copyrighted or third-party material where necessary.
• Cooperate with the Journal if concerns arise regarding the integrity of the submitted or published work.
• Correct significant errors discovered after publication.

Authors must not fabricate, falsify, manipulate or misrepresent research data or findings.

Authorship should accurately reflect substantial contributions to the research and manuscript.

The Journal does not permit:

• Ghost authorship: Omitting individuals who qualify for authorship.
• Gift or honorary authorship: Listing individuals who have not made a substantial contribution.
• Undisclosed changes in authorship: Adding, removing or changing the order of authors without appropriate justification and agreement.

All authors should approve the final manuscript and accept responsibility for the integrity of the work.

Authors, reviewers and editors must disclose any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest that could influence the research, review or editorial decision.

Conflicts may include financial, professional, institutional, personal or other relevant relationships.

The existence of a conflict does not necessarily prevent publication or participation in peer review, provided that it is appropriately disclosed and managed.

Research involving human participants, personal data, sensitive information or other ethically regulated activities must comply with applicable ethical standards.

Where required, authors should provide information regarding:

• Ethical approval.
• Name of the approving institution or ethics committee.
• Approval or reference number, where applicable.
• Informed consent.
• Protection of participant confidentiality and privacy.

Personally identifiable information should not be published without appropriate consent and ethical justification.

Authors are expected to maintain accurate research records and report their methods and findings honestly.

Research data should not be fabricated, falsified, selectively manipulated or deliberately misrepresented.

Where appropriate and ethically permissible, authors are encouraged to make supporting data, analytical procedures, research instruments or other materials available to facilitate transparency and reproducibility.

A manuscript must not be submitted simultaneously to multiple journals.

Authors should not publish substantially the same research in more than one publication without appropriate justification and disclosure.

Where a manuscript substantially overlaps with previously published or submitted work, the authors must disclose the relevant information to the Editorial Office.

Authors must provide accurate and appropriate citations for sources used in their research.

The Journal does not permit:

• Fabricated references.
• Misrepresentation of sources.
• Deliberate omission of relevant sources.
• Excessive or inappropriate self-citation.
• Citation manipulation intended to artificially increase citation counts.

Reviewers and editors should also avoid requesting citations solely to increase their own or the Journal's citation metrics.

• Maintain confidentiality.
• Provide fair, objective and constructive assessments.
• Declare conflicts of interest.
• Avoid using unpublished information for personal or professional benefit.
• Identify potential plagiarism or ethical concerns.
• Evaluate manuscripts based on scholarly merit rather than personal or institutional considerations.
• Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe.

Reviewers must not share or reproduce manuscripts or review materials without authorisation.

Editors are responsible for ensuring that manuscripts are evaluated fairly and consistently.

• Maintain confidentiality.
• Select appropriate and independent reviewers.
• Manage conflicts of interest.
• Consider ethical concerns.
• Make decisions based on academic merit.
• Avoid discrimination or bias.
• Maintain the integrity and independence of the editorial process.

Editorial decisions should not be influenced by commercial interests, financial considerations, personal relationships or the author's institutional affiliation.

The Journal is committed to maintaining the accuracy of the scholarly record.

When a significant error is identified after publication, the Journal may publish an appropriate correction, erratum or corrigendum.

Where serious concerns substantially affect the reliability or integrity of a published article, the Journal may issue an Expression of Concern or retract the article.

Retraction may be considered in cases involving serious plagiarism, fabricated or falsified data, major undisclosed ethical violations, duplicate publication or other significant forms of misconduct.

Concerns regarding possible research or publication misconduct should be reported to the Editorial Office with relevant evidence or supporting information.

The Journal will assess allegations carefully and may request explanations or supporting documentation from authors, reviewers, editors or other relevant parties.

Where appropriate, the Journal may conduct an investigation and take action based on the available evidence.

Possible actions include:

Authors and other stakeholders may raise concerns regarding editorial decisions, peer review, authorship, publication ethics, conflicts of interest, plagiarism or published content.

Complaints and appeals should be submitted to the Editorial Office with sufficient details and supporting evidence.

The Journal will consider such matters fairly and confidentially.