Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics of Journal of Natural Sciences

The journal adheres to principles of academic integrity, transparent editorial procedures, and shared responsibility in scholarly publishing.

Academic integrity Author and editor responsibility Plagiarism control International standards

General

Publication ethics of Journal of Natural Sciences applies to authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher.

Ethics violations are investigated according to editorial procedures and evidence from involved parties.

The journal maintains a balance between academic freedom, responsibility, and transparency.

Core principles

Editorial policy is based on the following ethical principles:

  • scientific reliability and reproducibility;
  • objectivity and independence of expert review;
  • transparency of editorial decisions;
  • respect for copyright and proper citation;
  • prevention of discrimination and bias;
  • adherence to international publication ethics guidance.

Author responsibilities

Authors must present original research results and reliable data.

All co-authors must make a genuine contribution and approve the final manuscript.

  • avoid fabrication, falsification, and concealment of data;
  • properly format citations and references;
  • disclose funding sources and potential conflicts of interest;
  • promptly report discovered errors after submission or publication;
  • comply with ethics for studies involving humans, animals, and environment;
  • confirm that the manuscript is not simultaneously submitted elsewhere.

Editor responsibilities

Editors make decisions based on scientific merit, manuscript quality, and peer reports.

The editorial board ensures fair and timely manuscript handling without discrimination.

  • maintain confidentiality of materials and communications;
  • prevent conflicts of interest in reviewer selection;
  • ensure transparent decision criteria;
  • initiate checks when ethics concerns arise;
  • publish corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions when required.

Reviewer responsibilities

Reviewers provide objective, evidence-based, and constructive reports.

Reviewers must decline if lacking expertise or having conflicts of interest.

  • respect review timelines;
  • evaluate manuscripts on scientific grounds without personal bias;
  • not use unpublished data for personal benefit;
  • report signs of plagiarism or unreliable data;
  • keep the review process confidential.

Authorship

Authorship must reflect genuine contributions to study design, data work, analysis, and writing.

Changes in authorship after submission require consent of all co-authors and editorial approval.

Plagiarism

The journal uses plagiarism-detection tools and expert assessment of textual overlap.

Plagiarism, unattributed self-plagiarism, and unethical overlap are treated as serious ethics violations.

Data integrity

Authors must ensure data accuracy, transparent processing methods, and reproducibility of key findings.

Upon editorial request, authors should provide raw data, experimental protocols, and supporting materials.

Signs of fabrication, selective reporting, or result manipulation are grounds for rejection or retraction.

Conflict of interest

All participants must disclose potential financial, institutional, and personal conflicts of interest.

Undisclosed conflicts may trigger reconsideration of editorial decisions and publication status.

Corrections and retractions

When substantial post-publication errors are identified, the journal issues errata with clear change descriptions.

If conclusions are unreliable due to serious breaches, the editorial board may retract the article.

Correction and retraction policy is implemented transparently, respecting author rights and informing readers.

Complaints

The journal handles complaints about ethics, peer review, and editorial decisions under established procedures.

Complaint decisions are based on evidence, documentation, and publication ethics standards.

Confidentiality

The editorial office protects personal data of authors, reviewers, and platform users.

Manuscript information is used exclusively for editorial processing and scholarly publishing.

International standards

The journal follows COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) recommendations for ethics issues and disputes.

Requirements for manuscript structure, contribution disclosure, and conflicts of interest align with ICMJE principles.

Applying international standards strengthens trust in JNS publications and supports global scholarly integration.