Publication Ethics & Research Integrity

Similarity Screening

Submitted manuscripts may be screened using Crossref Similarity Check, powered by iThenticate. Similarity reports are evaluated by the editors in context. A numerical similarity score alone is not regarded as evidence of plagiarism. Editors assess the nature, extent, attribution, and relevance of any textual overlap before determining whether further action is necessary.

Protection of Animals in Research

When conducting experiments involving animals or animal tissues, authors must obtain approval from an institutional ethics committee and adhere to institutional, national, and internationally recognized guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals (e.g., FELASA, Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals). At the time of manuscript submission, authors must provide documentation of the study's approval by an institutional ethics committee. Manuscripts involving studies on animals or animal tissues will only be considered if ethical committee approval can be documented.

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence

Generative artificial-intelligence systems cannot qualify as authors. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, appropriate citation, confidentiality, and integrity of all submitted content. Material use of generative AI in manuscript preparation, data analysis, image generation or modification, or other aspects of the research should be disclosed when relevant to evaluation or reproducibility.

AI-generated or AI-modified scientific images, data, or results must not be presented as original experimental observations unless the use of such methods forms an explicitly described and scientifically justified part of the methodology.