Publication Ethics 

The Science Journal of University of Zakho (SJUOZ) obeys the Code of Conduct and Best-Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE, 2011). In line with the standards of the SJUOZ Editorial Board, all contributors, i.e., authors, reviewers, editors, and readers, are expected to follow these ethical principles. The policy guides editorial decisions on the suitability of submitted manuscripts for publication. For further details about publishing and ethical guidelines, kindly visit COPE. 

 

Editorial Standards and Practices 

1. Editors have full authority to accept or reject manuscripts.

2. The Editor-in-Chief makes final decisions in consultation with editors and reviewers.

3.  Manuscripts are judged on importance, originality, clarity, validity, and relevance to the journal’s scope.

4. Decisions are made without discrimination based on race, gender, ethnicity, religion, political views, sexual orientation, citizenship, or institutional affiliation.

5.  Editors must maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts until publication. Hence, information about submissions may only be shared with those directly involved in the editorial process, including authors, reviewers, advisers, and the publisher.

6. Reviewer anonymity must always be preserved.

7.  Editors must uphold academic integrity and serve the needs of both authors and readers.

8.  Conflicts of interest should be disclosed and avoided.

9. Manuscripts must be evaluated solely on intellectual content.

10.  Editors are responsible for investigating plagiarism, fraudulent data, or ethical violations.

11. Corrections, clarifications, retractions, or apologies should be published when necessary.

12. Unpublished materials from submitted manuscripts must not be used for personal research by editors or board members without the author’s explicit written consent.

 

Peer Review Standards and Duties

1. Peer review assists the Editor-in-Chief and editorial board in making fair and informed publication decisions.

2.  Manuscripts under review must be treated as confidential documents and not shared or discussed with others, except as authorized by the editor.

3. Reviews should be objective, professional, and free from personal criticism. Comments must be supported by clear, reasoned arguments.

4.  Reviewers who feel unqualified or unable to complete a review promptly should inform the editor and withdraw. Reviews should be submitted within the agreed timeframe.

5.  Information obtained through peer review must not be used for personal advantage or research purposes.

6. Reviewer comments should be technical, constructive, and aimed at improving the manuscript.

7.  Reviewers should identify missing references, ensure proper acknowledgment of sources, and report any substantial similarity or overlap with other published work.

8. Reviewers must decline to review manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist with authors, institutions, or companies.

 

Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

1.  Authors must submit only original work and properly cite or quote the words and ideas of others. Influential publications relevant to the study must be acknowledged.

2.  Manuscripts must be written in English, using sound grammar, proper terminology, and clear academic style.

3. Manuscripts must not be published elsewhere or under consideration by another journal. Duplicate or simultaneous submissions are prohibited.

4. The corresponding author ensures that all legitimate contributors are listed, uninvolved persons are excluded, and all co-authors approve the final manuscript and its submission.

5.  Authors must secure necessary institutional approval before submitting manuscripts originating from their institution.

6. Authors agree to permit editorial revisions for clarity, readability, and consistency with journal standards.

7. Authors must identify sources of financial support and describe the role of sponsors in research or manuscript preparation.

8. All authors must disclose any financial or personal conflicts of interest that could influence the results or interpretation of the work.

9.  Submitted manuscripts are subject to plagiarism detection software. Plagiarism, fraudulent data, or unethical practices are serious violations of publication ethics.

10. Research reports must present accurate data, objective discussion, and sufficient detail to allow replication. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements are unacceptable.

11. Authors may be asked to provide raw data for editorial review and should ensure accessibility of data for at least ten years, respecting confidentiality and legal rights.

12.  Authors must promptly notify the editor if significant errors or inaccuracies are discovered in their published work, enabling correction or retraction.

13.  In cases of authorship disputes, the journal will not adjudicate but may refer the matter to the authors’ institution(s). Manuscripts may be withdrawn if disputes remain unresolved.

14. Studies involving humans or animals must have prior ethical approval and comply with institutional and national regulations. Informed consent must be obtained from human participants.

15. Articles may be withdrawn before acceptance, or later if errors, ethical violations, or serious scientific problems are identified. The journal reserves the right to reject or retract papers that breach publishing ethics.

 

Publisher’s Ethical Responsibilities

1.The SJUOZ ensures that editorial decisions on manuscript submissions are final and based solely on professional judgment, free from commercial influence.

2. The publisher is committed to maintaining the accuracy and integrity of academic and research records.

3.  SJUOZ monitors adherence to ethical standards by editors, reviewers, authors, and readers, safeguarding the credibility of the publication process.

4.  The publisher actively checks plagiarism and fraudulent data in submitted manuscripts to uphold publication ethics.

5. When necessary, SJUOZ will publish corrections, clarifications, or retractions to ensure transparency and accountability in its publications.

 

Violation of Publication Ethics

1. Plagiarism: Presenting another’s ideas or text as one’s own, even a single sentence, without proper citation, constitutes plagiarism. All submissions are screened using plagiarism-prevention software (e.g., CrossCheck powered by Turnitin). Plagiarism is considered a serious breach of publication ethics.

2. Data Fabrication and Falsification: Fabrication refers to inventing data or results without conducting the study. Falsification involves manipulating or omitting data to misrepresent findings. Both practices are unethical and unacceptable.

3. Multiple or Redundant Submissions: Simultaneous submission of a manuscript to more than one journal, duplicate publication without proper cross-referencing, or dividing study outcomes into multiple redundant papers are violations of ethical standards.

4. Authorship and Citation Misconduct: All listed authors must have made a genuine scientific contribution and approved the manuscript. Improper attribution, exclusion of contributors, or citation manipulation (adding irrelevant references to inflate citation counts) are considered misconduct.

5. Sanctions: Documented violations may result in:

6.  Immediate rejection of the infringing manuscript and any other submissions by its authors.

7. A minimum 36-month ban on new submissions by all co-authors, individually or jointly.

8. Prohibition of the authors from serving on editorial boards.

9. Withdrawal of published articles when ethical breaches are confirmed.

 

 

Managing Publication Misconduct

Once a violation of publication ethics is confirmed, the Science Journal of University of Zakho (SJUOZ) addresses the matter with diligence, applying issue‑specific procedures in accordance with established standards: 

 

1.The section editor informs the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Office, providing relevant documentation and a draft letter to the corresponding author requesting an explanation in a professional, nonjudgmental manner.

2.   If the author’s response is unsatisfactory and serious misconduct appears evident, the case is referred to by the Editorial Board. After deliberation, the Board determines whether sanctions, including restrictions on future submissions, are warranted.

3.  For less severe violations, the Editor may issue a formal letter of disapproval, remind the author of the journal’s ethical policies, or, if the manuscript has been published, request an apology or correction to maintain the integrity of the record.

4.  In cases of confirmed misconduct, any manuscripts under review by the same author(s) will be rejected immediately. Authors who are responsible for violations are prohibited from serving as reviewers or editorial board members. In extreme cases, notifications may be sent to the authors’ institutions, and a ban of up to five years on new submissions may be imposed.

5. In cases of serious fraud, published articles will be retracted. A formal retraction notice will be issued, linked to the online version of the article, and clearly marked with the date of retraction to ensure transparency.

 

Research Ethics in Biomedical Studies

1. Human Subjects

Research involving human participants must comply with the World Medical Association’s Declaration of Helsinki. Authors must include a statement in their manuscripts confirming that informed consent was obtained from all participants. This means that the privacy and rights of human subjects must always be protected. Ethical approval must be secured prior to conducting any study, and authors should be prepared to provide documentation to the editorial office upon request.

 

2. Animal Studies

Studies about animals are recommended to follow the ARRIVE reporting guidelines (PLoS Biol 8(6): e1000412, 2010) for study design, analysis, and reporting. Authors should clearly indicate adherence to these guidelines in their manuscripts. Also, sex and other relevant characteristics of animals that may influence outcomes must be described. Here, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals (2020) should be followed to ensure best practices in anesthesia and euthanasia.