Publication Ethics

Duties of Editors

• Publication decisions. The Principal Editor makes final decisions on manuscripts based on reviewer reports, significance, originality, and relevance, with attention to legal considerations including libel, copyright, and plagiarism.
• Fair evaluation. Manuscripts are judged on academic merit only, independent of author identity or background.
• Confidentiality. Editorial staff protect the confidentiality of submissions and related communications.
• Conflicts of interest. Editors recuse themselves from manuscripts where competing interests exist and do not use unpublished materials for personal research without written consent.
• Handling of unethical behavior. Allegations of misconduct are investigated. Corrections or retractions are issued when necessary, including after publication.

Duties of Authors

• Reporting standards. Submissions must present accurate and original work with sufficient detail and references to permit verification and replication. Fabrication and falsification are unacceptable.
• Data access and retention. Authors may be asked to share raw data and should retain data for a reasonable period after publication in accordance with institutional or funder policies.
• Originality and plagiarism. Manuscripts must be original and properly cite sources. All submissions are screened using Turnitin. A plagiarism declaration letter must accompany the submission.
• Multiple submissions. Concurrent submission to more than one journal is not allowed.
• Acknowledgment of sources. All sources must be acknowledged. Private communications and unpublished materials require written permission.
• Authorship criteria. Authorship is limited to individuals who have made substantial contributions. All co authors must approve the final version and agree to submission.
• Errors in published work. Authors must promptly inform the editor of significant errors and cooperate with corrigenda or retractions.
• Hazards and ethics. Research involving hazardous materials or human or animal subjects must comply with legal and institutional requirements including informed consent and prior approval by ethics committees.
• Declaration of competing interests. Authors must disclose financial or personal relationships that could influence the work. If funding had no role in the research, this should be stated. Conflicts are declared in the ATS manuscript template.
• Image integrity. Image adjustments are allowed only for clarity and must not alter original content. Original images may be requested as supplementary files.

Duties of Reviewers

• Contribution to editorial decisions. Reviewers assist editors with expert evaluations and constructive guidance for authors.
• Promptness. Reviewers who feel unqualified or unable to submit a timely report should inform the editor immediately.
• Confidentiality. Manuscripts and review materials are confidential and must not be shared without authorization.
• Objectivity. Reviews should be objective, evidence based, and free from personal criticism.
• Acknowledgment of sources. Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited and report any substantial similarity or overlap with other publications.
• Conflicts of interest. Reviewers must declare competing interests and recuse themselves when appropriate. Privileged information must not be used for personal advantage.

Corrections, Retractions, and Complaints

The journal maintains procedures for corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions consistent with COPE guidance. Appeals and complaints are handled by the editorial office with escalation to the publisher when necessary. Records of decisions are archived to ensure transparency and accountability.