Ethical Standards for Authors
ISSN: 2641-5013 | Publisher: Heighten Sciences Publication Incorporation | Framework: COPE, ICMJE, DOAJ
1. Introduction
The International Journal of Clinical Virology (IJCV) upholds the highest ethical standards in scholarly publishing. Authors are expected to follow responsible research and reporting practices to maintain the credibility and integrity of the scientific record. These guidelines align with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).
2. Authorship Criteria
Authorship must reflect substantial contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research. IJCV follows ICMJE authorship criteria, requiring all authors to:
- Contribute significantly to study conception, data collection, or analysis.
- Draft or critically revise the manuscript for important intellectual content.
- Approve the final version before submission.
- Agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Guest or honorary authorship is strictly prohibited. Any changes in authorship after submission must be approved in writing by all authors.
3. Originality and Plagiarism
Authors must submit only original works that have not been published or submitted elsewhere. Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, text recycling, or image duplication without proper citation, constitutes unethical behavior. All manuscripts undergo plagiarism checks using iThenticate or Turnitin before peer review.
4. Data Integrity and Transparency
Data must be accurate, traceable, and available for verification upon reasonable request. Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of results, figures, or statistics is considered scientific misconduct. Authors should maintain research records and raw data for at least five years after publication.
5. Research Ethics
- Studies involving humans must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki and institutional ethical review requirements.
- Animal research must conform to national and institutional animal welfare regulations.
- All manuscripts must include the name of the approving ethics committee and approval number.
- Informed consent is mandatory for case studies, images, and clinical trials involving human participants.
6. Conflict of Interest Disclosure
Authors must disclose any potential financial, personal, or institutional relationships that might influence their research interpretation. All conflicts must be declared at submission and published in the final article under “Conflict of Interest.”
7. Funding Acknowledgment
All sources of financial support, including grant numbers and funding agencies, must be acknowledged. Transparency about financial assistance prevents potential bias and maintains scientific integrity.
8. Redundant and Duplicate Publication
Submitting the same manuscript or substantially similar content to multiple journals simultaneously is unethical. Republishing previously published work without proper citation or permission is prohibited.
9. Citation and Acknowledgment Practices
Authors must properly acknowledge previous work relevant to their study. Citations should be accurate, unbiased, and based on primary literature sources. Excessive self-citation or citation manipulation to influence impact metrics is discouraged.
10. Image, Figure, and Data Presentation
Figures must not be altered to misrepresent results. Brightness, contrast, or color adjustments should not obscure or eliminate any information. Composite images must clearly indicate boundaries between components.
11. Confidentiality During Peer Review
Authors must not attempt to identify or contact reviewers during the peer-review process. All communications should occur exclusively through the journal’s editorial management system.
12. Error Correction and Retraction
Authors must promptly inform the editor if they discover a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work. IJCV will publish corrections, errata, or retractions when necessary, in accordance with COPE retraction guidelines.
13. Data Sharing and Availability
Authors are encouraged to deposit datasets in publicly accessible repositories and cite the data DOI in their manuscript. Transparent data availability enhances reproducibility and scientific collaboration.
14. Post-Publication Responsibilities
- Engage constructively with post-publication discussions or corrections.
- Report any research misconduct observed in the scientific record.
- Comply with requests for data verification if queried by editors or readers.
15. Copyright and Licensing Compliance
By publishing in IJCV, authors agree to the Copyright and Licensing Policy. All published work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
16. Sanctions for Misconduct
Any violation of ethical standards may result in manuscript rejection, retraction of published work, or notification to authors’ institutions and funding agencies. Repeat offenses can lead to a permanent publication ban.
17. Resources and Global Standards
18. Contact
For Ethical Queries
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.clinvirologyjournal.com/