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Publication Ethics Policy

Wisdomgale Journals

1. Introduction

Wisdomgale Journals is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, fairness, and ethical conduct throughout the scholarly publishing process. The Publisher believes that scientific knowledge can advance only when research is conducted responsibly, reported honestly, evaluated objectively, and published transparently.

This Publication Ethics Policy establishes the ethical principles governing all journals published by Wisdomgale Journals and applies to authors, editors, editorial board members, reviewers, publishers, and all individuals participating in the editorial and publication process.

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all published articles meet internationally accepted standards of scientific integrity while protecting research participants, maintaining public trust in scientific communication, and promoting responsible research practices.

Wisdomgale Journals expects all participants in the publication process to adhere to the principles of honesty, accountability, impartiality, confidentiality, and respect for human dignity.

Failure to comply with these ethical principles may result in editorial actions including manuscript rejection, publication correction, article retraction, notification of authors' institutions, or other appropriate measures.

2. International Ethical Standards

Wisdomgale Journals develops its editorial and publication policies in accordance with internationally recognized recommendations and best practices, including but not limited to:

• Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
• International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)
• World Association of Medical Editors (WAME)
• Council of Science Editors (CSE)
• Declaration of Helsinki
• EQUATOR Network Reporting Guidelines
• CONSORT Statement
• PRISMA Statement
• STROBE Statement
• CARE Guidelines
• ARRIVE Guidelines
• Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP)

The journal continuously updates its editorial policies to reflect developments in international publishing ethics and scientific integrity.

3. Scope of this Policy

This Publication Ethics Policy applies to every stage of the publication process, including:

• manuscript preparation;
• submission;
• editorial assessment;
• peer review;
• revision;
• acceptance;
• production;
• publication;
• post-publication corrections;
• retractions;
• expressions of concern;
• appeals;
• complaints;
• research data management.

The policy applies equally to all article types published by Wisdomgale Journals.

4. Editorial Independence

Editorial decisions are made independently from the Publisher's commercial, financial, political, or personal interests.

Editors have complete authority regarding the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts based solely on scientific merit, originality, methodological quality, ethical compliance, and relevance to the journal's scope.

Commercial considerations, advertising, sponsorship, institutional affiliations, nationality, race, religion, gender, political beliefs, or financial interests shall never influence editorial decisions.

The Publisher does not interfere with editorial judgments.

5. Principles of Scientific Integrity

Wisdomgale Journals expects all submitted work to demonstrate:

• originality;
• accuracy;
• reproducibility;
• transparency;
• accountability;
• ethical conduct;
• proper attribution;
• responsible reporting.

Authors must present their research honestly without fabrication, falsification, inappropriate manipulation, or selective reporting of results.

Research findings should accurately represent the work performed.

Negative findings are considered equally valuable when scientifically valid.

6. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors play a central role in maintaining scientific integrity.

Editors are expected to:

• evaluate manuscripts solely on scientific merit;
• preserve editorial independence;
• maintain confidentiality;
• ensure fair peer review;
• avoid discrimination;
• identify ethical concerns;
• manage conflicts of interest;
• issue corrections or retractions when necessary.

Editors shall not use unpublished information for personal advantage.

Editors should encourage transparency, reproducibility, and responsible reporting.

7. Confidentiality

Editors must treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential documents.

Information regarding submitted manuscripts shall not be disclosed to anyone other than:

• corresponding authors;
• assigned reviewers;
• editorial staff;
• publisher personnel directly involved in publication.

Editors shall not discuss unpublished manuscripts outside the editorial process.

Confidential information obtained during manuscript handling shall never be used for personal research or competitive purposes.

8. Editorial Conflicts of Interest

Editors must decline handling manuscripts whenever personal, financial, academic, institutional, or collaborative relationships may influence editorial objectivity.

Conflicts may include:

• recent collaborations;
• institutional affiliations;
• personal relationships;
• financial interests;
• competitive research.

When conflicts arise, manuscripts shall be reassigned to another editor.

9. Fairness and Equality

Editorial decisions shall never be influenced by:

• nationality;
• ethnicity;
• race;
• religion;
• political opinions;
• gender;
• age;
• disability;
• sexual orientation;
• institutional prestige;
• geographic location.

All manuscripts shall receive equal consideration according to identical scientific standards.

10. Editorial Decision Making

Editorial decisions are based upon:

• originality;
• scientific importance;
• methodological rigor;
• ethical compliance;
• reporting quality;
• statistical validity;
• reviewer recommendations;
• journal scope.

Reviewer recommendations guide editorial decisions but do not determine them automatically.

The Editor-in-Chief retains final responsibility for publication decisions.

11. Authors’ Responsibilities

Authors submitting manuscripts to Wisdomgale Journals are responsible for ensuring that their research has been conducted ethically, transparently, and according to internationally accepted scientific standards.

Authors must ensure that:

• the submitted manuscript represents original work;
• all data presented are accurate and reliable;
• the research has been conducted according to appropriate ethical standards;
• all sources of information are properly acknowledged;
• all contributors who meet authorship criteria are appropriately recognized;
• individuals who do not meet authorship criteria are not listed as authors;
• all conflicts of interest and funding sources are disclosed;
• ethical approvals and participant consent requirements have been fulfilled.

Authors are responsible for the integrity of their research throughout the entire publication process, including after publication.

If errors are identified after publication, authors must promptly notify the journal and cooperate with the editorial office to correct the published record.

12. Authorship Policy

Wisdomgale Journals follows the authorship recommendations established by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

Authorship should be based on substantial contributions to the research and manuscript preparation.

According to ICMJE recommendations, authors should meet all of the following criteria:

1. Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data.
2. Drafting the manuscript or critically revising it for important intellectual content.
3. Providing final approval of the version to be published.
4. Agreeing to be accountable for all aspects of the work and ensuring that questions related to accuracy or integrity are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Individuals who do not meet all authorship criteria should not be listed as authors.

13. Contributor Roles (CRediT Taxonomy)

Wisdomgale Journals encourages authors to describe individual contributions using the Contributor Roles Taxonomy (CRediT).

Authors may specify contributions including:

• Conceptualization
• Methodology
• Software
• Validation
• Formal analysis
• Investigation
• Resources
• Data curation
• Writing – original draft preparation
• Writing – review and editing
• Visualization
• Supervision
• Project administration
• Funding acquisition

The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all contributors are appropriately recognized and that all authors approve the final manuscript.

14. Changes in Authorship

Any request for adding, removing, or changing authors after manuscript submission must be justified and approved by all authors.

The corresponding author must provide:

• a clear explanation for the requested change;
• written confirmation from all authors;
• agreement from the editorial office.

Authorship changes after publication will only be considered in exceptional circumstances and may require publication of a correction notice.

15. Research Ethics Involving Human Participants

Research involving human participants must be conducted according to internationally recognized ethical principles, including the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki.

Authors must ensure that:

• participants' rights, dignity, safety, and welfare are protected;
• risks are minimized;
• participation is voluntary;
• informed consent requirements are fulfilled;
• ethical approval has been obtained when required.

Manuscripts reporting studies involving human participants must include an Ethics Statement describing:

• the name of the ethics committee or institutional review board;
• approval number;
• approval date;
• confirmation of compliance with relevant ethical standards.

16. Ethics Committee Approval

For studies involving human participants, authors must obtain approval from an appropriate:

• Institutional Review Board (IRB);
• Research Ethics Committee;
• Institutional Ethics Committee;
• equivalent regulatory authority.

The ethics approval information must be included in the manuscript.

Example:

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of [Institution Name] (Approval No: XXXX, Date: XXXX). The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

If ethical approval was not required, authors must provide a clear explanation.

Wisdomgale Journals reserves the right to request documentation of ethical approval during editorial evaluation or after publication.

17. Declaration of Helsinki

All research involving human participants must comply with the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki, developed by the World Medical Association.

Authors should ensure that research participants are:

• adequately informed about the study;
• protected from unnecessary risks;
• treated with respect and dignity;
• allowed to withdraw participation without penalty.

Studies that do not comply with internationally accepted ethical principles may be rejected or retracted.

18. Informed Consent Policy

Wisdomgale Journals requires authors to obtain appropriate informed consent from human participants whenever applicable.

Informed consent must include sufficient information regarding:

• purpose of the research;
• procedures involved;
• potential risks and benefits;
• confidentiality protection;
• voluntary participation;
• right to withdraw.

Authors must confirm within the manuscript that informed consent was obtained.

Example:

Written informed consent was obtained from all participants before enrollment in the study.

19. Consent for Publication

Separate consent for publication is required when manuscripts contain identifiable information about individuals.

This includes:

• clinical photographs;
• medical images;
• case reports;
• videos;
• genetic information;
• personal histories;
• identifiable clinical details.

Authors must ensure that participants understand that published information may become publicly available.

20. Patient Privacy and Confidentiality

Wisdomgale Journals respects the privacy rights of research participants.

Authors must remove identifying information unless publication of such information is scientifically necessary and explicit consent has been obtained.

The following should not be published without appropriate consent:

• names;
• initials;
• hospital numbers;
• medical record numbers;
• personal identification details;
• recognizable photographs.

Patient confidentiality must be maintained throughout manuscript preparation, peer review, and publication.

21. Research Involving Vulnerable Populations

Wisdomgale Journals recognizes that certain groups require additional ethical protections because they may have limited ability to provide informed consent or may be at increased risk of harm or exploitation.

Vulnerable populations include, but are not limited to:

• children and adolescents;
• pregnant individuals;
• prisoners;
• individuals with cognitive impairment;
• individuals unable to provide informed consent;
• economically or socially disadvantaged populations;
• refugees and displaced populations.

Research involving vulnerable populations must demonstrate that:

• the research addresses an important scientific question;
• the research cannot reasonably be conducted using non-vulnerable populations;
• additional safeguards have been implemented;
• risks are minimized;
• participants' rights and welfare are protected.

22. Research Involving Children and Adolescents

Studies involving children and adolescents require special ethical consideration.

Authors must ensure that:

• appropriate ethics committee approval has been obtained;
• parental or legal guardian consent has been obtained when required;
• child assent has been obtained whenever appropriate according to age, maturity, and local regulations.

The manuscript must clearly describe:

• the age range of participants;
• consent procedures;
• assent procedures;
• ethical approval information.

Research involving children must comply with applicable international and national regulations concerning protection of minors.

23. Animal Research Ethics

Wisdomgale Journals requires that all studies involving animals comply with internationally accepted standards for animal welfare and ethical research conduct.

Authors conducting animal research must ensure that:

• animals are treated humanely;
• unnecessary suffering is avoided;
• appropriate anesthesia and analgesia are used when required;
• the number of animals used is scientifically justified;
• appropriate methods are used to minimize harm.

Research involving animals must receive approval from an appropriate:

• Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC);
• Animal Ethics Committee;
• equivalent regulatory authority.

The manuscript must include:

• the name of the approving ethics committee;
• approval number;
• date of approval;
• relevant animal welfare guidelines followed.

Wisdomgale Journals encourages authors to follow the ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments) Guidelines when reporting animal studies.

Studies that do not meet accepted animal welfare standards may be rejected.

24. Clinical Trial Registration Policy

Wisdomgale Journals requires prospective clinical trials to be registered in a publicly accessible clinical trial registry before enrollment of the first participant.

Acceptable registries include internationally recognized platforms such as:

• ClinicalTrials.gov
• WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP)
• EU Clinical Trials Register
• ISRCTN Registry

Clinical trial manuscripts must provide:

• trial registration number;
• registration date;
• registry name.

Example:

Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCTXXXXXXX.

Failure to register applicable clinical trials may result in rejection unless a valid justification is provided.

25. Reporting Guidelines

Wisdomgale Journals encourages authors to follow internationally recognized reporting guidelines to improve transparency, completeness, and reproducibility of published research.

Authors should use appropriate reporting standards depending on study design.

Examples include:

Randomized Controlled Trials

CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials)

Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses)

Observational Studies

STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology)

Case Reports

CARE (Case Report Guidelines)

Diagnostic Accuracy Studies

STARD (Standards for Reporting Diagnostic Accuracy Studies)

Animal Studies

ARRIVE Guidelines

Authors are encouraged to submit relevant reporting checklists and flow diagrams when applicable.

26. Research Data Integrity

Authors are responsible for ensuring that all research data presented in manuscripts are accurate, complete, and reliable.

Authors must:

• maintain original research records;
• ensure data are collected and analyzed appropriately;
• provide sufficient methodological information;
• avoid selective reporting of results;
• retain supporting documentation.

Upon reasonable request, authors should be prepared to provide supporting data or documentation to the editorial office for verification.

27. Data Fabrication and Data Falsification

Wisdomgale Journals considers data fabrication and falsification serious violations of research ethics.

Data Fabrication

Data fabrication refers to the creation of false data or results that were not obtained through actual research.

Data Falsification

Data falsification refers to manipulation, alteration, or selective modification of research materials, procedures, or results.

Examples include:

• changing experimental results;
• excluding unfavorable findings without justification;
• manipulating datasets;
• reporting inaccurate statistical analyses.

Manuscripts suspected of data fabrication or falsification may be rejected.

If such issues are discovered after publication, the journal may issue corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions according to COPE recommendations.

28. Plagiarism Policy

Wisdomgale Journals considers plagiarism a serious violation of academic integrity.

Plagiarism includes:

• copying text, ideas, images, or data without appropriate attribution;
• presenting another person's work as original;
• inappropriate reuse of previously published material;
• failure to properly acknowledge sources.

All submitted manuscripts may be screened using plagiarism detection software.

The editorial office evaluates similarity reports using academic judgment rather than relying solely on numerical similarity scores.

Possible actions include:

• requesting clarification from authors;
• rejection of the manuscript;
• notification of institutions;
• retraction of published articles.

29. Self-Plagiarism and Text Recycling

Reuse of authors' previously published material must be appropriately disclosed and referenced.

Acceptable reuse may include:

• methods descriptions when properly acknowledged;
• extensions of previous studies with clear explanation.

Unacceptable practices include:

• submitting substantially similar manuscripts to multiple journals;
• reproducing large sections of previously published text;
• republishing the same findings without justification.

30. Duplicate and Redundant Publication

Authors must not submit manuscripts describing substantially the same research findings to more than one journal simultaneously.

Duplicate publication includes:

• publication of identical or nearly identical articles;
• splitting one study into multiple unnecessary publications;
• republishing previously reported results without appropriate disclosure.

If duplicate publication is identified, Wisdomgale Journals may take corrective action following COPE guidelines.

31. Citation Manipulation Policy

Authors must cite references based on scientific relevance and contribution.

Citation manipulation includes:

• excessive citation of articles from a particular journal without scientific justification;
• coordinated citation practices intended to artificially increase citation metrics;
• requesting authors to add unnecessary citations.

Editors and reviewers must not pressure authors to include irrelevant citations.

32. Image Integrity and Manipulation Policy

Images used in manuscripts must accurately represent original data.

Authors must not:

• selectively remove or add image elements;
• alter images in a misleading manner;
• duplicate image sections;
• manipulate images to influence interpretation.

Acceptable adjustments include:

• brightness;
• contrast;
• color balance;

provided that such modifications do not hide, eliminate, or introduce information.

Authors may be required to provide original image files.

33. Paper Mills and Fraudulent Manuscripts

Wisdomgale Journals recognizes the increasing threat of paper mills and fraudulent research production.

Paper mill activities may include:

• fabricated manuscripts;
• manipulated datasets;
• false authorship;
• fake peer review;
• fabricated reviewer identities;
• meaningless or copied scientific content.

The journal uses editorial assessment and appropriate verification procedures to identify potentially fraudulent submissions.

Manuscripts suspected of originating from paper mill operations may be rejected and reported when appropriate.

34. Artificial Intelligence and Manuscript Preparation

Wisdomgale Journals recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) tools may assist researchers in certain aspects of manuscript preparation.

However:

• AI tools cannot be listed as authors;
• authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy and originality of submitted content;
• AI-generated text must not contain fabricated references or unsupported statements;
• authors must disclose significant use of AI tools when applicable.

AI tools must not replace human scientific judgment.

35. Artificial Intelligence in Image Creation and Data Analysis

Authors must disclose the use of AI tools for:

• image generation;
• image modification;
• data analysis;
• interpretation of scientific results.

AI-generated images should not be used as research data unless scientifically justified and clearly disclosed.

Manipulation of scientific images using AI tools without disclosure is considered a violation of research integrity.

36. Peer Review Ethics

Wisdomgale Journals considers peer review an essential component of maintaining scientific quality and integrity.

Peer review provides an independent evaluation of manuscripts and assists editors in making informed publication decisions.

All reviewers are expected to conduct reviews objectively, confidentially, and professionally.

Reviewers should evaluate manuscripts based on:

• scientific quality;
• originality;
• methodological validity;
• ethical compliance;
• clarity of presentation;
• relevance to the journal scope.

Personal opinions, discrimination, or unsupported criticism must not influence reviewer evaluations.

37. Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers agree to:

Maintain Confidentiality

Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents.

Reviewers must not:

• share manuscripts with others;
• discuss manuscript content outside the review process;
• use unpublished information for personal advantage.

Provide Objective Assessment

Reviews should include constructive comments that help authors improve their manuscripts.

Comments should focus on:

• scientific content;
• methodology;
• interpretation;
• reporting quality.

Personal criticism of authors is unacceptable.

Declare Conflicts of Interest

Reviewers must decline invitations when they have:

• personal relationships with authors;
• professional conflicts;
• financial interests;
• competitive interests;
• institutional conflicts.

Identify Ethical Concerns

Reviewers should alert editors regarding possible:

• plagiarism;
• duplicate publication;
• fabricated data;
• inappropriate methodology;
• ethical approval concerns.

38. Reviewer Misconduct

Reviewer misconduct includes:

• breaching confidentiality;
• inappropriate use of unpublished information;
• delaying review intentionally for competitive advantage;
• providing biased or hostile reviews;
• manipulating editorial decisions.

Wisdomgale Journals may remove reviewers from the reviewer database and take further action when misconduct is identified.

39. Conflict of Interest Policy

Wisdomgale Journals requires transparency regarding all potential conflicts of interest.

Conflicts may include:

• financial relationships;
• employment relationships;
• consultancy;
• grants;
• personal relationships;
• academic competition;
• institutional affiliations.

Authors, editors, and reviewers must disclose relevant conflicts.

The existence of a conflict does not automatically prevent publication; however, undisclosed conflicts may compromise the credibility of the research record.

40. Authors’ Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Authors must disclose all relationships or activities that could influence interpretation of their research.

Examples include:

• research funding;
• pharmaceutical company support;
• consultancy agreements;
• employment relationships;
• ownership interests;
• patents.

A conflict of interest statement should be included in every manuscript when applicable.

Example:

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

or

Author X received research support from Company Y.

41. Funding Disclosure

Authors must disclose all sources of financial support for their research.

Funding information should include:

• funding organization;
• grant number;
• role of the funder.

Authors should clarify whether funders influenced:

• study design;
• data collection;
• analysis;
• interpretation;
• manuscript preparation.

Financial support must not compromise scientific independence.

42. Data Availability and Transparency

Wisdomgale Journals encourages responsible sharing of research data to promote transparency, reproducibility, and scientific advancement.

Authors should provide information regarding:

• availability of research data;
• access conditions;
• repositories used;
• restrictions on data sharing.

Where possible, authors are encouraged to deposit datasets in recognized repositories.

Data sharing must comply with:

• participant confidentiality requirements;
• ethical approvals;
• applicable regulations.

43. Research Transparency

Authors should provide sufficient methodological detail to allow readers and researchers to understand, evaluate, and reproduce the reported work.

Transparency includes:

• clear description of methods;
• appropriate statistical analysis;
• disclosure of limitations;
• reporting of negative or unexpected findings.

Selective reporting that may mislead readers is unacceptable.

44. Corrections and Amendments

Wisdomgale Journals is committed to maintaining an accurate scientific record.

When errors are identified after publication, appropriate corrective action will be taken.

Corrections may include:

• minor corrections;
• author corrections;
• publisher corrections.

Corrections will:

• clearly identify the original article;
• describe the correction;
• maintain transparency.

Corrections will remain permanently linked to the original publication.

45. Retraction Policy

Retraction is used to correct the scientific record when published research is found to contain serious problems.

Articles may be retracted due to:

• fabricated data;
• falsified results;
• plagiarism;
• unethical research practices;
• duplicate publication;
• major errors affecting interpretation.

Retractions follow the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

A retracted article will remain available with:

• a clear retraction notice;
• explanation of the reason for retraction;
• permanent identification of the original article.

46. Expressions of Concern

An Expression of Concern may be issued when:

• serious concerns exist regarding published research;
• an investigation is ongoing;
• available evidence is insufficient for immediate correction or retraction.

Expressions of Concern provide transparency while investigations are conducted.

47. Appeals and Complaints

Wisdomgale Journals provides a transparent process for handling appeals and complaints.

Authors may appeal editorial decisions when they believe:

• significant information was overlooked;
• the review process contained serious errors;
• editorial procedures were not followed.

Appeals must include:

• manuscript identification;
• detailed explanation;
• supporting evidence.

Appeals are reviewed independently by appropriate editorial personnel.

Disagreement with scientific judgment alone is generally not considered sufficient grounds for appeal.

48. Complaints Regarding Ethical Issues

Complaints related to:

• plagiarism;
• authorship disputes;
• unethical research;
• reviewer misconduct;
• editorial misconduct;

should be submitted to the journal editorial office.

Complaints will be handled confidentially and investigated according to appropriate ethical guidelines.

49. Post-Publication Discussion

Wisdomgale Journals recognizes the importance of ongoing scientific discussion after publication.

Readers may raise concerns regarding published articles through appropriate channels.

Valid concerns may result in:

• author responses;
• corrections;
• editorial notices;
• further investigation.

Scientific debate and constructive criticism are encouraged.

50. Ethical Violations and Sanctions

When ethical violations are confirmed, Wisdomgale Journals may take actions including:

• rejection of submitted manuscripts;
• withdrawal of accepted manuscripts;
• publication of corrections;
• article retraction;
• restriction of future submissions;
• notification of relevant institutions.

Actions are determined according to:

• severity of violation;
• intent;
• impact on scientific integrity;
• applicable ethical standards.

51. Commitment to Continuous Improvement

Wisdomgale Journals continuously reviews and updates its publication policies to ensure alignment with international standards.

The Publisher remains committed to:

• ethical publishing;
• transparency;
• scientific reliability;
• protection of research participants;
• responsible communication of scientific knowledge.

52. Contact Information

Questions regarding publication ethics, editorial procedures, or ethical concerns may be directed to:

Editorial Office
Wisdomgale Journals

Email: info@wisdomgale.com