COMPLAINTS AND APPEALS
The editorial board handles all appeals and complaints in accordance with the flowcharts of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The confidentiality of the complainant is guaranteed at all stages of the review.
Appeals against Editorial Decisions
Grounds for appeal
Authors who disagree with a rejection decision may submit an appeal to the editorial email address [journal email].
The appeal must include
›the manuscript number and title
›clear scientific arguments as to why the decision is unwarranted
›specific responses to the reviewers' or editor's comments
› An appeal does not guarantee reconsideration of the decision. The editorial board will review the appeal and notify the author of the outcome within 30 days.
Complaints regarding Publication Ethics Violations
Complaints regarding plagiarism, data falsification, authorship disputes, conflicts of interest, or any other violations of publication ethics should be submitted to [journal email].
Review procedure
›The editorial board acts in accordance with COPE flowcharts.
›The confidentiality of the complainant is guaranteed.
›The person against whom the complaint is filed takes no part in its examination.
Possible outcomes include
›dismissal of the complaint as unsubstantiated
›issuance of a correction (Erratum)
›publication of an Expression of Concern
›retraction of the article (Retraction)
Complaints regarding the Review Process
› Complaints regarding reviewer or editor conduct, unjustified delays, or breach of confidentiality should be addressed to the Editor-in-Chief at [journal email].
› The complaint will be reviewed within 30 days.
