Criteria for Publication in Studies in Medical Sciences
This document provides the authors with necessary information and the processes involved in Studies in Medical Sciences. In other words, here we explain what criteria are required for the acceptance of the scientific articles in Studies in Medical Sciences. It is suggested for authors to read this section thoroughly before submitting their manuscript. Studies in Medical Sciences does neither consider nor accept:
Monographs
Clinical practice guidelines
Opinion pieces
Letters or commentaries
Proposal papers
However, we will consider the following types of clinical research studies:
Analytical Studies (Cohort, case control and organizational cross-sectional studies)
We would appreciate if the authors review the following criteria before submitting their manuscripts: A. The manuscript and its result have not been published or it is not under consideration elsewhere. B. The manuscript is presented in a well-written form in Standard English. C. The manuscript meets all the legal and ethical issues. D. Results and the conclusion are supported by data and correct data analysis. E. Experiments are conducted according to the rules of conduct and moral responsibilities are taken to protect research participants from harm. F. The manuscriptfollows the guidelines mentioned in the Instruction to Authors section of theStudies in Medical Sciences. Studies in Medical Sciences follows the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and tries to follow Code of Conduct and adhere to its Best Practice Guidelines. We expect authors to conform to best practices in publication ethics, regarding authorship, plagiarism, dual publication, and competing interests. For more details about publication ethics, Please see Ethical consideration of Studies in Medical Sciences or visit the COPE.
Retraction Guidelines
Retraction is a mechanism used for correcting the literature and alerting readers about the publications that may contain such faulty or erroneous data that their findings and conclusions cannot be relied upon. Unreliable data may result from honest error or from research misconduct. Retractions are also used to alert readers to cases of redundant publication (i.e. when authors present the same data in several publications), plagiarism, and failure to disclose a major competing interest likely to influence interpretations or recommendations. The main purpose of retractions is to correct the literature and ensure its integrity rather than to punish authors who misbehave.
According to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), we consider retracting a manuscript if:
the findings are unreliable due to misconduct, or honest error
the findings have already been published elsewhere without proper crossreferencing, permission or justification
we observe plagiarism
we observe unethical research
However, we will send an email to the corresponding author declaring our concern regarding their manuscript if:
we receive inconclusive evidence of research or publication misconduct
we find an evidence that the findings are unreliable but the authors’ institution will not investigate the case
we believe that an investigation into alleged misconduct related to the publication either has not been, or would not be, fair and impartial or conclusive
we know that an investigation is underway but a judgment will not be available for a considerable time
We will consider a correction for a manuscript if:
a small portion of an otherwise reliable publication proves to be misleading (especially because of honest error)
the author / contributor list is incorrect (i.e. a deserving author has been omitted or somebody who does not meet authorship criteria has been included)
Retraction is not appropriate if a change of authorship is required but there is no reason to doubt the validity of the findings.
Publication that will be retracted:
Publications that are so seriously flawed (for whatever reason) that their findings or conclusions should not be relied upon.
If an article is submitted to more than one journal simultaneously, and is accepted and published in both journals (either electronically or in print) at the same time, precedence may be determined by the date on which a license to publish or a copyright transfer agreement was signed by the authors.
In cases of partial overlap (i.e. when authors present some new findings in an article that also contains a substantial amount of previously published information) we need to consider whether readers are best served if the entire article is retracted or whether it would be best to issue a notice of redundant publication clarifying which aspects had been published previously and providing appropriate cross-references to the earlier work.
Plagiarismand Text recycling and duplicate publication:
UMSU PRESS Journals utilize iThenticate software, a plagiarism detection service that verifies the originality of submission content prior to publication. In cases of plagiarism, we adhere to COPE guidelines. Plagiarism encompasses, but is not limited to:
Direct quotation of text from other sources without proper citation
Uncredited use of ideas, images, or data from other sources
Reusing text from one's own previous publications without proper citation
Presenting an idea from another source with slightly modified language as one's own
If plagiarism is detected during the peer-review process, the submission may be rejected. If plagiarism is detected after publication, we reserve the right to issue a correction or retract the paper, as appropriate. We also reserve the right to inform authors' institutions about plagiarism detected either before or after publication.
All manuscripts submitted to the journal must be original, and no other journal should be considering the manuscript or its significant parts. Whenever there is a possibility of overlap or duplication, it is essential for authors to be transparent. Generally, the manuscript that is submitted should not have been previously published either in a journal or in any other citable form. There are exceptions to this rule, such as publishing as a poster or presenting at a conference, if it is justified and clarified upon submission.