The journal aims to ensure impartiality, transparency, and trust in the editorial process. To this end, all participants in the publication process – authors, reviewers, and editors – are required to disclose any potential conflict of interest. This policy is designed to prevent situations where personal, professional, or financial factors might influence the research results or the decision to publish a manuscript.

 

Conflict of interest from authors

When submitting a manuscript, authors must inform the editorial office of any circumstances that may be considered a potential conflict of interest. Such circumstances include financial connections (e.g., employment by companies, receipt of fees, involvement in commercial ventures, patent ownership, or other forms of material interest), as well as non-financial factors. These may include personal or professional relationships, academic rivalry, and ideological or religious beliefs that could potentially influence the interpretation of the research results.
Authors must openly disclose such circumstances so that readers can assess the possible influence of these factors on the research outcomes. Information regarding conflict of interest is published at the end of the article as a special note. If no conflict exists, the article will state: “The author(s) declare(s) that there is no conflict of interest“.

 

Conflict of interest from reviewers

Individuals involved in the peer review of manuscripts must evaluate materials objectively and impartially. If there are circumstances that may affect their independence or raise doubts about the objectivity of their evaluation, reviewers must immediately notify the editorial office.
Such situations may include financial or personal connections with the authors or organisations related to the research, scientific competition between the reviewer’s research and the submitted work, or personal relationships with the authors (friendship, conflict, professional rivalry, etc.). In such cases, the reviewer must withdraw from the evaluation process.

 

Conflict of interest from editors

Editors are also required to disclose any circumstances that might call into question their impartiality during the manuscript review process. If an editor has financial, professional, academic, or personal connections with the authors or organisations related to the research, they must refrain from participating in the editorial decision-making.
An editor does not participate in the review of a manuscript if they are a co-author, work at the same institution as the authors, or have any other circumstances that could be perceived as a potential bias. In such cases, the manuscript is assigned to another editor or independent expert for further review.

 

Policy for addressing conflict of interest

If an undisclosed conflict of interest is discovered during the editorial review or after publication, the journal's editorial office will investigate the relevant information. Explanations may be sought from authors, reviewers, or other participants in the publication process.
Depending on the nature and severity of the situation, the editorial office may take appropriate actions, including publishing a correction or clarification to the article, updating the conflict of interest statement, temporarily suspending the review of the manuscript, or, if necessary, retracting the publication. If the conflict of interest pertains to the review process or an editorial decision, the manuscript may be sent for independent re-evaluation.
The editorial office strives to ensure the most transparent and fair process for handling such situations and acts in accordance with international publication ethics recommendations.
The journal guarantees openness regarding the disclosure of conflict of interest. Relevant information is published as a note at the end of each article. Adherence to this policy is mandatory for all participants in the editorial process and is aimed at maintaining honesty, trust, and academic integrity in scientific communication.