Publication Ethics

Advances in BioScience is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in scientific publishing. The journal adheres to the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and follows internationally accepted principles of integrity, transparency, and responsible conduct of research. This Publication Ethics Policy outlines the ethical expectations for authors, reviewers, editors, and all parties involved in the publication process, ensuring the credibility, reliability, and integrity of the scientific record.

Misconduct and Post-Publication Actions

Policy on Research and Publication Misconduct

Advances in BioScience maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward research and publication misconduct. Allegations involving fabrication, falsification, plagiarism (including text and ideas), data or image manipulation, unethical authorship practices (e.g., ghost, guest, or gift authorship), duplicate submission, or undisclosed conflicts of interest will trigger a formal investigation following COPE best practices.

If misconduct is confirmed after due process, the journal will take appropriate corrective actions, which may include:

  • Retraction of the article with a clear explanatory note
  • Notification of the authors’ institutions and relevant funding agencies
  • Implementation of sanctions against involved individuals (e.g., temporary or permanent submission bans)
  • Publication of corrections, errata, or expressions of concern as necessary

Advances in BioScience is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record and will act decisively to address any confirmed breaches of ethical conduct.

Post-Publication Corrections, Expressions of Concern, and Retractions

Post-Publication Corrections

Purpose of Corrections: To maintain the accuracy, transparency, and integrity of the scientific record by formally correcting significant errors in published articles.

Scope of Corrections: Corrections apply to errors that affect the clarity, accuracy, or presentation of an article but do not invalidate the overall findings, interpretations, or conclusions.

Types of Corrections

  • Erratum: An erratum is issued when an error is introduced by the journal during editorial handling, typesetting, or production.
  • Corrigendum: A corrigendum is issued when authors identify an error in their published work. All authors must approve the corrigendum prior to publication.

Examples of Correctable Errors: Correctable errors include typographical mistakes, inaccuracies in author names or affiliations, errors in figure or table labeling, minor data inaccuracies, or formatting issues, provided these do not affect the scientific validity or conclusions of the article.

Initiation of Corrections: Corrections may be initiated by authors, editors, reviewers, or readers after publication. All requests must be submitted to the editorial office with clear documentation identifying the error and the proposed correction.

Editorial Review and Approval: All correction requests are assessed by the editorial office to determine the nature, extent, and impact of the error. Authors are consulted to verify accuracy and provide supporting information. Final approval for publication of a correction rests with the Editor-in-Chief.

Correction Publication Method: Corrections are published as separate, citable notices and are permanently linked to the original article. The notice clearly identifies and explains the correction and is titled using the original article title prefixed with “Erratum:” or “Corrigendum:”, as appropriate. The original article remains part of the scholarly record and is clearly marked to indicate that a correction has been issued. Corrections are published without charge to authors.

Transparency and Version Control: The original article remains permanently accessible, with a prominent indication that a correction has been published, ensuring transparency of the publication record.

Indexing and Archiving: All correction notices are indexed and archived to ensure visibility and traceability in bibliographic databases.

Distinction from Retractions: Errors that compromise data integrity, ethical compliance, or the validity of conclusions are not addressed through corrections and are handled under the journal’s Retraction or Expression of Concern Policy.

Expressions of Concern

An Expression of Concern (EOC) is a formal notice issued to alert readers when there are serious, unresolved doubts regarding the integrity or reliability of a published article. It is used when an investigation is underway but has not yet reached a definitive conclusion, serving as a cautionary placeholder in the scholarly record.

Circumstances for Issuance: An EOC may be published when there are credible concerns related to data integrity or reliability, potential research misconduct, ethical approval or consent issues, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or authorship or publication ethics disputes.

Initiation: Concerns may be raised by authors, editors, institutions, reviewers, or readers.

Editorial Assessment: The Editor-in-Chief evaluates the concerns and determines whether issuing an EOC is warranted while investigations are conducted.

Publication and Linking: The EOC is published as a separate, citable notice and is clearly linked to the original article. The notice briefly describes the nature of the concerns without drawing definitive conclusions.

Outcome and Follow-up: Following the completion of an investigation, an EOC may be removed if the concerns are resolved, or it may be replaced by a Correction or superseded by a Retraction, as warranted by the findings.

Retractions

A retraction is a formal notice that withdraws a published article from the scholarly record. It is issued when major errors, unethical practices, or compromised data render the work fundamentally unreliable, necessitating a correction of the scientific record to maintain academic integrity.

Grounds for Retraction

Retraction may be warranted for:

  • Fabrication, falsification, manipulation, or misrepresentation of data.
  • Plagiarism or redundant/duplicate publication.
  • Ethical violations (e.g., human/animal ethics non-compliance).
  • Major methodological or analytical errors invalidating conclusions.
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest affecting the integrity of the work.
  • Authorship fraud or disputes resulting in invalid authorship claims.

Initiation: Retractions may be initiated by authors, editors, institutions, or a third party.

Editorial Assessment and Investigation: The Editor-in-Chief evaluates reported concerns and, where necessary, initiates and oversees an investigation in consultation with the authors and relevant institution(s), in accordance with COPE guidelines. An Expression of Concern may be issued at this stage if the investigation is ongoing and unresolved. If the investigation confirms grounds for retraction, the Editor-in-Chief formally issues the retraction decision and implements the necessary publication updates to safeguard the integrity of the scholarly record.

Retraction Notice: Retraction notices are published as distinct, citable records that clearly state the grounds for retraction, identify the initiating party (authors, editors, or the publisher), and ensure a permanent, bidirectional link to the original publication.

Article Status: Retracted articles remain accessible for the scholarly record but are clearly marked as retracted on all versions.

No refunds or APC reimbursements are issued for retractions.

Handling of Ethical Issues

Advances in BioScience takes all ethical concerns related to submitted manuscripts or published articles seriously and is committed to addressing them in a fair, transparent, and confidential manner. Ethical issues may be identified before or after publication and may be raised by authors, reviewers, editors, institutions, readers, or third parties.

All reported concerns—including but not limited to suspected research or publication misconduct, authorship disputes, ethical approval deficiencies, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or data integrity issues—are initially assessed by the Editorial Office and, where appropriate, referred to the Editor-in-Chief for further consideration.

Detailed procedures for investigating allegations and determining responsibility are governed by the journal’s Policy on Research and Publication Misconduct, which strictly follows the guidelines and flowcharts provided by the COPE. Where necessary, the journal may involve the authors’ affiliated institutions or relevant authorities to ensure a thorough and impartial review.

During the assessment process, all parties involved are expected to cooperate fully and respond promptly to requests for information or clarification. The journal will handle all ethical matters with due respect for confidentiality, procedural fairness, and the integrity of the scholarly record. To encourage the reporting of genuine concerns, the journal protects individuals who raise concerns in good faith and investigation notices may be attached to articles under active review.

Depending on the nature and outcome of the review, appropriate post-publication actions—such as corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions—may be taken in accordance with the journal’s established policies.

Right to Appeal

Authors or complainants who believe a decision has been reached unfairly may submit a formal appeal to the Editorial Office within 30 days of the decision. Appeals must provide new evidence or demonstrate a failure of the journal’s stated procedures to be considered for a secondary review.

Publication Ethics Resources

Authors, reviewers, and editors are encouraged to refer to the following resources for more information on publication ethics:

To ensure the integrity of the scientific record, Advances in BioScience requires all authors, reviewers, and editors to adhere strictly to these Ethical Guidelines. Upholding the principles of publication ethics is a collective responsibility shared by all parties throughout the editorial and post-publication processes. By submitting a manuscript, authors explicitly agree to abide by the journal's ethical guidelines and publication policies and to cooperate fully and transparently with any investigation of alleged misconduct or ethical concerns. Confirmed violations of these guidelines may result in appropriate editorial or administrative actions.

For any questions or concerns regarding publication ethics, contact the Editorial Office at editor@sospublication.co.in.