About the Journal

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Istanus Journal on Applied Biological Sciences (IJABS) is committed to advancing scientific knowledge through ethical and transparent publication practices. In line with our mission to promote high-quality, peer-reviewed research, we emphasize the importance of upholding ethical standards at every stage of the publication process. Authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher are all expected to adhere to these principles to ensure scientific integrity and contribute to the credibility of the research community.

This statement is aligned with the principles and policies set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Publication and Authorship

• All manuscripts submitted to IJABS are subject to a double-blind peer review process by at least two expert reviewers. Evaluations are based on the originality, significance, clarity, and relevance of the manuscript to the field.
• Authors must certify that their manuscripts are original, not previously published, and not under consideration elsewhere.
• If previously published work or ideas are used, proper citation and referencing must be provided.
• Authors are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest and correct any errors discovered after publication.
• All listed authors must have made substantial contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study and must approve the final version of the manuscript.
• Authors should retain raw data related to their work and be prepared to provide it upon request, ensuring transparency and reproducibility.

Peer Review and Reviewer Responsibilities

• Reviewers must treat the manuscript and all related information as confidential and not disclose or use the content for personal advantage.
• Reviews should be objective and focused solely on the scientific content, free from personal criticism or bias.
• Reviewers are expected to identify relevant studies that the authors have not cited and to alert the editor of any significant similarities with previously published work.
• Reviewers must not evaluate manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest arising from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with any of the authors.

Editorial Responsibilities

• Editors are responsible for the overall quality and integrity of the journal’s content. Decisions must be based solely on the scientific merit, originality, and relevance of the manuscript without any external influence.
• Editors must ensure the anonymity of reviewers and guarantee that all published work complies with accepted ethical standards.
• Editors are obliged to act in cases of suspected misconduct, including plagiarism and data falsification, and to manage conflicts of interest within the editorial process.
• Editors must be transparent about the funding sources of the published research.

Publisher Responsibilities

• IJABS and its publisher are committed to ensuring that commercial interests do not influence editorial decisions.
• The publisher works in collaboration with the editorial team and other journals to uphold the highest ethical standards in publishing.
• The publisher supports the journal in handling ethical concerns, corrections, or retractions, and will provide legal review when necessary.

Plagiarism Detection

To safeguard the integrity of scientific publishing, IJABS uses plagiarism detection tools (e.g., iThenticate) to verify the originality of all submitted manuscripts. In cases of suspected plagiarism, the journal will follow appropriate procedures for investigation and may reject or retract the manuscript as needed.

Informed Consent Policy

All research involving human participants, including clinical studies and those using human specimens, must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki and relevant ethical standards. Authors must obtain written informed consent from participants and include a clear statement in the methods section of the manuscript.

For studies involving animal subjects, authors must adhere to appropriate animal ethics guidelines, including clear statements on ethical approval and animal welfare.

Retraction and Correction Policy

If an error is identified in a published article, the authors are responsible for notifying the editor promptly so that the necessary correction can be made. In cases of serious scientific misconduct or ethical breaches, IJABS will take appropriate action, including issuing retractions or corrections. The editorial team is committed to transparency and will provide detailed explanations for any editorial decisions, corrections, retractions, or formal notices.

Peer Review Process and Publication Policy

The Istanus Journal on Applied Biological Sciences (IJABS) employs a double-blind peer review process to ensure fairness and objectivity in the evaluation of all submitted manuscripts. In this process, the identities of both authors and reviewers are concealed to maintain the integrity of the review.

Initial Editorial Screening

Upon submission, all manuscripts are initially reviewed by the editorial team to determine their relevance to the scope of IstanusJABS and adherence to academic writing standards. Submissions that are outside the journal’s focus, contain significant language issues, or lack scientific originality are rejected at this stage. Authors are notified of editorial decisions within two weeks of submission.

Preliminary Review by Section Editors

Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are assigned to a section editor with expertise in the relevant field. The section editor evaluates the structure, scientific rigor, clarity, and alignment with the journal’s publication policies. If the manuscript does not meet these standards, it is returned to the editor along with a detailed justification within four weeks.

Reviewer Selection and Assignment

Manuscripts deemed suitable by the section editor are assigned to at least two independent reviewers based on their field of expertise. Reviewers may be selected from the journal’s reviewer database or recommended by the editorial board. All reviewers must agree to maintain confidentiality and avoid any conflict of interest related to the manuscript.

Review Process

Reviewers are given four weeks to evaluate the manuscript and provide detailed, constructive feedback. If revisions are requested, authors are expected to submit their revised manuscripts within one month. Reviewers may request additional rounds of revision if necessary, and will re-evaluate the updated manuscript to determine its suitability for publication.

Editorial Decision and Notification

Following the peer review, the section editor reviews the comments and recommendations provided by the reviewers and submits a final recommendation to the editor-in-chief. The editorial board then makes the final decision on the manuscript. Authors are informed of the decision, along with reviewer and editor feedback, within one week.

Plagiarism Policy

IJABS is committed to maintaining academic integrity and strictly prohibits plagiarism. All submitted manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection tools (e.g., iThenticate). Any manuscript found to contain plagiarized content will be immediately rejected. If plagiarism is discovered after publication, the article will be retracted and appropriate steps will be taken, including notifying the authors’ institutions or funders.

Ethical Compliance

Authors must confirm that their work complies with ethical standards, including approval from the relevant ethics committee for studies involving human or animal subjects. A statement regarding ethical approval and consent must be included in the manuscript. IJABS assumes that all listed authors have approved the final manuscript and agree to its submission. Any conflicts of interest must be disclosed.

Disclaimer

The views expressed in articles published by IstanusJABS are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors or the publisher. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, IstanusJABS cannot be held responsible for any errors or consequences arising from the use of published content.