The American Scientific Publishing Group (ASPG) is committed to maintaining high standards of publication ethics, integrity, and transparency across all its journals, and operates in accordance with internationally recognized best practices in scholarly publishing.

This policy defines the ethical responsibilities of editors, authors, reviewers, and the publisher throughout the entire publication process.

1. Editorial Responsibilities

Editors are responsible for ensuring the quality, integrity, and relevance of journal content. Editorial decisions are based on the scientific merit, originality, clarity, and relevance of submitted manuscripts.

Editors shall:

• - Evaluate manuscripts impartially and without discrimination
• - Maintain confidentiality of all submissions
• - Avoid conflicts of interest
• - Take appropriate action in cases of suspected ethical misconduct

Editorial Independence

Editorial decisions are made independently and are not influenced by commercial interests, sponsors, or external parties. The publisher ensures that editorial integrity is maintained at all stages of the publication process.

2. Peer Review Process

All submitted manuscripts undergo a structured and independent peer-review process to ensure academic quality and validity.

The process includes:

• - Initial editorial screening
• - Evaluation by qualified independent reviewers
• - Editorial decision based on reviewers’ reports

All ASPG journals apply a single-blind peer-review model, unless otherwise specified by the journal. Further details of the peer review workflow are available in the Peer Review Process.

3. Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers play a critical role in maintaining the quality and integrity of scholarly publishing. Reviewers are expected to:

• - Provide objective and constructive feedback
• - Maintain confidentiality of the manuscript
• - Declare any conflicts of interest
• - Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe

4. Author Responsibilities

Authors must ensure that:

• - Submitted work is original and has not been published elsewhere
• - The manuscript is not under consideration by another journal
• - All sources are properly cited
• - All authors have significantly contributed to the work
• - The data presented are accurate and not fabricated, falsified, or manipulated

Authors are collectively responsible for the integrity of their work.

5. Authorship and Contributions

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made substantial contributions to:

• - The conception or design of the study
• - Data collection, analysis, or interpretation
• - Drafting or revising the manuscript

All authors must approve the final version prior to submission. Any changes to authorship must be approved by all authors and the editorial office.

6. Conflicts of Interest

Authors, editors, and reviewers must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence the research or its interpretation.

If no conflicts exist, a statement confirming the absence of conflicts must be provided.

7. Plagiarism and Academic Misconduct

ASPG has zero tolerance for unethical practices, including:

• - Plagiarism
• - Data fabrication or falsification
• - Duplicate submission or redundant publication
• - Inappropriate citation practices

All manuscripts may be subject to similarity checks. Confirmed misconduct will result in rejection or retraction.

8. Research Misconduct and Investigation

Suspected cases of ethical misconduct are investigated by the editorial office in accordance with established ethical procedures. This may include communication with authors, reviewers, and affiliated institutions.

If misconduct is confirmed, actions may include:

• - Rejection of the manuscript
• - Retraction of published articles
• - Notification to relevant institutions
• - Temporary or permanent submission restrictions

9. Data Availability and Transparency

Authors are encouraged to:

• - Provide access to supporting data where appropriate
• - Cite datasets using persistent identifiers (e.g., DOI)
• - Follow FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles

If data cannot be shared, a clear justification must be provided.

10. Ethical Approval for Research

Research involving human participants or animals must comply with recognized ethical standards and relevant institutional and international guidelines.

Authors must confirm that appropriate ethical approval has been obtained where required.

11. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Authors must disclose any use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the preparation of their manuscript. AI tools must not be listed as authors and must be used in accordance with ethical research and authorship standards.

12. Corrections and Retractions

ASPG is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record and applies established best practices in handling post-publication issues.

Actions may include:

• - Corrections (erratum or corrigendum)
• - Retractions
• - Expressions of concern

All post-publication updates are implemented transparently, clearly documented, and appropriately linked to the original publication to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the scientific record.

The publisher may initiate post-publication investigations if concerns about the integrity of a published work are raised.

Authors are responsible for promptly notifying the journal of any errors identified in their published work.

13. Complaints and Appeals

Concerns regarding editorial decisions, ethical issues, or publication practices should be directed to the ASPG editorial office (editorial@americaspg.com).

All complaints will be handled in accordance with established ethical guidelines and investigated fairly and confidentially.

14. Copyright and Licensing

Upon acceptance, authors agree to the ASPG’s copyright and licensing terms. Authors retain the right to use their work for academic and non-commercial purposes, provided appropriate citation is given.

15. Contact Information

For inquiries related to publication ethics, please contact:
Email: support@americaspg.com