The Eskişehir Technical University Journal of Science and Technology C - Life Sciences and Biotechnology (ESTUSCIENCE-LIFE) is an international, peer-reviewed, and fully open-access journal dedicated to the dissemination of high-quality research in applied sciences and engineering.
The journal upholds the highest standards of publication ethics and operates in full alignment with the principles and core practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) throughout the editorial and publication process.
All submissions undergo a double-blind peer-review process, ensuring impartial evaluation and academic integrity. The journal operates under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license, allowing free access, sharing, and reuse of published work with proper attribution to the authors.
These policies collectively ensure that the journal’s editorial decisions are transparent, independent, and based solely on scholarly merit. Through its commitment to ethical publishing, ESTUSCIENCE-LIFE strives to promote responsible research conduct, foster academic collaboration, and contribute to the advancement of science and technology within an open and trustworthy scholarly environment.
• Ownership and Governance
The Eskişehir Technical University Journal of Science and Technology C – Life Sciences and Biotechnology (ESTUSCIENCE-LIFE) is published by Eskişehir Technical University. Editorial independence is fully guaranteed: all scientific decisions rest solely with the Editor-in-Chief and designated associate editors. The University and institutions have no influence on editorial content or publication decisions.
1. Appeals and Complaints
The Eskişehir Technical University Journal of Science and Technology C - Life Sciences and Biotechnology (ESTUSCIENCE-LIFE) upholds the principles of fairness, transparency, and accountability throughout its editorial and peer-review processes. To ensure that all parties are treated equitably, the journal provides clear procedures for handling appeals and complaints in alignment with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines.
• Appeals of Editorial Decisions
Authors who believe that their manuscript has been unfairly rejected or that the peer-review process was not conducted appropriately may submit a written appeal. The appeal must include a detailed justification, addressing specific reviewer or editor comments, and may include additional information or data supporting the author’s position. Appeals and complaints are acknowledged within 30 days and resolved within 60 days whenever possible.
Appeals should be submitted to the Editorial Office (btdc@eskisehir.edu.tr) through the journal’s official communication channels. The Editorial Office, in consultation with the Editorial Board, will review each appeal carefully and objectively. Depending on the case, the manuscript may be re-evaluated by the same or different reviewers. The final decision made by the Editor-in-Chief after the appeal review is communicated formally to the authors and is considered final within the journal’s internal process. If the complainant is dissatisfied with the final editorial decision, they may contact an independent Ombudsperson appointed by Eskişehir Technical University, who reviews the case objectively and whose decision is final.
• Complaints about the Editorial Process
Any concerns related to the handling of manuscripts, communication delays, or procedural irregularities may be raised with the Editorial Office. Complaints will be reviewed impartially, ensuring that no party involved in the original process handles the complaint directly. The journal aims to provide an initial response within a reasonable timeframe and, if necessary, take corrective measures to prevent similar issues in the future.
• Complaints about Ethical Misconduct
Concerns related to potential ethical breaches are handled in accordance with COPE’s official flowcharts and ethical guidelines. If credible evidence of misconduct is found, the Editorial Office may contact the relevant author(s) for clarification and, if required, notify the author’s affiliated institution or governing authority for formal investigation. The journal also monitors and addresses post-publication critiques raised outside official channels. For more details, see the COPE flowchart on Responding to concerns raised via social media.
• Resolution and Record Keeping
All appeals and complaints are recorded and reviewed regularly to ensure consistent application of journal policies and continuous improvement of editorial procedures. ESTUSCIENCE-LIFE is committed to handling all such matters confidentially, respectfully, and without bias, in the interest of maintaining the integrity and credibility of the scholarly record.
2. Authorship and Contributions
Authorship must represent a genuine intellectual contribution to the research. All listed authors share collective responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the published work. Proper attribution of authorship ensures academic transparency and prevents practices such as guest, ghost, or honorary authorship.
• Authorship Criteria
An individual qualifies for authorship only if they have met all of the following conditions:
• Made a substantial contribution to the conception, design, data collection, analysis, or interpretation of the study;
• Participated in drafting or critically revising the manuscript for intellectual content;
• Given final approval of the version to be published;
• Agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work, ensuring that questions related to accuracy or integrity are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Contributors who do not meet these criteria (e.g., those providing technical assistance, general supervision, or administrative support) should not be listed as authors but may be recognized in the Acknowledgments section.
• Corresponding Author Responsibilities
The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that:
• All authors meet authorship criteria and have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript;
• All disclosures regarding conflicts of interest, ethics approvals, and funding are complete and accurate;
• Communication with the Editorial Office is maintained throughout submission, review, and publication;
• Any corrections, retractions, or responses to ethical queries are coordinated in a timely and transparent manner.
• Author Contribution Statement (CRediT System)
To promote transparency, the journal encourages the use of the CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) framework. Each author’s specific role (e.g., conceptualization, methodology, software, validation, writing—original draft, writing—review & editing, supervision, funding acquisition) should be identified clearly in the manuscript.
• Changes in Authorship
Requests to add, remove, or reorder authors after submission must be justified in writing and approved by all authors. The request must explain the reason for the change and include signed confirmation (email is acceptable) from every author. Once accepted for publication, authorship changes are only possible under exceptional circumstances and must be accompanied by a published correction.
• Accountability and Data Responsibility
All authors share responsibility for the reliability of the data and interpretations presented. If any part of the work is found to be inaccurate or ethically questionable, all authors are expected to cooperate with the journal in issuing corrections, clarifications, or retractions as appropriate.
• Acknowledgments and Contributors
Individuals or organizations who contributed to the research but do not meet authorship criteria—such as data collectors, funders, or technical assistants—should be acknowledged, with their consent, in a separate Acknowledgments section.
• Use of AI or AI-Assisted Technologies
Authors must disclose any use of artificial intelligence or AI-assisted tools (for text generation, data analysis, or image processing) during manuscript preparation. Such tools cannot be listed as authors. The authors remain fully responsible for verifying the accuracy, originality, and ethical compliance of all content produced with AI assistance.
• Conflict of Interest and Funding Disclosure
All authors must declare any actual or potential conflicts of interest that could influence the objectivity of the research. These include financial relationships, institutional affiliations, or personal circumstances that might create bias.
Funding sources must be clearly identified, including grant numbers, funder names, and the extent of their involvement in study design, data collection, analysis, or publication decisions. Where no specific funding was received, this must also be explicitly stated.
3. Editorial Responsibilities
Editors play a central role in ensuring the quality, integrity, and transparency of the publication process. They must act with fairness, independence, and accountability in all editorial decisions, maintaining the credibility of the scholarly record. Editorial practices must align with international ethical standards and reflect the principles set out by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
• Editorial Independence and Decision-Making
Editors have full authority over editorial content and decision-making. Manuscripts must be evaluated solely on their scholarly merit, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal’s scope, without influence from the authors’ institutional affiliation, nationality, gender, or personal relationships. Editorial decisions should never be affected by commercial or political interests.
• Fair and Impartial Evaluation
Editors are responsible for ensuring that each manuscript receives an objective and unbiased assessment. The double-blind peer review process is applied to all submissions to guarantee confidentiality and impartiality. Editors must ensure that reviewers are suitably qualified and free from conflicts of interest related to the manuscript.
• Confidentiality
Editors must maintain the confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts and related correspondence. Information about a submission should only be shared with the corresponding author, assigned reviewers, and editorial staff involved in the publication process. Editors may not disclose or use any part of the unpublished manuscript for their own research or personal advantage.
• Conflict of Interest
Editors must declare any potential conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which such conflicts exist. If an editor submits their own work to the journal, it must be processed by another member of the editorial board who has no conflict of interest with the submission.
• Ethical Oversight and Misconduct Handling
Editors are responsible for safeguarding the integrity of the scholarly record and ensuring that editorial decisions are made in accordance with the journal’s ethical standards and procedures, following COPE guidance to ensure consistent, transparent, and unbiased handling of ethical concerns.
• Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern
If significant errors or ethical issues are identified in published articles, editors must take prompt action to issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern. These actions must be clearly linked to the original publication to maintain the accuracy and reliability of the scholarly record.
• Editorial Accountability
Editors must uphold the integrity of the editorial process and continuously strive to improve journal practices. They are encouraged to participate in training and discussions on publication ethics, peer review, and responsible editorial conduct. The Editorial Office maintains records of editorial decisions and ensures consistency across all published issues.
• Use of AI and Editorial Tools
Editors and reviewers are prohibited from uploading unpublished manuscripts or parts thereof to public AI platforms for analysis, editing, or review. Any use of AI-assisted tools within the editorial process must occur within secure and confidential environments, preserving the integrity and privacy of submitted work.
• Advertising and Marketing Policy
The journal does not publish commercial advertising, sponsored content, or direct-marketing materials. Any potential revenue sources remain entirely independent of editorial decision-making.
4. Open Access and Copyright
The journal is committed to the principles of open science and unrestricted access to knowledge. All published articles are made freely available online immediately upon publication, without any subscription or access fees. This policy supports global dissemination, equitable access, and maximum visibility of research outputs. ESTUSCIENCE-LIFE does not charge authors any submission, processing, or publication fees. All costs are covered by institutional support.
• Open Access Policy
The journal follows a fully open access model, ensuring that all content can be read, downloaded, distributed, and reused without restriction, provided that proper attribution is given to the original authors and the source. Readers, educators, and researchers worldwide are encouraged to use published material in accordance with the stated license terms. The open access policy reflects the journal’s dedication to removing barriers in academic communication and promoting collaboration across disciplines.
• Copyright and Licensing
All articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0). This license permits users to copy, share, adapt, and build upon the work for any purpose, including commercial use, as long as appropriate credit is given to the author(s) and the original publication. Authors retain the copyright to their work. By publishing in the journal, authors grant the journal a non-exclusive license to publish, reproduce, and distribute the work under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to reuse or reproduce any third-party material (such as figures, tables, or images) included in their manuscripts. If such materials are not covered by the same open license, authors must provide evidence of permission from the rights holder.
• Preprints and Postprints
The journal supports the open sharing of research through preprints and postprints. Authors may post their submitted or accepted manuscripts on institutional or subject repositories, personal websites, or preprint servers, provided that they acknowledge the journal as the final place of publication and include a DOI link to the published version. Sharing preprints does not affect the peer review or acceptance of manuscripts.
• Archiving and Preservation
All published articles of ESTUSCIENCE-LIFE are archived and preserved through the DergiPark platform, operated by TÜBİTAK ULAKBİM, which provides long-term digital preservation and ensures the continuity of access to the journal’s content. The platform maintains persistent identifiers (DOIs) and complete metadata, supporting long-term discoverability, citability, and the integrity of the scholarly record.
• Reuse and Attribution
When reusing content, proper citation of the authors, article title, journal name, and DOI is mandatory. The journal encourages the academic community to build upon published research responsibly and transparently. Misrepresentation of authorship or content manipulation is strictly prohibited.
5. Peer Review Policy
Peer review is an essential element of scholarly publishing, ensuring that every manuscript published meets the highest standards of scientific quality, accuracy, and originality. The Editorial Office manages this process with fairness, confidentiality, and transparency, following the best practices recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
• Peer Review Model and Process
The journal operates under a double-blind peer-review system, in which both authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the evaluation process. Every submission is first assessed by the Editorial Office for its relevance, originality, structure, and adherence to journal guidelines. Manuscripts passing this initial screening are assigned to qualified reviewers with expertise in the relevant field.
Each manuscript is typically reviewed by at least two independent reviewers, who evaluate its scientific validity, methodological rigor, and contribution to the field. Reviewers are expected to provide constructive, unbiased, and evidence-based comments to help authors improve their work. The Editorial Office makes final decisions based on the reviewers’ recommendations and the overall quality of the manuscript.
• Reviewer Selection and Responsibilities
Reviewers are chosen based on their subject expertise, research background, and absence of conflicts of interest. They must adhere to the principles of objectivity, confidentiality, and professional conduct throughout the process.
• Reviews must be completed within the timeframe specified by the Editorial Office. The average time for the initial peer-review process is approximately 6-8 weeks.
• Reviewer reports should focus on the content and methodology, not on personal criticism of the authors.
• Reviewers are expected to report any concerns related to the ethical integrity or originality of a manuscript to the Editorial Office without delay.
• Reviewers must not use information obtained during the review for personal advantage or share it with third parties.
• Editorial Oversight and Decision-Making
The Editorial Office ensures that peer review is conducted consistently and transparently. All reviewer recommendations—acceptance, revision, or rejection—are carefully evaluated by the editors. The final decision always rests with the Editor-in-Chief, which considers reviewer input, editorial judgment, and the journal’s publication standards. Authors are informed of decisions promptly, along with reviewer feedback.
• Confidentiality and Anonymity
The confidentiality of the peer-review process is strictly maintained. Identities of reviewers and authors are not disclosed to each other, and all submitted materials are treated as confidential. Reviewers’ reports are shared only with the authors and editors involved in the evaluation process.
• Conflict of Interest
Reviewers and editors must avoid any situation that might present a real or perceived conflict of interest. If a reviewer recognizes a conflict—such as prior collaboration with the author, competition, or financial interest—they must immediately decline the review invitation.
• Use of AI or Automated Tools in Review
Reviewers and editors must not upload manuscripts, even in part, to generative AI or automated analysis tools that could compromise confidentiality. Any assistance from language-checking or reference management software must comply with data privacy and confidentiality principles.
• Integrity and Accountability
The Editorial Office monitors the quality of reviews and may exclude reviewers who consistently provide inadequate, biased, or unethical feedback. The journal maintains records of the review process for transparency and accountability. Reviewers who demonstrate excellence and reliability may be recognized or invited to join the editorial board in the future.
Through these principles, ESTUSCIENCE-LIFE ensures that its peer-review process remains fair, transparent, and scientifically rigorous, preserving the trust that underpins academic publishing. If there is any suspicion of organized peer review manipulation or fraudulent reviewer activity, the journal investigates the matter strictly following the COPE workflows for Peer review manipulation suspected during the peer review process and Peer review manipulation suspected after publication.
6. Post-Publication Policy
Maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record extends beyond the publication stage. The journal is committed to addressing post-publication issues responsibly and transparently, in line with international best practices and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines.
• Corrections and Errata
If a significant error is identified in a published article that affects its scientific accuracy, authors are required to notify the Editorial Office immediately. Corrections (errata) are issued when honest errors are discovered that do not compromise the overall validity of the work. The corrected version is published online with a clear link to the original article and an explanation of the change. Minor typographical or formatting adjustments that do not alter meaning are corrected silently during routine updates.
• Retractions
A retraction may be issued if the published article contains serious flaws, fabricated or falsified data, plagiarism, or ethical violations that invalidate the findings. The retraction decision is made by the Editorial Office following the COPE retraction guidelines and after consulting the authors and, when necessary, their institutions. Retracted articles remain accessible in the journal archive but are clearly marked as “Retracted,” along with an explanatory retraction notice to maintain transparency in the scholarly record.
• Expressions of Concern
When substantial doubts arise regarding the reliability or integrity of a publication and an investigation is ongoing or inconclusive, the journal may issue an Expression of Concern. This notice alerts readers to potential issues while ensuring fairness to all parties until a final decision is reached. The notice will be updated or replaced once the outcome of the investigation is confirmed.
• Addenda and Updates
If authors wish to add clarifications, data, or additional information that enhances understanding without changing the article’s conclusions, the journal may publish an addendum. Such additions are subject to editorial review and are linked to the original publication for full transparency.
• Post-Publication Discussions
Constructive post-publication dialogue is encouraged when it contributes to scholarly discourse or corrects misunderstanding. Comments or responses must be submitted formally to the Editorial Office and will be subject to editorial screening to ensure academic relevance, professionalism, and factual accuracy before publication.
• Archiving and Preservation
All published materials are permanently preserved through the journal’s archiving system to ensure long-term access and integrity. In cases where a correction, retraction, or other notice is issued, the original version remains accessible, accompanied by the official update notice.
7. Privacy and Confidentiality
The journal recognizes the importance of protecting the privacy and confidentiality of all parties involved in the editorial and publication process. Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to handle all submitted materials and related communications with the highest level of discretion and professionalism.
• Manuscript Confidentiality
All manuscripts submitted to the journal are treated as confidential documents. Editors and reviewers must not share, discuss, or disclose any details about a submission—including its content, data, or identity of contributors—with anyone outside the peer-review process. Manuscripts, reviews, and editorial communications must not be used for personal research or advantage.
Information obtained during the review process may not be used to discredit or compete with the authors’ work. Reviewers and editors are required to delete or destroy all manuscript files once the review or editorial process is complete.
• Reviewer and Author Anonymity
The journal operates under a double-blind peer-review system, which means that the identities of authors and reviewers remain confidential to each other throughout the review process. Editors must ensure that all correspondence and file management uphold this anonymity.
• Data Protection and Personal Information
The Editorial Office collects and stores personal data—such as names, affiliations, contact details, and ORCID identifiers—solely for the purposes of editorial management and publication. This information is processed in compliance with applicable data protection laws and is never shared with third parties without explicit consent, except where legally required.
Users of the journal’s website may provide personal data through submission systems, subscriptions, or contact forms. Such information is handled securely and used only for communication related to journal operations. The journal’s website does not collect unnecessary personal data and does not share user information for marketing or commercial purposes.
• Ethical Handling of Sensitive Data
Authors must ensure that any research involving human participants, medical records, or other sensitive information complies with ethical and legal standards of privacy protection. Identifiable information (e.g., names, images, or personal data) may only be published with the explicit written consent of the individuals involved or their legal guardians.
• Retention and Access to Records
Editorial and review records are retained securely by the Editorial Office for audit and transparency purposes. Access to these records is restricted to authorized personnel. Upon request, relevant materials may be shared with oversight bodies or institutions in cases of alleged research misconduct, in accordance with COPE guidelines.
By enforcing strict privacy and confidentiality practices, the journal ensures trust, integrity, and respect across all stages of the publication process, safeguarding the rights and reputations of all contributors to the scholarly community.
8. Publishing Ethics and Integrity
The journal upholds the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical publishing. All participants in the publication process—authors, reviewers, editors, and the Editorial Office—are expected to adhere to internationally recognized ethical principles. The journal’s practices align with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices to ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness in scholarly communication.
• Principles of Ethical Publishing
Every manuscript must represent original work that has not been published or submitted elsewhere. Plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, image manipulation, duplicate publication, and citation manipulation are considered serious violations of publication ethics. The Editorial Office employs similarity-checking software during submission to identify potential overlap or misuse of previously published material.
Authors are responsible for the accuracy and integrity of their work. When errors or inconsistencies are identified, authors must cooperate fully with the Editorial Office to issue appropriate corrections or retractions. Reviewers and editors are equally responsible for reporting suspected ethical breaches encountered during the review process.
• Plagiarism and Redundant Publication
Plagiarism includes copying text, ideas, data, or figures from another source without proper attribution. The journal is committed to upholding high ethical standards and addresses any plagiarism concerns through careful editorial review in line with COPE guidance. Submissions with significant overlap—whether from the authors’ own previous work (self-plagiarism) or from external sources—will be rejected. If plagiarism is discovered after publication, the article may be retracted following COPE guidelines.
Redundant or duplicate publication occurs when authors submit similar work with overlapping content to multiple journals or divide a single study into several papers. Such practices distort the scientific record and are considered unethical and subject to rejection or retraction in accordance with COPE guidelines.
All submissions are screened for similarity using iThenticate software prior to peer review. The journal does not rely solely on numeric similarity scores; editors carefully evaluate each report to distinguish legitimate overlap (e.g., references, methods, or previously published conference abstracts) from potential plagiarism or self-plagiarism.
As a general guideline, manuscripts showing a high overall similarity level or a notable amount of overlap from a single source may be returned to authors for revision or clarification.
The final decision on acceptability is made by the Editorial Office after manual assessment of the similarity report.
• Data Integrity and Research Misconduct
Authors must ensure that all data presented in their manuscripts are accurate, complete, and derived from legitimate research practices. Fabrication and falsification are serious forms of research misconduct. When concerns arise, the Editorial Office may request access to raw data for verification and will determine appropriate action, including correction, rejection, or retraction, in accordance with COPE procedures. If the Editorial Office suspects data fabrication, we adhere to the COPE flowcharts for Fabricated data in a submitted manuscript and Fabricated data in a published article, which may include notifying the authors' institutions.
• Conflicts of Interest
All parties involved in the editorial process must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence their judgment. This includes employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, patents, or other competing interests. The Editorial Office ensures that manuscripts are handled by editors and reviewers with no conflicts of interest related to the work under consideration. In cases where a competing interest is discovered after submission or publication that was not declared by the authors, the journal takes action guided by the COPE flowcharts for Undisclosed conflict of interest in a submitted manuscript and Undisclosed conflict of interest in a published article.
• Citation and Reference Integrity
All authors, editors, and reviewers must uphold responsible citation practices. References should be relevant, accurate, and selected solely for their scholarly contribution. Editors and reviewers must not request citations to their own work or to the journal as a condition of acceptance unless scientifically justified. The Editorial Office monitors citation patterns and reserves the right to investigate irregularities following COPE guidelines.
• Human and Animal Research Ethics
Studies involving human participants or animals must comply with recognized ethical standards and be approved by appropriate institutional review boards or ethics committees. Authors must state the name of the ethics committee, approval number (if applicable), and confirm adherence to relevant ethical frameworks such as the Declaration of Helsinki or the ARRIVE Guidelines.
• Allegations of Misconduct and Investigation Procedures
All allegations of research or publication misconduct are handled according to COPE’s flowcharts and best practices. When a credible concern is raised, the Editorial Office conducts a preliminary review and, if necessary, contacts the authors for clarification. If misconduct is confirmed or cannot be resolved, the case may be referred to the author’s institution or funding body for formal investigation. Depending on the outcome, appropriate actions—such as rejection, correction, retraction, or expression of concern—will be taken to safeguard the integrity of the scholarly record.
• Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern
The journal is committed to maintaining an accurate and trustworthy academic record. If significant errors or ethical breaches are identified after publication, the Editorial Office will issue a correction, retraction, or expression of concern in accordance with COPE retraction guidelines. All such notices will be linked to the original article and made freely available to ensure full transparency.
By enforcing these principles, the journal promotes honesty, rigor, and responsibility in research and publishing—ensuring that every article contributes reliably to the advancement of science and engineering.
9. Research Ethics
The journal is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in research and publication. All submitted manuscripts must demonstrate compliance with established national and international ethical guidelines governing research involving human participants, animals, biological materials, and sensitive data. Authors are responsible for ensuring that their studies have been conducted with integrity, respect, and transparency at every stage of the research process.
• Ethical Approval and Oversight
Research involving human participants, human data, or biological samples must receive prior approval from an accredited institutional review board or ethics committee. The name of the committee, approval number, and date of approval must be clearly stated in the manuscript. Authors must confirm that their study conforms to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and any applicable national or institutional standards.
For studies involving animals, authors must confirm that all procedures were performed in accordance with institutional and international guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals. The name of the relevant ethics committee or governing authority must be included in the manuscript, along with an assurance that all reasonable efforts were made to minimize animal suffering.
• Informed Consent and Participant Privacy
Authors must obtain written informed consent from all human participants prior to their inclusion in a study. If participants are minors or otherwise incapable of providing consent, permission must be obtained from their parents or legal guardians. When publishing identifiable information—such as photographs, case details, or clinical data—authors must secure explicit consent for publication. A statement confirming informed consent must be included in the manuscript. The journal reserves the right to request copies of consent forms if necessary.
Participant privacy and confidentiality must always be protected. Personal identifiers should be removed or anonymized unless essential to the research purpose and consent has been obtained. Data sharing must comply with relevant privacy laws and institutional requirements.
• Research Involving Biological Materials and Heritage Samples
Collection and use of biological specimens (including cultivated or wild samples, fossils, or genetic material) must comply with institutional, national, and international regulations. Authors must obtain and document all necessary permissions or licenses for field studies, sample collection, and material transfer. For fossil, archaeological, or heritage materials, authors must demonstrate adherence to applicable laws governing the protection and ownership of cultural and natural resources.
• Clinical Trials Registration and Reporting
Although ESTUSCIENCE-LIFE generally does not publish clinical trials, authors submitting any work involving human participants, medical interventions, or clinical data must follow recognized international standards. Such studies must be registered in a public trials registry before participant recruitment, and the registration number must be included in the manuscript.
• Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automated Technologies
If AI or AI-assisted tools are used in research design, data analysis, or manuscript preparation, this must be transparently disclosed in the Methods or Acknowledgments section. Authors must retain full responsibility for the integrity and validity of any results generated with AI support.
• Ethical Data Management and Sharing
Authors must ensure that research data are collected and managed ethically. Data should be stored securely, made available for verification when appropriate, and shared responsibly in accordance with privacy and consent restrictions. When datasets are published or deposited in repositories, proper citation and documentation must be provided.
All submissions must include a Data-Availability Statement indicating where the supporting data can be accessed or explaining any justified restrictions (e.g., privacy, confidentiality, or proprietary limitations). Editors may request access to data for verification during peer review.
• Compliance Verification and Ethical Accountability
The Editorial Office may request additional documentation—such as ethics approval letters or consent forms—to verify compliance. Failure to meet research ethics standards may result in rejection, correction, or retraction of the article. Authors, editors, and reviewers are jointly responsible for reporting and addressing any ethical concerns identified before or after publication.
|
July 27, 2026
|
Page
83-96
