SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY

Although instances of duplicate publication or scientific misconduct are rare, they compromise the integrity of the scientific record. If the Editorial Board identifies or receives credible evidence of such concerns, the matter will be thoroughly investigated.

Plagiarism

The Editorial Board considers plagiarism, where an author presents another person’s ideas, words, or other creative expression as their own, to be a serious violation of scientific and publication ethics. Plagiarism may also constitute a breach of copyright law and may be subject to legal action. AFMN Biomedicine checks every submission using the iThenticate Similarity Check software to detect potential instances of plagiarism, i.e., overlapping and similar text in submitted manuscripts.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Verbatim (word-for-word), or almost verbatim copying, or deliberately paraphrasing substantial portions of another author's work without clearly acknowledging the source or marking the copied fragment (e.g., using quotation marks).
• Copying equations, figures, or tables from another author's work without proper citation of the source and without obtaining permission from the original author or the copyright holder

Any manuscript showing clear evidence of plagiarism will be automatically rejected. If plagiarism is discovered in an article that has already been published, the Journal will conduct a preliminary investigation. If plagiarism is confirmed, the Journal will notify the author's institution and, as appropriate, the funding agencies. The paper containing plagiarism will be formally retracted or subject to correction, following COPE guidelines.

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technologies

The Journal recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) tools are being increasingly used in the research and writing process. While such tools may facilitate language editing and organizing text or ideas during manuscript preparation, their improper use can compromise research integrity, accuracy, or confidentiality. When using AI technologies during the preparation, submission, and review of manuscripts, the Journal expects all authors, reviewers, and editors to adhere to the principles outlined in the following documents: COPE, WAME, and STM guidelines on the use of generative AI in scholarly publishing. 

AI tools for spelling, grammar, or style may be used without disclosure, provided they do not generate original scholarly content. However, use of generative AI technologies, such as large language models (LLMs) that produce text, references, images, or analyses, must be fully disclosed at submission. Authors must specify AI-generated content, the name and version of the tool used, and the date of use in the Methods section. Generative AI should not be cited as a primary source or credited as an author.

Authors are fully responsible for verifying the accuracy and validity of all AI-generated content. They must ensure AI tools have not introduced fabricated data, inaccurate citations, bias, or uncredited copied text, as this may constitute plagiarism or misconduct. The Journal strictly prohibits the use of generative AI to create, alter, or enhance empirical data, images, or figures.

If concerns or evidence of inappropriate or undisclosed use of AI technologies are identified by reviewers, the Editorial Board, or after publishing, the Journal will conduct an investigation. Confirmed misconduct will result in appropriate actions, which may include rejection of the manuscript, notification of the author’s institution, an expression of concern, or retraction of the published article.

Post-Publication Corrections, Retractions and Appeals

Post-publication policies, including corrections, retractions, expressions of concern, and appeals, are vital to maintaining scholarly integrity. In handling these, the Journal follows COPE guidelines.

In cases of alleged scientific misconduct involving published articles, the Journal may take any steps necessary to maintain the accuracy and transparency of the scholarly record. Anyone may report suspected unethical behavior to the Editor-in-Chief or Editorial Board with credible evidence. The Journal will conduct an internal review, allowing the involved author(s) to respond. After the review, any confirmed misconduct is classified as minor or serious.

Minor misconduct that does not compromise the integrity of the manuscript or the Journal is generally resolved directly with the authors or reviewers involved. The Journal will publish a correction (for author(s) errors), or an erratum (for Journal’s errors). Both a correction and an erratum will be linked to the original paper.

Serious misconduct may require more extensive actions. The Editorial Board may issue a formal notice, inform the author’s or reviewer’s institution, retract the article in accordance with the Journal’s Retraction Policy, impose a temporary submission ban, or refer the case to legal authorities. All procedures follow COPE guidelines.

Allegations may be submitted anonymously, but must include a written disclosure of any financial or other conflicts. Potential conflicts should be declared even if they seem unrelated. Disclosure does not invalidate the allegation but may be considered during review. The Journal strives to protect the complainant’s anonymity, though in some cases identity may be unintentionally revealed. Once the investigation is complete, complainants are informed about the final decision.

Expression of Concern

When serious concerns arise that cannot be immediately resolved, or when editors are unable to obtain sufficient information from authors or institutions, the Journal may issue an Expression of Concern. This notice is linked to the article and alerts readers to potential issues. It may later be replaced by a correction or retraction, or remain in place if the investigation is inconclusive. Authors are informed before the notice is published, but their approval is not required for publication.

Retractions

Retractions are issued when an article contains major errors or breaches of scholarly integrity, such as plagiarism, fraudulent data, or misrepresentation of results. They may be initiated by the Editorial Board, the authors, or both. Retraction notices are published separately, linked to the original article, and explain the reason for the retraction. The original article remains available but is clearly marked as retracted. Authors are informed and may comment, but their approval is not required for publication. Retractions may also occur if results are unreliable or if the findings were previously published without proper attribution. For more details, please refer to our Retraction Policy.

Appeals

Authors may appeal post-publication corrections by providing relevant evidence and submitting any new data that addresses the concerns. They may express objections or ask for reconsideration, but reversal is not guaranteed, as the final decision rests with the editors and does not require a formal appeals process.