Publication Ethics

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AnaPub Publications is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of integrity in its published content. To ensure this, the AnaPub Publications has implemented a Conflict-of-Interest policy and adheres to a code of conduct inspired by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines. This code of conduct, developed by the Board of Members, aims to support the quality and transparency of the journal's operations.

To prevent plagiarism, AnaPub Publications employs Crossref Similarity Check (iThenticate) plagiarism detection software to screen all submissions. If plagiarism is detected, the journal follows COPE guidelines on handling such cases.

Manuscripts found to have plagiarized content, whether from published or unpublished works by other authors, will be rejected, and the authors may face sanctions. Additionally, any published articles discovered to contain plagiarized material may be corrected or retracted.

All content published in AnaPub Publications journals undergoes a rigorous double-blind peer review process.

Authorship

Individuals who have made significant academic contributions to a scientific investigation such as those who have been involved in the conception, design, execution, analysis, and interpretation of the data should be recognized as authors. Authors should also participate in drafting, reviewing, or revising the manuscript for intellectual content and approve the final version for publication. Submitting authors must provide an ORCID, and it is recommended that all authors do the same. Any changes in authorship must be communicated to the journal and agreed upon by all authors.

Corresponding Author

When an article has multiple authors, one must be designated as the Corresponding Author. This individual assumes overall responsibility for the manuscript and its submission, contributing significantly to the research effort. The Corresponding Author is not necessarily the principal investigator or project leader.

Co-Authors

Co-authors must consent to their authorship and contribute meaningfully to the research work. They should take responsibility for specific portions of the content, ensuring they have reviewed and approved the manuscript. Each co-author is accountable for the integrity and accuracy of their contributions and any applicable research.

Editors and Reviewers

Editors and reviewers should recuse themselves from a submission if they

• Have recently published with any author of the manuscript or currently have a submission with any author.
• Have shared an affiliation with any author recently.
• Have collaborated or are currently collaborating with any author.
• Have a close personal connection with any author.
• Have a financial interest in the subject of the work.
• Feel they cannot remain objective.

Reviewers must declare any remaining interests in the ‘Confidential’ section of the review form, which will be considered by the editor. Additionally, editors and reviewers must disclose if they have previously discussed the manuscript with the authors.

Conflict of Interest

A Conflict of Interest (COI) arises when judgment regarding the research is influenced by factors such as financial gain or personal relationships. All authors are required to disclose any financial, personal, or other associations that may influence, or be perceived to influence, their work. For more information on COIs, please refer to the COPE guidelines

Anti-Plagiarism Policy

AnaPub Publications is dedicated to publishing original, unpublished material to maintain the integrity of the scientific record. The corresponding author must confirm that all authors have read and approved the manuscript. All submissions are screened for plagiarism using iThenticate. If plagiarism is detected, AnaPub Publications will investigate and take appropriate action based on the severity of the plagiarism.

Citation Manipulation

Citation manipulation, where an article is published primarily to increase an author's number of citations, is against AnaPub Publications' Ethical Guidelines. Editors and reviewers must not ask authors to include references merely to increase citations to their own work, their associates work, or the journal.

Duplicate Submission and Redundant Publications

Redundant publication, or publishing the same intellectual material more than once, is prohibited. Manuscripts submitted to AnaPub Publications must not be under consideration elsewhere and must be withdrawn before submission to another journal. Authors whose articles are found to have been simultaneously submitted elsewhere may face sanctions.

If authors use their own previously published work or work currently under review as the basis for a new submission, they must cite the previous articles and explain how the new manuscript differs. Duplicate publication of the same or very similar articles may lead to the retraction of the later article and potential sanctions against the authors.

Fabrication and Falsification

Authors of manuscripts or published articles found to have fabricated or falsified results, including image manipulation, may incur sanctions, and the affected articles may be retracted.

Sanctions

In the event of a complaint of misconduct, AnaPub Publications will conduct an investigation following the COPE guidelines. All involved parties will have the opportunity to present their perspectives. If the complaint is found to be valid, the journal will impose sanctions on the authors based on the severity of the breach. These sanctions may include:

• Rejection of the manuscript and any other manuscripts submitted by the author(s).
• A ban on submissions for three years.
• Prohibition from serving as an editor or reviewer.

Investigations

Suspected violations of our publication ethics policies, whether occurring before or after publication, as well as concerns about research ethics, should be reported to our Research Integrity team. AnaPub Publications may request authors to provide underlying data and images, consult with editors, and contact institutions or employers to conduct an investigation or raise concerns.

Please report any issues to researchintegrity@anapub.co.ke.

Manuscripts Corrections and Retractions

When errors are identified in published articles, the publisher will determine the necessary actions, potentially consulting with editors and the authors’ institutions.

• Corrigendum: Issued for author errors.
• Erratum: Issued for publisher errors.

All authors will be required to agree to the content of the correction notice.

A retraction or an expression of concern may be issued if:

• There is clear evidence that the findings are unreliable due to misconduct (e.g., data fabrication) or honest error (e.g., miscalculation or experimental error).
• The findings have been previously published elsewhere without proper cross-referencing, permission, or justification.
• The article constitutes plagiarism.
• The article reports unethical research.

Significant errors affecting the conclusions or evidence of misconduct will follow the COPE Retraction Guidelines and may necessitate a retraction or an expression of concern.