The Annals of Biomedical Science and Engineering (ABSE) is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct in publishing. This policy defines the ethical responsibilities and principles that guide all participants in the scholarly communication process, including authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher. ABSE strictly follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

1. Guiding Principles

ABSE’s publication ethics are based on the following core principles:

Integrity: Honesty in research, writing, and reporting.
Transparency: Clear communication and openness in all publication processes.
Fairness: Impartial treatment of all submissions and participants.
Accountability: Responsibility for actions and decisions in the editorial process.
Confidentiality: Protection of personal data and manuscript information.

2. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting to ABSE are expected to:

Submit only original and unpublished work.
Provide accurate, verifiable data and properly cite all sources.
Disclose all potential conflicts of interest or financial support.
Ensure that all listed authors have contributed significantly to the work and approve the final manuscript.
Obtain necessary permissions for reproduced materials or third-party content.
Comply with ethical standards for research involving human or animal subjects.

“ABSE values honesty and transparency in authorship and expects every contributor to uphold the integrity of scientific communication.”

3. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are entrusted with maintaining fairness, objectivity, and confidentiality in the handling of manuscripts. They must:

Make publication decisions solely based on scientific merit and relevance.
Prevent any form of discrimination based on gender, geography, or institutional affiliation.
Protect author confidentiality during and after the review process.
Follow COPE guidelines for managing suspected misconduct or disputes.

4. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers play a key role in maintaining academic quality. They are required to:

Evaluate manuscripts objectively, constructively, and in a timely manner.
Respect the confidentiality of all materials received for review.
Disclose any conflict of interest before accepting a review assignment.
Avoid using privileged information for personal gain.

5. Publisher Responsibilities

Heighten Science Publications Inc., as the publisher of ABSE, ensures that editorial decisions remain independent and free from commercial influence. The publisher provides the necessary resources for maintaining ethical standards, plagiarism checks, and digital preservation.

6. Ethical Standards in Research

ABSE requires that all research adhere to ethical standards in accordance with international laws and institutional policies. For studies involving humans or animals:

Authors must include the name of the ethics committee granting approval.
Informed consent must be obtained from all participants.
Animal studies must comply with recognized welfare regulations.

7. Misconduct and Correction Policy

ABSE investigates all allegations of misconduct in accordance with COPE flowcharts. Examples of misconduct include plagiarism, falsification of data, manipulation of figures, duplicate submission, and unethical authorship practices. Depending on the severity, actions may include:

Rejection of the manuscript before or after publication.
Retraction or correction of published articles.
Notification of the author’s institution or funding body.
Permanent or temporary ban from future submissions.

8. Conflict of Interest

All parties must disclose any real or perceived conflicts of interest. Examples include financial relationships, consultancy roles, employment, or personal connections that might influence interpretation. These disclosures are published with the article when relevant.

9. Data Transparency and Reproducibility

Authors should retain all data supporting their research findings and make it available upon request. Whenever possible, datasets should be shared in recognized repositories following FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles.

10. Plagiarism and Redundancy

Manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software. Submissions with significant overlap or redundant publication are rejected immediately. Reuse of content without citation or permission is considered unethical.

11. Correction and Retraction Mechanism

When errors or ethical breaches are identified, ABSE follows a transparent correction and retraction procedure. Corrections are issued for minor errors, while retractions are reserved for serious violations. Each correction or retraction notice links clearly to the original publication.

12. Confidentiality and Data Protection

Editors, reviewers, and staff must keep all information about submitted manuscripts confidential. Personal data are processed according to ABSE’s Privacy Statement and comply with GDPR regulations.

13. Advertising and Sponsorship Policy

ABSE does not publish or promote advertisements that compromise editorial independence. Any sponsored content or conference proceedings must adhere to the same ethical standards as regular submissions.

14. Appeals and Complaints

Authors who disagree with editorial decisions may file an appeal by submitting a detailed justification to the Editor-in-Chief. Complaints about ethical misconduct are handled confidentially and resolved based on COPE procedures.

15. Policy Review and Updates

This Publication Ethics Policy is reviewed annually to ensure compliance with evolving global standards. The editorial board may revise the policy as needed to reflect best practices and maintain ethical excellence in scholarly publishing.

16. Contact Information

All ethical inquiries or complaints should be addressed to:

Email: [email protected]
Editorial Office: Annals of Biomedical Science and Engineering (ABSE), USA