Publication Ethics Policy

Ethical standards in academic publishing are essential to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of scholarly work. These standards cover various aspects, including proper authorship, ethical approval for studies involving human or animal subjects, conflicts of interest, data fabrication, and plagiarism. Manuscripts may be rejected if editors determine that the research was not conducted within an appropriate ethical framework

Authors are expected to adhere to the guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Submissions to the Derna University Journal of Applied Sciences (DUJAS) must strictly comply with these ethical standards. Authors must ensure full compliance with ethical requirements and avoid plagiarism in any form.

Authorship

All listed authors must have made a substantial scientific contribution to the manuscript and must approve all of its content and claims. It is essential to include all individuals who have significantly contributed to the work, including students, to ensure proper acknowledgment and accountability.

Plagiarism

The Derna University Journal of Applied Sciences is committed to publishing only original material, that is, content that has not been published previously or is not under review elsewhere. Manuscripts found to contain plagiarized content, whether from published or unpublished sources, will be subject to strict action in accordance with the journal’s plagiarism policy.

Duplicate Submission

Submitted manuscripts that have been previously published or are under review elsewhere will be subject to sanctions for duplicate submission. If a manuscript is derived from work that has already been published, authors must clearly cite the original source and explicitly explain how the submitted manuscript makes novel contributions that extend beyond the earlier publication.

Data Fabrication & Falsification

Manuscripts that are found to contain copied, manipulated, or falsified experimental data, including but not limited to image manipulation and fabricated datasets, will be subject to serious ethical scrutiny.

Conflict of Interest

All authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any conflicts of interest, whether financial, personal, academic, or professional, that could potentially influence the content, review, or outcome of the manuscript. Disclosure of a conflict of interest does not necessarily preclude publication but ensures a fair and objective assessment of the manuscript. Failure to disclose relevant conflicts may result in rejection, retraction, or other corrective actions.

Penalty

In cases where violations of the above-mentioned policies are confirmed, whether or not the infractions occurred within the Derna University Journal of Applied Sciences, the following penalties shall be applied:

·         Immediate rejection of the manuscript (or retraction if already published)

·         Notification of the authors' affiliated institutions.

·         Possible bans on future submissions.

·         Reporting to appropriate regulatory or ethical bodies, if necessary.