Publication Ethics

At SHIFRA, we uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and professionalism in academic publishing. This Ethics Policy sets forth the essential principles and procedural expectations guiding our editorial and publishing activities, fostering a trustworthy and responsible research environment.

General Principles

SHIFRA adheres fully to the ethical guidelines provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). By submitting a manuscript, authors affirm that they have carefully reviewed and accepted the content, and agree to abide by the journal’s policies and ethical requirements as outlined in our Author Guidelines.

Affiliations

Each author is expected to furnish complete and accurate affiliation details, properly recognizing the institutions or organizations that contributed to the research, either through approval, funding, or execution.

  • For articles not classified as research, authors should disclose their current institutional affiliation.

  • In cases where the author has moved institutions after completing the research, both the original (research-related) and current affiliations should be listed.

  • Authors with no current institutional affiliation should explicitly identify themselves as independent scholars.

Appeals and Complaints

SHIFRA follows the COPE best practices for resolving appeals and complaints associated with editorial decisions or the peer review process.

Authors have the right to appeal decisions if they can present significant new evidence or arguments addressing the feedback from editors or reviewers. All appeals will be assessed with fairness and transparency by the editorial team.

Appeals or complaints may be submitted via email to appeals@peninsula-press.ae.

Acknowledgments

Contributors who have aided the research without meeting authorship criteria—such as through financial sponsorship, technical input, or editorial assistance—should be properly acknowledged.

Authors are encouraged to consult the relevant COPE Guidelines for further clarification.

Authorship

General Guidelines

SHIFRA emphasizes that authorship must reflect substantial scholarly contribution and adherence to ethical practices in academic recognition.

To be eligible for authorship, individuals must meet all of the following:

  • Have made a notable contribution to one or more key stages of the research (e.g., idea development, design, data collection, analysis, or interpretation).

  • Be actively involved in drafting, writing, or critically revising the manuscript for important intellectual content.

  • Have participated in the decision to submit the manuscript to SHIFRA.

  • Have reviewed and approved all manuscript versions, including the final one and any post-acceptance revisions.

  • Accept responsibility for the integrity and accuracy of the entire work, and be willing to respond to questions regarding the publication.

Changes to Authorship

Requests for adding, removing, or reordering authors must be mutually agreed upon by all affected parties. The corresponding author must secure written consent from all co-authors and submit a completed Author Change Form explaining the reason for the change.

For changes requested after publication, SHIFRA will issue formal correction notices. Significant changes after acceptance may be declined unless accompanied by solid justification and documentation of the contributions made by those involved.

Authorship Criteria

Recognition as an author is restricted to individuals who have made meaningful contributions in the following areas:

  • Study Design and Data Analysis – Engaging in the formulation of the study, research methodology, data acquisition, or analysis.

  • Manuscript Development – Taking part in drafting the manuscript or making critical revisions that influence its intellectual merit.

  • Final Approval – Reviewing and approving the final manuscript before publication.

Activities such as funding acquisition, general oversight, or administrative support do not qualify for authorship. Every listed author must have a direct and substantial role in the research and bear public responsibility for their part.

The sequence of authors should reflect their respective levels of contribution. Any changes to the order after submission require written agreement from all authors. SHIFRA reserves the right to limit the number of authors per submission based on the manuscript type and its scope. Submissions exceeding this threshold must include a clear justification.

Contributor Roles

To maintain transparency and accountability, SHIFRA requires that each author’s specific contributions be clearly defined under one or more of the following categories:

  • Conceptualization and study design

  • Intellectual content definition

  • Literature review

  • Clinical or experimental implementation

  • Data acquisition

  • Statistical or data analysis

  • Drafting the manuscript

  • Manuscript revision and review

This structured attribution ensures proper acknowledgment for every contributor's role in the work.

Citations

To substantiate claims in both research and non-research submissions, authors must reference credible, relevant, and up-to-date sources—prioritizing peer-reviewed publications.

Unethical citation behavior, including excessive self-citations or mutual citation agreements intended to artificially boost citations, is considered citation manipulation and is strictly prohibited. Authors should consult the COPE citation manipulation guidelines for clarification on appropriate referencing practices.

Citations in Non-Research Articles

In articles such as reviews or opinion pieces, references must be relevant and offer a fair, balanced view of the topic, incorporating diverse scholarly perspectives. Authors must avoid preferential citation of particular researchers, institutions, or journals without valid academic justification.

Questionable Sources

If there is uncertainty regarding the appropriateness of citing a specific source, authors are encouraged to consult the editorial team for guidance.

Conflict of Interest

All authors are obliged to disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest associated with the content of their manuscript. This includes relationships with entities or products mentioned in the article, as well as any financial or personal affiliations that may influence findings or interpretations.

Disclosure is also required for references to competing products. Authors and reviewers must complete the Conflict of Interest Form. Editors must declare any potential conflicts via the COI Form for Editors.

Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

Corrections

SHIFRA issues Correction Notices for mistakes or omissions that affect the article’s clarity but not its scientific validity. These may include errors in charts, figures, funding disclosures, or missing conflict of interest declarations.

There are two main types of corrections:

  • Corrigendum – For errors originating from the authors.

  • Erratum – For errors introduced by the publisher.

Retractions

Retraction Notices are issued when fundamental errors, ethical violations, or data misconduct undermine the integrity or validity of a published article. Grounds for retraction include:

  • Absence of required ethical approvals

  • Data fabrication or falsification

  • Plagiarism

  • Redundant or duplicate publication

Retractions are handled in accordance with COPE’s retraction guidelines. Either the authors or their affiliated institutions may initiate a retraction when warranted. All retractions must meet the following criteria:

  • The retraction notice is clearly linked to the retracted article

  • Both HTML and PDF versions are marked as “Retracted”

  • The reasons for retraction are fully disclosed

  • The initiating party (authors, editors, or institutions) is identified

Retractions are intended to correct the academic record, not penalize authors. Disputes related to authorship are generally resolved via a corrigendum. For authorship dispute resolution, please contact dispute@peninsula-press.ae.

Expressions of Concern

If serious concerns arise—such as potential misconduct or data issues—that cannot be promptly resolved, SHIFRA may publish an Expression of Concern. This notice remains part of the academic record while a formal investigation is conducted. Based on the outcome, the notice may be followed by either a Retraction or a Correction.

Inquiries related to such cases may be directed to dispute@peninsula-press.ae.

Article Removals

In exceptional circumstances where neither a correction nor a retraction adequately addresses the issue—such as when content is defamatory, violates legal rights, or is subject to a legal ruling—SHIFRA may issue a Removal Notice. In such instances, the article will be replaced with a statement explaining the reason for removal.

Consent for Publication

When including personal information or images of individuals in a manuscript, obtaining written informed consent is mandatory. For individuals under the age of 18, consent must be secured from a parent or legal guardian. The consent must specifically grant permission for publication under the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0, recognizing that the material will be publicly accessible online. If the subject is deceased, consent must be obtained from their nearest living relative prior to publication. Manuscripts must explicitly state that written consent for publication has been secured.

Authors may use consent forms issued by their respective institutions or jurisdictions, or alternatively, a purpose-designed form. The consent form must clearly state that the individual’s information or images will be freely available online without any restrictions. Authors must be prepared to provide the signed consent form to the Editor upon request; however, the form will be treated confidentially and not published.

Responsibility for Consent

Authors bear full responsibility for obtaining and safely storing all patient consent forms before publication. These documents should not be submitted alongside the manuscript or emailed to SHIFRA's editorial or publishing offices.

This policy safeguards ethical publishing practices while protecting participant privacy.

Confidentiality

All manuscripts submitted to SHIFRA are considered confidential. Strict confidentiality protocols are enforced to limit access only to individuals directly involved in the editorial process, such as the editorial office, corresponding authors, assigned reviewers, and editors.

If allegations of misconduct arise, manuscripts may be shared with the journal’s ethical committees or other relevant organizations to support investigations, following COPE’s procedures.

Maintaining confidentiality is critical for protecting intellectual property, upholding ethical standards, and preserving the trust of all stakeholders.

Data Falsification or Fabrication

Data falsification or fabrication—deliberate alteration, invention, or manipulation of research data—is considered serious academic misconduct and severely undermines the integrity of scientific research.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that all data presented in their manuscript is accurate, verifiable, and genuinely reflects their research outcomes. Authors must retain all original datasets and be able to provide them to the journal if requested.

Failure to supply original data upon request may lead to rejection of the manuscript or retraction of a published article. SHIFRA enforces a zero-tolerance policy regarding data falsification and fabrication.

Desk Rejection Policy

A manuscript submitted to SHIFRA may be desk-rejected (rejected without external peer review) for the following reasons:

  • The research topic falls outside the journal’s scope.

  • Ethical concerns exist, including plagiarism with a similarity index over 20%, or non-compliance with international publication standards.

  • The study lacks significant contribution or novelty within its field.

  • Flaws in study design compromise the validity of the findings.

  • Objectives are vague or poorly articulated.

  • The manuscript is disorganized or missing essential sections.

  • Language quality is inadequate, including significant grammatical, stylistic, or clarity issues.

  • The manuscript fails to adhere to SHIFRA’s Author Guidelines.

This policy helps maintain the quality and relevance of articles considered for publication.

Duplicate Submission and Publication

Authors must affirm during submission that the manuscript is not under consideration by another journal. Failure to disclose duplicate submissions constitutes unethical publishing behavior.

In accordance with ICMJE guidelines, if authors intend to submit a translated version of a previously published article, they must:

  • Obtain permission from the original publisher and copyright owner.

  • Inform the Editor at SHIFRA about the original publication.

  • Clearly state that the submission is a translation and cite the original source accordingly.

This ensures transparency and protects the academic record.

Funding Disclosure

All authors must declare any financial support received for the research work. A complete description of the funding organization’s role—covering design, data collection, analysis, and writing—must be provided.

Authors must submit a completed Financial Disclosure Form with their manuscript. Where sponsors had no role in particular research stages, this must be clearly stated. This policy promotes openness and research integrity.

Use of Images and Figures

When photographs, video recordings, or audio materials that might reveal a participant’s identity are used, written consent for publication is mandatory. Consent must be obtained from a parent or guardian for minors, and from the closest living relative for deceased individuals.

Authors should respect cultural sensitivities concerning the depiction of human remains or deceased individuals, following ethical and respectful practices when handling such materials.

Experimental Photographs

Photographs, including microscopy images, must faithfully represent the original materials. Any modifications or enhancements must be minimal, consistently applied, and transparently described in the manuscript and figure legends.

Authors must be prepared to provide the original, unaltered versions of figures upon request.

Permissible modifications must:

  • Be minimal and consistently applied across the entire image.

  • Be thoroughly described, including the editing method, software version, and parameters used.

  • Never alter the scientific interpretation or integrity of the content.

Reuse of Published Figures

When reusing figures or images from previous works, authors must secure permission from the original copyright holder. A statement confirming this permission must appear in the figure legend, along with appropriate citation of the original source.

Even when using content available under open licenses, proper attribution is mandatory to maintain academic integrity.

Research Misconduct

SHIFRA is firmly committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record. Any allegations or evidence of misconduct will be thoroughly investigated according to COPE's ethical guidelines.

Concerns or reports of misconduct should be sent to dispute@peninsula-press.ae.

Examples of misconduct include, but are not limited to:

  • Misrepresentation of institutional affiliations

  • Copyright infringement or use of third-party content without permission

  • Citation manipulation

  • Duplicate publication or submission

  • Ethics dumping (exploiting less stringent ethical practices)

  • Data or image manipulation

  • Peer review manipulation

  • Plagiarism or excessive text recycling (self-plagiarism)

  • Failure to disclose conflicts of interest

  • Conducting unethical research practices

Specific Types of Misconduct

The following actions are considered misconduct and are subject to investigation and penalties:

  • Duplicate Submission: Submitting a manuscript that has been published or is under review elsewhere constitutes a serious violation. Authors must:

    • Clearly cite the original work.

    • Specify the novel contributions of the submitted manuscript compared to the prior publication.

  • Citation Manipulation: Citations intended solely to artificially inflate citation metrics of an author or journal will result in disciplinary action.

  • Data Fabrication and Falsification: Any form of falsified or invented data—including manipulated visuals or datasets—will be considered misconduct.

  • Improper Authorship or Attribution: Every listed author must have played a meaningful role in the study and approved its content. Contributions from laboratory personnel or students should also be acknowledged appropriately.

  • Redundant Publication: Fragmenting the results of a single study into multiple publications without valid justification is not permitted.

  • Image Misrepresentation: Altering images in ways that could mislead the interpretation is unethical and will be addressed through formal investigation and penalties.

Definition and Consequences of Misconduct

Misconduct encompasses any breach of SHIFRA’s editorial policies, publishing ethics, or the principles laid out by COPE, WAME, ICMJE, or STM. Violations that compromise the validity of research or the integrity of the editorial process will be thoroughly examined in accordance with COPE procedures. SHIFRA will take appropriate corrective actions, including rejection, retraction, or formal sanctioning.

Commitment to Publication Ethics

SHIFRA, alongside its editorial board, maintains strict adherence to the ethical practices outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Editorial Responsibilities

  • Publication Decisions: Final decisions on manuscript acceptance are made by the editorial board, guided by reviewers’ input and ethical/legal considerations such as defamation, copyright infringement, and plagiarism.

  • Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest: Editors must preserve confidentiality throughout the review process and disclose any conflicts of interest using the COI Form for Editors.

  • Use of Unpublished Content: Editors must not use any part of submitted manuscripts for personal research unless explicit written consent is obtained from the author(s).

  • Funding Transparency: Editors must ensure funding sources and their involvement in the research or manuscript are clearly disclosed to readers.

  • Author Communication: Editors should interact with authors in a professional, respectful manner and provide constructive feedback to enhance the manuscript’s quality.

Reviewer Responsibilities

  • Supporting Editorial Decisions: Peer reviewers contribute critically to the decision-making process by providing impartial, structured, and well-justified feedback.

  • Qualification and Timeliness: Reviewers should only accept manuscripts they are qualified to assess. If they are unable to complete the review promptly, they should inform the editorial office and withdraw from the review.

  • Confidentiality: Review materials are confidential and may not be used for personal advantage or shared with unauthorized individuals.

  • Acknowledging Sources: Reviewers should identify any relevant literature not cited by the authors and suggest appropriate references.

  • Conflict Disclosure: Reviewers must complete the Conflict of Interest Form for Reviewers and disclose any personal or professional conflicts that might affect their impartiality.

Author Responsibilities

  • Accurate Reporting: Authors are responsible for presenting a truthful and thorough account of their research, including an objective discussion of its implications.

  • Originality and Ethical Publishing: Manuscripts must be original, with proper citations for any borrowed ideas or phrases. Concurrent submission to another journal is prohibited.

  • Disclosure of Conflicts: Authors are required to complete and submit the Conflict of Interest Form along with their manuscript.

  • Correct Authorship: The corresponding author must ensure that all qualifying contributors are listed and that no undeserving individuals are included.

  • Post-publication Corrections: If an error is identified after publication, the authors must promptly inform the editorial office to correct or retract the work as needed.

Peer Review Process

Every manuscript submitted to SHIFRA undergoes an initial editorial review to verify its relevance and alignment with the journal's scope.

Eligible manuscripts are then subjected to Single Blind Peer Review, involving at least two independent reviewers who assess the content anonymously. Reviewers' comments are forwarded to the corresponding author for revisions, which must be accompanied by a detailed response.

After revisions are submitted, the editorial board evaluates the manuscript alongside reviewer recommendations and communicates the final decision to the corresponding author. This process ensures fairness, objectivity, and rigorous quality control.

Plagiarism Policy

SHIFRA maintains a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of plagiarism. This includes unauthorized reproduction of content, duplicate or redundant publication, and self-plagiarism in any language.

All manuscripts are analyzed using plagiarism detection software. Submissions with a similarity index above acceptable thresholds will be rejected immediately.

The journal allows the use of preprint archives, which does not constitute duplicate publication. The corresponding author holds primary responsibility for the submission and acts on behalf of all co-authors throughout the process.

Preprint Policy

Authors are permitted to deposit their manuscripts in preprint repositories (e.g., arXiv, RePEc) at any stage of development.

Upon acceptance, authors are encouraged to link the preprint to the official published version using the Digital Object Identifier (DOI). They may also upload the final accepted version to preprint servers.

This approach enhances accessibility and encourages early dissemination while maintaining scholarly transparency.

Patient Identifying Information

The publication of identifying information about patients—including text descriptions, images, sonograms, CT scans, or family trees—should be strictly avoided unless it is crucial for the scientific objectives of the study. When disclosure is essential, authors must obtain explicit written informed consent from the patient or, when applicable, their parent or legal guardian. SHIFRA adheres strictly to the ethical guidelines set by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

Patient names or other identifiers must not appear in any figures unless explicit consent has been obtained. If the manuscript includes any material that could potentially reveal a patient’s identity, it must contain a statement affirming that informed consent for publication has been secured.

Consent Responsibility

Authors are solely responsible for obtaining and securely retaining signed patient consent forms before manuscript submission. These forms should not be uploaded alongside the manuscript or sent via email to the editorial or publisher offices.

This procedure ensures that the privacy rights of participants are fully protected while maintaining ethical publication standards.

Research Ethics and Consent

All research involving humans, animals, or plants must adhere to ethical standards and secure appropriate institutional approvals before commencing.

Research Involving Humans

Research involving human participants must comply with the ethical framework set by the Declaration of Helsinki. Authors must obtain ethical approval from an institutional review board (IRB) or equivalent ethics body prior to starting the research.

Authors are required to disclose:

  • The name of the approving institution.

  • The ethics committee's designation.

  • The approval number(s).

Retrospective ethical approval is not acceptable and may result in disqualification from publication.

Authors must also declare that informed consent was obtained from all human participants and that their privacy and rights were respected.

Research Involving Animals

Research involving animals must comply with international, national, and institutional animal welfare guidelines. Ethical approval must be granted by the relevant ethics body, such as the Animal Ethics Committee or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).

Authors must provide:

  • Full details of ethical approval (institution, committee name, and approval number).

  • A justification for the use of animals.

  • Descriptions of care, housing, and efforts to minimize animal suffering.

Research Involving Plants

Plant research must comply with institutional, national, and international regulations. Authors must verify that all necessary permissions or licenses were obtained, and demonstrate compliance with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and CITES.

Standards of Reporting

Authors must ensure that their research reports are clear, complete, and reproducible by providing:

  • Rationale: A clear explanation of the study’s purpose and significance.

  • Research Protocol: Comprehensive description of experimental or observational procedures.

  • Methodology: Detailed account of tools, techniques, and analysis methods.

  • Data Analysis: Explanation of how data was processed and interpreted.

Accurate reporting allows other researchers to verify, replicate, and extend the research findings.

Use of Third-Party Material

When including third-party content (text, images, tables, data, audiovisual material, etc.), authors must secure proper permissions unless the use qualifies under fair use or similar exemptions.

If permissions are required, authors must obtain written authorization from the copyright holders before submitting their manuscript.

This ensures full compliance with copyright laws and ethical publishing practices.

Use of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in Writing

This policy pertains to AI usage in the writing process and does not extend to AI applications for research data analysis.

Authors using AI tools to improve language or readability must supervise all content creation and ensure that key intellectual responsibilities—such as scientific conclusions or clinical recommendations—remain human-driven. All AI-generated material must be thoroughly reviewed and edited.

As AI content can sometimes be biased or inaccurate, authors retain full responsibility for ensuring the validity and accuracy of the final work.

Disclosure of AI Use

Authors must clearly disclose their use of AI or AI-assisted technologies in their manuscripts. SHIFRA will include an acknowledgment of this use in the final publication to promote transparency and maintain trust.

This policy also ensures that the use of AI complies with the terms of service of the respective tools.

Authorship Responsibilities in the Context of AI

AI technologies cannot be listed as authors. Human authors must:

  • Assume full responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the work.

  • Approve the final manuscript and its submission.

  • Ensure originality and ethical authorship practices.

  • Confirm that no third-party rights are infringed.

These principles safeguard the ethical standards of authorship.

Use of AI in Peer Review

While AI technologies are increasingly influential in publishing, the peer review process at SHIFRA remains a human-centered activity guided by these core principles:

Human Responsibility

Peer review depends on human critical thinking and judgment. Manuscripts must be evaluated exclusively by qualified human reviewers and editors.

Confidentiality

Reviewers must not upload any manuscript content to AI platforms, as these tools cannot guarantee privacy or data protection. Violations could compromise authors' confidentiality and copyright.

Peer Review Reports

Peer review reports and editorial communications must remain confidential and must not be shared with or processed through AI platforms.

AI in Editorial Processing

AI tools may be ethically used for preliminary checks—such as plagiarism detection, manuscript completeness verification, and reviewer identification—provided confidentiality is maintained.

Ethical Commitment

All contributors to SHIFRA—authors, reviewers, and editors—are expected to adhere to the highest ethical standards, following the principles established by COPE, WAME, and ICMJE.

By submitting to SHIFRA, authors confirm their full responsibility for their work’s accuracy, integrity, and originality. Reviewers and editors likewise commit to confidentiality, fairness, and transparency throughout the evaluation and publication processes.

Allegations of ethical misconduct are handled with strict adherence to established protocols to ensure proper resolution and maintain academic trust.

Closing Statements

SHIFRA is devoted to preserving the transparency, rigor, and trustworthiness of the academic publishing process. By complying with internationally recognized ethical standards, the journal promotes a scholarly environment where fairness, integrity, and scientific excellence prevail.

All stakeholders are encouraged to embrace these principles throughout the research and publication journey, fostering a stronger and more ethical academic community.