Allegations of Research Misconduct

APTEK is committed to upholding research integrity and maintaining high standards of publication ethics. Any allegations of research misconduct will be treated seriously through a process that is fair, objective, and transparent, while ensuring the confidentiality of the parties involved.

Research Misconduct

Violations of research integrity encompass actions that potentially compromise the validity and credibility of research findings, including:

• Fabrication or falsification of data or research findings;
• Plagiarism in any form;
• Manipulation of data, images, or illustrations in violation of ethical principles;
• Duplicate publication or republication without justifiable grounds;
• Violations of authorship guidelines;
• Failure to disclose relevant conflicts of interest;
• Misuse or manipulation of the peer-review process;
• Other forms of misconduct that threaten the integrity of research and scientific publication.

Reporting an Allegation

Any party—including authors, reviewers, readers, academic institutions, or other stakeholders—may submit a report regarding alleged research misconduct to the APTEK Editorial Office. Reports should include sufficient information, such as the article title, DOI or publication link, a description of the alleged misconduct, and relevant supporting evidence. Reports must be submitted in good faith, and all information received will be kept confidential in accordance with established procedures.

Assessment and Investigation

All reports received will undergo an initial review by the editorial team to determine their validity and the appropriate course of action. If necessary, the editorial team may request explanations or additional documents from the author, consult with relevant experts, and coordinate with the author's affiliated institution. APTEK emphasizes that an allegation does not automatically prove that misconduct has occurred. Therefore, all evidence will be examined objectively and proportionately, providing the relevant parties with a fair opportunity to offer clarifications or responses.

Possible Actions

Based on the assessment and investigation findings, APTEK may determine actions appropriate to the severity and nature of the issue, including:

• Closing the case if the alleged misconduct is not supported by sufficient evidence;
• Issuing a correction to the published article;
• Issuing an Expression of Concern;
• Retracting the article if misconduct meeting the criteria for retraction is found;
• Forwarding the report to the author's affiliated institution or other relevant authorities for further action.

Through this policy, APTEK aims to uphold the integrity of the scientific record, protect the credibility of its publications, and ensure that any allegations concerning research integrity are handled responsibly, based on evidence and commensurate with the severity of the issue.