Editorial policies
Table of contents Overview Communicate with Respect Ethics and consent Research involving human embryos, gametes, and stem cells Sex and gender in research (SAGER) Research involving animals Research involving plants Research involving palaeontological and geological material Dual Use Research of Concern Standards for research in complementary and alternative medicine Consent for publication Trial registration Availability of data and materials Standards of reporting Describing new taxa Competing interests Authorship
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Citations Preprint sharing and citation Duplicate publication Communications of findings prior to publication Text recycling Peer review Confidentiality Misconduct Corrections, Retractions and Matters Arising Appeals and complaints Collections and Special Issues
Overview
AUCTORES is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. We are members of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and endorse the principles outlined by the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) on geopolitical interference in editorial decisions. AUCTORES also follows the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals. Submission of a manuscript to an AUCTORES journal implies that all authors have read and agreed to its content and that the manuscript complies with the journal’s policies. AUCTORES remains neutral regarding jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Communicate with Respect
At AUCTORES, we believe that mutual respect is essential to building trust and delivering high-quality publishing services. Our staff are expected to behave professionally and respectfully when engaging with authors, reviewers, and readers. Likewise, we expect the same standards of conduct from the academic community and the public. Aggressive behavior, harassment, bullying, or discrimination directed at AUCTORES staff will not be tolerated. In serious cases, we may escalate issues to employers or
authorities and reserve the right to refuse interaction or services with individuals who repeatedly or severely violate this policy. Ethics and consent
Ethics Approval
Research involving human participants, human material, or human data must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki and receive approval from an appropriate ethics committee. Manuscripts must include the name of the committee and reference numbers where applicable. If an exemption from ethics approval was granted, this must also be detailed. Editors may request additional documentation and may reject manuscripts that do not meet ethical standards.
Retrospective Ethics Approval
Studies lacking prior ethics approval may not be considered for peer review. Decisions are at the discretion of the Editor.
New Clinical Tools and Procedures
Authors must justify the use of new procedures or tools in clinical settings unless already approved for clinical use at the institution. Ethics committee approval and informed patient consent are required for any experimental use.
Consent to Participate
Informed consent must be obtained from all human participants (or guardians for minors) and documented in the manuscript. Research involving vulnerable groups will be assessed carefully, and manuscripts may require additional editorial scrutiny. Consent is also required for all personally identifiable data. Human transplantation studies must include statements about the source of organs/tissues. Documentation may be requested.
Research involving human embryos, gametes, and stem cells
Experiments with human embryos, gametes, or stem cells must follow relevant guidelines and regulations. Ethics statements must be included, and informed consent must be obtained where necessary. AUCTORES encourages adherence to ISSCR Guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation (2016). Editors consider safety, regulatory compliance, and societal implications when reviewing studies involving human germline modifications.
Sex and gender in research (SAGER)
Authors are encouraged to follow the SAGER guidelines, clearly distinguishing between sex (biological attributes) and gender (socially constructed roles). Manuscripts should report sex- and gender-specific data, analyses, and rationale where applicable. Guidelines apply to studies involving humans, vertebrate animals, and cell lines. Research involving animals
Experimental research on vertebrates or regulated invertebrates must comply with institutional, national, or international guidelines and receive ethics approval. Manuscripts must detail compliance and provide ethics committee information. AUCTORES reserves the right to reject studies inconsistent with accepted norms of animal research. Anesthesia or euthanasia methods not aligned with veterinary best practices will not be considered, regardless of prior approval. Studies involving client-owned animals must include informed consent and demonstrate high standards of care. Field studies must comply with applicable guidelines and permissions, including IUCN and CITES regulations.
Research involving plants
Experimental and field studies on plants, including collection of specimens, must comply with relevant guidelines and legislation. Manuscripts must specify permissions or licenses obtained. Voucher specimens for wild plants should be deposited in publicly accessible collections.
Research involving palaeontological and geological material
Specimens and samples must include provenance information for transparency. Collection and export must comply with local and national laws. Type specimens should be deposited in recognized museums or collections with traceable catalogue numbers. 3D scans of fossils should be deposited in permanent, accessible repositories. AUCTORES requires adherence to UNESCO and IUCN guidelines for cultural and natural heritage.
Dual Use Research of Concern
Manuscripts that could be misapplied to threaten public safety, agriculture, or the environment will only be published if benefits outweigh risks. AUCTORES may seek expert advice and require additional peer review. Authors must comply with institutional, funder, and national regulations and report approvals for dual-use research. Appropriate containment and safety procedures must be described.
Standards for research in complementary and alternative medicine
AUCTORES journals require CAM research to meet the same standards as conventional
medical research:
• Compliance with international and national regulations (e.g., Declaration of Helsinki).
• Adequately controlled, blinded, and randomized studies with sufficient statistical power.
• Evidence-based justification for CAM treatments, supported by prior peer-reviewed literature.
• Animal and human studies must demonstrate prior evidence of potential therapeutic benefit. Manuscripts lacking sufficient evidence will not be considered. Consent for publication
For all manuscripts submitted to AUCTORES journals that include personal details, images, or videos of individuals, written informed consent for publication must be obtained from the person concerned, or from their parent or legal guardian in the case of minors under 18. Consent must permit publication under the relevant Creative Commons license, ensuring the material is freely accessible online. If the individual has passed away, consent must be obtained from the next of kin. Manuscripts must include a statement confirming that informed consent for publication was obtained. Templates for obtaining consent from research participants or patients, including English and German versions, are available and should indicate that details, images, or videos may be freely accessible online. If images are fully anonymized and no identifiable details are included, consent may not be required. The final decision rests with the Editor. Further guidance on third-party rights and publication consent is available on the AUCTORES Author Resources pages.
Trial registration
AUCTORES supports transparent reporting of clinical trials, including prospective registration in publicly accessible databases. All clinical trials reported in manuscripts must be registered according to ICMJE guidelines. A clinical trial is defined as “any research study that prospectively assigns human participants or groups to health-related interventions to evaluate effects on health outcomes,” including phases I–IV. Registration should be performed in ICMJE-approved registries or WHO-recognized primary registries such as the ISRCTN registry. The trial registration number (TRN) and date of registration must appear as the last line of the manuscript abstract. Retrospective registration is encouraged if prospective registration was not performed. Systematic reviews should also be registered in suitable registries (e.g., PROSPERO), with registration numbers included in the abstract.
Availability of data and materials
Submitting a manuscript to an AUCTORES journal implies that all materials described, including raw data, will be freely available for non-commercial use while respecting participant confidentiality. Authors are encouraged to deposit datasets in publicly accessible repositories or provide them in supplementary files in machine-readable formats.
For certain data types, such as genomic sequences or novel genome assemblies, deposition in recognized public repositories is mandatory. Clinical datasets must respect participant privacy, and informed consent for publication should be obtained when possible. Restrictions must be clearly explained in the manuscript. Authors must also provide access to previously unreported software or custom code described in the manuscript, including repository links, version numbers, and instructions for use. All unique research materials (e.g., cell lines, strains, reagents, antibodies) must be made available to other researchers for non-commercial purposes. Materials may be distributed through commercial or non-commercial third parties, with any restrictions clearly stated in the manuscript. Manuscripts must include an Availability of Data and Materials section detailing where supporting data and materials can be accessed. Data should be cited in the reference list using persistent identifiers or DOIs following the FORCE11 Data Citation Principles.
Standards of reporting
AUCTORES promotes complete and transparent reporting of research. Authors should follow recognized reporting guidelines, including:
• Randomized controlled trials: CONSORT
• Trial protocols: SPIRIT
• Systematic reviews: PRISMA / PRISMA-P
• Observational studies: STROBE
• Case reports: CARE
• Qualitative research: COREQ
• Diagnostic/prognostic studies: STARD / TRIPOD
• Economic evaluations: CHEERS
• Pre-clinical animal studies: ARRIVE Statistical methods should be fully described and justified. Manuscripts may undergo specialist statistical review if necessary.
Resource Identification
Authors should provide detailed descriptions of all resources, including model organisms, antibodies, tools, and cell lines, to enable reproducibility. Use unique Resource Identifiers (RRIDs) where applicable. Human cell lines should include authentication, source, and mycoplasma testing information.
Gene nomenclature should follow standard conventions, with human genes referenced via HGNC. Sequence variants should comply with Human Variome Project recommendations, including submission to relevant public databases.
Digital Image Integrity
Images must accurately represent original data and comply with community standards. Adjustments should be applied uniformly, and original, unprocessed files should be retained and provided upon request. Specific guidelines include:
• Clearly separate images from different time points or samples.
• Describe all acquisition and processing steps, including software and settings.
• Cropping of gels and blots is acceptable if clearly indicated.
• Microscopy images must include scale bars, magnification, and consistent presentation.
Describing new taxa
• Algal, Fungal, and Botanical Names: Follow the International Code of Nomenclature. Fungal names should be registered in Mycobank with a unique identifier.
• Zoological Names: Follow the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) and register names with ZooBank.
• Bacterial Names: Follow the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP) with type strains deposited in at least two recognized culture collections.
• Virus Names: Follow ICTV guidelines and submit proposals to the appropriate Study Group for review.
Competing interests
All authors submitting to AUCTORES journals must disclose any competing interests, whether financial or non-financial, in a dedicated ‘Competing Interests’ section at the end of the manuscript.
• If no competing interests exist, the statement should read:
“The author(s) declare(s) that they have no competing interests.”
• Editors and reviewers must also declare competing interests and may be excluded from handling or reviewing a manuscript if conflicts exist.
What counts as a competing interest?
A competing interest arises when the authors’ interpretation or presentation of data could be influenced—or perceived to be influenced—by personal, financial, or professional relationships.
Financial competing interests may include:
• Receiving funding, fees, salaries, or reimbursements from organizations that could benefit or lose from the manuscript.
• Holding stocks, shares, or patents related to the manuscript content. Non-financial competing interests may include political, academic, ideological, personal, or religious factors that could create bias or embarrassment if disclosed publicly. Authors from commercial organizations (e.g., pharmaceutical companies) should follow Good Publication Practice (GPP2022) guidelines. AUCTORES does not publish advertorial content. Editors, Guest Editors, and Editorial Board members must declare any competing interests and recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where a conflict exists. Editorial staff are required to report any potential conflicts to their employer.
Authorship
Authorship provides credit for contributions and ensures accountability. Each author should
have:
1. Made substantial contributions to conception, design, data acquisition, analysis, interpretation, software creation, or manuscript drafting/revision.
2. Approved the submitted manuscript (and any substantial revisions).
3. Agreed to be accountable for their contributions and assist in addressing any questions regarding the work’s accuracy or integrity. Co-authors should include collaborators who meet these criteria. Contributors not meeting authorship standards should be acknowledged in the Acknowledgements section. Corresponding authors are responsible for ensuring:
• All authors have approved the manuscript and its content.
• Compliance with transparency and reproducibility standards.
• Proper management of original data, materials, figures, and code.
• Disclosure of any editorial assistance or AI tools used. Changes to authorship after submission require approval from all authors and a completed authorship change form. Changes are not allowed after acceptance.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT cannot be listed as authors, as they do not meet accountability requirements.
• Use of AI tools must be documented in the Methods or relevant manuscript section.
• AI-assisted copy editing for grammar, clarity, and style does not need explicit disclosure.
• Generative AI images are generally not permitted unless legally verified and clearly labelled as AI-generated. Peer reviewers should not upload manuscripts to generative AI tools due to confidentiality and accuracy concerns. Any use of AI in the review process must be transparently disclosed.
Citations
Authors must cite relevant literature accurately and avoid citation manipulation, including excessive self-citation or coordinated citation practices. Guidelines include:
• Cite original work rather than reviews that cite it.
• Ensure all citations support the statements made.
• Avoid preferentially citing one’s own institution or country.
• Avoid citing non-peer-reviewed or advertorial material. Preprint sharing and citation AUCTORES encourages authors to share preprints of primary research.
• Posting on preprint servers does not count as prior publication.
• Authors should disclose preprint DOIs and licensing terms upon manuscript submission.
• Preprints may be cited in the reference list.
• Media interactions regarding preprints should clearly state the work has not undergone peer review.
Duplicate publication
All manuscripts submitted to AUCTORES journals must be original. Neither the manuscript nor substantial parts of it may be under consideration by another journal. Authors must be transparent about any potential overlap with other publications and must declare and cite any related or overlapping work. Unpublished or “in press” manuscripts relevant to editorial assessment should be made available upon request. Editors reserve the right to evaluate potential overlap or redundancy on a case-by-case basis.
General Principles
• Manuscripts should not have been formally published elsewhere unless exceptions are explicitly declared.
• Text recycling (self-plagiarism) must be reported transparently, properly attributed, and comply with copyright.
• Posting manuscripts on preprint servers or in personal/institutional repositories does not constitute prior publication.
• Theses material (e.g., PhD or academic dissertations) may be submitted, including publicly available versions, with proper disclosure.
• Translations require permission from the original publisher and must comply with copyright and licensing regulations. Exceptions and Special Cases Previous Publication Policy
Type
Substantially extended versions of previously published articles may be
Abridged articles considered, provided the new manuscript represents significant novel content and prior publisher approval is obtained. Prior abstracts ≤400 words or posters presented at academic meetings are Abstracts/posters permissible; must be cited. Co-publication in Allowed with transparency, prior agreement of involved journals, and multiple journals compliance with ICMJE guidelines; editor discretion applies. Cochrane systematic Only new or substantially updated versions are considered.
reviews
Public or restricted-access datasets may be submitted; cite or hyperlink Datasets in repositories datasets in the manuscript. Non-research Previously published material may be included with prior publisher figures/tables permission and proper citation. Health Technology Considered at editor discretion.
Assessment reports
Material previously posted on blogs, wikis, or online lab notebooks may be Open science content included; editor evaluates for potential duplication. Study protocols Prior publication of protocols is acceptable and should be cited.
Previous Publication Policy
Type
Clinical trial registry Posting summary results in publicly accessible registries is allowed; include results accession numbers. Translations into English Allowed with prior approval from the original publisher and proper citation.
Key Notes
• Authors are encouraged to self-archive accepted manuscripts while complying with copyright rules.
• Transparency and proper citation are required for all exceptions.
• Editors retain the right to reject or investigate manuscripts that raise concerns about duplication or overlap.
Communications of findings prior to publication
AUCTORES encourages open communication among researchers. Sharing findings via recognized preprint servers, discussions at conferences, or on collaborative platforms such as wikis or personal blogs does not constitute prior publication. Authors may respond to media inquiries about preprints or conference presentations to provide context or clarification. Such coverage will not affect the editorial evaluation of the manuscript. Authors should indicate that preprints or preliminary findings have not undergone peer review and that conclusions may change. All peer review and editorial communications should remain confidential. It is important that the peer-reviewed and published version is publicly available when research is discussed in media coverage. Authors are strongly discouraged from soliciting media attention prior to publication of the final, peer-reviewed manuscript. For clarification, authors may contact the journal’s editorial office.
Text recycling
Authors must avoid copying text from their own previously published work without proper citation. When some overlap is unavoidable, transparency and attribution are required, and copyright rules must be followed. Authors must notify the Editor if a manuscript contains text published elsewhere. Peer review
All manuscripts submitted to AUCTORES journals undergo rigorous peer review, typically by at least two independent experts. Review models may differ between journals, including open, transparent, or closed peer review.
Peer Review Policy
• Editors assess submissions for suitability before sending them for peer review.
• Editors with conflicts of interest recuse themselves, and another editorial board member manages the review.
• Decisions are based on reviewer feedback; a single positive report does not guarantee acceptance if other reviews raise concerns.
AI Use in Peer Review
Peer reviewers provide expert evaluation crucial to research quality. Generative AI tools have limitations and may not be reliable for reviewing sensitive or proprietary content. Reviewers should not upload manuscripts into AI tools and must declare any AI-assisted evaluation in their reports.
Peer Review Models
• Open Peer Review: Reviewer names are disclosed and reports are published alongside the article.
• Transparent Peer Review: Reports are published without revealing reviewer identities.
• Closed Peer Review: Reviewer identities are confidential, and pre-publication history is not public. Authors may suggest reviewers in their cover letter but should avoid recent collaborators or colleagues from the same institution. Requests to exclude specific reviewers must be justified, and editors retain discretion to invite excluded reviewers. Providing false reviewer information will result in rejection and potential investigation.
Portability of Peer Review
To reduce redundant reviews, authors may transfer manuscripts (with reviewer reports) between AUCTORES journals if a manuscript is rejected but suitable elsewhere. Editors may share manuscripts internally to assess transfer suitability. Transfer does not guarantee acceptance; additional peer review may be required. AUCTORES may also consider manuscripts reviewed by other publishers or independent review services, but submission with prior reviews does not ensure acceptance, and further peer review may be conducted.
Confidentiality
AUCTORES treats all submitted manuscripts with strict confidentiality. Editors and reviewers are required to adhere to COPE’s Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers, ensuring that no details of a manuscript or its review are disclosed beyond the information released by the journal. If reviewers need to involve colleagues in the review, they must first obtain permission from the journal. Names of any individuals assisting in the review must be disclosed to the Editor when the review report is submitted. Manuscripts will not be shared with third parties outside AUCTORES, except in cases of suspected misconduct. Manuscripts may be shared internally with other Editors unless authors specify otherwise at submission. Research projects conducted by AUCTORES to improve processes for authors, reviewers, and editors will not influence the review or editorial decisions. Participation may require consent, and manuscript details will always remain confidential.
Misconduct
AUCTORES takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and follows COPE guidelines for investigation.
Research Misconduct
All research involving humans or animals must comply with ethical standards (see our Ethics Policy). Suspected violations may lead to manuscript rejection and notification of the authors’ institution or ethics committee. Proven misconduct may result in article retraction.
Data Falsification and Fabrication
• Falsification: Manipulation of data or images to misrepresent results.
• Fabrication: Creation of false research findings. Editors may request anonymized raw data for verification. Failure to provide original data may result in rejection or retraction, and cases will be reported to relevant institutions.
Publication Misconduct
All instances of plagiarism are handled according to COPE guidelines. AUCTORES uses plagiarism detection software to maintain publication integrity.
Corrections, Retractions and Matters Arising
To maintain the scholarly record, AUCTORES may publish corrections or retractions:
• Corrections: Minor errors affecting accuracy but not conclusions will be addressed via a published Correction linked to the original article.
• Retractions: Articles with compromised validity may be retracted. Retractions are indexed, linked to the original article, and clearly marked.
• Editorial Notes and Expressions of Concern: These alert readers to potential issues under investigation and are linked to the relevant article. In exceptional circumstances, content may be removed for legal, ethical, or health-safety reasons. Metadata will be retained with a notice explaining the removal. Matters Arising: Post-publication commentary, challenges, or replication studies may be published as Matters Arising after editorial evaluation and peer review. Authors of the original work are invited to respond. Appeals and complaints
Appeals
Authors may appeal a rejection decision once per manuscript by contacting the Editor with a formal letter, including the manuscript tracking number. Appeals are considered only if:
• There is a clear error in the review or editorial decision.
• Significant additional data is provided.
• Evidence of bias in the review process is demonstrated. If warranted, the manuscript may be sent for additional peer review. Final decisions rest with the Editor or Editorial Board.
Complaints
Complaints about editorial processes or publication ethics are handled by the Editor. If the Editor is involved in the complaint, it may be escalated to the AUCTORES publishing management team. Complaints follow COPE-compliant procedures, and the complainant will be informed of outcomes.
Collections and Special Issues
Submissions to AUCTORES Collections or Special Issues are evaluated using the journal’s standard criteria and policies, including peer review and competing interests management. Editors with conflicts of interest recuse themselves to ensure objective evaluation.