About ChemBioNexus

ChemBioNexus, published by TSF Nexus, is committed to fostering research and expanding knowledge in Chemical, Biochemical and Material Sciences. The journal, issued biannually, serves as a multidisciplinary platform for researchers, authors, and reviewers.

Key Features of the journal

1. ChemBioNexus follows an open-access policy, ensuring that all published content is freely available to readers worldwide, fostering greater dissemination of research findings.
2. The journal covers a wide range of topics including but not limited to Biochemistry, Chemistry, Electrochemistry, Metallurgy, Material Sciences and Corrosion Engineering.
3. Authors retain complete ownership and copyright of their published work, allowing them to share and distribute their research findings as they see fit.
4. ChemBioNexus is published under the patronages of TSF Nexus, an organization dedicated to promoting research and scientific inquiry across various disciplines. 

Scope of the Journal

ChemBioNexus encompasses pioneering research across Chemistry, Metallurgy, Material Sciences, Biochemistry, Environmental Biology, and Environmental Chemistry, aiming to bridge the gap between these interconnected fields. It welcomes studies on innovative chemical methodologies, sustainable metallurgical practices, advanced material synthesis, molecular-level biochemistry, and ecological interactions within environmental biology. Environmental chemistry studies addressing pollution, remediation, and eco-friendly chemical processes are especially encouraged, with a focus on sustainability and global environmental impact. This journal serves as a platform for interdisciplinary research that merges these fields to address pressing environmental and technological challenges, fostering collaborations that drive forward scientific and industrial advancements.

Aims and Objectives of the Journal

1. To provide a venue for researchers to publish authentic and excellent research papers, reviews, and commentaries, letters, short communications in the subjects of Chemical, Biochemical and Material Sciences.
2. To promote cooperation and the sharing of knowledge among researchers, scholars, and practitioners.
3. To encourage multidisciplinary research.
4. To provide a meaningful contribution to the progress of scientific knowledge and comprehension in the fields of Chemical, Biochemical and Material Sciences, with the ultimate objective of tackling worldwide challenges pertaining to industry, environment, and sustainability.

Open Access Statement

ChemBioNexus follows an Open Access model, which ensures that papers published in the journal are accessible to readers without any limitations or restrictions. Researchers are allowed to print publications that are published online, but organizations or publishers are expressly forbidden from publishing the entire copies. Open access enables the easy availability of research findings to academics, educators, policymakers, and the public, regardless of their location or institutional affiliation.

Originality and Ethical Standards

ChemBioNexus is deeply committed to research integrity and emphasizes the originality of all submitted manuscripts. Authors are required to ensure that their work is entirely original, has not been published previously, and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere. Proper acknowledgment and citation of prior work that influenced the research are strongly encouraged. Instances of plagiarism or inadequate citation are treated with the utmost seriousness and may lead to the rejection of the submission.

To uphold originality, ChemBioNexus employs advanced tools like Turnitin as part of its rigorous evaluation process. The journal adheres to the ethical guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), which underscore the critical role of originality in maintaining the credibility and value of research.

By aligning with COPE's best practices, ChemBioNexus demonstrates its dedication to ethical publishing standards. The journal’s primary mission is to foster a research environment that values originality, thereby advancing academic knowledge and contributing to the broader scientific community.

Author Contributions Policy

The purpose of this policy is to establish clear guidelines for determining authorship, in order to ensure appropriate recognition of those who make substantial contributions to a research paper that is approved for publication in ChemBioNexus. Authorship should be based on significant contributions to the conception, design, implementation, or interpretation of the research project. Authors are advised to delineate their individual responsibilities and contributions using the credit method, so fostering openness and ensuring responsibility. In order to maintain explicit and easily understandable guidelines for authorship, all writers must fulfill the following criteria:

1. Significant contributions to the conceptualization, design, implementation, or interpretation of the project.
2. Composing or thoroughly reviewing the essay for its intellectual substance.
3. The ultimate authorization of the version that will be made available to the public.
4. Commitment to assume responsibility for all parts of the job to guarantee accuracy and honesty.

The order of authorship should reflect the relative contributions of the contributors to the research paper, with the primary author, who made the most significant contribution, named first. The list of co-authors should be arranged in descending order according to their respective contributions. The selected corresponding author, who is responsible for communicating with the journal and readers, should be clearly recognized.

If there is a situation where there is a conflict of interest over who should be listed as an author, the Editor-in-Chief of the journal or a designated Senior Editor will help to arrange conversations amongst the people concerned. Decisions about authorship shall be determined by evaluating the extent to which the criteria specified in this policy are followed, therefore guaranteeing a just evaluation of contributions and seeking input from relevant experts as necessary.
Written approval from all authors is necessary for any changes to authorship, such as additions, deletions, or rearrangements, made after the submission of the work. Any modifications should be quickly sent to the editorial team of the journal, along with a detailed justification. If any essential changes are required, these will be reported to the editorial team after the peer review process but before publication.

Acknowledgments

In the Acknowledgments section, authors may wish to include the names and contributions of those whose involvement in a study did not qualify them for authorship (because of the journal policy) but have contributed to the article in some way.

Contributors

"Ghost" and/or "Guest" author phenomenon has been common in the traditional listing of research papers. This has been raising inappropriate authorship practice in which some individuals did not have an actual input in the experiment. For this, the journal highly recommends that only authors who have made a significant scientific contribution to the research in the manuscript shall be listed individually in the submitted manuscript (including students and lab technicians).

Duplicate Submission

Articles that are found to have been published elsewhere, or are under consideration for publishing elsewhere, will be considered as "duplicated" material. In case the author(s) have used their own previously published work (or work that is currently under review), they are asked to cite the previous work and indicate how their submitted manuscript offers novel contributions and adds value differently.

Authors’ Affiliation Policy

This policy outlines guidelines for affiliations in manuscripts submitted to ChemBioNexus, ensuring clarity and accuracy in the representation of authors’ institutional affiliations. Also to maintain transparency and accuracy in representing authors’ affiliations, facilitating effective communication within the academic community and ensuring that the published work reflects the contributors’ current institutional associations appropriately.

1. Comprehensive Affiliation Listing: Corresponding authors are responsible for ensuring that all authors provide a comprehensive list of pertinent affiliations related to their research work.
2. Changes in Affiliation: If an author transfers from their current affiliated institution to another, they may update their affiliation before the manuscript’s publication. However, once the publishing process is initiated, affiliations will remain unchanged.
3. Order of Multiple Affiliations: Authors with multiple affiliations should indicate the order of their affiliations as primary, secondary, or tertiary institutions. However, the total number of affiliations at a time should not exceed ten.
4. Independent Researchers: Independent researchers should explicitly mention their independent status as part of their affiliation details.

ChemBioNexus Citation Guidelines

ChemBioNexus strictly follows the extensive citation criteria established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to ensure ethical standards are upheld. These standards guarantee precise, moral, and open citation procedures among authors:

1. Authors are required to give accurate and thorough citations for all sources mentioned in their study. Ensure that all necessary details are provided, including the names of the authors, titles of the articles, names of the journals, publication years, volume numbers, and page numbers.
   When citing online sources, it is important to use reliable identifiers such as DOIs (Digital Object Identifiers) or URLs.
2. Properly referencing prior research:
   Recognize previous research endeavors that have had a substantial impact on or made valuable contributions to the present study.
   Accurately acknowledge and reference both published and unpublished materials, with the necessary authorization, to showcase their influence on the research.
3. To avoid plagiarism, authors must correctly attribute ideas, facts, and words to their original sources. Indicate the exact source of the original material by using quote marks and providing accurate initial source information.
4. Transparent Self-Citation:

• Authors should refrain from excessive or improper self-citation, only using it when essential for providing context or acknowledging earlier relevant work.
• Self-citations must meet the same criteria of accuracy and completeness as citations to works by other authors.

5. Rectifying and Withdrawing Citations:

• If there are any inaccuracies or exclusions in published work, authors shall quickly offer revisions or retractions.
• Corrections should clearly and openly convey any modifications made to the original publication.

6. Verifying Citations:

• Authors should verify references to guarantee correctness and dependability.
• Adhere to the prescribed citation styles as per the journal's guidelines for authors.

7. Referencing Trustworthy Sources:

• Utilize peer-reviewed, reputable, and reliable sources such as scholarly journals, books, and conference proceedings.

8. Complying with Copyright Guidelines:

• Observe copyright restrictions and get permission to reproduce copyrighted items where required.
• Authors maintain the copyright of their work and provide ChemBioNexus permission to publish it under a specific license. Accurate credit and citation are essential for upholding authors' rights and ensuring the authenticity of academic communication.

Conflict of Interest/Competing Interest Policy

ChemBioNexus has implemented a robust conflict of interest policy to ensure transparency, integrity, and impartiality throughout the publishing process. This policy applies to all stakeholders, including editors, editorial board members, reviewers, authors, and staff.

A conflict of interest arises when personal, professional, financial, or institutional affiliations have the potential to influence an individual’s judgment or decision-making. Examples include financial ties, personal relationships, institutional biases, and intellectual or professional conflicts.

Disclosure Requirements:

Authors: Must disclose conflicts related to their research, funding, or affiliations within the manuscript.

Reviewers and Editors: Must disclose any conflicts related to assigned manuscripts and promptly notify the journal if new conflicts arise.

Editorial Board Members: Must disclose conflicts that could affect their duties.

Staff Members: Must disclose any potential conflicts linked to their publishing roles.

Conflicts within the Editorial Board:

Advisory board members and guest editors must disclose potential conflicts of interest associated with their roles. In cases of identified conflicts, they may be excluded from decisions on manuscripts presenting such conflicts.

Process of Disclosure:

Authors: Declare potential conflicts in a designated section of their manuscript following journal guidelines.

Reviewers and Editors: Notify the editorial office of conflicts related to assigned manuscripts.

Editorial Board Members: Disclose conflicts affecting their editorial responsibilities.

Staff Members: Report potential conflicts tied to publishing roles.

Managing Conflicts:

To ensure unbiased decision-making, disclosed conflicts are reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief or a designated editor. Measures to address conflicts may include reassigning tasks, appointing alternative reviewers or editors, or consulting additional experts. Conflicts are transparently disclosed in published articles or on the journal's website. Disclosures are handled confidentially, with information shared only with individuals directly involved in decision-making.

Author Appeals and Complaints Policy

Appeals by Authors:

ChemBioNexus is committed to maintaining academic integrity, recognizing that authors may occasionally dispute editorial decisions. This policy provides a framework for authors who wish to challenge decisions or raise concerns about the publication process. Grounds for appeal or complaint may include:

Inadequate or biased peer review.

Perceived unfair treatment or discrimination.

Allegations of plagiarism or misconduct.

Procedural errors during submission or review.

Misinterpretation of journal policies or guidelines.

Process and Handling:

Authors should submit a formal appeal or complaint within 15 days of the decision or incident, detailing their concerns via letter or email. The Editor-in-Chief or a designated editor evaluates the submission to determine its validity and appropriate response. Valid appeals are re-evaluated by an independent reviewer. Outcomes may include:

Upholding the original decision.

Revising the decision based on independent review.

Offering the opportunity for resubmission or re-review.

Providing an explanation or apology for procedural errors.

Authors are notified of the outcome within a reasonable timeframe. Final decisions made by the Editor-in-Chief are not subject to further appeal.

Continuous Improvement:

All appeals and complaints are handled confidentially, ensuring that reviewers are selected for their expertise and impartiality. Personal data is managed in accordance with privacy laws. This approach ensures that concerns are addressed promptly and fairly while safeguarding the integrity of the editorial process and the journal's reputation.

Corrections, Retractions, and Withdrawals Policy

ChemBioNexus follows the guidelines and rules set forth by COPE and follows the best practices in scientific publishing. Following are the key features of the Corrections, Retractions, and Withdrawals Policy of the ChemBioNexus:

Policy on Corrections

• Corrections are swiftly rectified when any errors, inaccuracies, or ambiguities are reported by the authors in their published articles.
• Authors are advised to swiftly report any errors and corrections, explicitly specify the nature of the issue, providing accurate information for rectification.
• Corrections, in the form of errata or corrigenda, shall be clearly and obviously linked to the original article to ensure that readers can easily see them.
• Corrections will be clearly showcased on our website, and metadata modifications will be implemented to accurately reflect the corrections.

Policy on retractions

• Retractions are implemented in cases where papers are shown to have significant flaws, fraudulent data, or ethical misbehavior.
• Retractions are accompanied by a comprehensive explanation that clearly outlines the reasons and nature of the identified errors or wrong doing.
• Retracted articles are clearly identified with visible labels, prominently posted notes on the article page, and a watermark that indicates their retracted status.
• While retracted articles remain accessible for transparency, a full retraction notice is prominently displayed to alert readers. The journal notifies indexing services and databases of the retraction and requests necessary updates.

 Policy regarding withdrawals

• Authors have the option to seek the withdrawal of their article prior to publication. Such requests will be evaluated based on legitimate reasons, such as substantial errors or unexpected circumstances.
• Withdrawal petitions are evaluated according to the stage of publication and their influence on the scholarly record.
• Withdrawn manuscripts are unambiguously identified as withdrawn, exclusively for those having published abstracts, and notifications are prominently displayed on the journal's website.
• This policy guarantees that our publications uphold the utmost standards of truth and ethical behavior, and we are dedicated to immediately resolving any potential difficulties.

Research Misconduct Policy

Research misconduct includes unethical practices such as fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, duplicate publication, data manipulation, and other behaviors that violate ethical research standards.

Reporting Misconduct

A confidential and accessible reporting system will be established to enable individuals to report suspected cases of research misconduct. Prompt reporting will be encouraged to address issues swiftly while protecting whistleblowers from retaliation.

Assessment of Misconduct

Preliminary Evaluation: Initial reports will undergo a preliminary assessment to determine whether further investigation is warranted. This phase involves evaluating the credibility of the allegations and the availability of supporting evidence.

Formal Investigation: If allegations are substantiated, an impartial investigation will be conducted by a committee of experts in research ethics and integrity. Confidentiality and impartiality will be maintained throughout the process to ensure a fair and unbiased review.

Outcome Communication: The results of the investigation will be shared transparently with all relevant parties, accompanied by clear, evidence-based explanations of the decisions made.

Corrective Measures and Appeals

Appropriate actions will be determined based on the nature and severity of the misconduct. Potential measures include:

Issuing corrections or retractions.

Publishing expressions of concern.

Notifying relevant institutions or funding bodies.

Imposing sanctions, such as publication bans.

Individuals accused of misconduct have the right to appeal decisions or raise concerns regarding the investigation process or its outcomes. Appeals will be reviewed by the Rector, ensuring a fair, transparent process overseen by independent individuals or committees.

Code of Conduct for Editors/Chief Editors

Confidentiality:

The chief editor and editors will ensure the confidentiality of the manuscript, maintaining the secrecy of both authors and reviewers, with the exception of the editorial team and individuals directly engaged in the publication process.

Fairness and Unbiasedness:

In order to guarantee unbiased and impartial treatment of all submitted manuscripts, regardless of authors’ backgrounds, affiliations, or personal conflicts, decisions regarding the manuscripts must be based solely on their merit, taking into account factors such as quality, relevance, and contribution to the field. Editors must refrain from participating in the decision-making process in instances where conflicts of interest may arise.

Editorial Independence

The editor must uphold editorial independence and integrity, ensuring that the journal remains free from any unwarranted influence, whether from individuals, organizations, or commercial interests. Decisions regarding submitted manuscripts should be based solely on academic and scientific principles, devoid of any political, financial, or personal pressures.

Transparency and Accountability

Editors are responsible for offering authors and reviewers unambiguous and transparent instructions concerning the journal’s policies, submission procedures, and peer review protocols. They should promptly communicate their decisions to authors, furnishing constructive feedback and concise justifications for any editorial rejections or requested revisions. Editors must also address any complaints, appeals, or concerns raised by authors and reviewers regarding the editorial process.

Ethical Standards

Editors must maintain elevated ethical standards and advocate for the responsible conduct of research and publication. They should remain vigilant in detecting and resolving potential ethical concerns, such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or conflicts of interest, adhering to relevant guidelines and protocols. When instances of ethical misconduct are identified in published articles, editors must take suitable measures, including corrections, retractions, or sanctions, to address the issue effectively.

Editors’ Professional Development

Editors should stay updated on the latest developments in their field and improve their skills by attending relevant training, workshops, and conferences. They work to improve the quality and impact of the journal by adopting and applying the best practices in publishing and editorial management.

Data Availability and Sharing Policy

Data Availability Statement

Manuscripts submitted by authors may be asked to contain a data availability statement. Make it clear if the data will be publicly accessible or subject to particular limitations. Indicate where the data, publicly accessible can be viewed and give an explanation for any data that is restricted.

Open Data

Journals advocate for authors to prioritize the openness of their data whenever feasible, thereby guaranteeing adherence to the FAIR principles: findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable. Authors are prompted to deposit their data in reputable and established repositories or archives. Furthermore, the adoption of data citation practices is encouraged to ensure accurate attribution of datasets.

Exceptions to Data Sharing

ChemBioNexus recognizes the instances where data sharing may need to be restricted due to legal concerns such as intellectual property rights, or ethical considerations like confidentiality and privacy. In such cases, authors need to clearly state in the data availability statement, about the reasoning behind this restriction.

Access to Data

ChemBioNexus is urging authors to furnish metadata, documentation, or data access agreements for restricted data. Additionally, authors are encouraged to supply comprehensive descriptions of their data collection, processing, and analysis methodologies to strengthen transparency and reproducibility.

Repeatability and Validation

Journal encourages authors to disclose required data and code to ensure repeatability. Authors to offer details on procedures for validating data and any possible drawbacks.

Compliance

ChemBioNexus will verify that authors are adhering to the rules of data availability and sharing. Editors and reviewers in charge of keeping an eye on conformity.

Use of Figures, Tables and Images in the Manuscripts

Compliance with Copyright rules

• Ensure strict adherence to copyright rules and seek proper permission for the use of copyrighted material.
• Ensure that copyright material used in the manuscript is cited correctly.

Originality and Authenticity

• Ensure the facts, tables, photos, and figures are presented in an original, authentic, and correct manner.
• Provide a clear explanation and rationale for any alterations made to figures, graphics, and tables.

Clarity and Appropriateness

• Ensure that the tables and figures included in the manuscript are directly related to the topic and content.
• Arrange tables/figures in a sequential sequence based on their dates, and provide them with suitable titles.
• Ensure clarity through the use of accurate labels and a well-organized display.

Ensuring the Ethical Utilization of Images

• Secure consent from research subjects who can be identified in images.
• Refrain from utilizing insulting, racist, or inappropriate visuals.

Quality and Resolution

• Ensure the provision of high-quality photos that possess adequate resolution to achieve clarity.
• Avoid using low-resolution photos that may hinder the understanding of the material.
• Ensure adherence to the journal's specifications and formatting criteria for consistency and proper presentation.
• Ensure that the formatting is constant to create a unified and visually appealing appearance.
• Ensure that proper permissions and citations are provided for any external pictures, tables, and figures used.

Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism refers to the act of including components from someone else's work, such as a figure, table, or paragraph, without giving proper credit through acknowledgement, references, or the use of quotation marks. The authors have the responsibility to acquire the requisite authorization from the copyright holder in order to reuse components of someone else's work.

ChemBioNexus is committed to:

• Maintain the integrity of submitted articles by ensuring they are original.
• Comply with the plagiarism norms set by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan.
• Employ plagiarism detection techniques and rigorous editorial review methods.

Avoid the following forms of plagiarism

Verbatim copying refers to the act of directly reproducing more than 10% or 15% (or a substantial portion) of someone else's work without giving proper credit, citing sources, or using quotation marks.

Improper paraphrase refers to the act of changing many sentences or rearranging them without giving sufficient credit to the original author. Engaging in substantial improper paraphrase (exceeding 10% of the work) without proper credit is regarded with the same level of seriousness as directly duplicating someone else's work word for word.

Self-plagiarism refers to the act of submitting material that has already been published. To prevent this, authors are obligated to sign a copyright form stating that their submitted work has not been previously published. When incorporating previously published materials into a work, the author must acknowledge the prior work and explain how the new work expands on the research and findings of the earlier work. Directly reproducing the author's own work without any changes and rephrasing is not permissible, and we advise that research should only be employed to bolster fresh findings.

It is advisable for authors to reference all prior instances of their ideas being published or presented, such as conference papers, workshop presentations, and listserv conversations, that have led to the completion of their final work. This will guarantee that a comprehensive record of all communication pertaining to the task is documented.

The journal only publishes original and new work, with very few exceptions. These exceptions encompass conference papers, archival papers that are republished in special issues, and are subject to the editor's discretion. The original work is properly attributed and permission is acquired from the relevant copyright holder. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of the author to disclose any relevant information in accordance with an ethical standard statement at the conclusion of the article.

Citations 

Mentions of other publications should adhere to the guidelines outlined in the AMA handbook of style. It is important to thoroughly verify all references to ensure they are complete, accurate, and consistent. It is advisable to provide the whole names and initials of all authors and to include the full title of any magazine.

The journal is committed to maintaining academic integrity and safeguarding authors' rights. Therefore, the editors treat all instances of plagiarism with utmost seriousness. The editors are cognizant of the potential ramifications of an accusation of plagiarism, which has the capacity to detrimentally affect a researcher's professional trajectory. Consequently, they have established protocols to address suspected instances of plagiarism. To ensure impartiality, they conduct a comprehensive investigation of each issue, seeking clarity from all parties involved.

This journal is an academic publication that use tools like Turnitin.com to assist in identifying instances of alleged plagiarism. When presented with an accusation of plagiarism from a third party, the editors will consistently request a response from the author(s)/contributors or copyright holder(s) prior to determining the appropriate course of action. Their decisions will be impartial and objective, unaffected by external influences.

The magazine is under no obligation to engage in discussions with third parties on specific instances of alleged plagiarism. If the complainant provides a false identity or association, or behaves inappropriately or threateningly towards the journal editors and personnel, we have the right to discontinue the case.

Preexisting publication

Publishing a manuscript or a substantial portion of it that has been previously published is generally not permissible for publishing in the journal. Nevertheless, when it comes to abstracts and posters given at conferences, it is the authors' duty to notify the editor and recognize the first publication source. Additionally, articles that have been presented at a conference but have not been published by the conference organizers may also be taken into consideration. Prior to publication, the author must verify that they have not given the conference organizers permission to use their work. If the author maintains full ownership of the work, the journal editor may consider publishing the article. This is because articles presented at conferences are typically different or significantly modified from the version accepted by the journal.

Regardless of the situation, the author must inform the editor about any previous publication or distribution and provide proper acknowledgment for the past distribution and/or publication of the content.

Peer Review Policy 

To maintain the academic integrity, ChemBioNexus focuses on:

The submitted publications undergo a 'double-blind' peer review process, ensuring that the identity of the authors and reviewers are kept confidential from each other.

In order to facilitate this process, modified versions of the text are distributed to referees while preserving the anonymity of the authors.

The editor reviews submitted papers upon receipt. Manuscripts that are not within the journal's scope are promptly rejected without further review, a process commonly referred to as 'desk-rejection'.

Furthermore, manuscripts that do not fulfill the basic criteria for both quality and originality are promptly rejected without being forwarded to the reviewers.

After undergoing an initial editorial review, papers are usually sent to at least two reviewers, one from the national level and one from the international level. If any of these individuals decline the invitation to submit a review, alternative references will be selected. Typically, the editor requires a minimum of two authoritative assessments in order to determine whether to accept, reject, or request a 'revise and resubmit' for the submitted manuscript.

Research Ethics Guidelines

Objective and Scope

Our aim is to maintain the utmost integrity in conducting research and publishing results, adhering to the highest ethical standards.

Ethical guidelines for authors

All authors must uphold ethical principles in conducting research, ensuring the protection of human subjects, animals, and the environment. This includes obtaining informed consent, maintaining confidentiality, and handling data appropriately in compliance with relevant legal and ethical regulations. Studies involving human subjects should have approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or ethics committee, and authors should provide detailed information about the ethical considerations, consent process, and approval in their manuscripts. When research involves animals, authors must adhere to established guidelines for animal welfare and fair treatment, minimizing stress and harm. Originality, accurate reporting, and proper citation of original sources are emphasized to prevent plagiarism and self-plagiarism. Authors are encouraged to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence their research or its interpretation.

Peer Review Process

The peer review process involves impartial and objective evaluations conducted by reviewers. Providing feedback that is helpful for improvement and identifying ethical issues.

Editorial Responsibilities

Editors play a crucial role in ensuring the ethical conduct of the journal. The editorial team operates independently, transparently, and without bias when evaluating and selecting manuscripts. Any allegations of misconduct, including plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, or other unethical practices, are handled by the team under the guidance of editors. The committee’s decisions regarding corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern related to ethical issues identified post-publication are final.

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Authors must adhere to relevant ethical standards, guidelines, and regulations, including obtaining necessary approvals and permissions for their research. It is expected that authors include details of ethical considerations, approvals, and informed consent in their manuscripts. International ethical guidelines, such as the Declaration of Helsinki for medical research involving human subjects or the ARRIVE guidelines for animal research, should be followed rigorously. Additionally, when conducting research on plants, authors must uphold conservation ethics and consider the ecological impact of their methods. This involves employing sustainable collection and cultivation techniques and carefully assessing the effects on plant populations and surrounding ecosystems.

Reporting and Investigation of Ethical Concerns

Any violations of academic integrity will be promptly reported to the relevant editors. All reported ethical issues will be handled with fairness and due process, ensuring that proper investigations are conducted and appropriate actions are taken.

Education and Awareness

Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to stay updated on ethical guidelines, best practices, and developments in their respective fields.

Harassment of Authors and Editors

Addressing harassment is paramount for maintaining a safe and respectful environment within the journal’s working team and safeguarding the well-being of authors, editors, and the production team. ChemBioNexus is committed to upholding the harassment policies outlined by the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

The key points of this policy include:

1. Condemning harassment in all its forms, including verbal, written, online, discrimination, and bullying.

2. Emphasizing that harassment in any form is intolerable.

3. Affirming that individuals associated with the journals, including authors, editors, reviewers, and the production team, have the fundamental right to work in a safe and harassment-free environment.

Reporting Mechanism

The reporting mechanism ensures both confidentiality and accessibility for reporting harassment incidents. Complaints can be forwarded to a designated contact person, such as the journal’s editor or senior editor, or to a harassment handling committee. This approach allows individuals to report incidents in a safe and confidential manner, ensuring that appropriate action can be taken to address the issue while respecting the privacy of all parties involved.

Investigation Process

To maintain objectivity in the investigation, the journal may involve external experts or advisors when necessary. This ensures a fair and unbiased approach to handling harassment complaints.

Support and Protection

It will be ensured that victims of harassment have access to resources for assistance and counseling. Protective and preventive measures, such as maintaining anonymity and enforcing strict disciplinary actions, will be implemented to prevent any further instances of harassment.

Disciplinary Actions

Appropriate disciplinary actions for individuals found responsible for harassment may include, but are not limited to, sanctions, warnings, removal from editorial roles, or legal consequences. The specific actions taken will depend on the severity of the harassment or misconduct by the accused.

Awareness and Training

ChemBioNexus will organize regular training sessions and awareness programs to educate individuals associated with the journal about harassment, its impacts, and preventive measures. These trainings will extensively cover topics such as diversity and inclusion, respectful communication, and techniques for preventing harassment behaviors.

Transparency and Accountability

Transparency will be ensured by publicly stating the harassment policy and updating it as necessary. To maintain accountability, regular updates regarding the progress and outcomes of harassment investigations will be provided.

Accessibility Policy

ChemBioNexus ensures that our content is accessible to all readers, regardless of their abilities or circumstances. We are committed to enhancing the accessibility of published research by using the Open Journal System (OJS). To achieve this, our journals upload HTML versions (optimized for search engines) alongside PDF versions. This approach ensures that published articles are easily accessible to all users. We welcome feedback from users regarding accessibility concerns, as it helps us identify areas for improvement and enhance the accessibility of our platforms.

Open Access Statement

ChemBioNexus follows an Open Access approach, meaning that articles published in the journals are freely available to readers without any access restrictions. Researchers are allowed to print individual online published articles, but the printing of full versions by organizations or publishers is strictly prohibited. Open Access ensures that research findings are accessible to researchers, educators, policymakers, and the public, regardless of geographical location or institutional affiliation.

Digital Archiving Policy

To ensure the availability of published articles, the journal maintains digital archives of published material, making them accessible to readers at any time. For this purpose, ChemBioNexus regularly archives research articles on the internet and through Preservation Networks like CLOCKSS. Additionally, the metadata is compatible with repository services to enhance preservation.

Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs)

Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) are assigned to the journals and articles for better archiving. DOIs ensure that citations to published articles remain accurate and retrievable over time, providing a reliable means of accessing and referencing the work.

Archival Practices

Published articles and associated metadata are archived in reputable digital repositories and preservation systems such as LOCKSS, Internet Archive, and PKP Preservation Network (PN). These platforms ensure that articles are stored in formats that maintain readability and accessibility over time. Additionally, accompanying metadata are preserved to retain contextual information about the articles. Archiving practices are carefully designed to ensure content availability for the foreseeable future, safeguarding against technological changes and obsolescence.

Author Self-Archiving Policy

ChemBioNexus encourages authors to display their published work on personal websites, social media handles, and institutional repositories. This practice not only increases the visibility of the articles but also contributes to enhanced data analytics.

Article Processing Charges (APC)

ChemBioNexus does not charge any article processing Charges.

Copyrights and Permissions

ChemBioNexus is committed to promoting knowledge sharing, collaboration, and responsible use of published content. To facilitate these principles, articles are published under specific licenses that dictate how readers, researchers, and the broader community can use, share, and build upon the published work. Authors maintain the copyright to their work while granting ChemBioNexus the right to publish the article under a specified license.

Creative Common Attribution License (CC by 4.0)

ChemBioNexus publishes articles under Creative Commons (CC) licenses, embracing the open-access philosophy to promote unrestricted access to scholarly content. All articles published by ChemBioNexus are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which allows others to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the work, even for commercial purposes, provided proper attribution is given to the original authors. Authors retain the copyrights to their manuscripts, while ChemBioNexus may distribute printed copies of the journals for a subscription fee. The publication may include general descriptive names, trade names, and trademarks that are protected by relevant laws and regulations. The information in the journal is believed to be true and accurate at the time of publication; however, neither the author nor the publisher can be held responsible for any errors or omissions. The published material is the sole responsibility of the author, and ChemBioNexus is not liable.

Promoting Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing

By publishing under Creative Commons (CC) licenses, authors contribute to the dissemination of knowledge, allowing others to freely access, reuse, and build upon their work. ChemBioNexus' commitment to CC licenses aligns with the principles of open science, promoting collaboration, innovation, and the advancement of scholarship.

Registration of Trials and Systematic Reviews

ChemBioNexus recognizes the importance of research transparency, accountability, and comprehensive reporting. To uphold these principles and enhance the quality of published work, ChemBioNexus requires the registration of clinical trials and systematic reviews in recognized public databases.

Trial Registration

To enhance transparency and reduce bias in clinical research, authors of clinical trials must register their studies in a recognized public database before enrolling participants. The registration information, including the trial protocol and primary outcomes, should be detailed within the manuscript.

Clinical trials must be registered in publicly accessible trial registries recognized by organizations such as WHO’s International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) or ClinicalTrials.gov. Clinical trials conducted in Pakistan must adhere to the guidelines and regulations set forth by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) and other relevant regulatory bodies.

Systematic Reviews Registration

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are essential components of evidence-based research. To promote transparency and prevent duplication of effort, authors conducting these studies should register them in an appropriate database. This registration should clearly outline the study’s objectives and methodology. Systematic reviews should be registered in specialized registries, such as PROSPERO or similar platforms.

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