JSDF places great emphasis on transparency and integrity in all aspects of publication. A conflict of interest occurs when personal, financial, professional, or academic relationships could potentially compromise or bias professional judgment and objectivity. The reliability and credibility of published articles and editorial decisions depend upon clear disclosure and proper handling of any conflicts of interest.
In accordance with guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the following policy applies to authors, reviewers, and editors.
For Authors:
• All authors must clearly disclose any conflicts of interest that could have influenced the conception, design, implementation, analysis, interpretation, writing, or publication of the submitted manuscript.
• Financial relationships, such as research funding, honoraria, consultancy, or other financial interests, must be fully disclosed. Similarly, non-financial relationships, including personal relationships, academic competition, or intellectual conflicts, must also be transparently reported.
• All sources of financial support and grants related to the manuscript must be clearly stated at the end of the article.
• The conflict of interest statement must explicitly appear at the end of the manuscript.
• Authors should avoid agreements with study sponsors or other parties that could limit their access to the complete data or restrict their ability to independently analyze, interpret, write, and publish the study results.
• Any potential conflicts must be clearly stated to ensure impartial, ethical, and independent review.
For Reviewers:
• Reviewers must disclose any potential conflict of interest with authors, their institutions, or the submitted manuscript that could influence their review.
• Potential conflicts include recent collaboration, financial or professional connections, personal relationships, academic competition, or intellectual disagreements relevant to the submitted work.
• Reviewers with conflicts of interest must recuse themselves from the review process and promptly notify the editorial office of their conflict.
For Editors:
• Editors who oversee peer-review processes and make final publication decisions must disclose and avoid any personal, professional, financial, or intellectual conflict related to the manuscript under consideration.
• Editors must not participate in decision-making processes related to manuscripts authored by themselves or by individuals or institutions with whom they have close professional, personal, or financial relationships. In these cases, the involved editor will be explicitly excluded from the manuscript evaluation and decision-making process.
• Editors must avoid inviting reviewers who have known or reasonably anticipated conflicts with authors or submitted work.
• Editorial board decisions regarding conflicts of interest follow clearly defined COPE guidelines.