Journal and Editorial Policies

Open access policy

 MSBB Journal is committed to fostering the principles of open access to scientific research. We believe that knowledge should be freely accessible to all, facilitating widespread dissemination, collaboration, and innovation. As an open access journal, we ensure that published articles are freely available online, allowing readers from diverse backgrounds and institutions to access and benefit from the latest scientific advancements.

Article accessibility: All articles published in  MSBB are freely available to the public immediately upon publication. There are no subscription fees or paywalls hindering access to the content. This ensures that anyone with an internet connection can read, download, and share the articles without any financial or technical barriers.

Creative commons license: To further support open access and maximize the dissemination and reuse of published content, BMSB applies a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license to all published articles. This license allows readers to copy, distribute, transmit, adapt, and make commercial use of the articles, provided appropriate credit is given to the original authors and source of publication.

Author retention of copyright: Authors retain the copyright of their published articles. This empowers authors to control the integrity and future use of their research, enabling them to share and disseminate their work without restrictions.

Funding and sustainability: To support the open access model, our journal may require the payment of an article processing charge (APC) upon acceptance for publication. These charges contribute to covering the costs associated with the peer-review process, editorial services, typesetting, online hosting, and indexing of articles. We strive to maintain a transparent and affordable pricing structure, with a low APC of only $40 USD per article.

Note: The open access policy of  MSBB Journal may be subject to periodic review and updates to align with emerging best practices in scholarly publishing. We remain committed to supporting open access principles and fostering the widest possible dissemination of scientific knowledge to benefit society as a whole.

Peer review process

Upon submission, all manuscripts undergo an initial assessment by an editorial assistant to ensure they meet the primary requirements, such as alignment with the journal's scope and adherence to formatting guidelines. Manuscripts that fulfill these requirements are then assigned to an academic editor specializing in the corresponding section. The academic editor carefully reviews the manuscript and makes a decision regarding its suitability for further consideration. If the editor deems the manuscript appropriate for peer review, it is sent to at least two reviewers. These reviewers consist of an editorial board member, an in-house reviewer, and an external expert who possess relevant expertise in the manuscript's subject matter. The reviewers are requested to evaluate the manuscript based on specific criteria, which may include the originality and significance of the research, clarity of presentation, methodology, and validity of the conclusions. The reviewers provide their assessments and comments to the editor within a specified timeframe.

Once the editor receives evaluations from at least two reviewers, they consider the feedback and make a decision on the manuscript. The editor's decision, along with the reviewers' reports, is communicated to the authors via email. The decision can fall into one of four outcomes: acceptance without modifications, acceptance with minor modifications, consideration after major modifications, or rejection. The authors are informed of the decision, and if revisions are requested, they are provided with the reviewers' comments to guide their revisions.

Throughout the submission and review process, authors are kept informed of the progress of their manuscript. They receive notifications at various stages, including the receipt of the manuscript, the initial decision, reviewers' comments, requests for revisions, and the final decision. Additionally, authors have the option to contact the editorial office to request updates or inquire about the current status of their manuscript. We strive to ensure a fair, transparent, and timely review process, maintaining effective communication with authors while upholding the quality and integrity of the journal. 

Peer review guidelines

At MSBB Journal, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your esteemed contribution as a peer reviewer. Your role is pivotal in upholding the integrity and quality of academic research, making the scholarly process robust and dependable. We deeply appreciate your dedication to this noble endeavor. To assist you in this essential task, we present the following guidelines to conduct peer reviews with the utmost professionalism, care, and respect.

1. Impartiality and integrity:

   Your commitment to impartiality and integrity is paramount. Regardless of authors' affiliations or backgrounds, we kindly urge you to approach each manuscript with fairness and respect. Your unbiased evaluation ensures a just and equitable assessment.

2. Timeliness:

   We acknowledge the value of your time and sincerely thank you for your promptness in reviewing manuscripts. If, due to unforeseen circumstances, you are unable to meet the deadline, please notify us promptly. Your timely responses allow us to maintain the journal's efficiency.

3. Constructive feedback:

   Your feedback plays a pivotal role in shaping manuscripts. We encourage you to provide comprehensive and constructive comments that highlight both strengths and areas for improvement. Clear, specific, and actionable suggestions are invaluable. Please ensure your feedback is delivered respectfully, nurturing an environment conducive to scholarly growth.

4. Grading criteria:

   In your evaluation, we kindly ask you to grade the manuscript based on several criteria, each on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 signifies 'Needs significant improvement' and 5 signifies 'Outstanding':

   - Originality: Consider the novelty and uniqueness of the research contribution

   - Scientific rigor: Assess the methodology, data analysis, and overall scientific robustness.

   - Relevance: Evaluate the manuscript's relevance to the journal's scope and its potential impact on the field.

   - Language quality: Evaluate the clarity, coherence, and precision of the manuscript's language.

   - Overall impression: Provide an overall assessment of the manuscript and its potential contribution to the scientific community.

5. Recommendation:

   Kindly offer a recommendation to the editors based on your assessment of the manuscript. Your suggestions may include:

   - Accept as it is: The manuscript is suitable for publication without revisions.

   - Minor review: Minor revisions are required before acceptance.

   - Major review: Substantial revisions are necessary for further consideration.

   - Rejection: The manuscript does not meet the journal's standards.

We profoundly value your dedication to maintaining the journal's excellence. Your expertise and commitment significantly enrich the scholarly discourse. Thank you for your invaluable contributions, and we look forward to your continued partnership in advancing scientific knowledge through the peer review process.

Should you require any further clarification or have questions, please feel free to contact us. Your partnership is deeply appreciated.

Warm regards,

MSBB Journal

Editorial independence

We maintain editorial independence and make decisions based on scientific merit, free from any undue influence. We are committed to ensuring a fair and unbiased review process.

Authorship

The manuscript submission form requires the inclusion of all authors' CRediT contributions. It is important that each author's contribution aligns with the authorship criteria set by the ICMJE. Authorship should be based on substantial contributions to the research and preparation of the manuscript. All authors listed on a manuscript must have made significant contributions and should be aware of the submission and publication process. Any changes to authorship must be agreed upon by all parties involved and communicated to the editorial office.

Study involving human or animal participants

At our journal, we prioritize the ethical treatment of human or animal participants involved in research studies. We expect authors to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and compliance with relevant guidelines and regulations. To ensure the welfare and protection of participants, we have implemented the following policy:

• Ethical approval: Authors must provide evidence of obtaining appropriate ethical approval from relevant ethics committees or institutional review boards (IRBs) for studies involving human or animal participants. The approval process should address participant confidentiality, informed consent, privacy, and any potential risks or benefits associated with the research.

• Informed consent: Authors must demonstrate that informed consent was obtained from human participants or their legally authorized representatives. Informed consent should be voluntary, based on comprehensive information about the study objectives, procedures, potential risks, and benefits. Authors should respect the autonomy of participants and ensure their rights to withdraw from the study at any time.

• Anonymity and confidentiality: Authors should protect the privacy and confidentiality of human participants. Personal identifiers should be removed or anonymized unless explicit consent for disclosure has been obtained. Authors should handle participant data securely and responsibly, ensuring that information is stored and reported in a manner that protects confidentiality.

• Animal welfare: For studies involving animals, authors should comply with relevant animal welfare regulations and guidelines. Research protocols should consider minimizing harm, providing appropriate care, housing, and feeding, and using humane methods for procedures. Authors should provide details of the steps taken to minimize the number of animals used and to reduce suffering.

• Reporting guidelines: Authors should follow established reporting guidelines for studies involving human or animal participants, such as the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) for clinical trials or the Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) guidelines for animal studies. Compliance with these guidelines ensures transparency, reproducibility, and facilitates critical evaluation of the research.

• Declaration of Ethical Compliance: Authors must explicitly state in their manuscript that the study involving human or animal participants was conducted in accordance with relevant ethical guidelines and regulations. They should provide necessary details, including ethical approval information and informed consent procedures, as part of their manuscript submission.

Data integrity and reproducibility

Authors should present their research accurately and honestly, providing sufficient details to allow for the reproducibility of the study. Data manipulation or fabrication is strictly prohibited. Authors must retain raw data and other research materials for a reasonable period after publication, as they may be required for verification.  

Conflicts of interest

Authors should disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence the interpretation or presentation of their research findings. This includes financial interests, affiliations, or any other personal or professional relationships that could be perceived as influencing the work.

Originality and plagiarism

We value originality and require authors to submit only their own work. Plagiarism, in any form, is strictly prohibited. Authors must ensure that all content submitted for publication is original and properly cited.

Preprint and postprint 

Preprint policy: We embrace the spirit of open science and encourage authors to share their research findings as preprints. Authors are welcome to submit manuscripts that have been previously posted on preprint servers or other recognized platforms. Preprints provide an opportunity for researchers to disseminate their work rapidly and receive feedback from the scientific community before formal publication. Once the manuscript is published in our journal, we encourage authors to update the preprint record with a link to the final published article. This helps to provide readers with access to the definitive and peer-reviewed version of the research. 

Postprint policy: We acknowledge the importance of postprints in sharing research outcomes after the peer review and publication process. Authors are permitted to share postprints, also known as author accepted manuscripts, following publication in our journal. When sharing the postprint, authors must appropriately acknowledge the journal's publication and include a link to the final published article on our journal's website. This allows readers to access the version of record for accurate citation and referencing. 

Corrections and retractions

In the event of errors, inaccuracies, or ethical concerns in published articles, we are committed to addressing them promptly. Corrections, retractions, or clarifications will be issued as necessary, following a transparent and unbiased process.