1) Editorial Independence & Oversight

APPS is managed by an editorial team led by the Editor-in-Chief and supported by handling editors and expert peer reviewers. Editorial decisions are based on scientific merit, methodological rigor, and relevance, not on authors’ institutional affiliations, nationality, or funding sources. The journal’s pages emphasize fair, timely assessment of all manuscripts and the application of consistent standards across submissions.

• Manuscripts are screened for scope and baseline quality prior to external review. Source: Peer Review Policy
• Final decisions rest with the Editor-in-Chief, informed by reviewers’ comments and editorial judgment. Source: Peer Review Policy

2) Peer Review Model & Reviewer Standards

As stated on the policy page, APPS operates a double-blind peer review: authors and reviewers are anonymized during evaluation. Each submission typically receives at least two independent expert reviews. The editor synthesizes feedback and issues a decision with guidance for revisions where applicable.

Reviewers are expected to declare potential conflicts of interest and maintain confidentiality of manuscript content. Source: Peer Review Policy

3) Authorship, Contributorship & Disclosures

Authors must have made substantial contributions to the conception/design, acquisition/analysis, or interpretation of data; drafted or critically revised the work; approved the final version; and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work. Order of authorship should reflect contributions and be agreed prior to submission.

• Conflicts of Interest: All authors must declare any financial or personal relationships that could influence the work. Source: Publication Ethics
• Funding: List funders and grant numbers; describe roles of the sponsor if applicable. Source: Publication Ethics
• Data Availability: Provide a statement indicating where data/code/materials can be accessed or the reasons for restrictions. Source: Publication Ethics

4) Research Ethics & Integrity

Studies involving humans or animals must include approval identifiers from an appropriate ethics committee and statements of informed consent for identifiable participants. Clinical trials should reference registration numbers where relevant. The journal runs similarity checks (e.g., iThenticate) to detect plagiarism before acceptance.

• Human ethics: IRB approvals and consent processes must be clearly reported. Source: Publication Ethics
• Animal ethics: Institutional and national guidelines must be followed and approvals documented. Source: Publication Ethics
• Plagiarism: The journal’s dedicated policy describes checks and sanctions for plagiarism and redundant publication. Source: Plagiarism Policy

5) Open Access, Copyright, Licensing & Posting Rights

APPS publishes all content under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal a license to publish. The license permits sharing and adaptation, including commercial reuse, provided appropriate attribution is given.

• Self-archiving: Authors may deposit accepted or published versions in repositories consistent with CC BY 4.0. Source: Open Access Policy, Licensing Policy
• Third-party content: Authors must secure permissions for materials not covered by CC BY 4.0. Source: Licensing Policy

6) Fees & Waivers

APPS does not charge submission fees. Upon acceptance, an Article Processing Charge (APC) applies as listed on the journal site. Waiver or discount requests may be considered in line with the publisher’s waiver policy.

Waiver information and eligibility are described on the Waiver Policy page.

7) Corrections, Retractions & Withdrawals

When post-publication issues arise, the journal follows the norms of scholarly publishing to maintain the integrity of the record. Corrections (errata), expressions of concern, or retractions may be issued as appropriate to the circumstances and documented on the journal site.

• Pre-publication withdrawals: Authors requesting withdrawal before final publication should consult the journal’s policy for conditions and any applicable fees. Source: Withdrawal Policy
• Post-publication changes: Corrections or retractions are linked to the original article with clear metadata to ensure transparency. Source: Withdrawal Policy

8) Data & Materials Sharing; Preprints; Transparency

Authors are encouraged to make data, code, and materials available in trusted repositories, with persistent identifiers and citations in the reference list. Where data cannot be shared (e.g., privacy, IP, or security restrictions), the manuscript should explain the constraints.

• Data & code: Provide repository links and version information where possible. 
• Preprints: The journal permits prior posting on preprint servers, provided any changes between preprint and published versions are transparently described in the manuscript. 
• Reporting guidelines: Use applicable community checklists (e.g., CONSORT, ARRIVE, PRISMA) and include them at submission.

9) Appeals, Complaints & Editorial Communications

Authors may appeal editorial decisions by writing to the editorial office with a reasoned response that addresses reviewers’ and editors’ comments point-by-point. Complaints about process or conduct are investigated by the editorial leadership and, if needed, escalated within the publisher for resolution.

• Appeals must present substantive methodological or interpretive grounds for reconsideration. 
• Editorial communications are conducted via the official submission system and contact channels listed on the journal site. Source: Contact

Contact the Editorial Office

For questions about these policies or their application to your manuscript, please contact:

• Email: info@hspioa.org
• Contact form: https://www.pharmacyscijournal.com/contact