Editorial Policy

Authorship Criteria

Developmental Medico-Life-Sciences journal has agreed to receive and publish manuscripts in accordance with the instructions of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Details of ICMJE and COPE are available at www.icmje.org and http://publicationethics.org/.

The ICMJE recommends that authorship should be based on the following four criteria:

1. Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; AND
2. Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; AND
3. Final approval of the version to be published; AND
4. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

All those designated as authors should meet all four criteria for authorship.

1. Alterations in the List of Authors
   DMLS generally does not permit changes to the authorship list after initial manuscript submission
2. Contributions Statement
   Statements describing detailed contributions made by each author are required at the time of submission of the manuscript. This has to be outlined in the submission statement form. Incomplete form can lead to processing delays in the manuscript.
3. Corresponding Author
   The corresponding author is the individual who takes primary responsibility for communication with the journal. The corresponding author should be available throughout the submission and peer review process to respond to editorial queries in a timely way, and should be available after publication to respond to critiques of the work and cooperate with any requests from the journal for data or additional information should questions about the paper arise after publication.
4. Author’s Address and Affiliation
   Present addresses for individual authors that differ from the address(es) at which the work was done should be given in a Present Addresses note to be placed at the bottom of the first page.
5. Deceased Authors
   Deceased authors should be included with a death dagger (†) next to the author's name, and a footnote stating that the author is deceased and giving the date of their death (e.g., †Deceased 1 January 2016).

Crossmark Policy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.69750/dmls.crossmark.policy.2024

Crossmark Policy Statement:

CrossMark is a publisher initiative to provide a standard way for readers to locate the authoritative version of an article or other published content. By applying the CrossMark logo, Developmental Medico-Life-Sciences Research and Publications (SMC-Private) Limited is committing to maintaining the content it publishes within DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICO-LIFE-SCIENCES journal and to alerting readers to changes if and when they occur.

Clicking the CrossMark logo on a document will tell you its current status and may also give you additional publication-record information about the document. For more information on CrossMark, please visit the CrossMark site.

The Developmental Medico-Life-Sciences Research and Publications (SMC-Private) Limited content that will have the CrossMark logo is restricted to current and future journal content and is limited to specific publication types.

For general author guidelines and information, please see: Publishing with Developmental Medico-Life-Sciences Research and Publications (SMC-Private) Limited - Resources for DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICO-LIFE-SCIENCES Authors.

Publication Fee and Waiver Policy

Plagiarism Policy

PLAGIARISM AND AI DETECTION POLICY

Developmental Medico-Life-Sciences (DMLS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, ethical publishing, transparency, and responsible research practices in accordance with the recommendations and guidelines of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and World Association of Medical Editors (WAME). The journal maintains a strict policy against plagiarism, duplicate publication, data fabrication, data falsification, image manipulation, unethical authorship practices, and inappropriate use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in scholarly publishing.

1. Plagiarism Detection and Prevention

Plagiarism includes the unacknowledged use or reproduction of another person’s ideas, words, data, images, figures, or published work without appropriate attribution or permission. All submitted manuscripts undergo plagiarism and similarity screening using recognized similarity detection software such as Turnitin and/or iThenticate prior to editorial consideration and peer review. Manuscripts demonstrating excessive similarity, suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication, or unethical overlap may be rejected, returned for revision, subjected to further investigation, or handled according to COPE recommendations and institutional policies. Where serious misconduct is identified, the journal reserves the right to issue corrections, retractions, notify authors’ institutions, or take other appropriate editorial actions.

2. Artificial Intelligence in Research

The journal acknowledges the growing role of AI tools in the research process, but it emphasizes that AI should not be used to generate or manipulate data, alter research findings, or write content in place of the authors. Authors must adhere to the following:

• Disclosure: Authors are required to disclose the use of any AI tools in the methodology or writing process in the manuscript submission.
• AI in Research: If AI tools are used in data analysis, authors must clearly specify how the tool was used, ensuring that it does not interfere with the accuracy and integrity of the results.
• AI-Generated Content: Any content generated by AI tools (e.g., writing assistance, paraphrasing tools) should be appropriately disclosed. Authors must take responsibility for its accuracy and validity.

Double-blind Peer Review

Requirements for double-blind peer review

All manuscripts submitted to Developmental Medico-Life-Sciences (DMLS) undergo a double-blind peer review process in which the identities of authors and reviewers remain concealed throughout the review process. Authors should prepare their manuscripts in a manner that ensures anonymity during peer review. When preparing a manuscript for double-blind peer review, authors are requested to:

• Conceal author names, affiliations, and identifying information within the manuscript and supplementary files.
• Prepare the manuscript according to the journal’s double-blind peer review guidelines.
• Remove identifying information from file properties and metadata where applicable.
• Use neutral language when referring to previous work by the authors.
• Include acknowledgements, author contributions, and related identifying information separately during the submission process where required.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that submitted manuscripts are appropriately anonymized prior to peer review.

Double-blind Peer Review guidelines:

Reviewer guidelines:

Submitted manuscripts are evaluated for originality, scientific quality, significance, methodological rigor, ethical compliance, adequacy of documentation, clarity of presentation, and relevance to the journal’s scope and readership. Manuscripts not prepared according to the journal’s submission guidelines may be returned to authors for technical correction prior to peer review. Revised manuscripts are assessed based on the adequacy of responses to reviewer and editorial comments and may undergo additional peer review where necessary. The Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board reserve the right to make the final editorial decision regarding acceptance, revision, or rejection of all submitted manuscripts.

Checklist for Reviewing an article:

• Review the manuscript carefully and provide comments in accordance with the journal’s peer review and ethical guidelines.
• Evaluate the originality, scientific quality, methodology, clarity, significance, and relevance of the manuscript.
• Treat the manuscript and all associated materials as confidential documents and do not disclose or use their contents outside the peer review process.
• Provide clear, constructive, evidence-based, and professional comments to assist authors in improving the manuscript.
• If the manuscript is unsuitable for publication, provide detailed scientific reasons and recommendations.
• If revisions are possible, provide specific suggestions for improvement.
• Maintain respectful, objective, and professional language throughout the review process.
• The final editorial decision regarding acceptance, revision, or rejection remains the responsibility of the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board.

Download review form

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Rejected Articles Appeals

Authors whose manuscripts have been rejected may submit a formal letter of appeal to the editorial office providing detailed scientific and editorial justification for reconsideration. All appeals will be reviewed carefully by the editorial team and, where appropriate, by the Editor-in-Chief or relevant editorial committee. The journal reserves the right to uphold or revise the original editorial decision following internal evaluation. Manuscripts rejected after final editorial decision are generally not reconsidered unless substantial evidence is provided demonstrating significant misunderstanding, procedural error, or new information relevant to the editorial assessment. Developmental Medico-Life-Sciences (DMLS) does not permit duplicate publication, unauthorized reproduction, or submission of previously published material without appropriate permission and disclosure. Authors are responsible for obtaining all necessary permissions for copyrighted material, including figures, tables, illustrations, or reproduced content from other sources prior to manuscript submission. Any reproduced or adapted material must be appropriately acknowledged and accompanied by documented permission from the original copyright holder where required.

Ethical Approval of Research

Privacy Statement

At Developmental Medico-Life Sciences (DMLS), we prioritize the privacy and protection of our users' personal data. This policy outlines how we collect, use, and safeguard your information:

1. Data Collection: We collect personal information such as name, email address, and institutional affiliation during user registration, manuscript submission, and communication with the journal.
2. Data Use: Personal data is used exclusively for journal-related purposes, including manuscript processing, peer review, and communication. We do not sell, share, or distribute personal information to third parties unless required by law.
3. Data Storage: All personal data is securely stored and accessible only to authorized personnel. Data is retained only as long as necessary for the journal’s operations.
4. User Rights: Users have the right to access, update, or request the deletion of their personal data. Requests can be directed to the editorial team at [email protected]
5. Cookies: The website may use cookies to improve user experience. By using the site, you consent to the use of cookies as described in the Cookie Policy.
6. Third-Party Services: Any third-party tools used for submission, review, or publication comply with privacy and data protection laws.

By registering or submitting to DMLS, you agree to this Privacy Statement. For further inquiries, contact: [email protected]

Withdrawal Policy

Developmental Medico-Life-Sciences (DMLS) expects that manuscripts submitted to the journal are original, are not under consideration elsewhere, and have been approved by all listed authors. Simultaneous submission of the same manuscript to multiple journals is considered unethical publishing practice. If authors wish to withdraw a manuscript during the editorial or peer-review process, the corresponding author must submit a formal withdrawal request to the editorial office stating the reason for withdrawal. A manuscript withdrawal form signed by all authors may be requested by the journal to confirm mutual agreement regarding the withdrawal. A manuscript will only be considered officially withdrawn after written confirmation has been issued by the editorial office. Until such confirmation is provided, the manuscript will remain under active editorial consideration by the journal. Submission of a manuscript to another journal without formal withdrawal from DMLS may be treated as unethical publication conduct and handled according to COPE and ICMJE guidelines.

Scientific Misconduct

DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICO-LIFE-SCIENCES follows guidelines provided by COPE, WAME, ICMJE and the Higher Education Commission, Pakistan (HEC) for dealing with scientific misconduct.

Examples and forms of misconduct include:

• Falsification of data: ranges from fabrication to deceptive selective reporting, omission of conflicting data, or wilful suppression/distortion.
• Plagiarism: appropriation of language/ideas without credit and representing them as original work.
• Improprieties of authorship: improper assignment of credit, duplicate publication, inclusion/exclusion of authors improperly, submission without concurrence.
• Misappropriation of ideas: improper use of information acquired through peer review or scholarly exchange.
• Violation of accepted practices: serious deviation from accepted research practices, deceptive analyses, improper reporting.
• Failure to comply with regulations: serious/repeated violations involving funds, animals, humans, devices, biologics, etc.
• Inappropriate behaviour: false accusations, failure to report misconduct, destruction/withholding of information, retaliation.

Misconduct also includes redundant/duplicate publication, lack of declaration of competing interests and funding/sponsorship, and other failures of transparency.

Responses to possible misconduct

All allegations are taken very seriously. Manuscript processing will be halted while an investigation is carried out in line with relevant guidelines.

WAME reference: http://www.wame.org/about/recommendations-on-publication-ethics-policie

Conflicts of Interest / Competing Interests

A Declaration of Conflicting Interests policy requires a conflict of interest statement/disclosure from submitting or publishing authors.

COPE describes conflicts of interest as those that may influence judgments on what is published and when revealed later could make a reasonable reader feel misled.

Potential conflicts may arise from relationships, allegiances or hostilities to particular groups, organizations or interests that may result in personal gain.

Examples include (non-exhaustive):

• Consulting fees
• Research funding
• Employment by a related company
• Stocks/shares in a relevant company
• Reimbursement for attending a related symposium or talk

If no conflict exists, state: “The Author(s) declare(s) that there is no conflict of interest.”

Open Citation Policy

Developmental Medico-Life-Sciences (DMLS) supports open science initiatives and the principles of the Initiative for Open Citations (I4OC). The journal is committed to promoting transparency, accessibility, and the unrestricted availability of scholarly citation data. DMLS deposits article metadata and reference lists with Crossref and, where applicable, makes citation data openly available in accordance with I4OC recommendations. Open citations enhance discoverability, interoperability, scholarly communication, and the dissemination of scientific knowledge across the global research community. For further information regarding the Initiative for Open Citations (I4OC), please visit I4OC.

For inquiries related to citation policies, please contact: [email protected]

Repository Policy

Developmental Medico-Life-Sciences (DMLS) supports the broad dissemination, accessibility, and long-term preservation of scholarly research. Authors are encouraged to deposit and share their published articles in institutional repositories, subject-specific repositories, personal websites, and other non-commercial academic platforms, provided that proper citation to the original publication is included. Authors should ensure that deposited versions clearly include the official publication details, Digital Object Identifier (DOI), licensing information, and links to the final published version available on the journal website. Where applicable, version control and publication updates should be maintained through CrossMark and related scholarly publishing standards. DMLS supports responsible archiving practices that enhance research visibility, academic collaboration, and long-term preservation of scientific knowledge.

Open Access, Licensing & Copyright

Open Access Statement

Developmental Medico-Life-Sciences (DMLS) is a fully open-access journal that provides immediate, free, and unrestricted access to all published content without subscription or paywall barriers. All articles published in the journal are freely available to readers worldwide to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, and share in accordance with open-access publishing principles. All published articles are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

Licensing & Copyright

Corrections and Retractions Policy

Developmental Medico-Life-Sciences (DMLS) is committed to maintaining the accuracy, integrity, and transparency of the scholarly record. In cases of suspected scientific misconduct, ethical concerns, plagiarism, duplicate publication, data falsification, or major errors affecting the reliability of published work, the journal and publisher will conduct an investigation in accordance with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and ICMJE recommendations. Depending on the nature and severity of the issue, editorial actions may include publication of a correction, corrigendum, expression of concern, or retraction of the article. All correction and retraction notices will remain permanently linked to the original article to ensure transparency and preservation of the scientific record.

COPE Retraction Guidelines: https://publicationethics.org/files/retraction-guidelines-cope.pdf

There is no time limitation for issuing corrections or retractions where necessary.

Pre-Print Policy

Developmental Medico-Life-Sciences (DMLS) permits the submission of manuscripts that have previously been deposited on recognized non-commercial preprint servers prior to formal peer review. Authors must disclose all relevant preprint information, including the repository name and DOI or web link, at the time of manuscript submission. Submission of a manuscript as a preprint will not be considered prior publication and will not affect editorial consideration. However, authors are responsible for ensuring transparency regarding the preprint status of the manuscript during the submission and publication process. Case reports, editorials, and previously peer-reviewed published articles are generally not considered under the journal’s preprint policy.

Acknowledgement Criteria

Individuals who contributed to the study or manuscript but do not meet all authorship criteria recommended by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) may be acknowledged in the Acknowledgements section of the manuscript. Acknowledgements may include contributions such as funding acquisition, administrative or technical support, laboratory assistance, statistical analysis support, proofreading, supervision, data collection assistance, or other non-author contributions that supported the completion of the study. Authors are responsible for obtaining permission from all acknowledged individuals prior to publication.

Post-publication Discussions & Corrections Policy

Developmental Medico-Life-Sciences (DMLS) encourages constructive scholarly discussion, scientific debate, and post-publication commentary regarding published articles. The journal is committed to maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the scientific record and will consider legitimate concerns, comments, or criticisms related to published content.

Where necessary, the journal may publish corrections, corrigenda, expressions of concern, or retractions in accordance with the recommendations and guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

For further guidance on post-publication discussions and corrections, please refer to COPE Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections.

COPE reference: https://publicationethics.org/postpublication

Data & Reproducibility Policy

Developmental Medico-Life-Sciences (DMLS) supports data transparency, research integrity, and scientific reproducibility. Authors are encouraged to retain and share relevant research data, protocols, analytical methods, and supporting materials through reputable institutional, subject-specific, or public data repositories whenever appropriate and ethically permissible. Authors are also encouraged to follow recognized reporting guidelines and research reporting checklists to improve the transparency, accuracy, and reproducibility of published research.

COPE reference: https://publicationethics.org/data

Advertising Policy