Ethical Guidelines

Research and Publication Ethics

Mari Papel y Corrugado upholds the highest ethical standards throughout the research and publication process, following the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The journal ensures transparency in authorship, proper conflict of interest disclosures, and the ethical management of peer reviews and data handling.

Manuscripts are rigorously reviewed to identify any ethical concerns. If issues arise, even post-acceptance, the editorial board may withdraw the manuscript to maintain adherence to ethical policies. All submissions are evaluated to align with the journal’s ethical standards and COPE’s broader guidelines.

Publication Ethics Declaration

Mari Papel y Corrugado is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in academic publishing. The journal adheres strictly to guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), ensuring integrity in every aspect of the publication process. We prioritize ethical practices in all submitted research, promoting transparency and accountability to uphold the quality and reliability of scholarly work.

In cases where ethical concerns arise, the journal responds promptly, investigating and taking necessary corrective actions such as corrections, retractions, or other measures to maintain the credibility of published literature. Throughout the process, we remain transparent with authors, reviewers, and editors, ensuring all parties are fully informed.

Core Ethical Principles

• Prevention & Detection: Ethical issues are addressed early in the submission process, ensuring manuscripts align with the journal’s ethical policies.
• Neutrality & Fairness: Ethical concerns are resolved impartially, with each case handled consistently and following COPE’s guidelines.
• Transparency: The journal maintains open communication with all parties and ensures fairness in the resolution of any ethical matters.

Author Responsibilities

Authors must:

• Accurately present their research and acknowledge any limitations.
• Ensure proper authorship and disclose conflicts of interest.
• Provide clear methodology, allowing reproducibility, and share data where possible.
• Avoid duplicate submissions and ensure originality.

All contributors must meet authorship criteria as per the ICMJE guidelines, and any disputes or changes to authorship must be approved by all authors. Additionally, the use of AI tools must be disclosed and does not qualify for authorship.

Plagiarism, Data Fabrication, and Image Manipulation Policy

Mari Papel y Corrugado enforces a strict policy against plagiarism, data fabrication, and improper image manipulation to ensure the integrity of academic research and maintain trust within the scientific community.

Plagiarism

Any form of plagiarism, including copying text, ideas, images, or data without proper attribution, is strictly prohibited. This also applies to self-plagiarism, where authors reuse their previously published content without citation. Proper citations, quotations, and acknowledgments must be used when drawing from other works.

The journal uses iThenticate software to screen all submissions for plagiarism. If plagiarism is detected before publication, the manuscript may be rejected; if discovered post-publication, appropriate actions such as retractions or corrections will be taken.

Data Fabrication

Mari Papel y Corrugado has a zero-tolerance policy for the fabrication or manipulation of data. All data should be genuine and accurately reported, without selectively omitting or falsifying any data points to influence results. Authors are encouraged to keep raw data for at least five years post-publication to ensure transparency and allow for future verification. Preregistering research methods and analyses is also encouraged for maintaining integrity.

Image Manipulation

Images submitted must reflect the original data and should not be altered in a way that misrepresents the results. Unacceptable manipulations include altering image content, combining images without proper labeling, and adjusting brightness or contrast in a misleading way. Authors may be required to submit original high-resolution images if concerns arise. Failure to comply with image integrity guidelines may result in rejection, correction, or retraction of the paper. In serious cases, the journal may notify the authors’ affiliated institutions.

Archiving Data

To maintain transparency and allow for future validation, authors are strongly encouraged to archive their raw and unprocessed data for a minimum of five years following publication. These archives should either be maintained on institutional servers or made available through open-access, community-supported data repositories. Proper archiving ensures that research data can be scrutinized, replicated, or reanalyzed by other researchers, supporting the ongoing advancement of scientific knowledge.

Borders and Territorial Disputes Policy

Mari Papel y Corrugado remains neutral in addressing border and territorial disputes that may arise in research descriptions, geographical references, or authors’ affiliations. The journal respects all parties’ perspectives and aims to address concerns sensitively and fairly. When disputes are raised, the editorial team will mediate to find resolutions that uphold the integrity of the academic content without aligning with any territorial claims. Maps or institutional affiliations involving disputed regions are handled in a non-partisan manner, ensuring that academic merit remains the focus.

Conflict of Interest Policy and Intellectual Property Guidelines

Mari Papel y Corrugado follows strict conflict of interest (COI) policies based on the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) guidelines. Authors must disclose all financial or personal conflicts that could influence their research’s outcome, including financial relationships, consultancies, stock ownership, or other professional affiliations.

Key Disclosure Requirements:

• Authors must declare funding sources and the extent of the sponsor’s involvement in the research design, analysis, or decision to publish.
• A COI section should be included in all manuscripts. If no conflict exists, the statement should read: “The authors declare no conflicts of interest.”

Research from Controversial Industries: The journal does not accept research funded by the tobacco industry but does accept privately funded studies, provided all sponsor involvement is disclosed transparently.

Intellectual Property and Copyright

Articles are published under the Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license, allowing free use and sharing of content with proper attribution. Authors retain copyright, ensuring they can control how their work is used while permitting its reuse. When republishing previously published material, authors must obtain necessary permissions and follow the format required by the original copyright holder.

Preprints and Patents

The journal accepts manuscripts posted as preprints but expects disclosure of any preprint history during submission. Any unresolved patent issues should be addressed before submission, as the journal will not delay the review or publication process for pending intellectual property matters.

Citation Guidelines for Authors

At Mari Papel y Corrugado, proper citation is critical to maintaining academic integrity and ensuring transparency in research. Authors are expected to adhere to the following guidelines:

Proper Attribution and Citations:

1. Clearly Cite Sources: All content derived from external sources—including text, data, images, and research findings—must be properly cited. This includes materials from the author’s previously published work. Clear attributions prevent plagiarism and promote scholarly transparency.

2. Avoid Over-Citation: Authors should avoid excessive self-citation or relying disproportionately on their own publications. While it is permissible to cite previous work when it is relevant, it should not overshadow the citations section unless the research content justifies it.

3. Do Not Copy References: Citations should only include works that the author has personally read and evaluated. Authors should not reference materials based solely on their appearance in other publications.

4. Avoid Preferential Citations: Citations must be based on the quality and relevance of the research, not on personal or institutional affiliations. Authors should avoid giving undue preference to their own work, that of colleagues, or research from their institution without valid academic justification.

5. Advertisements and Advertorials: Citations of commercial advertisements or advertorials are not allowed. The journal only permits citations from credible academic or peer-reviewed sources.

Research Data Policies

Mari Papel y Corrugado supports open scientific communication and encourages the proper sharing and long-term archiving of research data. By sharing data such as protocols, raw data, and analysis methods, authors help enable other researchers to replicate and build on their findings. Authors are encouraged to adhere to the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles to ensure transparency and reproducibility.

1. Sharing and Preservation

Authors should deposit their datasets in reputable repositories that ensure long-term access and reuse. If sharing data publicly is not possible (due to ethical, legal, or proprietary restrictions), the reasons must be clearly outlined in the Data Availability Statement. Essential data supporting the core research findings should always be accessible, and supplementary materials are also encouraged for transparency.

The journal follows the Transparency and Openness Promotion (TOP) Guidelines, promoting openness while accommodating privacy or ethical concerns. Data restrictions must be explained during submission, ensuring compliance with legal and participant consent requirements.

2. Handling Data Restrictions

If datasets include confidential or proprietary information, authors must explain these limitations and provide access to data for peer-review purposes upon request. Even if data cannot be shared publicly, authors should make the datasets available to qualified researchers upon request. Datasets should be preserved in repositories or supplementary materials for at least five years after publication.

3. Data Availability Statements

All manuscripts must include a Data Availability Statement, specifying whether data used or generated in the research is accessible to the public. Examples of such statements include:

• Public Repository: Data available at a specific repository with DOI/URL.
• Restricted Data: Data accessible upon request due to privacy concerns.
• Third-Party Data: Data obtained from third parties, accessible with permission.
• Embargoed Data: Data to be available after an embargo period.
• Public Domain: Data from publicly accessible sources.
• No New Data: No new data were generated.

4. Long-Term Preservation

The journal encourages the use of repositories that ensure long-term preservation, provide stable identifiers like DOIs, and support open licenses (e.g., CC0 or CC-BY). In the event of repository issues, authors may be asked to relocate datasets and update the publication accordingly.

5. Choosing Repositories

Authors should select repositories that:

• Ensure long-term data preservation,
• Provide stable DOIs,
• Allow public access,
• Support open licenses, and
• Enable confidential peer review.

re3data.org and fairsharing.org are recommended resources for finding certified repositories. Institutional repositories that issue DOIs are also acceptable.

6. Data Citation Requirements

Datasets referenced in the manuscript must be formally cited, along with the original research articles. Proper data citation ensures credit is given and helps maintain academic integrity. The editorial team reviews citations for compliance before publication.

Ethical Guidelines for Reviewers and Editors

Mari Papel y Corrugado upholds stringent ethical standards throughout the editorial process, ensuring all involved—Editors-in-Chief, Editorial Board Members, Guest Editors, and Reviewers—adhere to guidelines that maintain the integrity of peer review. These ethical responsibilities apply both before and after publication, and any concerns regarding unethical conduct, such as plagiarism or research misconduct, must be promptly reported to the Editorial Office. Any investigations are handled according to the journal’s Comments and Complaints Policy, which aligns with the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) recommendations.

1. Responsibilities and Pre-Review Checks

Before manuscripts undergo peer review, the Editorial Office, including Managing Editors and Assistant Editors, perform checks for issues such as plagiarism, duplicate images, or unauthorized use of copyrighted material. However, Editors and Reviewers must remain vigilant throughout the review process and report any further ethical concerns.

When assessing manuscripts, Reviewers and Editors must evaluate several key aspects:

• Conflict of Interest: Disclose any potential conflicts of interest—whether personal, financial, or professional—that could influence the review process.
• Research Presentation: Ensure authors present their research objectively, providing transparent data and methods to facilitate reproducibility.
• Relevance to Journal: Determine whether the manuscript fits within the journal’s scope and offers significant academic contribution.
• Reviewer Feedback: Provide thorough, constructive, and professional feedback that aids in the editorial decision.

2. Conflicts of Interest and Ethical Transparency

Transparency is essential to maintaining trust in the peer-review process. Reviewers and Editors must disclose any conflicts of interest that may influence their objectivity, including relationships with authors or financial interests. Even if an individual believes they can remain impartial, they should withdraw if a conflict is present to preserve the process’s integrity.

Types of Conflicts:

• Personal or Collaborative Conflicts: Editors and Reviewers should not assess manuscripts from authors affiliated with their institution, collaborators, or individuals with whom they have a close personal relationship. This includes coauthors from the past five years.
• Financial Conflicts: These include salary, grants, intellectual property rights, or board memberships tied to the study’s outcomes.
• Other Conflicts: Any biases that could affect the impartiality of the review process.

In cases where conflicts arise, alternative Reviewers or Editors will be assigned. If an Editor submits a manuscript, it will be handled by an independent board member to avoid conflicts.

3. Confidentiality and Anonymity

Confidentiality is fundamental to the peer-review process. Editors and Reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of all details related to the manuscript, including its content and the anonymity of Reviewers, particularly in single- or double-blind reviews. Reviewers should not reveal their identity in comments or metadata, especially in file formats that might unintentionally disclose their identity.

If a Reviewer wishes to involve a colleague or student in the review process, they must seek prior approval from the Editorial Office to ensure ethical compliance.

4. Ethical Oversight in the Review Process

The journal has rigorous ethical frameworks to guide the peer-review process. Editors and Reviewers must ensure that submissions meet ethical standards for research integrity, originality, and proper citation of sources. Ethical considerations include reviewing permissions for copyrighted materials and evaluating the ethical conduct of studies involving human or animal research.

While initial ethical checks are performed by the Editorial Office, Reviewers and Editors are integral in identifying and reporting any further issues that may arise, helping to uphold the journal’s high ethical standards.

Comments and Complaints Process

Mari Papel y Corrugado encourages readers with concerns about published articles to first contact the corresponding author directly. This direct communication allows for issues to be addressed swiftly at the source. However, if the issue is of a nature that does not warrant author contact, or if the author is unresponsive, readers can reach out to the Editorial Office.

The Editorial Office takes all complaints seriously, particularly those involving ethical or scholarly integrity. These concerns are investigated by the Editorial Office in collaboration with the author(s) and, where necessary, relevant members of the Editorial Board. The process may also involve external experts or institutional authorities. If a legal dimension is involved, legal advice may be sought to ensure compliance.

While personal criticisms or anonymous complaints will still be considered, the Editorial Office may not engage in continuous updates unless new evidence is presented. Once an investigation is complete, decisions regarding corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern will be made by the Editors-in-Chief or Editorial Board members. Throughout, complainants may request confidentiality, and this will be maintained where appropriate.

Updating Published Papers

Mari Papel y Corrugado follows a transparent process for correcting errors in published papers. Updates are categorized as follows:

• Direct Updates: Changes made directly to a publication, with the updated version reposted on the journal’s website and indexing databases notified.

• Corrections:

  • Minor corrections are for non-scientific content adjustments and include a footnote in the updated version. No correction notice is issued.
  • Major corrections address significant scientific errors and include a formal notice in the journal’s current issue.

Author Name Changes are processed without a public notice to respect privacy, with metadata updated discreetly and without notification to co-authors.

Retractions

In cases of severe errors or ethical violations, a paper may be retracted. Mari Papel y Corrugado follows COPE guidelines for retractions. Retracted papers remain accessible with a clear retraction watermark, and the retraction notice is published in the journal’s current issue.

Complete removal of a paper from the journal’s website is rare and occurs only under specific circumstances like legal orders or public safety risks.

Expression of Concern

An Expression of Concern may be issued in complex cases where investigations are ongoing or results are inconclusive. This notice will inform readers about the issue and outline the actions being taken.