· Given that Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences fully subsidizes the publishing expenses of the MUK Press journals, there are no article processing charges or other publication fees levied on authors.
Publishing Timeline:
· The MUK Press operates on an open-access model, ensuring that papers are published promptly after acceptance and the completion of the manuscript production phase. As a practice, all articles become immediately accessible on the journal's website upon their publication. Furthermore, authors are provided with finalized PDF versions of their papers.
Direct Marketing:
· The MUK Press adheres strictly to global anti-spam regulations. We collaborate exclusively with reputable medical list providers who furnish lists comprising fully consenting individuals. To ensure compliance and transparency, the MUK Press employs a double opt-in mechanism when individuals register for email alerts via the MUK website. Registrants have the flexibility to choose their email frequency preferences (daily, weekly, or monthly), and every email communication includes an option to unsubscribe.
Advertising:
· The MUK Press maintains a policy of not incorporating any paid advertisements within its publications, whether they be journal articles or on the website.
Conflict of Interest Guidelines
The MUK Press places paramount importance on transparency and ethical conduct. Hence, we have established rigorous conflict of interest policies for authors, peer reviewers, and editors.
Authors
All authors are mandated to complete the Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest form issued by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). Accuracy in this declaration is crucial. Failure to disclose a conflict of interest can significantly undermine the credibility of the submitted paper. However, transparently revealing any conflicts does not automatically disqualify a paper from publication; rather, it fosters trust and transparency with readers.
Peer Reviewers
Upon accepting a review assignment, peer reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest. Reviewers are expected to decline assignments where they cannot provide an unbiased evaluation of the manuscript in question.
Editors
Editors, particularly the Editor-in-Chief of any the MUK Press journal, are held to the same rigorous standards regarding conflicts of interest as authors. They must disclose any financial or personal conflicts related to submitted manuscripts. If a conflict exists, decisions regarding that manuscript will be entrusted to another qualified editor. Moreover, to maintain impartiality, the Editor-in-Chief remains uninformed about the fee structures of reviewed papers. If an Editor-in-Chief or any editorial board member submits a manuscript to their MUK Press journal, another editor assumes responsibility for the editorial decision-making process. Additionally, such submissions necessitate a minimum of three independent sets of peer-review comments, adhering to the guidelines set forth by COPE's Ethical Editing guide.
