Conflicts of Interest

In line with the Journal of Fundamental and Applied Research commitment to maintaining transparency and academic integrity, all authors are required to disclose any competing interests that could be perceived as influencing the submitted work. Competing interests include any financial, personal, or professional relationships that may reasonably be seen to affect the research.

Disclosure Requirements

• Timeframe for Disclosure: Authors are required to disclose any competing interests that are directly or indirectly related to the research conducted within the last three years, including funding sources, employment, and financial interests. Any interests outside the three-year window must also be disclosed if they could reasonably be perceived as influencing the work.
• Types of Competing Interests:
• Funding: All sources of financial support for the research must be disclosed. This includes research grants (provide the funding agency and grant number), research support (such as salaries, equipment, supplies, reimbursement for attending conferences, etc.), or any other form of financial contribution that may be relevant to the publication of the work.
• Employment: Any current, past, or anticipated employment by an organization that may financially benefit or suffer from the publication of the research must be disclosed. This includes affiliations with multiple institutions or organizations.
• Financial Interests: Authors must disclose if they hold stocks or shares in companies (including those held by spouses or children) that may gain or lose financially from the research. Other financial interests such as consultation fees, remunerations, patents, or pending patent applications should also be disclosed.
• Non-Financial Interests: Non-financial competing interests, which may affect the objectivity of the research, should also be disclosed. This includes professional interests, personal relationships, or personal beliefs that could potentially influence the work. Examples include:
• Membership on editorial boards, advisory boards, or other governance roles in relevant organizations;
• Consulting for educational purposes or acting as an expert witness;
• Mentoring relationships or any other involvement that could be perceived as a conflict of interest.

Competing Interests Disclosure Statement

Authors are required to include a Competing Interests statement in the manuscript, which will be published alongside the article. If authors have no competing interests to disclose, the following statement should be included:

• "The authors declare they have no competing interests related to the content of this article."

If there are competing interests to disclose, authors should provide detailed information on the specific nature of these interests, ensuring that full transparency is maintained.

Confidentiality of Disclosures

Authors must treat all disclosures and declarations as confidential until the manuscript has been formally accepted for publication. This includes any potential conflicts of interest or financial interests that may be perceived as influencing the results. The journal guarantees that these disclosures will be handled with the highest degree of confidentiality and will not be disclosed without prior consent.

Editor-in-Chief’s Role

The Editor-in-Chief will review all competing interests disclosures and ensure that they are in compliance with the journal’s policies. In cases where the disclosure of competing interests is not adequately addressed, the manuscript may be returned to the authors for further clarification or modification. Submissions that fail to meet the disclosure requirements may be rejected at the Editor-in-Chief's discretion.

Appeals Process for Disputes

In case of disputes related to the disclosed competing interests, authors are encouraged to communicate directly with the editorial team. The journal will not intervene in these matters unless it impedes the scientific integrity of the publication. If the dispute cannot be resolved internally, the issue may be escalated to the institution(s) involved, as per the journal’s established guidelines.