1 Data Integrity and Transparency

AJOMENA is committed to ensuring that all published research meets the highest standards of data integrity, transparency, reproducibility, and ethical accountability. This policy aligns with internationally accepted frameworks, including the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and the ALCOA+ principles (Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, Accurate, plus Complete, Consistent, Enduring, and Available).

AJOMENA requires that all research data presented in manuscripts must be:

• Accurate and verifiable
• Consistent with described methodologies
• Available for validation upon reasonable request, unless restricted for legal or ethical reasons

1.1 The FAIR Data Principles

AJOMENA requires FAIR compliance to enhance reproducibility:

Findable

Datasets must have persistent identifiers (e.g., DOI) and searchable metadata.

Accessible

Data must be deposited in recognised repositories with clear access conditions.

Interoperable

Data must use standard formats (CSV, JSON, XML) and recognised vocabularies.

Reusable

Data must include clear licensing and sufficient documentation for reuse and replication.

1.2 ALCOA+ Principle

AJOMENA requires all manuscripts to comply with ALCOA+ standards:

Attributable

Data must clearly identify contributors. Authorship and roles should follow recognised standards (e.g., CRediT taxonomy).

Legible

Data must be clear, readable, and well formatted. Handwritten records must be digitised and verified.

Contemporaneous

Data must be recorded at the time of collection. Retrospective reconstruction without evidence is unacceptable.

Original

Raw data must be preserved. All processing, cleaning, or transformation must be fully documented.

Accurate

Data must be error-free and free from bias, fabrication, or falsification. Authors are fully responsible for validation.

Extended ALCOA+ Requirements

Complete

All relevant data, including negative results, must be included. Selective omission is prohibited.

Consistent

Data must be coherent across text, tables, and figures. Any discrepancies must be explained.

Enduring

Data must be securely stored and backed up for at least 5–10 years, or as required by funders/institutions.

Available

Data must be available for verification upon request, subject to ethical or legal restrictions.

1.3 Data Transparency Requirements

Data Availability Statement

Manuscripts must state where data is stored, access conditions, and any restrictions.

Methodological Transparency

Methods, statistical tools, software, and versions must be clearly reported.

Reporting Transparency

Selective reporting is prohibited. Any deviations from study protocols must be disclosed.

Conflict of Interest

All financial or personal conflicts that may influence interpretation must be declared.

1.4 Data Misconduct Policy

AJOMENA enforces zero tolerance for misconduct:

• Fabrication: No invented data
• Falsification: No manipulation of results
• Plagiarism: No unauthorised use of data

Violations may result in rejection, retraction, institutional reporting, or submission bans.

2 Open Science & Data Sharing

AJOMENA encourages:

• Data deposition in open repositories (where ethical)
• Sharing of code and analysis scripts
• Reproducible research practices

Exceptions include sensitive human data, legal restrictions, and confidential clinical records.

2.1 Editorial Oversight

Editors and reviewers assess data integrity during peer review. Raw data may be requested at any stage.

2.2 Compliance & Enforcement

Compliance is mandatory. Failure may result in revision, delay, rejection, or retraction.

13.3 Author Responsibility and Accountability

All listed authors must:

• Approve the final version of the manuscript prior to submission
• Take responsibility for the integrity of the research
• Ensure that all co-authors meet accepted authorship criteria (ICMJE standards)
• Disclose any potential ethical concerns before submission

Ghost, guest, or honorary authorship is strictly prohibited.