Integrity of the Research Record
Published images, figures, tables, datasets and research descriptions must accurately represent the work conducted and the evidence available.
Research Integrity Policy
Image Manipulation and Research Fabrication Policy
UnivColl Publications maintains this policy to protect the integrity of scholarly images, figures, datasets, tables, research evidence and the published academic record.
Figure Integrity
Data Reliability
Ethical Investigation
Corrections & Retractions
Policy Purpose
Protecting Evidence, Trust and the Scholarly Record
Research figures, images and datasets are not decoration. They are evidence. This policy explains how UnivColl Publications expects authors, editors, reviewers and readers to handle image integrity, data reliability, research fabrication and suspected falsification.
The policy applies to manuscripts under submission, accepted articles, published articles, supplementary materials, datasets, charts, graphs, photographs, clinical or field images, laboratory images and AI-assisted or digitally processed visual materials.
Core Principles
Research Images and Data Must Remain Honest, Traceable and Verifiable
These principles guide editorial decisions when image manipulation, data fabrication, falsification or misleading visual presentation is suspected.
No Fabrication or Falsification
Invented data, altered results, selective removal of inconvenient findings or manipulated evidence intended to mislead readers are not acceptable.
Transparent Image Processing
Limited technical adjustments may be acceptable only when they do not obscure, enhance, remove or misrepresent research information.
Corrective Action When Required
When a credible concern affects the reliability of the scholarly record, the publisher may request clarification, publish a correction, issue an expression of concern or retract the article.
Technical Adjustments That Do Not Mislead
- Global brightness, contrast, colour balance or sharpness adjustments applied uniformly to the entire image when they do not change interpretation.
- Cropping for layout or focus, provided that important context is not removed and the crop does not create a misleading impression.
- Annotation of figures with arrows, labels, scale bars or boxes where the annotation is clearly visible and explained in the caption or methods.
- Compression, resizing or format conversion needed for publication, provided that the scientific content remains accurate and readable.
- Combining panels into a multi-part figure when panel boundaries are clear and each panel is labelled appropriately.
Manipulation, Fabrication and Falsification
- Creating, inventing or reporting data, images, graphs, observations, interviews, experiments or survey responses that did not exist.
- Duplicating, cloning, splicing, stretching or reusing image regions to hide, enhance, replace or fabricate results.
- Changing only part of an image, blot, gel, micrograph, scan or figure in a way that changes the research meaning.
- Removing background, bands, labels, outliers, participants, artefacts or data points without transparent methodological justification.
- Using AI-generated images, synthetic datasets, simulated results or edited graphics as real research evidence without clear disclosure and validation.
- Presenting stock images, borrowed images, patient images, maps, charts or third-party visuals as original research outputs without permission and attribution.
Author Responsibilities
Contact Editorial Office
What Authors Must Do Before Submission and After Publication
Authors are responsible for the reliability of all data, figures and statements submitted to UnivColl Publications, including materials prepared by co-authors, assistants, agencies, laboratories, editing services or AI tools.
Retain Original Files
Authors should retain original raw images, datasets, lab records, survey forms, instrument outputs, consent records and analysis files for verification when requested.
Explain Processing
Any image processing, data exclusion, statistical transformation, simulation, reconstruction or AI-assisted processing should be described in the manuscript where relevant.
Avoid Misleading Presentation
Figures, tables, charts and images must not exaggerate findings, conceal limitations, remove contradictory evidence or create unsupported conclusions.
Correct Promptly
If authors discover an error after submission or publication, they should inform the editorial office promptly and cooperate in the correction process.
Editorial Screening
How Image and Data Integrity Concerns May Be Checked
UnivColl Publications may conduct proportional checks where concerns are visible, reported or relevant to the reliability of a manuscript or published article. Screening does not remove author responsibility for accuracy and ethical conduct.
- Visual review of figures, panels, labels, captions, scale bars and image consistency.
- Request for raw images, original datasets, ethics approval, consent records or analysis files where necessary.
- Similarity, plagiarism or duplication screening when image or text reuse is suspected.
- Editorial assessment of whether the concern affects presentation only or the reliability of the findings.
- Consultation with reviewers, editorial board members, institutions or independent experts where appropriate.
- Documentation of decisions and publication of correction, expression of concern or retraction notice where required.
Investigation Workflow
Transparent Handling of Suspected Manipulation or Fabrication
Every case is assessed according to its facts, severity, available evidence, author response and possible effect on the reliability of the scholarly record.
01
Concern Received or Detected
A concern may arise during editorial screening, peer review, production, reader communication, institutional communication or post-publication review.
02
Preliminary Editorial Assessment
The editorial office assesses whether the issue appears minor, technical, potentially misleading or serious enough to affect the reliability of the work.
03
Author Clarification and Evidence
Authors may be asked to provide raw files, original data, processing history, ethics documentation, consent evidence or a written explanation.
04
Editorial or Independent Review
The issue may be reviewed by editors, reviewers, subject experts, institutional officers or research-integrity specialists where necessary.
05
Outcome Decision
The journal may proceed with review, request revision, reject the manuscript, correct the article, issue an expression of concern or retract the article.
06
Record Update
When a published article is corrected, flagged or retracted, the article page, PDF notice, DOI metadata and indexing-facing information may be updated as appropriate.
Possible Outcomes
Correction, Concern or Retraction When the Record Requires It
Outcomes depend on whether the issue is minor, correctable, unresolved or serious enough to make the findings unreliable.
| Integrity Situation | Likely Editorial Action | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Minor Presentation Issue | Author correction or production correction | Caption error, missing panel label, incorrect scale-bar note or non-misleading formatting issue. |
| Unclear Concern | Request explanation or additional files | Possible duplication, unusual background, unexplained cropping or unclear image history. |
| Confirmed Error | Correction notice where the article remains reliable | Wrong image uploaded, incorrect chart label or data table error that can be transparently corrected. |
| Unresolved Serious Concern | Expression of concern may be issued | Investigation is incomplete, author response is insufficient or institutional review is pending. |
| Unreliable Findings | Retraction may be issued | Confirmed fabrication, falsification, manipulated images or data problems that invalidate the findings. |
AI and Synthetic Content
AI Tools Must Not Create False Evidence
Artificial intelligence, image editing tools, statistical software and generative systems may support research presentation only when used transparently and ethically. They must never be used to fabricate evidence, hide weaknesses or misrepresent real observations.
- AI tools must not be used to create false research images, invented datasets, fake participant responses, synthetic experimental evidence or fabricated references.
- AI-assisted image enhancement or reconstruction must be disclosed when it affects interpretation, readability, analysis or figure preparation.
- Generative AI outputs must not be presented as real photographs, microscopy images, clinical images, field observations or experimental results unless clearly identified as synthetic or illustrative.
- Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, ethics and reliability of all AI-assisted content submitted to the publisher.
Reporting Concerns
Readers, Reviewers and Institutions May Report Integrity Concerns
A report should identify the article or manuscript, describe the concern clearly, provide supporting evidence where possible and avoid defamatory, abusive or speculative allegations. Anonymous or confidential reports may be considered where enough verifiable information is provided.
The publisher will not treat an allegation as proof. Authors should normally be given an opportunity to respond, and serious cases may require institutional or expert review.
Submit a Concern
Information to Include
- Article title, DOI, URL, journal name and publication date if available.
- Specific figure, table, dataset, image panel, page number or supplementary file.
- Clear description of the suspected manipulation, fabrication or inconsistency.
- Evidence such as comparison images, raw-file questions, duplicated panels or data irregularities.
- Your name, affiliation and contact details, unless confidentiality is requested.
Transparency Statement
Editorial Decisions Are Independent of Fees, Discounts or Payments
APCs, waivers, discounts, sponsorship, institutional collaboration, advertising or payment status must not influence decisions on manuscript acceptance, rejection, correction, expression of concern, retraction or publication-integrity investigation.
UnivColl Publications also avoids misleading claims about guaranteed indexing, guaranteed citation performance, guaranteed acceptance or guaranteed visibility. Integrity decisions are made to protect the scholarly record and readers.
Record Maintenance
Article pages and metadata should reflect the current publication status.
When a correction, expression of concern or retraction is issued, the publisher may update the article page, PDF notice, Crossref-facing DOI metadata, sitemap and relevant public links so that readers can identify the current status of the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Image Manipulation and Research Fabrication FAQ
These answers help authors prepare figures and data responsibly before submission.
Are all image edits prohibited?
No. Limited, uniform and transparent technical adjustments may be acceptable when they do not alter, conceal or misrepresent research evidence. Misleading edits, selective enhancement, duplication, splicing or fabrication are not acceptable.
Can the journal ask for raw data or original images?
Yes. The editorial office may request raw images, original datasets, analysis files, ethics approval or consent documentation when needed to verify the integrity of a manuscript or published article.
What happens if fabrication or falsification is confirmed after publication?
Depending on severity and reliability of the article, UnivColl Publications may publish a correction, expression of concern or retraction notice and update the article record and relevant metadata.
Can AI-generated images be used in research articles?
AI-generated or AI-assisted visuals may be used only when they are clearly identified, ethically appropriate and not presented as real research evidence. Journal-specific rules and reviewer expectations may also apply.
Policy Pathway
Related Policies, Author Actions and Trust Pages
This policy is connected with UnivColl Publications' wider publishing ecosystem, including author guidance, editorial independence, publication ethics, metadata readiness and official support routes. Use the related links to move to the next practical step without relying on disconnected or informal information.
Publication Integrity
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Publication Malpractice Report
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Complaints and Appeals
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Contact Publisher
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Policies and Guidelines
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Publication Ethics
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Peer Review Policy
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Submit Manuscript
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Transparency and Responsible Publishing
Policy Use Does Not Create Publication or Indexing Guarantees
UnivColl Publications uses policy pages to support transparent communication, fair editorial handling, author awareness and scholarly record integrity. Submission, payment, policy compliance or support communication must not be treated as a promise of acceptance, indexing, citation, ranking or any third-party database outcome.
Publication Ethics
Editorial and publication decisions should remain evidence-based, policy-led and independent.
No Guaranteed Acceptance
Acceptance depends on scope, originality, review suitability, ethical compliance and editorial decision.
Metadata Ready
Published records may be supported with structured metadata, DOI references and correction workflows where applicable.
Documented Support
Queries should include manuscript ID, DOI, transaction reference or policy concern details where available.