Data Sharing Policy

Authors submitting manuscripts to LOUJAS are expected to make their research data publicly available whenever possible. This includes any data used to generate the findings reported in the article, such as raw data, analyzed data, code, software, and other materials.

2. Data Availability Statement

All manuscripts must include a "Data Availability Statement" in a separate section at the end of the article, before the references. This statement should clearly explain where the data can be found.

  • Publicly Archived Data: If the data is archived in a public repository, the statement should provide the repository name, a persistent identifier (like a DOI or accession number), and a link to the dataset.

  • Data Not Publicly Archived: If the data cannot be made public due to ethical, privacy, or security concerns, the statement should explain the reason. Authors should still include a statement that the data is available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.

3. Recommended Repositories

Authors are encouraged to deposit their data in a trusted, long-term public repository. Examples include:

  • General Repositories: Zenodo, Figshare, or Dryad.

  • Subject-Specific Repositories: Repositories relevant to a specific field, such as the Protein Data Bank for structural biology.

Depositing data in these repositories ensures that it receives a persistent identifier, is citable, and is preserved for future use.

4. Confidentiality and Ethical Considerations

The journal recognizes that some data, particularly that involving human subjects or proprietary information, cannot be shared publicly. In such cases, the journal will accept a valid reason for non-disclosure, but authors must still include a clear data availability statement. It is the authors' responsibility to comply with all relevant ethical guidelines and legal requirements regarding data sharing.