Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The Indo-Eurasian Journal of Thermal Engineering and Materials Science (IJTEMS) is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. We adhere strictly to the Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

It is necessary that all parties involved in the act of publishing (the author, the journal editor, the peer reviewer, and the publisher) agree upon standards of expected ethical behavior.

1. Duties of the Editors

  • Fair Play and Editorial Independence: Editors evaluate submitted manuscripts exclusively on the basis of their academic merit (importance, originality, study's validity, clarity) and its relevance to the journal’s scope, without regard to the authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, citizenship, religious belief, political philosophy, or institutional affiliation.

  • Confidentiality: The Editor-in-Chief and any editorial staff must not disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, other editorial advisers, and the publisher, as appropriate.

  • Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used in an editor's own research without the express written consent of the author. Editors will recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships/connections with any of the authors, companies, or institutions connected to the papers.

  • Publication Decisions: The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for deciding which of the articles submitted to the journal should be published. This decision is based on the validation of the work in question, its importance to researchers and readers, the reviewers’ comments, and legal requirements regarding libel, copyright infringement, and plagiarism.

2. Duties of Reviewers

  • Contribution to Editorial Decisions: Peer review assists the editor in making editorial decisions and, through editorial communications with the author, may also assist the author in improving the paper.

  • Promptness: Any selected referee who feels unqualified to review the research reported in a manuscript or knows that its prompt review will be impossible should notify the editor and withdraw from the review process.

  • Confidentiality: Any manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents. They must not be shown to or discussed with others except as authorized by the editor.

  • Standards of Objectivity: Reviews should be conducted objectively. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate. Referees should express their views clearly with supporting arguments.

  • Acknowledgement of Sources: Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors. A reviewer should also call to the editor's attention any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under consideration and any other published paper of which they have personal knowledge.

3. Duties of Authors

Reporting Standards: Authors of original research should present an accurate account of the work performed as well as an objective discussion of its significance. Underlying data should be represented accurately in the paper. A paper should contain sufficient detail and references to permit others to replicate the work. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unethical behavior and are unacceptable.

  • Data Access and Retention: Authors may be asked to provide the raw data in connection with a paper for editorial review and should be prepared to provide public access to such data.

  • Originality and Plagiarism: The authors should ensure that they have written entirely original work, and if the authors have used the work and/or words of others, that this has been appropriately cited or quoted. IJTEMS has a Zero Tolerance Policy for plagiarism. All submissions are checked using Turnitin/iThenticate.

    • Policy: Similarity index >15% results in immediate rejection.

  • Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication: An author should not in general publish manuscripts describing essentially the same research in more than one journal or primary publication. Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal concurrently constitutes unethical publishing behavior and is unacceptable.

  • Authorship of the Paper: Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study. All those who have made significant contributions should be listed as co-authors. The corresponding author must ensure that all co-authors have seen and approved the final version of the paper and have agreed to its submission for publication.

  • Fundamental Errors in Published Works: When an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their own published work, it is the author’s obligation to promptly notify the journal editor or publisher and cooperate with the editor to retract or correct the paper.

4. Duties of the Publisher

  • Handling of Unethical Behavior: In cases of alleged or proven scientific misconduct, fraudulent publication, or plagiarism, the publisher, in close collaboration with the editors, will take all appropriate measures to clarify the situation and to amend the article in question. This includes the prompt publication of an Erratum, Corrigendum, or, in severe cases, the complete Retraction of the work.

  • Access to Journal Content: The publisher is committed to the permanent availability and preservation of scholarly research and ensures accessibility by partnering with organizations and maintaining our own digital archive.

Handling of Unethical Behavior

  • Identification: Misconduct and unethical behavior may be identified and brought to the attention of the editor and publisher at any time, by anyone.

  • Investigation: No allegations will be taken lightly. The Editor-in-Chief will conduct an initial investigation, consulting with the Editorial Board.

  • Sanctions: If the breach is confirmed, sanctions may range from:

    1. A formal warning letter to the author.

    2. Publication of a formal notice detailing the misconduct.

    3. Formal Retraction of the publication from the journal.

    4. Imposition of a formal embargo on contributions from an individual for a defined period.

    5. Reporting the case to the author's funding organization or employing institution.