Publication Ethics

Our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of ethical publishing

Our Ethical Commitment

Frontiers in Applied Science and Engineering is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical publishing and academic integrity. We adhere to the guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and strive to ensure that all published content meets rigorous ethical standards.

This document outlines our ethical policies and procedures for authors, reviewers, editors, and publishers. We expect all parties involved in the publication process to adhere to these standards to maintain the integrity and credibility of our journal.

Publication and Plagiarism Policy

Originality and Plagiarism

We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for plagiarism and duplicate publication. All submissions are checked using plagiarism detection software to ensure originality.

Important: The journal follows HEC guidelines with a maximum 11% similarity index. Manuscripts exceeding this limit will be returned to authors for revision. Any form of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, will result in immediate rejection.

Original Publication

  • Manuscripts must be original and not have been published elsewhere
  • Manuscripts must not be under consideration for publication by another journal
  • Authors must disclose if the manuscript contains material that has been previously published
  • Duplicate publication is unethical and will result in rejection
  • Authors may submit conference abstracts or preliminary findings, but full manuscripts must be original

Copyright and Intellectual Property

Authors retain copyright of their work but grant the journal exclusive publication rights. All published articles are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), which allows others to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the work, even commercially, as long as they credit the original creation.

  • Authors must ensure they have the necessary rights to use any copyrighted material in their manuscript
  • Permissions must be obtained for any material that is not in the public domain
  • Authors are responsible for any copyright infringement claims
  • The journal does not assume responsibility for copyrighted material included in manuscripts

Editorial Policies and Procedures

Editorial Responsibilities

  • Ensure the quality and integrity of published content
  • Make editorial decisions based on scientific merit
  • Maintain confidentiality of submitted manuscripts
  • Avoid conflicts of interest
  • Ensure fair and unbiased peer review
  • Address ethical concerns promptly

Peer Review Process

  • Double-blind peer review process
  • 2-3 independent experts review each manuscript
  • Reviewers are selected based on expertise and independence
  • Reviewers must disclose conflicts of interest
  • Review reports are confidential
  • Editorial decisions are based on reviewer recommendations

Intellectual Property Protection

The journal takes intellectual property protection seriously and has implemented several measures to ensure that authors' rights are protected:

  • Secure online submission system
  • Confidential peer review process
  • Clear copyright policies
  • Proper attribution requirements
  • Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) for all published articles
  • Persistent online access to published content
  • Archiving of all published content
  • Protection against unauthorized use

Author Responsibilities

Ethical Obligations

Research Integrity

  • Ensure research is original and not plagiarized
  • Report results accurately and honestly
  • Do not fabricate or falsify data
  • Maintain complete and accurate records
  • Share data and materials as required
  • Avoid selective reporting of results

Authorship

  • Authorship based on substantial contributions
  • All authors must approve the final manuscript
  • Disclose any conflicts of interest
  • Ensure proper attribution of contributions
  • Avoid gift authorship or honorary authorship
  • Take responsibility for the content of the manuscript

Research Ethics

Human Participants

  • Obtain ethics committee approval
  • Obtain informed consent from all participants
  • Protect participant confidentiality and privacy
  • Comply with relevant regulations (Declaration of Helsinki)
  • Report any adverse events
  • Ensure equitable selection of participants

Animal Research

  • Obtain IACUC approval
  • Comply with national and international guidelines
  • Minimize animal suffering
  • Use appropriate anesthesia and analgesia
  • Use the minimum number of animals required
  • Consider alternative methods when possible

Conflict of Interest

  • Disclose all potential conflicts of interest
  • Include conflict of interest statement in manuscript
  • Disclose financial support and sponsorship
  • Disclose personal or professional relationships
  • Disclose any competing interests
  • Ensure objectivity in research and reporting

Reviewer Guidelines and Conduct

Reviewer Responsibilities

  • Provide objective and unbiased reviews
  • Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe
  • Maintain confidentiality of manuscripts
  • Disclose any conflicts of interest
  • Provide constructive feedback to authors
  • Evaluate manuscripts based on scientific merit
  • Assess originality and significance of research
  • Evaluate methodology and scientific rigor
  • Comment on clarity and presentation
  • Identify any ethical concerns
  • Recommend appropriate editorial decision
  • Adhere to ethical guidelines and standards

Review Process

1

Invitation to Review

Reviewers are invited based on their expertise and experience. They should respond promptly and disclose any conflicts of interest.

2

Manuscript Evaluation

Reviewers evaluate the manuscript based on originality, methodology, scientific rigor, presentation, and ethical considerations.

3

Review Report

Reviewers provide a detailed report with comments, suggestions for improvement, and a recommendation for the editorial decision.

4

Editorial Decision

Editors consider reviewer recommendations and make the final editorial decision. Authors receive reviewer comments and the decision letter.

Ethical Guidelines for Reviewers

Key Ethical Principles

  • Maintain confidentiality and do not share manuscript content
  • Do not use information from manuscripts for personal gain
  • Disclose any potential conflicts of interest
  • Provide objective and constructive feedback
  • Avoid personal or professional bias
  • Complete reviews in a timely manner
  • Decline review requests when unable to meet deadlines

Reporting Ethical Violations

Types of Violations

  • Plagiarism or duplicate publication
  • Fabrication or falsification of data
  • Unethical research practices
  • Conflict of interest not disclosed
  • Inappropriate authorship
  • Copyright infringement
  • Reviewer misconduct
  • Editorial misconduct

Reporting Process

1

Submit Report

Contact the editorial office with detailed information about the suspected violation.

2

Initial Review

Editors review the report and determine if further investigation is needed.

3

Investigation

Conduct a thorough investigation, including contacting relevant parties.

4

Resolution

Take appropriate action based on the findings and inform all relevant parties.

Contact Information

If you suspect any ethical violation or have concerns about the integrity of any published content, please contact our editorial office:

Email

ghazalayaqub147@gmail.com

Phone

+92-300-1234567

Confidentiality: All reports will be treated confidentially, and we will protect the identity of whistleblowers to the extent possible.

Portal Access: Author | Reviewer | Editor