Author Policies
- Open Access Policy
- Plagiarism Policy
- Copyright Policy
- Rights and Grants to the Author
- Licensing Policy
- APC Waiver Policy
- Withdrawal Policy
- Human and Animal Rights Policy
- Errata, Retractions, and Corrigenda Policy
- Digital Preservation
- Participant/Patient Privacy and Informed Consent
- Data Sharing Policy
- Submission of Manuscript
- Manuscript Preparation
- Check List
- Sample Paper
- Article Processing Charge
- Author’s Agreement Form
- English Language Editing
- Complaints Policy
1. Open Access Policy
The Open Access (OA) policy for a Indo-American Journal of Mechanical Engineering journal ensures that all published research is freely accessible to the global research community without paywalls or subscription fees. This policy aligns with the journal's mission to promote the wide dissemination of high-quality research, enabling academics, engineers, and practitioners to access the latest findings and technologies. Authors retain copyright over their work and grant the journal a license to publish and distribute their articles under a Creative Commons license, such as CC BY, allowing others to reuse and adapt the research while providing proper attribution. By adopting the OA model, the journal fosters transparency, collaboration, and the rapid sharing of innovations in mechanical engineering. Open access is particularly important in the field of engineering as it accelerates the adoption of new technologies and techniques that have practical applications in industry.
2. Plagiarism Policy
The plagiarism policy of a Indo-American Journal of Mechanical Engineering journal ensures that all published content is original, and that proper credit is given to the work of others. Authors are required to submit manuscripts that represent their own original research, and to appropriately cite all references, including prior research, methodologies, and technical data. The journal uses plagiarism detection software, such as Turnitin, to screen submissions for any potential instances of plagiarism or self-plagiarism. If any form of plagiarism is detected, the manuscript may be rejected, or an investigation may be launched. This policy ensures academic integrity and upholds the credibility of the journal. Authors found guilty of plagiarism may face retraction of their published work and a ban on future submissions. The goal is to maintain a high standard of scholarship and to foster a culture of honesty and transparency in the mechanical engineering field.
3. Copyright Policy
The copyright policy outlines the intellectual property rights associated with articles published in the journal. Authors generally retain copyright to their work upon publication, but they grant the journal a license to distribute, display, and share the work under open-access terms. Many mechanical engineering journals encourage authors to select a Creative Commons license, such as CC BY, which allows the broader community to reuse and remix the work, provided proper attribution is given to the original author. This open-access model promotes the free exchange of ideas, fosters collaboration, and ensures that engineering advancements can be easily accessed and applied across industries. Authors also retain the right to reuse their own work in other academic or professional contexts, such as in books or conference presentations. The copyright policy ensures clarity regarding the usage rights of published material while respecting the authors' intellectual contributions.
4. Rights and Grants to the Author
The "Rights and Grants to the Author" policy establishes the rights that authors retain after their work is published in the journal. Authors typically retain ownership of their article and the right to reuse the content for academic purposes, such as in future publications, presentations, or books. However, by submitting to the journal, authors grant the journal an exclusive or non-exclusive license to publish, distribute, and reproduce their work in all formats (print, digital, etc.). Authors are also encouraged to deposit their work in institutional repositories or personal websites, as long as proper attribution is maintained. In mechanical engineering, this policy ensures that the research can be widely disseminated while protecting the author's intellectual property and allowing for reuse and further research.
5. Licensing Policy
The licensing policy defines how the journal allows others to use, share, and reuse published work. For mechanical engineering journals, the most common licenses are those provided by Creative Commons (CC), such as the CC BY license, which allows anyone to reuse, remix, and redistribute the work as long as they give appropriate credit to the original author. The policy encourages authors to select open licenses to maximize the accessibility and utility of their research. The licensing policy is important because it allows the journal to legally distribute the work, ensures authors maintain recognition of their intellectual property, and promotes the wide dissemination of engineering research. The journal also ensures that all third-party content, such as data, images, and figures, is used with the appropriate permissions.
6. APC Waiver Policy
The Article Processing Charge (APC) Waiver Policy outlines the circumstances under which authors can receive a waiver or reduction in the publication fee, which is typically required for open-access articles. The APC covers the costs of peer review, editing, and publishing. The waiver policy is designed to ensure that authors from underrepresented or financially constrained backgrounds can still publish their research in the journal. Eligibility for an APC waiver might be based on factors such as the author's geographical location (e.g., authors from low-income countries), institutional support, or early-career status. This policy helps promote inclusivity in the academic publishing process and ensures that important research in mechanical engineering is not hindered by financial barriers.
7. Withdrawal Policy
The manuscript withdrawal policy provides the terms under which authors can retract or withdraw their submission after it has been submitted but before it is formally accepted or published. Common reasons for withdrawal include finding a significant error in the manuscript, choosing to submit the paper to another journal, or deciding to update the research. The policy outlines the process for withdrawing a manuscript, including notifying the editorial office, confirming that all co-authors agree with the decision, and ensuring that the manuscript is not cited or referenced once withdrawn. The policy also establishes guidelines for handling withdrawn papers that have already gone through peer review. This ensures the journal maintains its credibility and avoids confusion in the academic record.
8. Human and Animal Rights Policy
The Human and Animal Rights policy ensures that all research involving human or animal subjects adheres to ethical standards and legal requirements. Authors must confirm that their studies comply with the ethical guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki for human participants and adhere to relevant laws and regulations for animal studies. Institutional review board (IRB) or ethics committee approval must be obtained before starting any study involving humans or animals. In mechanical engineering, this policy applies to research involving human-centered design, human-robot interaction, or experiments involving animals. The policy protects the rights and welfare of participants and ensures that the research is conducted ethically, providing confidence to the academic community and the public.
9. Errata, Retractions, and Corrigenda Policy
The errata, retraction, and corrigenda policy outlines the procedures for addressing published errors or misconduct. An erratum is issued for minor corrections, such as typographical errors, while a corrigendum is used for more significant but non-substantial mistakes, such as incorrect equations or data. A retraction occurs when a study is found to have major ethical issues, such as falsification of data or plagiarism, and is no longer considered valid. This policy ensures that errors in the academic record are corrected and that any issues related to a study’s validity are transparently addressed. This maintains the integrity of mechanical engineering research and ensures that the journal's content remains trustworthy.
10. Digital Preservation
The digital preservation policy ensures that published articles remain accessible long after publication. This is particularly important in mechanical engineering, where technological advancements and research can be vital for future projects and innovation. The journal partners with trusted digital repositories, such as Portico or LOCKSS, to preserve articles in multiple formats and ensure long-term access. The policy also mandates that metadata, such as article titles, author names, and DOI (Digital Object Identifier) information, be preserved to facilitate future discovery. By investing in digital preservation, the journal helps ensure that research is available for future generations of engineers and researchers.
11. Participant/Patient Privacy and Informed Consent
The participant and patient privacy and informed consent policy ensures that all research involving human participants follows ethical guidelines related to consent and confidentiality. Authors must confirm that informed consent was obtained from any human participants, that they were fully aware of the study's aims, and that their privacy was respected. For research involving sensitive personal data, such as biomechanical studies or human factors engineering, the journal requires authors to comply with applicable data protection laws, including HIPAA or GDPR. This policy protects participant rights and ensures that mechanical engineering research upholds the highest ethical standards.
12. Data Sharing Policy
The data sharing policy encourages authors to make their research data publicly available to promote transparency, reproducibility, and further research. In Indo-American Journal of Mechanical Engineering, this may include raw experimental data, design files, simulations, and other technical information. Authors are encouraged to deposit datasets in open repositories like Figshare or Zenodo, where they can be easily accessed and reused. The policy outlines the necessary steps for sharing data, including providing proper documentation and ensuring that data is anonymized or de-identified where necessary. The goal is to enhance the credibility of research and support further advancements in the field by allowing other researchers to verify and build on the work.
13. Submission of Manuscript
The submission of manuscript policy outlines the process by which authors submit their manuscripts for review. Authors must submit manuscripts via an online submission platform, providing all required documents, including the manuscript, figures, references, and any supplementary materials (such as code or datasets). The policy also includes guidelines for manuscript formatting and requires authors to declare any conflicts of interest. Manuscripts are first screened for plagiarism, and then undergo peer review by experts in the field of mechanical engineering. This process ensures that only high-quality, relevant research is published, and that it meets the journal’s academic standards.
14. Manuscript Preparation
The manuscript preparation policy provides detailed instructions on how to format and structure a manuscript before submission. This typically includes specifications for section headings, citation style (e.g., APA, IEEE), and how to present figures, tables, and equations. For Indo-American Journal of Mechanical Engineering journals, authors are also asked to provide detailed descriptions of experimental setups, materials, and methods. The manuscript must be formatted in a way that facilitates peer review, ensuring clarity and accuracy. By adhering to these guidelines, authors improve the chances of their work being accepted for review and publication, and the journal ensures consistency in the presentation of research.
15. Check List
The submission checklist ensures that authors have completed all necessary steps before submitting their manuscript. This may include confirming that all co-authors have approved the manuscript, verifying that the manuscript follows the journal’s formatting guidelines, and ensuring that all required documents (e.g., conflict-of-interest statement, data availability statement) are included. For mechanical engineering journals, the checklist may also include a review of the manuscript's technical content to ensure that the methodology is sound and all data is clearly presented. The checklist helps authors avoid common mistakes and ensures that the submission process is smooth.
16. Sample Paper
The sample paper policy provides authors with a template or example of a correctly formatted manuscript, which helps them understand the journal’s requirements for submission. The sample paper may include an example of the layout, structure, and formatting for various sections, including the abstract, introduction, methodology, results, and conclusions. Authors can refer to the sample paper to ensure their manuscript meets the journal’s standards for readability and technical content. This resource is particularly helpful for new authors or those unfamiliar with academic publishing.
17. Article Processing Charge
The Article Processing Charge (APC) policy outlines the fees authors are required to pay to cover the costs of publication. For open-access journals, the APC helps fund the peer review, editing, and hosting of articles online. The policy also explains how authors can pay the APC, any possible discounts or waivers available, and the conditions under which waivers are granted. This fee is essential to support the journal’s operations and ensure the continued publication of high-quality research in Indo-American Journal of Mechanical Engineering.
18. Author’s Agreement Form
The author’s agreement form is a legal document that authors must sign when submitting a manuscript to the journal. This form outlines the terms of submission, including copyright transfer, the licensing agreement, and the author’s responsibility for ensuring that the work is original and free from plagiarism. It also clarifies the author’s agreement to the journal’s policies on data sharing, publication ethics, and conflicts of interest. This form protects both the authors and the journal and ensures that the submission process is conducted transparently.
19. English Language Editing
The English language editing policy ensures that authors whose first language is not English have access to editing services that help improve the clarity, readability, and overall quality of their manuscript. Authors are encouraged to use professional editing services to correct language errors and ensure that their work is presented clearly for an international audience. This policy is essential in mechanical engineering, where technical language and complex ideas need to be communicated precisely. Some journals may offer in-house editing services or provide a list of recommended external editors.
20. Complaints Policy
The complaints policy establishes a process for addressing grievances from authors, reviewers, and readers. Complaints might include concerns about the peer review process, editorial decisions, or ethical issues such as conflicts of interest or errors in published articles. The policy provides clear guidelines on how complaints can be submitted, investigated, and resolved. It ensures that the journal maintains a high standard of professionalism and accountability, fostering trust among the academic community. The policy also outlines how the journal will take corrective actions if necessary, such as issuing retractions or corrections to ensure the integrity of the published content.
