Ethics

Introduction

Journal of Modern Energy Systems (JMER) places the utmost importance on the integrity of our academic content and publishing procedures. We are dedicated to upholding publication ethics throughout every step of the editorial process, from submission to final publication. Instances of ethical breaches are treated with the utmost seriousness by JMER, and a zero tolerance approach is taken in such situations. The editorial team of JMER enforces a stringent peer-review process to preserve the academic integrity of our publications.

Editors, reviewers, and authors are expected to comply with the following JMER policies regarding publication ethics. Our journal ethics guidelines are derived from those established by Cambridge University Press. Additionally, we make efforts to adhere to the standards provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Research Integrity

Research published in JMER is anticipated to adhere to the following principles:

- Honesty across all research aspects.
- Thoroughness and excellence in research practice.
- Transparency and open communication.
- Care and respect for research participants and subjects.
- Accountability for both one's own research integrity and that of others if standards are not met.

Those who believe that research published by JMER deviates from these principles are encouraged to bring their concerns to the attention of the editorial office via email at admin@jmenr.org.

Editorial Process

We are dedicated to maintaining editorial independence and strive to prevent any compromise to this principle due to competing interests, fear, or financial influences. JMER does not discriminate based on personal characteristics or identity, whether it's authors, editors, or peer reviewers. We are committed to promoting diversity, inclusivity, and equity at every stage of the publishing process. Appeals regarding editorial decisions or related matters can be directed to the editorial office at admin@jmenr.org.

JMER does not tolerate abusive behavior or correspondence towards our staff or anyone involved in the publishing process. In cases of such behavior, we have the right to take action to protect individuals from abuse. This may include withdrawing a manuscript from consideration or addressing overtly abusive peer review comments.

Peer Review

Peer review is pivotal to upholding our publication standards. We:

- Provide suitable systems, training, and support for rigorous and fair peer review across all our publications.
- Encourage editors and peer reviewers to familiarize themselves with and adhere to best practice guidelines on peer review, such as COPE’s Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers.
- Support editors and peer reviewers in investigating and addressing suspected cases of manipulated or fraudulent peer review.
- Safeguard the confidentiality of peer review participants when anonymity is a part of the process. We expect our partners, authors, and peer reviewers to respect confidentiality arrangements and provide necessary information.

Authorship and Contributorship

JMER recommends the following principles for determining authorship:

- Substantial contributions to conception, design, acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of the work.
- Drafting or critical revision of important intellectual content.
- Final approval of the version to be published.
- Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work and address questions about accuracy or integrity.

The corresponding author's responsibilities include:

- Submitting the original manuscript draft.
- Handling revisions and resubmissions.
- Representing co-authors in responding to queries after publication.
- If needed, signing the Author Publishing Agreement on behalf of coauthors.

We encourage authors to acknowledge those who don't meet authorship criteria in an Acknowledgments section. COPE provides extensive resources on authorship, and we support editors in handling authorship disputes.

Affiliations

Article affiliations should reflect where the research was conducted, supported, or approved. For non-research content, affiliations should represent current affiliations of authors.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as the utilization of ideas, words, data, or other materials created by others without proper attribution. Plagiarism can manifest across diverse sources and mediums, including:

- Text, illustrations, extensive mathematical derivations, computer code, etc.
- Material sourced from websites, manuscripts, or other media.
- Both published and unpublished content, such as lectures, presentations, and grey literature.

JMER unequivocally condemns plagiarism across all our publications. We retain the right to employ suitable plagiarism detection tools, like Crossref Similarity Check, on all submissions. Submissions suspected of containing plagiarism, either in entirety or in part, will face rejection. In cases where post-publication plagiarism is detected, we adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Retractions, Corrections, and Expressions of Concern section of this document. We encourage our readers, reviewers, and editors to report any suspicions of plagiarism either to the managing editor or via email at admin@jmenr.org.

Duplicate and Redundant Publication

Duplicate or redundant publication, also known as self-plagiarism, occurs when a work or significant portions of it are published by the same author(s) more than once without proper cross-referencing or justification for the overlap. This applies irrespective of language. We do not endorse substantial replication between publications, unless:

- It is deemed to enhance academic discourse editorially.
- We have explicit consent from the original publication.
- Proper citation of the original source is included.

We anticipate our readers, reviewers, and editors to raise concerns about suspected duplicate or redundant publication by contacting the managing editor or emailing admin@jmenr.org.

When submitting manuscripts to JMER, authors should ensure they are not simultaneously being considered, accepted, or in press with another journal, book, or similar entity. Nevertheless, depositing a preprint on an author's personal website, an institutional repository, or a preprint archive is not considered prior or duplicate publication.

For manuscripts derived from theses, the content should be reworked in line with the JMER style guide. Authors should refrain from self-plagiarism when quoting or reusing content from the thesis by appropriately citing and referencing extracts. The manuscript's cover letter should inform the relevant editor that it draws from a thesis.

Competing Interests and Funding

We are committed to safeguarding the impartiality and integrity of any JMER-published manuscript. Authors, editors, and reviewers submitting to JMER are obligated to disclose any potential competing interests that could compromise objectivity or integrity. Competing interests encompass situations that could exert undue influence on the presentation, review, or publication of work. These interests can be financial, non-financial, professional, contractual, or personal. We also anticipate that anyone suspecting undisclosed competing interests concerning a work published or under review by JMER will communicate this to the managing editor or email admin@gjom.org.

Retractions, Corrections, and Expressions of Concern

JMER's managing editors will deliberate on retractions, corrections, or expressions of concern following COPE’s Retraction Guidelines. Errors made by authors result in corrigenda, while errors attributed to the journal lead to errata. Retractions typically apply to articles with severe flaws undermining reliability or that involve substantial plagiarism.

Transparency

We endeavor to adhere to COPE’s Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing. We encourage our publishing partners to uphold these principles as well.

Data and Supporting Evidence

We champion transparency and openness regarding research-related data, code, and other materials. Authors are expected to maintain accurate records of supporting evidence that enables others to understand, verify, and replicate new findings. Access to this supporting evidence should be provided upon reasonable request. If permissible by employers, funding bodies, or relevant parties, authors are encouraged to:

- Deposit evidence in an appropriate repository or storage location for sharing and further utilization.
- Describe the location of evidence in a Data Availability Statement, which can be included in their publication.

Fair Access

Our mission is to democratize mathematics research, ensuring accessibility for all, regardless of their circumstances. Hence, all JMER publications are freely accessible on the journal's website. As a non-profit journal, we do not impose any article processing fees.

Marketing Communication/Advertising

As a non-profit journal, our communication with readers and authors strictly pertains to journal-related matters. Generally, readers are contacted only to inform them about new JMER issues.