MJMES Polices

Creative Commons License and Copyright for MJMES

Mustansiriyah Journal of Materials Engineering and Sustainability (MJMES) operates as an open-access journal, ensuring that all of its contents are freely accessible to the public without any charges. The articles published in MJMES are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International Public License CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode). This license allows anyone to freely search, download, share, distribute, print, link to, and crawl the full texts of the articles for indexing purposes. Additionally, the articles can be reproduced in any medium, whether physical or digital, as long as proper attribution (citation) is provided to the original author(s). The copyright for each article remains with the respective authors, while MJMES is responsible for ensuring that citations are appropriately recognized and credited. The CC BY 4.0 license grants unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction of the article, provided that the original work is properly cited, allowing for widespread dissemination of knowledge in various formats.

Use of the Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

A Digital Object Identifier (DOI) serves as a permanent and unchanging link to electronic articles, ensuring long-term accessibility. The DOI prefix assigned to the journal is 10.31272, which uniquely identifies all published content associated with MJMES.

License: Creative Commons-Attribution (CC BY 4.0)

The Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license under which MJMES operates fosters the free exchange of scholarly work. Authors retain copyright of their published work, granting permission for others to freely utilize, reproduce, and distribute their work, provided that credit is given. This license is designed to maximize the reach of research while maintaining the integrity of the original author’s contribution. It encourages the academic community to share and build upon the work, fostering an open and collaborative scholarly environment.

Article Processing Charges (APC)

As part of its commitment to open access, MJMES charges an Article Processing Charge (APC) for articles that are accepted for publication. The APC is billed to the submitting author following acceptance, and it ensures that the journal’s publishing and operational costs are covered. The APC for articles published in MJMES is 100,000 Iraqi Dinar (ID). For authors submitting from outside Iraq, the APC is waived entirely, enabling international contributors to publish without charge. Importantly, MJMES does not impose any additional fees, such as submission charges, page charges, or color charges, which helps to keep the publication process as transparent and cost-effective as possible. It is also important to note that the APC is not required until the article has been formally accepted for publication, and it will not influence any editorial decisions regarding the manuscript. This approach ensures that the peer review process remains unbiased and unaffected by financial considerations.

Plagiarism Policy

MJMES takes a strong stance against plagiarism and considers it a serious violation of academic publishing ethics. All manuscripts under review or those already published in the journal are subjected to plagiarism detection through Turnitin, a well-established plagiarism prevention software. Plagiarism involves the intentional use of another author's ideas, data, or text without proper attribution, and it is considered unethical and unacceptable. In addition to plagiarism, other forms of misconduct, such as duplicate publication, data fabrication, data falsification, and improper attribution of author contributions, are also deemed unethical.

It is crucial to note that MJMES allows for a maximum similarity ratio of 20% for any manuscript under review, including content that might be generated or modified by artificial intelligence (AI). This limit ensures that the work maintains academic integrity and originality. Authors are responsible for ensuring that their manuscripts fall within the acceptable similarity index before submission and publication. Additionally, the use of AI-generated content must not exceed a 5% similarity index to ensure proper citation practices are followed.

All submissions to MJMES are initially screened using Turnitin’s plagiarism detection tools (https://www.turnitin.com/), and the editorial board may opt to run additional similarity checks during the review process or after publication. The Turnitin similarity report provides the percentage of text in a manuscript that overlaps with content from other published works. However, a high similarity score does not necessarily indicate plagiarism, as it may also reflect legitimate citations or commonly used phrases. For instance, a similarity score of 30% could indicate common text shared with one source, or it could reflect 1% overlap with 30 different sources. Additionally, reused text that has been correctly cited in the bibliography will be factored into the similarity score.

The final interpretation of these reports is the responsibility of the editorial experts, who will assess whether there are legitimate concerns based on their knowledge of the subject matter. In this way, the MJMES editorial team ensures that all submissions uphold the highest ethical standards of research and publication.

Declaration of Generative AI in Scientific Writing

Authors must disclose any use of generative AI during the manuscript submission process. Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies may be used solely to improve the language, clarity, and readability of the manuscript during the writing stage. These technologies must not be employed to analyze data, generate interpretations, or draw scientific conclusions as part of the research itself.

If generative AI or AI-assisted tools have been used, this must be stated explicitly at the time of initial submission. The declaration should appear in a separate section placed before the reference list and will be included in the published article. Basic editing and formatting tools—such as those used for checking grammar, spelling, or organizing references—are not considered generative AI or AI-assisted technologies.

Suggested declaration format

Title of section: Declaration of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process
Statement: During the preparation of this manuscript, the author(s) used [NAME OF TOOL/SERVICE] for [PURPOSE OF USE]. The author(s) reviewed and revised the output as necessary and accept full responsibility for the content of the published article.

AI-generated images or graphical materials are generally not permitted unless their use is legally disclosed in the captions and subject to editorial review.

Archive Policy (Backup)

Peer Review Policy for MJMES

The Mustansiriyah Journal of Materials Engineering and Sustainability (MJMES) adheres to a rigorous double-blind peer review policy, which involves the evaluation of submitted manuscripts by three independent external reviewers. In this process, authors are not required to suggest potential reviewers nor are they asked to provide a list of individuals to be excluded as reviewers. This approach ensures the impartiality and objectivity of the peer review process.

MJMES does not mandate a specific format for the reviewers' reports, though a recommended structure is provided to guide them. The suggested structure includes:

• A brief summary of the manuscript,
• Major issues that require attention,
• Minor issues that might be addressed to improve the manuscript.

In cases where a reviewer feels they are not qualified or available to review a submission, they are encouraged to respectfully decline the invitation as soon as possible. This is greatly appreciated, as it ensures the review process proceeds without unnecessary delays. Reviewers are expected to provide a thorough and comprehensive critique of the manuscript, ensuring that their report goes beyond just a few sentences. Manuscripts under review are considered confidential, and reviewers must not share the manuscript or its content with any third parties outside of the peer review process. In instances where a reviewer decides to reject a manuscript, they should provide clear and constructive feedback, outlining the primary reasons for rejection, the key weaknesses of the submission, and, where possible, offer suggestions on relevant published works that could inform the authors.

Citation Policy

Accurate and ethical citation practices are essential to uphold the credibility, reproducibility, and integrity of scientific research. The Mustansiriyah Journal of Materials Engineering and Sustainability (MJMES) is committed to maintaining high standards of scholarly communication by ensuring that all references are transparent, verifiable, and ethically used. The following guidelines define the expectations for authors, reviewers, and editors in relation to citation conduct.

1. Clear and Accurate Source Attribution
   All text, data, figures, or concepts derived from other works must be properly acknowledged. Direct quotations must appear in quotation marks and be accompanied by a precise reference. This requirement applies equally to any material reused from the author’s own prior publications to prevent self-plagiarism and ensure transparency.
2. Responsible and Justified Self-Citation
   Self-citations are appropriate only when they make a genuine scholarly contribution to the current study. Overuse or irrelevant self-citation aimed at inflating citation metrics or creating an impression of continuity without substantive relevance is discouraged.
3. Verification and Authenticity of References
   Authors must cite only those sources that have been personally read, understood, and verified. Copying citations from other reference lists without reviewing the original work, or including unverified or inaccessible sources, constitutes unethical practice.
4. Scholarly Merit and Citation Neutrality
   Citations should reflect academic value and relevance to the research question or methodology. Preferential citation of one’s own publications, those of close collaborators, or those associated with the author’s institution or editorial board members should be avoided unless objectively justified.
5. Citation Quality and Source Reliability
   References should primarily consist of peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, and reputable academic publications. Non-scholarly materials such as commercial websites, promotional documents, unverified online content, or AI-generated references are not acceptable.
6. Prohibition of Citation Manipulation
   In accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) standards, all forms of citation manipulation—including coercive citation, citation stacking, or the deliberate inclusion of irrelevant references—are strictly prohibited. Such actions undermine the credibility of both the journal and the scholarly record.
7. Accuracy and Completeness of Bibliographic Data
   Authors bear full responsibility for ensuring the correctness of all reference information, including author names, article titles, publication years, DOIs, and page numbers. Fabricated, incomplete, or inaccurate references may lead to rejection or post-publication corrections.
8. Editorial and Reviewer Responsibility
   Editors and reviewers must not pressure authors to cite specific publications, including their own work, unless these references are demonstrably necessary for strengthening the scientific content or context of the manuscript.
9. Consequences of Citation Misconduct
   Any evidence of citation malpractice—such as excessive self-citation, citation cartels, or the use of unverifiable or AI-fabricated references—will be formally investigated following COPE guidelines. Confirmed violations may result in manuscript rejection, retraction, or sanctions against the authors.

Advertising Policy for MJMES

The Mustansiriyah Journal of Materials Engineering and Sustainability (MJMES) operates without the inclusion of advertisements or any commercially sponsored content. The journal does not accept or rely on advertising to fund its operations. Furthermore, MJMES does not endorse any product or service that is marked as an advertisement or promoted by a sponsor within its publications. This ensures that the editorial integrity of the journal remains independent and free from commercial influence.

 

Appeals and Complaints Process for MJMES

MJMES is committed to addressing appeals, complaints, and concerns in a thorough and transparent manner. Appeals regarding editorial decisions, complaints about delays in the handling of manuscripts, and any issues related to publication ethics are taken seriously. Comprehensive, well-supported appeals are welcomed and will be initially reviewed by the journal's editor(s), who will assess the validity of the appeal. If the appeal is deemed valid, it will be reviewed by the journal's editorial board and/or external peer reviewers. A new editorial decision will be made based on the findings of this review.

MJMES follows the guidance provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in handling complaints, appeals, and allegations, both before and after publication. When a complaint is filed with the journal, it will be forwarded to the journal's editor(s), who will address the matter according to the standards outlined by COPE. If necessary, any serious allegations will be referred to the relevant institution for further investigation. Depending on the outcome of this investigation, the published record will be updated, and a post-publication notice—either a correction or a retraction—will be issued. This notice will be linked to the original article, ensuring that the record remains transparent. A permanent digital object identifier (DOI) and universal resource locator (URL) link will be used to connect the notice to the full article, maintaining the integrity and transparency of the publication. In rare cases where removal of the article is in the public interest, this may be done, but this will be exceptional.

For anyone wishing to submit a complaint, raise an issue of potential misconduct, or appeal an editorial decision, the process is straightforward. You may contact the journal’s editor(s) directly with an explanation of your concerns. If the complaint pertains to the journal's editorial team, it can be directed to the publisher by emailing the editorial office at: [email protected].

 

Journal Funding Sources for MJMES

MJMES is a self-financed open-access journal that is published in both online and print formats. The primary source of funding for the journal comes from the Article Processing Charges (APC) levied on authors whose manuscripts are accepted for publication. These funds are used to cover various operational costs, such as administrative expenses, membership fees, and printing costs. This model enables MJMES to remain financially independent while maintaining the quality and accessibility of its content.

 

Author Response to Reviewers for MJMES

Once an article has been reviewed, the corresponding author is expected to revise their manuscript in response to the comments and suggestions provided by the reviewers. The revised manuscript should be submitted within two weeks of receiving the reviewers' feedback. In addition to submitting the revised manuscript, authors are required to prepare a detailed response-to-reviewers report, addressing each comment raised by the reviewers. The response should specify how and where the corrections or additions have been made in the manuscript, ensuring clarity in how the revisions address the reviewers' concerns. Any changes made to the original article, whether they involve corrections or new additions, should be highlighted in bright yellow in the revised manuscript to make them easily identifiable.

Upon completing the revision, authors should submit:

• The revised manuscript with all changes and additions clearly highlighted in bright yellow,
• A point-by-point response to the reviewers' comments, detailing how each issue has been addressed in the manuscript.

This process ensures that the revisions are transparent and that the feedback from reviewers is fully considered and incorporated into the final article.