Sections
⇓ Ethics of Publication
⇓ Peer Review and Manuscript Acceptance
⇓ Authorship and Contribution Policy
⇓ Complaints and Appeals Procedure
⇓ Policy on Conflicts of Interest / Competing Interests
⇓ Data Sharing and Reproducibility Policy
⇓ Ethical Oversight Policy
⇓ Open Access and Copyright Policy
⇓ Policy on Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections
⇓ Funding Disclosure Policy
Ethics of Publication
The International Journal of Mechatronics, Robotics, and Artificial Intelligence (IJMRAI) adheres to ethical publishing standards in line with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines. Authors must confirm that their engineering and scientific submissions comply with these standards and have been conducted ethically, free from academic misconduct such as unethical research practices, bias, plagiarism, improper authorship attribution, redundant publication, or failure to disclose conflicts of interest.
Similarly, peer reviewers are obligated to preserve the confidentiality of the review process and disclose any potential conflicts of interest.
In accordance with COPE’s Code of Conduct, any allegations of unethical behavior will be thoroughly examined. IJMRAI reserves the right to involve affiliated research institutions, employers, funding bodies, or relevant legal authorities in such investigations. To identify textual similarities or potential plagiarism, the journal uses EDAS software to screen submitted manuscripts. Based on the aforementioned standards, authors are expected to cooperate fully with the editorial team, respond to all queries, and remain reachable even after publication to address any post-publication concerns or provide additional information if required.
Moreover, IJMRAI encourages authors to make their supporting research data publicly available through appropriate repositories. This includes raw and processed data, software, algorithms, methodologies, and materials. Authors should include a data availability statement and a direct link to the repository, which will be published alongside their article.
Peer Review and Manuscript Acceptance
All manuscripts submitted to IJMRAI undergo an initial evaluation by the editorial board to ensure alignment with the journal’s scope, adherence to its policies, and the scientific merit and ethical integrity of the work. Following this preliminary assessment, the manuscript proceeds to the peer review phase, which follows a single-blind review model. Final acceptance is contingent upon the feedback and recommendations provided by the assigned reviewers. For further details, please refer to the journal’s Peer Review Policy.
Authorship and Contribution Policy
Manuscripts submitted to the journal must include the complete names, institutional affiliations, and contact information of all contributing authors. The sequence of authors should be determined collaboratively among the contributors, commonly based on factors such as the extent of intellectual input, conceptual development, academic qualifications, or other mutually agreed criteria. All listed authors must have made a meaningful contribution to the research and share collective responsibility for the integrity, accuracy, and rigor of the reported results. Each author should be prepared to respond to inquiries regarding the content of the manuscript, whether from fellow researchers, academic bodies, or other relevant parties.
Additionally, during the manuscript submission process via the EDAS platform, authors’ names, institutional affiliations, and contact details must be entered electronically. All authors will receive confirmation upon successful registration. In cases where disagreements arise or the terms of authorship are violated, authors retain the right to submit a formal complaint for resolution.
Complaints and Appeals Procedure
The following protocol outlines how the journal handles appeals against editorial decisions, concerns related to procedural inefficiencies (such as excessive delays in manuscript processing), and issues pertaining to publication ethics. In general, such matters are addressed by the editor-in-chief or the journal’s assigned editor. If the complaint involves either of these individuals, authors may reach out directly via the contact emails provided aliabed@ijmrai.edu.iq or alaa.abdulhassan@uobasrah.edu.iq, as listed on the Contact Page.
Appeals Regarding Editorial Rejections (Scientific Content)
When a rejection is contested, the editor-in-chief or responsible editor will review the authors’ justification, consult the original reviewer if necessary, and determine whether:
• The original decision should remain unchanged,
• A second independent review is warranted, or
• The appeal merits reconsideration.
The complainant will be notified of the outcome, along with an explanation where appropriate. All decisions on appeals are conclusive. New submissions will be prioritized over reconsidered appeals.
Operational Complaints (e.g., Delays in Processing)
Concerns regarding the efficiency of journal processes, such as review time, will be investigated by the editor-in-chief, potentially in collaboration with the handling editor. Complainants will receive a response, and feedback will be shared with relevant personnel to enhance editorial operations.
Ethical Complaints (e.g., Author or Reviewer Conduct)
For complaints related to ethical conduct—such as potential misconduct by authors or reviewers—the editor-in-chief or editor will act in accordance with the journal’s stated Publication Ethics guidelines. In complex or unclear situations, they may consult the publisher using the designated contact information. The final decision and corresponding feedback will be communicated to the complainant.
Policy on Conflicts of Interest / Competing Interests
The IJMRAI adheres to the definition of conflicts of interest/competing interests as outlined by the COPE. The journal places significant importance on transparency and expects authors to disclose any relationships, financial interests, or other affiliations that could be perceived as influencing the content or interpretation of their research. Such disclosures are essential when the interest is directly related to the subject matter of the manuscript.
Examples of relevant competing interests include, but are not limited to, holding patents or shares, serving on a company’s board of directors or advisory committees, or receiving consulting fees or honoraria from related organizations. The existence of a potential conflict does not automatically disqualify a submission from being considered for publication. Rather, proper disclosure helps maintain transparency for both reviewers and readers, thereby supporting the credibility and ethical standards of the journal.
Authors who have no relevant conflicts to declare must explicitly state this in the manuscript’s designated conflict of interest section. The following standard statement may be used: “The authors declare no conflict of interest related to this article.”
Data Sharing and Reproducibility Policy
The IJMRAI promotes transparency and reproducibility in scientific research by encouraging authors to make their data publicly accessible. This includes, but is not limited to, raw and processed datasets, software, algorithms, experimental protocols, methodologies, and relevant materials. Authors are required to include a data availability statement within their manuscript, along with a link to the data repository where the information is stored. This statement will be published alongside the article to facilitate verification, replication, and further research.
Ethical Oversight Policy
The IJMRAI adheres to the COPE guidelines concerning ethical oversight . As defined by COPE, ethical oversight encompasses policies related to informed consent for publication, research involving vulnerable groups, ethical treatment of human and animal subjects, confidentiality of sensitive data, and responsible commercial or marketing practices.
The editorial team at IJMRAI is committed to upholding these ethical standards and ensuring that all published work aligns with recognized ethical practices. The journal will give due consideration to any formal communications from the Ethics and Oversight Committee regarding professional or scientific misconduct involving ethical violations by authors. Additionally, IJMRAI is open to reviewing other ethically related concerns, provided that such submissions are identified (not anonymous) and supported by valid evidence.
Open Access and Copyright Policy
All articles published in the IJMRAI are made freely accessible under an open access model, allowing readers to immediately read, download, and distribute content under the terms of a Creative Commons license.
The copyright of published research remains with the author(s). By submitting to IJMRAI, authors grant the journal a non-exclusive license to publish the work and to be acknowledged as the original source. Furthermore, authors permit third parties to use, share, and distribute the content, provided the article remains unaltered and proper credit is given to the original authors, along with full citation details and acknowledgment of IJMRAI as the publisher.
Policy on Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections
The IJMRAI maintains rigorous standards of publication ethics and treats allegations of misconduct or fraud with utmost seriousness. In accordance with COPE guidelines, the journal will undertake investigations into any suspected ethical violations. If such concerns are substantiated, the journal will communicate with the relevant authors via their registered email addresses to address the issues identified. Depending on the findings, the journal may take the following actions:
- If the manuscript is still under review or in the publication process, it may be rejected and returned to the author.
- For articles already published online, the journal may:
a) Issue a correction or erratum linked to the article,
b) Publish an editorial expression of concern, or
c) Retract the article, particularly in cases of severe ethical breaches.Details and reasoning for any corrective or retraction action will be provided in a notice associated with the affected article. This process may also involve:
• Notifying the author’s affiliated institution,
• Including a note regarding the ethical concerns within the peer-review system and bibliographic records.
Author Name Changes
Authors who wish to update their names in published work—for reasons such as gender transition or religious conversion—may request corrections to their names, pronouns, or other biographical details. These changes can be implemented discreetly without public annotation or through an official correction notice.
Authorship and Correspondence
Authors must accurately list all contributors, their order, and the corresponding author upon submission. Post-acceptance modifications to authorship—such as adding, removing, or rearranging authors—are generally not permitted. Changes during the review stage may be allowed only under exceptional circumstances with editor approval.
In cases where a co-author passes away or becomes incapacitated during manuscript preparation, co-authors may continue the process with consent from a legal representative, such as an immediate family member.
All communication with journal staff—including editors and reviewers—must be kept confidential and shared only with authorized parties or with explicit consent.
Authorship Disputes
The journal does not mediate disputes regarding authorship either during review or after publication. Authors are responsible for resolving such conflicts independently. IJMRAI reserves the right to halt the editorial process or refer the matter to the authors’ institutions for further handling.
Article Removal
In exceptional cases, IJMRAI may remove articles from its online platform if the content is defamatory, infringes legal rights, violates court or government orders, or poses significant health risks. Metadata including the article title and author information will be retained alongside an explanation of the removal. Removal may be temporary or permanent and will be implemented only under exceptional circumstances.
Throughout all post-publication matters, IJMRAI adheres to the ethical framework and procedures outlined by COPE.
Funding Disclosure Policy
All sources of financial support for the research must be transparently disclosed by the authors and clearly acknowledged within the Acknowledgment section of the manuscript. It is the responsibility of the authors to ensure the correct identification and attribution of each funding organization. For verification and standardized naming, authors are encouraged to consult the Open Funder Registry provided by Crossref: https://www.crossref.org/services/funder-registry/ .