SECTIONS
- Submission Guidelines
- Aims and Scope
- Article Publication Charge
- Steps to publication
- Manuscript Categories and Requirements
- Editorial Policies and Ethical Considerations
- Submission Guidelines
- Publication process after acceptance
- Post Publication
- Editorial Office Contact Details
1. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Authors are advised to thoroughly review the Author Guidelines and ensure that their manuscripts are prepared in full compliance with the specified instructions. This includes organizing the content in accordance with the requirements of the selected article type. Submissions that do not adhere to these guidelines may be returned to the authors for revision.
Available resources:
2. AIMS AND SCOPE
The IJMRAI welcomes original contributions from a broad spectrum of scholars and practitioners engaged in all facets of Mechatronics Engineering and Computer Science. This includes professionals from academic institutions, industrial sectors, and governmental agencies—such as researchers, engineers, and technical consultants. Emphasis is placed on high-quality manuscripts that present innovative and sustainable methodologies with the potential to influence the future direction of engineering. For a comprehensive overview, please refer to the full Aims and Scope here.
3. ARTICLE PUBLICATION CHARGE
In support of academic research and to promote scholarly publishing, all article processing charges are fully covered by the College of Engineering at the University of Basrah. Authors are currently invited to publish in the journal at no cost.
4. STEPS TO PUBLICATION
Authors are kindly reminded that submission of a manuscript implies the content has not been previously published or submitted for publication elsewhere, except in the form of a brief abstract presented at a scientific meeting or symposium.
Once your manuscript has been prepared in accordance with the Author Guidelines, the publication process involves the following steps:
1. Submission: Submit or confirm your submission through the online submission platform.
2. Acknowledgement: An email confirmation will be sent to acknowledge receipt of your submission and provide submission details.
3. Review and Acceptance: Upon completion of the peer review process and acceptance of the manuscript, authors will be requested to sign the Open Access Agreement form.
4. Proof Review: You will be notified when the proof of your article is ready. Authors may review and make necessary corrections at this stage.
5. Publication: The final version of your article will be published in the IJMRAI Library. Authors who have registered for alerts via IJMRAI Author Services will receive an email notification once the article is available online.
Data Protection
By submitting a manuscript or serving as a reviewer for this publication, you agree to the use of your personal data—including name, email address, institutional affiliation, and other necessary contact information—for standard publishing operations. This may include data sharing with the publisher and affiliated partners involved in the production and dissemination of the journal. The journal and its publisher are committed to safeguarding personal information and maintaining the security, confidentiality, and integrity of all collected data in compliance with applicable privacy regulations.
For any issues encountered during the submission process, please contact the Editorial Office at: aliabed@ijmrai.edu.iq
5. MANUSCRIPTS CATEGORIES AND REQUIREMENTS
The IJMRAI accepts manuscripts under the following categories. Each submission must align with the journal’s aims and scope and meet the specific structural and content expectations outlined below:
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- Research Article
A Research Article should present original findings supported by experimental or theoretical work. Submissions must include the following sections:
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Experimental Methods (detailed enough to allow replication)
• Results (presented in tables and/or figures)
• Discussion and Conclusions
• References
A sample Research Article is available for guidance.
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- Review Article
Review Articles offer comprehensive analyses of existing literature on topics relevant to the journal. These manuscripts should be objective, structured, and critically evaluate prior studies. According to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th Edition), a review article:
• Defines and clarifies a specific problem or topic
• Summarizes past research to inform readers of current understanding
• Identifies relationships, contradictions, gaps, and inconsistencies in the literature
• Recommends directions for future research
Review articles are expected to be informative, balanced, and accessible to a broad audience.
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- Tutorial
Tutorials are instructional articles designed to educate readers on specific tools, techniques, or methodologies within mechatronics engineering and computer science. A strong tutorial should:
• Introduce advanced methods or practices
• Provide illustrative examples or case studies
• Be accessible to newcomers while offering depth for experienced readers
• Highlight multidisciplinary relevance where applicable
Tutorials are particularly useful for promoting methodological adoption and cross-disciplinary training.
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- Perspective
Perspective articles present scholarly commentary or informed opinions on emerging or ongoing developments within the field. These may cover:
• Scientific or engineering trends
• Policy and regulatory considerations
• Societal, philosophical, or ethical implications
• Cross-disciplinary or controversial issues
Perspectives are typically authored by a single expert to preserve the integrity of the viewpoint and do not include unpublished or original data. The purpose is to encourage discourse and challenge established paradigms.
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- Short Communication
Short Communications report preliminary or novel results of significant interest. These concise articles must include:
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Methods (clearly outlined for reproducibility)
• Results (with tables or figures as needed)
• Conclusions
• References
Manuscripts in this category should not exceed 4,000 words. They are intended to communicate timely findings to a broad, interdisciplinary readership.
6. EDITORIAL POLICIES AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Peer Review and Manuscript Acceptance
Manuscripts are reviewed at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief, who assesses whether the submission presents original, methodologically sound research that aligns with recognized ethical and scientific publication standards. Submissions deemed suitable will undergo a single-blind or transparent peer review process—according to the author’s selection. Only manuscripts meeting the journal’s editorial criteria will proceed to peer review. For more details, authors are encouraged to consult the IJMRAI Peer Review Policy.
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Conflict of Interest Disclosure
Authors are required to disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest that may be perceived to influence the research, interpretation, or presentation of the manuscript. Conflicts may include—but are not limited to—financial interests such as stock ownership, consultancy, board membership, advisory roles, or receipt of speaking fees. All relevant disclosures should be clearly stated in the cover letter, manuscript (Acknowledgments section), and online submission form.
If no conflicts exist, a statement must be included such as:
“The authors declare no conflict of interest related to this publication.“
It is the responsibility of the corresponding author to ensure all co-authors are informed of and comply with this policy.
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Authorship Criteria
All listed authors must have made substantial contributions to the work and should agree with the final version of the manuscript prior to submission. Authors must meet the following criteria:
• Significant contributions to the conception, design, acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data;
• Involvement in drafting or revising the manuscript critically for important intellectual content;
• Final approval of the version to be published;
• Accountability for all aspects of the work, including the resolution of any questions regarding its accuracy or integrity.
Individuals who contributed to the work but do not meet authorship criteria (e.g., technical support, data collection, funding acquisition) should be acknowledged, with their permission, in the Acknowledgments section. Authors should agree on the authorship order prior to submission.
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Publication Ethics and Misconduct
All submissions must comply with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines. By submitting a manuscript to IJMRAI , authors affirm that the work has been conducted responsibly and ethically, without research misconduct such as:
• Data fabrication or falsification
• Plagiarism or image manipulation
• Unethical experimentation or biased reporting
• Authorship disputes or undisclosed conflicts
• Redundant or duplicate publication
Reviewers are also expected to uphold confidentiality and disclose any competing interests.
Any allegations of misconduct will be investigated in accordance with COPE’s Code of Conduct. The journal reserves the right to contact affiliated institutions, funders, or appropriate regulatory bodies when necessary. Additionally, IJMRAI uses EDAS software to detect plagiarism or significant text overlap in submitted manuscripts.
Authors must respond promptly to editorial queries and remain available after publication to address potential concerns, supply data, or clarify findings if needed.
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Data Sharing and Accessibility
IJMRAI supports transparency and reproducibility in research. Authors are strongly encouraged to deposit supporting data—including raw and processed datasets, software, algorithms, protocols, methods, and materials—in a recognized public repository. A data availability statement, including a direct link to the repository, should accompany the manuscript.
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Funding Disclosure
Authors must disclose all sources of financial support related to the submitted work in the Acknowledgments section. Accurate identification of funding sources is essential. Authors should consult the Open Funder Registry to ensure proper funder designation.
7. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Language and Quality Standards
All manuscripts must be composed in fluent, grammatically correct English. Submissions that do not meet this linguistic standard will not be considered for review. Authors for whom English is not a first language are encouraged to seek assistance from a native English speaker or engage a professional language editing service prior to submission. IJMRAI provides a list of recommended editing services under the “Article Preparation Support” section. Please note that these services are author-funded and do not influence editorial decisions regarding acceptance.
Exclusive Submission Policy
Manuscripts submitted to IJMRAI must be original works and must not be concurrently under review or submitted elsewhere. A substantial portion of the manuscript should not be published or considered for publication in any other outlet.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure
All contributing authors are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest. This declaration is a mandatory part of the submission process. It is the responsibility of the corresponding author to confirm that all co-authors have reviewed and agreed upon the final statement.
Permissions and Copyright
Reproduced content from previously published works must be correctly cited. The corresponding author must obtain formal written permissions from original authors or copyright holders for the reuse of such material. Permissions for both print and digital reproduction must accompany the manuscript upon submission. Additionally, citing unpublished data, in-press works, or personal communications requires prior authorization from the original source.
Ethical Responsibilities of Authors
In cases where research misconduct is suspected—such as data fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism—IJMRAI reserves the right to refer the manuscript to relevant institutional or regulatory authorities. The journal conducts plagiarism screening and insists that all submissions contain original content articulated in the authors’ own words. Consent from all co-authors is required for manuscript submission.
Authorship Criteria
Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant contributions to the research and manuscript preparation. All authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and agree on the authorship order prior to submission.
Cover Letter
Although optional, authors may include a cover letter to provide supplementary context or highlight the significance of the work.
Manuscript Structure and Formatting
While there is flexibility in the initial manuscript layout, clarity and readability should be prioritized. The journal’s formatting requirements will be applied during the production stage. Authors should ensure that their manuscripts contain the following elements:
- Title page with the manuscript title, complete author names, institutional affiliations, and contact details
- Abstract (maximum of 200 words) and 4–6 keywords
- Main body of text
- Tables and figures integrated within the manuscript, adjacent to their first in-text mention
- Figure captions, if applicable
- Acknowledgments, including funding sources and grant numbers
- Conflict of interest disclosure statement
- Reference list formatted clearly and consistently
Article Preparation Assistance
IJMRAI provides editorial support services including English language editing, manuscript formatting, graphical design, and translation. These services are designed to enhance manuscript quality prior to submission.
Author Biographies and File Formats
Authors of accepted manuscripts are encouraged to submit brief biographies (no more than 500 characters) and photographs for each listed author.
Preferred file formats include:
- For text and tables: .doc, .rtf, .ppt, .xls
- For LaTeX users: accompanying .eps or .pdf must be included. A LaTeX zip file is available from the journal.
Initial and Revised Submissions
Initial Submission
- Non-LaTeX users: Upload manuscript files, including embedded figures and tables.
- LaTeX users: Submit a compiled .pdf of the manuscript using the “Main Document” designation.
Revised Submission
- Non-LaTeX users: Upload editable source files and separate files for figures and tables, in addition to the revised manuscript.
- LaTeX users: Submit a revised .pdf and designate all source files as “Supplemental Material not for review.” Remove previously uploaded versions of outdated files.
Figures and Tables
- All figures and tables must appear in the text at their first mention and be cited in numerical order.
- Figures should be of high quality. Line art and graphs are best saved in EPS or PDF format with embedded fonts; photographic content should be submitted in TIFF or PNG. JPEGs may be used only when no other format is available.
- All images must have a resolution of at least 600 dpi.
- If figures are created in Microsoft Office tools, submission of the original file formats is acceptable.
References
While the journal imposes minimal stylistic constraints, references must be complete and consistent. Use of bibliographic software is encouraged, provided it generates full citations. Reference elements should include:
Journal Articles
- Full names of authors
- Year of publication
- Article title
- Full journal name
- Volume, issue, and page numbers
Books
- Full names of authors
- Year of publication
- Title
- City of publication
- Publisher
- Total number of pages
Book Chapters
- Full names of authors
- Year of publication
- Chapter title
- Editor(s)
- Book title
- City of publication
- Publisher
- Page range
Online Sources
- Include DOI for research articles where available
- Provide access dates for non-peer-reviewed web content
Supplementary Materials and Appendices
Authors are encouraged to submit supplementary material that enhances the manuscript, such as datasets, code, additional tables, figures, and multimedia. These should be submitted at the peer review stage and labeled separately from main manuscript figures. Note that supplementary content will not undergo editorial formatting and will appear online as provided.
Where applicable, authors may include supplemental material as an appendix within the main document to facilitate accessibility.
Graphical Abstract and Cover Image Submissions
Authors may submit a graphical abstract and a short (under 75 words) summary to accompany the table of contents. The image must be square (5 cm x 5 cm), visually engaging, and suitable for a general audience. Composite images or graphs are discouraged.
Proposals for potential cover images related to the manuscript (but not necessarily part of it) are welcome. Interested authors should contact the Editorial Office directly.
8. PUBLICATION PROCESS AFTER ACCEPTANCE
Production Stage
Once a manuscript has been accepted, it enters the production phase. The corresponding author will receive an email from the IJMRAI production team with instructions to engage with IJMRAI Author Services for further communication and production-related steps.
Proof Review
Shortly after acceptance, the author will receive a notification with a secure link to review the article proofs. This step allows authors to verify content accuracy and make any necessary corrections before final publication. Detailed instructions will accompany the proof. Upon submission of final corrections, the layout will be finalized and prepared for online dissemination.
Early View Publication
IJMRAI offers an Early View publication model. This service allows accepted, peer-reviewed, and fully edited articles to be published online prior to their inclusion in a scheduled journal issue. These articles are considered final and complete; therefore, no changes are permitted post-publication.
While Early View articles do not yet have volume, issue, or page numbers, each is assigned a Digital Object Identifier (DOI)—a unique and permanent identifier for citation and indexing purposes. Once the article appears in a printed issue, the DOI remains valid and continues to serve as a reliable reference. Learn more about DOIs at: www.doi.org/faq.html
9. POST-PUBLICATION
Access and Distribution
Upon publication:
• Authors will receive an email alert (if opted in).
• The article becomes immediately and freely accessible for reading, downloading, and sharing under the journal’s open access policy.
Article Promotion Opportunities
To enhance visibility and engagement, IJMRAI offers multiple tools for promoting your research:
- Graphical Abstract
Authors may submit a graphical abstract—a visually appealing and scientifically accurate image—along with a brief descriptive text (max. 75 words) for inclusion in the Table of Contents. The graphic should succinctly represent the significance and implications of the research for a broader audience. Specifications:
• Square format (2 inches / 5 cm)
• Full-color image
• Avoid multipart or complex visuals
- Cover Image Submission
Authors may propose striking images for potential journal cover use, even if not included in the manuscript. Interested contributors should contact the Editorial Office in advance.
- Video Abstracts
Transform your research findings into a dynamic and accessible video abstract, ideal for web sharing and social media promotion. IJMRAI , in partnership with Research Square, provides professional video production services to enhance your article’s reach and engagement.
Additional Promotion Support
IJMRAI ’s Editorial and Promotion Services offer assistance in creating:
10. EDITORIAL OFFICE CONTACT
For all post-acceptance inquiries or promotional support, please contact:
Editorial Office
📧 aliabed@ijmrai.edu.iq