Scientific integrity is the cornerstone of technological innovation. It is crucial for all participants in academic research, paper writing, and the publication process to uphold this integrity at all times. Science Technology and Engineering is committed to maintaining and promoting scientific integrity, adhering to high standards of publication ethics by referencing the “Criteria for Defining Misconduct in Academic Journal Papers (Public Draft for Comments)” released by CNKI.
The following outlines some essential concepts and guidelines on publication ethics. For more detailed information, please refer to the official website of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) at http://www.publicationethics.org/.
Responsibilities of Reviewers
(1) Utilize professional expertise to evaluate the originality, scientific rigor, and practical value of manuscripts, providing objective, detailed, and clear assessments to assist editors in their decision-making. Offer specific suggestions for revision to help authors improve the quality of their papers.
(2) Promptly declare any conflicts of interest (e.g., familial, supervisory, collegial, or competitive relationships) to the editorial office and recuse oneself from the review process.
(3) Verify the sources of data used in the research. Any instances of plagiarism or duplicate submission should be reported to the editor immediately.
(4) Alert the editor to any published or submitted articles that are substantially similar to the manuscript under review.
(5) Maintain strict confidentiality regarding the manuscripts under review. Do not share, discuss, or retain copies of the manuscript, nor use or publish its data, viewpoints, or conclusions.
(6) Complete the review within the stipulated timeframe and provide timely feedback to the editorial office. If unable to meet the deadline, inform the editorial office promptly so the manuscript can be sent to other reviewers.
Responsibilities of Editors
(1) Strictly enforce relevant national laws and regulations, adhere to academic publishing ethics and standards, uphold scientific integrity, and handle all submissions in a timely and impartial manner to ensure high-quality, on-schedule publication.
(2) Follow the principle of objectivity and neutrality, treating authors, reviewers, and editorial board members in a balanced, objective, and fair manner.
(3) Provide authors with complete, detailed, and clear revision suggestions or reasons for rejection based on the outcomes of the peer review.
(4) Respect authors' requests to exclude specific reviewers. If an author objects to revision suggestions, the editor should respond, communicate, and provide explanations in a serious, scientific, rigorous, and timely manner.
(5) Have the obligation to investigate and communicate regarding academic misconduct. Collect evidence, investigate, and retract manuscripts found to involve academic misconduct.
(6) Correct or retract published articles if problems are discovered.
(7) Without the author's written permission, editors must not use unpublished manuscripts for their own research.
(8) Protect and update authors' personal information and cultivate new reviewers when necessary.
Responsibilities of Authors
(1) Do not submit the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously (duplicate submission).
(2) The content of the manuscript should comply with relevant national laws and regulations and meet the requirements outlined in the journal's "Instructions for Online Submission".
(3) The submitted manuscript must be original work that has not been published previously, with appropriate citations to the work of others.
(4) Do not fabricate data or manipulate images to support conclusions.
(5) Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study. All individuals who have made significant contributions must be listed as co-authors. The corresponding author must confirm that all listed co-authors are included and that all co-authors have seen and approved the final version of the manuscript and agreed to its submission for publication.
(6) The funding sources for the research should be clearly stated.
(7) Declare any potential conflicts of interest upon submission. If a conflict of interest exists, all financial/personal relationships that could have inappropriately influenced the research results should be disclosed. The "Copyright Transfer Agreement for Science Technology and Engineering" and the "Submission Article Review Certificate for Science Technology and Engineering" must be completed and submitted.
(8) If a significant error or inaccuracy is discovered in a published paper, promptly notify the editorial office or publisher for retraction or correction.
(9) Respect the opinions of the reviewers. If there are objections, an appeal can be made to the editorial office.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Authors must declare all relationships that could be perceived as influencing or biasing the manuscript. While these relationships do not necessarily lead to bias or deviation in the research, the potential for a conflict of interest exists, which could prevent authors from collecting, analyzing, presenting, or judging data impartially and objectively. Therefore, disclosing these relationships, or explicitly stating their absence, helps peer reviewers and readers assess the objectivity and impartiality of the paper’s content.
Potential conflicts of interest, whether direct or indirect, related to the research include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Receiving payment for participating in a symposium.
(2) Receiving funding to attend a symposium.
(3) Receiving funding for education or training.
(4) Employment counseling or consultation.
(5) Funding sources.
(6) Holding a position on an advisory committee or board of directors, or other types of management positions.
(7) Employment relationships with multiple institutions.
(8) Financial relationships, such as equity ownership or investment interests.
(9) Intellectual property, such as patents, copyrights, or royalties from such rights.
(10) Relatives with financial interests related to the research.
