Policies

Open Access, Peer Review, and Publication Policies of NGMCPUB

The Research and Publications division of the Department of Library at Nallamuthu Gounder Mahalingam College (NGMCPUB) is committed to fostering the widest possible dissemination of scholarly work. To achieve this, we adhere to the following policies:

I. Open Access Policy

NGMCPUB employs an open access model, ensuring that all published articles are:

Freely Available: Immediately accessible online, in a readily readable format, without any subscription or registration requirements.
Creative Commons Licensed: Published under a Creative Commons license, enabling the sharing and adaptation of content, provided appropriate attribution is given to the original authors.

II. Peer Review Policy

All manuscripts submitted to NGMCPUB publications undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process:

Expert Review: Each manuscript is evaluated by two subject matter experts.
Comprehensive Evaluation: Acceptance, revision, or rejection decisions are based on the feedback from both reviewers.
Final Decision: The Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision, taking reviewer comments into consideration.
Advisory Board Consultation: The Editor-in-Chief may seek additional input from advisory board members before reaching a final decision.
Peer Review Support: Associate and review editors administer the peer review process to maintain its integrity,.
Appeals Process: If authors contest a rejection with valid arguments, the manuscript can be sent to an additional reviewer; the final decision will be based on their evaluation.

III. Licensing Policy

NGMCPUB utilizes Creative Commons (CC) licenses to facilitate the reuse of research content. This approach differs from traditional publishing. Instead of transferring exclusive rights to the publisher, authors grant a non-exclusive license for distribution, while readers are granted rights to reuse the work.

CC-BY License: The journals primarily use the CC-BY license, which allows for unrestricted reuse of content, provided the original source is properly credited. This ensures authors receive the recognition they deserve.

IV. Archiving Policy

NGMCPUB utilizes the AWS system to create permanent archives of all journal content, ensuring its preservation and facilitating future access.

V. Publication Ethics

NGMCPUB upholds the highest standards of publication ethics.

Double-Blind Peer Review: All publications are subjected to a double-blind peer-review process.
Integrity: Articles that violate publication ethics and involve malpractices will be removed from publication.
Academic Dishonesty: Plagiarism and research fabrication (e.g., data manipulation) are strictly prohibited. Ethical considerations regarding the use of human or animal subjects in research must be addressed.
Plagiarism Screening: The publisher reserves the right to use plagiarism detection software at any stage. Suspected plagiarism or duplicate publication will be immediately reported.

VI. AI Policy

NGMCPUB acknowledges the evolving role of artificial intelligence in research and publication processes.

AI Authorship: AI tools such as ChatGPT do not meet the criteria to be listed as authors.
AI for Copy Editing: AI-assisted copy editing is acceptable for minimizing human input in proofreading and grammatical corrections.
Originality of Work: AI-generated content cannot be considered original works from human authors.
Transparency: Authors must declare if and how AI tools were used in the manuscript preparation process.

Key Changes Made and Why:

Clearer Headings: The headings are now more descriptive and professional.
Concise Language: Redundant phrases have been removed, and sentences are more direct.
Bullet Points: Utilizing bullet points enhances readability and makes the key aspects of each policy more apparent.
Active Voice: Using active voice makes the writing more engaging and direct.
“We” Tone Avoided: While “we” was used, a more neutral tone with “NGMCPUB” as the subject is more appropriate in this policy document.
Improved Flow: The sections flow logically, leading readers through the various facets of NGMCPUB’s publication practices.
Combined Headings: Section I is now “Open Access Policy” for better clarity.
“Journals published by Research and Publications division of the Department of Library at Nallamuthu Gounder Mahalingam College (NGMCPUB)” removed: It is unclear why this was included and does not relate to the name NGMCPUB.
AI Explanation: The AI policy section has been reworded to be clearer and addresses the key issues.

This revised version is more professional and easily understandable, and it effectively conveys the core principles of NGMCPUB’s publishing policies.

VII. Author Policy

At NGMCPUB, we define authorship as acknowledgement of a person who significantly contributes to research and takes responsibility for the work conducted. We adhere to the COPE guidelines for authorship (https://publicationethics.org/files/COPE_DD_A4_Authorship_SEPT19_SCREEN_AW.pdf).

Author(s)’ Responsibilities

i. Authors must ensure that:

Their work is original and not previously published.
They give proper credit to other authors, contributors, and sources.
They are responsible for language editing before submission.
Their work is free from plagiarism.
They disclose any financial support and conflicts of interest for the project/research work.
They notify the editor of any errors or inaccuracies and cooperate to correct them.
Articles should be submitted online, and simultaneous submission to multiple publications is not allowed.

NGMCPUB follows COPE, WAME, and the Asian Council of Scientific Editors’ guidelines for best practice in dealing with ethical issues in a journal.

The following guidelines summarize COPE’s international standards for authors of scholarly research publications and responsible research reporting practices:

▪ The research should be conducted ethically and comply with relevant legislation. ▪ Researchers should present their results clearly, honestly, and without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation. ▪ Researchers should describe their methods clearly and unambiguously. ▪ Research should be original, not plagiarized, and not previously published. ▪ Authors should take collective responsibility for submitted and published work. ▪ The authorship should accurately reflect individuals’ contributions to the work and its reporting. ▪ Funding sources and relevant conflicts of interest should be disclosed.

VIII. Ethical Clearance

NGMCPUB requires authors to obtain necessary approval from Institutional Ethics Committees/Institutional Review Boards/Ethics Committees (ECs) for experiments involving humans or human samples or data. The authors must disclose such approval by indicating the Reference number and date of issue.

Experiments involving Cell lines:

Authors should disclose the source of supply with reference number.
A written consent should be provided if it is of human origin.
An Institutional ethical committee’s approval must be obtained.

Experiments involving Plant:

Authors should comply with Convention on the Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and the Convention on Biological diversity when using wild and endangered plants as study materials.
Necessary National or institutional permission should be obtained while using infected plants or infecting the plants with endemic pathogens.

For Clinical Protocols:

Clinical study-based manuscripts should follow SPIRIT (http://www.spirit-statement.org/) protocols.
Clinical Trial Policy: NGMCPUB publication follows World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for a clinical study.

Data Sharing Policy

NGMCPUB is committed to transparency and open science, advocating for the public availability of research data. To this end, we require authors to include a Data Availability Statement in their manuscripts, clearly detailing what data is available and where it can be accessed.

This shared data may encompass various elements of the research process, such as:

Modifications to protocols or algorithms
Code and software
Raw datasets
Questionnaires used for data collection
Sequencing data for genetic materials or peptides
Other relevant research outputs

Authors are strongly encouraged to deposit and archive their research data in public repositories to maximize accessibility and reproducibility. We recommend using platforms like the Open Science Framework or Zenodo for this purpose. Guidance on crafting effective data availability statements can be found in resources provided by Nature Research and MDPI.

We recognize that ethical concerns or privacy considerations may restrict full data sharing. In such cases, authors should clearly state these limitations in their Data Availability Statement while still including essential data, experimental details, or key modifications in the manuscript to allow for understanding the methodology employed.

For guidance on constructing a data availability statement, we recommend referring to resources such as those provided by Nature Research and MDPI

Editor Responsibilities

To ensure the integrity of the publication process, editors must:

Ensure that all submitted manuscripts undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process.
Act to prevent any conflicts of interest between authors, editors, and reviewers.
Maintain the confidentiality of all information related to submitted manuscripts prior to publication.

Reviewer Responsibilities

Peer review is the cornerstone of quality publication. NGMCPUB follows a process where editors mediate all interactions between reviewers and authors, ensuring a fair and constructive review process. We adhere to the COPE guidelines (COPE Council. COPE Ethical guidelines for peer reviewers — English. https://doi.org/10.24318/cope.2019.1.9) and require all reviewers to uphold these ethical standards:

Professional Responsibility: Researchers who have benefited from the peer review process should contribute to the process. Reviewers should provide journals with accurate personal and professional information. Impersonating others during peer-review is considered serious misconduct. Reviewers should only accept requests if they have the necessary expertise to evaluate the manuscript. When in doubt, clearly indicate any gaps in your expertise.
Competing Interests: Reviewers must declare any potential competing or conflicting interests, whether personal, financial, intellectual, professional, political, or religious. Reviewers should recuse themselves from reviewing if they have recent close collaborations, have been mentors or mentees of the authors, or have a manuscript in preparation that is similar to the one being reviewed.
Timeliness: Reviewers should respond to review invitations promptly, regardless of whether they can accept the task. Once they agree to a review, they are expected to complete it within the agreed-upon timeframe. If circumstances change, reviewers must inform the journal promptly. If declining the review, it is helpful to suggest alternative reviewers if appropriate.

Plagiarism Policy

Manuscripts found to contain plagiarism during the review or editorial process will be immediately rejected. If plagiarism is discovered post-publication, the manuscript will be removed from the journal’s website, and a relevant announcement will be issued.

Key Improvements in This Version:

Clearer Headings: The text is divided into clear sections with descriptive headings for easier navigation.
Concise Language: Reduced wordiness and used more direct phrasing.
Bulleted Lists: Used bullet points to break down information and make it more digestible.
Emphasis on Key Points: The core requirements for data sharing and reviewer responsibilities are highlighted.
Structured Flow: Information presented in a logical sequence.
Direct Recommendations: Clear and direct language like “Authors are strongly encouraged” and “Reviewers must declare”.
Better Explanation of Policy: Rather than just stating the policy, provides context on “why” policies are necessary.

This revised version is more concise, user-friendly, and effectively communicates the journal’s policies to its authors and reviewers. It prioritizes clarity and readability, making it easier for all stakeholders to understand their roles and responsibilities.

Plagiarism Detection and Reporting:

NGMCPUB and its Journal’s Editorial Board are committed to maintaining the integrity of published research. To this end, we actively screen submissions for plagiarism using industry-standard tools like iThenticate.

If plagiarism is detected during the review or editorial process, the manuscript will be immediately rejected. Depending on the severity of the case, further action may be taken. If plagiarism is discovered after publication, the manuscript will be removed from our website, and a public notice will be issued.

Furthermore, NGMCPUB or its Editorial Board representative reserves the right to inform the author’s funding agencies, employing institutions, and the original authors whose work has been plagiarized about such instances.

To report suspected plagiarism, please contact us at ngmcollegelibrary@gmail.com or editor@ngmc.ac.in.

Verification of Research Originality:

The Editorial Board or Publisher of the Journals reserves the right to verify the originality of research content submitted for publication by contacting the institution where the research was conducted.

Special Issue Guidelines:

NGMCPUB adheres to the quality standards set by DOAJ for the publication of special issues. Journals publishing special issues curated by guest editors must comply with the following criteria:

Editor-in-Chief Responsibility: The Editor-in-Chief maintains overall responsibility for the journal’s content, including all special issues, which must align with the journal’s scope.
Rigorous Peer Review: Articles within special issues are subject to the same rigorous editorial oversight and external peer review process as regular submissions and must be clearly identified as part of a special issue.
Guest Editor Approval: The credentials of guest editors must be verified and approved by the journal.
Oversight of Guest Editors: The Editor-in-Chief or designated board members will oversee the work of guest editors.
Limitations on Guest Editor Submissions: Papers submitted by the guest editor(s) will undergo an independent review process and cannot constitute more than 25% of the special issue’s total content.

Manuscript Withdrawal Policy:

Authors are expected to adhere to the following policies after submitting their manuscript:

Consent to Publish: Authors must provide their consent to publish their manuscript before the peer-review process begins.
Withdrawal After Acceptance: Withdrawing a manuscript after it has been accepted will incur a minimal article handling charge.
No Refund After Acceptance and Payment: If an author withdraws an accepted manuscript after the Article Processing Charge (APC) has been paid, no refund will be issued.
No Refund for Withdrawal Due to Indexing Issues: No refund will be provided if a manuscript is withdrawn due to indexing issues.

Waiver Policy:

NGMCPUB may grant partial or full waivers of article processing charges to authors facing financial hardship.

Eligibility: Only authors from low-income countries are eligible to apply for a waiver.
Limitation: Each submitting author is eligible for a waiver for only one article per year.
Application Process: Waiver requests, along with the article abstract, should be sent to indjst@gmail.com for confirmation before submission.

Disclaimer:

The author(s) of each article published in NGMCPUB’s Journal are solely responsible for its content. Neither the Publisher, the journal editors, nor anyone involved in the creation, production, or distribution of the journal assumes any liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of the information provided. They shall not be held liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from the use of the journal’s content.

Plagiarism Policy (Expanded):

NGMCPUB is dedicated to upholding the integrity of the peer-review process and ensuring the originality of published research. We utilize reputable plagiarism detection tools, primarily iThenticate, to screen all submitted manuscripts before they enter the publishing cycle.

Consequences of Plagiarism:

During Review/Editorial Process: Any manuscript found to contain plagiarism during the review or editorial stages will be immediately rejected. Further actions may be considered depending on the severity of the case.
After Publication: If plagiarism is proven after publication, the manuscript will be retracted from our website, and a formal announcement will be made. Furthermore, the publisher or Journal Editor may inform the author’s funding agencies, employing institutions, and the original authors whose work was plagiarized.

Suspected instances of plagiarism should be reported to indjst@gmail.com.

Article Retraction Policy:

The Editor’s decision is final for all scholarly publications and is based on established Editorial Policies, including those pertaining to plagiarism and copyright, which align with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

While we aim to maintain the published record without alteration, circumstances may necessitate the retraction, removal, or correction of an article.

Reasons for Retraction:

Plagiarism
Bogus Authorship
Fraudulent Data
Significant Errors Requiring Correction

Standards for Article Retraction at NGMCPUB Journals:

When an article is retracted:

The article PDF will remain accessible but will be watermarked with “Retracted.”
Only in cases of legal issues, significant errors, or incorrect PDFs will the article be completely removed from the website and replaced with a note explaining the removal.

XVIII. Geopolitical Neutrality

NGMCPUB maintains a position of geopolitical neutrality in its publications. The views and affiliations expressed within its published works are solely those of the respective authors and do not represent the opinions or endorsements of NGMCPUB regarding trans-boundary rights of sovereign states or their institutional representations.

Privacy Policy

At NGMCPUB, we are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your personal information.

Information We Collect:

We collect information from you when you interact with our website, including when you:

Register an account: This may include your name, date of birth, email address, mailing address, and phone number.
Place an order: This may include your name, billing and shipping addresses, email address, phone number, and payment information (including credit card details).
Participate in surveys or communications: We may collect information you provide in response to surveys, emails, or other forms of communication.
Engage in site promotions: This may involve collecting information relevant to the specific promotion.

How We Use Your Information:

The information we collect may be used for the following purposes:

Processing Transactions: To efficiently and securely process your orders for products or Article Processing Charges (APCs).
Administering Site Features: To manage promotions, surveys, and other interactive features on our website.
Improving Customer Service: To better respond to your inquiries and support requests.
Communication: If you have opted-in, we may send you periodic emails regarding NGMCPUB news, product information, and newsletters. You can unsubscribe from these emails at any time using the link provided in each email.
Website Improvement: To analyze website usage and improve our content and services.

Protecting Your Information:

We implement robust security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. These measures include:

Secure Networks: Your personal information is stored on secure networks with restricted access limited to authorized personnel who are obligated to maintain its confidentiality.
Secure Server Technology: When you place orders or access your personal information, we utilize a secure server.
SSL Encryption: All sensitive and payment information you provide is transmitted using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology and then encrypted into our databases, accessible only as described in this policy.

Disclosure to Outside Parties:

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your personally identifiable information to unaffiliated third parties without your explicit consent, except as described below:

Service Providers: We may share information with trusted website hosting partners and other service providers who assist us in operating our website, conducting our business/publications, or providing services to you, provided that these parties agree to maintain the confidentiality of this information.
Legal Compliance: We may disclose your information when we believe it is necessary to comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, or governmental requests, enforce our site policies, or protect our rights, property, or safety, or the rights, property, or safety of others.
Non-Personally Identifiable Information: Non-personally identifiable visitor/author information may be provided to other parties for marketing, advertising, academic research, or other legitimate purposes.

Your Choices Regarding Your Information:

You have the following options regarding the information you provide to us:

Opt-out of Email Communications: To modify your email subscriptions or completely opt-out of receiving NGMCPUB or its publication product emails, please contact us at editor@ngmc.ac.in and request removal from our email list. Please note that you may still receive emails that are already in production.

Changes to Our Privacy Policy:

If we decide to update our privacy policy, we will post the changes on this page. These changes will apply only to information collected after the effective date of the revised policy.

Scope of this Policy:

This online privacy policy applies only to information collected through our website and not to information collected offline.

Website Terms and Conditions

This website is owned and operated by NGMCPUB, acting as the “Publisher.” By accessing or using this website in any manner, you agree to be bound by these Website Terms and Conditions of Use, our Privacy Policy, and the NGMCPUB Policy (collectively, our “Website Conditions”), as well as any other applicable laws and regulations.

When you make an inquiry, submit articles for publication, or order products or services through this website, your actions are subject to these Website Conditions, including the terms and conditions on this page, the NGMCPUB policy, and any other terms and conditions communicated to you.

By using this website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by all of our Website Conditions in their entirety and without modification. If you do not agree with any part of these Website Conditions, you must immediately cease using this website.

We reserve the right to revise and update these Website Conditions at any time. Your continued use of this website following the posting of any changes constitutes your acceptance of those changes. While NGMCPUB strives for accuracy, errors may occur. We encourage you to review these Website Terms and Conditions of Use periodically to stay informed of any updates.

All fees or Article Processing Charges (APCs), unless explicitly stated otherwise, are in Indian Rupees (INR) or United States Dollars (USD). By indicating acceptance to purchase any product or service offered on this website, you are obligated to complete the transaction. You are prohibited from indicating acceptance to purchase products or services if you do not intend to complete the transaction.

In the case of credit card transactions, you must use your own valid credit card. NGMCPUB will not be held liable for any credit card fraud. The responsibility for fraudulent use of a credit card rests solely with the user, and the burden of proof to demonstrate otherwise lies exclusively with the user.

© Copyright. This website and all its content are the exclusive property of the Research and Publications division of the Department of Library at Nallamuthu Gounder Mahalingam College (NGMCPUB) and are protected by copyright law. Access to and use of this website is granted solely for personal, noncommercial purposes. Any use beyond these permitted purposes, including the modification, reproduction, distribution, transmission, duplication, display, or performance of this website’s content, is expressly forbidden and may be subject to legal prosecution.