Commitment to Ethical Publishing

J-HyTEL is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of ethical publishing and academic integrity, in line with the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) Regulation No. 5 of 2014 on the Code of Ethics for Scientific Publications. These ethical frameworks ensure transparency, accountability, and scholarly excellence across all aspects of the editorial and publishing process.

In addition, J-HyTEL comlplies with relevant Indonesian laws, including:

• Undang-Undang Republik Indonesia No. 28 Tahun 2014 Tentang Hak Cipta (Law of the Republic of Indonesia No. 28 of 2014 on Copyright) protects authors' intellectual property and ensures the proper attribution of scientific work. This law governs authors' rights and protects against plagiarism, ensuring that authors receive due credit for their work and that all copyrighted materials are used appropriately.

Ethical Guidelines

1. Transparency & Responsibility: J-HyTEL operates with full transparency throughout the publication process, including in the selection of reviewers, management of conflicts of interest, and communication between editors, authors, and reviewers. We ensure the accuracy and integrity of all published works by conducting plagiarism checks and providing clear, constructive feedback at each stage of the editorial process.
2. Originality & Plagiarism: Manuscripts must be original, free from plagiarism, and properly attribute all sources. The journal employs a plagiarism check using Turnitin.
3. Peer Review: All manuscripts undergo a double-anonymized peer review process, guaranteeing unbiased evaluation. At least two experts in the field review each manuscript.
4. Conflict of Interest: Authors are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may affect the integrity of their work.

Authors

Authorship

All listed authors must have contributed substantially to the submitted work and share collective responsibility for the entire manuscript. Authorship must accurately reflect individual contributions. Where appropriate, non-author contributors (e.g., translators, proofreaders, layout editors) should be acknowledged in the "Acknowledgments" section.

According to the CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) guidelines, authors must specify their contributions by selecting from various predefined roles that accurately reflect each author's input to the research and manuscript preparation (Allen, O’Connell, & Kiermer, 2019). Further details on these roles and reporting can be found in the Journal’s Template.

The journal accepts a maximum of six authors per manuscript, unless justified by compelling reasons, such as interdisciplinary studies requiring expertise from multiple domains. During submission, all authors must use their academic email addresses. Authors must agree on the authorship order before submission, and changes to authorship are not permitted after acceptance unless approved by the editor and all authors.

By submitting a manuscript, authors confirm their understanding and adherence to the journal's ethical guidelines. Manuscripts must be original contributions that significantly advance the existing body of knowledge and be free from plagiarism. Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest.

Corresponding Author (CA) Responsibilities

The corresponding author is responsible for all communication between the journal and the other authors during the editorial and publication process. The CA's duties include:

• Primary Contact: Coordinating with the editorial team and disseminating manuscript revisions and other communications to co-authors.
• Accurate Metadata: Ensuring that accurate author information (name, affiliation, contributions) is provided in the journal system. Changes to metadata after submission require editorial approval.
• Final Proof Review: Review the manuscript's final proof for typographical errors, misspelled names, or incorrect affiliations before publication.
• Availability and Timely Response: Maintain communication through an active academic email account and promptly respond to editorial queries.
• Copyright and Licensing: Confirm that all co-authors approve the manuscript content and ensure permissions are obtained in writing for any copyrighted material. Articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution-4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
• Post-Acceptance Changes: Changes to authorship are not allowed after acceptance unless approved by the editor and all authors.

Declaration of the use of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in Scientific Writing

Purpose: This policy aims to provide greater transparency and guidance to authors, readers, reviewers, and editors regarding the use of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process. It specifically addresses the writing aspect and does not pertain to the use of AI tools for data analysis or insight generation in research.

Permitted Use of AI: Authors may utilize AI and AI-assisted technologies to enhance the readability and language of their manuscripts. These tools should not replace critical authoring tasks. The application of AI must be conducted under strict human oversight and control. All AI-generated content must be thoroughly reviewed and edited by the authors to ensure accuracy, completeness, and bias-free presentation.

Disclosure Requirement: Authors must disclose any use of AI and AI-assisted technologies in their manuscript. This disclosure fosters transparency and ensures compliance with AI tools' terms of use.

Disclosure Statement Examples:

"During the preparation of this work, the author(s) used [TOOL/SOFTWARE] to assist in improving the readability, language, and overall structure of the manuscript. Following the use of this tool, the author(s) thoroughly reviewed and edited the content, ensuring its accuracy and integrity. The author(s) take full responsibility for the content and conclusions presented in the published article."

"The authors acknowledge the use of ChatGPT (https://chat.openai.com/) to refine our work's academic language and accuracy. On 6 December 2024, the authors submitted several paragraphs with the instructions to "Improve the academic tone and accuracy of language, including grammatical structures, punctuation, and vocabulary" and "Please check the English grammar and make corrections where possible to improve the readability of the text." The output (here) was then modified further to represent our tone and style of writing better. This acknowledgment has been approved by the editorial team of this journal."

Prohibited Practices:

• Authorship Attribution: AI and AI-assisted technologies must not be listed as authors or co-authors. Authorship implies responsibilities and tasks that can only be performed by humans.
• Citation of AI as Authors: AI-generated content cannot be cited as authors since large language models lack the capability to conceptualize research designs, ensure integrity, or validate the originality and validity of the work.
• Generative AI Images: Creating images with AI tools is prohibited unless the images are legally acquired through agencies with contractual agreements with the journal or are directly relevant to articles discussing AI technology. All AI-generated images must be labeled "Generated by AI" within the image field to ensure transparency and ethical compliance.

In accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)'s position statement on AI tools (2023) and Elsevier's policy on AI usage (2023), AI tools should be used responsibly and under human supervision. Authors retain full responsibility and accountability for the content and conclusions of their work, ensuring that AI-generated content does not compromise the manuscript's integrity or originality.

Responsibilities of Authors:

• Human Oversight: Authors must carefully review and edit all AI-generated content to correct any inaccuracies, omissions, or biases.
• Ethical Compliance: Authors are responsible for ensuring that their work is original, that all sources are properly cited, and that the use of AI does not infringe on third-party rights.
• Familiarization with Policies: Before submitting, authors should familiarize themselves with the journal's policies, including the Author Guidelines, Plagiarism Policy, and Withdrawal, Retraction, and Correction Policy.

Plagiarism and Data Integrity

Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is strictly prohibited. Authors must ensure that the submitted manuscript is original and has not been previously published. Plagiarism includes verbatim copying, paraphrasing without citation, and the use of images, graphs, or figures without permission. All sources must be cited appropriately.

Data integrity is equally important. Data must be accurate, verifiable, and reflect the research results. Falsified data, whether invented or manipulated, is not allowed. Authors found guilty of plagiarism or data fabrication will face consequences in line with COPE guidelines. For further details, refer to our complete Plagiarism Policy. Authors must retain raw data and be prepared to provide it upon request by the editorial board.

Data Availability Statement

The Data Availability Statement should specify where the data supporting the findings can be accessed. If data cannot be shared, an appropriate explanation must be provided. If the data are in a repository, include links and identifiers. Clearly state any data-sharing restrictions, such as for privacy concerns.

Research Involving Humans

Experimental research involving humans must have approval from the relevant ethics committee and adhere to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki (2013). Authors must confirm ethical approval before conducting research, and the ethics committee approval number must be included in the manuscript.

Participants included in the study must have their privacy protected and should not be identifiable. Authors are responsible for anonymizing or processing personally identifiable information (e.g., names, clinical images, videos, personal data, health information) to prevent identification.

Informed Consent

Authors must secure written informed consent from participants for clinical data or images involving human subjects. A copy of this consent must be provided to the editorial team before manuscript review.

Reviewers

Review Process

All manuscript submissions undergo an initial assessment by the Editor-in-Chief (EiC) and a plagiarism check using Turnitin. Manuscripts not immediately rejected due to ethical concerns, plagiarism, or scope mismatch will be assigned to a handling editor to continue the peer review process.

The journal employs a double-anonymized peer review system, where both the authors' and reviewers' identities are concealed to ensure impartial and unbiased review. Each manuscript is reviewed by at least two reviewers with relevant expertise in the submitted topic. Reviewers are selected based on their expertise and verified by the editor through sources such as ORCID, Scopus ID, Web of Science Researcher ID, Google Scholar, or CV verification. Typically, reviewers are authors who have previously published in this journal or are recognized experts in the field. For more details, refer to our Peer Review Process and Peer Review Policy.

Review Timeline

Reviewers are given one week to respond to the invitation (either accept or decline). Once the assignment is accepted, the reviewer has an additional 2-3 weeks to complete the review. The total review process should, therefore, take no more than four weeks.

If a reviewer is unable to meet this timeline, they must promptly inform the editorial team so that a replacement can be arranged. Reviewers are expected to follow the journal’s Review Guidelines and complete the official review form. They should provide a clear recommendation—accept, reject, or request revisions—and may attach additional comments or reports to support their evaluation.

Authors may suggest reviewers; however, the final decision rests with the editor. The selection of reviewers proposed by the authors must be based on reasonable grounds and free of conflicts of interest. Authors may request the exclusion of specific reviewers if a potential conflict of interest exists, but the final decision remains with the editor. Any attempt to manipulate or falsify reviewer information may result in manuscript rejection and an ethical investigation following COPE guidelines.

Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers play a crucial role in maintaining the quality and integrity of scientific publications. Therefore, they are expected to review manuscripts with the highest ethical standards. Reviewers must conduct their assessments fairly, objectively, and on time, ensuring that clear arguments support all criticisms. The review must be free of personal bias, and reviewers must not use any unpublished information from the manuscript for personal gain. All information obtained during the review process must be kept confidential and not shared with third parties without the journal's explicit permission.

In some instances, a potential conflict of interest may exist, such as personal, financial, or professional relationships with the authors, research, or funding institutions. In that case, the reviewer must notify the handling editor immediately and decline the review. Reviewers are also responsible for reporting any suspicion of ethical violations, such as plagiarism or data fabrication, to the handling editor for further investigation.

Reviewers are expected to keep their personal and professional information and areas of expertise up to date in their journal profiles so that editors can select the most suitable reviewers for each manuscript. Reviewers should only accept review assignments if they are confident that no conflicts of interest—personal, financial, intellectual, professional, political, or religious—will affect their objectivity and fairness.

Reviewers must respond to review invitations within the given time frame, regardless of whether they accept or decline the assignment. They must complete the review by the journal's deadline if they accept. If reviewers suspect any misconduct in the manuscript, they should report it to the handling editor immediately.

Reviewer Duties

• Confidentiality and Ethics: Reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of all information obtained during the review process and not use it for personal gain. Without the journal's explicit permission, reviewers must not disclose or use unpublished details from manuscripts.
• Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must ensure that there are no competing interests that could affect the objectivity of their review. If a conflict of interest is identified after accepting the assignment, they must inform the editor immediately and withdraw from the review.
• Objective and Fair Review: Reviewers must provide honest, objective, and constructive feedback on manuscripts and support their criticisms with relevant and robust arguments. Any recommendation—accept, reject, or request revisions—must be accompanied by clear and logical reasons.
• Reporting Ethical Misconduct: If reviewers suspect any misconduct or ethical violation in the manuscript, such as plagiarism or data fabrication, they must report it to the handling editor for further investigation following COPE guidelines. Reviewers must not conduct independent investigations of suspected misconduct.

Use of AI in the Review Process

Reviewers are not permitted to use generative AI or AI-assisted technologies to evaluate manuscripts or draft reviews. All assessments and feedback must reflect the reviewer’s own expertise and judgment, ensuring the integrity and originality of the peer review process.

If a reviewer uses AI tools for administrative purposes, such as grammar or spell-checking, they must disclose this to the editor and ensure that the final review reflects their own critical evaluation.

Editors

Editors are responsible for making high-standard editorial decisions in line with ethical guidelines. Manuscripts will be accepted if their subject aligns with the journal's focus, they contain no significant technical errors, the English used is acceptable, and no ethical issues have been raised by either the editor or reviewers. All acceptance decisions are made transparently and objectively based on evaluating the manuscript's quality and relevance.

• Manuscript Acceptance: Manuscripts are accepted if all publication criteria are met, including alignment with the journal’s focus, absence of technical errors, and no ethical issues.
• Requesting Revisions: If some conditions are unmet but can be resolved with minor adjustments, revisions will be requested. Editors will review whether the author’s revisions adequately address the reviewers’ comments.
• Post-Revision Evaluation: Manuscripts are only accepted after all required conditions have been fulfilled, either in the initial manuscript or through the revision process.

If an author disagrees with a reviewer’s comments, the author should first provide a clear and respectful rebuttal addressing the points of disagreement. This process allows for constructive dialogue between the author and the reviewer, promoting transparency and fairness in the review process.

If the disagreement remains unresolved after the rebuttal, the author may then contact the Editor-in-Chief (EiC). The EiC will reassess both the manuscript and the review in question and may choose to seek additional input from other reviewers if necessary. The EiC is responsible for making the final decision, ensuring that it is based on an objective and fair evaluation of the manuscript.

Ethical Issues in Publishing

The Editor-in-Chief (EiC) is the main point of contact for ethical concerns, appeals, and complaints. Exception: Complaints regarding misconduct by the EiC should be directed to the Executive Editor. The EiC is fully responsible for final decisions regarding article acceptance, rejection, correction, and retraction. Anyone raising ethical concerns should contact the EiC immediately, who will initiate an investigation. The EiC may contact the authors' institution, employers, or funding agencies, involve other editors, and seek advice from external experts or institutions. After investigation, the EiC will decide whether the article should be corrected or retracted.

Corrections

Minor corrections, such as typographical errors, will be transparently made and noted with a correction statement. The changes will be reflected directly in the document, and an editorial note will be provided to inform readers of the changes. Relevant literature databases will be notified to reflect these corrections in their records.

Retractions

Article retraction is reserved for works with serious flaws, such as unethical research, plagiarism, or unreliable results (due to miscalculation, experimental errors, data fabrication, or falsification), or where findings have been published without proper attribution or permission to re-publish. Retracted articles will be removed from the journal's article page, but the title and author names will remain listed, preceded by "RETRACTED:". The article's DOI will remain active, and a notice explaining who retracted the article and the reasons for retraction will be added.

The journal does not charge fees for corrections or retractions. Please see our Article Withdrawal Policy for more detailed information on the article withdrawal, retraction, or correction process.

Articles in Press Policy

Articles that have been peer-reviewed and accepted for publication but are not yet assigned to a specific volume or issue will be published under the Articles in Press section. The journal has thoroughly reviewed and accepted these articles but may still undergo final formatting adjustments. Articles in Press are categorized into three types:

• Journal Pre-proofs: Accepted articles with initial formatting and metadata added but awaiting final copyediting and review.
• Uncorrected Proofs: Copy-edited articles pending final proofreading by the authors.
• Corrected Proofs: Articles with author corrections, awaiting final publication details such as volume, issue number, and page numbers.

All articles in press are assigned a Digital Object Identifier (DOI), which remains active and can be used for citation. Once an article is assigned to a specific volume or issue, the in-press version will be replaced by the final published version (transferred from the Articles in Press to the assigned volume or issue) and delisted from the Articles in Press.

Authors will be notified when their articles are assigned to a specific volume or issue, and regular updates will be provided during this process.

References:

Allen, L., O’Connell, A., & Kiermer, V. (2019). How can we ensure visibility and diversity in research contributions? How the Contributor Role Taxonomy (CRediT) is helping the shift from authorship to contributorship. LEAP, 24 January 2019. https://doi.org/10.1002/leap.1210 

COPE: Committee on Publication Ethics. COPE position statement. Retrieved from https://publicationethics.org/cope-position-statements/ai-author?ct=t(member-insight-ai-feb-2023)

Elsevier. The use of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in writing for Elsevier. Retrieved from https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies-and-standards/the-use-of-generative-ai-and-ai-assisted-technologies-in-writing-for-elsevier