Immersive Media and User Experience

Editorial Policies

To ensure adherence to publication ethics, IMUE’s editorial policies are formulated in line with the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing.

Archiving/Digital Data Preservation:

Immersive Media and User Experience (IMUE) published by Nexus Academic Press is committed to maintaining the long-term accessibility and preservation of all published articles. To safeguard scholarly content against technical failures or other unforeseen circumstances, all journal publications are archived through the LOCKSS  system via the PKP Preservation Network , ensuring secure and permanent digital preservation.

Repository/Self-archiving policy:

IMUE also supports author self-archiving and permits authors to deposit the accepted/published version of their manuscripts in institutional, disciplinary, or other recognized repositories following its online publication. Authors who self-archive their work are required to acknowledge IMUE as the original source of publication and include a link to the official published version available on IMUE’s website.

Open Access Policy

IMUE is committed to the wide dissemination of scholarly knowledge through an open-access publishing model. Under this policy, all published articles are made freely and permanently available online, enabling readers worldwide to access, read, download, and use the content without subscription fees or other financial barriers. By adopting an open-access model, IMUE aims to enhance the visibility, accessibility, and scholarly impact of published research while ensuring that authors retain the copyright and intellectual property rights to their work.

Creative Commons Licensing Policy

All articles published in IMUE are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License. This license permits users to copy, share, distribute, adapt, and reproduce the published material in any medium or format for non-commercial purposes, provided appropriate credit is given to the original author(s) and IMUE as the source of publication. Any commercial use of the published material requires prior permission from the copyright holder.

Copyright Ownership:

Authors retain the copyright and intellectual property rights in their published articles. Publication in IMUE does not transfer copyright ownership to the journal or publisher.

Publisher Rights:

By submitting and publishing their work IMUE, authors grant the journal, and its publisher, Nexus Academic Press, a non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual license to:

publish, reproduce, and distribute the article in print, electronic, and other media;

assign a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) and identify the journal as the original publisher;

archive, preserve, and maintain the published version as part of the permanent scholarly record;

index, disseminate, and promote the article through abstracting and indexing services, databases, repositories, and other scholarly communication platforms;

authorize third parties to preserve, archive, and disseminate the published work in accordance with the journal's publishing and licensing policies.

This license enables the journal to publish and preserve the scholarly record while allowing authors to retain ownership of their work.

Author Rights:

As copyright holders, authors may, without requesting permission from the journal:

Commercial Reuse by Third Parties

The CC BY-NC 4.0 License does not permit commercial use of the published material by third parties. Any commercial reuse—including reproduction, distribution, adaptation, or incorporation of the work into products or services intended for commercial advantage or monetary compensation—requires the prior written permission of the copyright holder, i.e., the author. Permission may be granted subject to additional terms and, where applicable, the payment of a licensing fee.

Manuscript Submission and Editorial Process

Upon submission of a manuscript to IMUE, the submitting or corresponding author receives an acknowledgment confirming receipt of the manuscript. All submissions undergo a plagiarism screening immediately after receipt. Manuscripts with similarity levels exceeding the journal's acceptable threshold are returned to the submitting author, along with an explanation for the decision.

Only manuscripts that meet the journal’s plagiarism requirements proceed to the next stage of evaluation. At this stage, the editorial office conducts an initial administrative review to ensure that the manuscript complies with the journal’s submission requirements, formatting standards, and author guidelines.

Manuscripts that successfully pass this preliminary screening are assigned to an editor or editorial board member with relevant subject expertise for further evaluation. During this stage, the editor evaluates the submission for originality, Scholarly merit, academic quality, relevance to  IMUE’s scope, and overall suitability for peer review; editors are required not to be influenced by Financial considerations, Institutional pressure or personal relationships while taking their decisions. Manuscripts that do not satisfy IMUE’s minimum standards may be declined at this stage, and authors will be notified of the decision along with a brief explanation. Manuscripts meeting the required criteria proceed to the double-blind peer review stage.

The handling editor identifies and invites at least two qualified reviewers with expertise relevant to the manuscript’s subject area. Reviewers are selected based on their scholarly knowledge, research experience, and ability to provide an objective evaluation. Prior to accepting a review assignment, reviewers are asked to disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest and to confirm their availability to complete the review within the requested timeframe. Editors ensure that reviewer selection and manuscript handling comply with IMUE’s editorial and ethical policies.

Reviewers are typically requested to submit their evaluation reports within four weeks of accepting the invitation. They are encouraged to follow IMUE’s reviewer guidelines and provide constructive, fair, and evidence-based assessments. Reviewer identities remain confidential throughout the review process and are known only to the editorial team responsible for managing the manuscript.

Following receipt of the reviewer reports, the handling editor or editorial board evaluates the recommendations and reaches a decision regarding the manuscript. Decisions may include acceptance, minor revision, major revision, or rejection. Where revisions are required, authors receive the reviewers’ comments and editorial recommendations to guide the preparation of a revised manuscript. Editorial decisions are based on the scientific quality, originality, relevance, and contribution of the work, together with the recommendations provided by reviewers.

Authors are normally given a specified period to submit revised manuscripts. Revised manuscripts should be accompanied by a detailed response explaining how each reviewer comment has been addressed. Upon resubmission, the editor may either assess the revisions independently or return the manuscript to one or more of the original reviewers for further evaluation. If additional revisions are required, the manuscript may undergo further rounds of review. To ensure an efficient publication process, a maximum of three review rounds is generally permitted for any submission.

Once a manuscript is formally accepted, it enters the production stage, which includes copyediting, typesetting, proofreading, and final quality checks. Authors receive page proofs/galley proofs for review and approval prior to publication. Authors are expected to examine the proofs carefully and return any corrections within the specified timeframe, typically within one week.

After author corrections have been incorporated and final approval has been obtained, the article is prepared for publication and released online in IMUE at the earliest available opportunity.

Any concerns or issues raised after publication, including requests for corrections, clarifications, or ethical investigations, are handled by the Editor-in-Chief, handling editor, or relevant editorial board members in accordance with IMUE’s post-publication policies and publication ethics guidelines.

Peer Review Policy:

IMUE is committed to ensuring the quality, integrity, and scholarly value of all published content through a rigorous double-blind peer review process. All manuscripts are evaluated by at least two independent reviewers with relevant expertise in the subject area.

Reviewers are selected on the basis of their academic qualifications, research experience, and absence of conflicts of interest. While authors may suggest potential reviewers or identify individuals they prefer not to review their work, the final selection of reviewers rests solely with the editorial team.

Submissions from editorial board members are welcome and are handled independently to safeguard editorial impartiality. Authors who hold editorial positions are excluded from all editorial decisions concerning their manuscripts. Such submissions undergo the same peer review process as all other manuscripts and are managed by an independent editor.

IMUE is committed to promoting diversity, fairness, and objectivity in peer review by engaging reviewers from a wide range of academic, professional, and geographic backgrounds. All manuscripts, reviewer reports, editorial communications, and related materials are treated as strictly confidential throughout the review process.

Special Issues Policy

Purpose of Special Issues

IMUE recognizes the rapid evolution of immersive technologies, interactive media, and user-centered digital experiences. As emerging technologies, innovative design approaches, and interdisciplinary research continue to shape the fields of immersive media and user experience, focused scholarly collections play an important role in advancing knowledge, encouraging collaboration, and addressing contemporary research challenges. To support this objective, the Journal publishes Special Issues devoted to a specific theme within the broad domains of immersive media, virtual, augmented and mixed reality, extended reality (XR), human-computer interaction, user experience (UX), interaction design, digital environments, visualization, serious games, immersive learning, digital storytelling, and related interdisciplinary fields. Special Issues provide researchers with an opportunity to contribute to emerging areas of inquiry while offering readers a comprehensive collection of current research on topics of significant scientific, technological, and societal relevance.

Proposal and Approval of Special Issues

Special Issues are coordinated by one or more Guest Editors with demonstrated expertise and an established research record in the proposed subject area. Individuals wishing to organize a Special Issue should submit a proposal containing:

- the proposed title and thematic scope of the Special Issue;

- a statement explaining its significance, originality, and alignment with the Journal's aims and scope;

- the proposed timeline for manuscript submission, peer review, and publication;

- the names, affiliations, biographies, and relevant expertise of the proposed Guest Editor(s); and

- where appropriate, a preliminary list of potential contributors or anticipated topics.

All proposals are evaluated by the Editor-in-Chief and members of the Editorial Board of . Approval is based on scholarly merit, topical relevance, feasibility, and the expertise of the proposed Guest Editor(s). Approved Special Issues are announced on the Journal's website together with the theme, Guest Editor(s), and important submission deadlines.

Call for Papers and Promotion

Following approval Immersive Media and User Experience (IMUE) publishes an official Call for Papers outlining the objectives, scope, submission requirements, and important dates for the Special Issue. The Journal and the Guest Editor(s) jointly promote the Special Issue through academic networks, professional societies, conferences, research laboratories, universities, and relevant scholarly communities to encourage the submission of high-quality manuscripts from diverse international contributors.

Peer Review and Editorial Standards

All manuscripts submitted to a Special Issue are subject to the same editorial policies, ethical standards, and double-blind peer-review procedures applied to regular submissions. Each manuscript is evaluated solely on the basis of:

- originality and novelty;

- scientific and methodological rigor;

- technical quality;

- relevance to the Special Issue theme;

- significance to the fields of immersive media and user experience; and

- contribution to existing knowledge.

Acceptance into a Special Issue does not guarantee publication, and editorial decisions remain independent of the Guest Editor(s).

Responsibilities of Guest Editors

Guest Editors are expected to:

- conduct an initial assessment of submissions for relevance and quality;

- recommend qualified, independent reviewers with appropriate subject expertise;

- oversee the peer-review process in accordance with the Journal's editorial policies;

- evaluate reviewer reports and provide editorial recommendations;

- maintain fairness, confidentiality, and academic integrity throughout the review process;

- ensure timely handling of manuscripts; and

- assist in promoting the Special Issue within the international research community.

Guest Editors may recommend acceptance, revision, or rejection of manuscripts; however, the final publication decision rests exclusively with the Editor-in-Chief or designated members of the Editorial Board.

Conflict of Interest

To preserve editorial independence and transparency, Guest Editors who submit manuscripts to their own Special Issue shall have no involvement in the editorial handling, reviewer selection, peer-review process, or publication decision relating to their submissions. Such manuscripts will be managed independently by the Editor-in-Chief or a designated editor in accordance with the Journal's double-blind peer-review policy and conflict-of-interest procedures.  IMUE notifies that such manuscripts must make up no more than 25% of the special  issue's total number of manuscripts.

Editorial Office Support

IMUE’s editorial office provides administrative and technical support throughout the Special Issue process, including:

- managing manuscript submissions;

- coordinating peer review;

- communicating with authors, reviewers, and Guest Editors;

- monitoring editorial timelines;

- facilitating production and publication; and

- providing promotional support where appropriate.

Submission Timeline

Unless otherwise announced, Special Issues generally remain open for manuscript submissions for approximately six months from the publication of the Call for Papers. Manuscripts undergoing peer review before the submission deadline will continue to be processed until a final editorial decision has been reached.

Publication of Accepted Articles

Accepted manuscripts are published following successful completion of peer review, editorial approval, copyediting, production, and author proof correction. Articles are published as part of the designated Special Issue and receive the same indexing, archiving, DOI assignment, and publication status as articles published in regular issues of the Journal.

Modification or Cancellation of a Special Issue

The Journal reserves the right to modify, postpone, merge, or cancel a Special Issue when necessary to maintain editorial quality, publication standards, or operational integrity. Where appropriate, manuscripts accepted or still under review may be considered for publication in a regular issue following consultation with the authors.

Article Processing Charges

Unless otherwise announced, manuscripts accepted for publication in a Special Issue are subject to the Journal's standard Article Processing Charge (APC) policy. The payment or waiver of APCs has no influence on editorial evaluation, peer-review decisions, or publication outcomes.

Funding Disclosure Policy:

All authors are required to disclose any financial support received from institutional, governmental, or other funding bodies in relation to the research reported in the manuscript. Authors must clearly identify all sources of funding that contributed to the study.

Where funding bodies have had any involvement in the research process—including study design, data collection, data analysis, interpretation of results, manuscript preparation, or the decision to submit and publish the work—such involvement must be explicitly stated in the funding disclosure section.

This statement ensures transparency regarding the role of funding sources and their influence, if any, on the research process and outcomes.

Policy regarding Conflict of Interest:

“A competing interest (or conflict of interest) refers to any situation that could influence, or be perceived to influence, the objectivity of a manuscript’s preparation, submission, peer review, editorial assessment, or publication process. Such interests may be financial, professional, personal, or non-financial in nature.

A conflict of interest can occur when an author, or their affiliated institution, has any direct or indirect relationship—financial or otherwise—with the publisher, editors, reviewers, or any party involved in the publication process that could potentially affect the integrity or impartiality of the research. For this reason, authors are required to disclose all relevant competing interests at the time of manuscript submission, or as soon as they become aware of them.

All declared conflicts must be clearly stated at the end of the manuscript, placed before the references section, under the heading “Conflict of Interest”. Authors should disclose, where applicable, relationships such as employment, consultancy roles, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony, institutional affiliations, funding sources, or any other personal or professional associations that may be relevant.

If any potential conflict of interest is identified or suspected, it should be promptly communicated to the Editor. The existence of a conflict does not automatically imply unethical conduct; however, full disclosure is necessary to ensure transparency and maintain trust in the publication process. In cases where no conflicts exist, authors must explicitly state: “The authors declare no conflict of interest.”

To uphold transparency and safeguard the integrity of the review process, the journal takes all reasonable measures to identify and manage possible conflicts of interest. However, complete awareness of all competing interests among reviewers cannot always be guaranteed. Therefore, reviewers are expected to disclose any potential conflicts of interest related to the manuscript or its authors during the review process. If such a conflict is identified, reviewers should inform the Editor-in-Chief or Handling Editor immediately. The editorial team will then assess the situation and, if necessary, reassign the manuscript to alternative reviewers to ensure an unbiased evaluation.

Declaration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use in Manuscript Preparation

IMUE recognizes the growing availability of artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies in academic writing. Authors may use such tools only for limited purposes, such as improving grammar, spelling, language clarity, and overall readability of a manuscript. The use of AI technologies should not replace the intellectual contributions, critical analysis, interpretation, or scholarly judgment of the authors.

IMUE does not encourage the use of generative AI systems for drafting substantive sections of a manuscript, generating research findings, interpreting results, formulating conclusions, or creating original scholarly content. Authors remain solely responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and validity of all material submitted for publication, regardless of whether AI-assisted tools were used during manuscript preparation.

Where AI or AI-assisted technologies have been used in any stage of manuscript preparation beyond basic language editing, authors must provide a clear and transparent disclosure describing the nature and extent of such use. This declaration should be included in the cover letter accompanying the submitted article (Authors may use the following wording to disclose the use of AI-assisted tools in manuscript preparation: “During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used an AI-assisted language tool to improve grammar, spelling, and readability. The authors reviewed and edited the output as necessary and take full responsibility for the content of the manuscript”).

As artificial intelligence tools cannot assume responsibility for the content, approve the final manuscript, disclose conflicts of interest, or fulfill the ethical obligations associated with authorship, they cannot be listed as authors in any submission to IMUE.

Given the evolving nature of guidance surrounding the use of AI in scholarly publishing, authors are expected to exercise caution and transparency when using such technologies and to ensure that all submitted content complies with IMUE’s publication ethics standards.

PUBLICATION ETHICS AND RELATED POLICIES

1. RESEARCH ETHICS COMPLIANCE:

The journal is committed to ensuring that all published research is conducted in accordance with recognized ethical standards. Whenever required by the nature of the study authors must obtain approval from an appropriate Ethics Committee, Institutional Review Board (IRB), or equivalent ethics authority. Research involving human participants must be conducted with informed consent obtained from all participants, or from their legal guardians where applicable. Studies involving human subjects must adhere to established ethical principles, including respect for participant rights, privacy, dignity, and confidentiality. Authors are required to includes statements about provide details of ethical approval, consent procedures, and compliance with applicable ethical standards within their manuscripts (Relevant documentation may be included in the cover letter accompanying the manuscript submission or provided upon request by the journal). The journal reserves the right to request supporting documentation and may reject or retract submissions that fail to meet these ethical requirements.

Informed Consent Policy:

The journal requires that all research involving human participants, including usability studies, user experience (UX) evaluations, surveys, interviews, behavioral experiments, or any form of user data collection, must comply with recognized ethical standards for informed consent.

Authors must confirm that participation was voluntary and that participants were adequately informed about the purpose, procedures, potential risks, and use of the collected data before their involvement in the study. Where applicable, written or documented informed consent must be obtained from all participants or their legally authorized representatives.

If a study involves the use of identifiable personal information, images, audio, video recordings, or any data that may reasonably lead to the identification of individuals, explicit consent for publication must be obtained. Authors are responsible for ensuring that participant data is anonymized or de-identified wherever possible.

Authors must retain records of informed consent and provide documentation upon request. The journal reserves the right to reject manuscripts or request revisions if adequate evidence of informed consent is not provided.

Ethics Approval Policy:

All studies involving human participants in user experience and related computer science research must be conducted in accordance with institutional, national, or international ethical guidelines. Where required, authors must obtain prior approval from an appropriate Institutional Review Board (IRB), ethics committee, or equivalent body before conducting the research.

Manuscripts submitted to IMUE must include a clear statement identifying the approving ethics committee, including the name of the institution and reference or approval number where applicable. If formal ethics approval is not required under institutional regulations, authors must explicitly state this and provide a justification in the manuscript.

IMUE expects authors to ensure that all research is conducted with respect for participant rights, privacy, dignity, and safety. Any deviation from accepted ethical standards, including lack of approval where required, may result in rejection of the manuscript or post-publication action in accordance with COPE guidelines.

IMUE reserves the right to request additional documentation or clarification regarding ethical approval at any stage of the review or publication process.

Research Data Availability and Sharing Policy

IMUE encourages authors to promote transparency, reproducibility, and the advancement of research by making the data underlying their published work available whenever possible. Authors are strongly encouraged to share research data that support the findings of their study, unless legal, ethical, confidentiality, proprietary, or other legitimate restrictions prevent public disclosure.

Data sharing is particularly encouraged when access to the underlying data would assist readers, reviewers, and other researchers in understanding, validating, replicating, or building upon the published research. Where data play a significant role in supporting the study’s conclusions, authors should make reasonable efforts to ensure their accessibility.

Research data may be made available through supplementary materials accompanying the article or by depositing the data in recognized public/institutional repositories or some other discipline-specific data archives. Authors should provide relevant identifiers, such as Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs), accession numbers, or stable web links, to enable readers to locate and access the datasets.

To preserve the integrity of IMUE’s double-blind peer review process (i.e., identities of both author and reviewer are masked), authors submitting datasets for peer review should ensure that any identifying information is removed or concealed prior to submission. Where necessary, authors may utilize repositories that support anonymous sharing or restricted-access review links.

All manuscripts involving the collection, generation, analysis, or use of research data must provide a Data Availability Statement describing the accessibility of the underlying data. Depending on the circumstances, authors may use one of the following formats:

IMUE supports responsible data sharing practices and recognizes that the availability of research data contributes to greater transparency, research integrity, and scientific progress.

2. PUBLICATION ETHICS

Plagiarism

 Plagiarism refers to the use of another author’s text, ideas, results, or authorship without proper acknowledgment, as well as the misrepresentation or improper citation of original sources, including an author’s own previously published work.

 IMUE strictly condemns all forms of plagiarism and does not accept any submission containing unethical duplication. The following practices are considered plagiarism (this list is not exhaustive):

 IMUE follows the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines in handling all cases of suspected plagiarism, whether identified before or after publication.  IMUE reserves the right to reject submissions or retract published articles if plagiarism exceeding the acceptable limit of 19%  is confirmed. In such cases, relevant institutions may also be informed in accordance with COPE recommendations.

Preventing Plagiarism:

Authors are advised to observe the following practices to avoid plagiarism:

Data Falsification/Fabrication Policy:

IMUE does not permit any form of data falsification (Manipulating, altering, omitting, or misrepresenting real data, methods, or results to produce a desired outcome.) or fabrication (Making up data, results, observations, or experiments that never actually existed) in submitted manuscripts. This includes, but is not limited to, the intentional creation, alteration, or misrepresentation of research data or findings.

Unethical practices may involve manipulation of images, selective omission of unfavorable results, or the addition, deletion, or modification of data points in tables, figures, or illustrations. Such actions compromise research integrity and are strictly prohibited.

Limited technical enhancement of complete (non-partial) images for clarity or improved readability may be acceptable; however, such modifications must be clearly disclosed in the cover letter at the time of submission.

Editors are expected to follow the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines when handling cases involving suspected data falsification in submitted manuscripts. In situations where data fabrication is identified after publication, IMUE addresses the issue promptly and takes appropriate action in accordance with COPE standards to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

Policy on Salami Publication (Salami Slicing):

Salami publication, also known as salami slicing, which refers to the practice of dividing a single substantial research study into multiple smaller manuscripts with overlapping data, methods, or findings in order to increase the number of publications.

IMUE does not permit salami publication (salami slicing) as such practices are considered unethical when they result in redundant, fragmented, or misleading publication of research that could otherwise be presented as a single comprehensive study. Significant overlap in datasets, study design, methodology, or conclusions across multiple submissions without clear justification or disclosure are considered as indicators of salami publication.

Authors are required to ensure that each submitted manuscript represents a complete, original, and scientifically independent contribution. Where related or overlapping studies exist, authors must clearly disclose this in the cover letter and manuscript, with appropriate cross-referencing to related work. We encourage our authors to present research findings in a comprehensive and transparent manner to ensure scientific integrity, avoid redundancy in the literature, and maintain the quality of scholarly communication.

IMUE follows the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines in identifying and handling cases of suspected salami publication. Manuscripts found to be improperly segmented may be rejected during review, and published articles may be subject to editorial action, including correction or retraction where necessary.

Policy on Duplicate Publication:

Duplicate publication refers to the submission or publication of a manuscript that extensively overlaps with a work that has already been published, is under review elsewhere, or has been previously submitted without appropriate disclosure. This also includes republishing previously published content in another language or format without transparent disclosure and proper permission.

IMUE considers duplicate publication a serious breach of publication ethics and does not accept manuscripts that have been previously published in whole or in part, except in cases where prior publication is explicitly disclosed and justified (e.g., conference abstracts or preliminary reports), and where appropriate permission and citation are provided.

Authors are required to confirm that their submission is original, has not been published elsewhere, and is not under consideration by any other journal. Any related or overlapping submissions must be clearly declared at the time of submission.

IMUE follows the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines in handling suspected cases of duplicate publication. If duplication is detected before publication, the manuscript may be rejected. If identified after publication, IMUE reserves the right to issue a correction, notify relevant institutions, or retract the article, depending on the severity of the case.

Policy on Citation Manipulation:

IMUE is committed to maintaining integrity, transparency, and fairness in scholarly communication and strictly prohibits all forms of citation manipulation (excessive self-citation without scholarly justification, coordinated citation agreements between authors or journals, forced citation requests by reviewers or editorial staff, or the inclusion of irrelevant references solely to increase citation counts).

Authors are expected to ensure that all cited references are relevant, necessary, and directly support the content of the manuscript. Citations must be included solely on the basis of academic merit and not to artificially enhance citation metrics.

Reviewers and editors are also required to avoid requesting unnecessary citations to their own work or to any specific journal unless it is clearly justified for scholarly reasons.

IMUE follows the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines in addressing suspected cases of citation manipulation. Where evidence of such practices is identified, appropriate actions may be taken, including rejection of the manuscript, publication of corrections, or retraction of published articles, depending on the severity of the case. In serious instances, relevant institutions or indexing bodies may also be informed.

To ensure compliance with ethical standards and to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record IMUE reserves the right to monitor citation patterns.

3. AUTHORSHIP ETHICS

IMUE is committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in authorship practices. All listed authors are required to fulfill journal’s authorship criteria mentioned in Authors’ guidelines. Any concerns or disputes regarding authorship should be resolved prior to submission to IMUE. If discovered during the publishing process the Authorship disputes will be addressed by the journal in a fairly and transparent way in accordance with established publication ethics guidelines. IMUE reserves the right to request supporting documentation and to suspend the review or publication process until authorship issues have been satisfactorily resolved.

4. CONFLICT OF INTEREST MANAGEMENT

IMUE is committed to maintaining transparency, impartiality, and integrity throughout the publication process. To avoid any conflict of interest authors must disclose any financial, professional, personal, or other relationships that could influence, or be perceived to influence, the conduct, interpretation, review, or publication of research.

Reviewers and editors are also required to disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest that may influence, or be perceived to influence, their objectivity and professional judgment. Such disclosures may include financial interests, funding arrangements, employment, consultancies, professional collaborations, institutional affiliations, personal relationships, or any other competing interests relevant to the manuscript under consideration. All disclosed conflicts will be evaluated by the journal’s team and managed appropriately to ensure a fair, unbiased, and transparent review and publication process. The journal evaluates all submissions solely on their scholarly merit, regardless of whether conflicts are declared. However, failure to disclose a relevant conflict of interest may result in rejection of the manuscript, withdrawal of acceptance, or other appropriate editorial action.

5. POLICY ON PEER REVIEW INTEGRITY AND MONITORING

The journal is committed to maintaining the integrity, transparency, and reliability of the peer review process through continuous monitoring and adherence to internationally recognized ethical standards.

Fair and Unbiased Peer Review

All submitted manuscripts are evaluated through an impartial peer review process based solely on academic merit, originality, methodological rigor, and relevance to the journal scope. The editorial team monitors review reports to ensure that evaluations remain objective, constructive, and free from personal, institutional, or professional bias.

Reviewer Confidentiality

Confidentiality is strictly maintained throughout the peer review process. Manuscripts and related materials are accessible only to authorized editors and reviewers and must not be shared, discussed, or used outside the review process. The journal monitors compliance with confidentiality requirements and treats any breach as a serious ethical violation.

Reviewer Misconduct

Reviewer behavior is subject to ongoing ethical oversight. Misconduct may include, but is not limited to, unauthorized use of manuscript content, undisclosed conflicts of interest, inappropriate communication with authors, delayed or superficial reviews, or misuse of privileged information. The editorial office reserves the right to investigate suspected misconduct and take corrective action where necessary.

Manipulation of the Review Process

The journal actively monitors and safeguards against any attempt to manipulate the peer review system, including falsification of reviewer identity, coercive citation practices, coordinated review manipulation, or submission of fraudulent reviews. Any detected manipulation is addressed in accordance with Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines.

Where violations are confirmed, the journal may take appropriate actions including rejection of the manuscript, retraction of published work, removal of reviewers from the database, and notification of relevant institutions or authorities as appropriate.

6. POLICY ON EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE

IMUE is committed to maintaining full editorial independence in all aspects of its publication process and preserving trust in scholarly communication by ensuring that all editorial decisions remain independent, transparent, and free from undue influence.

All editorial decisions of IMUE are made solely on the basis of scholarly merit, originality, methodological rigor, and relevance to the journal’s scope, without influence from external parties.

The Editor-in-Chief and editorial board retain complete authority over the selection, review, acceptance, or rejection of manuscripts. No external entity, including publishers, sponsors, advertisers, or institutional partners, may interfere with or influence editorial decisions.

Editors are expected to exercise independent judgment in managing the peer review process, selecting reviewers, and making final publication recommendations. All editorial decisions must be guided by academic integrity, transparency, and adherence to ethical publishing standards, including those established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Conflicts of interest, whether financial, institutional, or personal, must be disclosed and managed appropriately to ensure unbiased decision-making. Editors with conflicts related to a manuscript are excluded from handling its review and editorial evaluation.

The journal maintains a strict separation between editorial processes and commercial or organizational interests. Advertising, sponsorship, or funding arrangements do not influence editorial content or publication decisions in any form.

7. PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY POLICIES:

IMUE is committed to safeguarding the privacy and confidentiality of all authors, reviewers, editors, and users interacting with the journal. During manuscript submission and related publication activities, the journal may collect personal information such as names, email addresses, institutional affiliations, professional positions, areas of expertise, postal addresses, and contact details.

All personal information is used solely for editorial, peer review, publication, and administrative purposes. Such information is accessible only to authorized editorial staff, reviewers (where necessary), and individuals directly involved in the publication process. The journal does not share personal information with third parties unrelated to its publishing activities without consent, unless required by law.

All submitted manuscripts and accompanying materials are treated as confidential documents. They are disclosed only to editors, reviewers, and other authorized personnel involved in the evaluation and publication process and must not be shared or discussed outside these activities without the permission of the Editor-in-Chief.

The journal reserves the right to revise this Privacy and Confidentiality Policy periodically to reflect changes in legal, ethical, or operational requirements. Any updates will be published on the journal's website, and users are encouraged to review the policy regularly to remain informed of any changes.

8. POST-PUBLICATION POLICIES

IMUE recognizes that issues affecting the accuracy, reliability, or ethical integrity of published research may emerge after publication. Accordingly, the journal follows established post-publication procedures to ensure transparency, accountability, and the correction of the scholarly record when necessary.

a. EXPRESSION OF CONCERN POLICY

An Expression of Concern is a notice issued by IMUE to inform readers of potentially serious concerns regarding a published article while an investigation is ongoing or when available evidence is insufficient to justify a correction or retraction. Such concerns may relate to research integrity, data reliability, ethical compliance, or alleged misconduct.

This notice may be issued when credible concerns have been raised, institutional or external investigations are pending, or authors and affiliated institutions have not provided satisfactory clarification. An Expression of Concern does not imply misconduct or invalidate the article's findings; rather, it serves as a precautionary measure to ensure transparency during the review process.

The notice will be clearly identified, linked to the original article, and remain part of the publication record. Following the completion of the investigation, it may be replaced by a correction, retraction, or removed, depending on the outcome. IMUE follows relevant Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines in handling Expressions of Concern.

b. ARTICLE CORRECTION

 IMUE editorial team strives to ensure that all published articles are accurate, complete, and reliably citable. However, if an author identifies a significant scientific or factual error in a published article that may affect the validity or interpretation of the work, the author is required to promptly notify IMUE or publisher via email.

Upon receipt of such notification, the editorial office will forward the matter to the relevant editors for evaluation of the nature and extent of the required correction and its potential impact on the scholarly record. Authors are expected to cooperate fully and respond to any queries raised during this process.

Where a correction is deemed necessary and approved by the Editor-in-Chief, appropriate action will be taken to preserve the integrity and transparency of the publication. Readers will be informed through a formal post-publication notice, such as an Erratum or Corrigendum, which will be permanently linked to the original article. In cases where errors are considered to significantly compromise the scientific record or the reputation of IMUE, additional measures may be taken.

All correction procedures follow the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines.

c. POLICY ON ARTICLE RETRACTION

IMUE is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record and follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in all retraction cases.

An article may be retracted when it is determined that its findings are unreliable due to misconduct or honest error, or when it violates ethical publishing standards. Grounds for retraction include, but are not limited to, data fabrication or falsification, plagiarism, duplicate publication, serious methodological errors, unethical research practices, or failure to obtain required ethical approvals or informed consent.

Retraction is carried out to correct the literature and ensure transparency, not to remove the historical record. Retracted articles will remain available on the journal’s website and will be clearly marked as “Retracted” on each page. A formal retraction notice will be published and permanently linked to the original article, clearly stating the reason for retraction.

Retraction decisions are approved by the Editor-in-Chief following investigation and in accordance with COPE procedures. Authors, institutions, or relevant stakeholders may be consulted during the process where appropriate.

d. POLICY ON ARTICLE REMOVAL

Article removal is an exceptional measure applied only in rare and legally or ethically justified circumstances where continued availability of a published article would cause significant harm or violate legal obligations.

An article may be removed from IMUE’s online platform in cases such as defamation, infringement of legal rights, court orders, serious risks to public health or safety, copyright violations that cannot be resolved through correction, or other urgent legal or ethical requirements.

When an article is removed, the full text is permanently withdrawn from public access. However, the bibliographic information (such as title and authorship) will be retained, accompanied by a formal removal notice explaining the reason for removal, unless legal restrictions prevent disclosure.

All removal decisions are made by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the publisher and, where appropriate, legal or institutional authorities. The journal follows COPE guidelines to ensure that removal actions are transparent, justified, and limited to exceptional cases only.

Post-Publication Discussion (PPD) Policy:

IMUE encourages post-publication discussion as part of ongoing scholarly dialogue. Readers may submit short letters with comments on a published article, Critique of methodology, Alternative   interpretation of findings or clarification request. Submissions deemed constructive and relevant may be published alongside responses from the original authors. Where appropriate, the original authors may be invited to submit a response and concerns raised through post-publication discussion may result in corrections, clarifications, or other editorial actions.

Appeals & Complaints Policy:

IMUE recognizes the right of authors to appeal editorial decisions. Appeals against manuscript rejection should be submitted in writing to appeals_and_complaints@nexusacademicpress.com and must clearly state the reasons for reconsideration. Appeals are reviewed by the relevant editor and, where necessary, additional members of the editorial team. As manuscript processing takes priority, appeals may require additional time for assessment. The decision reached after review of the appeal shall be final, and authors will be informed accordingly.

The journal also welcomes complaints regarding its editorial and publication processes. Complaints may relate to manuscript handling, reviewer or editor conduct, publication ethics, or other matters affecting the integrity of the publication process. Complaints should be submitted to appeals_and_complaints@nexusacademicpress.com.

All appeals and complaints are handled confidentially, impartially, and in accordance with the journal’s publication ethics policies. Where necessary, matters involving potential ethical or professional misconduct will be investigated by the appropriate editorial authorities. Complainants will be informed of the outcome and any actions taken within a reasonable timeframe.