Code of Ethics

Code of Ethics

ACI Avances en Ciencias e Ingenierías is committed to maintaining the highest standards of quality, transparency, and integrity in scholarly publishing. The journal's Code of Ethics outlines the ethical principles and responsibilities governing the conduct of authors, reviewers, editors, and all other members of the editorial team.

The journal adheres to the guidelines and best practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to uphold research integrity, promote responsible publishing practices, and prevent and address ethical misconduct at every stage of the editorial and publication process, including post-publication matters.

Authors' Commitment 

Authors are responsible for the integrity, originality, and scientific quality of the manuscripts they submit to ACI Avances en Ciencias e Ingenierías. By submitting a manuscript, authors agree to comply with the following principles:

  • Originality: Authors must ensure that the manuscript represents original work and that any content, ideas, data, text, images, or other material derived from external sources are properly identified and cited and, where applicable, that the necessary permissions for their use have been obtained.

  • Integrity of data and results: Authors are responsible for the accuracy, completeness, and faithful presentation of the data, results, methods, and other evidence supporting the research. Fabrication, falsification, manipulation, or deliberate omission of data or results constitutes a breach of research integrity.

  • Simultaneous submission and redundant publication: Authors must not submit the same manuscript simultaneously to more than one journal or publish substantially redundant content without appropriate justification, transparency, and reference to related publications.

  • Attribution and citation: Authors must appropriately acknowledge ideas, data, methods, and results derived from other works and cite relevant sources in accordance with the academic practices of their discipline.

  • Authorship and contributions: Authorship must be limited to individuals who have made substantial contributions to the work. All authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and accept responsibility for their respective contributions. Honorary, guest, inappropriate, or ghost authorship practices are not permitted. Individual contributions must be disclosed in accordance with the journal’s requirements.

  • Conflicts of interest: Authors must disclose any financial, professional, personal, institutional, or other interests that could influence, or reasonably be perceived as capable of influencing, the research, its results, their interpretation, or the preparation of the manuscript.

  • Funding: Authors must identify all sources of funding and institutional support related to the research and, where applicable, disclose the role played by funding organizations.

  • Corrections: When authors identify significant errors or inaccuracies in a submitted manuscript or published article, they must promptly inform the editorial team and cooperate in any necessary actions to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

Reviewers' Commitment

Peer review is a fundamental component of the editorial process and contributes to the assessment of the scientific quality, rigor, and relevance of manuscripts. Reviewers act as advisors to the editorial team and agree to comply with the following principles:

  • Expertise: Reviewers should accept only those review assignments for which they have the necessary knowledge and experience. If they believe they do not have sufficient expertise to evaluate a manuscript, they should promptly inform the Associate Editor.
  • Objectivity and rigor: Reviews must be conducted objectively, rigorously, constructively, respectfully, and with appropriate justification. Comments should focus on the academic and scientific content of the manuscript and must not include personal or discriminatory remarks.
  • Timeliness: Reviewers should accept a review assignment only when they are able to complete it within the established timeframe. If circumstances arise that prevent them from meeting the agreed deadline, they should promptly inform the Associate Editor.
  • Confidentiality: Manuscripts and all information associated with the peer-review process must be treated as confidential. Reviewers must not share, disclose, discuss, or use manuscript content for purposes other than the evaluation process.
  • Identification of research integrity concerns: If a reviewer identifies potential plagiarism, redundant publication, data or image manipulation, or other possible breaches of research integrity, the matter must be reported confidentially to the Associate Editor or the Editors-in-Chief.
  • Conflicts of interest: Reviewers must disclose any financial, professional, personal, institutional, or other interests that could compromise their independence or objectivity. When a conflict may affect the impartiality of the review, they should decline the invitation or inform the Associate Editor.
  • Responsible use of information: Reviewers must not use data, ideas, results, or other information obtained during the evaluation of a manuscript for their own benefit or for the benefit of third parties.

Editors’ Commitments and Responsibilities

Editors are responsible for ensuring the integrity, independence, impartiality, and quality of the editorial process. Their decisions must be based exclusively on academic, scientific, and editorial criteria. Editors agree to comply with the following principles:

  • Editorial independence: Decisions regarding the evaluation, acceptance, rejection, and publication of manuscripts must be made independently of commercial, institutional, personal, or other interests unrelated to the journal’s academic and scientific criteria.

  • Editorial decisions: Editorial decisions must take into account the scientific quality and rigor of the manuscript, its originality, its relevance to the journal’s scope, compliance with editorial policies, and the reports resulting from the peer-review process.

  • Selection of reviewers: Editors must select reviewers with appropriate knowledge and expertise to evaluate the manuscript and should ensure that the peer-review process is independent, rigorous, and free from conflicts of interest.

  • Impartiality and non-discrimination: Manuscripts must be evaluated on their academic and scientific merit, without discrimination based on gender, gender identity or sexual orientation, age, ethnic or geographic origin, nationality, disability, religion, institutional affiliation, political opinion, or other personal characteristics of the authors.

  • Confidentiality: Editors must protect the confidentiality of manuscripts and all information generated during the editorial process. The identities of authors and reviewers will be protected in accordance with the peer-review model adopted by the journal.

  • Conflicts of interest: Editors must disclose any conflict of interest related to a manuscript, its authors, reviewers, or the institutions involved. When a conflict could compromise their independence or impartiality, they must recuse themselves from the evaluation or editorial decision, and the manuscript will be assigned to another editor.

  • Research integrity: When there are indications of potential misconduct or breaches of research integrity, editors must assess the case objectively and confidentially and follow the procedures established by the journal, taking the guidelines of the COPE.

  • Integrity of the scholarly record: Editors must take the necessary steps to correct the scholarly record when errors or other issues affect a published article, through corrections, expressions of concern, retractions, or other appropriate editorial actions.

Publisher’s Commitments and Responsibilities

ACI Avances en Ciencias e Ingenierías is a scientific journal published by USFQ PRESS, the publishing house of Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ. The publisher provides institutional, technical, and editorial support to ensure the continuity, quality, and integrity of the journal while respecting the independence of editorial decisions at all times. The publisher is committed to the following principles:

  • Editorial independence: USFQ PRESS respects the independence of the editorial team of ACI Avances en Ciencias e Ingenierías and does not intervene in decisions regarding the evaluation, acceptance, or rejection of manuscripts. These decisions are the exclusive responsibility of the journal’s editorial team and are based on academic and scientific criteria and the journal’s established editorial policies.

  • Support for the editorial process: The publisher provides and maintains the resources and infrastructure necessary for the operation of the journal, including editorial management processes and tools, production, copyediting, layout, and publication.

  • Integrity and preservation of the scholarly record: The publisher supports the journal in preserving the integrity, accuracy, traceability, availability, and long-term preservation of published content through the institutional and technological mechanisms available.

  • Intellectual property and licensing: The publisher ensures that information concerning copyright, licenses, and conditions of use for published content is made clearly and readily available to authors and readers.

  • Editorial best practices: The publisher supports the journal in periodically reviewing and updating its procedures and policies in accordance with internationally recognized standards and best practices in scientific publishing.

  • Institutional transparency: Information about the entity responsible for publishing the journal, its relationship with the journal, and its responsibilities within the editorial process must be maintained in a clear and accessible manner.

Research Integrity

ACI Avances en Ciencias e Ingenierías promotes integrity, transparency, reproducibility, and traceability in scientific research. Fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, inappropriate manipulation of images or data, manipulation of the peer-review process, and other practices that compromise the reliability of the scholarly record are incompatible with the journal’s ethical principles.

Conflicts of Interest

At ACI Avances en Ciencias e Ingenierías, the disclosure of conflicts of interest is a fundamental principle for ensuring the transparency, objectivity, and integrity of the editorial and scientific process. A conflict of interest exists when personal, professional, financial, institutional, or other interests may influence the objectivity, independence, or judgment of a person involved in the editorial process.

Authors must disclose any conflict of interest that may be related to the research, its results, their interpretation, or the preparation of the manuscript. When no conflicts of interest exist, authors must explicitly state this in the corresponding section of the manuscript. Please refer to the Submission Guidelines.

Reviewers must disclose any conflict of interest that could affect their ability to conduct an objective and independent evaluation. When a conflict could compromise their impartiality, they must decline the invitation or inform the Associate Editor through the journal’s submission platform.

Editors must formally disclose any conflict of interest related to a manuscript, its authors, reviewers, or the institutions involved. When a conflict could compromise their independence or impartiality, they must recuse themselves from the evaluation or editorial decision, and the manuscript will be reassigned to another editor.

Plagiarism, Fraud, and Misconduct

Plagiarism

ACI Avances en Ciencias e Ingenierías does not tolerate plagiarism, fabrication or falsification of information, manipulation of the editorial process, or any other practice that compromises the authenticity, originality, traceability, or reliability of the scholarly record. This policy applies both during the editorial process and to published content.

Plagiarism is understood as the presentation of another person’s words, ideas, data, images, results, or other materials as one’s own without appropriate acknowledgment of the source. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • verbatim reproduction without appropriate citation or acknowledgment;

  • substantial paraphrasing without attribution;

  • unauthorized or unattributed use of data, images, figures, or other materials;

  • appropriation of ideas or content obtained through confidential processes, including peer review;

  • self-plagiarism or substantial and undisclosed reuse of previously published content;

  • duplicate or redundant publication;

  • translation of a published work and its presentation as original without appropriate transparency, citation, and authorization.

All manuscripts submitted to ACI Avances en Ciencias e Ingenierías are screened using similarity detection tools, such as Turnitin or Similarity Check, before being assigned to an Associate Editor. These tools help identify textual overlap with published works and other available sources.

The Editors-in-Chief are responsible for reviewing and interpreting similarity reports and determining whether identified overlaps require clarification, correction, or other editorial action. The journal does not use a fixed similarity threshold as the sole basis for accepting or rejecting a manuscript.

When potential breaches of research integrity are identified, the case will be assessed objectively and confidentially in accordance with the journal’s policies and the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Duplicate and Redundant Publication

Authors must avoid duplicate or redundant publication, including submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal or simultaneously submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals for consideration. This principle also applies to publications in different languages when the scientific content is substantially identical.

ACI Avances en Ciencias e Ingenierías will reject manuscripts that have previously been published in another journal, except in exceptional circumstances, such as when the journal has expressly invited the republication of a canonical article or when republication forms part of a tribute to a researcher and their scholarly career. In such cases, appropriate transparency, authorization, and acknowledgment of the original publication will be required.

Data Fabrication and Falsification

Data fabrication consists of inventing data, results, observations, experiments, or other information that was not obtained or generated through the research procedures described.

Data falsification consists of manipulating, modifying, omitting, or inappropriately selecting data, results, images, methods, or other elements of the research in a manner that distorts the information presented or the conclusions of the study.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that the data, images, results, and other materials presented are accurate, complete, and faithfully represent the work conducted.

When there are indications of fabrication, falsification, or other potential breaches of research integrity, editors may request original data, methodological documentation, or other materials necessary to assess the case. Where appropriate, they may also request information or cooperation from the institutions responsible for the research or other competent authorities, in accordance with COPE guidelines and best practices.

Following the appropriate assessment, if there is sufficient evidence to determine that fabrication or falsification occurred before publication, the manuscript may be rejected. If the issue is identified after publication, the journal may take the necessary measures to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record in accordance with its Policy on Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern.

Policy on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence

ACI Avances en Ciencias e Ingenierías recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including generative language models, may be used to support the preparation of scientific works. Their use must be responsible, transparent, and subject to human oversight.

Authors

ACI Avances en Ciencias e Ingenierías permits the responsible use of generative and AI-assisted tools to support manuscript preparation. Their use must not replace critical judgment, intellectual responsibility, or the roles and responsibilities of authors in conducting research and communicating its results.

AI tools may be used, for example, to assist with writing, grammar, style, clarity, or manuscript organization. When their use is substantial in the generation, modification, or analysis of content, authors must transparently disclose the tool used and the purpose for which it was used.

When an AI tool is directly involved in activities related to methodology, data analysis or processing, or the generation or modification of images, figures, or other elements that form part of the scientific results, its use must be described in the relevant section of the manuscript in sufficient detail to allow appropriate evaluation and reproducibility.

AI tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of a manuscript. Authorship is limited to individuals who have made substantial contributions to the work and who can assume responsibility for its content.

The use of AI tools does not exempt authors from responsibility for errors, nonexistent or incorrect references, plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of information.

Authors must disclose the use of generative or AI-assisted tools in the section “Declaration of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in the Writing Process,” specifying the tool used and its purpose. When AI is used for methodological activities or in connection with scientific results, its use must also be reported in the relevant section of the manuscript.

These provisions are based on internationally recognized best practices and recommendations on publication ethics, including the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Editors and Reviewers

Editors and reviewers must preserve the confidentiality of manuscripts under evaluation at all times. They must not upload manuscripts, files, data, or confidential information obtained during the editorial process to external artificial intelligence tools when the confidentiality and protection of such information cannot be guaranteed.

Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

When an error, potential irregularity, or any other issue that may affect the integrity, accuracy, or reliability of a published article is identified after publication, the editorial team will assess the case objectively and confidentially.

To clarify the circumstances, the editorial team may request any information, documentation, or evidence it considers necessary from authors, reviewers, institutions, or other parties involved. When the nature or complexity of the case requires it, the editorial team may seek guidance or cooperation from the institutions responsible for the research and from specialized organizations such as the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Corrections

Corrections may be published when an error or omission is identified in a published article that affects its accuracy, interpretation, or relevant information but does not invalidate the main findings or conclusions of the work.

When a correction is required:

  • A correction notice will be published clearly describing the identified error and the corresponding correction.

  • The article and the correction notice will be linked to each other to ensure the traceability of the editorial decision.

  • The publication record and metadata will be updated, where applicable, in accordance with the journal’s Metadata Policy to reflect the correction.

  • Minor typographical, grammatical, or formatting errors that do not affect the interpretation, results, or research integrity of the article may be corrected directly in the published version without the need to issue a formal correction notice.

Retractions

The editorial team may retract a publication when there is sufficient evidence that its findings or conclusions are unreliable, or when serious breaches of research or publication ethics are identified that compromise the integrity of the article.

Circumstances that may warrant retraction include:

  • Serious experimental, methodological, or calculation errors that render the results or conclusions of the article unreliable.

  • Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data, images, or other relevant elements of the research.

  • Plagiarism, duplicate or redundant publication, or substantial prior publication of the same findings without appropriate attribution.

  • Authorship or attribution issues that compromise the integrity of the publication.

  • Use of data, materials, or information without the required authorization.

  • Research conducted without the required ethical approvals, permissions, or informed consent, where applicable.

  • Manipulation or compromise of the peer-review process.

  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest that have substantially compromised the integrity or interpretation of the research.

The decision to retract an article will be made by the Editors-in-Chief, who will consider the assessment of the editorial team after reviewing the available evidence and, where appropriate, requesting additional information from the authors, institutions, or other parties involved.

The retraction process will include:

  • Publication of a clearly identified retraction notice linked to the original article, specifying the article affected, the reasons for the retraction, and the party responsible for the decision.

  • The original article will remain available as part of the scholarly record and will be clearly and visibly identified as retracted both on the journal website and in the published document, where applicable.

  • The article and the retraction notice will be linked to each other to ensure the traceability of the editorial decision.

  • Metadata and publication records will be updated, where applicable, in accordance with the journal’s Metadata Policy.

  • The retraction will be published as soon as possible after the editorial decision has been made and the necessary technical updates have been completed.

Expressions of Concern

ACI Avances en Ciencias e Ingenierías may publish an expression of concern when regarding the integrity, reliability, or validity of a published article, but the available information is not yet sufficient to determine whether a correction or retraction is warranted.

The expression of concern will be published as a clearly identified notice linked to the original article and will objectively describe the reasons for the concern. Once the assessment has been completed, the journal will update the scholarly record, as appropriate, through a correction, retraction, update to the expression of concern, or a notice indicating that the matter has been resolved.

Complaints and Appeals Policy

ACI Avances en Ciencias e Ingenierías accepts complaints and appeals related to its content, policies, and editorial processes. Requests must be clearly explained and, when possible, supported by relevant evidence. Each case will be reviewed by the editorial team in accordance with the journal’s policies and the best practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Complaints may be submitted by authors, reviewers, readers, or other interested parties. They may concern problems in the editorial process, breaches of the journal’s policies, suspected ethical misconduct, or other inappropriate conduct related to publication. Personal disputes that are not related to the journal’s editorial responsibilities are outside the scope of this policy.

Authors may appeal an editorial decision when they believe that a significant error occurred during the evaluation process, that the journal’s policies were not properly followed, or that relevant information was not considered. Disagreement with an editorial decision or with reviewers’ comments alone is not sufficient grounds for an appeal.

Complaints and appeals will be handled confidentially. The identities of reviewers and authors will not be disclosed. If the person responsible for reviewing the case has a conflict of interest, the case will be assigned to another member of the editorial team or, when appropriate, to an independent party.

The journal aims to resolve complaints and appeals within thirty (30) business days. If additional investigation or external consultation is required, the person who submitted the request will be informed of the delay and the status of the case.

Complaints and appeals must be sent to avances@usfq.edu.ec and should include a clear description of the case and any available supporting documentation. If the request concerns a specific article or manuscript, the title and DOI of the published article or the manuscript identification number must also be provided, as applicable.

Bioethics

Before conducting research involving living organisms, all applicable permits and approvals must be obtained in accordance with the laws and regulations of the country and the requirements of the institution where the study is conducted. These may include environmental permits, approval from institutional ethics committees, informed consent documentation, and other relevant authorizations. All applicable permits and approvals must be clearly reported in the manuscript, including the corresponding registration, protocol, permit, or approval number, as appropriate.

When research involves human participants, the manuscript must include a statement confirming that informed consent was obtained from the participants. In most cases, informed consent should be documented in writing. When the study involves vulnerable groups or when concerns arise regarding the process used to obtain consent, editors may request additional documentation, including the informed consent form used in the study.

ACI Avances en Ciencias e Ingenierías takes into account the guidelines of the USFQ Human Research Ethics Committee (CEISH-USFQ) for the ethical evaluation of research involving human participants.

Research Involving Animals

Research involving animals must be conducted in accordance with the applicable ethical, institutional, and legal standards governing the care and use of animals in research.

Where applicable, authors must obtain approval from the relevant ethics committee, institutional authority, or competent body before beginning the study. The manuscript must identify the entity that granted the approval and provide the corresponding protocol, permit, or authorization number.

Studies involving animals should follow the recommendations of the ARRIVE Guidelines 2.0 (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments) and adhere to the principles of the Three Rs:

  • Replacement: use alternative methods that avoid the use of animals whenever possible.

  • Reduction: use the minimum number of animals necessary to obtain scientifically valid results while maximizing the information obtained.

  • Refinement: use procedures that minimize pain, suffering, and distress and promote the welfare of the animals involved.

Authors must describe the measures taken to protect animal welfare and comply with all permits or authorizations required for the research. The editorial team may request additional documentation when necessary to verify compliance with these requirements.