The following rules should be followed when preparing articles for submission to the Hittite Journal of Science and Engineering:

1) The article should be written in English. Additionally, the Turkish article title, abstract, and keywords should be provided. The text should be in Microsoft Word document format, single-column format. The Article Template and Copyright Transfer Form can be downloaded from the relevant links.

2) The article title should be written in 12-point bold characters. The title should be concise and informative, avoiding abbreviations and formulas as much as possible.

3) The names of the authors, ORCID information, institutional affiliations, RORID information, department names, and email addresses should be provided. It should be clearly stated who will handle the correspondence during the publication process and afterwards. In addition to the email address and mailing address, make sure to provide telephone numbers (including country and area codes). The contact information should be kept up to date by the respective author.

4) Requests for author changes are only processed before the article is accepted. Authors should carefully review the list and order of authors before submitting their articles and provide the final author list at the time of original submission. If a change request occurs, the Editor will request (a) the reason for the change in the author list from the responsible author and (b) a confirmation document from all authors accepting the changes.

5) The abstract should briefly state the purpose of the research and the significant findings of the study, and it should not exceed 250 words.

6) Graphic abstracts are optional. Authors should design graphic abstracts using visuals that clearly represent the study described in the article and attract the attention of the readership. Graphic abstracts should be submitted as a separate file in the online submission system. Preferred file types are TIFF, EPS, and PDF files.

7) Keywords (5 to 7) related to the article should be provided.

8) Articles should be divided into clearly defined and numbered sections. Subsections should be numbered as 1.1 (then 1.1.1, 1.1.2, etc.) and 1.2, etc. (the abstract section should not be numbered). Short headings can be given to subsections, and each heading should appear on a separate line.

9) After the abstract, the article structure should be as follows:

Introduction: The objectives of the study should be stated, and sufficient background information should be provided without detailed literature review or summary of the results.

Materials and Methods: It should provide information that allows the study to be reproducible. Published methods should be referenced, and only relevant modifications should be explained.

Theory/Calculation: It should not repeat the background information of the article discussed in the introduction section but should expand and lay the foundation for subsequent studies. The calculation section should address how to transition from theory to practice.

Results: It should be clear and concise.

Discussion: It should demonstrate the significance of the study's results without repeating them. A combined Results and Discussion section can be used. Extensive quotations and discussion of published literature should be avoided.

Conclusion: The main findings of the study should be presented.

Conflict of Interest: Authors declare no conflict of interest (if there is any, it should be stated).

Author Contributions: Design of the Study Author-1 (%55) - Author-2 (%45); Data Collection Author-1 (%70) - Author-2 (%30); Data Analysis Author-1 (%60) - Author-2 (%40); Manuscript Writing Author-1 (%80) - Author-2 (%20); Manuscript Submission and Revision Author-1 (%90) - Author-2 (%10), etc.

References: It should be written in 10-point font size according to the Vancouver Citation System; it should be justified.

Appendix: If there are multiple appendices, they should be indicated as A, B, etc. Equations within the appendices should be numbered separately.

Acknowledgments: Individuals who provided assistance during the research process (language support, proofreading, etc.) are listed here.

10) Tables should be numbered sequentially according to their appearance in the text. Footnotes should be placed below the table body and indicated with lowercase superscript letters.

11) Ensure consistent font and sizing in figures. Arial or Times New Roman fonts should be used in figures. Figures should be numbered and named using a logical naming convention according to their order in the text. Each figure should be uploaded as a separate file in TIFF, JPEG, EPS, or PDF format (minimum 300 dpi).

12) Ensure that all references cited in the text are included in the reference list (or vice versa). References cited in the abstract should be provided in full.

13) It is the responsibility of the authors to submit the final version of the manuscript in accordance with the writing guidelines before the publication process; manuscripts will not be published unless they are submitted in the appropriate format.

Authors' Roles and Responsibilities

Authorship and Contributions

Authorship should be limited to those who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study. All significant contributors should be listed as co-authors. If there are individuals who have made minor contributions, such as language editing, they should be acknowledged in the acknowledgments section. The corresponding author should ensure that all co-authors have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript and agreed to its submission for publication. Authors are expected to carefully review and provide the definitive list and order of authors during the original submission. The editor will only consider adding, removing, or rearranging authors after the manuscript has been submitted in exceptional cases. All authors should agree to any such additions, removals, or rearrangements. Authors share joint responsibility for the work.

Manuscript Writing

Authors of original research articles should address the subject matter in an original and objective manner. The manuscript should contain sufficient details and references to allow others to reproduce the study. Deceptive or knowingly false statements constitute unethical behavior and are unacceptable.

Originality

Authors must provide assurance that the manuscript is original, has not been previously published elsewhere, and is not being considered for publication in another language.

Use of Original Sources and Citation

Authors should ensure that they have written entirely original works and, if they have used others' works or words, that this is appropriately cited. Information obtained through personal communication, correspondence, or discussions with third parties should not be used without explicit written permission from the source.

Data Access and Retention

Authors may be asked to provide the research data supporting their manuscript for editorial review and/or comply with the journal's open data requirements. Authors should be prepared to provide access to such data and to retain such data for a reasonable period of time after publication. Our journal recommends uploading research data to TUBITAK's Aperta Portal if possible.

Multiple and Simultaneous Publications

An author should not publish the same research in multiple journals. Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously is unethical behavior. An author should not submit a previously published article, except in the form of an abstract, for consideration in another journal.

Conflict of Interest

Conflict of interest refers to any financial or other circumstances that may lead a person to be conflicted in their work, compromising their objectivity or providing an unfair advantage to any individual or organization. All sources of financial support and the roles of sponsors in the conduct of the research and preparation of the article should be disclosed. If there is no funding source, this should also be stated. Examples of potential conflicts of interest that need to be disclosed include consultancies, receipt of salary, and grants. Potential conflicts of interest should be disclosed as early as possible.

Error Reporting

When an author discovers a significant error or mistake in their published work, they should immediately notify the journal. It is also the author's responsibility to collaborate with the editor in withdrawing or correcting the article if deemed necessary. If the editor or publisher becomes aware that a published work contains an error from a third party, it is the author's obligation to cooperate with the editor, including providing information, in order to rectify the error.

Publishing Ethics Principles

Publishing ethics can be defined as a self-regulatory mechanism that emphasizes integrity on behalf of authors, reviewers, and publishers. Ethical standards for publication exist to ensure high-quality scientific publications, build public trust in scientific findings, and uphold the credibility of people's ideas.

• Honest researchers do not engage in plagiarism.
• They do not misrepresent their sources.
• They do not conceal objections that cannot be refuted.
• They do not distort opposing views.
• They do not destroy or hide data.
  

Peer-reviewed studies are research works that support and implement the scientific method. In this regard, adherence to ethical principles by all parties involved in the publication process (authors, readers, researchers, publishers, reviewers, and editors) is of great importance. The Hittite Journal of Science and Engineering adheres to national and international standards in research and publication ethics. It complies with the Press Law, Law on Intellectual and Artistic Works, and the Higher Education Institutions Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Directive. The Hittite Journal of Science and Engineering has adopted the International Ethical Publishing Principles published by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), the Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association (OASPA), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME). It also commits to following the decisions of the Turkish Editors Workshop.

• Press Law (National Legislation)
• Law on Intellectual and Artistic Works (National Legislation)
• Higher Education Institutions Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Directive (National Legislation)
• Transparency and Best Practice Principles in Academic Publishing (International Criteria)
• Decisions of the Turkish Editors Workshop (National Criteria)

Duplicate Publication

Duplicate publication refers to the publication of the same article or substantially similar articles in multiple journals. The editor can reject such articles without review and impose an embargo on the author attempting to re-publish, disclose this situation to the public, or implement these measures together.

Simultaneous Submission of the Same Study to Multiple Journals

Authors cannot submit the same article to multiple journals simultaneously. If the editor becomes aware of simultaneous submission, they can directly return the article without review or discuss this decision with other editors and decide to refuse the authors' submissions for a certain period. They can also inform the institutions to which the authors are affiliated in writing.

Plagiarism Detection for Prevention

Plagiarism is presenting others' ideas, methods, data, practices, writings, figures, or works as one's own without proper citation following scientific rules.

The Hittite Journal of Science and Engineering scans all submitted articles to prevent plagiarism. The presence of plagiarism in the submitted works is checked using Turnitin or iThenticate software. The total similarity rate is expected to be less than 20%, and if it comes from a single source, less than 5%. The primary measure of similarity rate is the author's adherence to citation and quotation rules. Even if the similarity rate is 1%, if proper citation and quotation have not been made, plagiarism may still be present. Therefore, authors should be well aware of citation and quotation rules and apply them carefully.

Plagiarism, duplication, ghost authorship/denied authorship, research/data fabrication, article slicing, slicing for publication, copyright infringement, and hiding conflicts of interest are considered unethical behaviors. All articles that do not comply with ethical standards are removed from publication. This includes articles for which inappropriate content is detected after publication.

Forgery

Forgery is the act of producing data without relying on research, manipulating or altering a presented or published work based on false data, reporting or publishing them, or presenting an unperformed research as if it were conducted.

It involves distorting research records and obtained data, presenting unused methods, devices, and materials as if they were used in the research, disregarding data that does not align with the research hypothesis, manipulating data and/or results to fit relevant theories or assumptions, distorting or shaping research findings in accordance with the interests of supported individuals and organizations.

Addressing Research Misconduct Allegations

The Hittite Journal of Science and Engineering follows COPE's "Ethical Guidelines for a Successful Editorial Office." The journal takes necessary precautions to prevent the publication of articles involving plagiarism, quotation manipulation, data fabrication, data falsification, and other research misconduct. The Editors of the Hittite Journal of Science and Engineering follow COPE guidelines in case they become aware of any research misconduct allegations related to a published article.

Ethics Violation Reports

Readers who notice significant errors or inaccuracies in an article published in the Hittite Journal of Science and Engineering or have any complaints regarding editorial content (plagiarism, duplicate publications, etc.) can submit a notification by sending an email to hjse@hitit.edu.tr. The reports will be welcomed and responded to promptly.

Correction, Retraction, Expression of Concern

If editors identify minor errors that do not affect the findings, interpretations, or conclusions in a published article, they may consider publishing a correction. In cases of major errors/violations that invalidate the findings and conclusions, the article may be retracted. If editors detect an intention by the authors to abuse research or publication, or find evidence that the findings are unreliable, they should consider publishing an expression of concern. COPE and ICJME guidelines are taken into account regarding correction, retraction, or expression of concern.

Publication of Studies Based on Surveys and Interviews

The Hittite Journal of Science and Engineering adopts the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) "Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors" to ensure ethical assurance in scientific publishing. In this context, the following points should be followed in the submitted works to the journal:

1) For research conducted in all scientific fields that require ethical board approval, the ethical board approval must be obtained, stated in the article, and documented.

2) In research requiring ethical board approval, information about the approval (board name, date, and number) should be provided in the methodology section and it should also be stated that the approval form has been signed on one of the first/last pages of the article.

Special Issue Publication Policy

One special issue can be published annually. The articles submitted for inclusion in the special issue are first subjected to editorial pre-review. Then they are examined for compliance with the journal's writing rules and a similarity check is performed to prevent plagiarism. After these stages, they undergo the peer review process using a single-blind model.

Editorial Confidentiality Obligation

The Editors of the Hittite Journal of Science and Engineering consider all submitted articles as confidential documents, meaning they will not disclose any information about an article to anyone without the authors' permission. The following individuals may have access to the articles during the review process: Editors, Reviewers. The only circumstance in which details about a manuscript can be shared with a third party without the authors' permission is if the editor suspects serious research misconduct.

Scientific Misconduct Allegations and Suspicions

There are various definitions of scientific misconduct. Editors are obligated to take action if they suspect or receive an allegation of misconduct. This responsibility applies to both published and unpublished articles. Editors should not simply reject articles that may indicate potential misconduct; instead, they are obliged to follow ethical claims and adhere to relevant COPE flowcharts in the field. Editors should first request a response from individuals suspected of misconduct, and if unsatisfied with the response, they should request investigations from the institutions to which these individuals are affiliated. Editors should make every reasonable effort to ensure an appropriate investigation is conducted regarding the alleged misconduct.

Hittite Journal of Science and Engineering Journal adheres to COPE's Ethical Toolkit for Successful Editorial Work. Reviewers should inform the Editor when they suspect research or publication misconduct, and the Editor is responsible for carrying out the necessary actions in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Hittite Journal of Science and Engineering Journal commits to applying COPE flowcharts when encountering allegations of misconduct, such as:

• Actions to be taken when suspected of duplicate publication
• Actions to be taken when suspected of plagiarism
• Actions to be taken when suspected of fabricated data
• Actions to be taken in authorship change requests
• Actions to be taken when suspected of undisclosed conflict of interest
• Actions to be taken when suspected of unjust or gift authorship
• Actions to be taken when suspected of ethical problems in a paper
• Actions to be taken when notified directly via email or other means about suspected ethical violations
• Actions to be taken when ethical violation allegations are made through social media

Complaint Procedure

This procedure applies to complaints regarding the content and/or publication policies under the responsibility of Hittite Journal of Science and Engineering Journal. Complaints should be sent directly to hjse@hitit.edu.tr via email. The Editor responds to complaints by following the procedures specified in the COPE flowcharts.

• Complaints are initially examined confidentially by a relevant member of the editorial team, and an initial response is provided. If the initial response is deemed insufficient, the complainant may request that the complaint be reviewed by a more senior member of the journal.
  
• If the complaint remains unresolved, the complainant may appeal to the Editor-in-Chief.
• Complaints should be resolved within two weeks, and the complainant should be provided with a response.

Appeals Process

For articles that are rejected based on a misunderstanding of the scientific content, authors may send an appeal message to the editorial team at hjse@hitit.edu.tr. At this stage, a revised version of the article should not be submitted. After the appeal is evaluated, if it is found to be justified, an invitation may be sent to submit a revised version of the article, and the article will be resubmitted to the external peer review process. The appeal letter should include as much detail as possible. It is generally unsatisfactory for both authors and editors to engage in prolonged discussions regarding rejected articles, so multiple appeals for the same study are not considered.

Conflict of Interests

A conflict of interest refers to any financial or other interests that could lead to a conflict, significantly compromise objectivity, or provide an unfair advantage to any individual or organization. Within this scope, all sources of financial support and the roles of sponsors in the research and manuscript preparation process should be disclosed. If there is no funding source, this should also be indicated. Examples of potential conflicts of interest that need to be disclosed include consultancies, salary payments, and grants. Potential conflicts of interest should be disclosed as early as possible.

Hittite Journal of Science and Engineering Journal has established a procedure to ensure that articles submitted by its editors, employees, or members of the editorial board are reviewed impartially. Such articles are primarily redirected to other journals. If this is not possible, the author's role in the journal is suspended. Editors should not be involved in decisions regarding articles authored by themselves or their family members. Editors, authors, and reviewers should adhere to the COPE and ICMJE guidelines for disclosing potential conflicts of interest.