Publication Policy and Fees

Kemetica Scientific Journals (KSJ)

1. Introduction

Kemetica Scientific Journals (KSJ) is committed to providing flexible publishing options that meet the diverse needs of researchers, institutions, and research funders. The journal operates under a hybrid publishing model , which allows authors to choose between two options:

1. Traditional Subscription-Based Publishing: No fee is charged to authors, but published articles are accessible only to subscribers (individuals or institutions with a subscription to KSJ).
2. Open Access Publishing (Gold Open Access): An Article Processing Charge (APC) applies. Upon payment, the article is made immediately and permanently free for all readers worldwide under a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).

This policy document outlines all fees, payment terms, waiver options, and related policies governing publication in KSJ.

2. Hybrid Publishing Model Overview

The following table summarizes the key differences between the two publishing options:

3. Article Processing Charges (APC) for Open Access

3.1 Standard APC Rate

The standard Article Processing Charge (APC) for publishing under the open access option in Kemetica Scientific Journals (KSJ) is:

Note: The exact APC amount is subject to change. Authors should refer to the journal's official website for the current APC rates before submission. Rates are typically reviewed annually.

3.2 What the APC Covers

The APC covers the following costs associated with publishing an open access article:

1. Editorial processing and administrative support
2. Double-blind peer review management
3. Plagiarism screening and research integrity checks
4. Copyediting and typesetting
5. Assignment of Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
6. Online hosting and archiving (including long-term digital preservation)
7. Indexing in major databases (Scopus, Web of Science, CrossRef, etc.)
8. Promotion and dissemination of published articles
9. Compliance with open access funder mandates

3.3 What the APC Does NOT Cover

The APC does not cover:

1. Language editing or translation services (these may be arranged separately by the author)
2. Figure preparation or illustration services
3. Printing of physical offprints (paper offprints may be ordered separately for an additional fee)
4. Any taxes, duties, or bank transfer fees (these are the responsibility of the payer)

3.4 No Submission Fees

KSJ does not charge any submission fees, administrative fees, or page charges. Authors are not required to pay any fee at the time of submission, regardless of their chosen publishing model. Fees apply only upon acceptance and only if the open access option is selected.

4. Payment Terms

4.1 When Payment Is Due

For articles published under the open access option, the APC is due upon acceptance of the manuscript. An invoice will be sent to the corresponding author or designated payer within 5 business days of the acceptance decision.

4.2 Payment Deadline

Payment must be received in full within 30 days of the invoice date. If payment is not received within this period:

1. A payment reminder will be sent at 15 days and 25 days
2. At 30 days without payment, the article will be placed on hold and will not proceed to production
3. If payment is not received within 45 days, the acceptance may be revoked, and the article will not be published

4.3 Payment Methods

KSJ accepts the following payment methods:

1. Bank Wire Transfer (International): Bank details will be provided on the invoice
2. Credit Card: Visa, MasterCard, American Express (via secure payment gateway)
3. PayPal
4. Institutional Purchase Order: Accepted with prior approval from the editorial office

4.4 Currency

All APCs and fees are denominated in United States Dollars (USD) . Payments in other currencies must be converted to USD at the prevailing exchange rate, and any currency conversion fees or bank charges are the responsibility of the payer.

4.5 Invoicing

Invoices can be issued to:

1. The corresponding author (individual)
2. An institution or university department
3. A research funding agency
4. A grant or research account

Please provide complete invoicing information (including purchase order number if required) at the time of acceptance to facilitate prompt processing.

4.6 Refund Policy

APCs are non-refundable once the article has been:

1. Published online (with a DOI assigned)
2. Typeset and posted as a "just accepted" manuscript (if applicable)

Refunds before publication may be considered on a case-by-case basis if the article is withdrawn by the authors or rejected after acceptance due to ethical concerns. Administrative fees (up to 20% of the APC) may be retained.

5. APC Waivers and Discounts

Kemetica Scientific Journals (KSJ) is committed to equity in publishing and recognizes that not all authors have access to funding for Article Processing Charges. Waivers and discounts are available under the following conditions.

5.1 Geographic Waivers (Country-Based)

List of eligible countries: The World Bank's official country classifications are used. Authors should check their country's classification at: https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519

To claim a geographic waiver, authors must:

1. Select the open access option at submission
2. Indicate their country of affiliation (corresponding author's primary affiliation)
3. The waiver will be automatically applied upon acceptance based on the country classification

5.2 Early-Career Researcher Discount

Early-career researchers (ECRs) who meet the following criteria may be eligible for a 20% discount on the APC:

1. The corresponding author is within 5 years of receiving their PhD or highest degree (excluding career breaks for family leave, medical leave, or other qualifying circumstances)
2. The corresponding author does not have dedicated open access funding from their institution or a grant
3. The manuscript is submitted with the ECR as the corresponding author

To request an ECR discount, authors must contact the editorial office before submission with proof of degree completion date.

5.3 Hardship Waivers

Authors facing genuine financial hardship who do not qualify for geographic waivers may request a partial or full waiver on a case-by-case basis. Hardship waivers are considered for:

1. Unemployed or retired researchers without institutional support
2. Researchers from non-funded institutions in upper-middle-income countries with documented lack of resources
3. Exceptional circumstances (e.g., natural disaster, political instability, medical emergency)

To request a hardship waiver, authors must:

1. Contact the editorial office before submission
2. Provide a written explanation of the circumstances
3. Provide supporting documentation where possible

All hardship waiver requests are reviewed confidentially by the editorial office and publisher. Approval is at the sole discretion of KSJ.

5.4 Waiver Requests Without Open Access Selection

Waivers and discounts apply only to the open access option. If an author selects the subscription-based option, no APC is charged, and no waiver is needed. Authors who cannot obtain an APC waiver should consider the subscription-based option.

5.5 No Retroactive Waivers

Waivers and discounts must be requested before submission or at the time of submission. Retroactive requests made after acceptance or publication will not be considered.

6. Subscription Fees (For Readers and Institutions)

6.1 Individual Subscription

For readers who wish to access subscription-based articles (non-open access), individual subscriptions are available:

Individual subscriptions include access to all subscription-based content published during the subscription period.

6.2 Institutional Subscription

Libraries, universities, research institutes, and other organizations may purchase institutional subscriptions for their members:

Contact: For institutional subscription inquiries, including consortia pricing and multi-site licenses, please contact subscriptions@ksj.edu.

7. Additional Fees and Services

7.1 Paper Offprints (Reprints)

Authors of both subscription and open access articles may order paper offprints (physical reprints) of their published article for an additional fee:

Offprint orders must be placed within 30 days of the publication date. A link to the offprint order form will be sent to the corresponding author upon acceptance.

7.2 Language Editing Service (Optional)

KSJ does not require authors to use a specific language editing service, but we recommend that non-native English speakers have their manuscripts professionally edited before submission. We offer a recommended partner service:

Note: Use of language editing services is optional and does not guarantee acceptance. The APC does not include language editing.

7.3 Rush Processing Fee (Optional)

Authors who require expedited peer review and publication may request rush processing for an additional fee:

Rush processing requests must be approved by the Editor-in-Chief before submission and are subject to reviewer availability. Rush processing does not guarantee acceptance.

8. Policy for Authors Without Funding

KSJ recognizes that many researchers, particularly early-career researchers, independent scholars, and researchers from low-income countries, may not have access to funding for APCs.

8.1 Recommended Option: Subscription-Based Publishing

For authors without APC funding, KSJ strongly recommends selecting the subscription-based publishing option at the time of submission. Under this option:

1. There is no fee for authors
2. The article undergoes the same rigorous double-blind peer review
3. The article is published with the same quality standards
4. The only difference is that access is restricted to subscribers

8.2 Green Open Access (Self-Archiving)

Authors who publish under the subscription-based model may still share their work through green open access:

1. Preprint: May be posted on any preprint server at any time
2. Accepted Author Manuscript (Post-Print): May be posted in institutional repositories after an embargo period (typically 12 months from publication date)
3. Final Published Version (PDF): May not be posted publicly (copyright is transferred to publisher)

This allows authors to make their work available to a wider audience without paying APCs.

8.3 Waiver Application

Authors who genuinely require open access publication (e.g., due to funder mandates) but lack funding should apply for a waiver as described in Section 5 above.

9. Funder Compliance

KSJ supports authors in complying with open access mandates from major research funders.

9.1 Plan S (cOAlition S)

For authors funded by cOAlition S members (including Wellcome Trust, UKRI, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and European Research Council):

1. KSJ is compliant with Plan S requirements under the hybrid model with a CC BY license
2. Authors may use the open access option with CC BY 4.0 license
3. APCs are eligible for payment by funders under their open access policies
4. Waivers may be available for unfunded researchers

9.2 UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

KSJ complies with UKRI's open access policy:

1. Open access option with CC BY license recommended
2. APCs may be covered by UKRI block grants or institutional funds
3. Subscription-based articles may also comply under UKRI's long-form publication policy with deposit in institutional repository after embargo

9.3 National Institutes of Health (NIH)

For NIH-funded authors:

1. Open access option with CC BY license complies with the NIH Public Access Policy
2. Articles will be deposited in PubMed Central (PMC) on the author's behalf upon request

9.4 Other Funders

Authors should consult their specific funder's open access requirements. The KSJ editorial office can provide guidance and documentation to support compliance.

10. Publication Ethics and Fees

10.1 No Fees for Ethical Reviews

If an ethics complaint or misconduct investigation is initiated regarding a published article, KSJ does not charge authors, reviewers, or complainants for the investigation. Costs associated with retractions, corrections, or expressions of concern are borne by the journal.

10.2 Fees for Misconduct (in Extreme Cases)

In extreme cases where an author is found to have committed serious misconduct (e.g., data fabrication, plagiarism, undisclosed competing interests that materially affected the review process), and the misconduct requires extensive investigation or legal consultation, KSJ reserves the right to recover reasonable investigation costs from the corresponding author's institution. This is rarely invoked and only in exceptional circumstances.

11. Cancellation and Withdrawal Policy

11.1 Withdrawal by Authors Before Acceptance

Authors may withdraw their manuscript at any time before acceptance at no cost. No fee applies. Withdrawal requests must be made in writing to the editorial office.

11.2 Withdrawal After Acceptance (Subscription Model)

If an author withdraws a manuscript after acceptance under the subscription model (where no APC has been paid), no fee applies. However, the manuscript will be marked as withdrawn and cannot be submitted again.

11.3 Withdrawal After Acceptance (Open Access Model)

If an author withdraws a manuscript after acceptance under the open access model, but before the APC has been paid:

1. No fee applies
2. The manuscript is withdrawn and will not be published

If an author withdraws a manuscript after acceptance under the open access model, and the APC has been paid:

1. A 50% refund may be issued if withdrawal occurs before the article enters production (typesetting)
2. No refund is issued if withdrawal occurs after production has begun or after the article has been published online

11.4 Retraction After Publication

If an article is retracted after publication due to author error (not misconduct), no refund of APC is provided. If an article is retracted due to publisher error, a full refund may be issued at the publisher's discretion.

12. Taxes and Additional Charges

12.1 Value Added Tax (VAT) or Sales Tax

Depending on the jurisdiction of the payer and the publisher, VAT or sales tax may apply to APCs and subscriptions. Any applicable taxes will be added to the invoice in compliance with local laws.

1. EU countries: VAT may apply based on the publisher's location and the customer's VAT status
2. United Kingdom: VAT may apply
3. Other countries: Authors should consult their local tax advisor

12.2 Bank Transfer Fees

Any bank transfer fees, intermediary bank charges, or currency conversion fees are the responsibility of the payer. Invoices are issued net of such fees. Payment is considered received only when the full invoiced amount (including any applicable taxes) is credited to KSJ's bank account.

13. No Double Payment

Authors should not pay both an APC and a subscription fee for the same article. The hybrid model ensures that:

1. Open access articles are free for readers immediately
2. Subscription articles require a subscription to access

Institutions that subscribe to KSJ and also pay APCs for their authors' open access articles are not double-charged.

14. Transparency and Reporting

KSJ is committed to transparency in publishing fees. The following information is publicly available on the journal's website:

1. Current APC rates
2. Current subscription rates (individual and institutional)
3. Waiver and discount policies
4. Payment terms and conditions
5. Refund policy

Annual reports on APC waivers granted (aggregated and anonymized) may be published to demonstrate commitment to equity.

15. Changes to Fees

KSJ reserves the right to adjust APC rates and subscription fees periodically. Fee changes are typically announced at least 60 days in advance on the journal's website.

For manuscripts submitted before a fee increase but accepted after the increase, the fee in effect at the time of submission applies. For manuscripts submitted after a fee increase, the new fee applies.

16. Contact Information

For all inquiries regarding publication fees, APCs, waivers, subscriptions, and payments:

Mailing Address:

Finance Department

Kemetica Scientific Journals (KSJ)

[Institution Name]

[Street Address]

[City, Postal Code]

[Country]

17. Summary Table: Fees at a Glance

Submission fee	$0 (none)	N/A	N/A
APC (Open Access) – Standard	$[XXX]	Author/institution/funder	Upon acceptance
APC (Open Access) – Low-income country	100% waiver	N/A	Upon acceptance
APC (Open Access) – Lower-middle-income country	50% waiver	Author/institution (50% of standard)	Upon acceptance
APC (Open Access) – Early-career researcher	20% discount	Author/institution (80% of standard)	Upon acceptance
Individual subscription (annual)	$[XXX]	Reader	Before access
Institutional subscription (annual)	[XXX]	Library/institution	Before access
Single article (pay-per-view)	$[XX]	Reader	Per article
Paper offprints (25 copies)	$[XXX]	Author	After acceptance
Rush processing fee	$[XXX]	Author	Upon request

18. Acknowledgment

By submitting a manuscript to Kemetica Scientific Journals (KSJ) and selecting a publication model, authors acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Publication Policy and Fees document. Authors are responsible for ensuring that they or their institution/funder can meet any applicable APCs before selecting the open access option.