Copyright policy and publication terms

Authors grant Applied the right of first publication of their work, which is published under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). This license allows third parties to copy, distribute, and publicly share the works, provided that authorship is properly acknowledged, it is indicated that the work was first published in the journal (including the editorial reference and URL), the material is not used for commercial purposes, and any derivative works are shared under the same license.

Once a manuscript is accepted for publication, authors must sign a copyright authorization letter granting first publication rights. Under this agreement, authors retain all moral rights to their work at all times, including the right to be recognized as authors. They also grant the journal and the Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro a non-exclusive license for first publication, open access dissemination, reproduction, and distribution of the work in any format or medium for academic and scientific purposes. This does not restrict authors from reusing, depositing, or disseminating their work afterward, provided that the original publication in the journal is acknowledged and the terms of the Creative Commons license under which it is published are respected.

Authors declare that they hold the intellectual property rights to the submitted texts and assume responsibility for any claims arising from the use of copyrighted materials, including texts, images, tables, figures, or any other content included in their work. In this regard, they release the journal and the Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro from any liability in relation to potential legal disputes concerning intellectual property rights.

 

Open access, reuse, repositories, and self-archiving policy

Open access ensures free and unrestricted access to all published content, with no embargo periods or charges for consultation, download, or reading. This policy is grounded in the principles of Open Access and Open Science and reflects Applied’s commitment to the dissemination of knowledge.

Published content may be read, downloaded, copied, shared, printed, linked, and reused for the creation of new academic works, provided that the original authorship and the first publication in the journal are properly acknowledged, the material is not used for commercial purposes, and the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) are respected.

Applied invites, allows, and encourages authors to deposit their published works in institutional, national, and international repositories, as well as in thematic repositories and academic platforms, in order to increase visibility, impact, and long-term preservation. Manuscripts may only be deposited after the article has been published in the journal, in order to ensure its unpublished status during the evaluation process and to preserve the corresponding anonymity requirements.

Applied authorizes the self-archiving of all manuscript versions, including the submitted version, the accepted version, and the published version, exclusively after the issue in which the article appears has been released, provided that the deposit is made under the same Creative Commons license under which the article was published. In addition, deposited works must include complete metadata to ensure proper identification and traceability, such as the journal name, volume and issue, publication date, DOI, and the URL of the published version on the official Applied website.

 

Artificial intelligence use and disclosure policy

The journal recognizes the responsible use of artificial intelligence tools as support in certain stages of the research and writing process, provided that their use is transparent and ethical, and does not replace intellectual authorship or the analytical work of the authors.

Authors must explicitly declare the use of artificial intelligence tools in the preparation of their manuscripts, specifying the tool used, the prompts, and the purpose of their use (for example, support in writing, copyediting, or translation). The use of these tools does not exempt authors from full responsibility for the content of the manuscript, including its originality, accuracy, argumentative coherence, and compliance with the ethical and editorial standards of Applied.

The use of artificial intelligence for the full or substantial generation of scientific content, analysis, results, interpretations, or conclusions is not permitted. Likewise, artificial intelligence tools may not be listed as authors or co-authors of submitted manuscripts.

The journal will verify declared AI use through specialized detection and analysis tools. If undeclared, inappropriate, or problematic use is identified that compromises the originality, academic integrity, or quality of the manuscript, the submission will be returned to the authors for revision or, where appropriate, rejected in accordance with Applied’s editorial policy and code of ethics.

 

Errata, correction, retraction, and removal policy

Types of corrections and procedures

Applied has mechanisms in place to correct, clarify, or withdraw published content, with the aim of preserving its integrity and maintaining the trust of the readership. Decisions are made in collaboration with the Editorial Board, in accordance with ethical principles.

Errata

Errata refer to errors attributable to the journal that do not compromise the scientific or ethical integrity of the published text, but may affect the publication record or the reputation of the authors or the journal itself. In such cases, an erratum notice will be published clearly describing the changes made and citing the original article; this notice will be included in the table of contents of the corresponding issue. A note will also be added at the end of the original article, and a new version of the text will be published indicating the changes and the date of update. The previous version will be retained as a record and may be accessed upon request by readers.

Corrections

Corrections are applied when errors are attributable to the authors and, while not affecting the scientific or ethical integrity of the published text, may impact its proper understanding. The procedure is equivalent to that of errata: publication of a clearly referenced correction notice, inclusion in the issue’s table of contents, an explanatory note in the original article, issuance of a new version indicating the changes, and retention of the previous version as part of the publication record.

Retractions

The journal will issue a retraction when serious issues are identified that invalidate the scientific or ethical integrity of a text, whether due to substantial errors, research misconduct, or irregularities in the editorial process. Causes include widespread methodological errors, duplicate publication, undisclosed conflicts of interest, plagiarism, data manipulation or fabrication, unreliable results, or unethical research practices, including fraudulent authorship.

In the event of a retraction, the article will remain accessible for transparency purposes but will be clearly marked with a watermark and the label “Retracted Article” in the title. A formal retraction statement, signed by the responsible editors, will also be published, linked to the original article, and included in the table of contents of the corresponding issue.

Removal

Article removal will only occur in exceptional and serious circumstances where the situation cannot be resolved through correction or retraction. This includes cases where the content is defamatory, violates legal rights, is subject to a court order, or poses health risks. In such cases, the full text will be removed, while the article metadata (title and authorship) will be retained and replaced with a notice indicating its removal for legal reasons.

 

Ethical framework and editorial best practices

Applied adheres to the principles and best editorial practices promoted by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Its ethical policies, editorial procedures, and conflict resolution mechanisms are governed by international standards aimed at ensuring academic integrity, transparency, fairness in peer review, and respect for the rights of all individuals involved in the publication process.

Editors’ code of ethics

Editorial decisions regarding the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts are based exclusively on academic and editorial criteria such as relevance, originality, methodological quality, clarity of presentation, and thematic suitability. These decisions are supported by reviewers’ reports, as well as by the use of similarity detection tools and artificial intelligence–generated text detection tools (Turnitin).

Applied ensures at all times the confidentiality of both authors’ and reviewers’ identities, as well as of the content under review. The editorial team therefore commits to acting transparently and providing information on the different stages of the editorial process and the status of manuscripts.

In all cases, submissions are evaluated without discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, institutional affiliation, or any other personal characteristic of the authors. Likewise, editors refrain from participating in editorial decisions when a conflict of interest exists and act in accordance with principles of impartiality and academic responsibility.

In cases not explicitly covered by this code, Applied follows COPE guidelines and flowcharts for ethical decision-making.

Authors’ code of ethics

Manuscripts submitted to the journal must be original, unpublished, and not under review or accepted for publication elsewhere, whether in print or electronic format. A work is considered previously published when it contains substantial portions of previously disseminated texts, or when it forms part of proceedings, conference papers, or other prior publications.

Authors commit not to submit their manuscript simultaneously to another journal during the review process. Failure to comply with this rule will result in immediate withdrawal of the manuscript from the editorial process and a two-year ban on submitting new manuscripts to the journal.

Authors also guarantee that the manuscript does not contain illegal material, respects copyright laws, and that any content taken from their own or others’ work is properly cited. Reused material must not exceed 30% of the total manuscript content. Plagiarism in any form constitutes a serious breach of academic ethics and will result in manuscript rejection and corresponding sanctions.

As a mandatory part of the editorial process, authors must sign an originality letter at the beginning of the process and a conflict of interest and rights authorization letter upon completion, submitted through the channels established by Applied.

Reviewers’ code of ethics

Manuscripts submitted for evaluation are confidential documents and must not be shared or discussed with others without explicit authorization from the journal. If a reviewer is unable to complete the review, they must delete all copies of the manuscript, both printed and digital, in their possession.

Reviewers must promptly notify the journal of their availability to review an assigned manuscript. They must also report any unethical behavior, anomalies, or irregularities detected during the review process. Recommendations and reports must be properly substantiated, objective, and respectful, avoiding any personal criticism at all times. Observations must be supported by sound academic arguments.

Unpublished information contained in reviewed manuscripts may not be used for personal benefit or for any purpose other than the review process without the explicit written consent of the author. All information obtained through the peer review process must remain strictly confidential. Reviewers must abstain from evaluating manuscripts in which a conflict of interest exists and must follow international best practices in peer review and COPE principles.

Readers’ code of ethics

Readers and users have free and open access to the content published in Applied from the moment each issue becomes available on the platform. Consultation, citation, reproduction, printing, and distribution of published material are permitted, provided that clear and appropriate acknowledgment is given that the work was originally published in the journal.

Content may not be used for commercial purposes or in ways that contradict the principles of open access, academic integrity, and responsible use of knowledge upheld by the journal. Access to, use of, distribution of, and reuse of content are governed by the Open Access and Reuse Policy, in accordance with the applicable publication license.

 

Digital preservation policy

Applied is committed to ensuring the access, integrity, and long-term preservation of all digital content published in the journal, including articles, essays, photographic works, reviews, full issues, and metadata.

To achieve this objective, the Coordination of Periodical Publications (CPP), responsible for managing the UAQ Journals Portal (OJS Multijournals), works in coordination with the Directorate of Information, Technology and Innovation (DITI) of Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro to implement strategies for the conservation, security, and accessibility of digital content.

The measures implemented include periodic backups of the website and editorial files, continuous monitoring of the technological environment to anticipate risks, security incidents, or software update needs, as well as the preventive migration of formats when necessary to avoid technological obsolescence. These backups are stored both in internal storage units and in the institutional Drive associated with the journal’s official email account, with regular updates.

To strengthen content preservation and traceability, Applied uses DOI (Digital Object Identifier) identifiers registered through CrossRef, ensuring the persistence and stable location of published documents.

In addition, the journal participates in the PKP Preservation Network (PKP PN) distributed preservation system, integrated with LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe), which ensures the preservation of decentralized copies and the continuous availability of content, even in the event of technical failures or service interruptions.

Complementarily, Applied content is deposited in the institutional repository of Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, reinforcing its institutional preservation and long-term access.

The implementation, monitoring, and updating of this policy is the shared responsibility of the journal’s editorial team, the Coordination of Periodical Publications, and the Directorate of Information, Technology and Innovation, who periodically review preservation mechanisms to ensure their alignment with the technological and editorial needs of Applied.

 

Metadata and Interoperability Policy

Applied ensures that the metadata of scientific dissemination articles and science outreach texts are described in a complete, standardized, and consistent manner, in order to facilitate the discoverability, indexing, and use of information. The metadata included are: title, authors, institutional affiliation, ORCID, DOI, abstract, keywords, references, language, source, copyright, licensing, editor, and publication date. The schema used corresponds to Dublin Core, in accordance with the guidelines of the Manual de indización en OJS: Buenas prácticas para la región latinoamericana (Flores Chávez, 2023). The journal’s editorial team is responsible for verifying the quality, coherence, and consistency of this information prior to publication.

Applied provides an OAI-PMH (Open Archives Initiative – Protocol for Metadata Harvesting) interface, which allows other information systems and services to access the metadata of published content.

Specifications:

• OAI-PMH Protocol, Version 2.0
• Dublin Core Metadata Element Set, Version 1.1

Access URL: https://revistas.uaq.mx/index.php/applied/oai

 

Editorial governance

Editorial Direction

The Editorial Direction is the highest authority responsible for the journal and for the overall management of its editorial processes. It defines the editorial scope, oversees compliance with editorial policies, and serves as the institutional and legal representative of the publication. Its appointment is made collegially by the Editorial Committee and the Scientific Committee.

Its functions include strategic planning and direction; the formation and coordination of editorial bodies; oversight of the proper development of editorial processes; ensuring the quality and standards of published content; promoting actions to strengthen, position, and disseminate the journal; resource management; and establishing collaboration agreements with related institutions and organizations.

Editor-in-Chief

The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for the overall editorial management of Applied and the administration of its content. They implement and monitor editorial policy and coordinate the evaluation and publication processes. Their appointment is made collegially by the Editorial Committee and the Scientific Committee.

Their responsibilities include ensuring the academic and editorial quality of content; coordinating and supervising manuscript submission, review, evaluation, and production processes; ensuring compliance with editorial standards, scientific criteria, and ethical best practices; and making the final decision on publication, based on reviewers’ reports and the advice of the Editorial Committee.

The Editor-in-Chief manages the editorial platform, coordinates the timely publication of issues according to the journal’s periodicity, oversees proper metadata and licensing management, and ensures the detection of similarity and the responsible use of artificial intelligence tools. They also promote actions to strengthen the journal’s visibility and reach, including proposals for inclusion in indexes and databases, as well as the coordination of dissemination strategies.

Section Editors

Section Editors play a key role in managing manuscripts assigned to their area of expertise. Their responsibilities include conducting the initial academic screening of assigned manuscripts, assessing their quality, disciplinary relevance, and contribution to the field of knowledge. They also participate in the peer review process by suggesting specialized reviewers while ensuring confidentiality and anonymity.

Section Editors also ensure that authors properly address reviewer comments after a positive evaluation or, when applicable, provide justified explanations when certain recommendations are not incorporated. They collaborate in editorial decision-making for assigned manuscripts and support editorial management to ensure compliance with the journal’s publication schedule.

Editorial Committee

The Editorial Committee is a collegial body composed of experts in the fields covered by Applied, whose purpose is to strengthen the editorial, academic, and scientific quality of its content. Its composition follows principles of institutional diversity and gender parity: approximately one third of its members are affiliated with the publishing institution, while the remainder are external members.

The Editorial Committee participates in defining and updating editorial policies and the strategic objectives of the journal. It acts in accordance with editorial policy and international ethical principles applicable to scientific publishing and contributes to strengthening the academic profile of Applied through recommendations aimed at improving the quality, relevance, and diversity of its content.

The Editorial Committee actively contributes to the dissemination and visibility of the journal and its articles through various academic and outreach channels. This body is periodically renewed or updated and meets to make collegial decisions.

Scientific Committee

The International Scientific Committee is a collegial body composed of distinguished academics in fields aligned with the scope of Applied. Its role is to support the scientific quality of the content by assessing thematic relevance and providing strategic guidance for editorial processes. Its composition is based on criteria of institutional diversity and gender parity: it is composed entirely of members external to the publishing institution, and at least half of its members are affiliated with international institutions.

The International Scientific Committee provides a specialized and comparative perspective that strengthens the academic positioning of Applied at national and international levels. It evaluates compliance with scientific and editorial quality criteria and reviews and provides feedback on the journal’s annual activity report, contributing to the continuous improvement of its processes and outcomes.