Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Jyoti Academic Press

Does the world need another set of "international" journals that "may be downloaded/printed as many times without any charge"? Yes, Jyoti Academjc Press is yet another Indian open access journal, but you cannot download an article without submitting a form giving a name, email address, telephone number, etc. The domain name of this startup was registered in 2015 by Anurag Gupt, Spine Infoway (P) Lt, 3, Leader Road, Allahabad UP 211001 India, +91.9415305632, spineinfoway@gmail.com. The publisher's home page reveals that
Jyoti Academic Press is an institution with a distinction having a mission to empower the high level academic activities by utilizing every available opportunity. With a vast majority of skilled professionals it has molded itself in a way that fast dissemination cannot affect the quality of work.
Who publishes in journals advertised with such drivel? The first issue of the International Journal of Statistics: Advances in Theory and Applications has two articles (so far), both by US psychology professors (David Trafimow, New Mexico State University, and Rand Wilcox, University of Southern California).

Among the many names listed as editors of Research and Communications in Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences are three in the US: Zhuang-Dan Daniel Guan, Department of Mathematics, University of California at Riverside; Paul Thomas Young, Department of Mathematics, College of Charleston; and Hoda Bidkhori, MIT. A search turned up a Hoda Bidkhori who is an assistant professor in the industrial engineering department at the University of Pittsburgh (and who received her Ph.D. at MIT).

UPDATE 7/30/18:  Downloading no longer requires a name, email address, etc.
Email
Transnational Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications
  • From: journal@japjournals.co
    Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2017 2:31 AM
    Subject: Call for Papers - Transnational Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications
    It is our pleasure to inform you that Jyoti Academic Press invites original research papers in all areas of Mathematical Analysis and its Numerous Applications. The Transnational Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications is an interdisciplinary journal ... . It is published online only in 2 issues per 1 volume annually. ...
    The honorable Editorial Members and the Publisher are very committed to build the journal as one of leading multidisciplinary international journal in the next few years. Besides the basic aim of publishing high quality peer-reviewed research articles, sufficient care is given to the timely disposal of the articles received for publication. Generally, we make decision on an article received in two months time and publish the same if duly recommended by the experts within one month of acceptance. ... Accepted papers get duly edited and typeset in the style of our journal by the publisher and the galley proofs are sent to the submitting authors, unless requested otherwise, without the original manuscript, for corrections. ...
    We, hereby, invite you to consider submitting an original research paper or review/survey article of your interest in the Jyoti Academic Press for consideration of possible publication.
    Thanking you,
    Yours sincerely,
    Rashmi Agrawal
    General Manager, Jyoti Academic Press, 53A/51 Chowk Ganga Das, Allahabad 211003, Uttar Pradesh, India, rashmi@jyotiacademicpress.org
  • From: research@jyotiacademic.net
    Date: Mon 7/30/2018 12:52 AM [and 6/23/19 3:33 AM with the new issue number changed]
    Subject: Submit the paper in our journal "Transnational Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications"
    It is our pleasure to inform you that Jyoti Academic Press invites original research papers in all areas of Mathematical Analysis and its Numerous Applications. The Transnational Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications is an interdisciplinary journal and topics covered by the journal include: Mathematics, Engineering, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The TJMAA is an interdisciplinary journal and topics covered by the journal include: Abstract harmonic analysis, Complex Analysis, Difference equations, Differential equations, Fourier analysis, Functional analysis, Inequalities, Miscellaneous applications of functional analysis, Multivariate analysis, Nonlinear functional analysis, Numerical analysis, Numerical analysis in abstract spaces, Numerical methods in Fourier analysis, Operator theory, Optimization, Partial differential equations, Real Analysis, Stochastic analysis and all the other fields of their applications. It is published online only in 2 issues per 1 volume annually. The Number 1 of Volume 6 (2018), of the Transnational Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications is in circulation. ... [← I looked. The issue is said to be "in process." It consists of four articles. Three of the four (spanning pages 15-142) are from the same, highly productive author.]
    The honorable Editorial Members and the Publisher are very committed to build the journal as one of leading multidisciplinary international journal in the next few years. Besides the basic aim of publishing high quality peer-reviewed research articles, sufficient care is given to the timely disposal of the articles received for publication. Generally, we make decision on an article received in two months time and publish the same if duly recommended by the experts within one month of acceptance.
    Papers may be submitted for consideration of possible publication by using any one of the following modes: ... Authors may also send their papers through e-mail or any member of the editorial board with a cc to rashmi@jyotiacademicpress.org .
    Articles received are immediately processed adopting fastest method to arrive at the final decision regarding the publication of a paper normally within two months and in case duly recommended for publication by a Editor/referee, an effort is made to accommodate the paper in an issue to appear next. We understand that the policy of quick decision is in the interest of both the authors as well as the publishers. To ensure speedy publication articles which are sufficiently well presented as are judged by the Editors often get priority.
    Accepted papers get duly edited and typeset in the style of our journal by the publisher and the galley proofs are sent to the submitting authors, unless requested otherwise, without the original manuscript, for corrections. Published articles will be available online free of cost for all on our website. ...
    Article Processing Charges: Authors are requested to arrange print charges of their papers @ USD 30 per page for USA and Canada, and EURO 25 per page for rest of the world from their institutions/research grants, In this regard a proforma invoice is sent to the corresponding authors of the accepted papers along with galley proofs which may be paid during proofs corrections. These contributions help us a lot in maintaining timely publication and circulation of issues. However these print charges are voluntary and if the authors or their institutions are not intended to pay they may do so. Twenty five reprints of the paper are provided to the corresponding authors ex-gratis by us.
    We, hereby, invite you to consider submitting an original research paper or review/survey article of your interest in the Jyoti Academic Press for consideration of possible publication.
    Thanking you,
    Yours sincerely,
    Rashmi Agrawal
    General Manager, Jyoti Academic Press, 53A/51 Chowk Ganga Das, Allahabad 211003, Uttar Pradesh, India, http://jyotiacademicpress.org/, rashmi@jyotiacademicpress.org
Research and Communications in Mathematics and Mathematical Science
  • From: articles@jyotiacademic.co
    Date: 10/4/2018
    Subject: Papers Submit in our Journal "Research and Communications in Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences"
    It is our pleasure to inform you that Jyoti Academic Press invites original research articles, communications as well as review articles, with emphasis on unsolved problems and open questions in mathematics and mathematical sciences. All areas listed on the cover of Mathematical Reviews, such as pure and applied mathematics, mathematical physics, theoretical mechanics, probability and mathematical statistics, and theoretical biology are included within the scope of the Research and Communications in Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences. The Research and Communications in Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences is published in two volumes annually each comprising of two issues. It is a quarterly journal. The Number 10 of Volume 2 (2018) issue, of the Research and Communications in Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences is circulation. To see the contents of this issue please visit the following link ...
    The honorable Editorial Members and the Publisher are very committed to build the journal as one of leading multidisciplinary international journal in the next few years. Besides the basic aim of publishing high quality peer-reviewed research articles, sufficient care is given to the timely disposal of the articles received for publication. Generally, we make decision on an article received in two months time and publish the same if duly recommended by the experts within one month of acceptance.
    Papers may be submitted for consideration of possible publication by using any one of the following modes: 1- Authors are requested to submit their manuscripts directly to editorial head office through e-mail attachment on rashmi@jyotiacademicpress.org ; or jyotiacademicpress.com@gmail.com .
    2- Authors may also send their papers through e-mail to Editor-in-Chief or any member of the editorial board with a cc to rashmi@jyotiacademicpress.org .
    Articles received are immediately processed adopting fastest method to arrive at the final decision regarding the publication of a paper normally within two months and in case duly recommended for publication by a Editor/referee, an effort is made to accommodate the paper in an issue to appear next. We understand that the policy of quick decision is in the interest of both the authors as well as the publishers. To ensure speedy publication articles which are sufficiently well presented as are judged by the Editors often get priority.
    Accepted papers get duly edited and typeset in the style of our journal by the publisher and the galley proofs are sent to the submitting authors, unless requested otherwise, without the original manuscript, for corrections. Published articles will be available online free of cost for all on our website. ...
    Article Processing Charges: Authors are requested to arrange print charges of their papers @ USD 30 per page for USA and Canada, and EURO 25 per page for rest of the world from their institutions/research grants, if any. However, for authors in India this charge is Rs. 1000.00 per page. ... . Jyoti Academic Press provides a set of 25 hardprints of the article to the corresponding author ex-gratis for records and personal use. Authors may also order additional hardprints at their own cost during proofs corrections.
    We, hereby, invite you to consider submitting an original research paper or review/survey article of your interest in the Jyoti Academic Press for consideration of possible publication.
    Thanking you,
    Yours sincerely,
    Rashmi Agrawal
    General Manager
    Jyoti Academic Press
    53A/51 Chowk Ganga Das Allahabad 211003 Uttar Pradesh, India rashmi@jyotiacademicpress.org October 03, 2018
  • From: submission@japjournals.co
    Sent: 8/18/17
    Subject: Call for Papers - Research and Communications in Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences
    It is our pleasure to inform you that Jyoti Academic Press invites original research articles, communications as well as review articles, with emphasis on unsolved problems and open questions in mathematics and mathematical sciences. All areas listed on the cover of Mathematical Reviews, such as pure and applied mathematics, mathematical physics, theoretical mechanics, probability and mathematical statistics, and theoretical biology are included within the scope of the Research and Communications in Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences. The Research and Communications in Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences is published in two volumes annually each comprising of two issues. It is a quarterly journal. The Number 8 of Volume 1 (2017) issue, of the Research and Communications in Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences is in circulation. ... The honorable Editorial Members and the Publisher are very committed to build the journal as one of leading multidisciplinary international journal in the next few years. Besides the basic aim of publishing high quality peer-reviewed research articles, sufficient care is given to the timely disposal of the articles received for publication. Generally, we make decision on an article received in two months time and publish the same if duly recommended by the experts within one month of acceptance. ,,,
    Article Processing Charges: Authors are requested to arrange print charges of their papers @ USD 30 per page for USA and Canada, and EURO 25 per page for rest of the world from their institutions/research grants, if any. However, for authors in India this charge is Rs. 1000.00 per page.  ...
    We, hereby, invite you to consider submitting an original research paper or review/survey article of your interest in the Jyoti Academic Press for consideration of possible publication.
    Thanking you,
    Yours sincerely,
    Rashmi Agrawal
    General Manager
    Jyoti Academic Press, 53A/51 Chowk Ganga Das, Allahabad 211003, Uttar Pradesh, India, rashmi@jyotiacademicpress.org

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Journals with the Imaginary Dr. Szust (aka Dr. Fraud) as an Editor

The Polish word "szust" means "fraud." In this case, it meant a sting.

In 2015, researchers at the University of Wrocław "created a profile of a fictitious scientist named Anna O. Szust and applied on her behalf to the editorial boards of 360 journals." 1/ The good doctor, whse professed Ph.D. was in "Social Sciences History,"
was dismally inadequate for a role as editor. Szust's 'work' had never been indexed in the Web of Science or Scopus databases, nor did she have a single citation in any literature database. Her CV listed no articles in academic journals or any experience as a reviewer, much less an editor. The books and chapters on her CV did not exist and could not be found through any search engine. Even the publishing houses were fake.
The journals were "a mix of legitimate titles and suspected predators." One third were bona fide -- they had "an official impact factor as indexed on Journal Citation Reports" (JCR). None of these journals accepted Dr. Szust as an editor.

One-third of the journals were in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). Journals on this list "must meet certain standards of quality, including ethical publishing practices [and] be fully open access." Seven percent of these journals accepted Szust.

The remainder of the journals were on Jeffrey Beall's now defunct "blacklist [of] potential predatory journals ... that, in his opinion, exploited researchers and failed to meet basic standards of scholarly publishing." A full forty (33%) of the predatory titles accepted Szust.

"At least a dozen journals appointed Szust as editor conditional on, or strongly encouraging, some form of payment or profit." One publisher wrote that "If you want to start a new journal...you will get 30% of the revenue earned thru you." Another expressed its "pleasure to add your name as our editor in chief for this journal with no responsibilities."

All the journals that accepted Szust were notified that she "kindly withdraws her application." Yet, "her name still appears on the editorial boards listed by at least 11 journals' websites. In fact, she is listed as an editor of at least one journal to which we did not apply. She is also listed as management staff [and], a member of conference organizing committees."

The researchers did not reveal any journal titles. They offered two reasons for shielding these journals: "in part because predatory publishers often choose names confusingly similar to reputable titles, and in part because we believe the problem is much larger than the journals we sampled." Could there be an additional reason? Fear of litigation?

A quick search (5/9/17) of the web turns up the fictitious Anna Szust as an editor of the following journals:
International Journal of Current Research and Review (ICJRR), Radiance Research Academy (Regd.), 148, IMSR Building, Ayurvedic Layout, Near NIT Complex, Sakkardara, Nagpur-24, Maharashtra State, India, +91-7709956456
Nova Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nova Explore Publication INC., 5453A Yonge Street, ON, Canada, info@novaexplore.com, +1-647-875-7225
International Journal of Art and Humanity Science, 13/28 Vikas Nagar, First Floor, Lucknow-226022 India, (Call us during 11 A.M - 2 P.M on Weekdays only), Mobile : +91-9451380794
Global Journal of Sociology, SciencePark Science, Organization and Counseling LTD., 13 Subat Street, No: 17, 99030, Kyrenia – Cyprus, info@sproc.org, Tel: +90 533836699
International Journal of Psychology and Cognitive Science, no address (the publisher is the mysterious "American Association for Science and Technology.
The nonexistent social sciences historian is not merely a member of the editorial board of the last journal. She is the editorial board -- there are no other members and no reviewers listed as of 5/14/17. She also is a member of the advisory board of the Jabalpur Management Association, which advertises an MBA program and international conferences (5/10/17).

NOTE
  1. Piotr Sorokowski et al., Predatory Journals Recruit Fake Editor, Nature 543:481–483, Mar. 23, 2017, http://www.nature.com/news/predatory-journals-recruit-fake-editor-1.21662

Sunday, May 7, 2017

International Knowledge Press

International Knowledge Press spams for articles and reviewers. Its website (5/7/17) gives no information on when it was founded. Although it imposes page charges on authors, it publishes no open access journals.

The website for the Asian Journal of Current Research, which was the first from IKP to solicit me, promises that a "Complete list of Editors will be published soon." For now, the journal has no named editor-in-chief, and its editorial board includes one US scholar: "Prof. Palle E. T. Jorgensen, Department of Mathematics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA, palle-jorgensen@uiowa.edu, https://math.uiowa.edu/people/palle-jorgensen."

The latest issue (2017:2) is sparse. It consists of two articles for a total of 14 pages. The articles would cost $30 each to download. They come from authors in India. The scope of the journal in literally unlimited. A webpage states: "Scope of this journal includes (but not limited to): ... all other science and engineering disciplines, etc."

IKP's server is in India. The domain ikpress.org was registered to P. Mondal of Hoogly, West Bengal, India 712410, +91-9434356957, pinakibckv1@yahoo.com, in 2013. IKP also may be operating as Science Domain International (discussed here) and ResearchPromotion.com.
Email
Asian Journal of Current Research
  • Sent: May 4, 2017, 5:44:44 PM EDT,
    From: Ms Rina Basu (editor09@ikkpress.org)
    Greetings!! We are contacting you from Asian Journal of Current Research. This is a subscription based Hardcopy journal. We follow robust and neutral double-blind peer review system. We are committed to provide Quality and Fast publication. Please see our editorial board. Some of our journals are covered by respected indexing services (in process) like: ... . Extremely nominal page charge is applicable ... . This special page charge also covers the cost of complimentary PDF copy of the article, one complimentary journal hard-copy and international postage charges. ...
    with regards,
    Ms. Shyamali Basu
    EUROPE: International Knowledge Press, S107, 3 Hardman Square, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3EB, UK, Fax: +44 (0)161 667 4459
    ASIA PACIFIC: International Knowledge Press, N. S. Road, Tarakeswar, Hooghly, PIN-712410, West Bengal, India
  • The same "newsletter" came on 8/21/17 at 12:38 AM from Ms Ankita Roy (editor03@ikkpress.org).
Journal of Basic and Applied Research international
  • From: Ms Anandi Das (editor09@ikkpress.org)
    Sent: May 18, 2017, 2:32:10 AM EDT
    Dear Colleague,
    We are contacting you from Journal of Basic and Applied Research international. This is a subscription based Hardcopy journal ... . Present ongoing issue is Volume 11-Issue 1. We follow robust and neutral double-blind peer review system. We are committed to provide Quality and Fast publication. Please see our editorial board. ... Some of our journals are covered by respected indexing services (in process) ... .
    Extremely nominal page charge is applicable: ...
    with regards,
    Ms. Shyamali Basu
    Journal of Basic and Applied Research international
    EUROPE: International Knowledge Press, S107, 3 Hardman Square, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3EB, UK, Fax: +44 (0)161 667 4459
    ASIA PACIFIC: International Knowledge Press, N. S. Road, Tarakeswar, Hooghly, PIN-712410, West Bengal, India
  • From: Ms Anjani Roy (editor09@ikkpress.org)
    Sent: Sunday, July 30, 2017, 7:30:37 AM EDT
    Dear Colleague,
    We are contacting you from Journal of Basic and Applied Research international. ... Present ongoing issue is Volume 11-Issue 1. We follow robust and neutral double-blind peer review system. We are committed to provide Quality and Fast publication. Please see our editorial board. ...
    Some of our journals are covered by respected indexing services (in process) like: ... .
    Extremely nominal page charge is applicable... . This special page charge also covers the cost of complimentary PDF copy of the article, one complimentary journal hard-copy and five complimentary reprints and international postage charges. ...
    with regards,
    Ms. Shyamali Basu,
    Journal of Basic and Applied Research international
    EUROPE: International Knowledge Press, S107, 3 Hardman Square, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3EB, UK, Fax: +44 (0)161 667 4459
    ASIA PACIFIC: International Knowledge Press, N. S. Road, Tarakeswar, Hooghly, PIN-712410, West Bengal, India
  • From: Dr. Shyamoli Basu (dhkaye@betterpubl.net)
    Sent: Feb 26 at 11:14 AM
    Dear Colleague,
    We are contacting you from Journal of Basic and Applied Research international. This is a subscription-based Hardcopy journal [ISSN: 2395-3438 (Print), 2395-3446 (Online)]. We follow robust and neutral double-blind peer review system. We are committed to provide Quality and Fast publication. Please see our editorial board. We are now publishing volume 23. ... ail attachment to the editorial office (http://tinyurl.com/editor-office). ...
    with regards,
    Dr. Shyamali Basu
    Journal of Basic and Applied Research international
    EUROPE: International Knowledge Press, S107, 3 Hardman Square, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3EB, UK, Fax: 44 (0)161 667 4459
    ASIA PACIFIC: International Knowledge Press, N. S. Road, Tarakeswar, Hooghly, PIN-712410, West Bengal, India
  • From: Dr. Mina Roy [editor@go4send.online]
    Date: July 3, 2018 3:37 AM [and Aug 31, 2018 8:40 PM]
    Subject: Journal of Basic and Applied Research international (ba-4.1)
    Greetings!! We are contacting you from Journal of Basic and Applied Research international. This is a subscription-based Hardcopy journal ... . Present ongoing Volume is 24. We follow robust and neutral double-blind peer review system. We are committed to provide Quality and Fast publication. Please see our editorial board .... Some of our journals are covered by respected indexing services (in the process) ...
    with regards,
    Dr Mina Roy
    Journal of Basic and Applied Research international
    EUROPE: International Knowledge Press, S107, 3 Hardman Square, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3EB, UK, Fax: +44 (0)161 667 4459
    ASIA PACIFIC: International Knowledge Press, N. S. Road, Tarakeswar, Hooghly, PIN-712410, West Bengal, India