Plagiarism & Duplicate Publication

All submitted manuscripts are screened using similarity-detection software.

As a preliminary editorial rule, the overall similarity score should normally not exceed 20% after excluding the bibliography, properly quoted text, and standard methodological phrases.

A similarity score above 20% triggers manual editorial assessment and does not automatically establish plagiarism or determine rejection. The editors assess the source, extent, distribution, and nature of the overlap.

Duplicate and redundant publication

Authors must not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal at the same time or publish substantially the same work more than once without transparent disclosure and appropriate citation. This includes translated duplicate publication and fragmented or redundant reporting.

Assessment and response

Potential plagiarism, self-plagiarism, unattributed reuse, manipulated citations, or duplicate publication is assessed on the evidence and context. Authors are invited to respond. Proportionate action may include revision, rejection, correction, expression of concern, or retraction.