Originality and Attribution
Submitted manuscripts are expected to present original scholarly work and to acknowledge accurately the words, ideas, figures, data, and other material of third parties. Direct quotations must be identified and cited appropriately. Reuse of the authors' own previously published material should be disclosed and cited when relevant.
Editorial Assessment
Editors may examine suspected overlap or improper attribution using available evidence, bibliographic comparison, and similarity-screening tools. A similarity report by itself is not proof of plagiarism: the nature, context, and extent of overlapping material require editorial assessment.
Before Publication
When a credible concern arises, the editor may request an explanation, clarification, citations, or revisions from the authors. Serious or unresolved concerns may lead to rejection, subject to the journal's approved editorial procedure.
After Publication
If a concern is substantiated after publication, the journal may consider an appropriate correction, editorial notice, or retraction in light of the reliability of the article and applicable publication-ethics guidance. Authors should be given a fair opportunity to respond.
