Plagiarism policy

What we expect

Manuscripts must present the authors' own work and ideas, with appropriate credit to prior work. Duplicate submission (submitting the same work to more than one journal at a time) and redundant publication (overlapping publication without clear cross-reference and justification) are not acceptable unless explicitly permitted under stated conditions (for example, preprints with disclosure).

Screening

Submissions may be screened using plagiarism detection or similarity-checking tools. Editors may also assess overlap with the authors' previous publications, conference abstracts, and thesis material. High similarity or unattributed overlap may lead to requests for revision, additional documentation, or rejection.

Text recycling and translations

Reuse of wording from your own prior work should be minimal, clearly signposted, and compliant with copyright. Translations or secondary publication must be disclosed and, where applicable, permission obtained; the original source should be cited.

If concerns arise

If plagiarism, fabrication, or falsification is suspected before or after publication, the editorial office may investigate, contact authors for an explanation, and follow COPE-informed workflows. Outcomes may include correction, retraction, or notification of institutions, consistent with the seriousness of the case.

For corrections and retractions, see our retraction and correction policy.