All manuscripts under review or published with TPB are subject to screening using Plagiarism plagiarism-prevention software called (Ithenticate). Plagiarism is a serious violation of publication ethics. Other violations include duplicate publication, data fabrication and falsification, and improper credit of author contribution. Thus, Plagiarism or Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unethical behavior are unacceptable, and submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal concurrently constitutes unethical publishing behavior and is unacceptable.

The development of CrossCheck is a service that helps editors to verify the originality of papers. CrossCheck is powered by the Ithenticate software from iParadigms, known in the academic community as a provider of Turnitin. For a searchable list of all journals in the CrossCheck database, please visit: www.ithenticate.com

All new submissions in the (TPB) are automatically screened using CrossCheck within the editorial system. Editorial Board Member may also choose to run a similarity report at any other point during the review process or post-publication. The default similarity report view gives the percentage of the text of the manuscript that has overlapped with one or more published articles. Figures and equations cannot be checked at present. Note that a high similarity score does not necessarily indicate plagiarized text. A similarity score of 30% could mean 30% text in common with one source but could equally mean 1% text in common with 30 different sources. Re-used text that has been legitimately cited in the Bibliography may all contribute to the similarity score. The subject knowledge of an editorial expert is vital to interpreting the CrossCheck report and determining whether there are any grounds for concern.

Self-plagiarism

Self-plagiarism in TPB, where an author republishes their own previously published work without proper citation or permission, can lead to severe consequences. Firstly, it undermines the integrity of academic publishing by compromising the novelty and originality expected in scholarly contributions. Editors and peer reviewers rely on the assurance that each submission presents new insights. Moreover, self-plagiarism can distort citation metrics and impact assessments, affecting an author's academic reputation. Journals may reject or retract the article, leading to wasted time and effort. Emphasizing the importance of ethical publishing practices not only ensures adherence to professional standards but also maintains the credibility of both individual researchers and the broader scientific community.

 

Addressing Plagiarism in Research Publications

When plagiarism is detected in a published research article, the (TPB) takes swift action by retracting the paper, clearly marking it as "Retracted" in red, and updating databases like Scopus and Google Scholar accordingly. Simultaneously, the implicated researcher is barred from publishing future work within the journal, safeguarding academic integrity. This comprehensive approach not only addresses the immediate issue but also imposes lasting consequences on the researcher's scientific standing, serving as a deterrent against future misconduct and preserving the credibility of scholarly publications.