Policy of Screening for Plagiarism

The Journal of Diabetes, Metabolism and Endocrinology maintains a strict policy against plagiarism, duplicate publication, text recycling, and other forms of inappropriate appropriation of intellectual work. The journal uses Turnitin or an equivalent recognized similarity-detection system as part of its manuscript screening and research-integrity process.

1. Mandatory Plagiarism Report

Authors are required to submit a plagiarism/similarity report generated by Turnitin or an equivalent reputable similarity-detection software together with their manuscript at the time of submission.

A manuscript submission should therefore include:

• Complete manuscript in Word format.
• Full plagiarism/similarity report.
• Author information and declarations.
• Other documents required under the journal's submission guidelines.

Manuscripts submitted without the required plagiarism report may be returned to the authors before entering the peer-review process.

2. Initial Similarity Screening

Upon receipt, the Editorial Office may conduct an independent similarity check using Turnitin or another appropriate detection system.

The purpose of screening is to identify potentially problematic text overlap, including:

• Direct copying.
• Unattributed text.
• Excessive paraphrasing without appropriate citation.
• Duplicate publication.
• Self-plagiarism or inappropriate text recycling.
• Reuse of previously published material.
• Potentially fabricated or manipulated content.

3. Similarity Percentage

The journal does not rely solely on a single similarity percentage to determine whether plagiarism has occurred.

A similarity score is an indicator requiring editorial assessment. Legitimate matches may arise from:

• References.
• Standard scientific terminology.
• Methodological descriptions.
• Common phrases.
• Author affiliations.
• Properly quoted material.
• Previously disclosed or appropriately cited sources.

Editors therefore assess the nature, location, extent, and source of the matching text, rather than relying exclusively on the overall percentage.

4. Editorial Assessment of Similarity

Where significant similarity is identified, the Editorial Office may review the matched sources and determine whether the overlap represents legitimate citation or potentially inappropriate copying.

Depending on the findings, the authors may be asked to:

• Provide an explanation.
• Correct citations.
• Rewrite inappropriate text.
• Remove duplicated material.
• Submit a revised manuscript.
• Provide additional documentation.

5. Plagiarism Identified Before Peer Review

If substantial plagiarism or inappropriate text reuse is identified during initial screening, the manuscript may be:

• Returned to the authors for clarification or correction.
• Rejected before peer review.
• Referred for further research-integrity investigation where appropriate.

Serious cases may be handled in accordance with applicable COPE guidance.

6. Plagiarism Identified During Peer Review

If plagiarism is identified after the manuscript has entered peer review, the editorial process may be suspended while the matter is assessed.

The journal may reject the manuscript where the evidence demonstrates significant plagiarism or other serious publication-ethics concerns.

7. Plagiarism Identified After Publication

If plagiarism is discovered after publication, the journal may investigate the matter and take appropriate action to protect the integrity of the published record.

Depending on the severity and circumstances, actions may include:

• Correction.
• Editorial clarification.
• Expression of Concern.
• Retraction.
• Notification of the authors' institution or relevant authority where appropriate.

8. Self-Plagiarism and Text Recycling

Authors must not substantially reproduce their own previously published work without appropriate disclosure, citation, and justification.

Limited reuse of standard methodological language may be acceptable in certain circumstances, but substantial or misleading duplication may constitute inappropriate text recycling.

Authors are responsible for identifying and appropriately citing their previous publications.

9. Duplicate and Redundant Publication

Submitting substantially the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously or republishing substantially the same research without appropriate disclosure is not permitted.

Authors must disclose relevant previous publications, submissions, conference papers, preprints, or related manuscripts where they could create concerns regarding duplicate or redundant publication.

10. Proper Attribution

Authors must appropriately acknowledge the intellectual contributions of others through accurate citation and attribution.

Direct quotations, substantial ideas, datasets, figures, tables, and other material derived from existing sources must be appropriately cited and, where required, reproduced only with appropriate permission.

11. Responsibilities of Authors

By submitting a manuscript, authors confirm that:

• The manuscript is substantially original.
• All sources have been appropriately cited.
• Any reused material has been properly acknowledged.
• The manuscript has not been knowingly plagiarized.
• The required Turnitin or equivalent similarity report has been provided.
• The information contained in the plagiarism report is genuine and has not been manipulated.

Authors remain responsible for the originality and integrity of their submitted work.

12. False or Manipulated Similarity Reports

Submitting a fabricated, altered, incomplete, or misleading plagiarism report is considered a serious publication-ethics concern.

The journal may request the original Turnitin report or conduct an independent screening process where the submitted report appears unreliable.

13. Editorial Discretion

The journal recognizes that similarity-detection software cannot determine plagiarism automatically.

Final decisions concerning suspected plagiarism are made by qualified editorial personnel based on the available evidence, relevant scholarly standards, and applicable publication-ethics guidance.

14. COPE and Research Integrity

The journal follows relevant Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) principles and guidance when dealing with plagiarism, duplicate publication, text recycling, and other forms of publication misconduct.

Where necessary, the journal may seek clarification from authors, institutions, or other relevant parties before reaching a final decision.

15. Commitment to Original Research

The Journal of Diabetes, Metabolism and Endocrinology is committed to publishing original, properly attributed, and ethically conducted research.

The mandatory submission of a Turnitin or equivalent plagiarism report, combined with independent editorial screening and case-by-case assessment of similarity, forms an important part of the journal's quality-control and publication-ethics framework.