Plagiarism Policy
The Journal of Hematology and Clinical Research (JHCR) protects the reliability of the scientific record by preventing and addressing plagiarism in all submitted and published content. The legacy JHCR site states that the journal is “committed to protect the reliability of the scholarly manuscript,” and it sets out expectations for originality and ethical writing across article types.
This policy applies to submissions of original articles, reviews, brief reports, case reports, editorials, and special issue contributions, as well as revised manuscripts and supplementary files. It complements the journal’s Peer Review Policy, Withdrawal Policy, and Crossref/Crossmark update practices.
Definitions
| Term | Definition and Notes |
|---|---|
| Plagiarism | Using another person’s words, ideas, data, images, or structure without proper attribution. Includes copying sentences/paragraphs, close paraphrasing that mirrors the original structure, or failing to credit the original source. |
| Self-plagiarism / Redundant Publication | Recycling the authors’ own previously published text, figures, or data without disclosure and citation; splitting data across multiple papers (“salami slicing”) to inflate output. |
| Translation Plagiarism | Publishing a translated version of previously published content without permission or citation; translating others’ work and presenting it as new. |
| Image Manipulation | Altering figures (e.g., electrophoresis gels, microscopy) to misrepresent findings; splicing without demarcation; duplicating image regions. Covered under integrity checks at initial QC. |
| Text Recycling (acceptable) | Limited reuse of methods text or boilerplate with citation and quotation where appropriate; must be minimal and disclosed. |
Similarity Screening and Tools
All submissions undergo similarity checking with established tools (e.g., iThenticate) during initial quality control and may be rechecked after revision and before acceptance. The legacy “Guide for Contributor/For Submission” notes that the editorial office uses a plagiarism detection system (iThenticate) for every submitted manuscript and can reject manuscripts at any stage where serious issues are found.
Screening Stages
- Stage 1 — Pre-review QC: Editors perform a scope check and run similarity screening; major issues lead to return or rejection.
- Stage 2 — Post-revision check: Revised text is re-screened to ensure inappropriate overlaps have been removed.
- Stage 3 — Pre-acceptance audit: Final check of text, captions, and supplementary files (including figures) for integrity and proper attribution.
Note: A raw “similarity score” is only an indicator. Editors examine the sources and locations of overlap to distinguish legitimate citations and methods text from problematic reuse.
Editorial Evaluation of Overlap
JHCR does not rely on a single numeric threshold. Instead, editors consider the nature, location, and extent of overlap:
- Acceptable with citation: Short common phrases; methodological boilerplate where unavoidable; properly quoted material.
- Minor issues (revise): Limited paraphrasing too close to the source in the Introduction or Discussion; missing citations in background sections.
- Major issues (reject/withdraw): Verbatim copying of paragraphs; duplication of a figure/table; re-submitting previously published case material without permission; translated duplication presented as new.
Examples
- Methods reuse: Authors reuse two sentences from their prior protocol with citation → usually acceptable after minor edits.
- Figure reuse: A flow cytometry panel from an earlier paper is reused without permission/credit → unacceptable (requires permission or replacement).
- Translation: A previously published case report translated into English and submitted as new → unacceptable unless disclosed, cited, and permitted by the original license.
Author Responsibilities
- Ensure the manuscript is original, properly cites prior work, and contains no plagiarized text, figures, or data.
- Disclose prior dissemination (e.g., preprint, thesis, conference proceedings) and provide permissions for any third-party content.
- For reused elements (e.g., a schematic), label clearly in the caption and indicate the license or permission details.
- Respond promptly to editorial queries about similarity reports and provide original data or figure files if requested.
- Avoid duplicate or concurrent submission to other journals during consideration, as indicated in JHCR’s peer-review and contributor guidance.
Reviewer and Editor Responsibilities
Reviewers should flag suspected overlap, unattributed adaptations, or unusual figure artifacts; editors investigate using similarity tools and targeted searches. The peer-review page describes a process in which validity, significance, and originality—not author identity—guide decisions.
Editors may request clarifications, raw images, or data extracts. If concerns persist, the submission may be rejected or escalated under the journal’s misconduct and withdrawal procedures.
Editorial Actions for Plagiarism
| Finding | Typical Action | Outcome/Record |
|---|---|---|
| Minor unattributed text overlap (background) | Request revision and proper citation; re-screen after changes | Proceed with review after correction |
| Moderate overlap (multiple sections) or unattributed paraphrasing | Reject with option to resubmit after substantial rewriting and citation | Internal record of similarity findings |
| Substantial verbatim copying; duplicated figure/table; translated duplication | Immediate rejection; notify institutions if warranted | Record retained; authors may appeal through Grievances process |
| Post-publication confirmed plagiarism | Publish correction, expression of concern, or retraction; update DOI/Crossmark | Permanent notice linked to the Version of Record; Crossref updated |
Where a submission is withdrawn by the authors after detection (e.g., following an adverse similarity report), charges may apply based on stage, as codified in the journal’s withdrawal policy.
Image and Figure Integrity
Figures must accurately represent the data. The editorial office may request original, uncompressed image files and raw data for verification. Undisclosed splicing, duplication, or selective enhancement is unacceptable and may lead to rejection, retraction, or a requirement to replace figures with appropriate annotations. The contributor guidance confirms that manuscripts may be rejected at any stage for falsification or fabrication concerns.
Special Issues and Guest Editors
All special-issue content adheres to the same plagiarism standards as regular issues. Guest editors are responsible for enforcing checks and escalating suspected misconduct. JHCR special-issue guidance and FAQs emphasize guest editor responsibilities and evaluation steps.
Post-Publication Issues: Corrections, Retractions, and Notices
If plagiarism is established after publication, JHCR follows corrective practices consistent with Crossref/Crossmark: we post a Correction, Expression of Concern, or Retraction that is permanently linked to the Version of Record and propagated through DOI metadata for indexers and libraries.
The site’s policy cluster and article pages surface these notices to readers alongside other policies and the DOI record.
Author Appeals and Grievances
Authors who disagree with a plagiarism decision may appeal through the Grievances Policy. Appeals should include a point-by-point response, annotated similarity report, and any permissions for reused content. An independent editor may be assigned to review the evidence.
Best Practices to Avoid Plagiarism
- Draft in your own words. When paraphrasing, change both wording and structure and cite the source.
- Use quotation marks for verbatim text and include page numbers when appropriate.
- Keep detailed notes linking figures/tables to their original creators, licenses, or permissions.
- Run your own similarity check before submission and correct issues proactively.
- Avoid reusing published figures even if you are the author unless permitted by the license (e.g., CC BY 4.0) and always cite the original. See JHCR’s CC BY framework on licensing/open access pages surfaced across the site.
Attribution Templates
Figure adapted from your prior work: “Adapted from Author et al. (Year), Journal/DOI, © Authors, CC BY 4.0.”
Figure reused from third party (open license): “Reused from Creator (Year), Source/DOI, License: CC BY 4.0.”
FAQs
Do you have a fixed similarity percentage?
No. Editors examine the quality of overlap (where and how) rather than a single number. Method text with proper citation may produce higher scores without constituting plagiarism.
Can I reuse parts of my thesis?
Yes, with clear citation to the thesis and confirmation that institutional policies allow reuse. If the thesis is under restrictive copyright, obtain permission.
What about preprints?
Posting on a recognized preprint server is allowed. On publication, update the preprint with the DOI and a link to the JHCR Version of Record, and ensure any substantial text recycling is transparent.
What happens if plagiarism is found during review?
Editors contact the corresponding author with the similarity report and request an explanation or revision. Serious cases are rejected and may be escalated per withdrawal or misconduct procedures.
How are readers informed post-publication?
Through corrections, expressions of concern, or retraction notices linked to the article’s DOI and surfaced via Crossref/Crossmark.
Contact
Editorial Office – Journal of Hematology and Clinical Research (JHCR)
Heighten Science Publications Inc.
Website: https://www.hematologyresjournal.com/
Email: [email protected]