Plagiarism and Similarity Policy

All manuscripts received by the journal undergo compulsory plagiarism and similarity verification before entering the peer review stage and, when deemed necessary, during subsequent phases of the editorial workflow. The journal officially employs Turnitin and iThenticate as its plagiarism detection platforms.

Similarity reports are assessed by the editorial team through expert evaluation rather than solely on numerical values. Similarity percentages are interpreted according to their context and, by themselves, do not automatically determine the acceptance or rejection of a manuscript. Nevertheless, the following thresholds serve as guidance for editorial decision-making:

• Similarity index up to 15%:
Generally regarded as acceptable, provided that the detected overlap consists of correctly cited quotations, references, methodological descriptions, or commonly used technical terminology.

• Similarity index between 16% and 25%:
Subject to editorial assessment. Authors may be requested to revise the manuscript by decreasing textual overlap, strengthening paraphrasing, or correcting citation practices before the editorial process can continue.

• Similarity index between 26% and 40%:
Considered a significant concern. In most cases, the manuscript will be returned to the authors for substantial revision or rejected, depending on the type, location, and magnitude of the overlapping content.

• Similarity index above 40%:
Deemed unacceptable and considered indicative of plagiarism or duplicate publication. Manuscripts within this range will be rejected without undergoing peer review. If such issues are identified after publication, the article may be subject to retraction.

Regardless of the overall similarity percentage, manuscripts may be rejected if they include:

• Copying of text, concepts, data, or figures without appropriate acknowledgment

• Plagiarism affecting essential sections such as the results, discussion, or conclusions

• Self-plagiarism or duplicate publication lacking adequate citation or valid justification

• Improper reuse of previously published material distributed under incompatible licensing terms

When plagiarism or redundant publication is suspected, the editorial team will examine the seriousness of the case and may request a formal explanation from the corresponding author. Depending on the circumstances, possible outcomes include manuscript revision, rejection, notification of the authors’ affiliated institutions, publication of a correction, or article retraction.

By submitting a manuscript, authors certify that the work is original, appropriately referenced, and fully complies with this plagiarism policy. Failure to observe these requirements constitutes a violation of publication ethics.