🛡️ Plagiarism Policy

GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences (GSCBPS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, research originality, and ethical scholarly publishing. As an international peer-reviewed Open Access journal, GSCBPS expects every manuscript submitted for publication to represent original research conducted and reported honestly, transparently, and ethically.

Plagiarism undermines scientific credibility, damages public trust, and compromises the integrity of scholarly communication. For this reason, the journal follows a strict plagiarism policy and carefully evaluates submitted manuscripts for originality before they proceed to peer review or publication.

All authors submitting manuscripts to GSCBPS confirm that their work is original, has not been copied from previously published sources without proper acknowledgement, and complies with internationally accepted standards of publication ethics and responsible research conduct.

⚖️ Our Commitment to Research Originality

Original scientific research forms the foundation of reliable scholarly communication. GSCBPS is committed to publishing only manuscripts that demonstrate originality, proper citation practices, accurate attribution of previous work, and responsible academic writing.

The journal actively works to:

• ✅ Promote originality in scientific research.
• ✅ Prevent plagiarism and publication malpractice.
• ✅ Protect intellectual property rights.
• ✅ Encourage accurate citation and referencing.
• ✅ Maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.
• ✅ Support ethical research and responsible publishing.
• ✅ Ensure fairness throughout editorial evaluation and peer review.

🔍 What Is Plagiarism?

Plagiarism is the presentation of another person's words, ideas, data, images, figures, tables, research findings, or other intellectual work as one's own without appropriate acknowledgement or permission where required.

Plagiarism may occur intentionally or unintentionally. Regardless of intent, failure to properly acknowledge the work of others represents unacceptable academic practice and may lead to editorial action.

Proper citation allows readers to distinguish original contributions from previously published work while recognizing the contributions of earlier researchers.

📚 Types of Plagiarism

The journal recognizes several forms of plagiarism, including but not limited to:

📝 Direct Plagiarism

Copying text, sentences, paragraphs, or substantial portions of another work without quotation, permission where necessary, or proper citation.

🔄 Self-Plagiarism

Reusing substantial portions of one's own previously published work without appropriate disclosure, citation, or editorial permission where required.

✍️ Mosaic (Patchwork) Plagiarism

Combining copied phrases, modified wording, or rearranged sentences from multiple sources while presenting the work as original.

💡 Idea Plagiarism

Using another researcher's original concepts, hypotheses, methods, interpretations, or unpublished ideas without appropriate acknowledgement.

📊 Data and Figure Plagiarism

Reproducing tables, graphs, illustrations, photographs, datasets, or other visual material without permission (where required) and proper attribution.

🌐 Source-Based Plagiarism

Providing inaccurate references, misleading citations, fabricated references, or intentionally concealing the true source of information.

🌍 Why Original Research Matters

Scientific progress depends upon trustworthy, reproducible, and original research. Publishing plagiarized material can damage the credibility of authors, institutions, journals, and the wider scientific community.

By maintaining rigorous plagiarism standards, GSCBPS seeks to protect authors, readers, reviewers, funding organizations, and future researchers while ensuring that published articles contribute genuine scientific value.

🔍 Plagiarism Screening Process

To maintain the highest standards of scientific integrity, every manuscript submitted to GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences (GSCBPS) must be already screened by authors for plagiarism. The objective of plagiarism screening is to ensure that submitted manuscripts represent original scholarly work and appropriately acknowledge previously published research.

Editorial screening is conducted before external peer review whenever appropriate. If significant ethical concerns or unacceptable textual similarity are identified, the manuscript may be returned to the authors for clarification, revision, or rejected in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policy.

📊 Similarity Reports and Editorial Assessment

Similarity reports are valuable editorial tools; however, the overall similarity percentage alone does not determine whether plagiarism has occurred. Editorial decisions are based on a comprehensive assessment of the manuscript, including the source, context, nature, and extent of the matched content.

Editors carefully distinguish between acceptable scholarly overlap and unethical copying. Similarity may legitimately arise from:

• 📚 Properly cited quotations.
• 📖 Standard scientific terminology.
• 🧪 Established experimental procedures and methodology descriptions.
• 📋 References and bibliography.
• 📑 Institutional names and technical terminology.
• 🧬 Scientific nomenclature.

Conversely, extensive similarity within the Introduction, Results, Discussion, Conclusions, or other original sections of the manuscript may require further editorial investigation.

📏 Acceptable Similarity

GSCBPS does not rely on a fixed similarity percentage as the sole criterion for editorial decisions. Each manuscript is evaluated individually, considering both the quantity and quality of overlapping text.

Editors consider several factors, including:

• ✅ Whether appropriate citations have been provided.
• ✅ Whether overlapping material appears in methodological descriptions.
• ✅ Whether identical wording is scientifically unavoidable.
• ✅ Whether original scientific contributions remain clearly distinguishable.
• ✅ Whether previously published material has been properly acknowledged.

Even manuscripts with relatively low similarity scores may be rejected if evidence of plagiarism exists. Likewise, manuscripts with higher similarity may remain acceptable where the overlap is properly cited and scientifically justified.

📖 Proper Citation and Referencing

Authors are responsible for acknowledging all sources that have influenced their research. Appropriate citation allows readers to identify previous work, verify information, and distinguish original contributions from existing knowledge.

Authors should ensure that:

• 📚 Every borrowed idea is appropriately referenced.
• 📝 Direct quotations are clearly identified where used.
• 📊 Tables, figures, and illustrations include appropriate attribution.
• 📖 References are complete, accurate, and consistent.
• 🔗 Previously published datasets and supplementary materials are properly acknowledged.

Incomplete, misleading, or fabricated references are considered unacceptable publishing practices.

🖼️ Figures, Tables, Images, and Copyrighted Material

Plagiarism extends beyond written text. Authors should ensure that all figures, photographs, illustrations, tables, graphs, diagrams, and other visual materials either:

• ✅ Have been created by the authors, or
• ✅ Are reproduced with appropriate permission where required, or
• ✅ Are used in accordance with the applicable copyright licence and accompanied by proper attribution.

Unauthorized reproduction of copyrighted material may result in editorial action even when textual similarity is low.

🤖 Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Original Writing

Authors may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools for language improvement or grammar assistance; however, AI-generated content must always be carefully reviewed, verified, and accepted by the authors before submission.

Authors remain fully responsible for:

• ✍️ Scientific accuracy.
• 📊 Data interpretation.
• 🔬 Research methodology.
• 📚 Proper citation of sources.
• ⚖️ Compliance with publication ethics.

AI tools must never be used to fabricate research findings, generate false references, manipulate data, or conceal plagiarism. Any significant use of AI-assisted writing should be disclosed where appropriate in accordance with journal policy.

⚠️ Editorial Action for Suspected Plagiarism

If plagiarism or unacceptable textual overlap is identified during editorial assessment, the Editorial Office will evaluate the circumstances carefully before reaching a decision.

Depending on the nature and severity of the concern, one or more of the following actions may be taken:

• 📩 Request clarification from the corresponding author.
• ✍️ Request revision and proper citation.
• 📄 Require resubmission after correcting similarity issues.
• 🚫 Reject the manuscript.
• ⚠️ Conduct an ethics investigation.
• 🏛️ Notify the relevant institution where serious misconduct is established.

Editorial decisions are made individually and fairly, taking into account the available evidence, the authors' explanation, and internationally accepted publication ethics principles.

👨‍🔬 Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences (GSCBPS) are responsible for ensuring that every submission complies with the journal's plagiarism policy, publication ethics policy, and internationally accepted standards of responsible research and scholarly publishing.

Before submitting a manuscript, authors should carefully verify that all text, figures, tables, images, data, supplementary materials, and references have been prepared ethically and appropriately acknowledge the contributions of other researchers.

✅ Authors Should Ensure That:

• 📝 The manuscript is entirely original.
• 📚 All sources are properly cited and referenced.
• 📊 Data are presented honestly without fabrication or falsification.
• 📄 Previously published material has been appropriately acknowledged.
• 👥 Every listed author has made a genuine scholarly contribution.
• 🔬 The research complies with applicable ethical standards.
• ⚖️ The manuscript is not simultaneously under consideration elsewhere.
• 🌍 The work complies with the journal's Publication Ethics Policy.

📑 Self-Plagiarism and Duplicate Publication

Authors should avoid excessive reuse of their own previously published work without proper acknowledgement. Although authors retain ownership of their ideas, previously published text, figures, tables, and other material should not be reproduced without appropriate citation or editorial justification.

Examples of self-plagiarism include:

• ❌ Reusing large sections of previously published text.
• ❌ Publishing essentially the same research in multiple journals.
• ❌ Splitting one study into several minimally different publications ("salami publication").
• ❌ Reusing identical figures, tables, or datasets without appropriate disclosure.

Where overlap with previous publications is scientifically justified, authors should clearly cite the earlier work and explain the relationship between the publications.

🧾 Citation Best Practices

Proper citation is an essential component of ethical scientific writing. Authors should provide sufficient references to acknowledge previous work while ensuring that citations are relevant, accurate, and scientifically appropriate.

Authors are encouraged to:

• 📚 Cite original research whenever possible.
• 🔍 Verify every reference before submission.
• 📝 Cite both supporting and contrasting research where appropriate.
• 📖 Use recent and relevant literature.
• ⚖️ Avoid unnecessary or excessive self-citation.
• 🚫 Avoid citation manipulation intended to influence journal metrics.

⚠️ Consequences of Plagiarism

Where plagiarism or other forms of publication malpractice are confirmed, the Editorial Office may take appropriate action depending on the severity of the case and the stage of the publication process.

Possible actions include:

• 📩 Requesting clarification from the authors.
• ✍️ Requesting revision before peer review.
• 🚫 Immediate rejection of the manuscript.
• ⚠️ Suspension of editorial processing.
• 🏛️ Notification of the authors' institution where appropriate.
• 📄 Publication of a correction.
• ❌ Retraction of a published article.
• 🚫 Temporary restriction on future submissions in cases of serious misconduct.

Every case is assessed individually, ensuring fairness, confidentiality, and due process throughout the investigation.

📢 Reporting Suspected Plagiarism

GSCBPS encourages authors, reviewers, readers, editors, and members of the scientific community to report suspected plagiarism or publication misconduct whenever credible evidence is available.

Reports should include sufficient supporting information to allow the Editorial Office to conduct an objective assessment.

All reports are handled confidentially and investigated fairly in accordance with the journal's Publication Ethics Policy.

Editorial Office
📧 Email: editor-gscbps@gsconlinepress.com 

🔗 Related Policies

• ⚖️ Publication Ethics Policy
• 👨‍⚖️ Editorial Screening & Peer Review Process
• 📋 Peer Review Policy & Reviewer Guidelines
• 📝 Author Guidelines
• 📤 Submit Manuscript
• 🌍 Open Access Policy

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does GSCBPS check every manuscript for plagiarism?

Submitted manuscripts may undergo plagiarism screening during editorial evaluation before peer review. Editorial assessment considers both similarity reports and the context of overlapping material.

Is there a fixed similarity percentage for acceptance?

No. Editorial decisions are not based solely on a numerical similarity score. Each manuscript is assessed individually, considering the nature, context, and source of any matching content.

Can a manuscript be rejected because of plagiarism?

Yes. Manuscripts containing unacceptable plagiarism, duplicate publication, fabricated references, or other forms of publication malpractice may be rejected or investigated further.

Is self-plagiarism acceptable?

Authors should avoid extensive reuse of their previously published work without proper citation or editorial justification. Any overlap should be appropriately disclosed.

Does the journal allow AI-assisted writing?

AI tools may be used for language improvement or grammar assistance. However, authors remain fully responsible for the originality, scientific accuracy, citations, data integrity, and ethical compliance of the submitted manuscript.

What happens after plagiarism is discovered in a published article?

Depending on the findings, the journal may publish a correction, issue an expression of concern, or retract the article to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.