The Journal of Clinical Nephrology (JCN) upholds the highest ethical standards in academic publishing and has a strict policy against plagiarism. All submitted manuscripts are thoroughly screened to ensure originality and compliance with ethical guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of presenting someone else’s work, ideas, or intellectual property as one’s own without proper acknowledgment. This includes:

• Direct Plagiarism: Copying text, images, or data from another source without citation.
• Self-Plagiarism: Republishing one’s own previously published work without appropriate attribution or disclosure.
• Paraphrasing Plagiarism: Rewriting another author’s work without proper citation.
• Image or Figure Plagiarism: Using copyrighted figures, tables, or illustrations without permission or proper acknowledgment.
• Fabrication and Falsification: Manipulating research data or results to mislead readers.

Plagiarism Detection Process

All manuscripts submitted to JCN undergo rigorous plagiarism screening using advanced detection software. The editorial team follows these steps:

• Manuscripts are checked for similarity against a comprehensive database of published articles, books, and online sources.
• High similarity scores or suspected plagiarism cases are reviewed by the editorial team.
• Authors may be asked to revise or clarify sections with high similarity before further processing.
• If significant plagiarism is detected, the manuscript will be rejected, and the author’s institution may be informed.

Consequences of Plagiarism

JCN maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards plagiarism. Depending on the severity of the case, the following actions may be taken:

• Minor Overlap: If small portions of the manuscript show unintended similarity, authors will be asked to revise and properly cite sources.
• Moderate Plagiarism: If substantial portions are copied without attribution, the manuscript will be rejected, and authors will be required to rewrite the content before resubmission.
• Severe Plagiarism: If a significant portion of the manuscript is plagiarized, the submission will be rejected, and the authors may be blacklisted from future submissions.
• Post-Publication Plagiarism: If plagiarism is discovered after publication, the article may be retracted, and a notice of misconduct will be issued.

Self-Plagiarism Policy

Authors must ensure that submitted work is original and does not contain extensive overlap with their previous publications. The following guidelines apply:

• Authors should disclose if the manuscript includes content from their previous work.
• Reusing portions of prior publications requires proper citation and permission where necessary.
• Submissions based on conference proceedings or preprints must provide full transparency and proper attribution.
• Repetitive publication of the same research with minor modifications (salami slicing) is not permitted.

Proper Citation Practices

To avoid plagiarism, authors must follow proper citation practices, including:

• Providing complete references for all sources of information, including direct quotes and paraphrased content.
• Ensuring figures, tables, and data from other sources are properly cited and, where necessary, obtaining permission for reproduction.
• Clearly distinguishing between previously published work and new contributions.
• Using quotation marks for direct quotes and citing the original source.

Editorial Actions on Plagiarism Cases

If plagiarism is identified at any stage, the following editorial actions will be taken:

• Authors will be notified and given an opportunity to provide explanations.
• Manuscripts may be placed on hold until plagiarism concerns are resolved.
• In severe cases, the submission will be rejected, and a formal report may be sent to the author’s institution.
• If plagiarism is detected after publication, the article will be retracted with an official statement in the journal.

Handling Plagiarism Allegations

Anyone who suspects plagiarism in a published article or submitted manuscript can report it to the editorial office. JCN follows these steps:

• A detailed investigation will be conducted by the editorial team.
• Authors may be requested to submit clarifications and supporting documents.
• If plagiarism is confirmed, appropriate actions, including rejection or retraction, will be taken.
• Serious cases will be reported to relevant academic and ethical committees.

Plagiarism Prevention Tools

To maintain the integrity of scholarly publishing, JCN uses plagiarism detection software to screen all submitted manuscripts before peer review.

• Authors are encouraged to check their manuscripts using plagiarism detection tools before submission.
• Any manuscript exceeding the acceptable similarity threshold may be sent back for revision or rejected.
• Editorial decisions on plagiarism cases are final.