Plagiarism & Similarity Check Policy (CrossCheck)
The Journal of Biomedical Research & Environmental Sciences (JBRES) is committed to ethical, transparent, and trustworthy publishing. To protect authors, readers, and the scientific record, JBRES uses CrossCheck similarity screening as part of the editorial workflow. This process helps validate originality, ensure proper citation, and support responsible open-access publication.
What is Plagiarism?
Plagiarism occurs when an author presents another person’s ideas, words, data, images, or creative work as their own, without clear acknowledgment. It can be intentional or accidental. JBRES aims to educate and support authors in meeting international research-integrity expectations.
Copying sentences, paragraphs, or structure from published papers, websites, or reports without citation.
Reusing figures, tables, photos, or diagrams without permission (if required) and without proper credit.
Reusing large parts of your own published work without citation, or submitting similar manuscripts to multiple journals.
Why Similarity Screening Matters in Open Access
Open access articles are widely visible and immediately accessible. That visibility increases research impact—but it also requires strong ethical standards. Similarity screening helps:
- Protect your reputation by catching unintentional citation errors early.
- Strengthen your manuscript by improving originality and clarity.
- Maintain the scientific record by reducing duplication and questionable practices.
- Support indexing and discovery by ensuring clean metadata and trustworthy content.
When is the Plagiarism Check Completed?
If the similarity report indicates concerns, we will inform the author with clear guidance on what to revise.
How JBRES Handles Similarity Findings
Similarity percentage is reviewed together with context. For example, references, method descriptions, and standard terminology can create expected overlaps. Editorial judgement is always applied. Below is our general guidance:
Manuscript proceeds normally. Minor textual adjustments may be suggested if needed.
Authors are asked to revise: improve paraphrasing, add missing citations, and rewrite overlapping sections. Manuscript may be returned for correction before review/decision.
Manuscript may be rejected or returned for major rewriting and resubmission as a new submission, depending on the nature of overlap (copying vs. acceptable similarity).
Why Manuscripts with Very High Similarity May Be Rejected
When similarity is very high, it often indicates copied text, duplicated publication, or insufficient original contribution. This can harm the author’s credibility and the journal’s integrity. However, JBRES encourages authors to revise responsibly: you may rewrite the manuscript in original language, add proper citations, and resubmit.
Author Checklist to Avoid Similarity Issues
If You Notice Possible Plagiarism
If you suspect plagiarism in any publication, you may inform the editorial office with relevant details: article title, journal name, author(s), year/volume/issue, and supporting evidence/links. Editorial teams evaluate concerns confidentially and respond according to their investigation policies.
If Similarity Is Identified After Publication
If concerns arise after publication, JBRES will perform a preliminary investigation. Where appropriate, we may contact the authors, affiliated institution(s), and funding agencies. Corrective actions may include a correction notice, citation updates, editorial note on the PDF, or retraction in severe cases—based on evidence and overlap severity.
Submission Must Be Original & Unpublished
Submissions must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere. Duplicate publication (full or partial) without proper citation is not accepted. Manuscripts may be checked using similarity detection software as part of editorial processing.
Examples of Unacceptable Practices
- Copying text from papers/websites without citation.
- Copying tables/figures/illustrations without credit or permission (where required).
- Submitting the same or highly similar manuscript to multiple journals.
- Reusing large sections of your previous articles without citation (self-plagiarism).
Acceptable with Proper Citation
- Reusing standard terminology and common methods with citations.
- Expanding a conference abstract into a full paper with clear reference to the prior work.
- Using previously published material only when properly cited and legally permitted.
Publish Ethically. Publish Confidently.
Our integrity checks are designed to protect your work and improve manuscript quality. Submit your research and our editorial team will guide you at every step.