Plagiarism Detection

Similarity Screening

Biomedical and Chemical Applications (BIOCA) is committed to maintaining originality, academic integrity, and responsible scholarly communication. All manuscripts submitted to BIOCA are screened using Turnitin to identify textual similarity and potential overlap with published or publicly available sources. Similarity screening supports the editorial assessment of a manuscript and may be conducted during the initial evaluation or at other stages of the publication process when necessary.

What Constitutes Plagiarism?

Plagiarism is the use of another person's words, ideas, data, images, figures, tables, or other intellectual work without adequate acknowledgment. It may include, but is not limited to:

• Copying text or substantial portions of another work without appropriate quotation or citation.
• Paraphrasing another author's ideas or findings without acknowledging the original source.
• Using figures, tables, photographs, illustrations, datasets, or other materials without proper attribution or permission where required.
• Presenting another person's research, results, or ideas as one's own.
• Reusing substantial portions of one's own previously published work without transparent disclosure and appropriate citation (text recycling or self-plagiarism).
• Submitting the same or substantially similar manuscript to more than one journal at the same time, or republishing material without appropriate disclosure and permission where required.

Assessment of Similarity Reports

A similarity score indicates the extent of text matching identified by the software; it does not, by itself, establish whether plagiarism has occurred. Editors assess the Turnitin report in context, considering the nature and location of matched text, the use of citations and quotations, references, standard methodological descriptions, and any other relevant factors. A low similarity score does not automatically rule out plagiarism, and a higher score does not automatically prove misconduct.

Editorial Actions

If a similarity report raises concerns, BIOCA may request an explanation or revision from the authors, conduct further editorial assessment, or reject the manuscript when serious overlap or plagiarism is identified. The action taken depends on the nature, extent, and context of the overlap and the authors' response.

If a potential breach is identified after publication, BIOCA may investigate and take appropriate action in accordance with its publication ethics policies. Such action may include a correction, an expression of concern, or retraction where warranted.

Responsibilities of Authors

• Submit original work that is not under consideration by another journal.
• Clearly cite all sources used and provide appropriate quotation or attribution when reproducing text or materials.
• Obtain permission for copyrighted materials where required and acknowledge the original source.
• Disclose any relevant overlap with the authors' previous publications and explain the relationship between the works.
• Respond honestly and promptly to editorial questions concerning originality and the similarity report.