JJBM defines plagiarism as the appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results, equations, models, or words without giving appropriate credit. In the context of biomathematics, this includes, but is not limited to:

• Verbatim Copying: Reproducing text, mathematical derivations, or code exactly as it appears in another source without proper quotation and citation.

• Inadequate Paraphrasing: Altering a few words or rearranging sentences from a source while retaining the original structure and meaning, without proper citation.

• Idea Plagiarism: Presenting someone else's mathematical models, biological hypotheses, or novel methodologies as your own.

• Image/Data Plagiarism: Using figures, tables, datasets, or graphs from other publications without copyright permission and proper attribution.

• Self-Plagiarism (Text Recycling): Republishing substantial parts of one's own previously published work without explicitly citing the earlier publication. While reusing foundational equations from a previous model is often necessary, the accompanying text and new findings must be wholly original.

All manuscripts submitted to JJBM undergo a rigorous plagiarism screening process before they are assigned to an Editor for desk review or sent out for peer review. JJBM exclusively utilizes Turnitin to ensure the originality of submitted manuscripts.

The screening process follows these steps:

1. Initial Upload: Upon receiving a new submission via Open Journal Systems (OJS), the editorial staff immediately uploads the compiled PDF manuscript to the Turnitin system.

2. Database Comparison: Turnitin scans the manuscript against its comprehensive, proprietary databases, which include current and archived web pages, repositories of student papers, and a vast collection of published academic articles, books, and journals.

3. Similarity Report Generation: The software generates a detailed Turnitin Similarity Report, which highlights matching text blocks and provides an overall Similarity Index (a percentage score).

4. Editorial Evaluation: An editor carefully reviews the Turnitin Similarity Report. The software is a tool for detection, but the final judgment on whether the matches constitute plagiarism is made by human editors who evaluate the context of the matched text.

5. Secondary Screening: A secondary check using Turnitin may be performed on the final revised manuscript prior to acceptance to ensure any newly added material is also original.

While the Turnitin Similarity Report provides a percentage score, the Editorial Board evaluates the nature of the matches. However, JJBM enforces the following general thresholds as a baseline:

• Maximum Overall Similarity: The overall Turnitin similarity index must be below 20%.

• Maximum Single-Source Similarity: Matches from any single external source must not exceed 5%.

• Turnitin Exclusion Settings: When generating the report, the editorial team configures Turnitin to exclude:

  • The Bibliography / Reference List.

  • Quotes (properly formatted block quotes, though direct quoting should be kept to an absolute minimum in mathematical sciences).

  • Small matches (e.g., strings of fewer than 10 words) to filter out standard mathematical phrases, common biological nomenclature, and generic methodological boilerplate.

Note: A similarity score below 20% does not guarantee immunity from plagiarism charges if the matched text contains the core, novel findings of another paper. Conversely, a score slightly above 20% may be permissible at the Editor's discretion if the matches are entirely benign (e.g., standard definitions in the introduction).

The Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board have the final authority to determine the severity of any suspected plagiarism. JJBM handles violations according to the flowcharts and guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

A. Pre-Review Detection (During Initial Submission)

• Minor Overlap (e.g., 20% - 25% with poor paraphrasing of background info): The manuscript will be returned to the authors with a request to heavily revise, properly paraphrase, and cite the overlapping sections before the manuscript can be considered for peer review.

• Major Overlap / Blatant Plagiarism (> 25% or copying core results): The manuscript will be immediately Desk Rejected. The authors may be barred from submitting to JJBM for a period determined by the Editorial Board.

B. Detection During the Peer Review Process

If a reviewer flags potential plagiarism or undisclosed self-plagiarism, the review process is suspended. The Editor will investigate using the Turnitin Similarity Report. If confirmed, the manuscript is rejected, and the corresponding author is notified with the evidence.

C. Post-Publication Detection

If plagiarism is discovered after an article has been officially published, JJBM takes the following steps:

1. Investigation: The Editor-in-Chief will conduct a thorough investigation, allowing the authors an opportunity to respond to the allegations.

2. Correction or Retraction: Depending on the extent of the plagiarism:

   • Minor omitted citations: An Erratum/Corrigendum may be published.

   • Major plagiarism: The article will be formally Retracted. A Retraction Notice will be published, linked to the original article, and the original PDF will be watermarked as "RETRACTED."

3. Institutional Notification: In severe cases of academic misconduct, JJBM reserves the right to notify the authors' affiliated institutions, funding agencies, and relevant academic ethics committees.

By submitting a manuscript to JJBM, authors legally declare that:

1. The work is entirely their own original creation.

2. All third-party sources (literature, data, models) have been appropriately cited.

3. The manuscript is not currently under consideration by any other journal.

4. They accept the terms of this Plagiarism Screening Policy and the potential consequences of any breach.