Duplicate Publications

1. Duplicate Publications Policy

The Shahroud Journal of Medical Sciences (SJMS) maintains a strict policy regarding duplicate publications to ensure the integrity, originality, and copyright compliance of scholarly work. Duplicate publications refer to instances where an author submits a manuscript containing figures, data, or content previously published elsewhere without proper acknowledgment, attribution, or permissions. To maintain ethical publication standards, the following guidelines must be adhered to:

Responsibilities of the Corresponding Author

When submitting a manuscript that includes previously published figures, text, and/or data, the corresponding author is required to:

  • Identification and Acknowledgment: Clearly identify any duplicated material within the manuscript and acknowledge the source on the submission form.
  • Permission from Original Publisher: Obtain formal written permission from the original publisher (the copyright owner) to reuse figures and/or data in the new manuscript, respecting all intellectual property rights.
  • Acknowledgment in Figure Legends: Include an explicit acknowledgment of duplication in the legend of any figure where previously published material appears.
  • Citations: Properly cite the original article from which the figures or data were obtained to give appropriate credit and context.

Exceptions to the Duplication Policy

The following scholarly activities do not constitute duplicate publication and do not preclude submission to or publication by SJMS:

  • Posting of Methods/Protocols: Posting a step-by-step method or study protocol on a public repository or protocol platform.
  • Restricted Posting of Original Data: Sharing limited amounts of unique content or raw data on personal, university, or small-team collaborative project websites.
  • Public Database Deposits: Depositing unpublished sequence data, structural data, or trials in established public databases.
  • Preliminary Disclosures: Presenting preliminary research findings as posters, webcasts, or published abstracts at scientific meetings or conferences.
  • Theses and Dissertations: Depositing and posting completed theses or dissertations on university-hosted repository websites.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Failure to adhere to the Duplicate Publications Policy may result in the immediate rejection of the submitted manuscript or retraction of already published papers. Authors are strongly encouraged to ensure full compliance to uphold academic integrity.

2. Research Misconduct Policy

The Shahroud Journal of Medical Sciences (SJMS) is deeply committed to maintaining the absolute integrity, validity, and credibility of the scientific research it publishes.

Definition of Misconduct

Research misconduct primarily encompasses three major categories:

  • Fabrication: Making up data or study results and recording or reporting them as authentic.
  • Falsification: Manipulating research materials, equipment, processes, or changing/omitting data so that the research findings are not accurately represented in the record.
  • Plagiarism: Using another person’s ideas, processes, results, or specific words without giving appropriate, explicit credit.

Institutional Responsibilities

It is crucial to note that the primary responsibility for investigating allegations of research misconduct lies with the institution that employs or hosts the researcher. This typically involves a formal inquiry and investigation process adhering to institutional guidelines and applicable regulations.

Journal’s Role and Cooperation

SJMS maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward scientific misconduct. If credible allegations arise before or after publication, the editorial office is fully prepared to cooperate with institutional investigations, conduct independent editorial inquiries, and take appropriate corrective actions (such as issuing corrections, expressions of concern, or formal retractions).