Duplicate Publication

At AfAc Publisher, we value originality and strive to publish novel research contributions. This policy outlines what constitutes acceptable prior publication and how authors can handle previously published work.

Previously Published Work

• Generally Not Accepted: We typically do not consider manuscripts already published or under review elsewhere, regardless of the language.
• Exceptions: We consider certain exceptions with justification provided during submission:
  • Preprints: Posting on preprint servers or personal websites is acceptable (see Preprint Policy for details).
  • Theses: PhD or academic theses, even publicly available ones, are allowed.
  • Conference Materials: Abstracts and posters presented at meetings can be published before the full paper.
  • Datasets: Sharing research data publicly before manuscript submission is encouraged.
  • Clinical Trial Registries: Summary results in public registries are not considered duplicate publication (registration is required – see Registration of Clinical Trials).
  • Translations: Journals may consider translations of original publications in other languages with permission and proper attribution under a CC BY license.

Reuse of Your Own Work

• Citing Previous Work: If your manuscript builds upon your own previously published work or work under review, cite those articles and explain how your new manuscript differs.
• Editor's Discretion: The final decision on publishing content based on your prior work rests with the Editor.
• Reusing Figures/Wording: Permission may be required from the copyright holder for reusing significant portions of text or figures from your own work. Authors are responsible for obtaining this permission.

Consequences of Duplicate Publication

If a published manuscript is later discovered to be redundant, the Editor will follow COPE guidelines and collaborate with the publisher to retract the duplicate paper.

Working Together for Originality

Following these guidelines ensures the originality and integrity of research published in AfAc Publisher journals. We encourage authors to transparently communicate any potential overlap with previous work.