Article [3]AI Integrity Check

Evidence for the editor, never a verdict.

Abstract

AI Integrity Check screens every manuscript on arrival for text similarity, duplicated or altered images, references that cannot be found or have been retracted, and indicators of AI-generated text. Results are reported with their evidence and their limits, for editors to judge in context.

Four checks on every manuscript, in one report
Each flag shows its evidence, its source and its uncertainty
Editors investigate and decide; a flag is never proof of misconduct

J. Soil Microbial Sci./JMS-2026-0418/Integrity report2 items to verify

9%similarity

Text similarityMethods section, authors' own prior work, cited

Low

Image check6 figures, 31 panels: no duplicated or altered panels

Clear

Reference check2 of 58 references not found; author asked to verify

Verify

AI-text indicatorsLow signal. Shown for context, never a basis on its own

Context

Figure 1. The integrity report for one manuscript, with similarity, image, reference and AI-text results.

J. Soil Microbial Sci./JMS-2026-0377/Image check1 panel pair to review

Fig. 2B

96% matchrotated 180°

Fig. 5D

Possible reuse flagged for the handling editor. Ask the authors for the original images before any conclusion.

Figure 2. A possible reused panel, matched across two figures after a 180° rotation.

Text similarity, with context

Similarity is reported by source and by section. Overlap in a methods section with the authors' own cited prior work reads very differently from overlap in results or discussion, and the report makes that distinction visible.

Breakdown by source and manuscript section
Own prior work and cited text identified
Quoted material and references excluded

Images and references

Figure panels are compared within the manuscript and against published figures for duplication, rotation, splicing and local alteration. References are looked up to confirm they exist and checked against retraction records.

When a reference cannot be found, the author is asked to verify it before review begins.

Panel-level duplication and manipulation detection
Retracted and corrected reference alerts
Author verification requests sent from the report

J. Soil Microbial Sci./JMS-2026-0418/References58 checked

[12]Zhou et al. 2021, ISME J. 15: 1120Found
[19]Fierer 2017, Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 15: 579Found
[31]Patel & Gomes 2019, Soil Biol. 44: 210Not found
[38]Lindqvist 2018, Appl. Soil Ecol. 9: 88Retracted
[47]Moreau 2022, preprintNot found

Figure 3. The reference check, with two references not found and one retracted source.

Responsible use of AI checks

AI checks flag possible problems; editors investigate and decide. A flag is never treated as proof of misconduct. AI-text indicators are shown as uncertain signals only and are never the sole basis for rejection.

Unpublished manuscripts are confidential. They are never used to train AI models or shown to anyone outside the editorial process. Plascipub supports, but does not replace, your journal's own ethics policies and guidance from bodies such as COPE.

Table 1

AI Integrity Check at a glance

Similarity: Published literature, preprints, the open web and your own archive
Images: Duplication, rotation, flipping, splicing and local alteration
References: Existence lookup, retraction and correction notices
AI-text: Low, medium or high signal with stated uncertainty

Acknowledgements

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Ref. PLS-ACC-2026Decision: Accept

Dear Editor, we are pleased to accept your journal.

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With best wishes for your next issue,The Plascipub editorial office