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Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar

  • Policy of Journal of Khyber College of Dentistry

    SOURCE OF MANUSCRIPT
    The Journal of Khyber College of Dentistry will entertain the manuscript from the all the specialties of dentistry, allied specialties and basic dental sciences.
    PUBLICATION CALANENDAR
    The Journal of Khyber College of Dentistry will be published quarterly.

    INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUTHORS
    1. EDITORIAL POLICY
    JKCD is the official Journal of Khyber College of Dentistry. The journal is a peer reviewed, dedicated to the dissemination of new knowledge/ information on all sciences
    relevant to dentistry, oral cavity and associated structures in health and disease. JKCD aims to be the leading publication in its field and provides a forum for the exchange of information about new and significant research in Dentistry in Pakistan and throughout the world. The Journal will publish peer-reviewed research articles, clinical developments, clinical opinions and treatments as well as other key issues of relevance to Dentistry. It also aims to motivate the conduct and publication of original research in oral health sciences in Pakistan, to provide a source of continuing dental education, and to circulate such information in Pakistan and other parts of the world. The Journal would appeal to a substantial international readership seeking to keep up-to-date with research and developments in oral health sciences, with an emphasis on new knowledge and innovations. It would provide clinicians, scientists and students of dentistry with a comprehensive periodical published twice a year, publishing original research papers, reviews, evidence base clinical cases, short
    communications, letters to the editor and guest editorials.
    2- MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSION
    The Journal of Khyber College of Dentistry follows the uniform requirements for manuscripts submitted to Biomedical Journals as approved by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors as updated in Oct. 2004 and available at www.icmje.org. Only those manuscripts are accepted which have not been published previously or submitted elsewhere for publication. Two hard copies and a soft copy (MS Word format) of manuscript, typed double spaced on one side of A-4 size paper with at least one inch margins all around and all pages numbered should be sent to “The Honorary Editor, JKCD, Khyber College of Dentistry, University Campus, Peshawar, Khyber Pukhthunkhwa, Pakistan”. Tables and illustrations should be typed and drawn on separate pages. A covering letter, containing the undertaking (Annexure-1), certifying the originality of the work and that it is neither published nor submitted for publication elsewhere, duly signed by the principal author should accompany the manuscript. Authors from abroad can also submit their manuscript electronically to “jkcd.y2010@gmail.com”. Such manuscripts along with tables and references must be sent as a MS word document but graphics have to be attached as jpeg files.

    3- FORMAT REQUIREMENTS
    All Manuscripts of original research should contain the following sections:

    a. Title page:
    Page 1 of the manuscript should include the title of the article and the name(s) of the authors with the sequence to appear in print, degrees, title/designation, name of the
    department and institutional affiliation of each author. The person responsible for future enquiry should be identified and his address for correspondence along with telephone
    number and E-mail address, given. Acknowledgements to be included should also be given on this page.

    b. Abstracts:
    Page 2 of the manuscripts should contain a maximum of 250 words as structured abstract i.e. Objective(s), Materials and Methods, Results and Conclusion. Abstract for
    evidence based clinical case and literature reviews need not be structured.

    c. Key words:
    A list of 3-6 key words should also be included at the bottom of the abstract page.

    d. Abbreviations:
    Standard abbreviations should be used only. Full word for each abbreviation should be given, the first time it is used in the text. Avoid abbreviations in the Title and Abstract.

    d. Introduction:
    Summarize the rationale and purpose of the study. It should neither review the subject extensively nor should it have data or conclusion. Give only pertinent references and clearly state the working hypothesis.

    e. Materials and Method:
    Precisely describe how the study was carried out so that the reader can easily comprehend the method used. Provide information about the sample (subjects, patients or
    materials being studied) design of study and how it was executed. If a drug or material is used, its generic name, dose and route of administration/ applications must be explained.
    Indicate the statistical methods used and also specify any computer program used for analysis of the data.

    f. Results:
    Results should be presented clearly as text, tables and illustrations. All the data given in the tables and figures should not be repeated in the text. Only important observations
    should be mention in the text, while reference to the table or figure number can be given for less important findings.

    g. Discussion
    This should emphasize the present findings and its comparison with other relevant studies. Do not repeat in detail the data or other material given in the introduction or results.
    Point out the implication of the findings and the limitations of the study.

    h. Conclusion(s)
    Include a numeric listing of evidence based conclusions and should relate directly to the aims and objectives of the study.

    i. Tables:
    Each of the tables should be on a separate page, must have a brief title, be on a double space and should have an accompanying legend. Duplication of results given in
    tables and in figures must be avoided.

    j. Illustrations:
    All graphics, drawings and photographs are labelled as figures and should be consecutively numbered. Each illustration must be on a separate page and must have a
    caption. In case of photographs, write the figure number and caption at the back of each photograph.

    k. References:
    The references must be written in Vancouver style, double-spaced and numbered as they appear inthe text. The total number of references must not exceed 40 for original article
    and 100 for review article. Provide complete information for each reference, including names and initials of all authors when they are six or less. If there are more than six authors, list the first six followed by “et al”. The authors name(s) and initials are followed by the title of the article, the name of the journal abbreviated according to the style followed in Index Medicus, year of publication, journal volume and number of the first and last pages e.g. Bashir U, Hassan A, Arshad N. Cleidocranial Dysplasia. J Pak Dent Assoc, 2005; 14(3): 177-80.
    Reference for a chapter or part of a book should have author name(s) and initials, full title of the chapter or part, name of the editor(s), complete title of the book, city address, publisher, year of publication and number of the first and last pages e.g. Shafer WG, Hine MK, Levy BM. Dental caries. A text book of oral pathology. 4th Ed. India: Saunders 1997; 406-11.

    l. Ethics
    When reporting experiments on human subjects, indicate whether the procedures followed were in accordance with the standards of institutional ethical committee on human
    experimentation and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 1983. Do not use patient’s names, initials, or hospital numbers especially in illustrative material.

    m. Units of Measurements:
    Systems International (SI) units to be preferred where possible. Conventional units can be given in parenthesis.

    n. Drugs Names:
    Generic names of drugs are preferred. Where essential, the brand names can be given in parenthesis.

    o. Permission:
    Material taken from other sources must be accompanied by written statement from both the author and the publisher giving permission for reproduction.

    MANUSCRIPT RECEIVING AND TRACKING SYSTEM
    The authors are requested to send three copies of the manuscript. Manuscripts must be accompanied by a covering letter signed by all co authors. This must include 1)
    information on prior or duplicate publication or submission elsewhere of any part of the work as defined earlier in this document; 2) a statement of financial or other relationships that
    might lead to a conflict of interest; 3) a statement that the manuscript has been read and approved by all the authors, that the requirements for authorship as stated earlier in this
    document have been met, and that each author believes that the manuscript represents honest work; and 4) the name, address, and telephone number of the corresponding author,
    who is responsible for communicating with the other authors about revisions and final approval of the proofs. The letter should give any additional information that may be helpful
    to the editor, such as the type of article in the particular journal that the manuscript represents and whether the author(s) would be willing to meet the cost of reproducing colour
    illustrations. The manuscript must be accompanied by copies of any permission to reproduce published material, to use illustrations or report information about identifiable people, or to name people for their contributions.

    MANUSCRIPT PEER REVIEW SYSTEM
    JKCD is a peer reviewed journal. All articles on receipt for publication are reviewed for originality, relevance, statistical methods, significance, adequacy of documentation, reader
    interest and composition. Manuscripts not submitted according to the instructions will be returned to the author for correction prior to beginning the peer review process. All
    manuscripts considered suitable for review are evaluated by a minimum of two members of editorial board. The manuscript is then sent to two or more than two reviewers who may take 2-3 weeks to review the manuscript. Necessary comments of reviewers are conveyed back to the authors. After necessary revision by the authors, the manuscripts are presented to the editorial board for final decision about its publication The ultimate authority to accept or reject the manuscript rests with\ the Editor. Revised manuscripts are judged on the adequacy of responses to suggestions and criticisms made during the initial review. All accepted manuscripts are subject to editing for scientific accuracy and clarity by the office of the Editor. When the manuscripts is deemed fit for publication, letter of acceptance is issued to the author. No article is rejected unless similar comments are received from at least two reviewers. Rejected articles are returned back to authors.

    Following is the policy regarding the roles of the reviewers.

    a) To evaluate the manuscript critically and to make recommendation to the editor regarding the suitability of the manuscript for publication in the Journal of Khyber
    College of Dentistry.

    b) To point out any potential conflict of interest.

    c) Not to make derogatory remarks/comments about the manuscript and neither communicate directly with the authors.

    d) The editor will provide guidance to the reviewer regarding the evaluation by telephone,fax, email and courier.

    e) If the reviewer does not complete review on a timely basis, the editor will proceed with the evaluation.

    JOURNAL PRINTING SYSTEM

    The Journal of Khyber College of Dentistry will be printed under the authority of the publisher by Khyber Printers, Small Industrial State, Kohat Road, Peshawar, Pakistan. Tel:
    (091) 2325196. Declaration of the printer and ISSN Number are attached as Annexure 2 and 3. Specification of the journal are as below:

     Title page- colour, art card 310 gram with A4 size.
     Normal pages- multicolour, mat paper 115 gram A4 size

    PUBLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION
    Journal of Khyber College of Dentistry is published on controlled circulation basis and distributed among all the principal authors, co authors, members of the advisory board,
    editorial board, peer reviewers, principals of all dental colleges, libraries of all dental colleges, PMDC, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Pakistan. The copies of the journal
    will be distributed by hand and through courier services.

    The copyright is owned by JKCD. JKCD has the right to reproduce, transmit, publish or distribute the contribution in the journal or otherwise. The publisher and the member(s) of
    the editorial board cannot be held responsible for errors or for any consequences arising from the use of the information contained in this journal.

    LINKS WITH OTHER SIMILLAR ORGANIZATION
    ISSN (2220-2633)
    ISSNe (2307-3934)
    WHO Index Medicus [ PD.3/10(IMMER/PAK]
    Recognised by PMDC ( Index Pakistan Number IP/0063)

    AUDIT POLICY OF THE JOURNAL
    Internal audit will be carried out by the account and audit department of Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar. External audit will be conducted by the audit team of Finance
    Department, Government of Khyber Pukhtunkhawa.

    CONFLICT RESOLUTION POLICY
    Editorial board will follow the journal guidelines of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council regarding conflict resolution policy. These guidelines are reproduced below. Conflict
    of interest for a given manuscript exists when a participant in the peer review and publication process-author, reviewer, and editor-has ties to activities that could inappropriately influence his or her judgment, whether or not judgment is in fact affected. Financial relationships with industry (for example, through employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, expert testimony), either directly or through immediate family, are usually considered to be the most important conflicts of interest. However, conflicts can occur for other reasons, such as personal relationships, academic competition, and intellectual passion.

    Public trust in the peer review process and the credibility of published articles depend in part on how well conflict of interest is handled during writing, peer review, and editorial
    decision making. Bias can often be identified and eliminated by careful attention to the scientific methods and conclusions of the work. Financial relationships and their effects are
    less easily detected than other conflicts of interest. Participants in peer review and publication should disclose their conflicting interests, and the information should be made available so that others can judge their effects for themselves. Because readers may be lessable to detect bias in review articles and editorials than in reports of original research, some journals do not accept reviews and editorials from authors with a conflict of interest. All participants in the peer review and publication process must disclose all relationships that could be viewed as presenting a potential conflict of interest. Disclosure of these relationships is particularly important in connection with editorials and review articles, because bias can be more difficult to detect in those publications than in reports of original research. Editors may use information disclosed in conflict of interest and financial interest statements as a basis for editorial decisions. Editors should publish this information if they believe it will be important to readers in judging the manuscript.

    Potential Conflicts of Interest Related to Individual Authors' Commitments When authors submit a manuscript, whether an article or a letter, they are responsible for disclosing all financial and personal relationships between themselves and others that might bias their work. To prevent ambiguity, authors must state explicitly whether potential conflicts do or do not exist. Authors should do so in the manuscript on a conflict of interest notification page that follows the title page, providing additional detail, if necessary, in the accompanying cover letter. Investigators should disclose potential conflicts to study participants, and should state in the manuscript whether they have done so. Editors also need to decide when to publish information disclosed by authors about potential conflicts. If doubt exists, it is best to err on the side of publication. Potential Conflicts of Interest Related to Project Support Increasingly, biomedical studies receive funding from commercial firms, private foundations, and government. The conditions of this funding have the potential to bias and otherwise discredit the research.

    Scientists have an ethical obligation to submit creditable research results for publication. As the persons directly responsible for their work, researchers therefore should not enter into agreements that interfere with their access to the data or their ability to analyze the data independently, to prepare manuscripts, and to publish them. Authors should describe the role of the study sponsor(s), if any, in study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the report for publication. If the supporting source had no such involvement, the authors should so state. Biases potentially introduced when sponsors are directly involved in research are analogous to methodological biases of other sorts; some journals therefore choose to include information about the sponsor's involvement in the methods section of the published paper.
    If a study is funded by an agency with a proprietary or financial interest in the outcome, editors may ask authors to sign a statement such as, ``I had full access to all of the
    data in this study and I take complete responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.'' Editors should be encouraged to review copies of the protocol and/or contracts associated with project specific studies before accepting such studies for publication. Editors may choose not to consider an article if a sponsor has asserted control over the authors' right to publish. Conflicts of Interest Related to Commitments of Editors, Journal Staff, or Reviewers Editors should avoid selecting external peer reviewers with obvious potential conflicts of interest, for example, those who work in the same department or institution as any of the authors. Authors often provide editors with the names of persons they feel should not be asked to review a manuscript because of potential conflicts of interest, usually professional. When possible, authors should be asked to explain or justify their concerns; that information is important to editors in deciding whether to honour such requests. Reviewers must disclose to editors any conflicts of interest that could bias their opinions of the manuscript, and they should disqualify themselves from reviewing specific manuscripts if they believe such disqualification would be appropriate. As in the case of authors, silence on the part of reviewers concerning potential conflicts may mean either that such conflicts exist that they have failed to disclose, or that conflicts do not exist. Reviewers must therefore also be asked to state explicitly whether conflicts do or do not exist.

    Reviewers must not use knowledge of the work, before its publication, to further their own interests. Editors who make final decisions about manuscripts must have no personal,
    professional, or financial involvement in any of the issues they might judge. Other members of the editorial staff, if they participate in editorial decisions, must provide editors with a
    current description of their financial interests (as they might relate to editorial judgments) and disqualify themselves from any decisions where they have a conflict of interest. Editorial staff must not use the information gained through working with manuscripts for private gain. Editors should avoid submitting to their own journal reports of original research to
    which they have contributed as authors. If they do so, they should recuse themselves from the editorial process, and delegate editorial decisions on those manuscripts to other
    members of the editorial staff. Editors should publish regular disclosure statements about potential conflicts of interests related to the commitments of journal staff.

    Plagiarism Policy

    1. Preamble
    In the wake of fundamental improvements being introduced in the system of Higher Education in Pakistan, the credit, respect, recognition of research and scholarly publications,
    career development and financial gains are now linked with such original works accomplished without replicating the efforts of other researchers. It has therefore become
    necessary that the menace of plagiarism is highlighted and curbed through exemplary punitive actions. On the other hand, we must also guard against bogus or false complaints in
    order to prevent victimization which may make researchers and scholars shy away from research simply because of the fear of prosecution. A Plagiarism Policy has therefore
    become necessary to create awareness, define various forms in which Plagiarism exhibits itself, present a methodology of investigation, cater for punitive action proportional to the
    extent of the offence and even address the issue of false or spurious complaints.

    2. Definition
    According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary, Plagiarism is defined as "taking and using the thoughts, writings, and inventions of another person as one's own". This, or various similar definitions found in recognized publications / documents, are very broad and can be used to create awareness about Plagiarism but are not practical enough to apply in order to ascertain guilt or innocence in specific cases. In order to establish the violation of ethical norms, or academic or intellectual dishonesty resulting from Plagiarism and to take punitive actions in this regard, it is necessary that the variety of forms in which Plagiarism manifests itself are known. These include but are not limited to the following:
    “Verbatim copying, near-verbatim copying, or purposely paraphrasing portions of another author's paper or unpublished report without citing the exact reference.
    Copying elements of another author's paper, such as equations or illustrations that are not common knowledge, or copying or purposely paraphrasing sentences without citing the source.
    Verbatim copying portions of another author's paper or from reports by citing but not clearly differentiating what text has been copied (e.g. not applying quotation marks correctly) and /or not citing the source correctly” [1]. "The unacknowledged use of computer programs, mathematical / computer models / algorithms, computer software in all forms, macros, spreadsheets, web pages, databases, mathematical deviations and calculations, designs / models / displays of any sort, diagrams, graphs, tables, drawings, works of art of any sort, fine art pieces or artifacts, digital images, computer-aided design drawings, GIS files, photographs, maps, music / composition of any sort, posters, presentations and tracing." [2] "Self-plagiarism, that is, the verbatim or near-verbatim re-use of significant portions of one's own copyrighted work without citing the original source." [1]

    3. Explanation from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia on the web describes and explains Plagiarism as "the
    unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the
    representation of them as one's own original work. Unlike cases of forgery, in which the
    authenticity of the writing, document, or some other kind of object itself is in question,
    plagiarism is concerned with the issue of false attribution. Within academia, plagiarism by
    students, professors, or researchers is considered

    academic dishonesty or academic fraud and offenders are subject to academic censure.
    In journalism, plagiarism is considered a breach of journalistic ethics, and reporters caught
    plagiarizing typically face disciplinary measures ranging from suspension to termination.
    While plagiarism in scholarship and journalism has a centuries-old history, the development
    of the Internet, where articles appear as electronic text, has made the physical act of
    copying the work of others much easier. Plagiarism is different from copyright
    infringement. While both terms may apply to a particular act, they emphasize different
    aspects of the transgression. Copyright infringement is a violation of the rights of the
    copyright holder, which involves the loss of income and artistic control of the material when it
    is used without the copyright holder's consent. On the other hand, plagiarism is concerned
    with the unearned increment to the plagiarizing author's reputation. In the academic world,
    plagiarism by students is a very serious academic offense which can result in punishments
    such as a failing grade on the particular assignment (typically at the high school level), or a
    failing grade for the course (typically at the college or university level). For cases of repeated
    plagiarism, or for cases where a student has committed a severe type of plagiarism (e.g.
    copying an entire article and submitting it as his / her own work), a student may be
    suspended or expelled, and any academic degrees or awards may be revoked. For
    professors and researchers, who are required to act as role models for their students,
    plagiarism is a very serious offence, and is punishable by sanctions ranging from suspension
    to termination, along with the loss of credibility and integrity. Charges of plagiarism against
    students, faculty members and staff are typically heard by internal disciplinary committees,
    which students and faculty members have agreed to be bound by." [3]
    Wikipedia also describes Self-plagiarism as "the re-use of significant, identical, or nearly
    identical portions of one’s own work without acknowledging that one is doing so or without
    citing the original work. Typically, high public-interest texts are not a subject of self-
    plagiarism; however, the authors should not violate copyright where applicable. "Public-
    interest texts" include such material as social, professional, and cultural opinions usually
    published in newspapers and magazines." [3]
    4. Aim: The aim of this policy is to apprise students, teachers, researchers and staff about
    Plagiarism and how it can be avoided. It is also aimed at discouraging Plagiarism by
    regulating and authorising punitive actions against those found guilty of the act of Plagiarism.
    5. Applicability: The policy is applicable to students, teachers, researchers and staff of all
    institutions and organizations in Pakistan who are involved in writing or publishing their work.
    In this context a "Student" is a person who, on the date of submission of his / her paper /
    work is a registered student of any University or Degree Awarding Institution recognized by
    Higher Education Commission (HEC). "Teachers and Researchers" include faculty
    members or equivalent of the University / Organization or/of a constituent or affiliated college
    or researchers of an organization and such other persons as may be declared to be so by
    regulations. “Staff” is any employee of an organization involved in writing and publishing his
    / her work.
    Any person listing his CV on the website or any current publication or applying for
    any benefit on the basis of published or presented work that is plagiarized will be
    liable to be punished as per prescribed rules.
    6. Responsibility of the Institutions & Organizations: All institutions and organizations are
    responsible to apprise their students, teachers, researchers and staff of the definition,
    implications and resulting punishments in case, after due investigation, they are found guilty
    of plagiarism. The institutions / organizations must acquaint their students, teachers,
    researchers and staff with this policy and ensure that they are fully aware that all authors are
    deemed to be individually and collectively responsible for the contents of papers published
    by Journals / Publishers etc. Hence, it is the responsibility of each author, including the
    coauthors, to ensure that papers submitted for publication should attain the highest ethical

    standards with respect to plagiarism. To facilitate the institutions / organizations in creating
    awareness about Plagiarism, a modified version of "Little Book of Plagiarism", a publication
    of Leeds Metropolitan University is appended as "Annexure" to this policy. Any University or
    Degree Awarding Institution which does not adopt and implement this policy will have its
    degree derecognized by HEC.
    7. Reporting: To inform HEC or respective Universities / Organizations of alleged
    plagiarism, a complaint is to be made by email, post, fax or other means to HEC Quality
    Assurance Division or respective Universities / Organizations. In case of lodging a complaint
    in the form of a letter, copy may be sent to HEC. The following information is to be provided:
    a) “Citation of the original paper or document or idea which was plagiarized, (paper title,
    author(s), publication title, month and year of publication if available and the journal, in which
    published, with details). If the original paper is unpublished (e.g. an institutional technical
    report, an on-line paper), the complainant is to provide as much information as possible to
    ensure authenticity of the claim.
    b) The citation of the alleged plagiarizing paper (paper title, author(s), publication title, month
    and year of publication if available and the journal with details in which published). If the
    paper is unpublished (e.g. an institutional technical report, an on-line paper), the complainant
    is to provide as much information as possible to ensure proper investigation.
    c) Copies of both papers if possible.
    d) Any other information that would help HEC or respective Universities / Organizations to
    efficiently resolve the claim.” [1]
    e) Name, designation, organization, address, e-mail address and telephone number of the
    complainant.
    8. Investigation:
    Upon receipt of an allegation of Plagiarism, the HEC Quality Assurance Division will request
    the respective Vice Chancellor / Rector / Head of the Organization to carry out investigation.
    The complaints received through HEC or directly by a University / Organization will be dealt
    with by the Universities / Organizations according to the procedures given below. The Vice
    Chancellor / Rector / Head of the Organization will have the discretion of not taking any
    action on anonymous complaints. For investigation of Plagiarism cases, the Vice Chancellor /
    Rector / Head of Organization will have an obligation to:
    a) Constitute a “Plagiarism Standing Committee” consisting of 3 senior faculty members, a
    subject specialist in that particular field is to be co-opted, a senior student (only if a student is
    being investigated upon) and a nominee of the HEC.The seniority of the members of
    “Plagiarism Standing Committee” should be of a level keeping in view the seniority of the
    individual being investigated upon and the nature and gravity of the offence.
    b) Provide a guideline, prepared by HEC for the functioning of the "Plagiarism Standing
    Committee", to all members of the Committee.
    c) Provide clear terms of reference to the “Plagiarism Standing Committee” for their
    investigation.
    d) The members of the “Plagiarism Standing Committee” are to sign a confidentiality
    statement that during the investigation they will, under no circumstances, disclose any
    individual author's name, paper titles, referees, or any other personal or specific information
    concerning the plagiarism complaint under investigation, nor shall they reveal the names of
    the committee members.
    e) Provide opportunity to the author / authors under investigation to justify the originality of
    their concepts and research work. Similar opportunity will also be provided to the author
    whose paper is deemed to have been Plagiarized and / or the complainant, to justify the
    complaint.
    f) Provide every opportunity to the “Plagiarism Standing Committee” to use all foreseeable
    means to investigate the plagiarism claim.

    9. The Plagiarism Standing Committee shall then conduct the investigation. Depending on
    the details of the claim, the investigation may include, but may not be limited to, any or all of
    the following steps:
    a) Manual and / or automated tests for content similarity [1].
    b) Determination of the extent and quantum of significant material plagiarized.
    c) Soliciting comments to the claim, from the Editor-in-Chief (of a journal) or Program Chair
    (of conference proceedings) and referees of either or both papers.
    d) Consultation with legal counsel. [1]
    e) Consult / contact witnesses and record statements there-of if so required.
    f) Consult / contact present and / or past employers of the authors.
    10. The “Plagiarism Standing Committee” will submit its report with clear cut findings and
    recommendations to the Vice Chancellor / Rector / Head of the Organization within a
    specified period not exceeding sixty days. The Vice Chancellor / Rector / Head of the
    Organization will have the discretion to implement the recommendations after approval
    through the statutory process and take punitive action against the offender as per penalties
    prescribed under this policy or to forward the report to HEC or his / her parent organization
    for further action if outside their purview / jurisdiction.
    Penalties for Plagiarism
    11. Plagiarism is an intellectual crime. As such the penalties for plagiarism should not only
    take into account the severity and recurrence of the offence, but also the intellectual standing
    of the offender. This entails a gradual increase in punitive action with minimum punishment
    for a first time offence by a student who copies a home work assignment to a maximum
    punishment for a teacher/researcher/staff who attempts to present / publish, or actually
    presents / publishes plagiarized material; as his own, in a conference / journal. Therefore, the
    punishments for Plagiarism have been divided into two separate categories, i.e those for
    "Teachers, Researchers and Staff" and those for the "Students". The groups have already
    been defined in para 5 above.
    (a) Penalties for Teachers, Researchers and Staff: When an act of plagiarism, as
    described earlier in paras 2 and 3, is found to have occurred, the "Plagiarism Standing
    Committee" in its recommendations, DEPENDING UPON THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE
    PROVEN OFFENCE, will advise the Competent Authority of the Organization, to take any
    one or a combination of the following disciplinary action(s) against the teacher, researcher
    and / or staff found guilty of the offence:
    (i) Major Penalty:
    In cases where most of the paper (or key results) have been exactly copied from any
    published work of other people without giving the reference to the original work, then (a) a
    major penalty of dismissal from service needs to be prescribed, along with (b) the offender
    may be “Black Listed” and may NOT be eligible for employment in any academic / research
    organization, and (c) the notification of “Black Listing” of the author(s) may be published in
    the print media or may be publicized on different websites at the discretion of the Vice-
    Chancellor / Rector / Head of the organization.
    (ii) Moderate Penalty:
    In case where some paragraphs including some key results have been copied without
    citation, then a moderate penalty involving any one or both of the following needs to be
    imposed (a) demotion to the next lower grade, (b) the notification of “Black Listing” of the
    author(s) which may be published in the print media or may be publicized on different
    websites at the discretion of the Vice-Chancellor / Rector / Head of the organization.
    (iii) Minor Penalty:In case a few paragraphs have been copied from an external source
    without giving reference of that work, then minor penalties need to be prescribed for a
    specified period involving any one or more of the following: (a) warning, (b) freezing of all
    research grants, (c) the promotions/annual increments of the offender may be stopped, for a

    specified period and (d) HEC or the University / Organization may debar the offender from
    sponsorship of research funding, travel grant, supervision of Ph.D. students, scholarship,
    fellowship or any other funded program for a period as deemed appropriate by the
    “Plagiarism Standing Committee”.
    (b) Students: When an act of plagiarism, as described earlier in paras 2 and 3, is found to
    have occurred, the "Plagiarism Standing Committee" in its recommendations, DEPENDING
    UPON THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE PROVEN OFFENCE, will advise the Vice Chancellor /
    Head of the Organization, to take any one or a combination of the following disciplinary
    action(s) against the student(s) found guilty of the offence:
    (i) In the case of thesis the responsibility of plagiarism will be of the student and not of the
    supervisor or members of the Supervisory Committee.
    (ii) The offender may be expelled/ rusticated from the University and from joining any
    institution of Higher Education in Pakistan for a period as deemed appropriate by the
    "Plagiarism Standing Committee”. A notice may be circulated among all academic institutions
    and research organization to this effect.
    (iii) The offender may be relegated to a lower class.
    (iv) The offender may be given a failure grade in the subject.
    (v) The offender may be fined an amount as deemed appropriate.
    (vi) The offender may be given a written warning if the offence is minor and is committed for
    the first time.
    (vii) The degree of a student may be withdrawn if AT ANY TIME it is proven that he or she
    has presented Plagiarized work in his / her MS, MPhil or PhD dissertation if the extent of
    plagiarism comes under the category of major penalty as conveyed in Para 11(a-1).
    (viii) The notification of the plagiarism by the author(s) may be published in the print media or
    may be publicized on different websites at the discretion of the Vice Chancellor / Rector /
    Head of the Organization.
    (ix) HEC or the University / Organization may debar the offender from sponsorship of
    research funding, travel grant, scholarship, fellowship or any other funded program for a
    period as deemed appropriate by the "Plagiarism Standing Committee".
    (x) Any other penalty deemed fit by the “Plagiarism Standing Committee”.
    (c) Co-Authors/Declarations
    1. Provided that a co-author has listed a paper in his/her resume and applied for a benefit
    forthwith, any co-author is deemed to be equally responsible for any plagiarism committed in
    a published paper presented to or published in a journal or presented at a conference.
    2. All Journals in Pakistan must require ALL authors to sign a declaration that the material
    presented in the creative work is not plagiarized (Sample Attached)
    12. Additional Actions Required: In addition to the above punishments, the following
    additional common actions must be taken if the offence of Plagiarism is established:
    a) If the plagiarized paper is accessible on the web page its access will be removed. The
    paper itself will be kept in the database for future research or legal purposes.
    b) The author(s) will be asked to write a formal letter of apology to the authors of the Original
    paper that was plagiarized, including an admission of plagiarism. Should the author(s) refuse
    to comply then additional punishments as deemed fit may be recommended by the
    "Plagiarism Standing Committee.

    c) If the paper is submitted but not published yet, the paper will be rejected by the Editor-in-
    Chief or the Program Chair without further revisions and without any further plagiarism
    investigation conducted.[1]
    However, Warning may be issued to the author/ co-author.
    13. Appeal: As the penalties are severe, the affected person(s) will have the right to appeal
    to the Chairman HEC / Vice Chancellor / Rector / Head of the Organization for a review of
    the findings or may submit a mercy petition within 30 days from the date of notification. Such
    appeals / petitions will be disposed off within 60 days of receipt, by following the laid down
    procedures regarding such appeals.
    14. Penalty for Wrong Reporting / False Allegation: If the case of Plagiarism is not proved
    and it is confirmed that a false allegation was lodged, the Vice Chancellor / Rector / Head of
    the Organization will inform the complainant’s Organization and will recommend disciplinary
    action against the complainant, to be taken by his / her parent organization.


    The Journal of Khyber College of Dentistry will entertain the manuscript from the all
    the specialties of dentistry, allied specialties and basic dental sciences.
    PUBLICATION CALANENDAR
    The Journal of Khyber College of Dentistry will be published quarterly
    INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUTHORS
    1. EDITORIAL POLICY
    JKCD is the official Journal of Khyber College of Dentistry. The journal is a peer-
    reviewed, dedicated to the dissemination of new knowledge/ information on all sciences
    relevant to dentistry, oral cavity and associated structures in health and disease. JKCD aims
    to be the leading publication in its field and provides a forum for the exchange of information
    about new and significant research in Dentistry in Pakistan and throughout the world. The
    Journal will publish peer-reviewed research articles, clinical developments, clinical opinions
    and treatments as well as other key issues of relevance to Dentistry. It also aims to motivate
    the conduct and publication of original research in oral health sciences in Pakistan, to
    provide a source of continuing dental education, and to circulate such information in Pakistan
    and other parts of the world. The Journal would appeal to a substantial international
    readership seeking to keep up-to-date with research and developments in oral health
    sciences, with an emphasis on new knowledge and innovations. It would provide clinicians,
    scientists and students of dentistry with a comprehensive periodical published twice a year,
    publishing original research papers, reviews, evidence base clinical cases, short
    communications, letters to the editor and guest editorials.
    2- MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSION
    The Journal of Khyber College of Dentistry follows the uniform requirements for
    manuscripts submitted to Biomedical Journals as approved by the International Committee of
    Medical Journal Editors as updated in Oct. 2004 and available at www.icmje.orgOnly those
    manuscripts are accepted which have not been published previously or submitted elsewhere
    for publication. Two hard copies and a soft copy (MS Word format) of manuscript, typed
    double spaced on one side of A-4 size paper with at least one inch margins all around and all
    pages numbered should be sent to “The Honorary Editor, JKCD, Khyber College of Dentistry,
    University Campus, Peshawar, Khyber Pukhthunkhwa, Pakistan”. Tables and illustrations
    should be typed and drawn on separate pages. A covering letter, containing the undertaking
    (Annexure-1), certifying the originality of the work and that it is neither published nor
    submitted for publication elsewhere, duly signed by the principal author should accompany
    the manuscript. Authors from abroad can also submit their manuscript electronically to
    “jkcd.y2010@gmail.com”. Such manuscripts along with tables and references must be sent
    as a MS word document but graphics have to be attached as jpeg files.

    3- FORMAT REQUIREMENTS
    All Manuscripts of original research should contain the following sections:
    a. Title page:
    Page 1 of the manuscript should include the title of the article and the name(s) of the
    authors with the sequence to appear in print, degrees, title/designation, name of the
    department and institutional affiliation of each author. The person responsible for future
    enquiry should be identified and his address for correspondence along with telephone
    number and E-mail address, given. Acknowledgements to be included should also be given
    on this page.
    b. Abstracts:
    Page 2 of the manuscripts should contain a maximum of 250 words as structured
    abstract i.e. Objective(s), Materials and Methods, Results and Conclusion. Abstract for
    evidence based clinical case and literature reviews need not be structured.
    c. Key words:
    A list of 3-6 key words should also be included at the bottom of the abstract page.
    d. Abbreviations:
    Standard abbreviations should be used only. Full word for each abbreviation should
    be given, the first time it is used in the text. Avoid abbreviations in the Title and Abstract.
    d. Introduction:
    Summarize the rationale and purpose of the study. It should neither review the subject
    extensively nor should it have data or conclusion. Give only pertinent references and clearly
    state the working hypothesis.
    e. Materials and Method:
    Precisely describe how the study was carried out so that the reader can easily
    comprehend the method used. Provide information about the sample (subjects, patients or
    materials being studied) design of study and how it was executed. If a drug or material is
    used, its generic name, dose and route of administration/ applications must be explained.
    Indicate the statistical methods used and also specify any computer program used for
    analysis of the data.
    f. Results:
    Results should be presented clearly as text, tables and illustrations. All the data given
    in the tables and figures should not be repeated in the text. Only important observations
    should be mention in the text, while reference to the table or figure number can be given for
    less important findings.
    g. Discussion
    This should emphasize the present findings and its comparison with other relevant
    studies. Do not repeat in detail the data or other material given in the introduction or results.
    Point out the implication of the findings and the limitations of the study.

    h. Conclusion(s)
    Include a numeric listing of evidence based conclusions and should relate directly to
    the aims and objectives of the study.
    i. Tables:
    Each of the tables should be on a separate page, must have a brief title, be on a
    double space and should have an accompanying legend. Duplication of results given in
    tables and in figures must be avoided.
    j. Illustrations:
    All graphics, drawings and photographs are labelled as figures and should be
    consecutively numbered. Each illustration must be on a separate page and must have a
    caption. In case of photographs, write the figure number and caption at the back of each
    photograph.
    k. References:
    The references must be written in Vancouver style, double-spaced and numbered as
    they appear inthe text. The total number of references must not exceed 40 for original article
    and 100 for review article. Provide complete information for each reference, including names
    and initials of all authors when they are six or less. If there are more than six authors, list the
    first six followed by “et al”. The authors name(s) and initials are followed by the title of the
    article, the name of the journal abbreviated according to the style followed in Index Medicus,
    year of publication, journal volume and number of the first and last pages e.g. Bashir U,
    Hassan A, Arshad N. Cleidocranial Dysplasia. J Pak Dent Assoc, 2005; 14(3): 177-80.
    Reference for a chapter or part of a book should have author name(s) and initials, full title of
    the chapter or part, name of the editor(s), complete title of the book, city address, publisher,
    year of publication and number of the first and last pages e.g. Shafer WG, Hine MK, Levy
    BM. Dental caries. A text book of oral pathology. 4th Ed. India: Saunders 1997; 406-11.
    l. Ethics
    When reporting experiments on human subjects, indicate whether the procedures
    followed were in accordance with the standards of institutional ethical committee on human
    experimentation and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 1983. Do not use
    patient’s names, initials, or hospital numbers especially in illustrative material.
    m. Units of Measurements:
    Systems International (SI) units to be preferred where possible. Conventional units
    can be given in parenthesis.
    n. Drugs Names:
    Generic names of drugs are preferred. Where essential, the brand names can be
    given in parenthesis.
    o. Permission:
    Material taken from other sources must be accompanied by written statement from
    both the author and the publisher giving permission for reproduction.

    MANUSCRIPT RECEIVING AND TRACKING SYSTEM
    The authors are requested to send three copies of the manuscript. Manuscripts must
    be accompanied by a covering letter signed by all co authors. This must include 1)
    information on prior or duplicate publication or submission elsewhere of any part of the work
    as defined earlier in this document; 2) a statement of financial or other relationships that
    might lead to a conflict of interest; 3) a statement that the manuscript has been read and
    approved by all the authors, that the requirements for authorship as stated earlier in this
    document have been met, and that each author believes that the manuscript represents
    honest work; and 4) the name, address, and telephone number of the corresponding author,
    who is responsible for communicating with the other authors about revisions and final
    approval of the proofs. The letter should give any additional information that may be helpful
    to the editor, such as the type of article in the particular journal that the manuscript
    represents and whether the author(s) would be willing to meet the cost of reproducing colour
    illustrations. The manuscript must be accompanied by copies of any permission to reproduce
    published material, to use illustrations or report information about identifiable people, or to
    name people for their contributions.
    MANUSCRIPT PEER REVIEW SYSTEM
    JKCD is a peer reviewed journal. All articles on receipt for publication are reviewed for
    originality, relevance, statistical methods, significance, adequacy of documentation, reader
    interest and composition. Manuscripts not submitted according to the instructions will be
    returned to the author for correction prior to beginning the peer review process. All
    manuscripts considered suitable for review are evaluated by a minimum of two members of
    editorial board. The manuscript is then sent to two or more than two reviewers who may take
    2-3 weeks to review the manuscript. Necessary comments of reviewers are conveyed back
    to the authors. After necessary revision by the authors, the manuscripts are presented to the
    editorial board for final decision about its publication The ultimate authority to accept or reject
    the manuscript rests with\ the Editor. Revised manuscripts are judged on the adequacy of
    responses to suggestions and criticisms made during the initial review. All accepted
    manuscripts are subject to editing for scientific accuracy and clarity by the office of the Editor.
    When the manuscripts is deemed fit for publication, letter of acceptance is issued to the
    author. No article is rejected unless similar comments are received from at least two
    reviewers. Rejected articles are returned back to authors.
    Following is the policy regarding the roles of the reviewers.
    a) To evaluate the manuscript critically and to make recommendation to the editor
    regarding the suitability of the manuscript for publication in the Journal of Khyber
    College of Dentistry.
    b) To point out any potential conflict of interest.
    c) Not to make derogatory remarks/comments about the manuscript and neither
    communicate directly with the authors.
    d) The editor will provide guidance to the reviewer regarding the evaluation by telephone,
    fax, email and courier.
    e) If the reviewer does not complete review on a timely basis, the editor will proceed with
    the evaluation.
    JOURNAL PRINTING SYSTEM

    The Journal of Khyber College of Dentistry will be printed under the authority of the
    publisher by Khyber Printers, Small Industrial State, Kohat Road, Peshawar, Pakistan. Tel:
    (091) 2325196. Declaration of the printer and ISSN Number are attached as Annexure 2 and
    3. Specification of the journal are as below:
     Title page- colour, art card 310 gram with A4 size.
     Normal pages- multicolour, mat paper 115 gram A4 size
    PUBLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION
    Journal of Khyber College of Dentistry is published on controlled circulation basis and
    distributed among all the principal authors, co authors, members of the advisory board,
    editorial board, peer reviewers, principals of all dental colleges, libraries of all dental
    colleges, PMDC, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Pakistan. The copies of the journal
    will be distributed by hand and through courier services.
    The copyright is owned by JKCD. JKCD has the right to reproduce, transmit, publish
    or distribute the contribution in the journal or otherwise. The publisher and the member(s) of
    the editorial board cannot be held responsible for errors or for any consequences arising
    from the use of the information contained in this journal.
    LINKS WITH OTHER SIMILLAR ORGANIZATION
    ISSN (2220-2633)
    ISSNe (2307-3934)
    WHO Index Medicus [ PD.3/10(IMMER/PAK]
    Recognised by PMDC ( Index Pakistan Number IP/0063)
    AUDIT POLICY OF THE JOURNAL
    Internal audit will be carried out by the account and audit department of Khyber College of
    Dentistry, Peshawar. External audit will be conducted by the audit team of Finance
    Department, Government of Khyber Pukhtunkhawa.
    CONFLICT RESOLUTION POLICY
    Editorial board will follow the journal guidelines of Pakistan Medical and Dental
    Council regarding conflict resolution policy. These guidelines are reproduced below. Conflict
    of interest for a given manuscript exists when a participant in the peer review and publication
    process-author, reviewer, and editor-has ties to activities that could inappropriately influence
    his or her judgment, whether or not judgment is in fact affected. Financial relationships with
    industry (for example, through employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria,
    expert testimony), either directly or through immediate family, are usually considered to be
    the most important conflicts of interest. However, conflicts can occur for other reasons, such
    as personal relationships, academic competition, and intellectual passion.
    Public trust in the peer review process and the credibility of published articles depend
    in part on how well conflict of interest is handled during writing, peer review, and editorial
    decision making. Bias can often be identified and eliminated by careful attention to the
    scientific methods and conclusions of the work. Financial relationships and their effects are
    less easily detected than other conflicts of interest. Participants in peer review and
    publication should disclose their conflicting interests, and the information should be made
    available so that others can judge their effects for themselves. Because readers may be less

    able to detect bias in review articles and editorials than in reports of original research, some
    journals do not accept reviews and editorials from authors with a conflict of interest.
    All participants in the peer review and publication process must disclose all
    relationships that could be viewed as presenting a potential conflict of interest. Disclosure of
    these relationships is particularly important in connection with editorials and review articles,
    because bias can be more difficult to detect in those publications than in reports of original
    research. Editors may use information disclosed in conflict of interest and financial interest
    statements as a basis for editorial decisions. Editors should publish this information if they
    believe it will be important to readers in judging the manuscript.
    Potential Conflicts of Interest Related to Individual Authors' Commitments
    When authors submit a manuscript, whether an article or a letter, they are responsible
    for disclosing all financial and personal relationships between themselves and others that
    might bias their work. To prevent ambiguity, authors must state explicitly whether potential
    conflicts do or do not exist. Authors should do so in the manuscript on a conflict of interest
    notification page that follows the title page, providing additional detail, if necessary, in the
    accompanying cover letter. Investigators should disclose potential conflicts to study
    participants, and should state in the manuscript whether they have done so.
    Editors also need to decide when to publish information disclosed by authors about
    potential conflicts. If doubt exists, it is best to err on the side of publication.
    Potential Conflicts of Interest Related to Project Support
    Increasingly, biomedical studies receive funding from commercial firms, private
    foundations, and government. The conditions of this funding have the potential to bias and
    otherwise discredit the research.
    Scientists have an ethical obligation to submit creditable research results for
    publication. As the persons directly responsible for their work, researchers therefore should
    not enter into agreements that interfere with their access to the data or their ability to analyze
    the data independently, to prepare manuscripts, and to publish them. Authors should
    describe the role of the study sponsor(s), if any, in study design; in the collection, analysis,
    and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the report
    for publication. If the supporting source had no such involvement, the authors should so
    state. Biases potentially introduced when sponsors are directly involved in research are
    analogous to methodological biases of other sorts; some journals therefore choose to include
    information about the sponsor's involvement in the methods section of the published paper.
    If a study is funded by an agency with a proprietary or financial interest in the
    outcome, editors may ask authors to sign a statement such as, ``I had full access to all of the
    data in this study and I take complete responsibility for the integrity of the data and the
    accuracy of the data analysis.'' Editors should be encouraged to review copies of the protocol
    and/or contracts associated with project specific studies before accepting such studies for
    publication. Editors may choose not to consider an article if a sponsor has asserted control
    over the authors' right to publish.
    Conflicts of Interest Related to Commitments of Editors, Journal Staff, or Reviewers
    Editors should avoid selecting external peer reviewers with obvious potential conflicts
    of interest, for example, those who work in the same department or institution as any of the
    authors. Authors often provide editors with the names of persons they feel should not be

    asked to review a manuscript because of potential conflicts of interest, usually professional.
    When possible, authors should be asked to explain or justify their concerns; that information
    is important to editors in deciding whether to honour such requests.
    Reviewers must disclose to editors any conflicts of interest that could bias their
    opinions of the manuscript, and they should disqualify themselves from reviewing specific
    manuscripts if they believe such disqualification would be