How many image duplications in a paper would be acceptable? If the paper has two identical photos that represent different experiments, and the authors’ reply is: ‘Oops, we uploaded the wrong photo’, that would be acceptable. Mistakes happen, and the authors can correct the error by sending in an erratum with the correct photo(s). But should editors be equally forgiving in the case of two cases of “Oops, we made a mistake”, or other, more complicated scenarios?
An interesting piece about image manipulation, ‘errors’, corrections, retractions and misconduct proceedings
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- Category I duplications: simple, identical duplications.
- Category II duplications: duplications involving shift, rotation, or a flip.
- Category III duplications: parts within the same panel are duplicated or parts from other panels are duplicated into another panel.
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