Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Policy

1. General Principles

This journal recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI), including generative AI tools and AI-assisted technologies, may support certain activities in scholarly research and scientific publishing. These tools may be used responsibly to assist with tasks such as language editing, grammar correction, translation, summarization, and other appropriate forms of research support.

However, the use of AI must not compromise research integrity, academic honesty, originality, confidentiality, or the reliability of scholarly publications. AI tools must be used transparently and responsibly, with human authors retaining full responsibility for the accuracy, validity, originality, and integrity of their work.

2. Use of AI by Authors

Authors may use AI tools to assist with manuscript preparation and other appropriate research-related activities, provided that such use does not violate ethical standards or applicable legal and institutional requirements.

Authors who use AI tools must:

  1. Disclose AI use transparently. Any use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies that contributes to the development or preparation of a manuscript must be disclosed in accordance with this journal's requirements. The disclosure should identify the tool used, its purpose, and the nature of its contribution.
  2. Verify all AI-generated content. Authors must carefully review and verify all AI-generated text, references, citations, data, analyses, interpretations, and other outputs before including them in a manuscript. AI-generated content may contain inaccurate information, fabricated references, misleading interpretations, or other errors.
  3. Maintain originality and research integrity. AI tools must not be used to fabricate or falsify data, manipulate research results, generate misleading evidence, conceal plagiarism, or misrepresent the methods or findings of a study.
  4. Protect confidentiality and personal data. Authors must not upload confidential manuscripts, unpublished research data, identifiable personal information, or other restricted materials to AI tools unless such use is authorized and complies with applicable privacy, confidentiality, research ethics, and data protection requirements.
  5. Retain full responsibility for the manuscript. Authors remain accountable for the entire content of their submissions, including any material generated, edited, translated, or otherwise assisted by AI tools.

AI tools must not be listed as authors or co-authors because they cannot assume responsibility for the work or satisfy the requirements for human authorship.

3. Disclosure of AI Use

Authors must disclose the use of generative AI tools that contribute to the preparation or development of a manuscript. The disclosure should be included in a designated section of the manuscript, preferably titled “Declaration of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in the Writing Process,” or another section specified by the journal.
The statement should identify the name of the AI tool, the purpose for which it was used, and the relevant activities in which it assisted.

For example:
“During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [name of AI tool] for [specific purpose, such as language editing or improving readability]. The authors reviewed and revised the resulting content and take full responsibility for the final version of the manuscript.”

If no generative AI tools were used in preparing the manuscript, authors may state:
“The authors declare that no generative AI tools were used in the preparation of this manuscript.”

Routine spelling and grammar checking or other basic functions that do not generate substantive content may be exempt from disclosure, subject to the journal's specific requirements. Authors should consult the journal's submission guidelines when uncertain about whether a particular use must be declared.

4. Prohibited Uses of AI

The following uses of AI are prohibited:

  1. Fabricating, falsifying, or manipulating research data, results, images, or evidence in a manner that misrepresents the research.
  2. Generating or including fabricated, inaccurate, or unverifiable references without appropriate verification.
  3. Presenting AI-generated text, ideas, analyses, or other substantive content as original human work without the required disclosure.
  4. Using AI to conceal plagiarism, duplicate publication, data manipulation, or other forms of research misconduct.
  5. Uploading confidential peer-review materials, unpublished manuscripts, or sensitive research information to AI tools without appropriate authorization and safeguards.
  6. Using AI-generated content without adequate human review and verification, particularly where it affects the validity, interpretation, or conclusions of the research.

Any suspected violation of this policy may be assessed by the editorial team in accordance with the journal's publication ethics procedures.

5. Use of AI by Editors and Peer Reviewers

Editors and peer reviewers must exercise professional judgment, maintain confidentiality, and protect the integrity of the peer-review process when considering the use of AI tools.

Editors and reviewers must not upload submitted manuscripts, unpublished research findings, reviewer reports, or other confidential editorial materials to publicly accessible or otherwise unauthorized AI systems.

AI tools must not replace independent editorial judgment or the critical evaluation of a manuscript by qualified human reviewers. Editorial decisions must remain the responsibility of the designated editor, and peer-review assessments must reflect the reviewer's own scholarly judgment.

Any AI use in editorial or peer-review activities must comply with the journal's confidentiality requirements, applicable institutional policies, and relevant publication ethics standards.

6. Editorial Assessment and Compliance

The journal reserves the right to request clarification or additional information regarding the use of AI in a submitted manuscript when necessary to assess compliance with this policy.

Where a potential violation is identified, the editorial team will evaluate the matter fairly and objectively, taking into account the nature and significance of the suspected violation. Depending on the circumstances, the journal may request revisions, additional disclosure, supporting information, or other appropriate corrective action. Serious cases may result in rejection, withdrawal of a manuscript, correction, retraction, or other measures consistent with the journal's publication ethics policies.

The journal may revise this policy as AI technologies, scholarly publishing practices, and relevant ethical standards evolve.