Generative AI Policy

The Use of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies

The journal does not permit the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted technologies in the preparation, evaluation, review, editing, or decision-making processes related to submitted manuscripts, except where explicitly permitted by the journal for a clearly defined research purpose.

1. Authors

Authors are prohibited from using generative AI or AI-assisted technologies to generate, rewrite, paraphrase, translate, or substantially modify the content of manuscripts submitted to the journal.

Authors must prepare and take full responsibility for the originality, accuracy, integrity, and scholarly content of their manuscripts. Generative AI or AI-assisted technologies must not be used as an author or co-author and must not be cited as an author.

Authors are also prohibited from using generative AI or AI-assisted technologies to create, alter, enhance, obscure, remove, or introduce elements into figures, images, photographs, illustrations, or other visual materials submitted as part of the manuscript, unless such technology constitutes an integral and explicitly described component of the research methodology.

Any use of AI as part of the research methodology must be transparently and reproducibly described in the Methods section, including the name of the AI tool or model, version, developer or manufacturer, and the manner in which it was used.

Authors remain fully responsible and accountable for all content submitted to the journal. The journal may request clarification or supporting materials if the use of AI is suspected or identified during the editorial process.

2. Editors

Editors are prohibited from using generative AI or AI-assisted technologies to evaluate, summarize, rewrite, modify, or make editorial decisions concerning submitted manuscripts.

Editors must independently assess manuscripts and make editorial decisions based on the journal's editorial policies, scholarly standards, and the recommendations of qualified reviewers.

Editors must maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and must not upload, copy, or disclose manuscript content, reviewer reports, author information, or other confidential editorial materials to generative AI or AI-assisted platforms.

Editors are personally responsible for ensuring that editorial decisions are made with appropriate human judgment, confidentiality, fairness, and integrity.

3. Reviewers

Reviewers are prohibited from using generative AI or AI-assisted technologies to evaluate, summarize, analyze, rewrite, or generate comments or recommendations concerning submitted manuscripts.

Reviewers must conduct peer review independently and provide their own scholarly assessment of the manuscript.

Reviewers must not upload or otherwise disclose the manuscript, supplementary materials, figures, data, reviewer comments, or any confidential information obtained during the peer-review process to generative AI or AI-assisted platforms.

Reviewers are fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, confidentiality, and scholarly integrity of their review reports.

4. Prohibition of AI-Generated Content

The journal considers the undisclosed or unauthorized use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies in manuscript preparation, editorial evaluation, or peer review to be a potential violation of the journal's publication ethics.

Where there is reasonable concern regarding the use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies, the editor may request clarification from the relevant author, editor, or reviewer and may take appropriate action in accordance with the journal's publication ethics and editorial policies.

5. Exceptions for Research Purposes

The prohibition described above does not apply when AI or AI-assisted technologies constitute an essential component of the research design, methodology, data analysis, or generation of research data.

In such cases, the use of AI must be clearly described in the manuscript in a transparent and reproducible manner. Authors must provide sufficient information about the AI system, including its name, version, developer or manufacturer, relevant parameters or settings, and its specific role in the research.

The use of AI for research purposes does not exempt authors from responsibility for the accuracy, validity, originality, and integrity of the research and its reported findings.