Principles and Guidelines for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Scholarly Publishing

1. Use of AI by Authors

Authors may use AI-assisted tools for purposes such as language improvement, grammar correction, translation, formatting, and preliminary research assistance. Authors must carefully review and verify all AI-generated or AI-assisted content before submission.

AI tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors. Human authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and scholarly validity of their manuscripts, including any content produced with AI assistance.

2. Disclosure of AI Use

Authors must disclose the use of generative AI tools when such tools contribute substantively to the development of the manuscript, including the generation or substantial rewriting of text, the creation or modification of images, or the analysis and interpretation of research data. The disclosure should identify the tool used, its purpose, and the extent of its contribution. Routine spelling, grammar, and reference-formatting assistance may be exempt from disclosure unless otherwise required by the journal.

3. Research Integrity and Accuracy

AI-generated content must not be used to fabricate or falsify data, invent references, misrepresent findings, plagiarize existing work, or produce misleading research results. Authors must verify all citations, factual claims, statistical outputs, and other information generated or assisted by AI tools. Any use of AI must comply with applicable ethical standards and research integrity requirements.

4. AI Use by Reviewers and Editors

Peer reviewers and editors must protect the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and unpublished research. They must not upload confidential manuscripts, reviewer reports, or editorial correspondence to public or unauthorized AI platforms. AI tools must not replace independent scholarly judgment, and reviewers and editors remain responsible for their evaluations and editorial decisions. Any AI use must comply with the journal's confidentiality requirements and applicable institutional policies.

5. AI-Generated Images and Research Materials

AI-generated or AI-modified images, figures, and other research materials must not be used to misrepresent evidence or experimental results. Authors must disclose relevant AI-generated or AI-modified materials and ensure that their use complies with applicable copyright, licensing, research ethics, and publication requirements. Images serving as research evidence may be subject to stricter requirements.

6. Editorial Assessment and Compliance

The editorial team reserves the right to request clarification or additional disclosure regarding the use of AI in a submitted manuscript. Manuscripts that violate this policy or applicable publication ethics standards may be returned for revision, rejected, or subject to further editorial action in accordance with the journal's procedures.

7. Policy Updates

This policy may be reviewed and updated periodically to reflect developments in AI technology, scholarly publishing practices, and recommendations from recognized publication ethics organizations. Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to follow the policy applicable at the time of manuscript submission and editorial processing.

By submitting a manuscript to the journal, authors acknowledge their responsibility to ensure that the use of AI-assisted technologies is transparent, ethical, and consistent with the principles of responsible scholarly publishing.