Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

Effective for manuscripts submitted from: October, 2026

The journal recognizes the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted tools in scholarly publishing. AI tools may be used to support research, writing, reviewing, and editorial activities, provided that their use does not compromise academic integrity, confidentiality, originality, or human accountability.

This policy applies to authors, peer reviewers, and editors.

1. Authors

Authors may use AI-assisted tools for supportive purposes, such as language improvement, grammar checking, translation, formatting, and other similar activities. However, AI tools must not be used to fabricate or manipulate research data, findings, references, citations, or other scholarly content in a misleading manner.

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and ethical standards of their manuscripts. AI tools cannot be listed as authors or contributors.

Authors are encouraged to disclose the use of AI-assisted tools when such tools have been used substantially in the preparation or development of the manuscript. The journal may request authors to provide information regarding the nature and extent of AI use when considered necessary for editorial or ethical assessment.

2. Peer Reviewers

Peer reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of all manuscripts and materials received for review. Reviewers must not upload or disclose manuscripts, unpublished data, reviewer reports, or other confidential materials to publicly available or third-party generative AI tools.

AI tools should not replace the reviewer's own critical assessment or professional judgment. Reviewers remain responsible for the content, accuracy, and integrity of their review reports.

3. Editors

Editors may use AI-assisted tools for appropriate administrative or editorial support, including language screening, formatting checks, similarity screening, and other routine editorial tasks, where appropriate.

AI tools must not replace the editor's independent academic judgment or final editorial decision. Editors must protect the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts, reviewer reports, and unpublished research information and should not enter such confidential materials into AI tools that do not provide adequate confidentiality and data protection.

Editors remain fully responsible for editorial decisions and must ensure that the use of AI does not introduce unfair bias, compromise confidentiality, or undermine the integrity of the peer-review process.

General Principle

The use of AI does not transfer responsibility from the human user to the AI system. Authors, peer reviewers, and editors remain accountable for their respective contributions, assessments, and decisions.

Any suspected inappropriate, misleading, or unethical use of AI may be investigated in accordance with the journal's publication ethics procedures and relevant principles and guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).