Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

This policy follows the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (COPE, DOAJ, OASPA and WAME) and COPE's position statement on authorship and AI tools. It applies to authors, reviewers and editors.

1. Authors

  • AI tools, including large language models, cannot be listed as authors, because they cannot take responsibility for the work.
  • Authors may use AI tools to improve the language and readability of their manuscript. Any other use must be disclosed. This includes generating text, designing the study, writing code, analysing data, producing or editing figures and tables, and searching or summarising the literature.
  • Disclosure: add a section titled "Declaration of Generative AI Use" before the References. Name the tool and version, explain the purpose and the sections affected, and confirm that the authors reviewed and edited the output and take full responsibility for the content. If no AI tool was used, state: "The authors did not use generative AI tools in the preparation of this manuscript."
  • AI-generated or AI-altered images are not permitted in figures that present results or data. Illustrative (schematic) figures created with AI are accepted only if disclosed in the caption, for example: "Figure created with the assistance of [tool] and reviewed by the authors." If an AI tool was used to modify a previously published figure, the original source must be cited and its licence respected.
  • Authors must verify every reference. Fabricated or non-existent references are treated as research misconduct.
  • The journal screens all submissions with Turnitin, including its AI-writing indicator. Manuscripts with an AI-writing indicator above 25% are returned to the authors for clarification and revision. The indicator alone is never the sole basis for rejection; the editor reviews each case.

2. Reviewers

  • Reviewers must not upload a manuscript, or any part of it, to generative AI tools, because this breaches the confidentiality of peer review.
  • Reviewers must not use AI tools to evaluate the manuscript or to write the review report. Limited use to correct the language of their own report is allowed only if it is declared to the editor in the review form.

3. Editors

  • Editors use automated tools only for similarity and AI-writing screening (Turnitin). All editorial decisions, including desk rejection, reviewer selection, acceptance and rejection, are made by human editors. AI tools are not used to evaluate manuscripts or to draft decision letters or revision requests.
  • Editors must not upload manuscripts to generative AI tools.

4. Breaches

Undisclosed or inappropriate use of AI is handled under the journal's Publication Ethics and Corrections, Retractions and Withdrawals policies, following COPE guidance. This policy is reviewed annually.