Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Manuscript Preparation and Peer Review

The journal and the publisher are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and transparency in scholarly publishing. To this end, we have established the following guidelines concerning the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies:

A. For Authors:

1. Disclosure of AI Assistance
   Authors must fully disclose any use of AI or AI-assisted technologies (e.g., large language models, chatbots, image generators) in the creation of their manuscript. This includes:

• The name of the AI program, platform, or tool used;
• The date(s) of use;
• A concise explanation of how AI was applied and which sections of the manuscript it contributed to;
• A declaration affirming that the authors take full responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the AI-assisted content.

This disclosure must be included in both the cover letter and the Acknowledgment section of the manuscript.

2. Prohibition of AI-Generated Articles and Images

• Articles created entirely using AI technologies will not be accepted.
• The generation of images using AI technologies is strictly prohibited and will result in the rejection of the manuscript.

3. Authorship and AI Tools
   AI tools cannot be listed as authors, as they do not meet the authorship criteria, including the ability to take responsibility for the work and declare conflicts of interest.

4. Limitations of AI Use

• AI and AI-assisted technologies should only be used to improve readability and language and not to replace essential researcher tasks such as:
• Producing scientific insights;
• Analyzing and interpreting data;
• Drawing scientific conclusions.
• AI-generated text cannot be cited as a primary source under any circumstances.

5. Scope of the Policy
   The use of basic tools for spelling, grammar, and reference formatting is exempt from disclosure. However, any other applications of AI in manuscript creation, review, revision, or editing must be disclosed as outlined above.

6. Additional Author Responsibilities
   Authors must ensure that:

• All references and citations are accurate and complete.
• No plagiarism is present in their submission.
• Any AI-assisted content is verified for accuracy, originality, and integrity.

B. For Peer Reviewers:

1. Confidentiality
   Reviewers must not upload manuscripts or any part thereof to AI tools or platforms where confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.

2. Disclosure of AI Assistance
   If AI tools are used to assist in the review process (e.g., for language editing), reviewers must disclose this use to the journal and ensure that AI involvement does not compromise the quality, integrity, or confidentiality of the review. AI-generated reviews are not acceptable.

Note: Policy Review and Updates: Given the rapid evolution of AI technologies, this policy will be reviewed and updated periodically as needed to address emerging ethical considerations and industry standards.

By adhering to these guidelines, the journal and the publisher aim to uphold ethical standards, ensure the responsible integration of AI in scholarly activities, and align with our commitment to ethical publishing practices and the advancement of medical science.