Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

We recognize the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in research and academic writing. To maintain transparency and integrity, any use of AI must be explicitly declared and described in the manuscript, in accordance with our plagiarism policy and best practices for citation and acknowledgment. AI tools do not fulfill the accountability criteria for authorship; therefore, generative AI applications such as ChatGPT or similar technologies must not be listed as authors of submitted works.

Specifically, any AI involvement should be disclosed as follows:

• Image generation: Clearly describe the process used and declare it in the image caption(s).
• Text generation: Provide a detailed explanation of the tool’s use, ensure all information is properly cited, and acknowledge it in the manuscript’s Acknowledgements
• Data analysis or text/data mining: Include a complete description of the analytical process, identifying all datasets or materials used, with appropriate references and citations.
• Third-party material: AI-generated content must not reproduce others’ ideas, words, or data without proper acknowledgment or permission.

Descriptions of AI use should specify the version of the tool or algorithm, its source or access point, any proprietary aspects, researcher modifications, and the dates of use. Any potential bias or competing interests related to the tool’s application must also be transparently disclosed and may be discussed within the article.