Plagiarism and AI Policy

JEES recognizes the opportunities and challenges that emerge from the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) services, such as ChatGPT, within the domain of scientific publishing. In instances where Generative AI is employed in the creation of texts, data, graphics, study design, data collection, analysis, or data interpretation, authors are obligated to explicitly articulate its utilization at the time of manuscript submission. This stipulation imposes a maximum limit of 20% of the total contribution of AI. In the interest of maintaining transparency, it is essential that the author meticulously documents the employment of the Generative AI tool within the methods and materials section. Furthermore, the author is required to integrate the product information of the aforementioned Generative AI tool into the thank you section.

The following examples are provided as a sample of the recommended statements.

"In the preparation of this manuscript/study, the author employed [name of the tool, version] for the purpose of [description of use]. The author has meticulously reviewed and revised the publication's content, and accepts full responsibility for its accuracy and integrity."

It is important to note that the use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools in the context of text editing, such as grammar, structure, spelling, punctuation, and formatting improvements, is not addressed by this policy and therefore does not require disclosure.

The author bears exclusive responsibility for ensuring the authenticity, validity, and integrity of the content of the manuscript, including any material generated using the GenAI tool. A meticulous examination is imperative to ascertain that all content adheres to the established JEES publication ethics policies. This encompasses a range of guidelines, including but not limited to those concerning plagiarism, data falsification, image manipulation, and intellectual property rights.

JEES reserves the prerogative to request supplemental documentation if deemed necessary, with all editorial determinations being executed in accordance with prevailing policies.

Plagiarism is strictly prohibited in articles, with a maximum limit of 20% similarity. Plagiarism is defined as the act of duplicating text, concepts, images, or data from alternate sources without proper citation or attribution. In the context of academic writing, quotations and references must be enclosed in quotation marks and correctly cited. Additionally, the inspiration from previous studies must be explicitly stated. All submissions are subject to a similarity check using Turnitin or iThenticate. Manuscripts with a similarity rate exceeding 20% or those found to contain plagiarism during the peer review process may be rejected. In the event of post-publication detection of such infractions, an investigation will be initiated and appropriate action will be taken in accordance with the established policy.

All submitted manuscripts to JEES will undergo a plagiarism check using industry-standard software, namely Turnitin or iThenticate. In the event that indications of plagiarism are identified during the peer review process, the manuscript may be rejected. In the event that a case of plagiarism is revealed after publication, an investigation will be conducted and policy action will be taken.

JEES reserves the right to request high-resolution original image files as well as raw data during the submission and peer review process to support post-publication investigations.

Image files must not be modified or adapted in a manner that could lead to misinterpretation of the original information. Unacceptable manipulations include the following: (1) the addition, deletion, or alteration of elements in the original image; (2) the merging of images that should be separate; and (3) changes in contrast, brightness, or color balance that are intended to unreasonably hide or highlight certain information.

In the event that concerns regarding image modifications arise and are not disclosed during the editorial process or after publication, an investigation will be conducted. The author is required to provide the original image and the relevant raw data. This discrepancy in the data will result in a temporary suspension of the peer review process until the issue is resolved. In the event that the peer review process uncovers instances of unauthorized image manipulation, the publisher reserves the right to exercise its discretion and reject the manuscript. In the event that the findings emerge subsequent to publication, the publisher may undertake corrections or retraction of the article, and may involve the author's institution if deemed necessary.

All data presented must be original and must not be unethically selected, manipulated, enhanced, or falsified. Prohibited practices include the following: (1) the omission of data points with the intent to strengthen conclusions; (2) the falsification of data; (3) the selection of results that only support hypotheses by ignoring conflicting data; and (4) the deliberate selection of analysis methods to support certain conclusions, including p-hacking practices. MIREJ strongly recommends the registration of protocols, methods, and analysis on a pre-publication basis.

JEES encourages authors to retain the raw data and associated metadata after publication by archiving the dataset on institutional servers or community-recognized public repositories for a minimum of five years post-publication.

For research involving living beings, ethical approval from a competent Ethics Committee is an absolute prerequisite before the implementation of the study. This approval includes protocols for human and experimental animal subjects that comply with the principles of animal welfare (3R: replacement, reduction, refinement) as well as comprehensive informed consent. Non-interventional studies, including surveys, questionnaires, and social media analysis, mandate comprehensive disclosure to participants regarding the anonymity guarantee, research objectives, data utilization, and potential risks of participation. In instances where ethical approval is not a prerequisite, the author is obligated to append a formal waiver letter from the ethics committee, inclusive of the committee's designation and a rationale for the exemption, as stipulated by local or national regulations, expressly enumerated in the Institutional Review Board Statement section.