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Author Instructions
7. Policy of the Use of AI and AI-assisted Technologies
7.1 AI Authorship
Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (e.g., large language models) are increasingly employed in content creation.
However, their use in manuscript preparation is strictly limited:
• Prohibited applications: These tools must not be used to perform core research tasks, including generating scientific
insights, analyzing/interpreting data, or drawing scientific conclusions.
• Permitted applications: They may only be used to enhance manuscript readability and language quality.
All AI technologies must be used under human oversight, as they may produce inaccurate or biased content. AI tools
cannot be listed as authors/co-authors or cited as such. Authors retain full responsibility for all content, including AI-
generated material.
Exceptions for methodological use:
If AI tools are integral to the research design/methodology, authors must:
1. Document usage transparently in the Materials and Methods section, specifying:
• Tool/model name
• Version/extension number
• Manufacturer
2. Include a declaration titled “Declaration of Generative AI Use” before the reference section, stating:
“During the preparation of this work, the author(s) used [TOOL NAME] due to [reason]. The author(s) reviewed and
edited all AI-generated content and accept full responsibility for the published material.”
Note: No declaration is required for basic grammar/spelling checkers or reference managers.

7.2 Generative AI in Visual Content
OAE prohibits the use of generative AI/AI-assisted tools to create or modify images, including:
• Graphical abstracts
• Cover images
• Figures within manuscripts
Permitted adjustments limited to:
• Brightness/contrast correction
• Color balance optimization
provided these edits do not obscure, delete, or misrepresent original image data.

7.3 AI Use in Peer Review
Confidentiality requirements:
• Reviewers must not upload manuscripts/materials to AI platforms, as this:
1. Violates OAE’s confidentiality policies
2. Risks intellectual property infringement
3. May compromise personal data in identifiable content
Review integrity standards:
• Peer review must remain human-driven – AI tools cannot replace critical scholarly judgment.
• Reviewers must not use AI for manuscript evaluation due to risks of:
1. Inaccurate/incomplete assessments
2. Algorithmic bias
Declaration requirement: Reviewers retain full accountability for their reports, if any aspect of the manuscript’s
evaluation was supported in any way by an AI tool, reviewers must explicitly disclose it in their report.
OAE will periodically reassess this policy to align with technological advancements and academic standards.

8. Conflict of Interests
OAE journals require authors to declare any possible financial and/or non-financial conflicts of interest at the end of
their manuscript and in the cover letter, as well as confirm this point when submitting their manuscript in the submission
system. If no conflicts of interest exist, authors need to state “The authors declare no conflicts of interest”. We also
recognize that some authors may be bound by confidentiality agreements, in which cases authors need to sate “The
authors declare that they are bound by confidentiality agreements that prevent them from disclosing their competing
interests in this work”.

9. Editorial Process
9.1 Initial check
9.1.1 Initial manuscript check
New submissions are initially checked by the Managing Editor from the perspectives of originality, suitability, structure
and formatting, conflicts of interest, background of authors, etc. Poorly-prepared manuscripts may be rejected at this
stage. If your manuscript does not meet one or more of these requirements, we will return it for further revisions.
9.1.2 Publishing ethics

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