The Diyala Journal for Veterinary Sciences (DJVS) recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) tools may support researchers in certain aspects of scientific writing, data processing, language improvement, and technical preparation of manuscripts. However, the use of AI must not compromise research integrity, originality, transparency, confidentiality, ethical compliance, or author accountability.
This policy defines the acceptable and unacceptable use of AI tools in manuscripts submitted to DJVS and clarifies the responsibilities of authors, reviewers, and editors.
AI tools may be used only as supportive tools. They must not replace the intellectual contribution, scientific judgment, critical analysis, or responsibility of human authors.
Authors are fully responsible for all content submitted to DJVS, including any text, data, analysis, images, tables, figures, references, or interpretations assisted by AI tools.
Authors must carefully review, verify, and validate any AI-assisted output before submission. AI-generated content may contain errors, fabricated information, inaccurate references, biased statements, or misleading interpretations.
Authors may use AI-based tools for limited supportive purposes, provided that the use is transparent, responsible, and does not affect the originality or integrity of the work.
Acceptable uses may include:
Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and language refinement.
Improvement of clarity, readability, and academic style, without changing the scientific meaning.
Reference management or formatting support, provided that all references are checked by the authors for accuracy and authenticity.
Assistance with data processing or statistical analysis, provided that the methods are clearly described, scientifically valid, reproducible, and verified by the authors.
Technical formatting support for tables, figures, or manuscript structure, provided that the scientific content is not altered.
Minor image adjustments, such as brightness or contrast correction, only when applied to the entire image and without changing, removing, adding, or misrepresenting any scientific information.
The following uses of AI tools are prohibited in manuscripts submitted to DJVS:
Generating, fabricating, falsifying, or manipulating research data, experimental results, clinical findings, laboratory results, or statistical outcomes.
Creating or modifying images, figures, photographs, histopathological images, radiographs, diagnostic images, or graphical data in a way that misrepresents the original findings.
Generating fake references, inaccurate citations, fabricated sources, or misleading literature summaries.
Writing substantial scientific content, interpretations, conclusions, or arguments without direct human authorship, verification, and responsibility.
Using AI-generated text, images, data, or analysis without proper disclosure where disclosure is required.
Using AI tools in any manner that violates research ethics, animal welfare standards, confidentiality, intellectual property rights, data protection requirements, or publication ethics.
Authors must disclose the use of AI tools when such tools have contributed to manuscript preparation, data analysis, image processing, literature assistance, or any other part of the submitted work beyond basic grammar or spelling correction.
The disclosure should include, where applicable:
The name of the AI tool or software.
The version or provider, if available.
The purpose and extent of use.
The section of the manuscript in which the tool was used.
The disclosure may be included in the Methods section, Acknowledgments section, or a separate statement, depending on the nature of the AI use.
“During the preparation of this manuscript, [name of AI tool, version if available] was used for [state purpose, e.g., language editing or statistical coding support]. The authors reviewed, verified, and approved all AI-assisted content and take full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the manuscript.”
If no AI tools were used, authors may state:
“The authors declare that no artificial intelligence tools were used in the preparation, analysis, or writing of this manuscript.”
AI tools, chatbots, large language models, or any automated systems cannot be listed as authors or co-authors.
Authorship is limited to human contributors who meet the journal’s authorship criteria and who can take responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, ethical compliance, and accountability of the work.
AI tools cannot approve the final manuscript, respond to reviewer comments, accept responsibility for errors, or be held accountable for research or publication misconduct.
The use of AI tools to generate, alter, enhance, or manipulate scientific images, clinical photographs, histopathological images, diagnostic images, graphs, or visual data must not misrepresent the original results.
Any AI-assisted image processing must be scientifically justified, clearly disclosed, and consistent with accepted standards of image integrity.
Authors must retain the original unprocessed data and images and provide them to the editorial office upon reasonable request.
AI-generated images or visual materials that do not represent real research data must not be presented as experimental, clinical, diagnostic, or observational findings.
Reviewers must treat submitted manuscripts and all related materials as strictly confidential.
Reviewers must not upload manuscripts, figures, tables, data, supplementary files, or reviewer reports to AI tools, chatbots, online platforms, or third-party services that may compromise confidentiality, data protection, intellectual property rights, or the integrity of the peer-review process.
Reviewer reports must reflect the reviewer’s own expert judgment, critical evaluation, and scientific assessment.
AI tools must not replace the reviewer’s independent evaluation of the manuscript.
Editors and editorial staff must protect the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts, reviewer identities, author information, and editorial communications.
AI tools must not be used in a way that compromises confidentiality, editorial independence, data protection, or the integrity of the peer-review process.
Editorial decisions must remain the responsibility of human editors and must be based on scientific merit, ethical compliance, reviewer reports, journal policies, and editorial judgment.
Authors are responsible for ensuring that any AI-assisted content is accurate, original, properly disclosed, ethically acceptable, and free from plagiarism, fabricated information, false references, misleading claims, or inappropriate data manipulation.
The use of AI does not reduce or transfer the responsibility of authors, reviewers, or editors.
Any undisclosed or inappropriate use of AI identified before or after publication may be treated as a publication ethics concern.
Misuse of AI tools may include, but is not limited to:
Undisclosed AI-generated manuscript content where disclosure is required.
Fabrication or manipulation of data, images, references, or results using AI.
Submission of AI-generated material as original human-authored scientific work without proper verification and responsibility.
Use of AI tools in peer review in a manner that breaches confidentiality.
Use of AI tools to mislead editors, reviewers, readers, or indexing bodies.
When misuse of AI is suspected or confirmed, DJVS may take appropriate editorial action, including requesting clarification, returning the manuscript for correction, rejecting the manuscript, issuing a correction, publishing an expression of concern, retracting the article, or notifying the relevant institution or authority, depending on the nature and severity of the case.
DJVS supports the responsible, transparent, and ethical use of AI tools when such use improves clarity, technical quality, or research efficiency without compromising scientific integrity.
The journal expects all authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial staff to use AI tools, where applicable, in a manner consistent with honesty, confidentiality, accountability, transparency, and responsible scholarly publishing.
Note: The author must complete the Statement of Copyright Transfer, Financial Disclosure, Use of AI, and Authorship Responsibility form (attached below) and upload it along with the submitted manuscript.
Statement of Copyright Transfer, Financial Disclosure, Use of AI, and Authorship Responsibility
DJVS will be publishing 4 issues per year (quarterly).
First decision | 2-5 Days
Review Process up to | 30 Days
Submission to acceptance and publishing | 30-90 Days
Email: djvs@uodiyala.edu.iq
Phone: 009647901254572
