Plagiarism and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy
1. Policy Statement
United Frontiers Publisher (UFP) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, originality, transparency, and ethical scholarly publishing across all journals in its portfolio. Authors are responsible for ensuring that submitted manuscripts are original works and that all sources, ideas, data, figures, tables, and published materials are appropriately acknowledged and referenced.
2. Plagiarism and Advanced Text Manipulation
Plagiarism in any form is considered unethical and unacceptable. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Direct copying without proper attribution.
- Improper paraphrasing or unattributed use of another person’s work.
- Duplicate or redundant publication.
- Self-plagiarism.
- Data, figure, or image plagiarism.
- Citation manipulation.
- Fabrication of references or bibliographic information.
- Copyright infringement or unauthorized reuse of published material.
All submitted manuscripts undergo screening with Turnitin or other recognized plagiarism-detection software prior to peer review. The Editorial Office evaluates similarity reports, and editorial decisions consider the nature, extent, and context of any identified overlap rather than relying exclusively on a numerical similarity score.
As a general guideline, the overall similarity index should not exceed 10%, and no individual source should account for more than 3%. Properly quoted material, references, standard methodological descriptions, and other acceptable overlaps are excluded from these calculations.
2.2 Automated Paraphrasing and Text Manipulation
Automated paraphrasing, text-spinning, or similar technologies intended to conceal plagiarism or misrepresent manuscript originality are strictly prohibited. Manuscripts exhibiting excessive automated text manipulation, misleading scientific terminology, or concealed plagiarism will be rejected or subjected to further editorial investigation in accordance with the Publisher’s Research Integrity Policy and the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
3. Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy
United Frontiers Publisher acknowledges that Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies can support multiple facets of scholarly writing and research. The application of these technologies must remain transparent, responsible, and aligned with established standards of research integrity.
Authors employing AI during manuscript preparation are required to disclose its use and provide a brief description of its contribution to the work. Authors retain full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, authenticity, ethical compliance, and scientific integrity of the submitted manuscript. AI systems or AI-assisted technologies are not permitted to be listed as authors or co-authors and cannot assume responsibility for the content of scholarly publications.
The use of AI solely for grammar checking, spelling correction, language editing, or reference management does not require disclosure.
3.2 Declaration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Where applicable, authors should include the following statement in their manuscript:
“The author(s) used Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assist with [describe how AI was used] during the preparation of this manuscript. Following its use, the author(s) carefully reviewed and edited the content and accept full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and final content of the manuscript.”
4. Restrictions on the Use of Artificial Intelligence
The use of artificial intelligence to fabricate, falsify, manipulate, or misrepresent research is strictly prohibited. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
- The generation or fabrication of questionnaires, survey instruments, interview responses, datasets, experiments, or research findings without appropriate disclosure and scientific validation.
- The creation of fictitious, inaccurate, or non-existent references, citations, DOIs, bibliographic information, or supporting sources is prohibited.
- Presenting AI-generated text, analyses, interpretations, literature reviews, or other content as original scholarly work without appropriate disclosure constitutes a violation of academic integrity.
- Fabrication or manipulation of research data, images, figures, tables, charts, or statistical analyses using AI is strictly prohibited.
- The use of AI to impersonate research participants, reviewers, editors, experts, or other individuals is not permitted.
- Employing AI-assisted paraphrasing or automated rewriting tools to conceal plagiarism or misrepresent the originality of a manuscript is considered academic misconduct.
Authors bear responsibility for verifying the accuracy, authenticity, and reliability of all AI-assisted content prior to submission.
5. Editorial Assessment and Policy Enforcement
If concerns regarding plagiarism, undisclosed AI use, or AI-assisted research misconduct are identified, the Editorial Office may request supplementary information or documentation to verify the originality and authenticity of the submission. Verified violations of this policy may lead to editorial actions such as manuscript rejection, withdrawal of an accepted manuscript, publication correction or retraction, notification of the author’s institution when appropriate, or other measures consistent with the Publisher’s Research Integrity Policy, Publication Ethics Policy, and the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).