AVES Publishing follows a publication policy based on the principles of transparency, ethical integrity, and scientific excellence for all academic journals under its umbrella. This policy is conducted in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

1. Publication Ethics and Academic Integrity

AVES aims to maintain the originality and scientific integrity of all published content. In cases of suspected ethical violations (plagiarism, data manipulation, redundant publication, etc.), AVES Editorial Boards initiate investigation procedures based on the relevant COPE flowcharts. Authors are directly responsible for the originality of their submissions and their adherence to ethical standards.

2. Ethics Committee Approval and Research Ethics

Ethics committee approval from the institution where the research was conducted is required for all studies involving human or animal subjects. Studies lacking ethics committee approval or exempted from this process are evaluated during the editorial review process of the relevant AVES journal within the framework of the COPE “Research, Audit and Service Evaluations” guideline. The privacy and safety of subjects must be protected in accordance with international standards (e.g., Declaration of WMA Helsinki).

3. Authorship and Contributorship

Authorship in AVES journals is based on the criteria established by the ICMJE. The authorship rights of all individuals who have made intellectual contributions to the study are respected. Requests for changes in authorship or allegations of “ghost/honorary” authorship are evaluated in accordance with relevant COPE guidelines, subject to the consensus and formal declaration of all authors.

4. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AVES adheres to the principles of transparency, accountability, and human responsibility regarding the use of AI tools.

• Declaration Requirements: Authors must transparently declare the use of AI or AI-assisted technologies on the title page and in the cover letter at the time of submission. Authors confirm that their declared usage aligns with AVES policies and acknowledge their full responsibility for the content published in the study.
• Methodology: The specific tool name, version, and purpose of its use (e.g., language editing, data processing, literature search) must be clearly stated in the “Materials and Methods” section using a standard disclosure statement.
• Data Integrity and Ethics: Authors are solely responsible for independently verifying the accuracy of AI-generated content, citations, and medical claims to ensure they are free of “hallucinations”. AI usage must not constitute plagiarism; the final text must remain the authors’ original contribution. Uploading sensitive or identifiable patient data to any AI tool is strictly prohibited to ensure confidentiality and data security.
• Peer Review and Editorial Process: Editors and reviewers may use AI tools for administrative tasks (e.g., language correction, data accuracy checking) only with the explicit approval of the editorial office; however, it is strictly forbidden for reviewers to upload unpublished articles requiring their review to any LLM tools. To protect the confidentiality of the submission, no part of an unpublished manuscript may be uploaded to an AI tool or third-party server.
• Image Generation: Due to legal and ethical uncertainties, the use of AI-generated visuals is generally restricted. Exceptions are made only for licensed content from contracted agencies or visual content directly relevant to articles focused on AI, subject to editorial review. All approved AI-generated images must be labeled as “AI-generated,” and authors are responsible for the accuracy and ethical compliance of these materials.

5. Licensing and Open Access

All journals under AVES adopt an Open Access model. Published content is protected under a Creative Commons (CC) license selected by the relevant journal. Licensing details and terms of use are specified on each journal’s website. Commercial use requests are subject to written agreement with the management of the relevant AVES journal.

6. Editorial Processes and Transparency

All submissions are processed under double-anonymized review principles to maintain neutrality. Authors who wish to appeal an editorial decision may contact the editorial office with a formal letter stating their grounds for appeal. Appeals and complaints are evaluated through a fair and transparent process by the relevant journal’s editorial board and, if necessary, by the AVES Research Integrity Department. For inquiries and reports regarding ethical matters, please contact us at [email protected].