The Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiology is committed to ensuring the integrity and originality of the research it publishes. Plagiarism in all its forms is strictly prohibited and is considered a serious violation of ethical publishing practices. This policy outlines how the journal addresses issues related to plagiarism, including the use of AI tools like large language models (LLMs) in manuscript preparation. Our aim is to protect intellectual property rights, uphold academic rigor, and promote transparency in research.

1. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as the act of using another person’s ideas, work, or words without proper attribution. This includes various forms of duplication, misrepresentation, and unauthorized use of original work such as:

• Direct Plagiarism: The word-for-word copying of sections of text from another source without proper citation.
• Self-Plagiarism: The reuse of significant portions of one’s own previously published work without appropriate acknowledgment.
• Paraphrasing Plagiarism: Rewriting another’s ideas or work without giving proper credit.
• Text Recycling: Reusing significant portions of previously published text across multiple publications without attribution.
• Uncredited Use of Data or Ideas: Using data, concepts, or ideas from another researcher without providing credit to the original source.

The journal’s policies extend to the appropriate use of AI-based tools to ensure the ethical and transparent use of technology in research writing.

2. Use of AI Tools and Large Language Models (LLMs)

AI tools, including large language models (LLMs) such as GPT and similar technologies, are becoming increasingly common in academic writing. While these tools can support the research and writing process, the Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiology requires authors to adhere to the following guidelines regarding their use:

a. Disclosure of AI Assistance

• Mandatory Disclosure: Authors must disclose any use of AI tools, including LLMs, in the preparation of their manuscript. This includes the use of AI for generating text, summarizing research, suggesting citations, or other writing aids.
• Acknowledgment in Manuscripts: If an AI tool is used, authors must include a statement in the manuscript’s acknowledgments section specifying the tool used and the extent of its contribution (e.g., "This manuscript was prepared with the assistance of [AI Tool Name] to support language generation.").

b. Author Accountability

• Human Oversight: Authors are fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and ethical integrity of the manuscript regardless of the use of AI tools. Manuscripts must be thoroughly reviewed and edited by the authors to ensure that all content is factually correct, free of bias, and adheres to the journal’s ethical standards.
• Avoiding Over-reliance: AI tools should only assist in manuscript preparation, not replace the author's own intellectual contribution. The core research, analysis, interpretation, and conclusions must be the author’s original work.

c. AI-generated Content and Plagiarism

• Attribution for AI Content: Any AI-generated content must be original and must not contain uncredited or plagiarized material. Authors should ensure that any content produced by an AI tool is properly checked for plagiarism before submission.
• Misuse of AI Tools: Using AI tools to generate or paraphrase content from other published works without proper attribution is considered plagiarism. This includes generating text that closely mirrors existing research without adequate citation.

d. Ethical Considerations for AI Tools

• Accuracy of AI Outputs: Authors must carefully verify any facts, figures, or references suggested by AI tools. AI-generated content can contain factual inaccuracies or incorrect citations, and it is the author’s responsibility to ensure the final manuscript is error-free.
• Data Privacy and Security: When using AI tools, authors should ensure that sensitive or proprietary research data is not disclosed to third-party platforms unless adequate data protection measures are in place.

3. Submission Screening for Plagiarism

All manuscripts submitted to the Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiology undergo plagiarism screening as part of the initial editorial review. The journal uses advanced plagiarism detection software, which now includes algorithms capable of identifying both conventional plagiarism and AI-generated content.

• Plagiarism Detection: Submitted manuscripts are scanned using plagiarism detection software, which checks for text duplication, paraphrased content, and similarities with previously published material. AI-generated content is also scrutinized to ensure originality and compliance with ethical standards.
• Manual Review for AI-generated Content: In cases where AI-generated text is suspected or flagged during the review process, the editorial team may perform a manual review to ensure that the manuscript adheres to the journal’s originality and attribution requirements.

4. Types of Plagiarism and AI-Related Violations

The journal distinguishes between different levels of plagiarism and related violations associated with the use of AI tools. Each violation leads to specific actions ranging from revision requests to rejection and reporting.

• a. Minor Overlap (Less than 10%): Small sections of the manuscript show overlap with previously published content or contain AI-generated text that lacks proper attribution.
• Action: The authors are required to correct the overlap by providing proper citations or rephrasing the content. The manuscript can continue through the review process after these revisions are made.
• b. Moderate Overlap (10%-25%): Larger portions of the manuscript contain text that closely mirrors other sources or involve AI-generated content that has not been properly cited or reviewed.
• Action: The manuscript is rejected and the authors are notified of the specific issues. They are asked to thoroughly revise the manuscript to address the duplication or improper use of AI tools and resubmit it as a new submission.
• c. Severe Plagiarism or AI-related Misconduct (More than 25%): Significant portions of the manuscript are copied directly from other sources without attribution or substantial sections are generated by AI without disclosure or proper oversight. This includes AI misuse such as generating text that paraphrases other works without citation.
• Action: The manuscript is immediately rejected. In cases of severe plagiarism or AI-related misconduct, the journal reserves the right to ban the authors from future submissions. The journal may also notify the authors' affiliated institutions or research funders for further action.

5. Consequences of Plagiarism or AI Misconduct in Published Articles

If plagiarism or AI-related misconduct is discovered after publication, the Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiology will take corrective actions to protect the academic record.

• Correction Notice: In cases of minor plagiarism or undisclosed AI use, the journal will publish a correction notice. The correction will clarify any AI involvement or misattribution, ensuring proper credit is given.
• Retraction: In cases of severe plagiarism or unethical use of AI tools, the journal will retract the article. A retraction notice will be published explaining the reasons for the retraction, and the article will be marked as retracted in all relevant databases.
• Institutional Notification: For serious cases of plagiarism or AI-related violations, the journal may report the issue to the authors' affiliated institutions or research funders.

6. Self-Plagiarism and AI-generated Text

The journal’s self-plagiarism policy extends to AI-generated text. Authors must not use AI tools to repackage their previously published work without proper citation. Reusing content from previous publications without appropriate attribution, whether through manual writing or AI assistance, is considered self-plagiarism and is subject to the same penalties.

7. Author Responsibilities Regarding AI Tools

Authors are required to follow ethical practices when using AI tools in the writing process. By submitting a manuscript to the journal, authors certify that:

• Originality: The manuscript is the original work of the authors and any assistance from AI tools has been fully disclosed.
• Proper Attribution: Any use of AI tools, whether for text generation, citation suggestion, or summarization, is acknowledged in the manuscript, and all sources are properly cited.
• Human Oversight: The authors have reviewed and edited all AI-generated content to ensure accuracy, originality, and compliance with the journal’s ethical standards.

8. Reviewer and Editor Responsibilities

a. Role of Reviewers

• Detecting Plagiarism and AI Misuse: Reviewers are encouraged to report any suspicions of plagiarism, AI-generated text, or inappropriate use of AI tools in the manuscripts they review. Reviewers can flag content that seems excessively generic or similar to previous publications.
• Confidentiality: All concerns related to plagiarism or AI-generated content must be reported privately to the editor. Reviewers are expected to maintain confidentiality and should not disclose these issues to external parties.

b. Role of Editors

• Screening for AI-generated Content: Editors are responsible for checking that any disclosed use of AI tools is appropriate and ethical. Manuscripts that appear to have been overly reliant on AI without human oversight will undergo further review.
• Handling Plagiarism Reports: If a manuscript is flagged for plagiarism or AI-related issues, the editorial team will investigate the matter and decide on appropriate actions, ranging from revision requests to rejections.

9. Educational Support for Authors

The journal provides educational resources to help authors avoid plagiarism and misuse of AI tools. These resources include:

• AI Use Guidelines: Detailed information on how to ethically use AI tools for writing and research, including tips on attribution and avoiding over-reliance on AI-generated content.
• Workshops and Webinars: The journal may host or recommend workshops focused on responsible AI use in research, helping authors understand the ethical implications of AI-assisted writing.

10. Final Steps to Ensure Originality and Compliance

Before a manuscript is accepted for publication, it undergoes a final plagiarism and AI compliance check. Authors are required to sign a declaration confirming the originality of the manuscript and disclosing any AI assistance used in the preparation of the manuscript.

The Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiology is dedicated to promoting ethical research and publishing practices. By adhering to these plagiarism and AI-related policies, the journal ensures that all published content is original, accurate, and free from ethical breaches. This commitment safeguards the trust of the academic community and upholds the journal’s reputation for publishing high-quality cardiovascular research.