Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Policy

1. Scope and General Principles

This policy applies to authors, reviewers, editors, and other individuals involved in the journal's editorial and publication processes.

It covers generative AI systems, large language models (LLMs), AI-assisted writing tools, code-generation systems, image-generation tools, and other AI applications used to produce or materially transform scholarly content.

The following principles govern AI use:

• Human accountability: Human researchers remain responsible for all scientific content and decisions.
• Transparency: Material AI assistance must be disclosed appropriately.
• Scientific accuracy: AI-generated outputs must be independently evaluated and verified.
• Originality: AI use must not facilitate plagiarism, fabrication, or misleading attribution.
• Confidentiality: Unpublished manuscripts and sensitive research information must be protected.
• Reproducibility: AI-assisted research methods must be documented sufficiently to permit scientific evaluation.

2. AI Authorship and Accountability

Artificial intelligence tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors because they cannot provide informed approval of a manuscript, assume legal or ethical responsibility, manage competing interests, or respond independently to questions concerning research integrity.

All listed authors must satisfy the journal's Authorship and Contributorship Policy and remain fully accountable for:

• The originality and accuracy of the manuscript.
• The correctness of mathematical formulations, proofs, and computational results.
• The authenticity of data, figures, citations, and references.
• Compliance with ethical, copyright, privacy, and confidentiality requirements.
• The identification and correction of errors arising from AI-assisted work.

3. Permitted AI Use by Authors

Authors may use AI tools to assist legitimate research and manuscript preparation activities, provided that the outputs are critically reviewed and appropriately verified.

Examples include:

• Language editing, grammar improvement, and readability enhancement.
• Assistance with manuscript organization and scientific communication.
• Computer programming, debugging, and numerical algorithm development.
• Exploration of mathematical formulations and computational approaches.
• Support for data processing, visualization, and computational workflows.
• Assistance in identifying relevant research concepts, subject to independent source verification.

Permission to use AI does not imply that AI-generated material is scientifically valid or suitable for publication without independent verification.

4. AI Use in Mathematical Modelling and Computational Research

Because BEMO specializes in mathematical modelling, dynamical systems, numerical analysis, and optimization, particular attention is required when AI tools contribute to the scientific methodology or results.

4.1 Mathematical Formulation and Analysis

AI-assisted equations, mathematical assumptions, derivations, stability analyses, bifurcation analyses, and proofs must be checked by the authors using appropriate mathematical reasoning or independent verification.

AI-generated derivations or proofs must not be presented as validated solely because they were produced by an AI system.

4.2 Numerical Methods and Programming

Authors using AI-assisted code must evaluate the correctness, numerical stability, convergence behavior, implementation assumptions, and reproducibility of the computational procedures where relevant.

Relevant computational settings, algorithms, parameter values, initial conditions, and software dependencies should be reported sufficiently to enable independent assessment.

4.3 Simulation and Optimization Results

Simulation outputs, parameter estimates, sensitivity analyses, optimization solutions, and graphical results must be derived from verifiable computational or analytical procedures.

Authors must not substitute fabricated AI-generated numerical values, graphs, or experimental observations for genuine research results.

4.4 Data, Code, and Reproducibility

When AI materially contributes to research methods, authors should document the relevant tool, version or model identifier where available, its role in the workflow, and the validation procedures performed.

Where legally and ethically permissible, authors are encouraged to provide supporting code, data, and computational materials to facilitate verification and reproducibility.

5. Mandatory Disclosure of AI Use

Authors must disclose AI use that materially contributes to manuscript content, research methodology, data analysis, code development, figures, or interpretation of findings.

Disclosures should identify, as applicable:

1. The AI tool or system used, including its provider and version when available.
2. The purpose and extent of AI assistance.
3. The manuscript sections or research activities affected.
4. The human verification and validation procedures performed.

Routine spelling, grammar, or formatting assistance that does not materially generate or alter scholarly content generally does not require a formal disclosure. Authors remain responsible for the final text.

Substantive AI use in scientific methodology should also be described in the Methods section, with sufficient technical detail for evaluation.

6. Prohibited and Unacceptable AI Practices

BEMO prohibits AI-related practices that compromise scientific or publication integrity, including:

• Fabrication or falsification of research data, observations, numerical results, or model validation outcomes.
• Generation of nonexistent, inaccurate, or misleading references presented as authentic sources.
• Presentation of unverified AI-generated mathematical proofs or computational findings as established results.
• AI-assisted plagiarism, inappropriate paraphrasing, or concealment of intellectual sources.
• Generation or manipulation of figures in ways that misrepresent actual research findings.
• Undisclosed substantive AI-generated scholarly content.
• Use of AI to impersonate authors, reviewers, editors, or other participants in the publication process.
• Uploading confidential, personal, or restricted research information to AI services without appropriate authorization and safeguards.

7. AI Use by Peer Reviewers

BEMO applies a double-anonymous peer review process. Reviewers must preserve the confidentiality of manuscripts, supplementary files, author information, and editorial correspondence.

Reviewers must not upload unpublished manuscripts, manuscript excerpts, figures, datasets, or confidential review materials to external AI systems unless expressly authorized by the journal and appropriate confidentiality and data-protection safeguards are established.

Reviewers remain personally responsible for the scientific substance of their reports. AI-generated assessments must not replace independent expert judgment.

Any permitted material AI assistance in the preparation of a review must be disclosed to the handling editor.

8. AI Use by Editors and Editorial Personnel

Editors and editorial personnel must protect the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and the integrity of editorial decisions.

AI tools must not independently determine manuscript acceptance or rejection. Editorial decisions must be made by qualified human editors after appropriate assessment of scientific merit, ethical compliance, and peer review reports.

Confidential manuscript materials must not be transferred to unauthorized external AI services. Any authorized AI-assisted editorial workflow must maintain appropriate data protection, transparency, and human oversight.

9. Copyright, Privacy, and Data Protection

Authors and editorial participants are responsible for ensuring that AI use does not infringe intellectual property rights, violate privacy, expose confidential information, or breach applicable data-use agreements.

Authors should assess the terms of AI services before uploading research data, unpublished materials, or third-party content. Where research involves personal or sensitive information, appropriate consent, authorization, anonymization, and security safeguards must be considered.

10. Editorial Assessment and Policy Violations

The editorial team may request additional information regarding AI use, including explanations of research workflows, validation procedures, source materials, or supporting computational evidence.

Potential violations will be assessed according to their nature, severity, and impact on the reliability of the manuscript or published article.

Possible editorial responses include:

• Requests for clarification or additional AI disclosure.
• Requests for revision or independent verification.
• Rejection of a manuscript when substantial concerns remain unresolved.
• Referral of suspected research misconduct to relevant institutions.
• Publication of corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions when warranted.

Authors will ordinarily be given an appropriate opportunity to respond to substantive concerns. Editorial actions will be guided by the journal's research misconduct and correction and retraction policies.

11. Policy Review and Updates

BEMO recognizes that AI technologies, research practices, and publishing standards continue to evolve. This policy may be reviewed and updated to reflect developments in scholarly publishing, research integrity, confidentiality, and responsible AI governance.