Correction and Retraction Policies

Overview

Published articles may occasionally require post-publication updates. These may arise from honest errors, authorship disputes, ethical issues, data integrity concerns, duplication, plagiarism, or unreliable findings. The journal evaluates each case carefully and applies the most appropriate course of action based on the seriousness of the issue and its effect on the reliability of the work.

All decisions are made by the editorial office in consultation with the Editor-in-Chief, editorial board members, reviewers when necessary, and the corresponding author. In certain cases, institutions or funding bodies may also be contacted for clarification or investigation.

Corrections, Errata, and Corrigenda

A correction may be published when an article contains an error that does not invalidate the overall results or conclusions but may affect understanding, accuracy, discoverability, or proper attribution. Corrections help ensure that readers have access to the most accurate version of the scholarly record.

Examples of issues that may require a correction include:

• Typographical errors that alter meaning or interpretation
• Incorrect author names, affiliations, or contact details
• Errors in figures, tables, legends, or supplementary information
• Incorrect citation details, DOI links, or bibliographic metadata
• Minor data presentation errors that do not change the study’s main conclusions

Where appropriate, the journal may publish an Erratum for an error introduced during the production or publication process, or a Corrigendum for an error identified by the author(s) after publication.

Retractions

A retraction is issued when a published article is found to be seriously flawed or ethically compromised such that its findings or conclusions can no longer be considered reliable. The purpose of a retraction is to correct the literature and inform readers that the article should not be relied upon as part of the scientific record.

Grounds for retraction may include, but are not limited to:

• Evidence of fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data
• Plagiarism or substantial unattributed overlap with previously published work
• Duplicate publication or redundant publication
• Major methodological or analytical errors that invalidate the conclusions
• Unethical research practices or lack of required approvals/consent
• Fraudulent authorship, peer review manipulation, or undisclosed conflicts of interest

Retractions may be requested by the authors, initiated by the editorial office, or recommended following an institutional or third-party investigation. Retraction notices will clearly identify the article concerned, explain the reason for the retraction as far as appropriate, and remain permanently associated with the publication record.

Retracted articles will generally remain accessible online to preserve the scholarly record, but they will be clearly marked as Retracted on the article page and, where feasible, on the downloadable PDF as well.

Expression of Concern

In some cases, serious concerns may be raised about a publication, but the available evidence may be inconclusive or an investigation may still be ongoing. In such circumstances, the journal may issue an Expression of Concern to alert readers while the matter is being reviewed.

An Expression of Concern may later be followed by a correction, retraction, or other editorial statement depending on the outcome of the investigation.

Article Withdrawal Before Formal Publication

Withdrawal applies primarily to manuscripts that have been accepted or made available online ahead of final issue assignment, but which must be removed before formal publication in an issue. Withdrawal is usually considered only under exceptional circumstances.

1. Serious accidental duplication or administrative publication error
2. Legal concerns such as copyright infringement or court order
3. Major ethical problems identified before formal issue publication
4. Clear evidence that the manuscript should not enter or remain in the publication record

Where a withdrawal occurs, the journal may retain a bibliographic placeholder or notice explaining that the article has been withdrawn and the reason, where appropriate and legally permissible.

Editorial Assessment and Investigation Process

The journal follows a structured process to ensure fairness, confidentiality, and due diligence when evaluating post-publication concerns.

1. A concern is received from an author, reader, reviewer, editor, institution, or other party.
2. The editorial office performs a preliminary review of the evidence and the nature of the allegation.
3. The corresponding author may be contacted for clarification, explanation, or supporting information.
4. Co-authors, reviewers, editors, or relevant institutions may also be consulted where necessary.
5. The Editor-in-Chief or designated editorial authority determines the appropriate corrective action.
6. A correction, editorial note, expression of concern, withdrawal, or retraction is published when warranted.

Author Response and Appeals

The journal aims to provide authors with a fair opportunity to respond to concerns raised about their work. Authors may submit explanations, supporting documentation, corrected files, or other relevant evidence within the timeframe specified by the editorial office.

If an author wishes to appeal an editorial decision related to correction, withdrawal, or retraction, the appeal must be submitted in writing with clear supporting justification. Appeals are reviewed by the editorial leadership, and, where necessary, independent advice may be sought. The journal’s final decision after review of the appeal shall be considered binding.

Transparency and Record Maintenance

To preserve transparency, the journal does not silently remove or materially alter published content without an accompanying notice, except where required for legal, privacy, or safety reasons. Any post-publication action will, as far as possible, be clearly documented and linked to the original publication.

Correction notices, retraction statements, and related editorial updates form part of the permanent scholarly record and may be communicated to indexing services, abstracting databases, and relevant third parties when appropriate.