Retraction, Withdrawal, Correction, Removal, and Replacement Policies

The journal is committed to preserving the integrity, reliability, and transparency of the scholarly record. In cases where significant concerns arise regarding published or submitted content, the journal may issue corrections, withdrawals, retractions, replacements, or removals in accordance with recognized standards of publication ethics and academic best practices.

The editorial team evaluates each case carefully and takes appropriate action to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the academic record.

 

1. Article Withdrawal

Before Publication: An article may be withdrawn before formal publication when:

·         The manuscript was submitted in error

·         Duplicate submission is identified

·         Serious errors are discovered by the authors or editors

·         Ethical concerns arise during the editorial or peer review process

·         Authors fail to respond to editorial communications for an extended period

·         There is evidence of plagiarism, fabricated data, or copyright infringement

Withdrawn manuscripts will be removed from the publication workflow and will not proceed to publication.

Author-Initiated Withdrawal: Authors requesting withdrawal of a manuscript must submit a formal written request signed by all co-authors, clearly stating the reasons for withdrawal. Withdrawal requests submitted after acceptance may only be approved under exceptional circumstances.

 

2. Corrections and Errata

The journal may publish a correction or erratum when a published article contains minor errors that do not invalidate the overall findings or conclusions of the work.

Examples include:

·         Typographical mistakes

·         Author name or affiliation errors

·         Citation inaccuracies

·         Formatting or production errors

·         Minor factual inaccuracies

Corrections will be linked to the original article to maintain transparency and accuracy of the scholarly record.

 

3. Retraction Policy

A published article may be retracted when substantial problems are identified that seriously affect the reliability, integrity, or validity of the research.

Grounds for retraction may include:

·         Plagiarism or significant unattributed copying

·         Fabrication or falsification of data

·         Duplicate or redundant publication

·         Unethical research practices

·         Manipulation of the peer review process

·         Serious methodological or analytical errors

·         Unauthorized use of copyrighted material

·         Failure to disclose major conflicts of interest

Retraction decisions are made by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the editorial board and, where necessary, the publisher.

A retraction notice will:

·         Clearly identify the retracted article

·         State the reasons for retraction

·         Remain permanently linked to the original publication

·         Preserve the integrity of the scholarly record

Retracted articles may remain accessible for transparency purposes but will be clearly marked as retracted.

 

4. Article Replacement

In limited situations, an article may be replaced when:

·         A published article contains major inaccuracies caused by honest error

·         The findings remain valuable, but significant corrections are necessary

·         Incorrect versions were published due to technical or production issues

The corrected version will replace the original article, and a replacement notice explaining the changes will be published to ensure transparency.

 

5. Article Removal

Complete removal of a published article is considered only in exceptional circumstances where maintaining the content online would create serious legal, ethical, or public safety concerns.

Removal may occur in cases involving:

·         Court orders or legal obligations

·         Defamation or violation of legal rights

·         Breach of confidentiality or privacy

·         Content posing significant public health or safety risks

·         Unlawful publication of copyrighted material

When an article is removed, the journal will retain bibliographic information and publish a notice explaining the reason for removal whenever legally permissible.

 

6. Expressions of Concern

If substantial concerns arise regarding a published article but conclusive evidence is not yet available, the journal may issue an Expression of Concern while an investigation is ongoing.

Such notices may be issued when:

·         There are allegations of misconduct under investigation

·         Conflicting evidence exists regarding research integrity

·         Institutional investigations are pending

The notice will remain associated with the article until a final decision is reached.

 

7. Investigation Procedure

All allegations related to publication misconduct or ethical concerns will be reviewed carefully and confidentially by the editorial office. The journal may:

·         Contact the authors for clarification

·         Request supporting documentation or raw data

·         Consult reviewers, editorial board members, or institutions

·         Follow internationally recognized ethical guidelines and procedures

The journal is committed to ensuring fairness, transparency, and due process during all investigations.

 

8. Ethical Standards

The journal follows internationally recognized publication ethics principles and reserves the right to take appropriate editorial action to maintain the integrity and credibility of academic publishing. Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to cooperate fully in resolving any concerns related to scholarly misconduct or publication ethics.