Guiding Principles

Post-publication concerns are handled in accordance with recognized publication-ethics principles and, where applicable, guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) .

Retraction decisions are informed by the COPE Retraction Guidelines . The purpose of post-publication action is to correct the scholarly record and provide readers with transparent information about the reliability or status of published content.

Corrections

A correction may be considered when an error or omission affects part of a published article but does not invalidate the article as a whole. Examples may include:

• Errors in data presentation, tables, figures, or text;
• Calculation or typographical errors affecting interpretation;
• Incorrect or incomplete author or affiliation information;
• Errors in references or acknowledgements; or
• Other errors requiring clarification of the published record.

Expressions of Concern

The journal may issue an expression of concern when credible concerns exist regarding the integrity or reliability of a publication but the matter remains unresolved.

An expression of concern may remain associated with the article while an investigation is ongoing. Once sufficient information becomes available, the journal may maintain the notice, issue a correction, retract the article, or take another appropriate action.

Grounds for Retraction

Retraction may be considered when there is clear evidence that:

• The findings are unreliable because of fabrication, falsification, inappropriate data manipulation, miscalculation, experimental error, or another serious problem affecting the reliability of the work;
• The article constitutes plagiarism or contains substantial unattributed material;
• The findings or substantial portions of the work have been published previously without appropriate disclosure, justification, permission, or cross-reference;
• The article reports research that was conducted unethically;
• There is evidence of serious authorship, peer-review, or publication manipulation;
• Required permissions or ethical approvals were absent where they were necessary and the issue materially affects the legitimacy of the publication; or
• Other serious ethical or integrity concerns make continued reliance on the article inappropriate.

Post-Publication Review Process

Retraction Notice and Article Record

When an article is retracted, the journal will publish a retraction notice that identifies the affected article and explains the reason for the retraction to the extent appropriate and supported by the available evidence.

The original scholarly record should remain identifiable and traceable. A retracted article will therefore normally remain part of the journal record and will be clearly identified as Retracted rather than being silently removed.

Article Removal

Complete removal of published content is reserved for exceptional circumstances, such as situations involving legal requirements, serious privacy concerns, significant risks of harm, or other circumstances where continued public availability would be inappropriate. Where removal is necessary, the journal will seek to preserve an appropriate bibliographic record explaining the status of the content.