Grounds for retraction

The editors may consider retracting a publication if:

• There is clear evidence that the findings are unreliable due to misconduct (e.g., data fabrication) or honest error (e.g., miscalculation or experimental error);
• The findings have previously been published elsewhere without proper cross-referencing, permission, or justification (redundant publication);
• It constitutes plagiarism, or reports unethical research;
• It has been published based on a compromised or manipulated peer review process; or
• The author(s) failed to disclose a major conflict of interest that, in the editor's view, would have unduly affected interpretations of the work or recommendations by editors and reviewers.

Types of corrective action

• Correction / Erratum. Applied when an error does not invalidate the article's main findings or conclusions.
• Retraction. Applied when there is clear evidence of a serious violation of publication ethics or a fundamental error that invalidates the article's findings.
• Withdrawal. Applied only to manuscripts that have not yet been formally published as an article.

Retraction procedure

• A retracted article is not removed from the journal's website or archive; it remains accessible but is clearly marked as "RETRACTED" on all versions, including its PDF file and metadata.
• A retraction notice is published, explaining the reason for retraction and distinguishing it from misconduct-related retractions versus honest-error retractions.
• The retraction notice is linked bidirectionally to the original article.
• Concerns about a published article may be raised through the journal's Post-Publication Discussion channel or the Contact Us page, and will be investigated by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the Editorial Board.