1. General Principles

Published articles form part of the scholarly record. When a material error or concern is identified, the journal will assess the available evidence and determine an appropriate response. Editorial action will be proportionate to the nature and seriousness of the issue and will aim to ensure that readers are accurately informed.

The journal may consider concerns raised by authors, readers, reviewers, editors, institutions, or other parties. All concerns will be assessed fairly, with an opportunity for relevant parties to provide clarification where appropriate.

2. Corrections

A correction may be issued when an error in a published article affects the accuracy or clarity of the publication but does not invalidate the overall findings or conclusions.

Examples may include:

• Errors in author names, affiliations, acknowledgments, or funding information.
• Incorrect information, labels, tables, figures, or references that can be corrected without invalidating the article's main conclusions.
• Omissions or inaccuracies in declarations, where a correction is sufficient to clarify the published record.
• Other factual or production errors that materially affect the interpretation or presentation of the article.

The journal will determine whether a formal correction notice is necessary. The notice should identify the affected article, describe the correction, and be linked to the original publication.

3. Retractions

Retraction may be considered when serious problems mean that the findings or conclusions of a published article can no longer be considered reliable, or when significant publication ethics violations undermine the integrity of the scholarly record.

Reasons may include, but are not limited to:

• Clear evidence that research data or findings are unreliable because of fabrication, falsification, or serious error.
• Substantial plagiarism or unauthorized reuse that seriously compromises the publication.
• Duplicate or redundant publication that materially misrepresents the scholarly record.
• Serious ethical violations in the conduct or reporting of research.
• Compromised peer review or other serious publication process manipulation.
• Other substantiated problems that make the article materially unreliable.

Retraction may be considered whether the problem results from misconduct or an honest error. The purpose is to correct the scholarly record, not to impose punishment.

4. Expression of Concern

An Expression of Concern may be published when there is a serious, credible concern about a published article but the available evidence is insufficient for a final decision, or when an investigation is ongoing and a conclusion is expected to take considerable time.

The notice informs readers of the concern while the matter is being assessed. Depending on the outcome, it may later be followed by a correction, a retraction, or a further notice explaining the conclusion.

5. Procedure for Handling Concerns

The steps may be adapted to the circumstances of each case. The journal may act before an institutional investigation is completed if sufficient evidence establishes that an immediate editorial response is necessary to protect the scholarly record.

6. Retraction Notices and Article Availability

A retraction notice should clearly state that the article has been retracted, identify the article and its authors, explain the reason for retraction, and indicate who is issuing the notice. The notice should be freely accessible and linked to the original article wherever possible.

The original article should normally remain identifiable in the journal's archive, with a clear retraction label or notice, so readers and indexing services can recognize its status. Removal of the article's full text should be considered only in exceptional circumstances, such as legal requirements or serious risks associated with the content.

7. Authorship Changes and Disputes

A disagreement over author order or authorship does not, by itself, justify retracting an article if its findings remain reliable. Where a change to the author or contributor record is justified, the journal may consider a correction after receiving adequate supporting evidence and the necessary confirmations.

8. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are expected to:

• Notify the journal promptly when they discover a significant error in their published article.
• Cooperate with reasonable requests for clarification and supporting documentation.
• Provide accurate information during any assessment of a concern.
• Participate in appropriate correction procedures when an error or omission is confirmed.

9. Editorial Independence and Fairness

Decisions regarding corrections, Expressions of Concern, and retractions are made by the editor based on the evidence, the reliability of the published work, and applicable publication ethics principles. Authors will be given a reasonable opportunity to respond where appropriate, but agreement from all authors is not a prerequisite for a justified retraction decision.

The journal will handle concerns confidentially where appropriate and will avoid making unsupported allegations. Editorial notices should focus on the facts, the effect on the scholarly record, and the reasons for the action.