Publication Retraction Policy

We strictly adhere to the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and maintain a zero-tolerance policy regarding academic misconduct. Rigorous measures are in place to ensure manuscript originality and prevent plagiarism.

Research Misconduct

Redundant/Multiple Submission: Authors must submit unique manuscripts that are not under consideration elsewhere. Violations of this policy (including self-plagiarism or duplicate publication) will result in immediate rejection and potential sanctions against the authors.

Citation Manipulation: Manuscripts containing excessive or irrelevant citations intended solely to increase an author's or journal’s citation metrics will be rejected immediately.

Data Falsification: The detection of fabricated data or manipulated images will lead to immediate rejection and formal notification of the authors' affiliated institutions.

Corrections

To preserve the integrity of the scholarly record, the journal issues corrections for published articles when necessary:

  • Erratum: A notice regarding a significant error made by the journal during the production process.
  • Corrigendum: A notice regarding a significant error made by the authors.
  • Procedure: All corrections are published as a separate document with a unique DOI and are linked to the original article.

Retraction Policy

The Editorial Board may retract a published article if:

  • There is clear evidence that the findings are unreliable (e.g., data fabrication or image manipulation);
  • The work constitutes plagiarism or a redundant publication;
  • The research is unethical or involves fraudulent authorship.

Retracted articles remain accessible in the archives for transparency but are clearly marked with a "Retracted" watermark on each page, and the title is updated accordingly.

Advanced Integrity Provisions

Paper Mills: If a manuscript is identified as part of a systematic fraud (paper mill), it will be retracted as part of a broader investigation into the compromised group of works.

  • The Editorial Board reserves the right to use automated detection tools to verify original content.

Undisclosed AI Usage: Hidden or undeclared use of generative AI for text, images, or data is considered a serious breach of ethics and serves as grounds for retraction.

Expression of Concern: In cases of serious suspicion regarding research integrity where evidence is not yet conclusive, the journal may publish an Expression of Concern with its own DOI while an investigation is conducted.

Availability of Retracted Content

Retracted articles are preserved in the journal’s archives and databases but are prominently labeled as "RETRACTED." Full removal occurs only in exceptional legal circumstances (e.g., privacy violations or court orders).