Correction, Withdrawal, and Retraction Policy

Corrections, withdrawals, and retractions are handled transparently in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policies and relevant Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines.

1. Corrections
A correction may be issued when an error or omission in a published article affects its accuracy or clarity but does not invalidate its main findings or conclusions. Corrections are clearly identified and linked to the original article.

2. Withdrawals
Withdrawal applies to manuscripts that have not yet been formally published. A manuscript may be withdrawn due to valid reasons, including serious errors, ethical concerns, or duplicate submission. Withdrawal requests must be submitted to the Editor-in-Chief for consideration. The journal may also initiate withdrawal procedures when serious concerns arise during editorial processing.
Once an article has been formally published, withdrawal is generally not appropriate; a correction or retraction may be issued instead, depending on the circumstances.

3. Retractions
An article may be retracted when clear evidence indicates serious problems affecting the reliability of its findings or the integrity of its publication, including:
- Major errors or misconduct, such as data fabrication, falsification, or miscalculation, that render the findings unreliable.
- Redundant publication of substantially similar findings without appropriate cross-referencing, permission, or justification.
- Plagiarism, inappropriate authorship, or other serious breaches of publication ethics.
- Serious ethical violations in the conduct or reporting of research.
The Editor-in-Chief assesses the available evidence, considers the author's response where appropriate, and follows relevant COPE guidance. The final decision is communicated to the author and, where necessary, other relevant parties, including the author's institution.
A retraction notice explaining the reason for retraction is published and linked to the original article. The original article remains accessible but is clearly marked as retracted to preserve the scholarly record.
Copyright ownership does not give authors the right to retract a published article unilaterally. Retraction decisions are made through the journal's editorial process to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.