Correction and Retraction

Corrections, Expressions of Concern, and Retraction Policy

The journal is committed to maintaining the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of the scholarly record in accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices. Errors or ethical concerns identified after publication are carefully evaluated by the editorial team to determine appropriate corrective action. Corrections are issued when factual inaccuracies, authorship errors, or other identifiable mistakes require amendment without compromising the overall reliability of the article's findings and conclusions. An Expression of Concern may be published when serious and credible concerns arise regarding research integrity, ethical compliance, or the validity of reported community service outcomes, but the available evidence remains inconclusive or an investigation is ongoing, following the COPE Expressions of Concern Guidelines. Retractions are considered when published findings are unreliable due to substantial errors, data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, unethical practices, manipulation of the peer-review process, or other serious violations that undermine the credibility of the publication. Such decisions follow the COPE Retraction Guidelines (2025). Before taking corrective action, the editorial team assesses the available evidence and provides affected authors with an opportunity to respond. All correction notices, expressions of concern, and retraction notices must clearly identify the affected article, explain the reasons for the editorial action, indicate the publication date, and remain publicly accessible. Notices are linked to the original article, and relevant publication metadata are updated accordingly. Retracted articles remain accessible with clear retraction labels, except where removal is required by compelling legal, privacy, or safety considerations. Under no circumstances will published records be silently altered or removed. These procedures aim to ensure transparency, editorial accountability, and the long-term integrity of scholarly publications.