Guide for Handling Errata, Corrections, Retractions, and Deletions of Articles

Introduction

This guide sets out the procedures and criteria to ensure the integrity, transparency, and accuracy of the content published in our journal. These actions are carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and other international guidelines on ethics in scholarly communication.

Its aim is to preserve the integrity of the academic record, ensure transparency, and maintain trust in scholarly communication. Decisions will always be taken with the greatest care and in compliance with international ethical principles.

Errata

Errata are issued to correct minor errors in articles that do not affect the academic validity of the results or conclusions. Examples include typographical, formatting, or non‑substantive data errors. In these cases:

• An erratum notice is published, assigned a DOI, detailing the error and the corrections made.
• The corrected article includes a note at the end referring to the erratum notice.
• Both the erratum and the corrected version are mutually linked via their DOIs.

Corrections

Corrections address more significant errors identified after publication that affect the clarity or accuracy of the article, but not its scientific validity. The procedure is as follows:

• A correction notice is published detailing the necessary changes.
• The updated article includes an explanatory note linked to the correction notice.
• Both the correction and the revised article are assigned a DOI.

Retractions

Retraction is used in serious cases that compromise the validity of the results or the ethics of the publication. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Evidence of misconduct (e.g. data fabrication, plagiarism).
• Redundant or duplicate publication.
• Unethical research or peer review practices.

When the decision is made to retract an article:

• A watermark stating “Retracted Article” is added to the original file.
• A retraction notice is published with specific details and reasons.
• The notice is linked to the retracted article and assigned a DOI.

Article Removal

Article removal occurs in extreme circumstances, such as:

• Defamatory or illegal content.
• A court order requiring its removal.

In such cases, the article will be replaced by a notice informing readers of its removal, while retaining basic metadata (such as title and authorship).