Updating Published Papers
Correction Guidelines
It may be appropriate to issue a Correction statement for errors that do not compromise the overall conclusions or academic integrity of a published article. Such errors include:
- Mislabeling or unclear figures, tables, or data that may influence the interpretation of the article.
- Omissions of critical information like funding details or authors' competing interests.
When correcting an article, CLS Journals will:
- Issue a separate Correction statement and associate it with the original article online.
- Place a note in the original article online indicating the availability of an updated version, with a link to the Correction statement.
- Publish the Correction in the specifieef journal issue.
- Inform all pertinent indexed databases to update their records with the corrected version.
Retraction Procedure
Should significant errors leading to potentially invalid conclusions be recognized post-publication, or if instances of research or publication misconduct are identified, CLS will adhere to the guidelines set by COPE for retractions to conduct an investigation. A retraction will be issued if the circumstances meet the retraction criteria.
Articles are subject to retraction for the following reasons:
- The findings are demonstrably unreliable.
- Misconduct has occurred, such as plagiarism, duplicate publication, unauthorized use of material or data, or failure to disclose significant conflicts of interest.
- The research is found to be unethical.
- There is evidence of compromised peer review processes.
Upon deciding to retract an article, CLS will:
- Mark the published article with a "retracted" watermark and link it to the retraction statement.
- Issue a separate retraction statement and associate it with the retracted article.
- Publish the retraction statement in the journal's latest issue.
- Inform all relevant indexed databases to update their versions of the article.
Article Removal
CLS upholds the integrity and transparency of the scientific record by discouraging the removal of the Version of Record. Articles are only removed in exceptional circumstances, such as severe legal violations or when the article's findings could significantly endanger public health. When an article must be removed, CLS will take the following steps:
- Maintain bibliographic details of the removed article as part of the scientific record, linking these details to the Removal statement.
- Issue a Removal statement independently and link it to the original article.
- Publish the Removal statement in the most recent journal issue.
- Inform all pertinent indexed databases to update their records accordingly.
Expression of Concern
An Expression of Concern is issued to notify readers about potentially unreliable information in an article when issues cannot be conclusively resolved or if a verdict is delayed significantly. This notice is only published when there are substantial reasons to believe the concerns are justified. It is linked to the article in question, and may be followed by a Retraction or Correction notice once the investigation concludes.
Comment and Reply
Comments provide insights or critiques on articles previously published in the journal. When a comment is accepted, the original article's authors may be asked to respond. Both Comments and Replies undergo peer review to validate their scientific integrity and are organized under specific guidelines.
CLS journals accept Comments only on articles they have published, with a discussion window of six months post-publication. There will be no more than one round of Comment and Reply involving the same reader(s). All Comments and Replies are linked to the articles they discuss.
If a complaint is validated and the authors fail to adequately address the concerns, a Correction may be issued, or the article may be retracted. If authors do not respond by the given deadline, or choose not to respond, the Comment will be published with a note explaining the absence of a Reply.
Appeals and Complaints
CLS Journals adhere to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines for managing appeals and complaints.
Author Appeals
Should an author choose to challenge a decision by the journal's editors, they must submit a letter of appeal to the Journal Office. This letter should: (1) articulate a comprehensive reason for disagreement with the initial decision; (2) present compelling evidence and, if applicable, introduce new data or information addressing the feedback from editors and reviewers. Please note that the editors will entertain only one appeal per manuscript. The decision rendered after an appeal is conclusive. No further appeals will be entertained for the same manuscript unless significant new evidence is provided that could potentially alter the editor’s initial opinion.
Complaints
Authors or readers wishing to lodge a complaint regarding the journal's editorial practices or ethical standards should reach out directly to the Journal Office. The Managing Editor will initially evaluate the complaint to determine if it warrants a detailed investigation. To qualify for further examination, a complaint must:
- Include precise and substantial evidence supporting the grievance;
- Not have been previously assessed and dismissed, unless new compelling evidence is submitted that justifies re-evaluation;
- Not concern purely legal disputes, as these fall outside the journal’s procedural remit.
If the complaint involves the Managing Editor, please direct your concerns to the publisher at '[email protected]'. Complaints deemed inappropriate for further investigation will receive an explanation regarding the decision. Those considered for further inquiry will follow established protocols. All complaints are acknowledged swiftly, and the investigative process may consult other relevant parties as needed. If the complaint involves legal issues, appropriate legal counsel will be sought. The complainant will be informed upon the resolution of the matter. The Editorial Office, supported by the Editorial Board and the final approval of the Editor-in-Chief, handles all complaints, comments, or requests for updates to published papers, adhering to the Policy on Updating Published Papers.