Our journal is committed to maintaining the integrity, accuracy, and transparency of the academic record. We recognize that publication is not the end of the scientific debate, but rather a step in an ongoing dialogue. We welcome scholarly discussion, constructive criticism, and post-publication contributions regarding published articles.

1. Letters to the Editor & Commentary

Readers and researchers are encouraged to submit formal responses or commentary on articles published in the journal.

• Submission Window: Letters should ideally be submitted within 6 months of the online publication date of the original article.

• Content Requirements: Comments must be scholarly, objective, evidence-based, and directly relevant to the specific article. Personal attacks or ad hominem remarks will not be tolerated.

• Right of Reply: Authors of the original paper will be invited to submit a formal response/rebuttal.

• Peer Review: Both the submitted commentary and the author's reply will undergo editorial evaluation and, if deemed necessary, independent peer review before potential publication. Both documents will be published together when applicable.

2. Correction and Retraction Protocol

When errors, ethical concerns, or scientific inaccuracies are identified post-publication, the journal follows transparent procedures to amend the record.

• Author Corrections (Corrigenda): Issued when significant errors introduced by the authors (e.g., mislabeled figures, minor data errors that do not alter core conclusions) need to be corrected.

• Publisher Corrections (Errata): Issued to fix errors introduced during the editing or production process by the publisher or journal team.

• Retractions: Considered when an article's findings are rendered completely invalid due to major methodological errors, unresolvable data issues, or scientific misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, data fabrication/falsification, duplicate publication). Retraction notices are published transparently, clearly stating who initiated the retraction and the reasons behind it.

• Expressions of Concern: Published by the Editor-in-Chief if an investigation into potential research misconduct or data validity is ongoing and inconclusive, but serious concerns remain.

3. Post-Publication Peer Review and Public Forums

• The journal monitors formal post-publication platforms (such as PubPeer) and direct correspondence addressed to the editorial office.

• If credible technical or ethical concerns are raised on third-party public platforms, the Editor-in-Chief may initiate a formal internal review and contact the authors for clarification.

4. Submitting a Query or Concern

To raise a concern, submit a critique, or report an error in a published article, please contact the Editorial Office with the following details:

1. Title and DOI of the target article.

2. Detailed summary of the error, concern, or scientific critique.

3. Supporting evidence or documentation backing the claim.

All submissions regarding post-publication integrity are reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board in accordance with COPE guidelines.