Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections
1. Introduction
The "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" strives to maintain the integrity and accuracy of scientific data after publication. We recognize that science is an ongoing process of discovery and refinement, and that published works may require discussion, clarification, or corrections over time. This policy defines the approach of the "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" to foster scientific discussions about published articles and our procedures for making corrections, article retractions, expressions of concern, and other post-publication updates when necessary. The "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" adheres to the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) when addressing any issues arising after publication.
2. Description
-
Post-Publication Discussion:
Scientific discourse does not end with publication. The "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" values and encourages ongoing discussion of published works as a means to deepen understanding and clarify knowledge in the fields of industrial engineering and systems optimization. -
The Need for Post-Publication Corrections:
Published articles may require corrections for various reasons, including:-
Honest errors by the authors or the journal that affect the interpretation or understanding of the work, but do not undermine its main conclusions.
-
New important information or evidence that becomes available after publication and significantly impacts the original conclusions or findings.
-
Cases of research misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, data fabrication, or falsification) that undermine the credibility or reliability of the published work.
-
-
Types of Post-Publication Corrections:
-
Corrections: Published to correct unintentional, significant errors or omissions in the published article. These may include:
-
Correction: A mistake made by the author(s).
-
Typographical Error: An error made by the journal during production.
-
-
Retraction: The mechanism for withdrawing a published article from the scientific registry when there is clear evidence that its conclusions are unreliable due to a serious error (e.g., calculation errors or experimental mistakes of such magnitude that the main conclusions are no longer valid) or as a result of research misconduct (e.g., data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism), redundant publication, or unethical research.
-
Expressions of Concern (EoC): Notices issued by the editors to warn readers about serious doubts regarding the reliability or validity of a published article, typically when an investigation of alleged misconduct is ongoing or when the investigation has not yielded conclusive results but serious concerns about the reliability of the work remain.
-
Addenda: Additional information added by the authors to an article that is deemed necessary for readers to understand the work (e.g., expanding methods or clarifying), but does not correct an error in the original article.
-
Versions/Updates of Articles: In some cases, significant new data or interpretations may require an article to be updated, which will be done with clear versioning to distinguish it from the original publication. The "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" will consider such updates on a case-by-case basis.
-
3. Policy
-
Encouraging Scientific Debate:
The "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" welcomes constructive and respectful discussion of the articles it publishes.
The journal will provide readers and authors with clear mechanisms for participating in such discussions (e.g., letters to the editor, online comments where available). -
Maintaining Record Integrity:
The "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" bears fundamental responsibility for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the scientific materials it publishes.
The journal will take appropriate and timely action to correct any confirmed errors, inaccuracies, or violations in published articles. -
Transparency and Clarity:
All post-publication corrections (corrections, retractions, expressions of concern, addenda) will be clearly labeled as such, published promptly, and linked to the original article in all of its online versions.
The reasons for any such changes will be clearly outlined in the published notice. -
Impartiality in Decision-Making:
Decisions regarding corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern will be made by the editor-in-chief based on a thorough review of the available evidence and in consultation with relevant parties (including authors, reviewers, and possibly institutions or ethics committees).
These decisions will be made objectively, regardless of the authors' status, affiliation, or seniority, and will comply with COPE guidelines. -
Grounds for Retraction:
Retraction will be considered in cases of:-
Clear evidence that the results are unreliable due to a serious error (e.g., errors in calculations or experimental mistakes), or as a result of falsification or data fabrication.
-
Plagiarism.
-
Redundant (duplicative or overlapping) publication, where the article does not make a new contribution to the literature.
-
Unethical research, such as the lack of necessary ethical approvals or informed consent.
Retractions are generally not made in cases of minor errors that do not have a significant impact on the overall conclusions of the article.
-
-
Use of Expressions of Concern:
An expression of concern may be issued if:-
There is no convincing evidence of misconduct by the authors in conducting the research or publishing the article, but there are reasonable concerns about the reliability of the results.
-
An investigation into alleged misconduct related to the publication is ongoing or expected to continue, and the editors wish to alert readers to this situation.
-
The expression of concern is a temporary measure and will be updated or replaced (e.g., with confirmation of the article’s validity, correction, or retraction) after additional information or investigation results become available.
-
-
Author Collaboration:
Authors of articles published in the "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" must fully cooperate with the journal in addressing any issues arising after the publication of their works, including providing data or necessary clarifications upon request.
4. Technical Aspects of Policy Implementation and Materialization
A. Post-Publication Discussions
-
Letters to the Editor / Comments:
The "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" provides readers with a mechanism to send official letters to the editor or brief comments discussing or critiquing articles recently published in the journal.
The materials must be concise, constructive, and directly related to the specific article in the "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics." They may be subject to editorial review and minor editing.
Authors of the original article under discussion are usually provided with the opportunity to submit an official response, which may be published alongside the letter/comment. -
Online Commenting (if available):
If the "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" implements an online commenting feature on its article pages, clear guidelines for acceptable use and community standards will be provided. Comments may be moderated to ensure their constructiveness and to prevent defamation or insults.
B. Corrections (Typographical Errors and Amendments)
-
Identification and Reporting of Errors:
Authors, readers, or reviewers who identify a potentially significant error or omission in a published article in the "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" are encouraged to contact the editor-in-chief directly, providing specific details about the error and its location in the article. -
Error Evaluation:
The editor-in-chief, in consultation with the authors and potential reviewers or editorial board members, evaluates the impact of the reported error on the integrity and interpretation of the published work. -
Issuance of Correction Notices:
In the case of confirming a significant error, an official correction notice will be published (Correction for author errors, Typographical error for journal errors).
The correction notice will be citable, clearly indicating the nature of the error and the correction made, and will provide an electronic link to the original published article. The original article will remain unchanged, but it will include a notice of the correction.
Correction notices will be published free of charge.
C. Retractions
-
Initiating the Retraction Process:
Any concerns that may lead to a retraction will be thoroughly investigated in accordance with the "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" Policy on Allegations of Misconduct. -
Retraction Notice:
If a retraction is deemed necessary, an official retraction notice will be published.
The notice will be clearly titled “Retraction: [Title of the Original Article]” and will be authored by the editor-in-chief or the authors of the retraction if they initiate the retraction.
The retraction notice will be linked to the retracted article in all online versions (e.g., on the journal’s website and in bibliographic databases) and will be clearly indicated in the PDF and HTML versions of the retracted article.
The notice will state who has retracted the article and will provide a clear and unambiguous explanation of the reasons for the retraction, differentiating between honest errors and violations of ethical research standards where applicable and appropriate.
The retracted article will remain accessible but will be clearly marked as retracted for reader information. Retraction notices will be promptly sent to indexing and abstracting services.
D. Expressions of Concern
-
Expression of Concern:
If the editors have significant and well-founded doubts about the reliability or integrity of a published article, but the investigation is ongoing or final evidence is still pending, an expression of concern may be issued. -
Content and References:
The expression of concern will be published as a citable notice with a reference to the article under consideration, clearly outlining the nature of the concerns raised. This serves as a temporary measure to alert readers. -
Follow-up Actions:
The expression of concern will be updated or replaced (e.g., with confirmation of the article’s validity, correction, or retraction) after further information or investigation results are available.
E. Addenda
-
Purpose:
Authors may request publication of an addendum if they wish to provide additional information that is crucial for understanding or interpreting their published article but does not correct an error in the original work. -
Process:
Requests for addenda will be reviewed by the editor-in-chief and may be subject to peer review or editorial evaluation. If approved, the addendum will be published as a separate citable notice with a link to the original article.
F. Removal or Replacement of Content (Exceptional Circumstances)
-
Removal:
In rare cases, an article may be removed from the online journal, such as if it is found to be defamatory, violates legal rights (e.g., copyright or privacy rights), or poses a significant and immediate risk (e.g., to public health, although this is less likely in the context of JOSI). In such cases, a notice will be published explaining the reason for removal. -
Retraction and Replacement:
If an article is retracted due to an honest error that significantly undermines its conclusions, but the authors can subsequently correct the errors and provide a sound, revised version of the study, the journal may, in exceptional cases, consider publishing the corrected version as a new article with a clear explanation of the history and a reference to the retraction notice of the original.
G. Ensuring the Discovery of Post-Publication Corrections
The “Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics” will take all reasonable measures to ensure that changes made after publication (corrections, retractions, completion notices, addenda) are promptly and accurately indexed and linked to bibliographic databases and abstracting services, so readers are promptly notified of any changes in the status of the published article.
This policy ensures that the "Uzbek Journal of Modern Physics" remains committed to maintaining the ongoing accuracy and integrity of the scientific records it disseminates.