Article Correction, Retraction and Removal Policy

Policy Overview: Results in Nonlinear Analysis (RNA)

RNA recognizes that the backbone of scientific progress is the integrity of the scholarly record. The journal is committed to maintaining the authority of its published articles. Once an article is published, it is considered a permanent transaction of scholarship and should remain unaltered. However, RNA acknowledges that corrections, retractions, or removals may be necessary under specific circumstances to ensure the accuracy of nonlinear analysis research.

The Editor-in-Chief of Results in Nonlinear Analysis holds independent responsibility for the acceptance of manuscripts, guided by the journal's editorial board and legal constraints such as copyright and libel.

Correcting the Scientific Record

RNA follows a tiered approach to addressing issues in published content:

1. Corrigendum (Author-Led Correction)

A Corrigendum is issued when authors discover an error in their own paper that does not invalidate the results or conclusions (e.g., a typo in an equation, a missing reference, or an error in a graph).

  • Process: Authors must contact the Editor-in-Chief immediately.

  • Outcome: A formal notice is published and linked to the original article.

2. Erratum (Publisher-Led Correction)

An Erratum is issued if the journal or production team introduced an error during the layout or publication process that affects the clarity of the work.

3. Expression of Concern

The Editorial Board may issue an Expression of Concern if:

  • There is inconclusive evidence of research misconduct or unreliable data.

  • An investigation into the work is ongoing but will take a significant amount of time.

  • The editors believe readers should be notified of potential issues while a final determination is pending.

Article Retraction

Retraction is a serious action reserved for articles with major flaws that undermine the findings or violate ethical standards. RNA follows COPE Retraction Guidelines.

Criteria for Retraction:

  • Unreliable Findings: Major honest errors, data fabrication, or falsification.

  • Plagiarism: The article contains substantial overlapping content with other sources without attribution.

  • Redundant Publication: The findings have been published elsewhere without proper justification.

  • Ethical Breaches: Violations in research ethics or undisclosed conflicts of interest.

The Retraction Process at RNA:

  1. A "Retraction Notice" is published in the next available issue.

  2. The original PDF is retained to maintain the archive but is clearly watermarked as "RETRACTED" on every page.

  3. The HTML/Metadata remains to ensure the digital object identifier (DOI) still resolves, providing a transparent history.

Article Withdrawal and Removal

  • Withdrawal: This applies only to "Early Access" or "In Press" articles that have not yet been assigned to a volume/issue. They may be withdrawn due to submission errors or early detection of ethical issues.

  • Removal: In extreme cases involving legal orders, defamation, or significant risks to the public, RNA may remove the full text of an article. The metadata (title/authors) will remain, but the text will be replaced with a notice stating the article was removed for legal reasons.