Article Withdrawal, Retraction, Corrections, and Removal Policy

The Journal of Climate Informatics and Artificial Intelligence (JCIAI) is committed to maintaining the accuracy, integrity, and reliability of the scholarly record. The journal follows internationally recognized publication ethics principles when addressing errors, research misconduct, and other issues affecting published articles.

This policy describes the circumstances under which manuscripts or published articles may be withdrawn, corrected, retracted, or removed, and outlines the procedures followed by the Editorial Office.

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1. Purpose

The objectives of this policy are to:

  • Preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

  • Correct significant errors in published research.

  • Address research misconduct appropriately.

  • Ensure transparency in editorial decisions.

  • Protect readers, authors, and the scientific community.

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2. Scope

This policy applies to:

  • Submitted manuscripts.

  • Accepted manuscripts.

  • Articles published online.

  • Articles assigned to an issue.

  • Supplementary files.

  • Associated metadata.

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3. Guiding Principles

JCIAI manages post-publication issues in accordance with internationally accepted publishing ethics and follows guidance issued by the:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)

  • International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)

  • Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)

Editorial actions are based on evidence, fairness, transparency, and due process.

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4. Article Withdrawal (Before Publication)

An article may be withdrawn before formal publication when:

  • The authors identify a major error.

  • Duplicate submission is discovered.

  • Ethical approval cannot be verified.

  • Serious authorship disputes arise.

  • Copyright infringement is identified.

  • Significant plagiarism is detected.

  • Research misconduct is confirmed prior to publication.

Withdrawal requests should be submitted in writing by the corresponding author and, where appropriate, supported by the consent of all co-authors.

The Editor-in-Chief reserves the right to approve or deny withdrawal requests after editorial assessment.

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5. Author-Initiated Withdrawal

Authors requesting withdrawal of a submitted manuscript should provide:

  • The manuscript title.

  • Manuscript identification number (if assigned).

  • Reason for withdrawal.

  • Written confirmation from all authors where applicable.

Withdrawal requests received after peer review has begun may not be approved without sufficient justification.

Repeated or unjustified withdrawal of manuscripts may be considered during future submissions.

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6. Editorial Withdrawal

The Editorial Office may withdraw a manuscript before publication if:

  • Fraudulent data are identified.

  • Ethical approval is absent or invalid.

  • Major plagiarism is confirmed.

  • Fabricated peer review is suspected.

  • False authorship information is discovered.

  • Duplicate publication is confirmed.

  • Serious ethical concerns cannot be resolved.

Authors will normally be informed before an editorial decision is finalized.

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7. Corrections (Errata and Corrigenda)

Where minor errors do not invalidate the overall findings of the article, JCIAI may publish a formal correction.

Examples include:

  • Typographical errors affecting interpretation.

  • Incorrect author affiliations.

  • Minor errors in tables or figures.

  • Metadata inaccuracies.

  • Funding information updates.

  • Minor reference corrections.

Correction notices will:

  • Be clearly identified.

  • Be linked to the original article.

  • Describe the nature of the correction.

  • Remain permanently accessible.

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8. Retractions

A published article may be retracted when:

  • Findings are proven unreliable.

  • Data fabrication or falsification is confirmed.

  • Plagiarism is established.

  • Duplicate publication is identified.

  • Serious ethical violations are discovered.

  • Fraudulent peer review has occurred.

  • Unauthorized use of copyrighted material is confirmed.

Retraction decisions are made by the Editor-in-Chief following careful investigation and, where appropriate, consultation with the Editorial Board or relevant institutions.

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9. Retraction Notices

Retraction notices will:

  • Be freely accessible.

  • Clearly identify the affected article.

  • State the reason for retraction.

  • Be linked to the original publication.

  • Preserve the publication history.

The original article will remain available online with a clear indication that it has been retracted, unless removal is required for legal reasons.

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10. Expressions of Concern

When substantial concerns have been raised regarding a published article but the available evidence is insufficient for a final decision, JCIAI may publish an Expression of Concern.

An Expression of Concern may be issued when:

  • An investigation is ongoing.

  • Conflicting evidence exists.

  • Institutional investigations have not been completed.

  • Potential research misconduct has been alleged but not confirmed.

The notice will remain linked to the article until the matter is resolved through a correction, retraction, or other appropriate editorial action.

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11. Article Removal

JCIAI is committed to preserving the scholarly record and will not remove published articles except in exceptional circumstances.

Article removal may be considered only when:

  • The content infringes copyright or other legal rights.

  • A court or regulatory authority requires removal.

  • The article contains defamatory, unlawful, or privacy-violating material.

  • Publication poses a serious risk to public health or safety.

  • Continued availability would violate applicable laws or regulations.

When an article is removed, the journal will, where legally permissible, retain the article's bibliographic information and publish a notice explaining the reason for its removal.

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12. Article Replacement

In rare circumstances, an article may be replaced rather than retracted.

Replacement may be appropriate when:

  • The published version contains major production or publisher errors.

  • An incorrect version of the manuscript was published.

  • Significant technical errors occurred during publication.

The replacement article will:

  • Clearly identify that it replaces a previous version.

  • Be linked to the original publication record.

  • Include an explanation of the reason for replacement.

  • Preserve the publication history for transparency.

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13. Investigation Procedures

When concerns regarding a manuscript or published article are raised, JCIAI will conduct a fair, confidential, and evidence-based investigation.

The Editorial Office may:

  • Contact the corresponding author.

  • Request supporting documentation.

  • Consult independent experts.

  • Seek clarification from reviewers or editors.

  • Communicate with the authors' institutions where appropriate.

  • Follow recommendations issued by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Editorial decisions will be based on the available evidence and the principles of fairness, transparency, and research integrity.

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14. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are expected to:

  • Cooperate fully during investigations.

  • Provide original research data when requested.

  • Respond promptly to editorial inquiries.

  • Report significant errors discovered after publication.

  • Notify the journal of any issues affecting the reliability of their published work.

Failure to cooperate may result in editorial action consistent with the journal's Publication Ethics Policy.

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15. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for:

  • Managing investigations impartially.

  • Maintaining confidentiality.

  • Evaluating available evidence objectively.

  • Consulting appropriate experts where necessary.

  • Implementing corrective editorial actions.

  • Protecting the integrity of the scholarly record.

Editors shall avoid conflicts of interest throughout the investigation process.

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16. Appeals

Authors who disagree with an editorial decision relating to withdrawal, correction, retraction, or removal may submit a written appeal to the Editor-in-Chief.

Appeals should include:

  • A detailed explanation of the grounds for appeal.

  • Supporting evidence or documentation.

  • Responses to the issues identified by the Editorial Office.

Appeals will be reviewed independently, and the final decision of the Editor-in-Chief shall be communicated to the corresponding author.

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17. Policy Review

JCIAI periodically reviews this policy to ensure alignment with international publication ethics standards and best practices.

Updates may reflect recommendations issued by:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)

  • International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)

  • Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)

  • World Association of Medical Editors (WAME)

The latest version of this policy will be published on the journal website.

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18. Contact Information

Questions regarding article withdrawal, corrections, retractions, or removal may be directed to:

Editorial Office
Journal of Climate Informatics and Artificial Intelligence (JCIAI)
Novadex Publications

Email: editor@novadexpub.com

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19. Commitment to Maintaining the Scholarly Record

The Journal of Climate Informatics and Artificial Intelligence (JCIAI) is committed to preserving the accuracy, transparency, and reliability of the scientific literature.

Through fair investigations, timely corrections, responsible retractions, and adherence to internationally recognized publication ethics, JCIAI strives to protect the integrity of the scholarly record while maintaining the trust of authors, reviewers, readers, healthcare professionals, and the global research community.

The journal will continue to uphold the highest standards of ethical publishing and scientific accountability in all aspects of its editorial and publication processes.