Correction, Retraction, Withdrawal Policies

Corrections

Before Publication

Before publication, the journal sends the PDF galley proof to the corresponding author for proofreading and final checking. At this stage, the corresponding author may request only necessary corrections related to typographical errors, formatting, author information, affiliations, figures, tables, references, or other production-related issues.

Substantial changes to the accepted manuscript, including changes to the study design, methodology, results, interpretation, conclusions, or authorship, are not permitted at the proof stage unless there is a justified reason and the change is approved by the Editor-in-Chief.

After Publication

Corrections to a published article may be made when an error is identified that affects the accuracy, clarity, or interpretation of the published work but does not invalidate the main results or conclusions. Corrections are published as a separate correction notice and are clearly linked to the original article. Where appropriate, the original article may also be updated with a clear indication that a correction has been issued.

Corrections may be issued for errors introduced by the authors or during the publication process, including errors in author information, affiliations, figures, tables, references, data presentation, or parts of the text that require clarification. Minor typographical errors that do not affect the meaning, interpretation, or scholarly record may not require a formal correction notice.

Retractions

A retraction is a public notice issued to indicate that a published article should no longer be considered part of the reliable scholarly record. A retraction may be initiated by the editors, the author(s), the author(s)’ institution, or another concerned party. The editors may consult reviewers, Editorial Board members, institutional representatives, or relevant experts when necessary.

An article may be retracted in cases including, but not limited to, multiple submission, redundant publication, plagiarism, fabricated or falsified data, fraudulent results, serious methodological errors, unethical research practices, undisclosed conflicts of interest, inappropriate image or data manipulation, unreliable findings, or major errors that invalidate the main findings or conclusions of the article.

Diyala Journal of Engineering Sciences (DJES) follows the guidelines and standards of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) when handling retractions. Retraction notices will be clearly identified, linked to the retracted article, and will state the reason for retraction where appropriate. The retracted article will remain available in the journal archive with a clear retraction notice in order to preserve the scholarly record.

Expressions of Concern

DJES may publish an expression of concern when serious concerns are raised about the integrity, reliability, or ethical status of a published article, but the available evidence is inconclusive, the investigation is still ongoing, or the outcome cannot yet be determined. An expression of concern will be clearly linked to the article concerned.

Following investigation, an expression of concern may be replaced or followed by a correction, retraction, or other appropriate editorial notice, depending on the nature and outcome of the case.

Editorial Notices and Preservation of the Scholarly Record

All corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions will be published as clearly identifiable editorial notices. Each notice will include, where applicable, the title of the article, the names of the author(s), the article DOI or other publication details, the date of the notice, the reason for the editorial action, and the party or editorial body responsible for the decision. Editorial notices will be linked to and from the original article page so that readers can clearly identify the relationship between the article and the relevant notice.

The original article will not be silently removed from the journal website or archive. When an article is corrected, placed under an expression of concern, or retracted, the article page and/or PDF will be clearly marked with the relevant editorial notice in order to preserve the integrity, transparency, and traceability of the scholarly record. Withdrawal applies only to manuscripts that have not yet been formally published. Published articles will be handled through correction, expression of concern, or retraction, as appropriate.

Withdrawal Policy

Authors may request withdrawal of a manuscript during the editorial or peer-review process. Withdrawal requests must be submitted formally by the corresponding author to the Editor-in-Chief through the official journal email: [email protected]. The request must clearly state the reason for withdrawal and must confirm that all authors have agreed to the withdrawal.

A manuscript may be withdrawn before publication if it is found to be an accidental duplicate submission, if the authors no longer wish to proceed with publication for a valid and clearly stated reason, or if the editors determine that the manuscript violates the journal’s publication ethics policies. If substantial editorial or peer-review work has already been completed, the journal may ask the authors to provide a detailed explanation before approving the withdrawal request.

Once a manuscript is withdrawn, it will be archived in the journal’s editorial system, and no further editorial action will be taken. Authors should not submit the same manuscript to another journal until the withdrawal has been formally confirmed by DJES.

Published articles are not withdrawn. If a serious issue is identified after publication, the case will be handled through a correction, expression of concern, or retraction, as appropriate, in accordance with the journal’s editorial policies and publication ethics standards.

The manuscript withdrawal form is available upon request from the editorial office through the official journal email: [email protected].