Post-Publication Discussion

The journal provides a documented route for readers and researchers to question, clarify, or correct the published record.

Purpose

Scholarly discussion does not end at publication. Readers, authors, reviewers, institutions, and other stakeholders may raise reasoned questions about methods, evidence, interpretation, ethics, citations, data, or the reliability of a published article. The journal considers such communication as part of maintaining a trustworthy scholarly record.

How to raise a post-publication matter

1. Submit the concern to the journal's official editorial contact and identify the article by title, DOI, volume/issue, and URL.
2. State the concern precisely and provide supporting evidence, sources, calculations, or documentation where available.
3. Disclose relevant conflicts of interest and avoid defamatory, abusive, or speculative language.
4. The editorial office acknowledges and triages the matter. Minor interpretive disagreements may require no formal action, while factual, ethical, or integrity concerns may proceed under the relevant policy.
5. Authors may be invited to respond. External expert advice may be sought when needed and conflicts are checked.
6. When the scholarly record requires action, the journal may publish a correction, response, editorial note, expression of concern, or retraction as appropriate.

Letters, comments, and responses

Substantive post-publication commentary may be considered for publication or linked response at the Editor-in-Chief's discretion when it contributes meaningful scholarly clarification. Any published comment or response must be clearly labelled, linked to the article, and subject to editorial assessment and, when appropriate, peer review.

No retaliation and no metric manipulation

Good-faith criticism is not grounds for retaliation. Post-publication mechanisms must not be used to harass authors, pressure editors, manipulate citations, or relitigate differences of scholarly opinion without new evidence.

Governance basis: Permendiktisaintek No. 9 of 2026; Directorate General of Science and Technology Decision No. 374/DST/D.D1/HM.01.01/2026; COPE Core Practices; and the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (Version 5, 2026).