Dealing of Misconduct

Dealing with Misconduct

Artificial Intelligence in Systems and Applications (AISA) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and academic integrity. The Editorial Board follows internationally accepted ethical publishing practices in handling allegations of research and publication misconduct.

Retraction Policy

The Editor-in-Chief may consider retracting a published article if there is clear evidence that:

  • The findings are unreliable due to significant errors, including miscalculations, methodological flaws, or experimental errors.
  • The article contains fabricated, falsified, or manipulated data, images, or research findings.
  • The work constitutes plagiarism or contains substantial unattributed material from previously published sources.
  • The article has been published elsewhere without appropriate acknowledgment, permission, or disclosure (redundant or duplicate publication).
  • The manuscript contains material, data, or images used without proper authorization.
  • Copyright has been infringed or the publication involves serious legal issues, including defamation or violations of privacy.
  • The research reported does not comply with accepted ethical standards or has been conducted unethically.
  • The article has been accepted or published through a compromised, manipulated, or fraudulent peer-review process.
  • The author(s) failed to disclose significant conflicts of interest that, in the opinion of the Editor-in-Chief, could have influenced the interpretation of the research or the editorial and peer-review decisions.

Retraction Notices

When a retraction is necessary, AISA will ensure that the retraction notice:

  • Is electronically linked to the original published article.
  • Clearly identifies the retracted article by title, author(s), and publication details.
  • Is clearly labelled as a Retraction.
  • Is published promptly to minimize the dissemination of unreliable information.
  • Remains freely accessible to all readers.
  • States who is issuing the retraction (e.g., the Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Board, or author(s)).
  • Clearly explains the reason(s) for the retraction.
  • Is written objectively, factually, and professionally without defamatory or inflammatory language.

Cases Where Retraction May Not Be Appropriate

Retraction is generally not considered appropriate when:

  • There is a dispute regarding authorship, but the validity and reliability of the research findings remain unaffected.
  • The identified errors can be adequately corrected through a correction, erratum, or corrigendum without invalidating the main conclusions of the study.
  • The available evidence is inconclusive, and the Editorial Board is awaiting the outcome of an institutional investigation or additional supporting information.
  • A conflict of interest is disclosed after publication, but the Editor-in-Chief determines that it has not materially influenced the peer-review process, editorial decision, interpretation of the findings, or conclusions of the article.

Investigation Procedure

All allegations of research or publication misconduct received by AISA will be treated seriously and handled confidentially. The Editorial Board may request explanations, supporting documentation, or institutional investigations where appropriate. Decisions will be made fairly, transparently, and in accordance with internationally recognized publication ethics principles.

Where misconduct is confirmed, AISA reserves the right to take appropriate editorial actions, including manuscript rejection, publication of corrections, article retraction, notification of the authors' institutions or funding agencies, and restrictions on future submissions where warranted.