POST-PUBLICATION DISCUSSION

POST-PUBLICATION DISCUSSION POLICY

UTILITY recognizes that scholarly discussion does not end at publication. The journal welcomes constructive, evidence-based comments and discussions concerning published articles and provides a formal mechanism for post-publication discussion, in accordance with the principles of transparency and best practice in scholarly publishing promoted by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Submitting a Comment

Readers, researchers, and authors may submit comments concerning articles published in UTILITY by contacting the journal's editorial office through the official contact information provided on the journal website, with the subject line "Post-Publication Comment".

The submission should include:

  • the full name, institutional affiliation, and email address of the commenter;

  • the title and DOI of the article concerned;

  • the comment, which should focus on the scientific content of the published article, including data, methods, analysis, results, or interpretation;

  • supporting evidence and relevant references, where applicable; and

  • a statement declaring any potential conflict of interest.

Comments should be objective, constructive, and focused on the scholarly content of the article. Anonymous comments, personal attacks, defamatory statements, offensive language, or comments unrelated to the scientific substance of the published article will not be considered.

2. Editorial Handling

  1. The Editor-in-Chief or designated editor will acknowledge receipt of a post-publication comment within 7 working days.

  2. The editorial team will assess the comment to determine whether it is relevant, substantive, and appropriate for scholarly discussion.

  3. Substantive comments will be forwarded to the corresponding author of the article concerned, who will be given an opportunity to provide a response within 30 days.

  4. Where necessary, the Editor may seek an independent assessment from a qualified reviewer, subject expert, or member of the Editorial Board.

  5. Based on the assessment and responses received, the Editor will determine whether the comment and the author's response should be published.

3. Publication of Comments

Comments that make a meaningful contribution to scholarly discussion may be considered for publication as a Letter to the Editor, together with the corresponding author's response where appropriate.

Published comments and responses will be clearly identified and linked to the original article to facilitate transparency and continued scholarly discussion. Publication of a comment does not necessarily imply that the editorial team endorses all views expressed in the comment.

4. Outcomes Affecting the Published Article

If post-publication discussion identifies an error or issue that affects the accuracy or integrity of a published article, UTILITY will assess the matter in accordance with its applicable Article Correction and Retraction Policy.

Depending on the nature and severity of the issue, appropriate editorial action may include the publication of an erratum, corrigendum, expression of concern, or retraction. Any post-publication notice will be appropriately linked to the original article, while maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record.

If a post-publication discussion raises concerns regarding potential research or publication misconduct, the matter will be handled in accordance with UTILITY's Research Misconduct, Complaints, and Appeals Policy and applicable ethical standards.

UTILITY is committed to ensuring that post-publication discussion is conducted fairly, transparently, and respectfully, while protecting the integrity of the scholarly record.