RETRACTED ARTICLE: Three-Periods Optimization Algorithm: A New Method for Solving Various Optimization Problems

We, the Editor, Institution and Publisher of the journal IETE Journal of Research, have retracted the following article, which is part of the Special Issue titled “Federated Learning for Blockchain Systems and Industrial Internet of Things”: Mohammad Dehghani, Pavel Trojovský, Štěpán Hubálovský, Theyab R. Alsenani & Jaswinder Singh (2022) Three-Periods Optimization Algorithm: A New Method for Solving Various Optimization Problems, IETE Journal of Research, DOI: 10.1080/03772063.2022.2052982 Following publication, concerns were raised about the peer review and decision-making processes for this special issue. After an investigation by the Taylor & Francis Publishing Ethics & Integrity team, in full cooperation with the Editor-in-Chief and the Institution, it was confirmed that the articles included in this special issue were not reviewed appropriately, in line with the Journal’s peer review standards and policy. As the stringency of the peer review process is core to the integrity of the publication process, the Editor and Publisher have decided to retract all of the articles within the above-named Special Issue. The journal has not confirmed if the authors were aware of this compromised peer review process. The journal is committed to correcting the scientific record and will fully cooperate with any institutional investigations into this matter. The authors have been informed of this decision. We have been informed in our decision-making by our editorial policies and the COPE guidelines. The retracted articles will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but they will be digitally watermarked on each page as “Retracted”.