This page outlines what authors can expect at each stage of the peer review process, from initial submission to final decision. For information on reviewer and editor responsibilities, see the Editorial Policies and Publication Ethics pages.

Stage 1 — Initial Editorial Assessment

Upon submission, the Editor-in-Chief conducts an initial assessment of the manuscript within 10 days. This assessment evaluates:

• Alignment with the journal's aims and scope
• Adherence to submission requirements and formatting guidelines
• Originality and absence of obvious ethical concerns
• Scientific quality and potential contribution to the field

Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria will be desk rejected at this stage. Authors will be notified of desk rejection with a brief explanation.

Stage 2 — Peer Review

Manuscripts passing the initial assessment are assigned to a minimum of two independent reviewers with relevant expertise. The review is conducted under a double-blind process — neither authors nor reviewers are aware of each other's identities.

Reviewers are asked to evaluate the manuscript on the following criteria:

• Originality and scientific contribution
• Relevance to the journal's scope
• Soundness of methodology
• Clarity and quality of presentation
• Validity of conclusions

The review stage typically takes 4–8 weeks depending on reviewer availability.

Stage 3 — Editorial Decision

Following peer review, the Editor-in-Chief issues one of the following decisions:

• Accept — The manuscript is accepted for publication as submitted or with minor editorial corrections.
• Minor Revision — The manuscript requires limited revisions. Authors must submit a revised version within 2 weeks, accompanied by a point-by-point response to reviewer comments.
• Major Revision — The manuscript requires substantial revisions and will undergo a second round of review. Authors must submit a revised version within 4 weeks, accompanied by a point-by-point response to reviewer comments.
• Reject — The manuscript does not meet the journal's standards or falls outside its scope. Rejected manuscripts may not be resubmitted unless explicitly invited by the Editor-in-Chief.

Stage 4 — Revision

When revisions are requested, authors must:

• Address all reviewer and editor comments thoroughly and transparently
• Submit a point-by-point response document clearly indicating how each comment has been addressed
• Highlight all changes made in the revised manuscript using track changes or a different color
• Submit the revised manuscript within the timeframe specified in the decision letter

Failure to respond to all comments or to submit within the specified timeframe may result in the manuscript being treated as a new submission.

Stage 5 — Production and Publication

Upon final acceptance, the manuscript enters the production stage. Authors will receive a proof for review before publication. The proof must be returned within 3 days. Only minor typographical corrections are acceptable at the proof stage — substantive changes to content will not be accepted.

Following publication, the article will be assigned a DOI and made freely available under CC BY 4.0.