Peer-Review Process
All submitted manuscripts are initially evaluated by the Editor-in-Chief and a relevant Subject Editor to ensure alignment with the journal's structural and thematic criteria. Submissions that fall within the aims and scope of the journal and meet the requisite editorial standards will proceed to the subsequent stages of processing. This preliminary assessment is typically completed within a maximum of seven days. Manuscripts that lack scientific rigor or exhibit significant linguistic deficiencies will not be sent for peer review; however, resubmissions following comprehensive revisions may be considered. Similarity-detection software is utilized as a screening tool. Editors evaluate the source, context, attribution, location, and extent of any overlapping text. No fixed similarity index automatically dictates acceptance or rejection.
The peer-review process is strictly double-blind, ensuring that the identities of both the authors and the reviewers remain concealed. Consequently, authors are required to anonymize their manuscripts by excluding all identifying information (e.g., title page, author contributions, acknowledgments, declarations of competing interests) throughout the review process. Each manuscript is evaluated by at least two independent reviewers—subject-matter experts who are not necessarily affiliated with the journal’s editorial staff. Reviewers are selected by Editorial Board members based on their specific areas of expertise, provided there is no conflict of interest. Authors may suggest potential reviewers and have the right to identify individuals with whom they have a conflict of interest at the time of submission.
The reviewers' evaluation reports are subsequently forwarded to the author(s), who are allotted a period of three months to revise their manuscript (this timeframe may be extended upon formal request). The authors' responses to the reviewers' comments are assessed by the Editor-in-Chief and the Subject Editor (acting as the final arbiter), who may be either an Editorial Board member or an invited expert. The Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with the Editorial Board, makes the final decision regarding the acceptance or rejection of the manuscript. The review process is conducted as expeditiously as possible, with the first decision typically rendered within 4 to 6 weeks of submission. Following final acceptance, articles may undergo further scientific, structural, and methodological refinement by the Editorial Team. Authors are then requested to submit a final version for online publication, during which they may correct minor typographical errors, provided these corrections do not alter the substance of the originally accepted manuscript.