Submission:
- Authors submit their manuscripts through an online submission system, which assigns a unique tracking number to each submission
Preliminary Editorial Screening:
- The editorial office performs an initial quality check on the manuscript to ensure that it is formatted correctly and meets the journal's submission guidelines
Editorial Decision:
- The Editor-in-Chief (EIC) is assigned to the manuscript and reviews the cover letter, title, and abstract to determine whether the paper is suitable for the journal
- If the EIC decides that the paper is not suitable for review, they contact the author with the decision
- If the EIC determines that the paper is within the journal's scope and may be suitable for review, they assign the paper to a Senior Editor for further assessment
Senior Editor Assessment:
- The Senior Editor assesses the manuscript for its quality and perceived level of advance
- The Senior Editor may recommend a reject decision or assign peer reviewers based on their assessment
Peer Review:
- Peer reviewers are selected by the Senior Editor and given a specific timeframe (e.g., 18 days) to submit their reports
- Reviewers evaluate the paper and provide their recommendations and comments to the Senior Editor
Editorial Decision:
- The Senior Editor makes a decision recommendation to the EIC based on the rankings and comments received from the peer reviewers
- The EIC makes the final decision based on the Senior Editor's recommendation and the overall assessment of the manuscript
Author Notification:
- Authors are notified of the editorial decision, which may include acceptance, revision, or rejection, along with the reviewers' comments and recommendations
Revision and Resubmission:
- If the manuscript requires revisions, authors are given a specific timeframe to make the necessary changes and resubmit the revised version
Final Decision and Publication:
- After the revised manuscript is submitted, the Senior Editor and EIC review the changes and make a final decision on the acceptance of the paper
- Once accepted, the paper goes through the production process, including copyediting, typesetting, and proofreading, before being published in the journal
