Editorial Process

1. Technical check (editorial office, 2–3 days): formatting, files, declarations, similarity screening with iThenticate.
2. Editorial assessment (Editor-in-Chief / Associate Editor): scope, originality, and quality. Out-of-scope or clearly unsuitable manuscripts are declined at this stage.
3. Double-blind peer review by at least two independent experts.
4. Decision: Accept; Minor revision; Major revision; Reject. The target time to first decision is 21 days.
5. Revision: respond point by point and mark changes in the manuscript. Revisions are due within 30 days (minor) or 60 days (major).
6. Acceptance, APC invoice, licence agreement.
7. Production: copy-editing, typesetting, author proof (return within 48 hours), and online publication with a DOI.

See the Peer Review Policy for full details.

Last updated: 29 September 2026