Peer review and editorial policy

The journal follows the Springer Nature Peer Review Policy, Process and Guidance, Springer Nature Journal Editors' Code of Conduct, Springer Nature Editorial Policies, and COPE's Ethical Guidelines for Peer-reviewers.

Approximately 50% of the manuscripts are rejected without review based on formal criteria as they do not comply with the submission guidelines. Each manuscript is assigned to two peer reviewers. The journal follows a single-blind reviewing procedure. The average period from submission to the first decision is usually 37 days. The approximate rejection rate is 30%. The final decision on the acceptance of a manuscript for publication is made by the responsible editor or by the meeting of the editorial board members.

If editorial board members submit manuscripts to the journal, they do not participate in the decision-making process on their submissions.

Special issues published in the journal follow the same procedures as all other issues. If not stated otherwise, special issues are prepared by the members of the editorial board without guest editors.