For Editors

Editors are expected to evaluate manuscripts solely on their scholarly merit, including originality, methodological rigor, scientific validity, and relevance to the journal’s scope, without regard to the authors’ nationality, institutional affiliation, gender, race, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other personal characteristics.

The typical editorial workflow consists of: initial screening for scope, completeness, and similarity checking → assignment of reviewers → collection of at least two independent peer-review reports → editorial decision → communication of the decision to the corresponding author. Editors are expected to manage manuscripts efficiently and to aim for a timely first decision in accordance with the timeframe published on the journal’s official website.

Editors must disclose any conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where such conflicts exist, maintain the confidentiality of unpublished material and peer-review information, and respond to suspected research or publication misconduct in accordance with the journal’s Publication Ethics policy and COPE guidance.