Peer review and editorial policy

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

At least 16% 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 at least one peer reviewer. The journal follows a single-blind reviewing procedure. The period from submission to the first decision is usually at most 20 days. The approximate rejection rate is at least 10%. The final decision on the acceptance of a manuscript for publication is made by the Editor-in-Chief and Deputy Editor-in-Chief.

The Editors, including the Editor-in-Chief, do not publish in the journal.

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.