The path to publication in the journal includes stages from preparation to final release, all carried out in full compliance with ethical requirements and journal policies.
- Manuscript Preparation
Before submission, authors must carefully prepare their files, follow all formatting guidelines, and complete the required documentation.
Anonymity Check: Ensure that the main manuscript file, images, and supplementary data are completely free of author names and identifiers for the double‑blind review process.
Obtaining Permissions: Written permission from the copyright holder must be obtained for the use of images, tables, or portions of previously published text (in print or online).
Submission Declaration: By submitting the manuscript, authors implicitly declare that the work has not been published elsewhere (except permitted formats such as preprints or theses), is not under consideration by another journal, and that all authors have approved its publication.
ORCID ID: Obtaining and providing an ORCID ID for authors is mandatory (https://orcid.org).
- Submission Process
All manuscripts must be uploaded solely through the journal's online submission system and by the corresponding author(s). Please upload the five main files: the anonymous manuscript file, title page, conflict of interest disclosure form, cover letter, and Irandoc or Samim Noor similarity certificate.
Authors may suggest potential reviewers or request that specific individuals not review their manuscript. Suggested reviewers must be independent and have no relationship with the research or the authors. Providing academic email addresses or verified identifiers (such as ORCID) for suggested reviewers is required.
- Peer Review and Decision-Making Process
After submission, the evaluation process begins with initial screening followed by expert peer review.
Initial Evaluation: The Editor‑in‑Chief or associate editors assess the manuscript for fit with the journal's aims and scope, and for adherence to ethical principles. This stage takes approximately 10 days. Manuscripts that do not meet the necessary criteria may be rejected without being sent for external review.
Expert Peer Review: Suitable manuscripts are sent to at least two independent external reviewers. The journal follows a double‑blind peer review policy, meaning that the identities of authors and reviewers are hidden from one another. The average total peer review time is 8 weeks.
Final Decision: The Editor‑in‑Chief makes the final decision based on the reviewers' reports and their own judgment. With an acceptance rate of 21%, the journal is highly selective. Review outcomes typically include: accept as is, minor revisions required, major revisions required, or reject.
- Post‑Decision Actions
Revision: If revisions are requested, authors must respond point‑by‑point with reasoned replies to all reviewer and editor comments. Major revisions may take weeks or months. After revision, the manuscript must be re‑uploaded through the system.
Appeal and Complaint: Authors have the right to appeal a rejection decision. Typically, only one appeal request is considered per manuscript, and the final decision after re‑evaluation by the Editor‑in‑Chief will be conclusive. Complaints regarding prolonged delays or ethical issues are also investigated according to COPE guidelines.
Article Transfer Service: If a manuscript is rejected but deemed suitable for another scientific journal, the Editor‑in‑Chief may offer to transfer it to an alternative journal. If the author agrees, the manuscript along with any existing review reports is automatically transferred.
- After Acceptance and Publication
Final Proofing: Upon acceptance, the manuscript enters production (copyediting and typesetting). A pre‑print proof is sent to the corresponding author, and corrections must be returned promptly (usually within 3 working days). At this stage, only typographical error corrections and layout accuracy checks are permitted; substantive content changes are not allowed. Copyright and Publication License: Authors retain their copyright and publishing rights without limitation. Articles are published under the CC BY 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en), which permits redistribution and distribution of the work with attribution to the author and the journal. Publication Fees: To sustain high‑quality publishing services and the journal's commitment to a permanent open access policy, an Article Processing Charge (APC) is collected. Authors are charged 6,000,000 IRR (six hundred thousand Tomans) for publishing an article. These fees are used solely to cover the costs of website technical maintenance, professional typesetting, digital archiving, and providing a platform for the immediate, global publication of research. Online Publication: The article is published online as soon as it is finalised. Due to the journal's open access policy, the final version is freely available to everyone and can be shared via its DOI link.