Review process

I. Manuscript reception and first phase evaluation

Authors’ contributions are managed by the scientific editor and the technical editor under the advice of the associate editors. Once the formal requirements of the publication have been verified, it is analyzed in the first phase by the Editorial Team, who may: a) accept the submission for external review; b) suggest modifications; or c) reject it. In the latter case, the scientific editor may or may not give feedback to the authors. This first phase takes an average of three months.

II. Second phase of evaluation by external double-blind peers

The articles are sent for evaluation to expert judges in the area, at the rate of two per paper. When it is a frontier area in a field of science, referees are sent as necessary. In the evaluation process, extreme care is taken to maintain the confidentiality of authors and referees (double-blind system). The journal has a simple article evaluation form, as a guide for refereeing. Four results may arise from this phase: a) publishable without changes; b) publishable with suggestions; c) publishable with modifications; and d) not publishable.

In all cases, the reviewers prepare a report based on their opinion. The Editorial Team may resort to other referees in cases where the conclusions of the designated evaluators are incompatible with each other or there are doubts as to methodological aspects.

Once the evaluators’ assessment is generated, it is analyzed by the scientific editor, who prepares a communication to the authors about the result of the evaluation. The authors must make the requested modifications within approximately 15 days. Then, the Editorial Team, taking into account the considerations of the referees, confirms that the modified text includes the observations made. The scientific editor is responsible for the final decision on the acceptance or rejection of the articles. This decision is final.

The process of external evaluation of each article takes an average of six months, which may vary according to the nature of the considerations or the need for consultation with other experts.

The article rejection rate for 2023 was 85 %.

III. Publication

Once the final version of the manuscript has been accepted, the technical team oversees editing and layout of the manuscript and, if necessary, contacts the authors to make adjustments prior to publication.

Once a manuscript has been accepted for publication, the Editorial Team reserves the right to decide the order of appearance and in which issue and volume it will be published.