Article selection process and Peer-review

ARTICLE SELECTION PROCESS AND PEER-REVIEW

A double-blind peer review method is mandatory for processing of all scientific manuscripts submitted to our journals. This implies that neither the reviewer is aware of the authorship of the manuscript, nor the author maintains any contact with the reviewer.

• Members of an editorial board and leading Russian and international experts in corresponding areas of life sciences, invited as independent readers, perform peer reviews. Editor-in-chief, deputy editor-in-chief or science editor choose readers for peer review. We aim to limit the review process to 2-4 weeks, though in some cases the schedule may be adjusted at the reviewer’s request.
• Reviewers have an option to abnegate the assessment should any conflict of interests arise that may affect perception or interpretation of a manuscript. Upon the scrutiny, a reviewer is expected to present the editorial board with one of the following recommendations: - to accept the paper in its present state; - to invited the author to revise their manuscript to address specific concerns before final decision is reached; - that final decision be reached following further reviewing by another specialist; - to reject the manuscript outright.
• If a reviewer has recommended any refinements, an editorial staff would suggest the author either to implement the corrections, or to dispute them reasonably. Authors are kindly required to limit their revision to 2 months and resubmit the adapted manuscript within this period for final evaluation.
• We politely request that the editor be notified verbally or in writing should the author decide to refuse from publishing the manuscript. In case an author fails to do so within 3 months since receiving a copy of the initial review, an editorial board takes the manuscript off the register and notifies the author accordingly.
• If an author and reviewers meet insoluble contradictions regarding revision of a manuscript, an editor-in-chief resolves the conflict by his own authority.
• An editorial board reaches final decision to reject a manuscript on the hearing according to reviewers’ recommendations, and duly notifies authors of their decision via e-mail. An Editorial board does not accept previously rejected manuscripts for re-evaluation.
• Upon the decision to accept a manuscript for publishing, an editorial staff notifies authors of a scheduled date of publication.
• Kindly note that positive review does not guarantee the acceptance, as final decision in all cases lies with the editorial board. By his authority, an editor-in-chief rules a final solution of every conflict.
• Original reviews of submitted manuscripts remain deposited for 3 years.