Peer Review Process
The review process in the journal "Mechanics and Advanced Technologies" is double-blind which ensures that every submission goes through a similar and unbiased review when the authors and the reviewer’s identities are kept undisclosed from each other.
When assigned a new submission, the associate editor checks the one for its completeness and adherence to the Guide for Authors. Our journal will first check the plagiarism of a manuscript by using UniCheck after it is submitted. The high level of similarity could cause the manuscript rejection (we read the whole paper and check which part is taken from other papers).
The corresponding author is notified by e-mail when the editor decides to pass a paper for review. The author is normally informed within 10 days of assignment to the associate editor.
Authors may indicate a limited number of scientists who should not review the paper. Excluded scientists must be identified by name. Authors may also suggest referees; these suggestions are often helpful, although they are not always followed.
All submitted manuscripts are sent for double-blind peer review to two expert reviewers. By policy, authors remain anonymous to the referees throughout the consideration process and referees are not identified to the authors, except at the request of the referee.
Alternative reviewers may also be invited to review the manuscript at any time. Authors will be informed when editors decide further review is required.
Typically the manuscript will be reviewed within 30 days.
The revised version is sent back to the original referees for re-review. The revised manuscript should be accompanied by a cover letter that includes a point-by-point response to referees' comments and an explanation of how the manuscript has been changed.
Authors must provide a response to the remarks and comments of the peer reviewer(s) within 3 weeks of receiving the feedback. If for objective reasons (for example, the authors are asked to undertake major revisions) they need more time to work on the article, this should be agreed with the managing editor. Otherwise (in case of non-compliance with the terms of work on the article), we reserve the right to withdraw this article from further consideration.
The final decision to recommend the manuscript for publication is taken by the editorial staff on the basis of the referees' reports. Authors of papers are notified promptly.
Handling papers from editorial board members
Editorial members can submit their works with the prospect of their publication in the journal. This is a potential conflict of interest, especially in cases where the manuscript is submitted by the decision-maker.
During the review, such members of the editorial board will not participate in the selection of reviewers and the decision-making process for the manuscript. The review and adoption process will be controlled by a senior editor, independent of other editors. In some cases, the review process will be conducted by external independent experts to minimize possible bias in the evaluation of manuscripts submitted by members of the editorial board.
To ensure transparent and fair handling of these manuscripts, the following principles will be applied to them:
(1) The manuscripts of the members of the editorial board will be subject to double blind review, and members of the editorial board will not have access to information regarding their works, except for those available to all authors.
(2) Member(s) of the editorial board manuscripts will be reviewed by a minimum of two external peer reviewers.
(3) Member(s) of the editorial board manuscripts are treated as all submissions to the journal and may be subject to the full range of editorial decisions: reject without peer review, multiple revisions, reject after revision and/or accept.
(4) If accepted, member(s) of the editorial board manuscripts will carry a note to the reader showing how transparent the reviewing process had been.
