Peer Review Process
All submissions to Acoreana undergo an initial assessment by the Editor-in-Chief or a designated Editor to determine whether the article fits the journal’s scope and standards. Articles deemed suitable are sent to at least two independent reviewers, who evaluate the manuscript based on clarity, sound methodology, data analysis, and validity of conclusions.
Authors may suggest or request exclusions of specific reviewers, but Acoreana does not guarantee these recommendations will be honored. All reviewers must remain independent from the submission and disclose any competing interests.
Acoreana operates a double-blind peer review process, ensuring both author and reviewer identities remain anonymous. The review process typically takes four to eight weeks but may vary based on reviewer availability. Reviewers are encouraged to provide formative feedback, even if an article is not accepted.
Based on the reviewer feedback, the editor will make one of the following decisions:
- Acceptance
- Minor Revisions
- Major Revisions
- Rejection
The final editorial decision rests with the Editor-in-Chief, supported by the international Editorial Board.
Preprint Policy
Acoreana allows the submission of papers that have been posted on preprint servers, presented at conferences, or shared via personal websites. These formats are not considered prior publications. However, authors must retain copyright over their work and are encouraged to link any preprint version to the final published version, if accepted.
When submitting, authors must declare that their paper has been posted on a preprint server and include a link. While the journal will strive to maintain the anonymity of the authors, the preprint may compromise the blind review process.
Reviewer Guidelines
Reviewers are expected to evaluate manuscripts on the following criteria:
- Content: Does the article fit within the journal’s scope? Is it original, relevant, and rigorous? Are the methodologies and evidence properly applied, and does the conclusion align with the article’s argument?
- Structure: Is the manuscript logically structured? Does the abstract effectively summarize the article, and does the introduction clearly outline the research? Are the arguments substantiated and evidenced?
- Figures and Tables: Do the visual elements (tables, charts, maps) support the arguments? Is their quality adequate?
- Formatting: Does the manuscript follow the journal’s formatting guidelines?
- Language: Is the manuscript clear, free of jargon, and well-written?
Reproducibility and Open Science
Acoreana encourages authors to share their data, methods, and code openly, following the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). Authors are encouraged to include a Data Accessibility Statement in their manuscript, linking to the data repository if applicable.
- Structured Methods: Authors are encouraged to submit detailed step-by-step methods, hosted on platforms such as protocols.io, to improve reproducibility.
- Open Code: Authors using software code, algorithms, or statistical analyses are encouraged to upload their code to platforms like Code Ocean, where it can be openly shared, validated, and cited.
ORCID Policy
Acoreana recommends that all submitting authors register with Open Researcher and Contributor Identifier (ORCID) to improve the discoverability and attribution of their work. Corresponding authors must include their ORCID iD at submission, and co-authors are strongly encouraged to do so. ORCID iDs will be published alongside the article upon acceptance.
Authorship
All listed authors must meet the ICMJE criteria for authorship. Each author must have:
- Contributed substantially to the conception, design, or analysis of the work
- Drafted or critically revised the work for intellectual content
- Approved the final version to be published
- Agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work
Authorship details must be confirmed at the time of submission.
Competing Interests, Funding, and Ethics
All authors, reviewers, and editors must declare any potential competing interests that could influence the submission or review process. Authors must disclose all funding sources and detail any ethical considerations relevant to the research. This information should be included in the manuscript’s Funding and Ethics sections.
Corrections and Retractions
In accordance with COPE guidelines, Acoreana handles errors in published articles with the utmost care. Authors are responsible for proofreading their submissions before publication.
Post-publication corrections or retractions will be made only in exceptional cases, and a thorough review will determine whether a Correction Notice or Retraction is required. For more details, refer to our Correction and Retraction Policy page.
Appeals, Complaints, and Misconduct
Acoreana takes complaints and allegations of misconduct seriously, whether raised before or after publication. We follow COPE guidelines in addressing these concerns. Authors, reviewers, or readers wishing to raise an issue may submit a formal appeal or complaint to the Editor-in-Chief or publisher.
Expected Behavior
Acoreana promotes respectful communication and does not tolerate abusive behavior or correspondence. Any person engaging in such behavior may have their submission or engagement withdrawn and may be barred from future participation in the journal.