Reviewing
All scientific articles received in the editorial board of the “Volga Region Oncological Bulletin” undergo obligatory bilateral anonymous (“blind”) reviewing (reviewers do not know the authors and the authors of the manuscript do not know reviewers and receive a letter of comments signed by the chief editor (and/or his deputy) or the executive secretary).
Articles are reviewed by members of the editorial board as well as by invited reviewers – leading specialists in the relevant branch of medicine in Russia. The decision to choose one or another reviewer for the review of an article is made by the chief editor or deputy chief editors. The period of reviewing is 2 weeks, but at the request of the reviewer it can be extended up to 4 weeks.
As a rule, two reviewers are assigned to each article for evaluation.
Each reviewer has the right to refuse the review if there is a clear conflict of interest affecting the perception and interpretation of the manuscript materials. After reviewing the manuscript, the reviewer gives recommendations on the further fate of the article:
- the article is recommended for publication in its present form;
- the article is recommended for publication after correcting the deficiencies noted by the reviewer;
- the article needs additional reviewing by another specialist;
- the article cannot be published in the journal.
- each decision of the reviewer must be justified.
If the review contains recommendations to correct and improve the article, the editorial board sends the text of the review to the author with a proposal to take them into account when preparing a new version of the article or to refute them with arguments (partially or completely). Revision of the article should not take more than one or two months from the moment of sending the e-mail to the authors about the need to make changes. The corrected version of the article by the author is sent for reviewing again.
If the authors refuse to revise the materials, they should notify the editorial board in writing or verbally about their refusal to publish the article. If the authors do not return the corrected version after 2 months from the date of sending the review, even in the absence of information from the authors, the editorial office removes it from the account. In such situations, the authors are sent a corresponding notification about deregistration of the manuscript due to the expiration of the deadline for revision.
If the author and reviewers have unresolvable contradictions concerning the manuscript, the Editorial Board has the right to send the manuscript for additional reviewing. In conflicting situations, the decision is made by the editor-in-chief at the meeting of the editorial board.
The decision to refuse to publish the manuscript is made at the meeting of the editorial board in accordance with the recommendations of the reviewers. An article not recommended for publication by the decision of the editorial board is not accepted for reconsideration. A message about the refusal to publish is sent to the author by e-mail.
The presence of a positive review is not a sufficient basis for the publication of the article. The final decision on the publication is made by the editorial board. In conflicting situations the decision is made by the chief editor.
After the editorial board makes a decision about the admission of the article for publication the editors inform the author about it and indicate the terms of publication.
The original reviews are stored in the editorial office for 3 years.