All submitted manuscripts are read by the editorial staff. To save authors and referees time, only those papers that seem most likely to meet our editorial criteria are sent for formal review.

The role played by referees in maintaining the standing of the journals is a crucial one. It is our intention to apply the acceptance criteria stringently and to act promptly and resolutely in making decisions to accept or reject manuscripts.  The active and conscientious involvement of you as a referee is central to the success of the journals.

When reviewing a paper we appeal to you to write an incisive and well-justified report. We strongly encourage referees to submit their comments via our online submission system by following the link provided in the editor's e-mail.