Editorial Guidelines
Editorial Guidelines & Code of Conduct
These guidelines define the operational principles, ethical duties, and peer review oversight responsibilities for Section Editors, Guest Editors, and Topic Editors serving across DSTC's 5 consortium journals.
1. Triage & Plagiarism Oversight
Verify that iThenticate similarity scores are strictly within 0% to 10%. Check scientific validity and thematic alignment before assigning reviewers.
2. Double-Blind Review Management
Recruit a minimum of 2 external expert reviewers without institutional or collaborative conflicts of interest. Safeguard strict double-blind anonymity.
3. Timely Decisions (4–6 Weeks)
Adhere to rapid editorial turnaround cycles, delivering thorough decision letters and synthesized reviewer feedback to authors within 4–6 weeks.
Recusal & Editorial Conflict Policy
Editors must immediately recuse themselves from handling manuscripts authored by colleagues from their own department, former research advisors/advisees within 3 years, or co-authors. Recused papers are transferred to an independent Section Editor.