Submitted manuscripts are first checked for conformity to the JSE format and style by the editorial office. Manuscripts not meeting the standards outlined in these Instructions for Authors will be returned to the authors for correction before review and assessment by chief editors. The chief editors select associate editors to handle the peer review process. All original papers are assessed by two or more reviewers from anywhere in the world. The chief editors make the final decision on the acceptability of each manuscript based on the reviewers' comments and the associate editor's recommendation. For most manuscripts, the reviews and an editorial decision regarding publication will be available in three months, except when a manuscript requires extensive revision and a second round of review.

We welcome submission of high quality manuscripts on controversial and frontier topics. To ensure fairness to the authors and reviewers, this type of manuscripts will be open-reviewed, i.e., the reviewers will need to reveal their identity to the authors. If necessary, the reviews will be published together with the paper. When open-review is commissioned, the reviewers will be informed. The chief editors make the decision whether a manuscript goes through open review or not.