Invited reviewers should accept an assignment only when they have suitable expertise, can provide an objective assessment, and can meet the timeframe agreed with the handling editor. Any actual or potential conflict of interest should be disclosed before accepting. Reviewers should decline or seek editorial advice when impartiality may be compromised.

Submitted manuscripts and associated editorial correspondence are confidential. Reviewers should not share manuscripts, discuss unpublished findings, or use material obtained during review for personal or professional advantage. Manuscript contents should not be uploaded to external artificial-intelligence services or other third-party tools where confidentiality cannot be assured without appropriate authorization.

Reviews should address the relevance of the research question, originality, methodological appropriateness, interpretation of findings, clarity of presentation, ethical considerations, and adequacy of citations. Comments should be evidence-based, constructive, and respectful. Personal criticism is inappropriate.

Suspected plagiarism, duplicated publication, undisclosed conflicts, data irregularities, or ethical concerns should be reported privately to the handling editor with specific reasons. Reviewers should not independently contact authors or conduct an unauthorized investigation.

Reviewers should explain their recommendations clearly, distinguish essential corrections from optional suggestions, and indicate when a concern cannot be resolved using the information supplied. The final editorial decision rests with the journal's authorized editor.