Guide to referees

Peer review is a fundamental component of scholarly publishing and an essential mechanism for maintaining the quality, integrity, and scientific relevance of published research. The Editorial Office of Trends in Ecological and Indoor Environmental Engineering (TEIEE) highly appreciates the valuable contribution of reviewers in ensuring rigorous academic standards and supporting the advancement of environmental and engineering sciences.

The purpose of this guide is to provide referees with clear principles and expectations regarding the peer-review process conducted by TEIEE.

1. Responsibilities of Reviewers
Reviewers are expected to provide objective, constructive, and timely evaluations of submitted manuscripts. Reviews should assist editors in editorial decision-making and help authors improve the scientific quality and clarity of their work.
Reviewers should:

• evaluate manuscripts fairly and impartially;
• provide evidence-based and constructive comments;
• maintain confidentiality of all submitted materials;
• declare any conflicts of interest prior to accepting a review assignment;
• complete reviews within the requested timeframe;
• identify ethical concerns, plagiarism, or potential scientific misconduct where applicable.

2. Confidentiality
All manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents. Reviewers must not:

• share manuscripts with third parties without editorial permission;
• use unpublished data or findings for personal research purposes;
• distribute or reproduce manuscript content.

If consultation with a colleague is necessary, prior approval from the editorial office must be obtained.

3. Conflict of Interest
Reviewers should decline invitations if any conflict of interest may affect their objectivity. Potential conflicts may include, but are not limited to:

• collaboration with the authors;
• institutional affiliation conflicts;
• financial or commercial interests;
• personal or academic competition;;
• any relationship that may influence an unbiased assessment.

If uncertain whether a conflict exists, reviewers are encouraged to contact the Editorial Office before accepting the review invitation.

4. Ethical Standards
TEIEE follows internationally recognized principles of publication ethics and peer-review integrity.
Reviewers are encouraged to consider whether the manuscript complies with accepted ethical standards, including:

• research integrity and originality;
• appropriate citation and acknowledgment of prior work;
• ethical approval for studies involving human participants or animals;
• informed consent where applicable;
• absence of plagiarism, fabricated data, or duplicate publication.

The journal supports the principles and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

5. Evaluation Criteria
Reviewers are requested to evaluate manuscripts according to the following academic standards.
Originality and Contribution
Evaluate the novelty of the research and its contribution to the field of ecological and indoor environmental engineering. Manuscripts should demonstrate clear scientific value and relevance to current research developments.
Scientific Rigor
Assess the appropriateness of the methodology, the reliability of the data, and the validity of the analysis and interpretations presented by the authors.
Relevance to the Journal
Consider whether the manuscript aligns with the aims and scope of Trends in Ecological and Indoor Environmental Engineering (TEIEE) and whether it is suitable for the journal’s readership.
Clarity and Organization
Review the overall structure, readability, academic writing quality, and logical presentation of the manuscript, including the clarity of figures, tables, and supplementary materials.
References and Scholarly Context
Determine whether the cited literature is relevant, current, and sufficient to support the scientific context of the study.
Conclusions and Impact
Verify that the conclusions are supported by the presented results and that the study offers meaningful scientific or practical implications.

6. Structure of the Review Report
Review reports should generally include:
A. Summary of the Manuscript
A brief overview of the study and its objectives.
B. Major Comments
Substantive scientific issues requiring revision or clarification, including methodology, interpretation, novelty, or data analysis.
C. Minor Comments
Editorial suggestions such as language corrections, formatting issues, reference improvements, or clarification of figures and tables.
D. Recommendation
Reviewers may recommend one of the following editorial decisions:

• Accept without revisions
• Minor revisions
• Major revisions
• Reject

Final publication decisions remain the responsibility of the Editorial Board.

7. Timeliness
TEIEE is committed to maintaining an efficient and professional review process. Reviewers are kindly requested to:

• respond promptly to review invitations;
• inform the Editorial Office if additional time is required;
• submit reviews within the agreed review period whenever possible.

Timely reviews contribute significantly to the quality and efficiency of scholarly communication.

8. Constructive and Professional Communication
Reviewer comments should remain professional, respectful, and academically constructive at all times.
Reviewers are encouraged to:

• provide clear reasoning for recommendations;
• avoid personal criticism;
• focus on scientific content rather than the authors themselves;
• suggest practical improvements whenever possible.

The objective of peer review is not only manuscript evaluation, but also support for scientific improvement and academic dialogue.

9. Reviewer Recognition
TEIEE recognizes the essential contribution of reviewers to the advancement of science and academic publishing. The journal values the expertise, time, and professionalism dedicated by referees to maintaining high editorial standards.
Where appropriate, reviewers may receive:

• certificates of reviewing;
• acknowledgment by the Editorial Office;
• recognition through reviewer platforms and academic profiles.

10. Contact Information
For any questions regarding the peer-review process, reviewers may contact the Editorial Office of Trends in Ecological and Indoor Environmental Engineering (TEIEE) through the official journal communication channels.

Acknowledgment
The Editorial Board of Trends in Ecological and Indoor Environmental Engineering (TEIEE) sincerely thanks all reviewers for their valuable contribution to the integrity, quality, and advancement of scholarly research.