Instructions for Referees

The SIAM Journal on Discrete Mathematics (SIDMA) depends heavily on our referees, and we are greatly indebted for maintaining the quality and timeliness of our journal. Thank you for your help in assessing manuscripts.

Editorial Policy

The SIAM Journal on Discrete Mathematics publishes the highest quality research papers in discrete mathematics, both pure and applied. As a SIAM publication, papers are welcome that either evolve from or have potential application to real-world problems, but this is not a requirement. The emphasis of the Journal is on theoretical approaches, rather than empirical ones.

We seek the most significant contributions across the full spectrum of combinatorics and graph theory, as well as fundamental progress on algorithmic and computational issues related to discrete structures. We are particularly interested in:

• Properties and extremal problems for discrete structures, including graphs, hypergraphs, posets, matroids, combinatorial designs, and networks.
• Combinatorial optimization and mathematical programming, especially network optimization, integer programming, approximation algorithms, and randomized algorithms.
• Algebraic and enumerative combinatorics.
• Coding and information theory, especially error-correcting codes.
• Combinatorial number theory.
• Design and analysis of algorithms for discrete structures.
• Discrete and computational geometry.
• Discrete methods in computational biology and in industrial or modelling applications.
• Random structures and the probabilistic method.

Exceptionally high standards are employed in the selection of papers for publication. Evaluation of submissions is based on the depth and significance of the results and on the novelty and difficulty of the proof techniques.

In general, only original papers will be considered. However, papers previously presented in conference proceedings may be submitted in revised form. If a paper has appeared previously, in any form, authors must clearly indicate this both in their cover letter and in a footnote on the first page of the paper.

The journal may, on occasion with the consent of the Board, publish a special issue devoted to a particular topic.

Instructions for Referees

Review Process
The manuscript submission and peer review process is broken down into the following steps:

1. The Author submits a manuscript.
2. The Editor-in-Chief assigns an Associate Editor to act as Reviewing Editor for the paper.
3. The Associate Editor assigns Referees.
4. The Referees review the manuscript and send reports.
5. The Associate Editor makes a decision and the author is contacted.

Navigating the System
All SIDMA papers go through review in the web-based Journal Submission & Tracking System; http://peerreview.siam.org/.

When invited to serve as a referee there are two ways to gain access to the manuscript.

1. You'll receive an e-mail with basic information about the paper, a link to accept the assignment, and a link to decline the assignment.
   
   Accept referee assignment: If you accept, the link will automatically log you into the system and take you directly to the files for the pertinent paper.
   
   Decline referee assignment: If you are unable to review this manuscript and must decline we appreciate any suggestions of potential referees. You can suggest other reviewers or offer any observation on the paper by e-mailing sidma@siam.org.
2. You can alternately access your files by logging into the system through http://sidma.siam.org. Enter your user name and password. You are then taken to your "Home" page. It will have different categories of tasks. If you are required to perform a pending action item, there will be a red arrow next to a manuscript link. After clicking on this link, you will be presented with a "Manuscript" screen containing:
   • Information about the specific manuscript.
   • Links to Accept/Decline to serve as a referee
   • A link to contact journal staff

If you accept the referee invitation, you'll gain access to a page with links to the full manuscript and author cover letter. You'll also have links to "check status" and "Review Manuscript."
If there are no red arrows visible on the "Home" page, then there is no pending work.

Review Manuscript
Once in the system you will be presented with a "Manuscript" screen. At the bottom of this screen under "Manuscript Tasks" is a "Review Manuscript" link. Clicking on this link displays the "Review Manuscript" screen. This screen asks for a recommendation and for a report.*
* Note that in giving a recommendation, along with a free-form text box that allows you to copy and paste a report and /or comments, you must:

Select from a drop-down menu. This manuscript is:

• Excellent;
• Good;
• Fair;
• Poor;
• Not appropriate for the journal.

Select from a drop-down menu. I recommend:

• Reject outright;
• Return to the author for major revisions, outlined in comments;
• Publish after minor revisions, outlined in comments; or
• Publish as is.

The free-form text box for your report follows.

Finally, a manuscript evaluation form is available, but the use of this is optional.

If you prefer to work offline, you may find it faster and easier to download and print the manuscript, draft your review remarks in plain text, and copy and paste into the referee remarks text area on this screen.

Again, the manuscript evaluation form is optional; the drop-down recommendations and report are required.

NOTE: As a referee, SIDMA offers the option of attaching a file to deliver your report. It is recommended, however, that you instead use the text box on the Referee Recommendation Screen to type or paste plain text or TeX code. File attachments are not recommended, as referee confidentiality may be compromised. However, if you must send an attachment know that it may be forwarded to the author by the Reviewing Editor, so please be sure to first edit the file for profile information that—if left in place—could disclose your identity as the owner/creator.

Getting Help
If you need additional help, you can click on the help signs throughout the system. A help dialog will pop up with context sensitive help. You can also e-mail sidma@siam.org if you need assistance.

Manuscript Status
To get the status of your assigned manuscript(s):

1. Log into the system with your password.
2. Click on the link represented by the manuscript tracking number and abbreviated title.
3. Click on the "Check Status" link at the bottom of the displayed page.

This procedure displays detailed tracking information on the progress of the submission and review.

NOTE: Author rights to unpublished manuscripts:

All manuscripts are privileged documents; an author retains the right to the unpublished work. A referee should not use results or ideas obtained exclusively through the refereeing process in his or her own research.