SCILEX — Scientific Literature Exchange and Index
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Process Transparency

A complete, structured rubric that's open to every applicant.

Submissions pass three tiered stages. Below is the full evaluation rubric grouped into Mandatory Requirements, Quality Requirements, and Research Integrity. Each criterion states its purpose and, in a live screening, carries a result of Passed, Warning, or Failed with a specific recommendation.

Selection Flow

Five stages from registration to decision. Stages 1 and 3 are gates (pass/fail); Stage 2 uses a 0–14 score.

1

Eligibility

Mandatory-requirements gate, either pass or fail.

2

Quality

Seven points scored 0–14, threshold ≥ 10.

3

Integrity

Integrity gate + committee ruling.

4

Indexed

Listed as Indexed or Conditional.

5

Appeal

One appeal within 30 days if rejected.

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Example screening result

The rubric below is shown with sample results to illustrate how a screening reads. Every criterion includes a purpose, a status, and a recommendation where something is missing.

Group A

Mandatory Requirements

The eligibility gate. Failing any single item stops the submission, though the applicant may re-apply once it is fixed.

✓
Valid ISSN (e-ISSN preferred)
Confirms the journal is a registered, uniquely identifiable serial. Purpose: prevent unregistered or duplicate identities.
✓
Clear, non-hijacking journal name
The name is distinct and does not imitate or hijack another journal. Purpose: protect against clone and predatory titles.
✓
Complete, verifiable publisher identity
Publisher name, address, and working contacts can be verified. Purpose: establish a real, accountable operator.
!
Functioning website; all articles accessible
The site is stable and full text is reachable. Purpose: ensure the scholarly record is actually available.
Recommendation: Two 2023 articles return broken links. Restore access or provide a stable archive URL before Stage 2.
✓
Public editorial board with verifiable affiliations
Board members' names and affiliations are listed and checkable. Purpose: confirm genuine scholarly oversight.
✓
Declared peer-review type
Single-blind, double-blind, or open review is clearly stated. Purpose: make the review model explicit and accountable.
✕
Documented ethics, retraction & correction policies
Written, accessible policies for publication ethics, retraction, and correction. Purpose: ensure a stated process for handling misconduct and errors.
Recommendation: No retraction or correction policy was found. Publish a documented policy (COPE-aligned is preferred), as this is a mandatory gate item.
Group B

Quality Requirements

Seven scored points (2 meets · 1 partial · 0 none), maximum 14. Threshold: ≥ 10 pass · 7–9 conditional · < 7 reject.

Peer review genuinely runs (reasonable timeline)
Evidence of a real review workflow with plausible turnaround. Purpose: rule out rubber-stamp or "3-day" publishing.
Passed
APC transparency (if any)
Any article-processing charge is stated up front. Purpose: prevent hidden fees revealed after acceptance.
Passed
Plagiarism policy & similarity tools
A stated policy and an active similarity-checking process. Purpose: safeguard originality of published work.
Warning
Recommendation: A policy is stated but no similarity-checking tool is named. Specify the tool used (e.g. an established similarity checker) to reach full marks.
Clear licensing, copyright & access status
Licence, copyright terms, and access model are explicit. Purpose: give authors and readers clear reuse rights.
Passed
Consistent publishing schedule
Issues match the declared frequency without unexplained gaps. Purpose: demonstrate a sustainable, active operation.
Failed
Recommendation: A 4-month gap in 2024 is unexplained. Publish on the declared schedule for two consecutive cycles, or add a public note explaining the gap.
Metadata quality & DOIs in Crossref
DOIs registered with Crossref; complete abstracts, keywords, and tidy references. Purpose: ensure discoverability and a clean scholarly record.
Passed
Preserved archive of older articles
Back issues remain accessible with an archiving arrangement. Purpose: guarantee long-term availability.
Passed
Sample quality score
≥ 10 pass · 7–9 conditional · < 7 reject
11 / 14
Group C

Research Integrity

The SCILEX differentiator. An integrity gate checked against OpenAlex and Crossref, where any failure blocks indexing regardless of quality score.

No history of mass retractions
Checks retraction records for abnormal, large-scale patterns. Purpose: detect systemic quality failures.
Passed
Never de-listed from Scopus, DOAJ, or WoS for misconduct
Verifies the journal was not removed from major indexes for violations. Purpose: honour prior integrity rulings.
Passed
No paper-mill, citation-cartel, or tortured-phrase signals
Screens citation patterns and text signals for manipulation. Purpose: catch coordinated or fabricated scholarship.
Warning
Recommendation: Self-citation is slightly elevated (within tolerance). Not a failure, but flagged for committee attention during the Stage 3 review.
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