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Types
of contributions:Communications provide rapid publication of important new contributions. Authors may fax manuscripts prepared
in this way to the Editors-in-Chief. Articles should describe the original research of high quality and timeliness in the field
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the Editors-in-Chief. Book Reviews of relevant titles are welcome and should be submitted to the Book Review Editor.
Corresponding author: Clearly indicate who is responsible for correspondence at all stages of refereeing and publication,
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Editor's requirements:
Papers should not normally exceed 10,000 words.
Detailed instructions on manuscript preparation and artwork instructions can be
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General: Editors reserve the right to adjust style to certain standards of uniformity. Original manuscripts are discarded one month after
publication unless the Publisher is asked to return original material after use. An electronic copy of the manuscript on disk should
accompany the final accepted version. Please use Word, Word Perfect or LaTeX files for the text of your manuscript. (For further information
about LaTeX submission, please go to http://www.elsevier.com/latex.) Back to contents
list
Structure: Follow this order when typing manuscripts:
Title (including suggested running title if the title is over five words), Authors, Affiliations, Abstract, Keywords, Main text, Acknowledgements,
Appendix, References, Figure Captions and then Tables. When submitting in hardcopy, do not import figures into the text - see Illustrations.
Collate acknowledgements in a separate section at the end of the article and do not include them on the title page, as a footnote to
the title or otherwise. Back to the contents list
Text
Layout: Use double spacing and wide (3 cm) margins. (Avoid full justification, i.e., do not use a constant right-hand
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If possible, consult a recent issue of the journal to become familiar with layout and conventions. Number all pages consecutively, use
12 or 10 pt font size and standard fonts. When submitting in hardcopy, print the entire manuscript on one side of the paper only. Back
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Corresponding author: Clearly indicate
who is responsible for correspondence at all stages of refereeing and publication, including post-publication. Ensure that telephone
and fax numbers (with country and area code) are provided in addition to the e-mail address and the complete postal address. Full
postal addresses must be given for all co-authors. Please consult a recent journal paper for style if possible. Back
to the contents list
Abstract: A self-contained abstract
(100-200 words) outlining in a single paragraph the aims, scope and conclusions of the paper must be supplied. Back
to the contents list
Keywords: Immediately after the abstract,
provide a maximum of six keywords (avoid, for example, 'and', 'of'). Be sparing with abbreviations: only abbreviations firmly established
in the field may be eligible. Back to the contents list
Symbols: Particular care should be exercised in identifying mathematical symbols used. All non-standard symbols should
be defined when first mentioned. Back to the contents list
Units: Follow internationally accepted rules and conventions: use the international system of units (SI). If other quantities
are mentioned, give their equivalent in SI. Back to the contents list
Maths: Number consecutively any equations that have to be displayed separately from the text (if referred to explicitly
in the text). Back to the contents list
References: All publications cited in the text should be presented in a list of references following the text of the manuscript.
Text: Indicate references by number(s) in square brackets in line with the text. The actual authors can be referred to, but the reference
number(s) must always be given.
List: Number the references (numbers in square brackets) in the list in the order in which they appear
in the text. Examples: Reference to a journal publication: [1] Van der Geer J, Hanraads JAJ, Lupton RA. The art of writing
a scientific article. J Sci Commun 2000;163:51-9. Reference to a book: [2] Strunk Jr W, White EB. The elements of style. 3rd
ed. New York: Macmillan; 1979. Reference to a chapter in an edited book: [3] Mettam GR, Adams LB. How to prepare an electronic
version of your article. In: Jones BS, Smith RZ, editors. Introduction to the electronic age, New York: E-Publishing Inc; 1999, p. 281-304
Note shortened form for last page number. e.g., 51-9, and that for more than 6 authors the first 6 should be listed followed by 'et
al.' Back to the contents list
FREE ONLINE COLOUR: If, together with your accepted article, you submit
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printed version of e-colour) please submit in addition usable black and white versions of all the colour illustrations. Also make sure
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Costs above. Back to the contents list
Tables: Tables should be numbered consecutively and given suitable captions and each table should begin on a new page.
No vertical rules should be used. Tables should not duplicate results presented elsewhere in the manuscript (for example, in graphs).
Footnotes to tables should be typed below the table and should be referred to by superscript lowercase letters. Back
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Electronic Annexes: We strongly encourage
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If you are submitting on hardcopy, please supply 3 disks/CD-ROMs containing the electronic annex to the editor for review. In the text
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then please do so using this example: "?see Electronic Annex 1 in the online version of this article." Production will insert the relevant
URL at the typesetting stage after this statement. Back to the contents list
Supplying
Final Accepted Text on Disk: Once the paper has been accepted by the editor, an electronic version of the text
should be submitted together with the final hardcopy of the manuscript.The electronic version must match the hardcopy exactly.We
accept most wordprocessing formats, but Word, WordPerfect or LaTeX (see also http://www.elsevier.com/latex) is preferred.
Always keep a backup copy of the electronic file for reference and safety. Label the disk with your name, the journal title and any software
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or CD (either MS-DOS or Macintosh). Back to the contents list
Authors will be notified of the acceptance of their paper by the editor. The Publisher will also send
a notification of receipt of the paper in production. Back to the contents list
All authors must sign the Transfer of Copyright agreement before the article can be published. This transfer
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permission to reproduce any figures for which copyright exists. For more information please go to our copyright page www.elsevier.com/locate/guidepublication Back to the contents list
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this is not possible, then mark the corrections and any other comments (including replies to the Query Form) on a printout of your proof
and return by fax, or scan the pages and e-mail, or by post.
Please use this proof only for checking the typesetting, editing, completeness
and correctness of the text, tables and figures. Significant changes to the article as accepted for publication will only be considered
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it is important to ensure that all of your corrections are sent back to us in one communication: please check carefully before replying,
as inclusion of any subsequent corrections cannot be guaranteed. Proofreading is solely your responsibility. Note that Elsevier may proceed
with the publication of your article if no response is received.
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