Introduction



The Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Annual is a companion to Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. The Annual focuses on the most significant developments in pediatric cardiac surgery, providing coverage of new procedural and technological advances. Each annual volume contains submissions from leading experts in the field, and from by prominent surgeons who presented their findings at the AATS Annual Meeting from the previous year.

In addition to the Guide for Authors listed herein, please also be sure to review the official AATS Editorial Office Submission Guidelines.

Before you begin

Ethics in publishing
Please see our information pages on Ethics in publishing and Ethical guidelines for journal publication.

Human and animal rights
If the work involves the use of animal or human subjects, the author should ensure the work described has been carried out in accordance with The Code of Ethics of the World Medical Association (Declaration of Helsinki) for experiments involving humans; Directive 2010/63/EU) for animal experiments; or the uniform requirements for manuscripts submitted to biomedical journals. Authors should include a statement in the manuscript that informed consent was obtained for experimentation with human subjects. The privacy rights of human subjects must always be observed.

Declaration of interest

All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence (bias) their work. Examples of potential competing interests include employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony, patent applications/registrations, and grants or other funding. Authors must disclose any interests in two places: 1. A summary declaration of interest statement in the title page file (if double anonymized) or the manuscript file (if single anonymized). If there are no interests to declare then please state this: 'Declarations of interest: none'. 2. Detailed disclosures as part of a separate Declaration of Interest form, which forms part of the journal's official records. It is important for potential interests to be declared in both places and that the information matches. More information.

Declaration of generative AI in scientific writing

The below guidance only refers to the writing process, and not to the use of AI tools to analyse and draw insights from data as part of the research process.

Where authors use generative artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process, authors should only use these technologies to improve readability and language. Applying the technology should be done with human oversight and control, and authors should carefully review and edit the result, as AI can generate authoritative-sounding output that can be incorrect, incomplete or biased. AI and AI-assisted technologies should not be listed as an author or co-author, or be cited as an author. Authorship implies responsibilities and tasks that can only be attributed to and performed by humans, as outlined in Elsevier’s AI policy for authors.

Authors should disclose in their manuscript the use of AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process by following the instructions below. A statement will appear in the published work. Please note that authors are ultimately responsible and accountable for the contents of the work.

Disclosure instructions
Authors must disclose the use of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process by adding a statement at the end of their manuscript in the core manuscript file, before the References list. The statement should be placed in a new section entitled ‘Declaration of Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process’.

Statement: During the preparation of this work the author(s) used [NAME TOOL / SERVICE] in order to [REASON]. After using this tool/service, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the publication.

This declaration does not apply to the use of basic tools for checking grammar, spelling, references etc. If there is nothing to disclose, there is no need to add a statement.


Submission of an article implies the work described has not been published previously (except in the form of an abstract or as part of a published lecture or academic thesis or as an electronic preprint, please review our Policies for additional information), that it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere, that its publication is approved by all authors and tacitly or explicitly by the responsible authorities where the work was carried out, and that, if accepted, it will not be published elsewhere including electronically in the same form, in English or in any other language, without the written consent of the copyright-holder.

Submission declaration and verification

Submission of an article implies that the work described has not been published previously (except in the form of an abstract, a published lecture or academic thesis, see 'Multiple, redundant or concurrent publication' for more information), that it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere, that its publication is approved by all authors and tacitly or explicitly by the responsible authorities where the work was carried out, and that, if accepted, it will not be published elsewhere in the same form, in English or in any other language, including electronically without the written consent of the copyright-holder. To verify compliance, your article may be checked by Crossref Similarity Check and other originality or duplicate checking software.

Preprints
Please note that preprints can be shared anywhere at any time, in line with Elsevier's sharing policy. Sharing your preprints e.g. on a preprint server will not count as prior publication (see 'Multiple, redundant or concurrent publication' for more information).

Use of inclusive language

Inclusive language acknowledges diversity, conveys respect to all people, is sensitive to differences, and promotes equal opportunities. Content should make no assumptions about the beliefs or commitments of any reader; contain nothing which might imply that one individual is superior to another on the grounds of age, gender, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, disability or health condition; and use inclusive language throughout. Authors should ensure that writing is free from bias, stereotypes, slang, reference to dominant culture and/or cultural assumptions. We advise to seek gender neutrality by using plural nouns ("clinicians, patients/clients") as default/wherever possible to avoid using "he, she," or "he/she." We recommend avoiding the use of descriptors that refer to personal attributes such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, disability or health condition unless they are relevant and valid. When coding terminology is used, we recommend to avoid offensive or exclusionary terms such as "master", "slave", "blacklist" and "whitelist". We suggest using alternatives that are more appropriate and (self-) explanatory such as "primary", "secondary", "blocklist" and "allowlist". These guidelines are meant as a point of reference to help identify appropriate language but are by no means exhaustive or definitive.

Contributors

Each author is required to declare their individual contribution to the article: all authors must have materially participated in the research and/or article preparation, so roles for all authors should be described. The statement that all authors have approved the final article should be true and included in the disclosure.

Authorship

All authors should have made substantial contributions to all of the following: (1) the conception and design of the study, or acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data, (2) drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content, (3) final approval of the version to be submitted.

Changes to authorship

Authors are expected to consider carefully the list and order of authors before submitting their manuscript and provide the definitive list of authors at the time of the original submission. Any addition, deletion or rearrangement of author names in the authorship list should be made only before the manuscript has been accepted and only if approved by the journal Editor. To request such a change, the Editor must receive the following from the corresponding author: (a) the reason for the change in author list and (b) written confirmation (e-mail, letter) from all authors that they agree with the addition, removal or rearrangement. In the case of addition or removal of authors, this includes confirmation from the author being added or removed.
Only in exceptional circumstances will the Editor consider the addition, deletion or rearrangement of authors after the manuscript has been accepted. While the Editor considers the request, publication of the manuscript will be suspended. If the manuscript has already been published in an online issue, any requests approved by the Editor will result in a corrigendum.

Article transfer service
This journal uses the Elsevier Article Transfer Service to find the best home for your manuscript. This means that if an editor feels your manuscript is more suitable for an alternative journal, you might be asked to consider transferring the manuscript to such a journal. The recommendation might be provided by a Journal Editor, a dedicated Scientific Managing Editor, a tool assisted recommendation, or a combination. If you agree, your manuscript will be transferred, though you will have the opportunity to make changes to the manuscript before the submission is complete. Please note that your manuscript will be independently reviewed by the new journal. More information.

Elsevier supports responsible sharing
Find out how you can share your research published in Elsevier journals.

Role of the funding source

You are requested to identify who provided financial support for the conduct of the research and/or preparation of the article and to briefly describe the role of the sponsor(s), if any, in study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the article for publication. If the funding source(s) had no such involvement, it is recommended to state this.

Open access

Please visit our Open Access page for more information about open access publishing in this journal.

Elsevier Researcher Academy
Researcher Academy is a free e-learning platform designed to support early and mid-career researchers throughout their research journey. The "Learn" environment at Researcher Academy offers several interactive modules, webinars, downloadable guides and resources to guide you through the process of writing for research and going through peer review. Feel free to use these free resources to improve your submission and navigate the publication process with ease.

Language (usage and editing services)
Please write your text in good English (American or British usage is accepted, but not a mixture of these). Authors who feel their English language manuscript may require editing to eliminate possible grammatical or spelling errors and to conform to correct scientific English may wish to use the Language Editing service available from Elsevier's Language Services.

Submission

Our online submission system guides you stepwise through the process of entering your article details and uploading your files. The system converts your article files to a single PDF file used in the peer-review process. Editable files (e.g., Word, LaTeX) are required to typeset your article for final publication. All correspondence, including notification of the Editor's decision and requests for revision, is sent by e-mail.

Submission website

Please submit your article here through our Editorial Manager site where you will be guided stepwise through the creation and uploading of your files. The system automatically converts source files to a single PDF file of the article, which is used in the peer-review process. All correspondence, including notification of the Editor's decision and requests for revision, takes place by e-mail through Editorial Manager.

Please note: Even though manuscript source files are converted to PDF files at submission for the review process, these source files are needed for further processing after acceptance.

Suggesting reviewers
Please submit the names and institutional e-mail addresses of several potential reviewers.

You should not suggest reviewers who are colleagues, or who have co-authored or collaborated with you during the last three years. Editors do not invite reviewers who have potential competing interests with the authors. Further, in order to provide a broad and balanced assessment of the work, and ensure scientific rigor, please suggest diverse candidate reviewers who are located in different countries/regions from the author group. Also consider other diversity attributes e.g. gender, race and ethnicity, career stage, etc. Finally, you should not include existing members of the journal's editorial team, of whom the journal are already aware.

Note: the editor decides whether or not to invite your suggested reviewers.

Preparation

Peer review

This journal operates a single anonymized review process. All contributions will be initially assessed by the editor for suitability for the journal. Papers deemed suitable are then typically sent to a minimum of two independent expert reviewers to assess the scientific quality of the paper. The Editor is responsible for the final decision regarding acceptance or rejection of articles. The Editor's decision is final. Editors are not involved in decisions about papers which they have written themselves or have been written by family members or colleagues or which relate to products or services in which the editor has an interest. Any such submission is subject to all of the journal's usual procedures, with peer review handled independently of the relevant editor and their research groups. More information on types of peer review.

Use of word processing software
It is important that the file be saved in the native format of the word processor used. The text should be in single-column format. Keep the layout of the text as simple as possible. Most formatting codes will be removed and replaced on processing the article. In particular, do not use the word processor's options to justify text or to hyphenate words. However, do use bold face, italics, subscripts, superscripts etc. When preparing tables, if you are using a table grid, use only one grid for each individual table and not a grid for each row. If no grid is used, use tabs, not spaces, to align columns. The electronic text should be prepared in a way very similar to that of conventional manuscripts (see also the Guide to Publishing with Elsevier). Note that source files of figures, tables and text graphics will be required whether or not you embed your figures in the text. See also the section on Electronic artwork.
To avoid unnecessary errors you are strongly advised to use the 'spell-check' and 'grammar-check' functions of your word processor.

Manuscripts should consist of the following elements, each starting on a separate page:
  • Title Page
  • Abstract (100–200 words)
  • Glossary of Abbreviations
  • Body of manuscript
  • References
  • Legends
  • Figures (with permission for reuse, if required)
  • Tables (with permission for reuse, if required)

All parts of the manuscript (including references and legends) should be typed double-spaced.

On the TITLE PAGE, please include:

  • Name, degree, professional affiliations (position, department, institution, place) of all authors.
  • The name of the institution where the work reported was done ("From ...")
  • Acknowledgement of grant support when appropriate ("Supported in part by.")
  • An email address for first proof and for reprint request, as well as a complete mailing address (including US ZIP code or postal code for other countries) and telephone number.

ALL DRUG NAMES cited in the manuscript should be generic, followed by brand name, manufacturer, city and state (or country, if not US) in parentheses.

Manuscripts must be submitted using in Microsoft Word; references, figure legends, and tables must appear at the end of the manuscript. Please refrain from using the MS Word End Notes feature or automatic list numbering for references because these features complicate typesetting. Instead, reference numbers should be superscripted in the text, and the reference list should be typed without formatting.

Conflict of Interest Statement: All possible conflicts of interest(s) for the work must be listed on the title page, including a statement that there is no conflict if that is the case.

Highlights

Highlights are optional yet highly encouraged for this journal, as they increase the discoverability of your article via search engines. They consist of a short collection of bullet points that capture the novel results of your research as well as new methods that were used during the study (if any). Please have a look at the example Highlights.

Highlights should be submitted in a separate editable file in the online submission system. Please use 'Highlights' in the file name and include 3 to 5 bullet points (maximum 85 characters, including spaces, per bullet point).

Abstract
A concise and factual abstract is required. The abstract should state briefly the purpose of the research, the principal results, and major conclusions. An abstract is often presented separately from the article, so it must be able to stand alone. For this reason, references should be avoided, but if essential, then cite the author(s) and year(s). Also, non-standard or uncommon abbreviations should be avoided, but if essential they must be defined at their first mention in the abstract itself.

Central Picture
The authors should submit only one picture which can be a separate illustration or one of their figures that summarizes an important component of their manuscript to be used as the central picture. The central picture should be only one panel of multi-paneled figure. The purpose of the illustration is to provide a snapshot of the paper with a single memorable visual image.

This figure will appear on the first page of the manuscript and in both the print and electronic tables of contents. The central picture and legend are required. For the best central picture results, please consider the following criteria:

  • Color is required for all figures
  • The size of the central picture is approximately 2" high by 1.5" wide
  • Select only a single frame from a multi-section figure
  • Author photo(s) are acceptable central pictures; provide author name as figure legend
  • Text pictures are discouraged and if submitted should have a minimum number of words because text is not legible at thumbnail size
  • If the central picture is also submitted as a figure, then it must be cited in your manuscript text and a full length figure legend should be included

Central Picture Legend

The central picture should be accompanied by an abbreviated legend; the legend has an absolute limit of 90 characters including spaces. Provide the abbreviated legend in the legend section of the paper. If a photo of the author(s) is used as the central picture, please provide the author name(s) as the legend.

Central Message

The central message contains the essence of the manuscript; the message of the paper. There is an absolute limit of 200 characters including spaces. It is often identical to the conclusions of the abstract. Once the essence is written, the entire manuscript - tables, figures and text - should be sharply focused on those results that are supportive of the paper's message. Other information should be either included in appendices (electronic only) or eliminated altogether. The central message will be included immediately beneath the title of the paper in the table of contents and on the first page of accepted manuscripts.

A Glossary of Abbreviations is required for all full-length manuscripts that contain abbreviations/acronyms. The Glossary should be placed at the very beginning of the main manuscript document (not on the title page). Please reduce to a minimum the number of abbreviations used.

Units of measurements are the primary subject of abbreviations. Abbreviations used should be defined at first mention. Internationally accepted abbreviations such as AIDS, DNA, SD, and TLC need not be defined. For commonly accepted abbreviations, word usage, symbols, and so forth, please consult Scientific Style and Format and the American Medical Association Manual of Style.

Introduction

State the objectives of the work and provide an adequate background, avoiding a detailed literature survey or a summary of the results.

Material and Methods

Provide sufficient detail to allow the work to be reproduced. Methods already published should be indicated by a reference: only relevant modifications should be described.

Theory/calculation

A theory section should extend, not repeat, the background to the article already dealt with in the introduction and lay the foundation for further work. In contrast, a calculation section represents a practical development from a theoretical basis.

Conclusions
Results

Results should be clear and concise.

Discussion

This should explore the significance of the results of the work, not repeat them. A combined results and discussion section is often appropriate. Avoid extensive citations and discussion of published literature.

Conclusions

The main conclusions of the study may be presented in a short conclusions section, which may stand alone or form a subsection of a discussion or results and discussion section.

Appendices

If there is more than one appendix, they should be identified as A, B, etc. Formulae and equations in appendices should be given separate numbering: Eq. (A.1), Eq. (A.2), etc.; in a subsequent appendix, Eq. (B.1) and so on. Similarly for tables and figures: Table A.1; Fig. A.1, etc.

Footnotes
Footnotes should be used sparingly. Number them consecutively throughout the article. Many word processors can build footnotes into the text, and this feature may be used. Otherwise, please indicate the position of footnotes in the text and list the footnotes themselves separately at the end of the article. Do not include footnotes in the Reference list.

Artwork

Electronic artwork
A detailed guide on electronic artwork is available on our website.

General Points

  • Use uniform lettering and sizing of your original artwork.
  • Embed the used fonts if the application provides that option.
  • Use the following fonts in your illustrations: Arial, Courier, Times New Roman, Symbol, or use similar looking fonts.
  • Number the illustrations according to their sequence in the text.
  • Use a logical naming convention for your artwork files.
  • Provide captions to illustrations separately.
  • Size the illustrations close to the desired dimensions of the printed version.
  • Submit each illustration as a separate file.

Formats
If your electronic artwork is created in a Microsoft Office application (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) then please supply 'as is' in the native document format.

Regardless of the application used other than Microsoft Office, when your electronic artwork is finalized, please 'Save as' or convert the images to one of the following formats:

EPS or PDF

  • Vector drawings, embed all used fonts.
TIFF or JPEG
  • Color or grayscale photographs (halftones), keep to a minimum of 300 dpi.
  • Bitmapped (pure black and white pixels) line drawings, keep to a minimum of 1000 dpi.
  • Combinations bitmapped line/half-tone (color or grayscale), keep to a minimum of 500 dpi.

Please DO NOT:

  • Supply files that are optimized for screen use (e.g., GIF, BMP, PICT, WPG); these typically have a low number of pixels and limited set of colors.
  • Supply files that are too low in resolution.
  • Submit graphics that are disproportionately large for the content.

Color artwork
Please make sure that artwork files are in an acceptable format (TIFF or JPEG, EPS or PDF, or MS Office files) and with the correct resolution. If, together with your accepted article, you submit usable color figures then Elsevier will ensure, at no additional charge that these figures will appear in color on the Web (e.g., ScienceDirect and other sites) regardless of whether or not these illustrations are reproduced in color in the printed version.

For color reproduction in print, you will receive information regarding the costs from Elsevier after receipt of your accepted article. Please indicate your preference for color: in print or on the Web only. For further information on the preparation of electronic artwork, please review the Artwork and Media Instructions.

Please note: Because of technical complications which can arise by converting color figures to 'grey scale' (for the printed version should you not opt for color in print) please submit additional usable black and white versions of all the color illustrations.

Figure captions
Ensure each illustration has a caption. Supply captions separately, not attached to the figure. A caption should include a brief title (not on the figure itself) and a description of the illustration. Keep text in the illustrations themselves to a minimum, but explain all symbols and abbreviations used.

Tables and Figures
All tables and figures must be cited in the text. The appropriate location of each table of figure should be indicated in the margins of the manuscript in pencil.

Tables are numbered with Arabic numerals (Table 1, Table 2) in order of their citation in the text. Each table should be typed (double-spaced throughout on a separate sheet of paper and should have a title. Maximum table width: 144 characters (i.e., letters and spaces.) Use spaces, not vertical rules, to separate columns. Each table should have a title. Abbreviations should be explained in a footnote. Illustration legends are numbered with Arabic numerals (Fig 1, Fig 2). Legends should be typed double-spaced on a manuscript paper not attached to the illustrations themselves. Legends should be sufficiently detailed to allow understanding without reference to the text.

If the author wishes to include color figures in the print edition, the cost must be borne by the author. The publisher can provide an estimate for this option. Please include specific instructions about the sizing, magnification, or layout of any images.

Images should be provided in EPS or TIF format. Graphics software such as Photoshop and Illustrator, not presentation software such as PowerPoint, should be used to create the art. Color images must be CMYK, at least 300 DPI. Gray scale images should be at least 300 DPI. Combinations of gray scale and line art should be at least 1200 DPI. Line art (black and white or color) should be at least 1200 DPI.

If any illustration or table has been previously published, a copy of the letter of PERMISSION to reprint from the copyright holder must accompany the manuscript. The source of the illustration or table should be included in the reference section of the manuscript. The legend should conclude with "Reprinted with permission" followed by the reference number, e.g., "Reprinted with permission.23"

Be cautioned not to submit the same illustration or table simultaneously to two publishers on the assumption that one article will publish before the other and that the publisher of the first article will grant permission for reuse of the material. Publication of one article may be delayed unexpectedly, necessitating withdrawal of material from the other article.



Permission to Reproduce Published Material

If excerpts from other copyrighted works are included, the author(s) must obtain written permission from the copyright owners and credit the source(s) in the article. Permission of the Publisher is required for resale or distribution outside the institution and for all other derivative works, including compilations and translations. Permission requests from third party publications may incur costs, which will be made evident in the Copyright Clearance Center; the associated costs are the responsibility of the author.

References

Non-standard reference style

Increased discoverability of research and high quality peer review are ensured by online links to the sources cited. In order to allow us to create links to abstracting and indexing services, such as Scopus, CrossRef and PubMed, please ensure that data provided in the references are correct. Incorrect surnames, journal/book titles, publication year and pagination may prevent link creation. When copying references, please be careful as they may already contain errors. Use of the DOI is encouraged.

References are listed in the order in which they are referred to in the text, not in alphabetical order, and they must follow the styles below. Please note that the manuscripts in press may be referenced; however, manuscripts that have been submitted for publication but not yet accepted should not be referenced. All references must be complete when the manuscript is submitted.


Ensure every reference cited in the text is also present in the reference list (and vice versa). Any references cited in the abstract must be given in full. Unpublished results and personal communications are not recommended in the reference list, but may be mentioned in the text. If these references are included in the reference list, they should follow the standard reference style of the journal and should include a substitution of the publication date with either 'unpublished results' or 'personal communication'. Citation of a reference as 'in press' implies that the item has been accepted for publication.

Reference links
Increased discoverability of research and high quality peer review are ensured by online links to the sources cited. In order to allow us to create links to abstracting and indexing services, such as Scopus, Crossref and PubMed, please ensure that data provided in the references are correct. Please note that incorrect surnames, journal/book titles, publication year and pagination may prevent link creation. When copying references, please be careful as they may already contain errors. Use of the DOI is highly encouraged.

A DOI is guaranteed never to change, so you can use it as a permanent link to any electronic article. An example of a citation using DOI for an article not yet in an issue is: VanDecar J.C., Russo R.M., James D.E., Ambeh W.B., Franke M. (2003). Aseismic continuation of the Lesser Antilles slab beneath northeastern Venezuela. Journal of Geophysical Research, https://doi.org/10.1029/2001JB000884. Please note the format of such citations should be in the same style as all other references in the paper.

Reference links
Web References

As a minimum, the full URL should be given and the date when the reference was last accessed. Any further information, if known (DOI, author names, dates, reference to a source publication, etc.), should also be given. Web references can be listed separately (e.g., after the reference list) under a different heading if desired, or can be included in the reference list.

Data references
This journal encourages you to cite underlying or relevant datasets in your manuscript by citing them in your text and including a data reference in your Reference List. Data references should include the following elements: author name(s), dataset title, data repository, version (where available), year, and global persistent identifier. Add [dataset] immediately before the reference so we can properly identify it as a data reference. The [dataset] identifier will not appear in your published article.

Preprint references
Where a preprint has subsequently become available as a peer-reviewed publication, the formal publication should be used as the reference. If there are preprints that are central to your work or that cover crucial developments in the topic, but are not yet formally published, these may be referenced. Preprints should be clearly marked as such, for example by including the word preprint, or the name of the preprint server, as part of the reference. The preprint DOI should also be provided.

Reference formatting
There are no strict requirements on reference formatting at submission. References can be in any style or format as long as the style is consistent. Where applicable, author(s) name(s), journal title/book title, chapter title/article title, year of publication, volume number/book chapter and the article number or pagination must be present. Use of DOI is highly encouraged. The reference style used by the journal will be applied to the accepted article by Elsevier at the proof stage. Note that missing data will be highlighted at proof stage for the author to correct. If you do wish to format the references yourself they should be arranged according to the following examples:

Reference style
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.
Example: '..... as demonstrated [3,6]. Barnaby and Jones [8] obtained a different result ....'
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] J. van der Geer, J.A.J. Hanraads, R.A. Lupton, The art of writing a scientific article, J. Sci. Commun. 163 (2010) 51–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.Sc.2010.00372.
Reference to a journal publication with an article number:
[2] J. van der Geer, J.A.J. Hanraads, R.A. Lupton, 2018. The art of writing a scientific article. Heliyon. 19, e00205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e00205.
Reference to a book:
[3] W. Strunk Jr., E.B. White, The Elements of Style, fourth ed., Longman, New York, 2000.
Reference to a chapter in an edited book:
[4] G.R. Mettam, L.B. Adams, How to prepare an electronic version of your article, in: B.S. Jones, R.Z. Smith (Eds.), Introduction to the Electronic Age, E-Publishing Inc., New York, 2009, pp. 281–304.
Reference to a website:
[5] Cancer Research UK, Cancer statistics reports for the UK. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/aboutcancer/statistics/cancerstatsreport/, 2003 (accessed 13 March 2003).
Reference to a dataset:
[dataset] [6] M. Oguro, S. Imahiro, S. Saito, T. Nakashizuka, Mortality data for Japanese oak wilt disease and surrounding forest compositions, Mendeley Data, v1, 2015. https://doi.org/10.17632/xwj98nb39r.1.
Reference to software:
[7] E. Coon, M. Berndt, A. Jan, D. Svyatsky, A. Atchley, E. Kikinzon, D. Harp, G. Manzini, E. Shelef, K. Lipnikov, R. Garimella, C. Xu, D. Moulton, S. Karra, S. Painter, E. Jafarov, S. Molins, Advanced Terrestrial Simulator (ATS) v0.88 (Version 0.88), Zenodo, March 25, 2020. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3727209.

Journal abbreviations source
Journal names should be abbreviated according to the List of Title Word Abbreviations.

Video
Elsevier accepts video material and animation sequences to support and enhance your scientific research. Authors who have video or animation files they wish to submit with their article are strongly encouraged to include links to these within the body of the article. This can be done in the same way as a figure or table by referring to the video or animation content and noting in the body text where it should be placed. All submitted files should be properly labelled so they directly relate to the video file's content.

In order to ensure that your video or animation material is directly usable, please make sure all video files meet the Elsevier preferred media specifications. Video and animation files supplied will be published online in the electronic version of your article in Elsevier Web products, including ScienceDirect.

Please supply 'stills' with your files: you can choose any frame from the video or animation or make a separate image. These will be used instead of standard icons and will personalize the link to your video data.

Please note: Since video and animation cannot be embedded in the print version of the journal, please provide text for both the electronic and the print version for the portions of the article that refer to this content.

Data visualization

Include interactive data visualizations in your publication and let your readers interact and engage more closely with your research. Follow the instructions here to find out about available data visualization options and how to include them with your article.

Research data

This journal encourages and enables you to share data that supports your research publication where appropriate, and enables you to interlink the data with your published articles. Research data refers to the results of observations or experimentation that validate research findings, which may also include software, code, models, algorithms, protocols, methods and other useful materials related to the project.

Below are a number of ways in which you can associate data with your article or make a statement about the availability of your data when submitting your manuscript. If you are sharing data in one of these ways, you are encouraged to cite the data in your manuscript and reference list. Please refer to the "References" section for more information about data citation. For more information on depositing, sharing and using research data and other relevant research materials, visit the research data page.

Data linking
If you have made your research data available in a data repository, you can link your article directly to the dataset. Elsevier collaborates with a number of repositories to link articles on ScienceDirect with relevant repositories, giving readers access to underlying data that gives them a better understanding of the research described.

There are different ways to link your datasets to your article. When available, you can directly link your dataset to your article by providing the relevant information in the submission system. For more information, visit the database linking page.

For supported data repositories a repository banner will automatically appear next to your published article on ScienceDirect.

In addition, you can link to relevant data or entities through identifiers within the text of your manuscript, using the following format: Database: xxxx (e.g., TAIR: AT1G01020; CCDC: 734053; PDB: 1XFN).

Research Elements

This journal enables you to publish research objects related to your original research – such as data, methods, protocols, software and hardware – as an additional paper in a Research Elements journal.

Research Elements is a suite of peer-reviewed, open access journals which make your research objects findable, accessible and reusable. Articles place research objects into context by providing detailed descriptions of objects and their application, and linking to the associated original research articles. Research Elements articles can be prepared by you, or by one of your collaborators.

During submission, you will be alerted to the opportunity to prepare and submit a manuscript to one of the Research Elements journals.

More information can be found on the Research Elements page.

Data statement
To foster transparency, we encourage you to state the availability of your data in your submission. This may be a requirement of your funding body or institution. If your data is unavailable to access or unsuitable to post, you will have the opportunity to indicate why during the submission process, for example by stating that the research data is confidential. The statement will appear with your published article on ScienceDirect. For more information, visit the Data Statement page.

SUBMISSION CHECKLIST
The following Submission Checklist will be useful during the final checking of an article prior to sending it to the journal for review. Please consult this Guide for Authors for further details of any item.


Submission Checklist
• Title Page
• Article Title
• Author Information: full name(s), academic degrees, and affiliation(s) of authors including their department and/or institution
• Corresponding Author Complete Contact Information (E-mail address, full postal address, phone number(s)
• Conflict of Interest Statement
• Abstract
• Central Picture and Central Picture Legend
• Central Message
• Manuscript Word Document File (spell-checked and grammar-checked; 3,000 word limit)
• Double-spaced Text
• Page Numbers
• References List in the correct format (double-spaced; separate page; cited in text)
• Tables including title, description, and footnotes (double-spaced; separate pages for each table; Microsoft Word file only)
• Figure legends (double-spaced; separate page)
• Color Figures are clearly marked as being intended for color reproduction on the Web (free of charge) and in print (at a cost), or to be reproduced in color on the Web (free of charge) and in black-and-white in print. If only color on the Web is required, black-and-white versions of the figures should also be supplied for printing purposes (separate files; properly identified; .TIF files preferred)
• Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest (one for each author)
Permission to Reproduce Published Material or to Cite Unpublished Data (if applicable)
• Informed Consent Statement (in Methods)
• Humane Animal Care Statement (in Methods)
• For any further information please visit Editorial Manager.

DEADLINE It is of the utmost importance to submit your manuscript, completed with all figures and tables (and written permission to reproduce them when required), by the agreed upon deadline. This deadline will also allow time for any revisions to your manuscript should they be necessary.

COPYRIGHT Authors should understand that, once it is accepted for publication, copyright in the article, including the right to reproduce the article in all forms and media, shall be assigned exclusively to the publisher. The author will be asked to sign a copyright release form to this effect.

After acceptance



PROOFREADING The corresponding author will be sent an eproof, which must be to the publisher within 48 hours. Changes in data will be accepted, but authors will be charged for excessive alterations in proofs.

If you do not wish to use the PDF annotations function, you may list the corrections (including replies to the Query Form) and return them to Elsevier in an e-mail. Please list your corrections quoting line number. If, for any reason, 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 at this stage with permission from the Editor. We will do everything possible to get your article published quickly and accurately please submit all your corrections within 48 hours. It is important to ensure all 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.

Please note: Elsevier may proceed with the publication of your article if no response is received.

QUESTIONS If you have any questions about the content of your article, please contact the Guest Editor. For specific questions about manuscript preparation or publication procedures, contact:

Managing Editor
AATS
[email protected]

OFFPRINTS
The corresponding author, at no cost, will be provided with a PDF file of the article via e-mail (the PDF file is a watermarked version of the published article and includes a cover sheet with the journal cover image and a disclaimer outlining the terms and conditions of use). For an extra charge, paper offprints can be ordered via the offprint order form which is sent once the article is accepted for publication.

AUTHOR INQUIRIES
If you need help checking the status of your submitted article visit our Elsevier Support Center
or contact Customer Support.