LOGGING IN TO THE SYSTEM

Note: Before you begin, you should be sure you are using version 4.0 or higher of Netscape or Internet Explorer. If you have an earlier version, you can download a free upgrade using the icons found at the bottom of our login screen.

If you have trouble finding manuscripts or have other problems with your account do not create another account. Instead, please contact the Editorial Office (see below).

1. If you know your login details (i.e. you have submitted or reviewed a manuscript on this system before), use your User ID and Password to log on.
2. If you do not know your login details, check to see whether you are already registered by entering you e-mail address into the 'Password Help' section and following the on-screen instructions. If you are not already registered, you can register by clicking on the 'Create Account' button on the login screen and following the on-screen instructions.

BASIC NAVIGATION

1. Go to the 'Author Center', choose 'Submit a New Manuscript' and then follow the on-screen instructions.
2. There are up to 7 steps for you to follow to submit your manuscript. You move from one step to the next by clicking on the 'Next' button on each screen or back to the previous screen by clicking on the 'Previous' button.* At any stage you can stop the submission process by clicking on the 'Main Menu' button-everything you have typed into the system up to, but not including, the current screen will be saved. The partially completed submission will appear under 'Unsubmitted Manuscripts' in your 'Author Center'. To return to the submission process you will need to click on the button 'Continue Submission' against the relevant manuscript title.
3. When submitting your manuscript, please enter your manuscript data into the relevant fields, following the detailed instructions given at the top of each page. You may like to have the original word processing file available so that you can copy and paste the title and abstract into the required fields. You will also be required to provide e-mail addresses for your co-authors, so please have these to hand when you logon to the site.

*Please note that if you click on the 'Back' or 'Forward' button on your browser, the information you have entered will not be saved.

TO UPLOAD YOUR FILES IN THE AUTHOR CENTER 'FILE UPLOAD SCREEN'

1. Click on the 'Browse' button and locate the document you want to upload. Select the document's designation from the pull-down menu. If the file is the main document, choose 'Main Document.' Choose 'Image Files' for figures, 'Cover Letter' for cover letter, 'Supplementary Electronic Material' for supplementary data, and 'Rapid Paper Justification' for statement of significance of your Rapid Paper (if applicable).
2. Upload your files by clicking on the 'Upload files' button. This converts your files to a PDF and may take several minutes. Repeat these steps until you have uploaded all of your files.
3. When the upload of each file is completed, you will see a confirmation window and will be prompted to provide figure legends and 'file tags' that will link the figures to the text in the HTML proof of your main document.
4. Once you have uploaded all files, indicate the order in which they should appear in your paper. This will determine the order in which they appear in the consolidated PDF used for peer review.
5. After the successful upload of your text and images, you will need to view and proof your manuscript. Please do this by clicking on the green HTML button and PDF button. Checking both HTML and PDF proof is necessary. Please check that special characters such as Greek letters are correctly displayed.
6. If the files have not been uploaded to your satisfaction, go back to the file upload screen where you can remove the files you do not want, and repeat the upload process.

FINALIZING SUBMISSION

1. When you are satisfied with the uploaded manuscript then proof click on the 'Submit' button. It is not until this button is pressed that the manuscript is given a manuscript number. Once the manuscript is submitted it is not possible to undo the submission.
2. After the manuscript has been submitted you will see a confirmation screen and receive an e-mail confirmation stating that your manuscript has been successfully submitted. This will also give the assigned manuscript number, which is used in all correspondence. If you do not receive this e-mail, your manuscript will not have been successfully submitted to the journal and the paper cannot progress to peer review.
3. If this is the case your manuscript will still be sitting in the 'Unsubmitted Manuscripts' section of your 'Author Center' awaiting your attention.
4. When your manuscript has been successfully submitted, you will notice that your newly submitted manuscript can be found in the 'Submitted Manuscripts' area. Among the information listed there, the 'Status' section provides information on the status of your manuscript as it moves through the review process.

SUBMITTING A REVISED MANUSCRIPT

1. Revise your manuscript according to the comments from Reviewers and Editor. Please use red fonts where you have made changes so they will be easily spotted. See Instructions to Authors Preparing Revised Manuscript for details.
2. Create a cover letter with your response to the reviewers, and save as a doc or rtf file.
3. Log on to the online submission web site with your previous username and password.
4. Go to 'Author Center' and click on 'Manuscripts with Decisions'.You will see the title of any manuscripts you submitted that are under revision.
5. If you click on 'Create a revision' you will be brought to the Decision letter of the original version with comments from referees. Input your response to 'Response to Referees' section. The process of creating a revision is the same as creating an original submission. All manuscript data and files are already copied from the original version. Make any necessary modifications on the data fields and replace the original manuscript file (and figure files as required) with revised files.
6. After the successful upload of your text and images, you will need to view and proof your manuscript. Please do this by clicking on the green HTML button and a PDF button. Checking both HTML and PDF proof is necessary. Please check that special characters such as Greek letters are correctly displayed.
7. If the files have not been uploaded to your satisfaction, go back to the file upload screen where you can remove the files you do not want, and repeat the upload process.

FINALIZING SUBMISSION

1. When you are satisfied with the uploaded manuscript proof then click on the 'Submit' button. Once the manuscript is submitted it is not possible to undo the submission.
2. After the manuscript has been submitted you will see a confirmation screen and receive an e-mail confirmation stating that your manuscript has been successfully submitted. This will also give the assigned manuscript number, which is used in all correspondence. If you do not receive this e-mail, your manuscript will not have been successfully submitted to the journal and the paper cannot progress to peer review.
3. If this is the case your manuscript will still be sitting in the 'Revised Manuscripts in Draft' section of your 'Author Center' awaiting your attention. Please click on 'Continue Submission' and complete submission.
4. When your manuscript has been successfully submitted, you will notice that your newly submitted manuscript can be found in the 'Submitted Manuscripts' area. Among the information listed there, the 'Status' section provides information on the status of your manuscript as it moves through the review process.