After your article has been accepted
Once your article is accepted for publication, it will be published online on ScienceDirect as an article in press and allocated a Digital Object Identifier (DOI). The DOI means articles can receive citations immediately. Further information
is available on http://www.doi.org

Articles in press will be assigned an issue at a later date. You are able to track the status of your article throughout the publication process by visiting http://authors.elsevier.com/trackpaper.html

The process is outlined below:
Registration:
• Giving your article a unique reference number
• Checking your article for completeness
• Checking your artwork for clarity and usability
• Sending the corresponding author an acknowledgment e-mail with the reference number that can be used to track the article
• Sending the corresponding author a Journal Publishing Agreement
Production:
• Ensuring your artwork is added properly
• Creating a proof copy to be sent to the corresponding author for final review
• Further explanation of this process is below*
Publication:
• Correcting any errors you identify on the proof copy
• Making the article available as an article in press online on ScienceDirect
• Giving your article a volume number, issue number and page numbers
• Sending the final copy to the printer
• Distributing the printed journal to subscribers
Offprints
PDF e-offprints will be e-mailed within 24 hours of an article appearing online on ScienceDirect. If printed offprints are ordered in place of e-offprints, these are usually dispatched within 6-8 weeks of issue publication. You can check the dispatch date using the article tracking facility. Please note that delivery times depend on the destination.

During the time between your article's acceptance and its final printing we will ask you to:
1. Complete a Journal Publishing Agreement
2. If printed offprints are required, complete an offprint order form
3. Review a proof copy to check for errors or add missing details

*Production process
Production
When the completed article is ready to enter the production process, it is copy-edited in the style of the journal, typeset, and structured for online publishing. The artwork is sized and scanned according to the required specifications and a page proof is generated for you to carry out a final check.
Proofreading
As soon as your article has been typeset, page proofs as a PDF file will be sent to the corresponding author (If we do not have an e-mail address, article proofs will be sent by post.) This usually happens 4-5 weeks after we receive your complete article.

Accurate proofreading and clear marking of corrections are essential for the production of a quality article. Please note that careful proofreading is solely your responsibility. Please mark any necessary corrections in a distinct manner.
Elsevier will do everything it can to have your article corrected and published as quickly and accurately as possible.
Therefore, it is important to ensure that all of your corrections are sent back to us in one communication.