To facilitate the publication process, we have adopted a manuscript tracking system similar to that used by primary research journals in the Nature family. The following text explains how to access the necessary manuscript files and submit a referee report through this system.

Navigating the system

Please note that for optimum performance, we recommend that your browser should be either Netscape 4.7 or above, or Internet Explorer 5.0 and above. Please also ensure that your browser is set to accept cookies, as the system requires them for proper operation.

The manuscript tracking system works by assigning “tasks” to referees, authors and editors. When you first access the system, you will be taken to your Home page, which will list different categories of tasks. If you have any pending tasks to complete, there will be a red arrow next to a Manuscript link. After clicking on this link, you will be presented with a Manuscript screen containing:

• Identifying information about a specific manuscript
• Links to the manuscript and associated figures/images
• A list of Manuscript Tasks or hyperlinks allowing you to:
• Review Manuscript
• Check Status

Not all links will be present all the time; only the applicable links will be visible. If there are no red arrows visible on the Home page, then you have no outstanding tasks to complete.

Reviewing a manuscript

After accessing the system, please click on the Review Manuscript link. Clicking on this link will display the Review Manuscript screen broken into the following parts:

• Manuscript background information
• Remarks to be sent to the author
• Points to bear in mind while reading the manuscript
• Confidential remarks to be sent to the editor

Please enter your remarks to the author and editor in the text areas provided and answer the questions posed by using the pull-down menus. Once your report is complete, please submit it to the Nature Reviews editor by clicking on the “Submit Recommendation” button.

If you prefer to work offline, you may find it quickest to download and print the manuscript files, draft your review remarks using your favourite word processor and cut/paste it back into the “Reviewer Remarks” text area on this screen.

If you would like to take a break while preparing your review and continue later, it is possible to save your comments so far by clicking on the “Save As Draft” button. However, please note that these draft comments can be viewed by Nature Reviews staff. If you would prefer staff not to see your comments until they are complete, please draft them outside the system and copy and paste them in once complete.

Adobe Acrobat

When reading PDF files, best results are achieved with Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0 or above. To install this, go to http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html. and follow the on-screen instructions. (We recommend that on completion of installation, you amend one of the default settings. Select: File - Preferences - General, and UNCHECK Web Browser Integration).

Getting Help

If you need additional help or experience any difficulties using the system, you can click on the help signs spread throughout the system. This will bring up a help dialogue box with pop up context-sensitive help to provide you with assistance. Should further assistance be required, then please contact nrmicro@nature.com.

Please press HOME to continue.