Submit an Abstract
DDW Abstract Submission: Frequently Asked Questions
When can I submit an abstract for DDW 2011?
The abstract submitter will open Thursday, September 23, 2010 and close Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at 9pm ET. AGA Institute will accept late breaking abstract submissions from Feb. 1 through Mar. 11, 2011.
Abstract Fees How much does it costs to submit an abstract?
There is a $60 non-refundable processing charge per abstract. Abstracts will not be submitted until payment information is complete. Please note that this is a processing fee and not a publishing fee - abstracts not selected for presentation at DDW 2010 are also subject to the $60 fee. Authors have the option of paying by Visa®, Mastercard®, or American Express®. No purchase orders or checks will be accepted.
IMPORTANT: Please review the full list of abstract submission categories by DDW sponsoring societies. Be sure to submit your abstract to the appropriate society. Refunds will not be given for abstracts submitted to multiple societies.
If I am unable to attend DDW, can I receive a refund for my abstract submission?
Refunds cannot be offered for any abstracts that have been submitted for DDW. The fees collected cover the cost to process the abstracts whether or not one attends the meeting.
Can I be invoiced for abstract submission(s)?
Payment may only be made by credit card. Accepted credit cards include Visa®, Mastercard®, and American Express®.
How can I obtain a receipt for my abstract submission?
1. Link to the DDW abstract submission site (http://ddw2010.abstractcentral.com/)
2. Enter your AbstractCentral user ID and password
3. Click the login button
4. Select the “Submission Tab” at the top of the page (even though you may see instructions that say the site is closed, you can still print a receipt)
5. Click on the “view abstract” link in the left column
6. Click on the “view proof” icon to view and print a copy of your submission receipt.
When will I be notified if my abstract has been accepted for inclusion in DDW 2010?
Notifications will be sent to submitting authors on Monday, February 14, 2011 by e-mail. You must keep your e-mail information updated within the AbstractCentral site. If your e-mail address changes, please log into the system and follow the instructions to update your information.
I am logged into one of the sponsoring society web sites using my membership information, but the AbstractCentral site reveals the following message: Unknown username/password. Why?
AbstractCentral does not recognize your society membership login information. You designate your login information that will be used to access the AbstractCentral site and are free to copy your society login information here as well.
Are there instructions available to navigate the abstract submission process?
The abstract submission instructional template was designed with easy navigation in mind. That is why we recommend that you proceed through the system in a step-by-step fashion, carefully completing each screen. You can navigate this system either by clicking the "Save and Continue" and "Back" buttons at the bottom of each page or by clicking the "Step #" links in the left sidebar on each page.
How do I save my abstract(s)?
To save your entries, you must click the "Save and Continue" button at the bottom of the page or a different "Step #" link on the left sidebar. However, changes/additions will not be displayed, and the "Character Counter" will not correctly record the number of characters used, until after you go to the next page.
How much time do I have to enter my abstract?
This system has a 45-minute time-out feature. After 45 minutes of inactivity, the system will automatically log you out. If this happens, your entries up to that point WILL BE SAVED and you will be returned to the place where you left off when you log back in.
When I tried to submit my abstract, I received an error message that information was missing. Why did I receive this message?
The system is designed to capture certain required elements which are designated by an asterisk (*) either in the left sidebar or next to an individual data entry field. If you fail to complete a field or make an error when entering required data, an "Error Page" containing a list of incomplete or erroneous items will be displayed after you click the "Abstract Submit" button. You will have to go back and correct these errors before your submission will be accepted.
I have completed all steps outlined, but I still continue to receive an error message. What could be the problem?
If you get an error message or experience other problems while entering your abstract, this could mean that you are using an outdated browser version. You should update your browser by using the links at the bottom of the login page. In addition, it is extremely important that your browser's cache function be set to constantly refresh the pages. If you continue to experience difficulty, contact ScholarOne Tech Support by clicking the “Get Help Now” button in the upper right corner.
If I have to contact DDW Administration or the ScholarOne Support team for information related to my abstract, what information should I have on hand?
Upon starting the process to submit an abstract, you will automatically be assigned a control ID number. Once you have completed the abstract submission process, please keep a copy of the submission confirmation, including your control ID number for your records. You will need your control ID number to communicate with DDW Administration and/or the ScholarOne technical support team about a specific abstract. The control ID number is located on the top left corner of the submission screen.
How can I edit an abstract that has been submitted?
To reenter the system, you will need your user ID and password. In order to edit an abstract that has been submitted, you must first return it to "draft" status and submit it again after you complete the edits. Failure to resubmit will mean that the abstract will not be reviewed. You will not be required to submit the $60 submission fee when you resubmit your abstract after making edits. No edits, including edits to the author string, are permitted after the abstract submission deadline.
IMPORTANT: Please review the full list of abstract submission categories by DDW sponsoring societies. Be sure to submit your abstract to the appropriate society. Refunds will not be given for abstracts submitted to multiple societies.
I have read the instructions, but I am experiencing technical difficulty with the AbstractCentral site. What should I do?
Your technical questions or problems with the system should be directed to the ScholarOne Technical Support Team. They can be reached by clicking the “Get Help Now” button in the right corner of the screen or by e-mailing acsupport@scholarone.com.
Please ensure that your message contains your name, phone, e-mail, control ID and an explanation of the problem. Tech Support is available 3:00 AM to 5:00 PM US Eastern time, Monday through Friday. Please do not contact DDW Administration with technical questions about the system. However, general questions about the submission and review process may be directed to DDW Administration (ddwprogram@gastro.org).
Is there a character limit for an abstract submission?
There is a limit of 2,700 characters for the text of your abstract submission. This includes the abstract body, table and/or image. The 2,700 character limit includes spaces.
There is a separate limit of 255 characters for the title of your abstract submission. Do not include author or institution names in the title of your abstract.
How can I get special characters to copy over if I am using a word processing application to type my abstract?
If you copy and paste the title and/or body from your word processor, special characters and formatting will not transfer. You will have to replace special characters by inserting formatting tags using the character palette. To access the palette, click on the "Special Characters" button located on the Title/Body page.
How do I ensure that authors of my abstract appear in the correct order?
Please enter all authors in the order they should appear in the heading of the abstract. As you enter each author, if you wish to change their order of appearance, please use the column furthest to the left to reorder them. Remember, you must save your changes after you have reordered the authors for them to take affect.
Is there a mechanism to “see” my abstract as it will be published or seen online through the Itinerary Planner?
Yes. Once you have completed your entire abstract and are ready to submit it, you will be able to view a proof. Please check this proof carefully and make sure all special characters and formatting are displaying properly. If you find errors, return to the appropriate page by clicking on the page name in the sidebar menu, and make your corrections. Remember that changes are not saved until you click the "Save and Continue" button. The DDW Online Itinerary Planner is available online beginning April, 2010.
Can I withdraw my abstract after it has been submitted?
Yes. DDW will withdraw your abstract when it receives written notification of your intent to withdraw by Monday, February 22, 2010. After this date, we can not guarantee that your withdrawn abstract will be excluded from publication. If circumstances prevent attendance, the author must arrange for the presentation to be given by a substitute. Acceptance of the abstract obligates the author to present the paper.