Submissions

Author Guidelines

AUTHOR SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Email submissions to: [email protected]

Email Subject:

Threshold Submission Main Author Last name, First name, ORCID #

Submit:

• Manuscript in word format
• Signed Author Self-Rating Checklist
• Signed Author Contribution Statement

Submission Preparation Checklist

As part of the submission process, authors are required to check off their submission's compliance with all of the following items, and submissions may be returned to authors that do not adhere to these guidelines.

• The submission has not been previously published, nor is it before another journal for consideration (or an explanation has been provided in Comments to the Editor).
• The submission file is in OpenOffice, Microsoft Word, or RTF document file format.
• Where available, URLs for the references have been provided.
• The text is single-spaced; uses a 12-point font; employs italics, rather than underlining (except with URL addresses); and all illustrations, figures, and tables are placed within the text at the appropriate points, rather than at the end.
• The text adheres to the stylistic and bibliographic requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines.

Author Guidelines

1. Prepare a cover page that contains the following:
     Title
     Name of author(s)
       Author(s) affiliation and email address
   
   2. Prepare your paper following the required article structure outline:
       Title
       Abstract
       Introduction
       Methods
       Results
       Discussion
       Conclusion

    Acknowledgment

    Disclosure of AI Use
    References
    Supplementary data

3. Additional content rules to observe are:
Abstract
At least 150 words but not to exceed 250 words.
Highlights and keywords
3-6 keywords.
Must contain at least the discipline of the study, concept studied, methods/ processes, geography.
Accepted formats for artworks, data sources and videos.

4. Submit the cover page and the paper at [email protected]

Submission Preparation Checklist

As part of the submission process, authors are required to check off their submission's compliance with all of the following items, and submissions may be returned to authors that do not adhere to these guidelines.

1. Organize the paper following these major headings:

• Title
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Materials and Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusions
• Acknowledgment
• Disclosure of AI Use
• Literature Cited and References

The discussion must already include the conclusion(s). The literature cited must substantially consist of articles published in current content-covered or peer-reviewed journals. Minimize citations of unpublished reports and theses.

2. Type the entire manuscript double-spaced on a short white bond paper, 22X28 cm (8.5X11 in) on one (1) side only. Observe 2.5 cm margins on all sides and use 12-point normal-size type. Literature cited, acknowledgment, table titles and figure legends should also be typed double-spaced. Number consecutively all pages including title page, tables and figures.

3. Allow three (3) single spaces before and after major headings; and two (2) single spaces before and after sub-headings. Do not use footnotes, unless necessary for better comprehension.

4. Spell out acronyms and unfamiliar abbreviations on first mention in the text.

5. Give the scientific name of a species on first mention in the text. Use the common name in succeeding references. Italicize scientific names.

6. Do not spell out numbers unless they are used to start a sentence.

7. Use the metric system only or the international system of units. Use abbreviations of units beside numerals only (e.g. 8m); otherwise, spell out the units (e.g. kilometers from here). Do not use plural forms nor periods for abbreviations of units. Use a bar for compound units (e.g. 1 kg/ha/yr). Place a zero before the decimal in numbers less than 1 (e.g. 0.25)

8. Table titles and figure captions must be as short as possible and must be understandable without referring to the text. Figure captions must be typed double-spaced in a separate sheet. Figures must consist only of simple line drawings, computer-generated graphics or good quality black and white photographs. The figure number as it appears in the text and the author’s name must be written at the back to identify the figure. Figure labels must be of such size that these remain legible even after a 50% reduction. Corel Draw, Harvard Graphics and Excel are preferred for computer-generated graphics.

9. Cite references in the text as Author (Year). Cite three (3) or more authors as (First Author et al, Year); references in press as (Author, In Press); and unpublished references as (Author, Unpubl. Data) or (Author, Pers. Comm.). If two (2) or more references are cited, arrange them by year, e.g. (Formacion 1987; Gepusdan 1990; Torres 1992).

1. In the literature cited, list down references as follows:
   
   Journal Article

Formacion, M.J., R. Hori and T.J. Lam. 1993. Overripening of Ovulated Eggs in Goldfish. I. Morphological Changes. Aquaculture 114:155-168.

(Note: Abbreviate journal titles following the List of Scientific Periodicals.

Same author with two (2) or more articles in one year
Serrano, A.E. and F. Nagayama. 1991A. Activity and Stability of Liver Arylformamidase in Fish. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 57:149-152

Serrano, A.E. and F. Nagayama. 1991B. Purification and Characterization of Liver Arylformamidase in Rainbow Trout and Cattle. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 98B:381-387.

Serrano, A.E. and F. Nagayama. 1991C. Inhibition Studies on Liver Arylformamidases of Rainbow Trout and Cattle. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 99B:281-285.

2. Cover page that contains the title, author(s)' name, affiliation and email address.

Articles

As part of the submission process, authors are required to check off their submission's compliance with all of the following items, and submissions may be returned to authors that do not adhere to these guidelines.

1. Organize the paper following these major headings:

• Title
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Materials and Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusions
• Acknowledgment
• Disclosure of AI Use
• Literature Cited and References (with URLs)

The discussion must already include the conclusion(s). The literature cited must substantially consist of articles published in current content-covered or peer-reviewed journals. Minimize citations of unpublished reports and theses.

2. Type the entire manuscript double-spaced on a short white bond paper, 22X28 cm (8.5X11 in) on one (1) side only. Observe 2.5 cm margins on all sides and use 12-point normal-size type. Literature cited, acknowledgment, table titles and figure legends should also be typed double-spaced. Number consecutively all pages including title page, tables and figures.
3. Allow three (3) single spaces before and after major headings; and two (2) single spaces before and after sub-headings. Do not use footnotes, unless necessary for better comprehension.
4. Spell out acronyms and unfamiliar abbreviations on first mention in the text.
5. Give the scientific name of a species on first mention in the text. Use the common name in succeeding references. Italicize scientific names.
6. Do not spell out numbers unless they are used to start a sentence.
7. Use the metric system only or the international system of units. Use abbreviations of units beside numerals only (e.g. 8m); otherwise, spell out the units (e.g. kilometers from here). Do not use plural forms nor periods for abbreviations of units. Use a bar for compound units (e.g. 1 kg/ha/yr). Place a zero before the decimal in numbers less than 1 (e.g. 0.25).
8. Table titles and figure captions must be as short as possible and must be understandable without referring to the text. Figure captions must be typed double-spaced in a separate sheet. Figures must consist only of simple line drawings, computer-generated graphics or good quality black and white photographs. The figure number as it appears in the text and the author’s name must be written at the back to identify the figure. Figure labels must be of such size that these remain legible even after a 50% reduction. Corel Draw, Harvard Graphics and Excel are preferred for computer-generated graphics.
9. Cite references in the text as Author (Year). Cite three (3) or more authors as (First Author et al, Year); references in press as (Author, In Press); and unpublished references as (Author, Unpubl. Data) or (Author, Pers. Comm.). If two (2) or more references are cited, arrange them by year, e.g. (Formacion 1987; Gepusdan 1990; Torres 1992).

1. In the literature cited, list down references as follows:
   
   Journal Article
   Formacion, M.J., R. Hori and T.J. Lam. 1993. Overripening of Ovulated Eggs in Goldfish. I. Morphological Changes. Aquaculture 114:155-168.
   
   (Note: Abbreviate journal titles following the List of Scientific Periodicals.
   
   Same author with two (2) or more articles in one year
   Serrano, A.E. and F. Nagayama. 1991A. Activity and Stability of Liver Arylformamidase in Fish. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 57:149-152
   
   Serrano, A.E. and F. Nagayama. 1991B. Purification and Characterization of Liver Arylformamidase in Rainbow Trout and Cattle. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 98B:381-387.
   
   Serrano, A.E. and F. Nagayama. 1991C. Inhibition Studies on Liver Arylformamidases of Rainbow Trout and Cattle. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 99B:281-285.

2. Cover page that contains the title, author(s)' name, affiliation and email address.

 Copyright Notice

Copyright of the Journal belongs to Jose Rizal Memorial State University 

Privacy Statement

The names and email addresses entered in this journal site will be used exclusively for the stated purposes of this journal and will not be made available for any other purpose or to any other party.

General Publication Policy:

Disclosure of AI Tool Usage in Academic Research

Policy Title: Ethical Use and Disclosure of AI Tools in Academic Research

Purpose:
To establish guidelines for the ethical and transparent use of artificial intelligence (AI) and automated tools in the preparation of academic manuscripts submitted for publication.

Scope:
This policy applies to all authors submitting manuscripts to Threshold and outlines the acceptable use of AI tools, the required disclosures, and the responsibilities of authors.

Policy Guidelines

1. Permissible Use of AI Tools:
   AI tools may be used to enhance the quality and clarity of manuscripts, such as improving language, structure, formatting, and overall readability. These tools are strictly prohibited from performing or influencing the following:
   • Original data analysis or interpretation
   • Formulating critical scientific conclusions
   • Conducting unethical practices such as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism
2. Disclosure Requirements:
   Authors must disclose the use of AI tools in their manuscripts in a transparent manner. The disclosure should include:
   • The specific tool(s) used (e.g., OpenAI’s ChatGPT).
   • The purpose of AI tool usage (e.g., language refinement, editorial assistance).
   • A statement confirming that the use of AI did not influence the scientific content, data analysis, or ethical considerations of the research.
   • Confirmation that all intellectual contributions have been reviewed and approved by the authors.
3. Author Responsibility:
   Authors retain full responsibility for the integrity, accuracy, and originality of their work. They must ensure that the AI tool's involvement aligns with their research intentions and complies with all ethical and publication standards.
4. Compliance with Ethical Standards:
   The use of AI tools must adhere to Threshold’s ethical guidelines, ensuring that transparency, accountability, and academic rigor are maintained. Failure to disclose AI usage or misuse of AI tools may result in manuscript rejection or other actions as per Threshold’s policies.
5. Acknowledgment in the Manuscript:
   An acknowledgment section or footnote should explicitly state the use of AI tools.
6. Review and Monitoring:
   Threshold reserves the right to review AI tool disclosures and ensure compliance with this policy. Manuscripts may be evaluated for transparency and adherence to ethical reporting.

Sample AI Disclosure

Disclosure: Use of AI Tools

In compliance with Threshold’s guidelines for the ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) and automated tools in academic research, the authors disclose the use of OpenAI for enhancing the quality and clarity of the manuscript. OpenAI was utilized to assist in refining the language, structure, and formatting of the text, ensuring a high level of academic rigor and coherence. The authors confirm that all data analysis, critical interpretations, and conclusions presented in this manuscript were conducted independently by the research team. The AI tool was employed strictly for editorial assistance and did not influence the scientific content or ethical considerations of the study. All intellectual contributions from the AI tool are in accordance with the authors' original intentions and have been reviewed and approved by all co-authors. The use of ChatGPT complies with Threshold's ethical standards and guidelines for transparent reporting of AI involvement in research. The authors remain fully responsible for the integrity and accuracy of the content presented in this paper.

Policy Enforcement

This policy takes effect immediately and applies to all submissions received after [Effective Date]. Non-compliance will be addressed in accordance with Threshold’s editorial and ethical procedures.

Contact

For inquiries or further clarification regarding this policy, please contact [Threshold’s Editorial Office Contact Information].

Review Cycle

This policy will be reviewed annually or as required to incorporate advancements in AI technology and ethical standards.

AUTHORSHIP CONTRIBUTION POLICY

At THRESHOLD: The Official Refereed Journal of JRMSU, we recognize the importance of transparency, accountability, and fairness in authorship attribution. As part of our ethical publication standards, we adopt the CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) framework to ensure clarity in each author's specific contribution to a research work.

What is CRediT?

CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) was developed to address authorship disputes, improve collaboration, and provide a clear and standardized method for detailing each contributor's role in the scholarly output. This taxonomy emerged from a 2012 collaborative workshop led by Harvard University and the Wellcome Trust, with participation from the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and publishers like Elsevier and Cell Press (Brand et al., 2015).

Why it Matters

• Encourages honest authorship and eliminates disputes
• Ensures accurate representation of work
• Recognized by international publishers and indexing bodies

Contributor Roles

Each author must specify their contributions using the following 14 standardized roles:

Adapted from Brand et al. (2015), Learned Publishing, 28(2), with permission.

Authorship Criteria

All listed authors must have made substantial contributions to the research and writing process. For any authorship changes during revision, the corresponding author must secure consent from all co-authors.

THRESHOLD requires that:

• All contributions be listed using the CRediT roles
• Authors may hold multiple roles
• Corresponding authors ensure accuracy and consent
• A signed Author Contribution Statement be submitted during manuscript submission

Ethical Compliance

Using the CRediT taxonomy does not replace the journal’s criteria for authorship as per COPE and ICMJE standards. It enhances ethical integrity by making contributions visible and accountable.

References

Brand, A., Allen, L., Altman, M., Hlava, M., & Scott, J. (2015). Beyond authorship: Attribution, contribution, and accountability in published research. Learned Publishing, 28(2), 151–155. https://doi.org/10.1087/20150211

Santos, M. D. (2024, September 24). Scientific journal publication policies and ethics [Webinar]. FishKwela Lecture Series, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI), Department of Agriculture. https://www.nfrdi.da.gov.ph

National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI). (2024, September 24). FishKwela: Scientific journal publication policies and ethics [Webinar]. Department of Agriculture - NFRDI. https://www.nfrdi.da.gov.ph

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTION STATEMENT

________________________

Signature over Printed Name of the Main Author

                                                                         Date Signed: ________________________

Author Self-Rating Checklist with APA 7th Edition Referencing Style Guidance

Instructions: Place a check mark (√) if the item is done and a cross mark (X) if not.

Source: Philippine Association of Institutions for Research, Inc. (2021). Research ethics and publication guidelines for member institutions. https://pairph.org/publications

________________________

Signature over Printed Name of the Main Author

                                                                         Date Signed: ________________________