POST-PUBLICATION DISCUSSION

KENANGA: Journal of Biological Sciences and Applied Biology recognizes that scholarly communication continues beyond the publication of an article. The journal encourages constructive, evidence-based, and respectful academic discussion of published articles to improve scientific understanding, clarify research findings, address methodological concerns, and maintain the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record.

This policy is established in accordance with the principles of publication ethics and relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). It should be read in conjunction with KENANGA’s Publication Ethics, Allegation of Research Misconduct, Conflict of Interest, and Correction, Retraction, and Withdrawal policies.

1. Scope of Post-Publication Discussion

Post-publication discussion provides an opportunity for researchers, authors, and readers to critically examine articles published in KENANGA. Discussions may address original research articles and review articles within the journal’s scope, including botany, zoology, microbiology, genetics and molecular biology, ecology, physiology, biochemistry, and other relevant areas of biological and applied biological sciences.

Post-publication discussions may address, but are not limited to:

• Scientific interpretations, conclusions, and implications of published findings.
• Methodological approaches, experimental designs, sampling procedures, and data analysis.
• Potential errors, inconsistencies, omissions, or ambiguities in published articles.
• Relevant new evidence or alternative interpretations that may contribute to scientific understanding.
• Questions concerning the reproducibility, reliability, or validity of published findings.
• Ethical concerns that may affect the integrity of the published research.

2. Submission of Comments and Discussions

Readers and researchers who wish to discuss a published article may submit a letter to the editor or a scholarly commentary to the KENANGA editorial office.

Submissions should identify the original article by its title, author(s), publication year, and DOI or article URL, where available. The submission should clearly explain the issue being addressed and provide sufficient supporting evidence and relevant scholarly references.

Comments should be concise, focused on the scientific content of the original article, and contribute meaningfully to academic discussion. Submissions that are unrelated to the journal’s scope, lack scholarly justification, or consist primarily of personal opinions without supporting evidence may be declined.

Submission of a comment does not guarantee its acceptance or publication.

3. Requirements for Post-Publication Comments

All post-publication comments must meet the following requirements:

1. Scientific relevance: The comment must directly address a specific article published in KENANGA.
2. Evidence-based arguments: Claims and criticisms must be supported by scientific evidence, appropriate references, data, or clear methodological reasoning.
3. Academic integrity: Comments must accurately represent the original article and avoid misleading interpretations or unsupported allegations.
4. Professional conduct: Discussions must be respectful, objective, and free from personal attacks, harassment, discriminatory language, or defamatory statements.
5. Transparency: Commenters must disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest relevant to the discussion.
6. Originality: Submitted comments must be original scholarly contributions and must not infringe copyright or other applicable rights.

The journal does not accept post-publication comments intended primarily for personal disputes, commercial promotion, or purposes unrelated to legitimate scholarly discussion.

4. Editorial Assessment and Review

All submitted comments are subject to editorial assessment before publication. The editorial team evaluates whether the submission is relevant to the original article, scientifically meaningful, adequately supported, and consistent with the journal’s ethical standards.

The editor may request revisions, seek advice from an independent subject expert, or decline a submission that does not meet the journal’s requirements.

Where a comment raises substantive scientific questions or criticisms, the corresponding author of the original article will normally be invited to respond. The author may clarify the methods, explain the interpretation of results, provide additional evidence, or address the concerns raised.

Editors and reviewers involved in evaluating post-publication discussions must disclose relevant conflicts of interest. An editor who has a conflict of interest must not handle the discussion and must refer it to an independent editor.

5. Publication of Comments and Author Responses

Accepted post-publication comments and corresponding author responses may be published in KENANGA, subject to editorial approval and the journal’s applicable publication procedures.

Where appropriate, the comment and the author’s response will be linked to the original article to ensure that readers can access the discussion in its proper scholarly context.

Authors are expected to respond to substantive scientific criticisms objectively and professionally. A response should address the principal points raised and provide supporting evidence or clarification where necessary.

The journal does not require authors to agree with every criticism. Differences in scientific interpretation may be published when they are presented respectfully and supported by appropriate evidence.

Publication of a comment or response does not necessarily imply that the journal endorses every argument presented.

6. Identification and Handling of Errors or Ethical Concerns

If a post-publication discussion identifies a possible error, omission, inconsistency, or ethical concern affecting a published article, the editorial team will assess the matter in accordance with the relevant KENANGA policies.

Depending on the nature, seriousness, and implications of the concern, the journal may take one or more of the following actions:

• Request clarification or additional information from the authors.
• Seek an independent expert assessment.
• Publish a correction or clarification.
• Publish an expression of concern when substantial questions remain unresolved.
• Retract an article when the findings or publication are no longer reliable or when retraction is otherwise warranted under the journal’s policies.
• Take other appropriate editorial actions consistent with publication ethics.

Any editorial action will be based on the available evidence and the applicable journal procedures. Authors will normally be given an opportunity to respond to concerns, subject to the requirements of a fair and appropriate investigation.

7. Relationship with Research Misconduct Procedures

Post-publication discussion is intended primarily to facilitate scholarly exchange and does not replace the formal procedure for handling allegations of research misconduct.

Concerns involving possible fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, unethical research practices, or other serious breaches of research integrity will be assessed under KENANGA’s Allegation of Research Misconduct policy.

The journal may request explanations or supporting documentation from the relevant authors and, where appropriate, contact the authors’ affiliated institutions or other responsible bodies in accordance with applicable ethical procedures.

All allegations will be assessed objectively and fairly. The journal will not treat an allegation as proven solely because it has been raised in a post-publication comment.

8. Confidentiality, Transparency, and Editorial Records

The editorial team will handle submitted comments, author responses, and related correspondence in accordance with the journal’s editorial procedures and applicable privacy requirements.

The journal will maintain appropriate records of post-publication comments received, editorial assessments, author responses, and actions taken.

Where a comment or response is published, the journal will provide sufficient bibliographic information and links to the original article to maintain transparency and preserve the scholarly record.

Confidential information obtained during editorial assessment will not be disclosed without appropriate authorization, except where disclosure is necessary for the fair handling of a research integrity concern or is otherwise required by applicable policies.

9. Final Provisions

KENANGA is committed to fostering an open, constructive, and responsible scholarly environment in which published research can be critically examined and improved through evidence-based discussion.

The journal reserves the right to decline, request revisions to, or take appropriate action regarding post-publication comments and responses that do not comply with this policy.

This policy should be read together with KENANGA’s other publication ethics and editorial policies. In cases involving corrections, expressions of concern, retractions, or suspected research misconduct, the relevant policy will apply.

All post-publication discussions must uphold scientific integrity, academic fairness, transparency, and respect for the scholarly community.