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Volume 12
Issue 4
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Publications, Volume 12, Issue 4 (December 2024) – 18 articles

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16 pages, 1840 KiB  
Article
The Transformative Patent Landscape in Saudi Arabia Since the Saudi Vision 2030 Announcement
by Mohammed Abdulfasi
Publications 2024, 12(4), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12040047 - 6 Dec 2024
Viewed by 447
Abstract
This study analyzes the patent landscape of Saudi Arabia from the announcement of Saudi Vision 2030 in late April 2016 to September 2024, utilizing the Patsnap database to evaluate patent grants across various organizations. The findings reveal a gradual increase in patent registrations, [...] Read more.
This study analyzes the patent landscape of Saudi Arabia from the announcement of Saudi Vision 2030 in late April 2016 to September 2024, utilizing the Patsnap database to evaluate patent grants across various organizations. The findings reveal a gradual increase in patent registrations, with Saudi Aramco leading in patent grants, followed by King Faisal University (KFU), King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), and King Abdulaziz University (KAU). SABIC, a prominent industry player in Saudi Arabia, has registered most of its patents using its European Head Office address and holds extensive collaborations with international partners, generating numerous patents. The analysis identifies the top patent offices where KSA organizations seek protection, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP), European Patent Office (EPO), the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), and the German Patent and Trade Mark Office. However, the limited number of registrations at the SAIP highlights a need for improvement. The primary application domains encompass borehole/well accessories, measurement devices, organic chemistry, computing, and chemical/physical processes. The landscape reveals that Saudi Aramco and KFUPM focus predominantly on upstream and downstream technologies, while KAU, KFU, and KAUST concentrate on life sciences. Key findings indicate a significant increase in patent activity since the vision announcement, suggesting a growing focus on innovation within Saudi Arabia. However, the concentration of patents among a few major players (Saudi Aramco and SABIC) and the underrepresentation of patents filed with the Saudi Authority of Intellectual Property (SAIP) highlight areas for improvement. This study emphasizes the necessity to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and healthcare research institutions to foster broader participation in innovation and protect novel technologies. This research contributes valuable insights into the current state of patenting activities in Saudi Arabia and outlines opportunities for enhancing the country’s innovation ecosystem. Full article
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<p>Annual patent grants to Saudi Arabia-based organizations (2016–September 2024).</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Top KSA-based organizations listed as assignees.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Distribution of patent registrations by top patent offices for KSA-based organizations.</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>Top application domains for patents filed by KSA-based organizations.</p> Full article ">Figure 5
<p>Patent landscape analysis of KSA-based organizations: visual representation of key technological domains and organizational expertise.</p> Full article ">Figure 6
<p>Patent landscape analysis of SABIC: visual representation of key technological domains and innovations.</p> Full article ">
17 pages, 581 KiB  
Article
Interactions of Publication Volume, Journal Impact, and Article Processing Charges: Comparative Study of China and Global Practices in Nature Portfolio
by Xinyi Chen
Publications 2024, 12(4), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12040046 - 5 Dec 2024
Viewed by 740
Abstract
In the commercial realm, the annual publication volume (PUB) significantly influences the business models of article processing charge (APC)-based open access (OA) journals, though it may negatively impact journal reputation. Despite this, the interactions among APC, PUB, and the Journal Citation Indicator (JCI)—a [...] Read more.
In the commercial realm, the annual publication volume (PUB) significantly influences the business models of article processing charge (APC)-based open access (OA) journals, though it may negatively impact journal reputation. Despite this, the interactions among APC, PUB, and the Journal Citation Indicator (JCI)—a key marker of journal reputation—have not been thoroughly examined. The objective of this study is to reveal the interactions among APC, PUB, and JCI, determine if there are differences between the interactions inside and outside of China, and uncover the possible mechanisms enabling dominant publishers to set APC prices without compromising their market position. Through cross-correlation and linear regression analyses, our findings reveal distinct APC business models between China and the rest of the international OA journal landscape. Specifically, while both cases demonstrate a proportional relationship between APC and JCI, China exhibits an inverse relationship between APC and PUB, contrasting with the global trend. This suggests that the business model in China sets an “optimized” PUB for Chinese APC-based OA journals, which would pose challenges for journal management and the expansion of the domestic APC-based OA market volume. In the rest of the international context, by contrast, the business model supports a proactive annual increase in APC list prices driven by the proportional relationships between APC and PUB. These insights underscore the need for more nuanced APC business models that can adapt to regional variations in funder requirements and policy expectations. Full article
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<p>Relationship between the APC, PUB, and JCI for (<b>a</b>) the rest of the international context (World) and (<b>b</b>) China. Positive and negative signs are in accordance with the coefficients of the variables in the business models M1–M4.</p> Full article ">
21 pages, 6524 KiB  
Review
The Race Against Time for the Enhancement of African National Strategic Plans in the Neuroblastoma Research Heterogeneity
by Mmei Cheryl Motshudi, Clarissa Marcelle Naidoo and Nqobile Monate Mkolo
Publications 2024, 12(4), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12040045 - 3 Dec 2024
Viewed by 543
Abstract
The valuation of neuroblastoma research heterogeneity at African country level is unspecified. Therefore, the study assesses the heterogeneity of neuroblastoma research in 54 African countries and develops recommendations for national cancer-control plans. Metadata of peer-reviewed scientific publications allied to African neuroblastoma research were [...] Read more.
The valuation of neuroblastoma research heterogeneity at African country level is unspecified. Therefore, the study assesses the heterogeneity of neuroblastoma research in 54 African countries and develops recommendations for national cancer-control plans. Metadata of peer-reviewed scientific publications allied to African neuroblastoma research were retrieved from the Web of Science™ Core Collection Database for bibliometric analysis. Comprehensive science mapping analysis and statistical analyses were performed with bibliometric online platform2 and GraphPad Prism v. 10.2.3. This study revealed that African countries focused the neuroblastoma research publications mainly on the sustainable development goal of good health and well-being. The dominating research area in Africa is oncology followed by pharmacology. Only 26 of 54 African countries were accountable for total neuroblastoma research in Africa, with South Africa and Egypt contributing 61% of the whole continent’s neuroblastoma research. Egypt, South Africa, Tunisia, Morocco, and Nigeria are the five most active African countries, and they are funded by different funding agencies internationally and domestically. The collected analysed data of this study draws special attention to heterogeneity and enduring upward correlating trajectory of Africa’s neuroblastoma publication numbers, their citations, acquired funds, and countries’ cooperation. Furthermore, this heterogeneity finding flags the necessity of developing a comprehensive strategic plan and implementation to cultivate neuroblastoma research as a fundamental part of each African country’s national cancer control plans. Full article
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<p>Diagram of Study Selection.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>The overall annual research publication on neuroblastoma and citation performance of African countries from the year of 2000 to 2024.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Publication performance of African countries in the neuroblastoma research field from the year of 2000 to 2024, presented as: (<b>a</b>) research activity; (<b>b</b>) sustainable development goals.</p> Full article ">Figure 3 Cont.
<p>Publication performance of African countries in the neuroblastoma research field from the year of 2000 to 2024, presented as: (<b>a</b>) research activity; (<b>b</b>) sustainable development goals.</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>Overall performance of Africa’s neuroblastoma research publications based on different research areas from the year of 2000 to 2024.</p> Full article ">Figure 5
<p>Dominant and less dominant research areas under the neuroblastoma research field in different African countries from the year 2000 to 2024.</p> Full article ">Figure 6
<p>Declared and undeclared funding agencies and awarded funds for neuroblastoma research in active African countries from the year 2000 to 2024.</p> Full article ">Figure 7
<p>Cooperation analysis among African countries with different international countries which are active in neuroblastoma research field from the year period of 2000 to 2024. Key: The thicker the line the greater the cooperation.</p> Full article ">Figure 8
<p>Correlational data of neuroblastoma research Africa: (<b>a</b>) Trends of correlations between research publications and awarded funds per African country; (<b>b</b>) Pearson correlation of research publications and awarded funds. Key: * No awarded funding.</p> Full article ">
14 pages, 267 KiB  
Article
When Policy Meets Practice: Evaluating Breaking Five-Only Policy Through Academic Production in China
by Yang Gao and Xiaochen Wang
Publications 2024, 12(4), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12040044 - 2 Dec 2024
Viewed by 360
Abstract
Tensions between policies and practices have long been studied. When the Breaking Five-Only Policy was issued in October 2020 in China, it was a cause for controversy and debate among scholars and educators. Take the publications-only or S/SCI paper supremacy policy, for example; [...] Read more.
Tensions between policies and practices have long been studied. When the Breaking Five-Only Policy was issued in October 2020 in China, it was a cause for controversy and debate among scholars and educators. Take the publications-only or S/SCI paper supremacy policy, for example; the proposed policy encourages scholars and educators to publish their papers in domestic journals instead of international or S/SCI-indexed journals. However, scholars and educators have reported that it is even more challenging to publish in domestic journals for various reasons. We thus examined this dilemma by comparing journal metrics of 12 Chinese journals and 12 English ones in the same field. Specifically, we studied how academic publications had been measured in terms of statistics and parameters, including the title ranks, funds, and university ranks of the authors, typically in the Chinese context. We set up different hypotheses, analyzed the data, reported the quantitative findings, and tested the proposed hypotheses. Then, we discussed our results and argued that coercive and authoritarian accountability, quantity over quality, and ever-increased involution are major forces that drive the audit culture with regard to academic performance in the Chinese context. We concluded the paper with hidden tensions between the policy and reality and advocated for continued efforts for policy implementation and reform. Full article
18 pages, 3269 KiB  
Article
Open Science Alternatives to Scopus and the Web of Science: A Case Study in Regional Resilience
by Irina D. Turgel and Olga A. Chernova
Publications 2024, 12(4), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12040043 - 26 Nov 2024
Viewed by 785
Abstract
The recent years have seen increasing support for open science in academic circles. However, the large number of scientometric databases calls into question the comparability of the search and analysis tools they provide. Using the subject area of regional resilience as an example, [...] Read more.
The recent years have seen increasing support for open science in academic circles. However, the large number of scientometric databases calls into question the comparability of the search and analysis tools they provide. Using the subject area of regional resilience as an example, in this study, the aim was to analyze the capabilities of widely used databases to serve as alternatives to Scopus and Web of Science in solving research problems. As alternatives, in the present article, the following open, free scientometric databases were considered: AMiner, Wizdom.ai, the Lens, Dimensions, and OpenAlex. Their capabilities were demonstrated for the subject area under study, and the obtained results were compared. The study results showed that alternative databases provide essential data on trends in scientific development. It is noteworthy that they largely replicate the provided data, supplementing and expanding them by using different types of data sources. However, open databases do not guarantee a high quality of materials and exhibit a relatively low level of metadata. Thus, it is premature to abandon the use of Scopus and Web of Science in research activities. Since scientometric databases were developed in different contexts, they are characterized by structural and functional heterogeneity, which complicates their comparison. Therefore, a selective approach should be adopted for the choice of scientometric databases, taking into account financial and other constraints, as well as the specifics of research problems. Full article
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<p>Geography of research in the field of ecological resilience.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Cloud of keywords in publications on ecological resilience.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Top organizations in the field of ecological resilience research.</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>Geography of researchers in the field of regional resilience.</p> Full article ">Figure 5
<p>Leading universities in the field of regional resilience (number of publications).</p> Full article ">Figure 6
<p>Analysis of keywords in publications in the field of regional resilience.</p> Full article ">Figure 7
<p>Analysis of the citation network of authors in the field of regional resilience.</p> Full article ">Figure 8
<p>Visualization of the interaction networks between organizations in the field of regional resilience.</p> Full article ">Figure 9
<p>Visualization of interaction networks between countries in the field of regional resilience.</p> Full article ">
22 pages, 2618 KiB  
Article
Is This the End of Anthropology as We Know It? Some Implication of FAIR Principles on Tales in Ethnological and Anthropological Qualitative Research
by Olga Orlić
Publications 2024, 12(4), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12040042 - 12 Nov 2024
Viewed by 558
Abstract
Open science, accessibility and knowledge sharing, especially of articles and monographs stemming from publicly funded research, seem to be moving in quite a positive direction toward scientific development and have received almost unanimous approval from the scientific community. However, when it comes to [...] Read more.
Open science, accessibility and knowledge sharing, especially of articles and monographs stemming from publicly funded research, seem to be moving in quite a positive direction toward scientific development and have received almost unanimous approval from the scientific community. However, when it comes to data sharing, the existing practice reveals a different picture, and not exclusively a discipline-dependent one. FAIR principles are developed and promoted as guiding tools for creating contextualized standards. The fact that data obtained by a qualitative methodology deserve special attention and treatment regarding the accessibility principle is recognized. Although FAIR principles provide ways to anonymize the data and interlocutors, individuals coming from smaller communities or even communities of practice can sometimes be easily recognized by members of the same community if data are openly accessed. Sometimes the interlocutors might agree with these terms, but sometimes they do not. According to the disciplinary code of ethics, a researcher is obliged to thoroughly describe the ways of the raw data management and usage, and in the case of mandatory raw data sharing (e.g., for receiving funding), it can inevitably impact the narratives collected. The prerogative to make all data open inevitably leads to autocensorship among interlocutors, i.e., resulting in a kind of FAIRy tale being collected. The article discusses the results obtained from the survey carried out among Croatian ethnologists and cultural anthropologists about the currently practiced data sharing, their attitudes about data sharing and their perceived behavior in hypothetical situations connected with data sharing. The results show mixed opinions about data sharing and a desire to follow the disciplinary code of ethics first, i.e., to follow the interlocutors’ wishes in the case of data management and usage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary Special Issue "PUBMET2023 Conference on Scholarly Communication in the Context of Open Science")
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<p>Varying degrees of FAIRness, taken from Mons et al. [<a href="#B22-publications-12-00042" class="html-bibr">22</a>].</p> Full article ">Figure A1
<p>How do you keep/store your data?</p> Full article ">Figure A2
<p>Do you share data with other colleagues?</p> Full article ">Figure A3
<p>Do you use other researchers data?</p> Full article ">Figure A4
<p>Who should have access to the data?</p> Full article ">Figure A5
<p>Do you think data should be shared?</p> Full article ">Figure A6
<p>I would agree to share the raw data before publication.</p> Full article ">Figure A7
<p>I would agree to share data if it is a requirement for funding.</p> Full article ">Figure A8
<p>I would agree to share raw data to achieve open science’ goals.</p> Full article ">Figure A9
<p>I support open science’s goals of the raw data sharing.</p> Full article ">Figure A10
<p>I would agree to share raw data if it ensures publication in high-ranking scientific journals.</p> Full article ">Figure A11
<p>I would agree to share raw data if it means I can collaborate with reputable scientists.</p> Full article ">
6 pages, 432 KiB  
Communication
The Positive Impact of the Open Access Scientific Publishing in Chile
by Miguel Segovia, Felipe M. Galleguillos Madrid, Carlos Portillo, Ezequiel Martínez Rojas, Sandra Gallegos, Jonathan Castillo, Iván Salazar, Gonzalo R. Quezada and Norman Toro
Publications 2024, 12(4), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12040041 - 11 Nov 2024
Viewed by 903
Abstract
The letter represents the authors’ opinion on the positive impact that allowing open access to scientific publications has on doctoral programmes, the careers of young researchers and the overall quality of university education in Chile. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diamond Open Access)
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<p>A comparison of open access publication growth trends in Chile with those of Colombia, Mexico, and Argentina.</p> Full article ">
19 pages, 1466 KiB  
Systematic Review
Blockchain and Its Application in the Peer Review of Scientific Works: A Systematic Review
by Cristian Hugo Morales-Alarcón, Elba Bodero-Poveda, Henry Mauricio Villa-Yánez and Pamela Alexandra Buñay-Guisñan
Publications 2024, 12(4), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12040040 - 8 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1236
Abstract
Blockchain is a distributed ledger technology that ensures the security and transparency of data, guaranteeing that they cannot be altered. Its application in the peer review of scientific papers can contribute to improving the integrity, transparency, and efficiency of the process, mitigating issues [...] Read more.
Blockchain is a distributed ledger technology that ensures the security and transparency of data, guaranteeing that they cannot be altered. Its application in the peer review of scientific papers can contribute to improving the integrity, transparency, and efficiency of the process, mitigating issues of manipulation and fraud. This work analyzes the contributions of various research studies that address the use of blockchain technology in peer review. The study is a systematic literature review (SLR) in which the PRISMA methodology was applied. Fifty primary studies were identified through searches in databases such as Scopus, Science Direct, IEEE Xplore, and ACM. The analyzed research reveals innovative approaches, such as decentralized solutions, smart contracts, and token economy, to address challenges like biases, transparency, and speed in the review process. It is concluded that the use of blockchain in peer review processes is still emerging and has not yet been widely adopted globally. However, studies addressing this topic focus on its potential to improve transparency and trust in the process, offer incentives and rewards to reviewers and authors, enhance the quality and fairness of evaluations, and strengthen the security and privacy of the data involved. Full article
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<p>PRISMA flow diagram of the study selection process.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Distribution of studies by country.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Distribution of studies by year.</p> Full article ">
14 pages, 1413 KiB  
Article
Analyzing Data Sharing Policies in Library and Information Science: Journal Metrics, Open Access Status, and Publisher Volume
by Eungi Kim, Kristine Joy Tabogoc and Jang Won Chae
Publications 2024, 12(4), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12040039 - 5 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1558
Abstract
The objective of this study is to explore the prevalence and characteristics of data sharing policies in library and information science (LIS) journals, focusing on their relationship with journal metrics, publisher volume (number of journals managed by the publisher), and open access (OA) [...] Read more.
The objective of this study is to explore the prevalence and characteristics of data sharing policies in library and information science (LIS) journals, focusing on their relationship with journal metrics, publisher volume (number of journals managed by the publisher), and open access (OA) status. The study examined the link between data sharing policies and journal metrics in LIS journals indexed in Scopus. Using secondary data from the SJR portal and qualitative data from author guidelines, the study revealed several key findings: First, a positive relationship existed between publisher volume and the presence of data sharing policies, with high-volume publishers consistently implementing such policies. Second, 50.2% of LIS journals lacked data sharing guidelines, indicating a significant gap. Third, journals that encouraged or required data sharing under certain conditions tended to perform better in metrics such as quartiles, h-index, and citation impact. Fourth, data sharing policies were more common in higher-ranked journals and were linked to better journal metrics. Fifth, higher-ranked journals were more likely to include details on data statements, DOIs, and repositories than lower-ranked journals. Lastly, non-OA journals were more likely to encourage practices such as including data repositories and supplementary files in submissions, compared to OA journals, revealing unexpected disparities. In conclusion, data sharing policies in LIS journals showed associations with journal ranking and publisher volume, with non-OA journals showing higher presence of certain data sharing practices. Full article
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<p>Distribution of data sharing policy elements in LIS journals.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Presence of data sharing policy elements across journal quartiles.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Elements of data sharing policy by OA status of journals (non-OA and OA). Note: OA vs. non-OA journals—data_statement: chi-square = 2.297, <span class="html-italic">p</span> = 0.13 (no significant difference); doi_data_code: chi-square = 3.500, <span class="html-italic">p</span> = 0.0614 (no significant difference); repo_spec: chi-square = 14.239, <span class="html-italic">p</span> = 1.61 × 10<sup>−4</sup> (significant difference); supp_files: chi-square = 16.065, <span class="html-italic">p</span> = 6.12 × 10<sup>−5</sup> (significant difference).</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>Publisher index, volume, and data sharing policy presence. Note: Each ‘P#’ represents a publisher, with the number indicating how many journals they manage (e.g., P25 manages 25 journals). Numbers between indices may be missing when no publisher manages that specific number of journals (e.g., there is no P24 because no publisher in our dataset manages exactly 24 journals).</p> Full article ">
4 pages, 135 KiB  
Editorial
Planning for Academic Publishing After Retirement: Some Results and Observations
by Stephen Kenneth Donovan
Publications 2024, 12(4), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12040038 - 4 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 744
Abstract
In 2018, before I retired, I speculated on how I might continue to publish as a former academic, identifying five key behaviours for me to pursue. Now, four years after I retired, I confirm that these activities have been successful. I have no [...] Read more.
In 2018, before I retired, I speculated on how I might continue to publish as a former academic, identifying five key behaviours for me to pursue. Now, four years after I retired, I confirm that these activities have been successful. I have no affiliation with any institution, museum or university, and am thriving in my independence. My production is maintained, even flourishing. Some papers have been published under a new iteration of my name, S. Kenneth Donovan, which I trust confuses unwanted software. I publish more in the journals that I read and less in those that, formerly, were favoured by management. I am now a more efficient reviewer of research papers, identifying them as a priority rather than a nuisance. Full article
5 pages, 200 KiB  
Opinion
On the Thorny Issue of Single Submission
by Josephat U. Izunobi
Publications 2024, 12(4), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12040037 - 17 Oct 2024
Viewed by 637
Abstract
This Opinion highlights varying viewpoints on the single-submission policy in scientific publishing, which has recently come under attack. The rule permits the sequential, rather than simultaneous, submission of a manuscript to more than one journal and dictates that an author(s) must wait for [...] Read more.
This Opinion highlights varying viewpoints on the single-submission policy in scientific publishing, which has recently come under attack. The rule permits the sequential, rather than simultaneous, submission of a manuscript to more than one journal and dictates that an author(s) must wait for a response from one journal before resubmitting the same work to another for consideration. A corollary is that legitimising multiple submissions would create more problems than it could solve. This article is, therefore, in favour of maintaining the status quo. Full article
17 pages, 4103 KiB  
Article
Temporal Evolution of Bradford Curves in Academic Library Contexts
by Haobai Xue
Publications 2024, 12(4), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12040036 - 15 Oct 2024
Viewed by 552
Abstract
Bradford’s law of bibliographic scattering is a fundamental principle in bibliometrics, offering valuable guidance for academic libraries in literature search and procurement. However, Bradford curves can exhibit various shapes over time, and predicting these shapes remains a challenge due to a lack of [...] Read more.
Bradford’s law of bibliographic scattering is a fundamental principle in bibliometrics, offering valuable guidance for academic libraries in literature search and procurement. However, Bradford curves can exhibit various shapes over time, and predicting these shapes remains a challenge due to a lack of causal explanation. This paper attributes the deviations from the theoretical J-shape to integer constraints on the number of journals and articles, extending Leimkuhler’s function to encompass highly productive core journals, where the theoretical journal number falls below one. Using the Simon–Yule model, key parameters of the extended formulas are identified and analyzed. The paper explains the reasons for the Groos droop and examines the critical points for shape changes. The proposed formulas are validated with empirical data from the literature, demonstrating that this method can effectively predict the evolution of Bradford curves, providing academic libraries with a valuable tool for evaluating journal coverage, optimizing resource allocation, and refining Collection Development Policies (CDP). Full article
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<p>Comparisons of the theoretical and numerical results: (<b>a</b>) number of journals <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mi>f</mi> <mfenced separators="|"> <mrow> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </mfenced> </mrow> </semantics></math> with productivity <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </semantics></math>; (<b>b</b>) number of papers <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mi>n</mi> <mi>f</mi> <mfenced separators="|"> <mrow> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </mfenced> </mrow> </semantics></math> produced by journals with productivity <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </semantics></math>.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Journal productivity in the core region <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <msub> <mrow> <mi>X</mi> </mrow> <mrow> <mi>r</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mrow> </semantics></math> as a function of journal rank <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mi>r</mi> </mrow> </semantics></math>: (<b>a</b>) journal productivity <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <msub> <mrow> <mi>X</mi> </mrow> <mrow> <mi>r</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mrow> </semantics></math> as a function of <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mi>r</mi> </mrow> </semantics></math>; (<b>b</b>) journal productivity ratio <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mrow> <mrow> <msub> <mrow> <mi>X</mi> </mrow> <mrow> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mrow> <mo>/</mo> <mrow> <msub> <mrow> <mi>X</mi> </mrow> <mrow> <mi>r</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mrow> </mrow> </mrow> </semantics></math> as a function of <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mi>r</mi> </mrow> </semantics></math>.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>The evolution of the Bradford curves and the cause of the Groos droop: (<b>a</b>) the evolution of the Bradford curves; (<b>b</b>) the cause of the Groos droop.</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>The dynamics of the Bradford curves and the variation of key parameters when <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mi>α</mi> <mo>=</mo> <mn>0.15</mn> </mrow> </semantics></math>: (<b>a</b>) the dynamics of the Bradford curves; (<b>b</b>) the variation of key parameters.</p> Full article ">Figure 5
<p>The dynamics of the Bradford curves and the variation of key parameters when <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mi>α</mi> </mrow> </semantics></math> decreases linearly from 0.2 to 0.1: (<b>a</b>) the dynamics of the Bradford curves; (<b>b</b>) the variation of key parameters.</p> Full article ">Figure 6
<p>The dynamics of the Bradford curves and the variation of key parameters when <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mi>α</mi> <mo>=</mo> <mn>0.15</mn> </mrow> </semantics></math> and <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mi>γ</mi> <mo>=</mo> <mn>0.95</mn> </mrow> </semantics></math>: (<b>a</b>) the dynamics of the Bradford curves; (<b>b</b>) the variation of key parameters.</p> Full article ">Figure 7
<p>The dynamics of the Bradford curves and the variation of key parameters when <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mi>α</mi> </mrow> </semantics></math> decreases linearly from 0.2 to 0.1 and <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mi>γ</mi> </mrow> </semantics></math> increases linearly from 0.95 to 1.0: (<b>a</b>) the dynamics of the Bradford curves; (<b>b</b>) the variation of key parameters.</p> Full article ">Figure 8
<p>The process of determining the point <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mfenced separators="|"> <mrow> <mi>T</mi> <mo>,</mo> <mi>A</mi> </mrow> </mfenced> </mrow> </semantics></math> for any given time: (<b>a</b>) the total article number <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mi>A</mi> <mfenced separators="|"> <mrow> <mi>t</mi> </mrow> </mfenced> </mrow> </semantics></math> as a function of time <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mi>t</mi> </mrow> </semantics></math>; (<b>b</b>) the total journal number <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mi>T</mi> </mrow> </semantics></math> as a function of the article number <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mi>A</mi> </mrow> </semantics></math>.</p> Full article ">Figure 9
<p>The procedures for predicting the evolution of the Bradford curves: (<b>a</b>) the variation of key parameters <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <msub> <mrow> <mi>T</mi> </mrow> <mrow> <mn>0</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mrow> </semantics></math>, <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <msub> <mrow> <mi>A</mi> </mrow> <mrow> <mn>0</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mrow> </semantics></math>, and <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <msub> <mrow> <mi>X</mi> </mrow> <mrow> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mrow> </semantics></math> with the article number <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mi>A</mi> </mrow> </semantics></math>; (<b>b</b>) the dynamics of the Bradford curves.</p> Full article ">Figure 10
<p>The process of determining the point <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mfenced separators="|"> <mrow> <mi>T</mi> <mo>,</mo> <mi>A</mi> </mrow> </mfenced> </mrow> </semantics></math> for any given time: (<b>a</b>) the total article number <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mi>A</mi> <mfenced separators="|"> <mrow> <mi>t</mi> </mrow> </mfenced> </mrow> </semantics></math> as a function of time <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mi>t</mi> </mrow> </semantics></math>; (<b>b</b>) the total journal number <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mi>T</mi> </mrow> </semantics></math> as a function of the article number <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mi>A</mi> </mrow> </semantics></math>.</p> Full article ">Figure 11
<p>The procedures for predicting the evolution of the Bradford curves: (<b>a</b>) the variation of key parameters <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <msub> <mrow> <mi>T</mi> </mrow> <mrow> <mn>0</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mrow> </semantics></math>, <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <msub> <mrow> <mi>A</mi> </mrow> <mrow> <mn>0</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mrow> </semantics></math>, and <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <msub> <mrow> <mi>X</mi> </mrow> <mrow> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mrow> </semantics></math> with the article number <math display="inline"><semantics> <mrow> <mi>A</mi> </mrow> </semantics></math>; (<b>b</b>) the dynamics of the Bradford curves.</p> Full article ">
10 pages, 235 KiB  
Article
Is Citation Count a Legitimate Indicator of Scientific Impact? A Case Study of Upper (1974) “The Unsuccessful Self-Treatment of a Case of Writer’s Block” and Its Derivatives
by Andy Wai Kan Yeung
Publications 2024, 12(4), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12040035 - 15 Oct 2024
Viewed by 925
Abstract
The work by Upper (1974) was a blank paper. Multiple replication studies were published. This work examined the number of citations received by these papers, and manually checked the citing papers to determine why they made the citations. The Dimensions literature database was [...] Read more.
The work by Upper (1974) was a blank paper. Multiple replication studies were published. This work examined the number of citations received by these papers, and manually checked the citing papers to determine why they made the citations. The Dimensions literature database was queried with the search string: (unsuccessful treatment writer’s block). The search yielded 14 articles, two of which were irrelevant and excluded. The 12 papers remained after screening included the original study by Upper (1974), nine replication studies, one review, and one meta-analysis. The original work received 43 citations, but related works had fewer than 10 citations each. One fourth of citations of Upper (1974) were being satiric on “nothing” or “precise” from papers dealing with unrelated concepts, and five citations were deemed erroneous/digressed. One citation was made to acknowledge the reviewer’s comments to Upper (1974), which did not involve Upper’s own ideas. This work exposed a scenario where there were limitations of using citation count as the only metric to gauge scientific impact of journal articles. Full article
14 pages, 4464 KiB  
Article
Evolution and Trends in Digital Wallet Research: A Bibliometric Analysis in Scopus and Web of Science
by Nieves del Pilar Pizzan-Tomanguillo, Tony Venancio Pereyra-Gonzales, Segundo Victor León-Ramírez, Jhon Bautista-Fasabi, Carlos Daniel Rosales-Bardalez, Roel Dante Gómez-Apaza and Sandra Lucero Pizzán-Tomanguillo
Publications 2024, 12(4), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12040034 - 11 Oct 2024
Viewed by 2136
Abstract
Digital wallets have become a driving force in the global economy, with 2.4 billion users worldwide in 2020, a figure projected to reach 3.6 billion by 2026. This study conducts an in-depth bibliometric analysis to evaluate the current state and future trends of [...] Read more.
Digital wallets have become a driving force in the global economy, with 2.4 billion users worldwide in 2020, a figure projected to reach 3.6 billion by 2026. This study conducts an in-depth bibliometric analysis to evaluate the current state and future trends of digital wallet research using scientific databases such as Scopus and Web of Science. A scoping review methodology was applied, in which we analyzed 778 documents, following an eligibility process with the following search terms: “digital wallet”, “mobile wallet”, and “e-wallet”. Results show that India, the United States, and China are leading research efforts in this field. Key factors influencing the adoption of digital wallets include data security, ease of use, and integration with traditional payment systems. While much research has focused on technological innovation and adoption, significant gaps remain in areas such as blockchain integration and AI-driven solutions. This article provides the first comprehensive bibliometric analysis of digital wallets, offering crucial insights into emerging trends such as “blockchain”, “electronic commerce”, and “digital payments” and their role in shaping the future of financial technology. Full article
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Graphical abstract

Graphical abstract
Full article ">Figure 1
<p>PRISMA diagram.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Annual trend of scientific research on digital wallets (2000–2024) in WoS and Scopus, analyzed with R-Studio and bibliometrix.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Three-field diagram relating countries, affiliations, and keywords in WoS and Scopus using R-Studio and bibliometrix.</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>Leading publication sources in WoS and Scopus, analyzed using R-Studio and bibliometrix.</p> Full article ">Figure 5
<p>Geographic distribution of scientific production analyzed using R-Studio and bibliometrix in WoS and Scopus.</p> Full article ">Figure 6
<p>Temporal evolution of author production in the field of digital wallets.</p> Full article ">Figure 7
<p>Analysis of thematic evolution in WoS and Scopus using R-Studio and bibliometrix.</p> Full article ">Figure 8
<p>Thematic map of research in WoS and Scopus, analyzed with R-Studio and bibliometrix.</p> Full article ">Figure 9
<p>Detail of the co-occurrence keywords, using R-Studio and Bibliometrix.</p> Full article ">Figure 10
<p>Source clustering by coupling of publications on digital wallets using Biblioshiny.</p> Full article ">
5 pages, 173 KiB  
Editorial
Measuring Open Access Uptake: Methods and Metrics to Assess a Market Transformation
by Ahmad Yaman Abdin and Francesco De Pretis
Publications 2024, 12(4), 33; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12040033 - 4 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1158
Abstract
In this editorial, we will introduce the contributions to the Special Issue entitled “Measuring Open Access Uptake: Databases, Metrics, and International Comparisons.” The contributions to this Special Issue explore the methods and metrics that are used to assess open access (OA) [...] Read more.
In this editorial, we will introduce the contributions to the Special Issue entitled “Measuring Open Access Uptake: Databases, Metrics, and International Comparisons.” The contributions to this Special Issue explore the methods and metrics that are used to assess open access (OA) uptake across disciplines and regions, a crucial topic considering the growing push by several research institutions worldwide to achieve 100% OA. We will discuss the impact of OA on scholarly publishing, focusing on how economic factors and discipline-specific practices shape its adoption. Additionally, we will examine the transformation of OA models, the citation benefits of a hybrid OA model, and regional perspectives. Our analysis identifies key challenges and disparities in OA adoption and suggests future directions for achieving sustainable and equitable access to research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Measuring Open Access Uptake: Databases, Metrics, and International Comparisons)
23 pages, 371 KiB  
Article
Finding Free OER Textbooks Online: Untangling the Web
by William H. Walters
Publications 2024, 12(4), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12040032 - 4 Oct 2024
Viewed by 6315
Abstract
Although Open Educational Resources (OERs) can help reduce costs and maximize access to instructional materials, academics face significant problems in identifying good OER textbooks. This can be traced, in part, to the low quality of many OER directories. This study evaluated more than [...] Read more.
Although Open Educational Resources (OERs) can help reduce costs and maximize access to instructional materials, academics face significant problems in identifying good OER textbooks. This can be traced, in part, to the low quality of many OER directories. This study evaluated more than 350 potentially relevant resources, identifying 95 multidisciplinary and 23 subject-limited OER directories that include a relatively high proportion of free textbooks rather than other OERs (syllabi, assessment materials, etc.). Comparative information is presented for each of the 118 directories, with special attention to those with high recall, high precision, explicit and meaningful selection criteria, and consistently good textbook quality. The results focus on the characteristics of the OER directories, the extent to which they support the discovery of textbooks, the particular directories that are likely to be most useful, and the ways in which the most useful directories are systematically different from the others. There are at least 24 high-quality OER directories, but three—the Open Textbook Library, the B.C. Open Collection, and LibreTexts Commons—are especially useful. By devoting more attention to directories such as these, we can overcome the greatest barrier to the adoption of OER textbooks—the difficulty of identifying titles that can replace conventional texts. Full article
14 pages, 1436 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Scientific Production in Family Medicine in Mexico
by Indira R. Mendiola-Pastrana, Eduardo López-Ortiz, Rubí G. Hernández-López, Luisa F. Romero-Henríquez, Rocío Dávila-Mendoza and Geovani López-Ortiz
Publications 2024, 12(4), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12040031 - 27 Sep 2024
Viewed by 982
Abstract
Objective: This paper aims to evaluate the quality of scientific production in family medicine in Mexico and identify gaps in the development of research in this medical discipline. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed original articles, reviews, case reports, and editorials published from Mexico, [...] Read more.
Objective: This paper aims to evaluate the quality of scientific production in family medicine in Mexico and identify gaps in the development of research in this medical discipline. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed original articles, reviews, case reports, and editorials published from Mexico, from the year 2014 to 2023, in the three family medicine journals edited in the country. Several bibliometric indicators were evaluated. Attributes that confer validity in original articles were analyzed, and through random sampling, 10% were selected to determine their quality using checklists. Results: A total of 627 articles were analyzed; among these, 57.89% were original, 19.61% reviews, 17.06% editorials, and 5.42% case reports. Our analysis revealed significant disparities in research activity across regions in Mexico. Productivity, transience, and isolation indices were 2.79, 78.58%, and 54.05%, respectively, while the Price index was 42.74%. A small percentage of articles received funding and followed guidelines for medical research reporting (0.47% and 0.63%, respectively). The analysis of validity attributes in original articles revealed that 92.83% were observational, 88.98% were unicentric, in 47.38%, no sample size calculation was performed or specified, while in 12.12%, sampling was probabilistic. In the evaluation of the original articles, more than 60% showed limitations that compromised their quality. Conclusions: The number of published articles, along with their bibliometric, validity, and quality attributes, reflect significant gaps in the generation and dissemination of knowledge in family medicine in Mexico. This shows a transgenerational problem, identified in many countries, where the advancement of family medicine as a specialty is limited by low research productivity and methodological weaknesses in reporting. Full article
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<p>Main study topics in the analyzed articles.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Distribution of papers published in Mexico from 2014 to 2023.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Network of interinstitutional interactions. The thickness of the lines and numbers in blue represent the quantity and the count of interactions, respectively. The network design was created using Pajek version 5.18, with a random circular layout, and edited in Microsoft PowerPoint 2019. CMCMF: Mexican Council for Certification in Family Medicine. ANM: National Academy of Medicine. SSA: Ministry of Health. UNAM: National Autonomous University of Mexico. IMSS: Mexican Social Security Institute. ITESM: Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education. ISSSTE: Institute of Social Security and Services for State Workers. HGT: General Hospital of Ticomán. UABC: Autonomous University of Baja California. UAG: Autonomous University of Guerrero; UAT: Autonomous University of Tamaulipas. HAL: Ángeles León Hospital. UG: University of Guanajuato. HGM: General Hospital of Mexico Eduardo Liceaga. UWH: West-Hill University.</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>Keywords identified in the analyzed articles.</p> Full article ">
14 pages, 3422 KiB  
Article
Papers in and Papers out of the Spotlight: Comparative Bibliometric and Altmetrics Analysis of Biomedical Reports with and without News Media Stories
by Artemis Chaleplioglou
Publications 2024, 12(4), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12040030 - 27 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1927
Abstract
For decades, the discoverability and visibility of a paper relied on the readership of the academic journal where the publication was issued. As public interest in biomedicine has grown, the news media have taken on an important role in spreading scientific findings. This [...] Read more.
For decades, the discoverability and visibility of a paper relied on the readership of the academic journal where the publication was issued. As public interest in biomedicine has grown, the news media have taken on an important role in spreading scientific findings. This investigation explores the potential impact of news media stories on the citations and altmetrics of a paper. A total of 2020 open-access biomedical research papers, all published in the same year, 2015, and in journals with an impact factor between 10 and 14, were investigated. The papers were split into two groups based on the sole criterion of receiving or not receiving news media coverage. Papers with news media coverage accounted for 44% of the total. They received, on average, 60% more citations, 104% more blogs, 150% more X posts, 106% more Facebook reports, 40% more Wikipedia references, 85% more videos, and 51% more Mendeley readers than papers without news media coverage. The correlation between news media outlets and increased citations and altmetrics is evident. However, the broader societal impact of news media coverage, in terms of bringing scientific matters or discoveries to the public eye, appears to be more robust when compared to the reactions of the scientific community. Full article
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<p>Inclusion criteria and numbers of included and excluded articles. JCR SCIE, Journal Citation Reports Science Citation Index Expanded.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Original research, open-access papers with (blue) and without (orange) new stories per biomedical journal with an impact factor between 10 and 14 when published in 2015.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>The distribution of news stories per journal. Circles (◦) indicate outliers, and Xs indicate the mean markers. <span class="html-italic">Progress in Neurobiology</span>, <span class="html-italic">Trends in Biochemical Sciences</span>, <span class="html-italic">Progress in Lipid Research,</span> and <span class="html-italic">Molecular Aspects of Medicine</span> have less than five papers in the news stories group.</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>Distributions of citations per journal: (<b>a</b>) Papers with news stories; (<b>b</b>) Papers without news stories. Circles (◦) indicate outliers, and Xs indicate the mean markers. <span class="html-italic">Progress in Neurobiology</span>, <span class="html-italic">Trends in Biochemical Sciences</span>, <span class="html-italic">Progress in Lipid Research,</span> and <span class="html-italic">Molecular Aspects of Medicine</span> have less than five papers in the news stories group, and <span class="html-italic">Progress in Lipid Research</span> and <span class="html-italic">Trends in Biochemical Sciences</span> in the control group.</p> Full article ">Figure 5
<p>Distributions of altmetrics scores per journal: (<b>a</b>) Papers with news stories; (<b>b</b>) Papers without news stories. Circles (◦) indicate outliers, and Xs indicate the mean markers. <span class="html-italic">Progress in Neurobiology</span>, <span class="html-italic">Trends in Biochemical Sciences</span>, <span class="html-italic">Progress in Lipid Research,</span> and <span class="html-italic">Molecular Aspects of Medicine</span> have less than five papers in the news stories group, and <span class="html-italic">Progress in Lipid Research</span> and <span class="html-italic">Trends in Biochemical Sciences</span> in the control group.</p> Full article ">Figure 6
<p>Odds ratios (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (lower and upper 95% CI) of receiving at least one citation or altmetrics mention when at least one new story has been received by a research paper (logarithmic scale). With violet statistical significance <span class="html-italic">p</span>-value<sub>(likelihood ratio chi-square)</sub> &lt; 0.05, with green, <span class="html-italic">p</span>-value<sub>(likelihood ratio chi-square)</sub> &lt; 0.001, with black, <span class="html-italic">p</span>-value<sub>(likelihood ratio chi-square)</sub> ≥ 0.05.</p> Full article ">Figure 7
<p>Pearson correlation and scatter plots with linear regression analysis of variables: (<b>a</b>) Pearson correlation analysis square of citations, FCR, altmetrics score, news stories, X posts, Facebook, Mendeley, and patents citations, with light green positive, almost linear correlation, dark green positive but less well-fitted to linear correlation, with black no correlation, with dark red negative but less well-fitted to linear correlation, and with red negative, almost linear correlation, according to the pallet of colour coding and Pearson correlation coefficient values presented aside; (<b>b</b>) Scatter plots with linear regressions of the papers examined from top to bottom, citations as a function of FCR (left), Mendeley readers (middle), and news stories (right), news stories as a function of altmetrics score (left), X posts (middle), and Facebook (right), and X posts as a function of Facebook (left) as well as Mendeley as a function of FCR (right) (<span class="html-italic">n</span> = 2020). The linear trendline is depicted in dark red along with the linear equation, and the R-squared goodness of fit calculated by regression analysis is presented in the scatter plots.</p> Full article ">
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