Publications

17 pages, 449 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Polarization in BRICS and G7: Scopus-Indexed Journal Production Trends (2013–2023)

by Eungi Kim, Sureshkrishnan Ramakrishnan and Jason Lim Chiu

Publications 2025, 13(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications13010009 - 13 Feb 2025

The objective of this study is to examine disparities in Scopus-indexed journal production between BRICS and G7 countries from 2013 to 2023, focusing on growth trends, open access (OA) and non-OA production, subject representation, and quality metrics. Using data from the SCImago Journal [...] Read more.

The objective of this study is to examine disparities in Scopus-indexed journal production between BRICS and G7 countries from 2013 to 2023, focusing on growth trends, open access (OA) and non-OA production, subject representation, and quality metrics. Using data from the SCImago Journal Rank portal, the analysis evaluated growth rates, quartile rankings, and publisher dynamics. G7 countries maintained their global leadership, characterized by stable production systems and high-impact journals predominantly managed by commercial publishers. In contrast, the countries of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) exhibited diverse trends: China and Russia demonstrated rapid expansion through state-backed initiatives and the rise of domestic publishers, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign publishers and enhance global visibility. However, India experienced a decline, while Brazil and South Africa showed only modest growth in Scopus-indexed journal production. Similarly, G7 countries displayed internal variability, with the UK and Italy achieving notable growth, whereas Japan and France faced declines. These disparities within both groups underscore the critical influence of national research policies and infrastructure on journal production. BRICS countries showed a strong focus on STEM disciplines, with China emerging as a leader in both OA and non-OA journal production. Conversely, G7 countries maintained a balanced representation across STEM and social sciences. These findings suggest that national policies and infrastructure investments are key drivers of journal production growth, with BRICS countries leveraging new initiatives for expansion and G7 countries maintaining dominance through established systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bias in Indexing: Effects on Visibility and Equity)

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27 pages, 5423 KiB

Open AccessReview

Mapping the Conceptual Structure of University–Industry Knowledge Transfer: A Co-Word Analysis

by Vladimir Alfonso Ballesteros-Ballesteros and Rodrigo Arturo Zárate-Torres

Publications 2025, 13(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications13010008 - 12 Feb 2025

Abstract

University–industry (U–I) collaborations are widely recognized as key drivers of economic progress, innovation, and competitiveness, fostering significant scholarly interest. Concurrently, research findings on these interactions have contributed to the establishment of an interdisciplinary field marked by the inherent complexity of these relationships. This [...] Read more.

University–industry (U–I) collaborations are widely recognized as key drivers of economic progress, innovation, and competitiveness, fostering significant scholarly interest. Concurrently, research findings on these interactions have contributed to the establishment of an interdisciplinary field marked by the inherent complexity of these relationships. This study aims to map the conceptual structure of university–industry knowledge transfer (UIKT) research from 1980 to 2023 by employing co-word analysis and social network analysis based on data retrieved from the Scopus database. The results reveal that 1577 documents were published during this period, incorporating 147 keywords, with the five most frequent being “innovation”, “higher education”, “university”, “technology transfer”, and “knowledge management”. The United Kingdom was identified as the most prolific country, contributing 366 documents, while Research Policy emerged as the most cited journal, with 3546 citations. This study offers a comprehensive overview of the current state of UIKT research, paving the way for future studies and providing valuable directions for further investigations. Full article

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11 pages, 2284 KiB

Open AccessReview

Meta-Research in Biomedical Investigation: Gaps and Opportunities Based on Meta-Research Publications and Global Indicators in Health, Science, and Human Development

by Ivan David Lozada-Martinez, David A. Hernandez-Paz, Ornella Fiorillo-Moreno, Yelson Alejandro Picón-Jaimes and Valmore Bermúdez

Publications 2025, 13(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications13010007 - 10 Feb 2025

Abstract

Meta-research in biomedical science is crucial for ensuring rigour, relevance, and transparency in an era marked by the exponential growth of scientific publications. This study examines global and historical trends in meta-research activities within biomedicine and investigates their relationship with health, science, and [...] Read more.

Meta-research in biomedical science is crucial for ensuring rigour, relevance, and transparency in an era marked by the exponential growth of scientific publications. This study examines global and historical trends in meta-research activities within biomedicine and investigates their relationship with health, science, and human development indicators. A systematic analysis of 9633 publications from Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed was conducted, focusing on publication volume, citation impact, and geographic distribution. Regression analyses reveal a significant positive association between meta-research activity and the Human Development Index (HDI), suggesting that meta-research contributes to societal advancement by enhancing evidence-based decision-making in health. However, no association was found between meta-research output and research and development (R&D) expenditure, reflecting the minimal resource requirements of secondary data-driven studies compared to primary or experimental research. Meta-research activity correlates positively with clinical trial completion, indicating its role in refining study designs and addressing evidence gaps. These findings highlight the importance of expanding meta-research in underrepresented regions to promote equity in scientific advancement and improve the reliability of biomedical knowledge. This result underscores the need for targeted support for meta-research, particularly in low- and middle-income countries with limited scientific infrastructure and resources for new knowledge generation. Full article

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Figure 1
Global distribution of meta-research-related publications in biomedicine by country. Each country is shaded according to the total number of publications, with darker shades representing a higher volume. The United States leads in meta-research output, as indicated by the darkest red shading, with 2447 publications. Other countries with high publication volumes, shown in varying shades of blue, include the United Kingdom, Canada, and several European and Asian countries. In contrast, countries shaded in light grey lack reported data in this dataset. Full article ">Figure 2
Global and categorical analysis of meta-research-related publications in biomedicine. (a) World distribution of meta-research publications by country from 1948 to 2024. (b) Total citations by country for meta-research publications indicate the impact of each country’s contributions over the same period. (c) Distribution of publication types within meta-research, categorised into original research articles, reviews, editorials, and other document types, illustrating the predominant publication formats for the top five countries with the highest publication volumes. (d) Journals with the highest number of meta-research publications from 1970 to 2024. (e) Publishing groups with the highest number of meta-research publications from 1981 to 2024. Full article ">Figure 3
Visualisation of the regression model between MP and global health, science, and human development indicators. (a) Association between the logarithm of meta-research publications count and the summed HDI, with fitted regression line and confidence band. (b) Scatter plot with regression between the meta-research articles’ logarithm and completed clinical trials’ logarithm. (c) Plot of the relationship between the logarithm of meta-research articles (with a one-year lag) and the logarithm of completed clinical trials. HDI: Human Development Index. MP: Meta-Research-related Publications in Biomedicine. Full article ">

17 pages, 1917 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Forecasting the Scientific Production Volumes of G7 and BRICS Countries in a Comparative Analysis

by Tindaro Cicero

Publications 2025, 13(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications13010006 - 7 Feb 2025

Abstract

This study applies ARIMA models to forecast scientific production trends among G7 (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) countries using Scopus data from 1996 to 2023. The analysis [...] Read more.

This study applies ARIMA models to forecast scientific production trends among G7 (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) countries using Scopus data from 1996 to 2023. The analysis shows that G7 countries maintain steady growth driven by established research infrastructures, while BRICS nations, particularly China, display accelerated growth due to substantial investments in R&D. The forecasts indicate that China could reach over 2,000,000 indexed scientific publications annually by 2030, potentially reshaping the global research landscape. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and research institutions, highlighting the shifting dynamics of global scientific leadership and emphasizing the importance of sustained investment in research to remain competitive. Full article

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20 pages, 506 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Social Media Analysis of High-Impact Information and Communication Journals: Adoption, Use, and Content Curation

by Jesús Cascón-Katchadourian, Javier Guallar and Wileidys Artigas

Publications 2025, 13(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications13010005 - 17 Jan 2025

Viewed by 925

Abstract

The use of social media to disseminate academic content is increasing, particularly in scientific journals. This study has the following two main objectives: first, exploring the use of social media by high-impact academic journals in two different SJR categories (Library and Information Sciences [...] Read more.

The use of social media to disseminate academic content is increasing, particularly in scientific journals. This study has the following two main objectives: first, exploring the use of social media by high-impact academic journals in two different SJR categories (Library and Information Sciences and Communication), and second, analyzing content curation carried out by the world’s most influential journals in both areas. The research methodology is descriptive with a quantitative approach regarding the items studied. The study finds that COM journals have a stronger social media presence than LIS journals, and X dominates in both categories and regions as the top social network, with significant influence as the only platform. On the other hand, content curation was found to a high degree in both areas, especially in the LIS area, with 93% vs. 80% in COM. The study highlights that both COM and LIS journals primarily focus on promoting recent articles, with COM diversifying content more than LIS. In terms of the content curation techniques used in both areas, the majority are abstracting and summarizing. Full article

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9 pages, 606 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analyzing the Drivers Behind Retractions in Tuberculosis Research

by Franko O. Garcia-Solorzano, Shirley M. De la Cruz Anticona, Mario Pezua-Espinoza, Fernando A. Chuquispuma Jesus, Karen D. Sanabria-Pinilla, Christopher Chavez Veliz, Vladimir A. Huayta-Alarcón, Percy Mayta-Tristan and Leonid Lecca

Publications 2025, 13(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications13010004 - 14 Jan 2025

Viewed by 499

Abstract

Tuberculosis research plays a crucial role in understanding and responding to the necessities of people with this disease, yet the integrity of this research is compromised by frequent retractions. Identifying and analyzing the main reasons for retraction of tuberculosis articles is essential for [...] Read more.

Tuberculosis research plays a crucial role in understanding and responding to the necessities of people with this disease, yet the integrity of this research is compromised by frequent retractions. Identifying and analyzing the main reasons for retraction of tuberculosis articles is essential for improving research practices and ensuring reliable scientific output. In this study, we conducted an advanced systematic literature review of retracted original articles on Tuberculosis, utilizing databases such as Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, PubMed, LILACS, and the Retraction Watch Database webpage. We found that falsification and plagiarism were the most frequent reasons for retraction, although 16% of the retracted articles did not declare the drivers behind the retraction. Almost half of the retracted studies received external funding, affecting not only those specific studies but future funding opportunities for this research field. Stronger measures of research integrity are needed to prevent misconduct in this vulnerable population. Full article

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8 pages, 591 KiB

Open AccessOpinion

Output-Normalized Score (OnS) for Ranking Researchers Based on Number of Publications, Citations, Coauthors, and Author Position

by Antonije Onjia

Publications 2025, 13(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications13010003 - 4 Jan 2025

Viewed by 615

Abstract

This article discusses current methods for ranking researchers and proposes a new metric, the output-normalized score (OnS), which considers the number of publications, citations, coauthors, and the author’s position within each publication. The proposed OnS offers a balanced approach to evaluating a researcher’s [...] Read more.

This article discusses current methods for ranking researchers and proposes a new metric, the output-normalized score (OnS), which considers the number of publications, citations, coauthors, and the author’s position within each publication. The proposed OnS offers a balanced approach to evaluating a researcher’s scientific contributions while addressing the limitations of widely used metrics such as the h-index and its modifications. It favors publications with fewer coauthors while giving significant weight to both the author’s position in the publication and the total number of citations. Full article

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12 pages, 888 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Practicing Meta-Analytics with Rectification

by Ramalingam Shanmugam and Karan P. Singh

Publications 2025, 13(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications13010002 - 2 Jan 2025

Viewed by 515

Abstract

This article demonstrates the necessity of assessing homogeneity in meta-analyses using the Higgins method. The researchers realize the importance of assessing homogeneity in meta-analytic work. However, a significant issue with the Higgins method has been identified. In this article, we explain the nature [...] Read more.

This article demonstrates the necessity of assessing homogeneity in meta-analyses using the Higgins method. The researchers realize the importance of assessing homogeneity in meta-analytic work. However, a significant issue with the Higgins method has been identified. In this article, we explain the nature of this problem and propose solutions to address it. Our narrative in this article is to point out the problem, analyze it, and present it well. A prerequisite to check the consistency of findings in comparable studies in meta-analyses is that the studies should be homogeneous, not heterogeneous. The Higgins

I^{2}

score, a version of the Cochran Q value, is commonly used to assess heterogeneity. The Higgins score is an improvement in the Q value. However, there is a problem with Higgins score statistically. The Higgins score is supposed to follow a Chi-squared distribution, but it does not do so because the Chi-squared distribution becomes invalid once the Q score is less than the degrees of freedom. This problem was recently rectified using an alternative method (

S^{2}

score). Using this method, we examined 14 published articles representing 133 datasets and observed that many studies declared homogeneous by the Higgins method were, in fact, heterogeneous. This article urges the research community to be cautious in making inferences using the Higgins method. Full article

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11 pages, 235 KiB

Open AccessOpinion

Exploring the Need to Use “Plagiarism” Detection Software Rationally

by Petar Milovanovic, Tatjana Pekmezovic and Marija Djuric

Publications 2025, 13(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications13010001 - 2 Jan 2025

Viewed by 670

Abstract

Universities and journals increasingly rely on software tools for detecting textual overlap of a scientific text with the previously published literature to detect potential plagiarism. Although software outputs need to be carefully reviewed by competent humans to verify the existence of plagiarism, university [...] Read more.

Universities and journals increasingly rely on software tools for detecting textual overlap of a scientific text with the previously published literature to detect potential plagiarism. Although software outputs need to be carefully reviewed by competent humans to verify the existence of plagiarism, university and journal staff, for various reasons, often erroneously interpret the degree of plagiarism based on the percentage of textual overlap shown in the similarity report. This is often accompanied by explicit recommendations to the author(s) to paraphrase the text to achieve an “acceptable” percentage of overlap. Here, based on the available literature and real-world examples from similarity reports, we provide a classification with extensive examples of phrases that falsely inflate the similarity index and argue the futility and dangers of rephrasing such statements just for the sake of reducing the similarity index. The examples provided in this paper call for a more reasonable assessment of text similarity. To fully endorse the principles of academic integrity and prevent loss of clarity of the scientific literature, we believe it is important to shift from pure bureaucratic and quantificational view on the originality of scientific texts to human-centered qualitative assessment of the manuscripts, including the software outputs. Full article

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Publications, Volume 13, Issue 1 (March 2025) – 9 articles

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