Articles In Top Journals Research Articles

Reducing potential dual-use risks in synthetic biology laboratory research: a dynamic model of analysis

Synthetic biology (SynBio) is an interdisciplinary field that includes biology, genomics, engineering, and informatics. The introduction of machine learning technology reduces the requirement for human participation in SynBio research, which may lead to increased biosafety and biosecurity concerns within the complex human–technology-management system in SynBio laboratories compared with traditional biology. The rapid development of SynBio and machine learning technology has added to the systemic complexity of management and technology subsystems, the risks of which remain unclear. To fully understand and address these risks, there is an urgent need to develop a quantitative model. In this study, three-round Delphi interviews were conducted with SynBio experts who have published articles in top journals (e.g., Nature, Science, Cell, etc.) and applied the system dynamics method to build a quantitative analysis model. The model explores the potential risk factors and their complex relationships in the SynBio research. We analyzed three subsystems (biotechnology, information technology, and management), identifying seven key risk factors. Among these, the Average Experience of Newcomers and Tolerable Error Frequency play an essential role in laboratory management. Notably, the biosafety atmosphere has the greatest impact on reducing error rate and increasing safety awareness, as well as on the infrastructure safety of SynBio laboratory. In addition, we also consider the impact of the progressiveness of machine learning in the SynBio research and find that using more advanced machine learning technology leads to lower instrument safety. This study provides a framework for quantifying potential risk factors in SynBio research and lays a theoretical foundation for future laboratory safety management and the development of a global code of conduct for interdisciplinary scientists.

The prevalence of direct replication articles in top-ranking psychology journals.

Despite lip service about replication being a cornerstone of science, replications have historically received little real estate in the published literature. Following psychology's recent replication crisis, we assessed the prevalence of one type of replication contribution: direct replication articles-articles where a direct or close replication of a previously published study is one of the main contributions of the article. This prevalence provides one indicator of how much the field values and incentivizes this type of self-correction. We used a keyword search combined with manual checking to identify direct replication articles that were published from 2010 to 2021 in the 100 highest impact psychology journals. In total, only 0.2% of articles (169 articles out of 84,834) were direct replication articles. There was a small suggestive increase in the prevalence of direct replication articles over time. Additionally, journals with a stated policy of considering replication submissions (31% of journals) were 7.85 times more likely to publish direct replication articles than those without such a policy. Fifty-four out of 88 journals did not publish any direct replication articles in the 11 years surveyed. Our estimate is not the same as the prevalence of direct replication studies overall (direct replication results can be shared in many ways other than as direct replication articles in top journals). Ultimately, direct replication articles are still rare, with a few journals doing most of the heavy lifting. Based on these findings, we argue it would be premature to declare that psychology's replication crisis is over. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

CNS Prophylaxis in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: A Common Toxic Clinical Practice Based on Abundant Opinion, Despite Evidence Suggesting Futility

Introduction: The history of medicine is replete with clinical practices, some clearly dangerous that have not been supported by what we would now consider to be mandatory data. Likewise, the field of hematology has not been immune from such practices as, for example, routine laparotomy and splenectomy in Hodgkin disease. Despite such history, and a push for evidence-based medicine, contemporary patient care still includes practices that have mainstream support despite a dearth of supporting evidence. CNS prophylaxis for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(DLBCL) is one glaring example. Current Practice: In patients with high CNS-IPI score (≥4), multiple extra-nodal (EN) sites (≥3) and high-risk extra-nodal site, brain imaging is obtained (usually MRI) and cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) is analyzed. If CNS involvement at diagnosis is ruled out, systemic chemotherapy followed by high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) is typically offered to fit patients. Intra-thecal (IT) therapy or no prophylaxis is the usual practice for unfit patients. These therapies, modelled on the CNS prophylaxis in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), are not free of side effects and include mucositis, myelosuppression, hepatic, renal, neurological, and gastro-intestinal toxicities. Expert Opinion: Multiple national guidelines support the use of CNS prophylaxis for high-risk DLBCL. For example, the updated NCCN guidelines state that “CNS prophylaxis should be considered for patients with risk factors for CNS disease, but the optimal method is controversial”( NCCN Guidelines®, B cell lymphomas, version 5.2023). The British Society of Haematology recommend HD MTX administration for “high risk patients that are considered fit for such treatment”(McKay et al. British Journal of Haematology 2020). The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) states that “HD-MTX is an option, even though the level of supporting evidence is low”(Tilly et al. Annals of Oncology 2015) ; the Canadian Lymphoma group recommends that ' Patients at high risk 'could consider' prophylaxis with high dose methotrexate“( Shafey et al. 2021) ; the Spanish Lymphoma Group recommends that 'CNS-directed prophylaxis should be offered to patients at high risk of CNS relapse'(Peñalver et al. Haematologica 2017). Similarly , multiple 'How I Treat' or guideline articles in top journals( Melchardt et al. ESMO Open 2023; Peñalver et al. Haematologica 2017; Bobillo et al. Haematologica 2023) support such use. Published data: There are no randomized controlled studies assessing CNS prophylaxis compared to none. There are, however, multiple reports in the past two decades of the use of some form of CNS prophylaxis. Without any controls, the value of such therapy is impossible to assess. At the same time, there are several comparative reports, based only on historic controls and compounded by heterogeneity of treatments and comorbidities, that suggested a benefit for CNS prophylaxis (Table 1). More recently, a large body of retrospective studies, with controls, were published (Table 2). These included a cohort that received HD-MTX versus those who did not receive HD-MTX or those who did not receive any CNS prophylaxis. In virtually all these reports there was no evidence of reduction in CNS relapse. Widespread use: Currently, the use of CNS prophylaxis is prevalent among fit and young patients with high-risk features ( Bobillo et al. Haematologica 2023; Demirci et al. Blood Research 2023). The concern for CNS relapse is the driving force behind this practice with a muted assurance that such may indeed prevent disease recurrence. Among older or unfit patients, CNS prophylaxis is most often withheld, with no evidence of a higher rate of CNS relapse ( Boehme et al. Blood, 2009; Eyre et al. Haematologica 2019). Conclusion: Relapse in the CNS after treatment of DLBCL has long been recognized as a serious clinical problem. It was assumed by many that, as in ALL, simple prophylaxis would be an effective remedy. This hope was never convincingly shown to be effective. Several phase II studies, with biased controls, suggested a benefit which, nevertheless, could not be confirmed in large retrospective controlled studies. Perhaps a different mold of CNS prophylaxis is needed, but the current approach appears marginally effective at best or unnecessarily harmful, at worst. Is it not time to step forward and resolve this issue, before it becomes religiously entrenched as standard of care?

Internal Corporate Venturing - A Systematic Review and Theoretical Framework of Salient Dimensions

Internal corporate venturing (ICV), an essential form of corporate entrepreneurship, has recently gained scholarly attention. While strategy and innovation research extensively covered corporate diversification and entrepreneurship, few studies address the main dimensions of ICV. To address this gap in the literature, we systematically review ICV top journal articles from 1977 to 2020 to explore the past, present, and future research avenues by investigating two complementary questions: How has ICV literature evolved throughout the years, and which predominant themes does it comprise? Our systematic review surfaces two main findings. First, we summarize the various ICV definitions and their evolution over time. Second, we organize three dominant themes of ICV strategy, organization, and process in a theoretical framework.

Qualitative interviewing in the field of work and organisational psychology: Benefits, challenges and guidelines for researchers and reviewers

AbstractEmpirical research in the field of work and organisational psychology has typically adopted quantitative methods such as surveys or experiments. Comparatively less research has adopted qualitative methods such as interviewing. The aim and purpose of this article is to provide a practical guide for work and organisational psychology researchers, especially those more familiar with quantitative methods, to get started with qualitative interview approaches. The authors decided to focus on qualitative interviews as they are the most common method adopted in qualitative work and are often combined with other qualitative techniques such as participant observation or quantitative techniques such as surveys or experiments. This article looks at the strengths of adopting a qualitative interview design when conducting empirical research in the fields of work and organisational psychology, and the challenges faced in publishing such research. Finally, the article provides researchers and reviewers with guidelines for effectively executing, publishing and evaluating research adopting a qualitative interview design, and highlights exemplary articles in top journals that adopt qualitative interview designs.

Mapping a World of Urban Planning Literature: GIS Analysis to Address Equity Gaps in a Library Collection

Where does one look to study cities around the world? How does a librarian build a collection that moves beyond a limited Western focus to incorporate post-colonial and indigenous experiences? And how can such analysis be automated to allow practitioners at disparate institutions to diversify their own collections? These questions are important as Urban Planning tries to incorporate a variety of practices in human settlement from across the world. Building on previous research related to an Urban Planning book collection, this study uses GIS analysis to address DEI questions on a global scale by highlighting disparities in scholarly focus. By analyzing the geographic subject content of top journal articles in the field of Urban Planning in comparison to books within the library, the study examines ways that a collection can address gaps in analysis of human settlements around the world, especially in the global south. These analyses are then used to guide collection development, building a global focus in the book collection, filling in gaps that may arise from limits in the current journal coverage. Material is analyzed both in the specific collection, but also in the larger scholarly community, comparing the specific gaps in the collection to larger gaps in the scholarship of Urban Planning. In addition to the primary study, this article includes details about using Excel macros for textual analysis of a corpus of metadata, with instructions for how to use these open-source macros to do analysis at a variety of institutions.

The gender gap in highly prestigious international research awards, 2001–2020

AbstractThis study examines gender disparities in the world’s 141 most prestigious international research awards. I find that (a) from 2001 to 2020 these awards were received 3,445 times by 2,011 men and 262 women; (b) women’s share increased from an annual average of 6% during 2001–2005 to an annual average of 19% during 2016–2020; (c) 49 of the 141 awards were not received by women during 2016–2020; and (d) when the numbers of female full professors are taken into consideration, the gender gap remains highly disproportionate in biological and life sciences, computer science, and mathematics. Overall, women would be expected to increase their share of awards by nearly 50% to achieve parity with men today. The study shows great similarities between men and women award recipients in journal articles per author, the average number of authors per article, the proportion of articles in top journals, citations per article, and participation in large research groups and international collaborations. I conclude that the gender gap in highly prestigious research awards is largely a result of demographic inertia and other factors that deserve further investigation.

Bayesian Statistics in Sociology: Past, Present, and Future

Although Bayes’ theorem has been around for more than 250 years, widespread application of the Bayesian approach only began in statistics in 1990. By 2000, Bayesian statistics had made considerable headway into social science, but even now its direct use is rare in articles in top sociology journals, perhaps because of a lack of knowledge about the topic. In this review, we provide an overview of the key ideas and terminology of Bayesian statistics, and we discuss articles in the top journals that have used or developed Bayesian methods over the last decade. In this process, we elucidate some of the advantages of the Bayesian approach. We highlight that many sociologists are, in fact, using Bayesian methods, even if they do not realize it, because techniques deployed by popular software packages often involve Bayesian logic and/or computation. Finally, we conclude by briefly discussing the future of Bayesian statistics in sociology.

Improving the measurement of group-level constructs by optimizing between-group differentiation.

The ability to detect differences between groups partially impacts how useful a group-level variable will be for subsequent analyses. Direct consensus and referent-shift consensus group-level constructs are often measured by aggregating group member responses to multi-item scales. We show that current measurement validation practice for these group-level constructs may not be optimized with respect to differentiating groups. More specifically, a 10-year review of multilevel articles in top journals reveals that multilevel measurement validation primarily relies on procedures designed for individual-level constructs. These procedures likely miss important information about how well each specific scale item differentiates between groups. We propose that group-level measurement validation be augmented with information about each scale item's ability to differentiate groups. Using previously published datasets, we demonstrate how ICC(1) estimates for each item of a scale provide unique information and can produce group-level scales with higher ICC(1) values that enhance predictive validity. We recommend that researchers supplement conventional measurement validation information with information about item-level ICC(1) values when developing or modifying scales to assess group-level constructs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

The Ecological Fallacy in National Culture Research

This article challenges the understanding and use of the Hofstede and GLOBE national culture models in much extant culture-related theory development. Both the Hofstede and GLOBE culture dimensions are derived from individual-level survey data aggregated to, and analysed at, the national level. But their culture scales that are correlated at the national (ecological) level are not correlated in the same manner at the individual or organizational level. To presume they are is a form of ‘ecological fallacy’ that, despite warnings, has often been overlooked by culture researchers. We analyse five research articles in top journals in organizational behaviour, general management, international business, marketing and accounting and show how the articles commit an ecological fallacy by projecting national-level culture characteristics onto individuals or organizations. The implications of this ecological fallacy include the development of invalid culture-related theory and the persistence of erroneous practitioner stereotyping. We provide the first comprehensive explanation of the origins, effects and implications of the ecological fallacy in national culture research and practice. A way forward for culture-related research is also suggested.

Factors Affecting Journal Quality Indicator in Scopus (SCImago Journal Rank) in Obstetrics and Gynecology Journals: a Longitudinal Study (1999-2013).

Introduction:Awareness of the latest scientific research and publishing articles in top journals is one of the major concerns of health researchers. In this study, we first introduced top journals of obstetrics and gynecology field based on their Impact Factor (IF), Eigenfactor Score (ES) and SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) indicator indexed in Scopus databases and then the scientometric features of longitudinal changes of SJR in this field were presented.Method and material:In our analytical and bibiliometric study, we included all the journals of obstetrics and gynecology field which were indexed by Scopus from 1999 to 2013. The scientometric features in Scopus were derived from SCImago Institute and IF and ES were obtained from Journal Citation Report through the Institute for Scientific Information. Generalized Estimating Equation was used to assess the scientometric features affecting SJR.Result:From 256 journals reviewed, 54.2% and 41.8% were indexed in the Pubmed and the Web of Sciences, respectively. Human Reproduction Update based on the IF (5.924±2.542) and SJR (2.682±1.185), and American Journal of obstetrics and gynecology based on the ES (0.05685±0.00633) obtained the first rank among the other journals. Time, Index in Pubmed, H_index, Citable per Document, Cites per Document, and IF affected changes of SJR in the period of study.Discussion:Our study showed a significant association between SJR and scientometric features in obstetrics and gynecology journals. According to this relationship, SJR may be an appropriate index for assessing journal quality.

Change of editorial assistant

For 6 years Thomas Domeratzki—conducting research and teaching at the Schumpeter School of Business and Economics/University of Wuppertal—has been our outstanding editorial assistant. During these years the impact factor of journal has steadily risen alongside its global dissemination; the top journal articles have more than a thousand downloads. We are very grateful to Mr. Domeratzki for his commitment to the journal, helping in attracting and publishing high quality research. We wish him all the best for his future career. We are happy to welcome Mr. Vladimir Udalov as the new editorial assistant. On the occasion of the transition, we would also like to express our sincere gratitude to our outstanding academic referees, who have provided invaluable support for our mission to publish high quality papers with economic policy relevance. We will continue to emphasize a global outreach, a focus on crucial theoretical and empirical issues and in particular debates on alternative policy approaches. International Economics as a field has witnessed some analytical progress, however, we cannot be satisfied with the state of economics as a science—too many serious problems and challenges have been overlooked in the first decade of the 21st century.

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International Relations in the US Academy1

Using two new data sources to describe trends in the international relations (IR) discipline since 1980—a database of every article published in the 12 leading journals in the field and three surveys of IR faculty at US colleges and universities—we explore the extent of theoretical, methodological, and epistemological diversity in the American study of IR and the relationship between IR scholarship and the policy-making community in the United States. We find, first, that there is considerable and increasing theoretical diversity. Although US scholars believe and teach their students that the major paradigms—realism, liberalism, Marxism, and constructivism—define and divide the discipline, most peer-reviewed research does not advance a theoretical argument from one of these theoretical traditions. There is no evidence, moreover, that realism and its focus on power relations among states dominate, or since 1980 ever has dominated, the literature. Second, although three times as many IR scholars report using qualitative methods as their primary approach, more articles published in the top journals currently employ quantitative tools than any other methodological approach. Third, there exists little epistemological diversity in the field: American IR scholars share a strong and growing commitment to positivism. Finally, there is a disjuncture between what American scholars of IR think about the value of producing policy-relevant work and the actual research they generate: few articles in top journals offer explicit policy advice, but scholars believe that their work is both prescriptive and useful to policymakers.

Traditional Japanese medicine, Kampo: Its history and current status

Traditional Japanese medicine, Kampo, is used by over 80% of medical doctors in Japan. Owing to its high quality and safety, Kampo has been integrated into modern medicine, and there are 345 randomized controlled trials using Kampo in Japan as of 2010. Although there are a number of articles in top journals about basic science research, we can find only small numbers of high-quality clinical evidence. Since undergraduate education on Kampo has been established, integrative approach with the balanced combination of modern medicine and Kampo is expected to generate good clinical evidence in the near future.

Research and Publication by Communication Faculty in East Africa: A Challenge to the Global Community of Communication Scholars

Few African scholars publish articles in top journals, present papers at prestigious conferences, or produce monographs that influence the direction of the field of communication as a whole. We explored hindrances to scholarly productivity in East Africa by administering questionnaires to faculty members at five leading communication departments and conducting in-depth interviews with department heads, librarians, and other senior faculty members. Results indicated that an increase in institutional priority on research and publication makes this an opportune juncture for collaboration with the international scholarly community to facilitate research and publication activity by African academics.

Regionalization vs. globalization in advertising research: Insights from five decades of academic study

Abstract This paper is a response to calls for more research into the regional–as opposed to global–level of international business operations (Rugman and Verbeke, 2004). Focusing on a key issue in international management, the standardization decision, this paper presents a systematic review of top journal articles published over the last five decades on the subject of advertising standardization at the regional level. The results of this review demonstrate that in the last decade studies have frequently taken a regional rather than international focus of analysis, suggesting a shift in research in line with regionalization theory. However, this study also shows that research on regional standardization has lacked consistency in relation to how the phenomenon should be defined and measured. We present a conceptualization of measurement approaches to international advertising standardization, propose a typology of approaches and discuss their implications for knowledge advancement in the area.

The Struggle For Baltic History

The attitudes of Western powers toward the Baltic states were in 1945–1990 steadily affected by how they perceived Baltic history: whether it even existed and if so, what did its most recent phase represent–occupation or voluntary union? The Baltic refugees were initially poorly prepared for the struggle about history, because they lacked not only English language skills but also understanding of democratic societies. Their books were printed by little-known publishers, and studies in scholarly journals were almost completely absent. A breakthrough took place in the 1960s. Major figures were Vytas Stanley Vardys, who was first to publish articles in top journals and books with major publishers, and Jānis Gaigulis, who initiated and kept going the Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies (AABS) and its Journal of Baltic Studies. Support for scholars was strong in the Latvian exile community, while hesitant in the Estonian and Lithuanian ones. By the time of the ‘Singing Revolution’ the struggle for Baltic history had been won in the Western world. It had become widely accepted that the Baltic peoples and their histories existed, and Moscow's attempts to rewrite Baltic history could not take root in the West. Winning the struggle for the past helped in the struggle for the future of the Baltic peoples.

The Dynamic Interest in Topics within the Biomedical Scientific Community

The increase in the size of the scientific community created an explosion in scientific production. We have analyzed the dynamics of biomedical scientific output during 1957–2007 by applying a bibliometric analysis of the PubMed database using different keywords representing specific biomedical topics. With the assumption that increased scientific interest will result in increased scientific output, we compared the output of specific topics to that of all scientific output. This analysis resulted in three broad categories of topics; those that follow the general trend of all scientific output, those that show highly variable output, and attractive topics which are new and grow explosively. The analysis of the citation impact of the scientific output resulted in a typical longtail distribution: the majority of journals and articles are of very low impact. This distribution has remained unchanged since 1957, although the interests of scientists must have shifted in this period. We therefore analyzed the distribution of articles in top journals and lower impact journals over time for the attractive topics. Novelty is rewarded by publication in top journals. Over time more articles are published in low impact journals progressively creating the longtail distribution, signifying acceptance of the topic by the community. There can be a gap of years between novelty and acceptance. Within topics temporary novelty is created with new subtopics. In conclusion, the longtail distribution is the foundation of the scientific output of the scientific community and can be used to examine different aspects of science practice.

Contribution of Chinese publications in computer science: A case study on LNCS

Conference proceedings are one of the key communication channels in computer science. This paper aims to analyze the Chinese outputs in the context of conference papers in computer science through an exploration of the conference proceedings series book – Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS) in the period of 1997–2005. Results indicate that: 1. The number of Chinese papers in LNCS keeps growing in the studied period; the share of Chinese papers in LNCS in recent years is much higher than that of Chinese SCI papers in the world; In sharp contrast with remarkable growth of the share of Chinese papers in LNCS, the share of SCI articles in top journals of computer science published by the scientists of mainland China is negligible during the same period. 2. Chinese researchers are more likely to collaborate with domestic fellows; 3. In spite of the increasing amounts of Chinese papers in LNCS, they receive only a few citations; 4. The articles are strikingly more cited by authors themselves and international authors’ citations are more than Chinese authors’ non-self-citations in the first three years after publication; 5. Based on the new indicator Impact Index (II) the authors proposed, the relative impact of Chinese articles in LNCS is increasing although the average impact of Chinese papers in LNCS is obviously less than that of the publications in LNCS in each year during the studied period.