Emerging Research Trends Research Articles

Work Engagement in Indonesian Small and Medium Enterprises: A Bibliometric Analysis of Emerging Research Trends

Work Engagement in Indonesian Small and Medium Enterprises: A Bibliometric Analysis of Emerging Research Trends

Barriers to Digital Transformation in SMEs: Insights from a Bibliometric Analysis

This paper presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the current research landscape concerning digital transformation in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). Through a series of VOSviewer visualizations, we identify major thematic clusters, emerging research trends, unexplored opportunities, and patterns of author collaboration within the field. Our findings reveal a strong initial focus on crisis management in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which gradually shifted towards long-term strategic issues such as business model innovation, digitalization strategies, and international market expansion. The analysis highlights under-researched areas including specific business processes and implications of digital transformation in the manufacturing sector, suggesting fruitful avenues for future research. Additionally, the study maps the collaboration networks among scholars, uncovering both strong interconnections and potential gaps that offer opportunities for new scholarly partnerships. This paper contributes to the strategic knowledge on digital transformation in SMEs by outlining the evolution of research themes over time and suggesting directions for future research collaborations to enhance the digital resilience and competitiveness of SMEs.

Mapping the landscape of energy markets research: A bibliometric analysis and predictive assessment using machine learning

This study examines the evolving dynamics of research on the energy market that focuses on understanding its interactions and interdependencies with other markets. Using published articles from 2002 to 2022 indexed by the Web of Science, we employ bibliometric methods, complex network measurements, and machine learning algorithms to analyze trends and predict academic success or interest. Our bibliometric analysis highlights the growing emphasis on new topics, such as clean energy, over traditional energy topics like crude oil and volatility spillovers. In a horse-race setup, we use supervised regression techniques to predict the paper’s academic success, measured in terms of the average number of citations over the years. We use meta-information from the paper, including keywords, as predictive attributes. The Random Forest achieves the best out-of-sample performance. We complement this analysis by using Shapley Additive Explanations to assess the contribution of each attribute to the overall prediction, thus allowing model interpretability. We find non-linear relationships between some numeric attributes, such as the number of keywords in the paper, and the target variable, highlighting the flexibility of non-linear methods compared to linear ones. Our findings offer valuable insights into emerging research trends and provide educators, policymakers, and finance professionals with critical information to navigate the evolving landscape of energy market research.

Revealing research trends: a bibliometric review of publications on transformational leadership

This bibliometric review examines the landscape of research on transformational leadership, aiming to reveal current trends, influential authors, research themes, and future research directions. Through systematic data collection from reputable academic databases and analysis using VOS Viewer software, the study identifies a significant interest in transformational leadership, as evidenced by 200 papers and 211 citations within the past year. Key findings include the high impact of certain works, notable authors such as P. Charoensukmongkol and A.Ç. Kılınç, and central themes such as motivation and emotional intelligence. The study's implications extend to research advancement, educational practice, organizational leadership, policy-making, and global impact, highlighting the relevance and importance of transformational leadership in various contexts. This review enriches our understanding of transformational leadership and provides valuable insights for future research and practice. Although there has been much research on Transformational Leadership, there is still a need for more in-depth analysis to reveal emerging research trends, dominant research focuses, as well as research contributions to the understanding of this concept. In this regard, bibliometric research offers a powerful approach to analyze and present information about the distribution, trends and dynamics of research in the field of transformational leadership (Ahmad et al., 2020a).The importance of understanding and uncovering research trends related to Transformational Leadership is not only driven by academic needs, but also by its practical implications in the context of organizations and leadership development. For example, findings from bibliometric analysis can provide guidance for organizations in developing leadership development programs that align with current trends and practices (Ahmad et al., 2020b).

Research status and hotspots of social frailty in older adults: a bibliometric analysis from 2003 to 2022.

Social Frailty is a significant public health concern affecting the elderly, particularly with the global population aging rapidly. Older adults with social frailty are at significantly higher risk of adverse outcomes such as disability, cognitive impairment, depression, and even death. In recent years, there have been more and more studies on social frailty, but no bibliometrics has been used to analyze and understand the general situation in this field. Therefore, by using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bilioshiny software programs, this study aims to analyze the general situation of the research on social frailties of the older adults and determine the research trends and hot spots. A bibliometric analysis was conducted by searching relevant literature on the social frailty of the older adults from 2003 to 2022 in the Web of Science core database, using visualization software to map publication volume, country and author cooperation networks, keyword co-occurrences, and word emergence. We analyzed 415 articles from 2003 to 2022. Brazil has the highest number of articles in the field of social frailty of the older adults, and the United States has the highest number of cooperative publications. Andrew MK, from Canada, is the most published and co-cited author, with primary research interests in geriatric assessment, epidemiology, and public health. "Social Vulnerability," "Health," "Frailty," "Mortality," and "Older Adult" are among the research hotspots in this field. "Dementia," "Alzheimer's disease," "Population," and "Covid-19" are emerging research trends in social frailty among the older adults. This scientometric study maps the research hotspots and trends for the past 20 years in social frailty among the older adults. Our findings will enable researchers to better understand trends in this field and find suitable directions and partners for future research.

Research Overview and Trends of the Effects of Gibberellins (GAs) on Rice Biological Processes: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a vital crop that feeds more than half of the world's population. Gibberellins (GAs), a crucial phytohormone, play a significant role in the growth and development of rice. Since 1985, there has been a notable increase in the number of studies investigating the effects of GA on various biological processes in rice. Nevertheless, conducting scientific and quantitative research on the extensive literature available poses significant challenges, particularly in understanding the development trajectory of the field, examining major contributors, and identifying emerging research trends. The objective of this study is to address these challenges by analyzing global research patterns and trends using bibliometric methods from 1985 to 2024. Through the application of advanced analytical tools, progress in this field is studied in depth and the global research landscape is characterized from multiple dimensions including countries, institutions, authors, and journals. The analysis of 2118 articles extracted and screened from the Web of Science Core dataset shows a steady growth in the number of publications. The research published in China and the USA has significantly advanced the development of the field. In particular, institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Nagoya University have shown impressive productivity. Lee In-Jung stands out as the most influential author. The journal Plant Physiology publishes the highest number of articles. The study also provides a thorough examination of current research hotspots, indicating a predominant focus on understanding the role of GAs in the biological processes that regulate diverse rice phenotypes, including plant height, seed dormancy, germination, and stress resistance. By tracing the development characteristics and key points in this area, this study contributes to a quantitative and comprehensive understanding of the impact of GAs on rice.

The Economic Consequences of Climate Risk Disclosures

ABSTRACT As the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) implements rules to improve and standardize climate-related disclosures among public companies and the climate change dilemma unfolds, understanding the economic implications of climate risk disclosures becomes crucial for stakeholders. This study aims to synthesize research developments in the climate risk disclosure domain to provide valuable insights into current research trends and identify potential avenues for future research. More specifically, this study identifies prior research that investigates the economic or financial effects of climate disclosures. Prior studies find both positive and negative effects of climate risk and suggest that climate disclosures may mitigate the effects of climate risk. Our review synthesizes the results of prior studies and identifies the prevailing theoretical frameworks used. Based on our assessment of the findings in prior studies, we also reveal emerging research trends and suggestions for future research. Data Availability: The data used in this research are publicly available and can be made available upon request. JEL Classifications: Q54; M41; G32; G38; Q58.

Healthy Mouth, Healthy Lungs: Novel Solutions for Preventing and Diagnosing Periodontal Disease in the Context of Chronic Respiratory Illness.

Chronic respiratory illnesses, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, pose significant challenges to public health worldwide. Mounting evidence suggests a bidirectional relationship between respiratory health and oral health, with periodontal disease emerging as a potential risk factor for the development and exacerbation of respiratory conditions. This review paper explores the complex interplay between periodontal disease and chronic respiratory illness, highlighting the importance of oral health maintenance in promoting respiratory well-being. By examining recent advancements in the prevention and diagnosis of periodontal disease, particularly in the context of chronic respiratory conditions, this paper aims to elucidate novel solutions and strategies for improving oral health outcomes and respiratory outcomes simultaneously. Through a comprehensive analysis of the literature and emerging research trends, this review sheds light on the potential benefits and challenges of integrating oral health into the management of chronic respiratory illnesses and identifies opportunities for future research and clinical practice.

Energy 4.0: AI-enabled digital transformation for sustainable power networks

The considerable developments in green technology have changed several industries, including the energy business and power sector. These advances have transformed power generation and distribution. Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, computer vision, blockchain, and the internet of things (IoT)have advanced significantly in recent years. These advances have transformed the energy business and expanded its applications. In this concise yet comprehensive analysis, energy and power systems are examined from an eco-friendly perspective and emerging research trends are highlighted. The increasing use of renewable energy sources necessitates infrastructure restructuring, which presents the potential for grid development and AI usage for intermittent and distributed generation. The integration of AI, IoT, and blockchain technologies into energy and power systems offers opportunities to improve efficiency, sustainability, and dependability. Application-specific research is comprehensively examined to investigate the present state-of-the-art and limitations of various technologies. The focus in this study is the importance of implementing a complete policy and planning framework to support a significant and efficient shift toward advanced grid systems. The convergence of AI, information and communication technology , and energy systems offers unparalleled prospects affecting the trajectory of energy generation, distribution, and consumption in the future. This study makes a valuable contribution to the wider academic discussion on utilizing digital transformation to create sustainable and intelligent energy ecosystems by integrating insights acquired from several fields.

Marine Science Can Contribute to the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Life.

Life on our planet likely evolved in the ocean, and thus exo-oceans are key habitats to search for extraterrestrial life. We conducted a data-driven bibliographic survey on the astrobiology literature to identify emerging research trends with marine science for future synergies in the exploration for extraterrestrial life in exo-oceans. Based on search queries, we identified 2592 published items since 1963. The current literature falls into three major groups of terms focusing on (1) the search for life on Mars, (2) astrobiology within our Solar System with reference to icy moons and their exo-oceans, and (3) astronomical and biological parameters for planetary habitability. We also identified that the most prominent research keywords form three key-groups focusing on (1) using terrestrial environments as proxies for Martian environments, centred on extremophiles and biosignatures, (2) habitable zones outside of "Goldilocks" orbital ranges, centred on ice planets, and (3) the atmosphere, magnetic field, and geology in relation to planets' habitable conditions, centred on water-based oceans.

15 years of Big Data: a systematic literature review

Big Data is still gaining attention as a fundamental building block of the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning world. Therefore, a lot of effort has been pushed into Big Data research in the last 15 years. The objective of this Systematic Literature Review is to summarize the current state of the art of the previous 15 years of research about Big Data by providing answers to a set of research questions related to the main application domains for Big Data analytics; the significant challenges and limitations researchers have encountered in Big Data analysis, and emerging research trends and future directions in Big Data. The review follows a predefined procedure that automatically searches five well-known digital libraries. After applying the selection criteria to the results, 189 primary studies were identified as relevant, of which 32 were Systematic Literature Reviews. Required information was extracted from the 32 studies and summarized. Our Systematic Literature Review sketched the picture of 15 years of research in Big Data, identifying application domains, challenges, and future directions in this research field. We believe that a substantial amount of work remains to be done to align and seamlessly integrate Big Data into data-driven advanced software solutions of the future.

Illuminating rural tourism: A bibliometric approach

During the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, rural tourism in developed nations provided an exhilarating and pioneering field to delve into, whether one was a scholarly researcher or a visitor immersing oneself in the countryside environment. This type of tourism emerged as a novel and distinctive option, challenging the traditional and, in some cases, rapidly expanding beach and coastal resorts that dominated the tourism industry after the Second World War. Rural tourism was not a completely new occurrence in advanced countries during that period. It had already been set up, for example, in many distinguished and charming areas throughout Europe and North America since the end of the 19th century. The research examines the responses to the growth and transformation of rural tourism by analyzing articles published in Scopus, specifically exploring the subject categories and geographic distribution of these publications. By identifying patterns and making predictions based on these articles, this study aims to classify and investigate key research advancements and divisions in rural tourism. Additionally, it explores the research gaps in this field and synthesizes the findings to establish a solid framework for future investigations. The study also delves into the marketing research aspect of rural tourism and rural locations, highlighting the value of rural tourism journals for businesses and examining the emerging research trends and future opportunities in tourism organizations, as well as critical indicators for business performance. Finally, the article suggests that the capability framework can be utilized to identify new avenues for marketing research in the area.

The welfare impact of financial inclusion: a research agenda

PurposeThis paper provides a systematic review of literature pertaining to the welfare impact of financial inclusion. We identify the 50 most influential publications in the field that have evolved into three distinct categories, each of which we critically review to identify the main contributions of this research area.Design/methodology/approachBy conducting a state-of-the-art literature review, this paper identifies the most influential papers in the research fields on the welfare impact of financial inclusion. One caveat is that as newer publications generally have fewer citations, reviewing prior work can result in a misleading account of emerging trends and research directions. Manual assessment of publications after 2018 facilitates a discussion of important emerging research trends and their directions.FindingsThe three key research streams are identified as financial services and financial accessibility, financial capability, and financial literacy and household welfare. By assessing publications from 2018 to 2023, we also document four key emerging research trends: Fintech and digital financial inclusion, sustainability and climate change, growth, poverty, income inequality, financial stability, and Entrepreneurship. Drawing on these emerging trends, we highlight the opportunities for future research.Research limitations/implicationsKeyword searches have limitations as some papers might be overlooked if they do not match the specific search criteria, despite their relation and significance to the overall topic of the welfare impact of financial inclusion. To address this issue, we have expanded this review by incorporating more literature from other databases, such as the Scopus database which may alleviate this issue.Practical implicationsThe three key research streams contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the welfare impact of financial inclusion. The emerging trends integrate existing knowledge and leave the chance for innovative research to expand the research frontier.Originality/valueThis paper fulfils the systematic literature review streams in the welfare impact of financial inclusion and provides fruitful opportunities for future research.

Deep Learning for Iris Recognition: A Survey

In this survey, we provide a comprehensive review of more than 200 articles, technical reports, and GitHub repositories published over the last 10 years on the recent developments of deep learning techniques for iris recognition, covering broad topics on algorithm designs, open-source tools, open challenges, and emerging research. First, we conduct a comprehensive analysis of deep learning techniques developed for two main sub-tasks in iris biometrics: segmentation and recognition. Second, we focus on deep learning techniques for the robustness of iris recognition systems against presentation attacks and via human-machine pairing. Third, we delve deep into deep learning techniques for forensic application, especially in post-mortem iris recognition. Fourth, we review open-source resources and tools in deep learning techniques for iris recognition. Finally, we highlight the technical challenges, emerging research trends, and outlook for the future of deep learning in iris recognition.

Systematic bibliometric analysis of research hotspots and trends on the application of premium IOLs in the past 2 decades.

To analysis of research hotspots and trends on the application of premium intraocular lens (PIOLs) in the past 2 decades. The literature search was performed on the Web of Science and included PIOLs studies published between January 2000 and December 2022. The retrieved literature was collated and analyzed by R-tool's Bibliometrix package, CitNetExplorer, CiteSpace and other software. A total of 1801 articles about PIOLs were obtained, most of which were published in Spain and the United States. The organization that published the most articles was the University of Valencia in Spain. Alió JL, and Montés-Micó R, from Spain were the most influential authors in this field. The Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and Journal of Refractive Surgery were the core journals for this field; the top 10 cited articles mainly focus on postoperative satisfaction with multifocal intraocular lens (IOLs) and postoperative results of toric IOLs. Through the keyword analysis, we found that trifocal IOLs, astigmatism and extended depth of focus (EDoF) IOLs are the most discussed topics at present, and the importance of astigmatism and the clinical application of the new generation of PIOLs are the emerging research trends. Bibliometric analysis can effectively help to identify multilevel concerns in PIOLs research and the prevailing research trends in the realm of PIOLs encompass the adoption of EDoF IOLs, trifocal IOLs, and their respective Toric models.

Performance measurement of factors affecting consumer experience in healthcare services using fuzzy and grey techniques

PurposeThe importance of consumer experience in service industries, particularly healthcare, is widely acknowledged as it captures the intricacies of quality management. In tandem with the emerging research trends that evaluate service excellence through user experience, this study renders a performance analysis of the dimensions of consumer experience that individually or collectively shape healthcare consumers’ perceptions of service quality.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional study was conducted across 13 mid-tier corporate hospitals to collect data from 438 patients. The data was processed through factor analysis in SPSS to confirm sample adequacy and factor extractability. Further, two independent multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) tools, Fuzzy Technique for Order Performance by Similarity to Ideal Solution (F-TOPSIS) and Grey Relational Analysis (GRA), were executed to render performance analysis of identified factors.FindingsUsing F-TOPSIS, factors such as “information” and “hospital environment” received higher performance ratings, while items related to “communication with doctors” and “humanistic care” received lower rankings. Minor yet anticipated deviations were observed while verifying performance scores using GRA. Nonetheless, both outcomes exhibited a strong correlation coefficient of 97.14%, confirming analytical consistency.Originality/valueHitherto, such usages of hybrid MCDM techniques have rarely been executed to convey a clear understanding of consumers’ experiences in healthcare services. Moreover, the findings provide a clear insight into consumers’ key response areas, which can further be translated to maximize consumer gratification, thus assisting healthcare managers in improving service performance and clinical decision-making.

Biomarkers for neuromyelitis optica: a visual analysis of emerging research trends.

Neuromyelitis optica is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that differs from multiple sclerosis. Over the past 20 years, the search for biomarkers for neuromyelitis optica has been ongoing. Here, we used a bibliometric approach to analyze the main research focus in the field of biomarkers for neuromyelitis optica. Research in this area is consistently increasing, with China and the United States leading the way on the number of studies conducted. The Mayo Clinic is a highly reputable institution in the United States, and was identified as the most authoritative institution in this field. Furthermore, Professor Wingerchuk from the Mayo Clinic was the most authoritative expert in this field. Keyword analysis revealed that the terms "neuromyelitis optica" (261 times), "multiple sclerosis" (220 times), "neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder" (132 times), "aquaporin 4" (99 times), and "optical neuritis" (87 times) were the most frequently used keywords in literature related to this field. Comprehensive analysis of the classical literature showed that the majority of publications provide conclusive research evidence supporting the use of aquaporin-4-IgG and neuromyelitis optica-IgG to effectively diagnose and differentiate neuromyelitis optica from multiple sclerosis. Furthermore, aquaporin-4-IgG has emerged as a highly specific diagnostic biomarker for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-IgG is a diagnostic biomarker for myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease. Recent biomarkers for neuromyelitis optica include cerebrospinal fluid immunological biomarkers such as glial fibrillary acidic protein, serum astrocyte damage biomarkers like FAM19A5, serum albumin, and gamma-aminobutyric acid. The latest prospective clinical trials are exploring the potential of these biomarkers. Preliminary results indicate that glial fibrillary acidic protein is emerging as a promising candidate biomarker for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. The ultimate goal of future research is to identify non-invasive biomarkers with high sensitivity, specificity, and safety for the accurate diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica.

Career adaptability in the new normal world of work: exploring the post-pandemic research trends using bibliometric analysis

PurposeCareer adaptability is emerging as an important research area in today's uncertain, volatile world of work created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study focuses on career adaptability research post-COVID-19 by scientifically capturing the literature evolution, hotspots and future trends using bibliometric analysis.Design/methodology/approachThe Scopus database, due to its vast and quality literature, was used to search the papers from the period 2020 to 2023. Bibliometric data were extracted and analyzed from the relevant literature. For further scientific mapping, VOSviewer and Biblioshiny software tools were used.FindingsFindings of the analysis suggest a positive research trend related to career adaptability research post-Covid. Keyword analysis revealed noteworthy clusters and important themes. Bibliometric visual networks regarding authors, sources, citations, future themes, etc. are also presented from the 441 analyzed publications with comprehensive interpretation.Research limitations/implicationsThe literature for carrying out the bibliometric analysis was confined to the Scopus database. Other databases in combination with different software can be used for future niche research. From the analysis, future research avenues and practical interventions are presented which have significant implications for future researchers, career counselors and managers.Originality/valueThe study summarizes the recent literature on career adaptability in the aftermath of the pandemic and makes a novel contribution to the existing literature. A reliable study has been provided by the authors using the scientific bibliometric technique. The study highlights emerging research trends post the pandemic. The results are concluded with further suggestions which can guide future research related to the topic.

Treatment of refinery wastewater: Current status and prospects

The continuous increase in petroleum refining wastewater production poses a significant challenge to protecting the water environment. The comprehensive review of petroleum refining wastewater treatment processes, particularly on the cutting-edge treatment technologies, treatment efficiency, and pollutant degradation mechanisms, must be provided. This article offers such a review for filling up the literature gap. The current technologies, including the traditional pre-treatments, primary, secondary, and tertiary treatments, the combined treatments, and the wetland treatment processes, were discussed in detail. The challenges encountered in current practice, with the future research needs to overcome the challenges, were then outlined. The emerging research trend including the use of artificial intelligence technology for enhancing the petroleum refining wastewater treatment performance was also highlighted.

A Comprehensive Survey on Blockchain Technology and Its Applications

This survey paper provides a comprehensive and in-depth overview of blockchain technology and its wide-ranging applications. It begins by introducing the fundamental characteristics and structure of blockchain, with a particular focus on the five major consensus mechanisms and their unique features. The article emphasizes the crucial role of smart contracts and cryptography in the construction and operation of blockchain networks. Furthermore, the paper explores the specific applications of blockchain in three key areas: cryptocurrencies, supply chains, and healthcare security. It highlights the numerous advantages that blockchain brings to these domains, including enhanced security, transparency, and efficiency. The paper also offers valuable insights into the future potential of blockchain technology in these areas, providing a glimpse into the possibilities that lie ahead. Additionally, the article addresses the challenges posed by the "impossible triangle" of decentralization, security, and high performance in blockchain. It discusses the emerging research trends aimed at tackling these challenges, such as cross-chain protocols, privacy protection mechanisms, blockchain expansion strategies, and advanced data storage solutions. The paper presents recent advancements and breakthroughs in each of these research directions, showcasing the ongoing efforts to overcome the limitations of blockchain technology.