Geographical Bias Research Articles

A systematic review on patient and public attitudes toward health monitoring technologies across countries

The market for digital health monitoring is expanding rapidly, with technologies that track health information and provide access to medical data promising benefits for users, particularly in areas with limited healthcare resources. To understand user attitudes toward these technologies, we conducted a systematic review of literature with primary data about patient and public perspectives. We synthesized 562 studies (2000–2023) from PubMed, Embase, ACM Digital Library, IEEE Xplore, Web of Science, and Scopus, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research. We revealed a significant geographic bias, with most research concentrated in few countries, and identified access gaps in both Global South and Global North. While users generally showed positive attitudes toward health monitoring technologies, they expressed various concerns. We provide suggestions for future research to enhance the socially responsible integration of technology in healthcare. One important limitation of our approach is using English-language search terms. This potentially excluded relevant studies from underrepresented countries.

Systematic review of global historical marine ecology reveals geographical and taxonomic research gaps and biases.

The field of historical marine ecology (HME) developed two decades ago to address a lack of knowledge about long-term declines in the ocean. Here, we conduct, to our knowledge, the first global systematic review of HME, analysing 543 peer-reviewed articles to ask: what has been learnt and what gaps remain? The diversity of sources used in HME-from Roman texts to twentieth-century catch records-illustrates the methodological richness of the field. Most articles used documentary sources (68%) and produced quantitative outputs (54%), reflective of HME's origins in marine science. Research focused on economically and culturally valuable taxa like fishes, which account for 41% of articles. Most research found decline (85%), while articles finding increase relied on significantly more recent data, underscoring the need for long-term data to assess decline. Strikingly, we identify geographical gaps and biases that suggest a need for targeted initiatives to support HME in the Global South. For instance, nearly as much research focused on the California Current as the entire Indian Ocean, and 74% of first authors worked in North America and Europe. Understanding the colonial legacy of marine resource extraction and the history of artefact theft that disadvantages Global South researchers should guide the future of HME.This article is part of the theme issue 'Shifting seas: understanding deep-time human impacts on marine ecosystems'.

The Evolution of Digital Tourism Marketing: From Hashtags to AI-Immersive Journeys in the Metaverse Era

This study examines how social media platforms influence tourism marketing strategies, consumer perceptions, and travel behaviors, addressing their sustainability implications. It aims to evaluate the current state of research on social media in tourism marketing, identify dominant trends, assess empirical evidence of impact, and critically highlight research gaps. The analysis focuses on three core marketing outcomes: destination image, travel intention, and user engagement—and includes a section examining sustainability considerations across environmental, sociocultural, and economic dimensions. The study uses a systematic critical review of 147 peer-reviewed academic articles published between 2015 and 2025, combined with a meta-analysis of 38 quantitative studies that report statistical effect sizes. The meta-analysis uses a random-effects model to compare the influence of different platforms and study contexts. Moderator variables include geographic region, platform type, and methodological design. Findings show that social media marketing has a statistically significant positive effect on destination image (Cohen’s d = 0.61), travel intention (d = 0.54), and user engagement (d = 0.43). The analysis also reveals geographic bias, limited research on emerging platforms, and a lack of longitudinal and ethical inquiry. Findings suggest that tourism researchers and marketers may have to adopt more context-sensitive, interdisciplinary, and ethical approaches. Critical sustainability concerns emerge, including “overtourism”, cultural commodification, digital inequities, and algorithmic biases. Further studies may focus on specific platform-related behaviors, long-term impacts, and integrated online strategies appropriate for global tourism diversity. Lastly, this paper advocates for context-sensitive, interdisciplinary, and ethically grounded approaches to ensure sustainable digital tourism marketing strategies.

Systematic global stocktake of over 50,000 urban climate change studies

Abstract Taking stock of climate change evidence is essential to helping cities address climate change. However, such efforts face challenges in appraising the growing scholarship in this fast-moving area. Here we use supervised and unsupervised machine learning to identify and classify over 53,000 urban climate studies, creating a dynamic, interactive and searchable evidence database for researchers and policymakers. Nearly 20,000 are city-specific case studies, revealing a rapidly growing yet unevenly distributed knowledge base. Notably, small and fast-growing cities, particularly in Africa and Asia, remain substantially underrepresented, contributing to topical, geographic and disciplinary biases in previous Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessments. We propose three strategies to address this: (1) synthesizing case studies to support IPCC uptake, (2) identifying cross-city learning opportunities and (3) closing evidence gaps in the Global South. Thereby, our systematic stocktake helps inform adaptation and mitigation efforts in cities, guides future research and strengthens the IPCC’s ability to deliver robust, policy-relevant evidence.

Comparative Study Of Ct And 1.5 Tesla Mri In Quantitative Estimation Of Bone Mineral Density In Lumbar Spine

The effectiveness of 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and quantitative computed tomography (QCT) for determining bone mineral density (BMD) in the lumbar spine of 44 patients (22 males, 22 females; mean age 46.02 ± 11.14 years) from Western Uttar Pradesh was compared in this prospective cross-sectional study, which was carried out at Teerthanker Mahaveer Hospital and Research Centre in Moradabad, India. Hounsfield Units (HU), QCT-derived BMD, and MRI signal intensities (T1-weighted, T2-weighted, gradient echo) among the L1–L5 vertebrae were among the measurements. Significant age-related differences (p < 0.05) were noted in T1, T2, HU, and QCT-BMD at particular lumbar levels, but no significant gender differences were reported in imaging parameters or BMD (p > 0.05). The sensitivity of MRI to bone marrow changes was demonstrated by Pearson correlation analysis, which revealed negative correlations between T1/T2 signal intensities and QCT-BMD and positive correlations between HU and QCT-BMD. 50% gender prediction accuracy was attained via binary logistic regression (100% for females, 0% for males). Despite drawbacks such geographical bias and small sample size, the results demonstrate MRI's potential as a radiation-free substitute for DEXA and validate CT's dependability for BMD evaluation. To improve diagnostic accuracy, future research should investigate larger cohorts and more sophisticated MRI techniques.

Geographical Insights into the Reward-Based Crowdfunding Market of the European Union

Geographical biases in investment decisions, where investors favor domestic assets, remain a persistent puzzle in international macroeconomics. Despite numerous rational theories, these biases often defy explanation. The rise of online crowdfunding, which fosters peer-to-peer interactions, promises to overcome geographical limitations and bring a more globalized approach to funding. Yet, many studies continue to reveal that investors tend to favor local opportunities. In light of this, we argue that rather than broad international studies, future research should focus on specific regions where economic, political, and cultural similarities might shape investor behavior. The European Union (EU), an area that has been largely overlooked in this context, provides a unique setting for such an analysis. Our exploratory study delves into the reward-based crowdfunding market within the EU, examining the geographical distribution of projects and funders, the biases within this market, and their impact on funding success. We observe that the EU market is highly concentrated in its largest economies. By employing Quasibinomial-Logit-Regression and linear regression models, we find evidence of strong national proximity biases and no significant evidence of cross-border funding biases among EU member states. Additionally, our regression results reveal that these home-country preferences have a detrimental effect on funding success, as funders from more distant regions tend to contribute higher amounts. These findings provide valuable insights into the dynamics of geographical biases and their consequences in the EU crowdfunding landscape.

Harnessing historical sampling to substantiate range shifts: southward movement of North American least weasels (Mustela nivalis)

Contemporary climate change is rapidly affecting species’ ranges and distributions. While there is a general trend of poleward movement, there are exceptions. For example, despite the North American least weasel’s (Mustela nivalis) elusive nature, mammalogists in the mid-1900s noted the potential southward extension of its range into the central US, opposite the general poleward paradigm. Historically, a record of a species in a new location was sufficient for documenting a range expansion; yet, such observations can be biased by the extent of regional sampling. To investigate this unusual southward range shift, we use historical specimen records to statistically assess the absence of least weasels in the central United States before the 1960s. We include records of similarly trapped mammals as a measure of sampling effort, to better distinguish between perceived absence and geographic sampling bias. We then use ecological niche modelling to measure the association between changing climate and least weasel range dynamics. Our results provide evidence of a significant expansion at the southern periphery of their range, consistent with the 1960s timeline of hypothesised dispersal in historical field notes. Comparison of historical and contemporary niche models shows a significant increase in suitability at the south-western leading edge during that same time frame. Our findings underscore the importance of natural history specimen records for understanding species’ responses to climate change and provide methods for a more robust validation of suspected changes in range dynamics, particularly for rare or elusive species. Species ranges and distributions are changing rapidly under contemporary environmental conditions, with a tendency to shift polewards. Observation of a species in a new location is insufficient evidence of range expansion and accounting for historical sampling provides a more robust test of changes in species distributions over time. We find evidence of a significant south-western range expansion by North American least weasels (Mustela nivalis), validating historical observations. We document a significant increase in suitable area for North American least weasels along the southern edge of their range, correlating with an increase in water availability. Consideration of historical surveys and collections can provide valuable leverage for understanding range dynamics and life histories of rare or elusive species.

Effects of Urbanization on Flowering Phenology, Pollination, and Reproductive Success in the Chiropterophilous Tropical Tree Ceiba pentandra.

Urbanization often negatively impacts pollinator abundance and richness; however, its effects on different pollination components and plant reproductive success are highly variable. Previous research efforts have also shown geographic and taxonomical bias, with non-insect-pollinated plant species in tropical cities underrepresented in the literature. Although bats represent the most persistent mammal group in urban ecosystems, studies addressing the effect of urbanization on chiropterophilous plants are scarce. Here, we addressed the impacts of urbanization on flowering phenology, pollination, and reproductive success in the chiropterophilous tree Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. (Malvaceae) in two major tropical cities of the Yucatan Peninsula. We found that urbanization has led to an earlier flowering phenology; however, no effect of urbanization was detected in the two pollination components evaluated: pollinator visitation rate and pollen deposition. Finally, the effects of urbanization on the reproductive success of C. pentandra were mixed. While marginally negative effects of urbanization were found in fruit set, positive effects were found in seed germination. These findings suggest that urban pollinators can provide similar levels of pollination services and thus lead to comparable reproductive success for C. pentandra in forests and cities.

Mounier–Kuhn syndrome: a tripartite analysis bridging clinical epidemiology, imaging evolution, and global research landscapes

BackgroundMounier–Kuhn syndrome (MKS) is characterized by tracheobronchomegaly with thinning or atrophy of the elastic tissue. Due to low clinical awareness, MKS is frequently overlooked on chest CT examinations, leading to diagnostic delays. This study aimed to synthesize the historical context and contemporary advancements in MKS research.MethodsFive MKS cases were retrospectively identified through thoracic imaging review at our institution. A systematic review adhering to PRISMA guidelines was conducted across Web of Science (WOS) and China-specific databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure [CNKI], Wanfang) from January 2000 to March 2025 to identify studies reporting CT-confirmed tracheobronchial dilation, to address geographic bias. Concurrently, a bibliometric analysis of WOS publications spanning January 1962 to March 2025 was performed using predefined inclusion criteria to analyze historical research trends through VOSviewer.ResultsOur institutional cohort (5 patients: 4 males) exhibited marked tracheobronchial dilation, with two representative cases demonstrating distinct clinical trajectories of disease progression. Systematic analysis of 147 publications encompassing 169 radiologically confirmed cases revealed significant male predominance (male-to-female ratio: 5.5:1), a mean tracheal diameter of 34.3 ± 6.1 mm, a median diagnostic delay of 3.0 years (IQR: 0.25–20.0 years), and high comorbidity prevalence including bronchiectasis (71.6%) and tracheal diverticulosis (67.5%). The most frequent clinical manifestations were cough (64.5%), dyspnoea (52.7%), and recurrent respiratory infections (57.4%). Bibliometric analysis of 288 global publications characterized research trends through country/institutional affiliations, author collaborations, journal distributions, and keyword co-occurrence, with diagnostic imaging advancements dominating recent scholarly output.ConclusionsThis three-phase analytical approach bridges clinical observations with global research trends, revealing significant diagnostic delays and evolving imaging paradigms in MKS management. Our findings underscore the need for enhanced clinical vigilance and multinational collaborative research initiatives to establish evidence-based therapeutic frameworks for this under-diagnosed condition.

Capoeira and Its Effects on Health-Related Outcomes-A Systematic Review.

Objective: Capoeira is an Afro-Brasilian martial art as well as a music- and dance-based cultural practice. This article aims to establish a foundational framework for future research endeavors in the domain of Capoeira by conducting a comprehensive review of existing literature focused on the relationship between Capoeira and physical as well as mental health aspects. Methods: PubMed, PsychArticle, and Google Scholar were searched from January 01, 2012, until July 15, 2022. This review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Study selection and risk-of-bias judgments were performed by two authors independently. Only articles written in German or English language were eligible for this review. Geographical restrictions with regard to social status or gender were not made. Results: A total of 19 relevant studies meeting predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria were identified for analysis. While robust studies specifically addressing the intersection of Capoeira and physical and mental health are currently lacking, this review reveals mixed findings. The impact of Capoeira on physical health (cardiovascular variables, flexibility, balance, bone density) appears inconclusive, contrasting with the more discernible positive effects observed on mental health outcomes (general health behavior/lifestyle, executive functions, conscious attention control, social skills, prosocial behavior, self-efficacy, self-confidence, resilience, anger, and aggressive behavior/aggression). Discussion: The concentration of studies within the Portuguese-speaking region raises the possibility of a geographic bias. Despite this limitation, this review suggests that Capoeira holds promise as a psychotherapeutic intervention. However, the need for further studies to establish its solid effectiveness is underscored. Conclusion: This review provides a synthesis of existing literature on Capoeira and its effects on physical and mental health. The observed trends warrant additional research, particularly in diverse geographic settings, to validate and extend our understanding of Capoeira's potential as a psychotherapeutic intervention.

30 years of climate related phenological research: themes and trends

Anthropogenic climate change has caused changes in the seasonal timing (phenology) of life-cycle events with consequential impacts on ecosystem functioning and biodiversity. Over the last 30 years, climate-related phenological research has expanded rapidly. To identify key themes and knowledge gaps in this research landscape we used a text-based analysis approach, topic modelling. Our systematic literature search identified 4,681 publications on phenology between 1989 and 2019. We showed taxonomic and geographic bias in the literature with a large proportion of publications on bird migration and reproduction, insect phenology, marine phenology, and agriculture, focused within the Northern hemisphere. Our results reflected the decadal advances in technology, for example remote sensing studies increased the most in popularity. Topics related to genetics increased along with mismatching, which has impacts on species fitness. While climate-based topics were highly connected, there was little connectivity between different disciplines and newer areas of research. Remote sensing rarely co-occurred with other topics, insect phenology was either being studied with plants or birds instead of being considered as part of a network, and mismatching was rarely studied alongside other methodologies in phenological research. We suggest that transdisciplinary research considering species as part of a system and analyzing new or understudied taxa and regions should be prioritized. The disjuncts identified in this analysis inhibit development of a coherent view of the impact of phenological changes on biodiversity and will have implications for conservation management.

A systematic review and meta‐analysis on urban arthropod diversity

Abstract Urbanization is rapidly expanding at the global level, a phenomenon often reported to exert negative effects on biodiversity. However, many important knowledge gaps about the effect of urbanization on biodiversity remain, posing important conservation challenges. This is especially true for certain taxonomic groups like arthropods, despite being the most diverse and abundant animal group on Earth. Here, we conduct an exhaustive systematic literature review and meta‐analysis to assess whether and how urbanization is negatively associated with arthropod diversity. We explored potential geographic, temporal and taxonomic biases in the availability of evidence. In addition, we make use of meta‐analysis of variance to investigate whether urban areas across the world show similar patterns of arthropod diversity change. Our results support previous studies; urbanization and arthropod diversity are negatively associated. However, not all arthropod groups seem to respond similarly (e.g., Odonata) potentially suggesting the importance of implementing taxa‐specific conservation actions in urban areas. On the other hand, our meta‐analysis of variance showed higher variance in arthropod diversity in urban compared to non‐urban habitats, suggesting great potential for the implementation of certain city conservation practices or attributes to promote arthropod communities. Last, we identified several key taxonomic and geographic biases that require additional scientific attention as well as strong evidence for negative‐effects publication bias in the literature. Our results highlight the importance of urban ecology research for helping design more diverse urban ecosystems.

The African Platform for Open Scholarship Advancing Diamond Open Access and Inclusivity

Geographic, language, peer review, and editorial biases have to be navigated by Global South authors to get published. Initially, the open access movement was praised for bridging the information access divide. However, commercial publishers have hijacked the philanthropic ethos, turning it into a business model. Publishing charges add to the aforementioned biases, consolidating the exclusion of Global South scholarship. The African Platform for Open Scholarship developed by the University of Cape Town (UCT) counters these biases by offering free publishing infrastructure to advance the publishing of African scholarship without compromising academic rigor. The platform adopts the diamond open access model to demarginalize Global South scholarship. Further, there is a discussion on the challenges and opportunities associated with creating an inclusive and equitable scholarly communication ecosystem. This paper focuses on UCT’s use of the platform to transition its commercial publishing arm (UCT Press) and to grow UCT Libraries Press. The paper will use exemplars to demonstrate the positive impact of these initiatives on the growth of diamond open access.

Waqf-led buildings and green infrastructure role in environmental sustainability: understanding critical gaps in current research landscape

PurposeThis study examines the role of waqf – an Islamic philanthropic endowment – in supporting sustainable development through a quantitative analysis of academic literature. Conducting a comprehensive bibliometric analysis using databases such as Scopus, Web of Science and Dimensions, we identify key trends, regional focuses and gaps in waqf-related research.Design/methodology/approachThe study analyzes 71 articles from Scopus, Web of Science and Dimensions databases. Advanced bibliometric techniques are employed to examine publication trends, author productivity, citation patterns, geographical distribution, institutional analysis, journal analysis, keyword analysis and thematic evolution. This unique combination of databases and comprehensive analysis provides a holistic view of the field.FindingsResults reveal a significant increase in research output since 2018, with a geographical concentration in Southeast Asia and emerging international collaborations. Key research clusters focus on integrating waqf with sustainable finance mechanisms and global development goals. However, the study uncovers an under-exploration of waqf’s specific applications in green infrastructure and building projects. This analysis provides valuable insights for academics, policymakers and practitioners, offering a roadmap for future studies and practical applications of waqf in sustainable urban development.Practical implicationsThis study shows that waqf could be a novel financing method for sustainable infrastructure projects. Gaps in existing studies propose ways to construct Islamic endowment-compliant financial models, such as merging monetary waqf with renewable energy initiatives or using FINTECH to improve waqf management. These insights can help policymakers and practitioners promote international collaboration and cross-border collaborations to improve waqf-led sustainable development.Social implicationsThis study underscores waqf’s potential to address key socio-economic challenges, such as poverty alleviation, community welfare and inclusive urban development. Suggesting the use of waqf in funding green infrastructure projects highlights a pathway toward more equitable and inclusive development strategies. The emphasis on the long-term socio-economic impacts of waqf-funded initiatives encourages policies and research focused on maximizing the social benefits of these projects, ensuring that they contribute to the welfare of diverse communities.Originality/valueThis study’s originality lies in its focused examination of waqf in the context of green building and infrastructure, utilizing a unique combination of three major databases and employing a comprehensive set of bibliometric analyses. It contributes to the literature by identifying research gaps, emerging trends and potential future directions in waqf-led sustainable development for green infrastructure and buildings. While earlier research has touched upon the contribution of waqfs in Islamic finance and overall sustainable development, this research fills the gap uniquely by specifically targeting its application in green buildings and infrastructure – a specialized yet very important subtopic that is less researched in literature. Through the integration of bibliometric analysis in three databases (Scopus, Web of Science and Dimensions), this research provides unparalleled insights into thematic trends, geographic bias and collaborative networks, offering a roadmap for future research in the intersection of faith-based endowments and environmental sustainability.

DNA methylation patterns linked to salinity and geography in the American eel (Anguilla rostrata)

Abstract The panmictic American eel (Anguilla rostrata) displays a wide range of intraspecific phenotypic variation as well as geographical sex bias and differential recruitment. By definition, panmictic species lack genetic structure, thus local adaptation through genetic variation cannot explain the presence of intraspecific variation. As a result, the contrasting phenotypes observed in the American eel could be attributed to either spatially varying selection, phenotypic plasticity (often mediated through epigenetic changes), or the interaction of both processes. Here we explore, for the first time, the role of DNA methylation in acclimatization in a panmictic species, the American eel, as well as its association with salinity and geography in Northeastern Canada. Using whole genome bisulfite sequencing in 72 individuals, we found that DNA methylation patterns were associated with geography and to a lesser degree with salinity. We identified a genomic region with differential methylation associated with salinity that falls inside the SOCS2 gene, which has been previously linked to salinity differences in other fish species, as well as to metabolism and somatic growth regulation. This study advances our understanding of how panmictic species or populations with high gene flow acclimatize to variable environments in the absence of heritable genetic local adaptation.

Strategic Application in the Era of ERAS Signals: Optimizing Interview Opportunities in Radiology Residency Programs.

Strategic Application in the Era of ERAS Signals: Optimizing Interview Opportunities in Radiology Residency Programs.

Evidence-based integration of clinicopathological factors with the risk of papillary thyroid carcinoma lateral cervical lymph node metastasis: systematic review and meta-analysis and subgroup study.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is characterised by a high incidence and high burden. Although surgery combined with adjuvant radioiodine therapy can significantly improve the prognosis of PTC patients, the indication of prophylactic lateral neck lymph node dissection is still controversial. In addition, the sensitivity of preoperative ultrasound for lateral cervical lymph node metastasis (LLNM) is low, so it is important to identify the independent risk factors for LLNM. This study aimed to investigate lateral lymph node metastasis in PTC. A systematic review and meta-analysis of risk factors for clinicopathological, ultrasound, and related features of LLNM were performed. The clinical pathological, ultrasonic, and related risk factors of LLNM in PTC were studied by database search, and the risk factors of LLNM in PTC were analyzed by RevMan5.2 software. Among a total of 40,190 patients, 4,991 had LLNM in 24 studies. Gender [odds ratio (OR) =1.51; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.34-1.70; P<0.001], extrathyroidal extension (ETE) (OR =4.16; 95% CI: 2.82-6.14; P<0.001), tumor size (OR =0.35; 95% CI: 0.20-0.59; P<0.001), multifocality (OR =1.94; 95% CI: 1.50-2.52; P<0.001), central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) (OR =5.38; 95% CI: 2.62-11.07; P<0.001), capsular invasion (OR =0.07; 95% CI: 0.05-0.08; P<0.001), tumor location (OR =1.84; 95% CI: 1.63-2.09; P<0.001), calcification (OR =1.97; 95% CI: 1.34-2.91; P<0.001), and echogenicity (OR =1.55; 95% CI: 1.16-2.08; P<0.001) were significantly associated with LLNM. The following clinicopathological and ultrasonic features were significantly correlated with lateral neck lymph node metastasis, such as male, ETE, tumor size >2 cm, multifocality, CLNM, capsular invasion, high tumor location, calcification, and hyperechoic. It is suggested that for suspected metastatic lymph nodes, lateral neck lymph node dissection can be considered in patients with the above risk factors to reduce the recurrence and distant metastasis of PTC. However, this study has some limitations, such as no new biomarkers were included, high heterogeneity, and geographic bias.

Operationalizing Geographic Diversity for the Evaluation of AI‐Generated Content

ABSTRACTThe introduction and widespread use of foundation models has accelerated the necessity of identifying geographic bias in AI‐generated content. In this respect, we operationalize geographic diversity as a countermeasure. We refine the notion of geographic diversity as the quality of including data from various places and maintaining a balance across these places in both learning and generation processes. Drawing from information theory, ecology, and prior work in AI evaluation, we provide an entropy‐based definition of geographic diversity and propose to measure geographic diversity as effective numbers of places. We apply our measurement by studying generated content from six large language models, including GPT‐3.5, GPT‐4o, Mistral 7B, Mistral Large, Claude 3 Haiku, and Claude 3.5 Sonnet. Our case study reveals that prompt variations, such as modifying concept mentions or scale mentions in a user prompt, can result in more geographic diversity in their generated content. In addition, we observe that less advanced models can generate more geographically diverse content than state‐of‐the‐art ones. Furthermore, certain places dominate the generated content of these models, yet their prominence does not reflect their real‐world counterparts. Our work stresses the importance of quantifying geographic information in AI‐generated content to support GeoAI and the broader AI evaluation in the age of foundation models.

BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF MUTUAL FUND INVESTMENT RESEARCH: TRENDS, KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES, AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research on mutual fund investments spanning from 2021 to 2025, with a focus on how these studies align with the objectives of knowledge management. Knowledge management plays a crucial role in financial decision-making by enabling better information dissemination, improving investor awareness, and fostering strategic financial planning. By examining key trends, influential authors, citation patterns, and methodological approaches, this paper sheds light on how mutual fund investment research contributes to knowledge creation, organization, and application. The findings highlight dominant theoretical frameworks, geographical biases, and methodological approaches in existing studies, offering insights into areas requiring further exploration. Additionally, research gaps and future directions are discussed to encourage a more comprehensive understanding of mutual fund investment behaviour and its integration into knowledge management systems. The study underscores the importance of integrating structured knowledge management practices in financial research to support investors, policymakers, and academic researchers in making informed investment decisions. Keywords: Mutual Fund Investment, Knowledge Management, Bibliometric Analysis, Investor Behaviour, Financial Decision-Making, Risk Management, Financial Literacy, Investment Strategies, Behavioural Finance, Emerging Markets.

Understanding trends in Zostera research, stressors, and response variables: a global systematic review of the seagrass genus.

Seagrass meadows are ecologically significant habitats that are globally threatened. Thus, there is increased interest in conservation of seagrasses as they face widespread decline. Biotic and abiotic factors that influence seagrass can be classified as stressors, such as rising temperature and eutrophication. Our study met an imminent need to consolidate data from previous studies to discern knowledge gaps and identify trends in studies, stressors, species, and geographic origination of research for the genus Zostera. For our systematic review, the objectives were to (A) qualitatively assess and summarize the current state of literature focused on seagrass species within the Zostera genus and their stressors; (B) utilize data extracted from full-text articles to identify trends and knowledge gaps for the study of stressors, response variable measurements, species, geography, and study designs; and (C) map the distribution, type, and number of these studies globally. We included articles that focused on stressors associated with Zostera seagrass species, and excluded studies of other seagrasses and non-stressor related articles. We conducted a Web of Science search of all databases, concluding in January of 2021, followed by a standardized review and data extraction protocol using Colandr (colandrapp.com) as our article screening tool. All 15 review participants were trained on the same set of practice articles and decision trees to minimize variation between individuals. After full text extraction, we analyzed our data by frequency and association between species, stressors, and geographic locations studied. We screened 7,331 titles and abstracts and extracted data from 1,098 full-text articles. We found nutrients, temperature, and light were the most studied stressors. The United States of America produced the most articles in our review, followed by Australia. Zostera marina was most frequently studied, and our review found no stressor studies for five species in the genus. Studies most frequently measured response variables across multiple levels of ecological organization, including the individual plant, biotic community, and environmental conditions. As a part of our review, we made all extracted data publicly available as an interactive map. Undertaking a review of global studies allowed us to assess more seagrass articles for a single genus than any prior systematic review, summarizing a breadth of stressor studies related to the Zostera genus. A team effort and standardized training minimized bias during screening and data extraction. Evidence limitations may exist due to the single database used in our search protocol, as well as species, geographic, and stressor biases in included studies. Our review creates a centralized knowledge base that serves as a foundational information source for Zostera research, while highlighting existing knowledge gaps in the literature.