Institute For Scientific Information Research Articles

Latest discoveries related to taste and smell disorders in patients with post-COVID-19 and other neuroviruses – a systematic literature review

Abstract: Introduction: The SARS CoV-2 infection, responsible for COVID-19, has spread worldwide starting with the end of 2019, with major impact in the years 2020 and 2021, especially through the alpha, beta, and delta strains respectively. These strains have also been associated with the development of symptoms of anosmia and ageusia, even after overcoming the acute form of the disease, as part of the post-COVID-19 sequalae that make up the so-called “long-Covid”. [1] The purpose of this systematic literature review was to study these disabling symptoms in the context of long-COVID syndrome. Material and methods: In order to accomplish this review, we used the method Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (acronym - PRISMA) to filter and select the articles of interest that appeared in the period 1/01/2021-31/12/2022, in the international medical databases: Elsevier, NCBI/ PubMed,NCBI/ PMC and PEDro (= Physiotherapy Evidence Database classification), as well as ISI Web of Knowledge (Institute for Scientific Information - ex Thomson Reuters - Clarivate Analytics). We used the keywords for the selection: "COVID-19" / "viral neuroinfections" + "smell" /”olphactory” + "taste" /”gustatory”+ "anosmia" + 'ageusia' +'recovery'+'rehabilitation'. Results and discussion: After applying indirect and then direct quantitative and qualitative filtering, 25 articles remained that met the selection criteria (noted in order of relevance in table 1, at the end of the article). We also added a number of freely identified papers, considered relevant to our topic. We studied aspects of the "long-COVID" syndrome, mainly related to neuro-psychiatric symptoms - especially taste and smell disorders (anosmia/ageusia), risk factors, predictors for this status, pathophysiology, their intricate mechanism of action, frequency of symptoms, neuroanatomy imaging correlated with clinical aspects, effect of anosmia and ageusia on quality of life, recovery from such sequelae, favorable/unfavorable prognostic factors in this regard. Conclusions: Smell and taste are more than just simple sensations/perceptions and anosmia/ ageusia does not always recover spontaneously. The category of patients who are left with such permanent qualitative/quantitative alterations requires in-depth study in order to establish standardized and more effective methods of diagnosis, evaluation and treatment and recovery, than those available at the moment. The chosen topic represents a partially studied niche in the current well of knowledge, which will allow us, following the theoretical and practical deepening of the subject, some possible elements of future contribution.

Mapeamento sistemático da produção de conhecimento na formação graduada em terapia ocupacional nos contextos territoriais e comunitários no Brasil

Abstract This article aims to recognize and dialogue with the production of knowledge, practices and, in particular, with undergraduate teaching in occupational therapy in territorial and community contexts, through the systematic mapping of articles, dissertations and theses published between 2012 and 2022. Bibliographic search was carried out in November 2022, through the SciELO virtual library, the Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (BDTD), the Brazilian Institute of Information in Science and Technology (IBICT) and the databases: Web of Science, Scopus and Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS). 40 productions were eligible, of those, 29 articles and 11 dissertations/theses. The results were analyzed based on thematic analysis, whose topics were: What is territorial and community teaching? Where does it occur? What pedagogical strategies? Who teaches? What challenges do you face? What are the guiding concepts? The results point to interdisciplinary, interprofessional, collaborative teaching with important attributes such as the teaching-learning-assistance process in the territory and in territorial services, including actors such as students, professionals, teams and the community, in addition to the teacher who proposes, articulates and mediates of this teaching. We conclude that the mapping presents a general overview of this teaching, highlighting encounters between theories and practices, from different sub-areas of occupational therapy, which, in addition to teaching, propose actions to transform educational, social, cultural and health conditions. However, we noticed that there are gaps in the literature in the area that explain how the concepts are linked to this training, producing specific reflections on the profession in different sub-areas.

Citatometry is in Crisis, Corrected Number of Citations (iC) is a Life Vest

With the establishment of the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), in 1964 in Philadelphia, the USA, Eugene Garfield introduced the citation indexing of the scientific literature, and his idea proposed in 1955 was realized by publishing the Science Citation Index (SCI). Corrected number of citations (iC), total number of citations the publication received divided by the number of authors, may solve the ongoing crisis of both citatometry and scientometrics. It should be done by Clarivate, the company that continues work of the ISI.

Effect and Mechanism of Curcumin on Bone Loss and Osteoporosis: A Systematic Review

Background: Curcumin has been used in various diseases due to its potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Objective: This systematic review aims to investigate the effect and mechanism of curcumin on bone loss and osteoporosis. Methods: Those human cell line and clinical trial studies indexed in three databases, including PubMed, Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), and Scopus, were included in the review. Records with non-English language articles, full texts not retrieved, and studies that were not relevant to the purpose of our study were excluded. Finally, after evaluating all available records, 11 articles were included. Results: Curcumin induces antiosteoporotic properties by inhibiting the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radical scavenging activity. Curcumin, through blocking nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) transmission to the nucleus, can suppress the production pathways of inflammatory cytokine production. Moreover, the biological mechanism of curcumin is a complex process associated with the modulation of transcription factors, protein kinases, and antiapoptotic proteins. Conclusion: The results of most clinical trials and human cell-based studies support the desirable impact of curcumin on bone loss and osteoporosis. Further clinical studies are needed to derive more reliable results about the prophylactic and therapeutic properties of curcumin on osteoporosis.

Antibiotic Resistance Clinical Research in Iran: A Scoping Review

Context: In recent years, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a global public health threat. Health system decision-makers need valid and reliable situation analysis to better plan for mitigating this threat. Objectives: This scoping review investigated the research gaps in AMR publications in Iran and provided an evidential base to support the identification of priority research to better address antibiotic resistance needs in Iran. Methods: A search of academic databases, including Scopus, Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), Web of Science, MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, and Iranian Database of Medical Literature (IDML), was performed in February 2018. The identified studies evaluated the resistance or susceptibility of antibiotics against any bacteria in an Iranian population. Title, abstract, and full-text screening were conducted, and the included studies were accordingly analyzed with respect to the study protocol. Results: From 37,769 identified studies, 1,718 studies met all inclusion criteria. These studies evaluated the susceptibility of 131 antibiotics to 82 types of bacteria by conducting 3,509 antibiotic resistance tests. Ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and gentamicin had the highest number of studies, samples, and tested bacteria. Regarding the characteristics of the studies, 306 studies had an insufficient explicit definition of study characteristics, 231 studies published their results more than three years after conducting them, and 803 studies (46.7%) were published in local journals. Conclusions: Considering the importance of the AMR crisis, this scoping review debates the low quality of reporting in AMR-related publications in Iran despite extensive research.

Trends in Research on Soil Organic Nitrogen over the Past 20 Years

Nitrogen (N), an indispensable mineral nutrient element for plant growth and development, is a major limiting source of productivity in many terrestrial ecosystems. Soil organic nitrogen (SON) is a crucial form of nitrogen (N) in the N cycle within terrestrial ecosystems, acting as either a “source” or a “sink” for environmental N release. In order to illustrate the research trends, evolution process and hotspots of SON, a bibliometric analysis was used to analyze 906 documents based on the ISI (Institute of Scientific Information) Web of Science (WoS) database. The results indicated that (1) the number of published papers on SON research showed a wavy growth from 2000 to 2022 and the research has entered a mature development period; China has been increasing its number of publications and has long been in the lead; (2) the most productive institutions and authors in this subject area are in the USA and China, with the Chinese Academy of Sciences being the key institution performing such research; (3) in the sample, Soil Biology and Biochemistry, Science of the Total Environment, and Biogeochemistry are the leading international journals that have played a key role in the evolution of the field and have laid a solid foundation for future research; (4) the characteristics and maintenance of SON in farmland and SON migration in small watersheds under forest conversion have become research hotspots. Through the in-depth analysis of SON research, this paper provides a better understanding of the development trends of SON over the past 20 years, which can also provide reference for future research.

Association of the ACE2-Angiotensin1-7-Mas axis with lung damage caused by cigarette smoke exposure: a systematic review.

Through the Mas receptor, angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] has been shown to have a key role in the development of lung inflammation. This systematic review (SR) sought to identify the relationship between lung damage brought on by exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) and the ACE2-Ang-(1-7)-Mas pathway. In this investigation, relevant keywords were used to search PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus (Elsevier), and Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) Web of Science up to December 2022. Nine studies were chosen because they satisfied the inclusion/exclusion criteria. The majority of research concluded that exposure to CS increased the risk of lung damage. Smoking cigarettes is the main cause of COPD because it causes massive amounts of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species to enter the lungs, which stimulate the production of inflammatory cytokines like IL-1 β, IL-6, and TNF-α, as well as the invasion of inflammatory cells like neutrophils and macrophages. These findings support the renin-angiotensin system's (RAS) involvement in the pathophysiology of smoking-induced damage. Additionally, via stimulating pro-inflammatory mediators, aberrant RAS activity has been linked to lung damage. Lung inflammation's etiology has been shown to be significantly influenced by the protective known RAS arm ACE2-Ang-(1-7)-Mas. In conclusion, these are important for informing policymakers to pass legislation limiting the use of smoking and other tobacco to prevent their harmful effects.

Effect of Curcumin on Oxidative Stress, Inflammatory Response and Kidney Biochemical Parameters Among Kidney Disease Patients: A Systematic Review

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal diseases have high global morbidity and mortality. Objective: We aimed to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin and its impact on kidney biochemical parameters associated with kidney disease among CKD and hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: The intended keywords were used in the literature search. Clinical trial studies from the beginning to December 25th, 2021, indexed in the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), Scopus, and PubMed databases, were included in the review. Records with no accessible full texts, non-English language articles, and studies that were not related to the study aim were excluded. The agreement for exclusion required all authors to concur. Finally, after reviewing all available literature, 27 articles were included in this systematic review. Results: Curcumin supplementation increased antioxidant capacity by improving catalase (CAT) activity, free radical scavenging activity, and nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2). It also reduced hs-CRP, IL-6, and TNF-a levels in patients with CKD and HD patients. Different results were reported regarding the effect of curcumin on kidney-related biochemical parameters. But mostly, the results showed that no significant changes were seen in glomerular filtration (GFR), albumin (Alb), serum creatinine (sCr), proteinuria (PRO), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in these patients. Conclusion: Although it seems curcumin improved antioxidant capacity and decreased inflammatory cytokines in CKD and HD patients, it did not affect renal biochemical parameters. More clinical studies with larger sample sizes appear to be needed.

Artificial Intelligence Applications for Assessment, Monitoring, and Management of Parkinson Disease Symptoms: Protocol for a Systematic Review.

Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease, with around 10 million people with PD worldwide. Current assessments of PD symptoms are conducted by questionnaires and clinician assessments and have many limitations, including unreliable reporting of symptoms, little autonomy for patients over their disease management, and standard clinical review intervals regardless of disease status or clinical need. To address these limitations, digital technologies including wearable sensors, smartphone apps, and artificial intelligence (AI) methods have been implemented for this population. Many reviews have explored the use of AI in the diagnosis of PD and management of specific symptoms; however, there is limited research on the application of AI to the monitoring and management of the range of PD symptoms. A comprehensive review of the application of AI methods is necessary to address the gap of high-quality reviews and highlight the developments of the use of AI within PD care. The purpose of this protocol is to guide a systematic review to identify and summarize the current applications of AI applied to the assessment, monitoring, and management of PD symptoms. This review protocol was structured using the PRISMA-P (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols) and the Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome, and Study (PICOS) frameworks. The following 5 databases will be systematically searched: PubMed, IEEE Xplore, Institute for Scientific Information's Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library. Title and abstract screening, full-text review, and data extraction will be conducted by 2 independent reviewers. Data will be extracted into a predetermined form, and any disagreements in screening or extraction will be discussed. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias 2 tool for randomized trials and the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool for nonrandomized trials. As of April 2023, this systematic review has not yet been started. It is expected to begin in May 2023, with the aim to complete by September 2023. The systematic review subsequently conducted as a product of this protocol will provide an overview of the AI methods being used for the assessment, monitoring, and management of PD symptoms. This will identify areas for further research in which AI methods can be applied to the assessment or management of PD symptoms and could support the future implementation of AI-based tools for the effective management of PD. PRR1-10.2196/46581.

Global trends of monkeypox-related articles: A bibliometric analysis over the last five decades (1964 – July 14, 2022)

BackgroundThe first human monkeypox (MPX) case was identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 1970 with an outbreak in 2010 and the first human MPX case in the UK in 2022. In this study, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of the literature on monkeypox based on the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) of the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) to identify relevant topics and trends in monkeypox research. MethodsWe searched the Web of Science from 1964 until July 14, 2022, for all publications using the keywords “Monkeypox” and “Monkeypox virus.” Results were compared using numerous bibliometric methodologies and stratified by journal, author, year, institution, and country-specific metrics. ResultsOut of 1170 publications initially selected, 1163 entered our analysis, with 65.26 % (n = 759) being original research articles and 9.37 % (n = 109) being review articles. Most MPX publications were in 2010, with 6.02 % (n = 70), followed by 2009 and 2022 at 5.67 % (n = 66) each. The USA was the country with the highest number of publications, with n = 662 (56.92 %) of total publications, followed by Germany with n = 82 (7.05 %), the UK with n = 74 (6.36 %), and Congo with n = 65 (5.59 %). Journal of Virology published the highest number of MPX publications, followed by Virology Journal and Emerging Infectious Diseases with n = 52 (9.25 %), n = 43 (7.65 %), and n = 32 (5.69 %) publications, respectively. The top contributing institutions were the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). ConclusionOur analysis provides an objective and robust overview of the current literature on MPX and its global trends; this information could serve as a reference guide for those aiming to conduct further MPX-related research and as a source for those seeking information about MPX.

The Journal that Hal Built: TF&SC's founding editor and early authors laid foundations for a discipline and a premier journal

Founded in 1969 by Dr. Harold “Hal” Linstone and re-named in 1970, Technological Forecasting & Social Change is one of the oldest journals in the field of technology/innovation management. Today TF&SC is the field's highest-cited journal, and the one with the highest Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) rating. Dr. Linstone and his circle provided the foundation for a 21st century elite academic journal. We use early materials from Dr. Linstone's private files, and early papers published in TF&SC, to trace the origins of the journal and to investigate the evolution of its focus. We find that the original focuses of the journal are still relevant today, though the set of tools used has evolved and must continue to evolve. The article fills gaps left by the recent bibliographic studies of the journal's development.

Scientometric Analysis of Articles on Spatial Epidemiology of Cancer in Iran: A Systematic Review.

Geographic information system (GIS) plays an important role in identifying areas with a high incidence of cancer. In the present study, based on a systematic review of studies by Iranian researchers, we performed a scientometric analysis of the published articles on the spatial epidemiology of cancer. In addition, the geographical distribution of certain types of cancer in Iran is presented. A literature search was conducted using electronic databases such as PubMed and NLM Gateway, Institute for Scientific Information, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library for relevant articles published from 2000 to 2021. The search was performed using a combination of medical subject heading terms and keywords. A narrative synthesis was performed, and descriptive data were expressed as frequency and percentage. Of the 200 identified articles, 31 studies published in 15 different journals were included in this systematic review. Results showed a wide variation in high-risk breast cancer clusters. However, a similar incidence of gastrointestinal cancers has been reported, and high-risk clusters were identified in the north and the northwest of Iran. Skin cancer and acute lymphoblastic leukemia were more prevalent in the central provinces. The current volume of studies on the spatial epidemiology of cancer in Iran, with a CiteScore quartile of Q1, is inadequate to guide health policymakers. The geographical distribution of many prevalent types of cancer has not been assessed by Iranian researchers. Furthermore, the classification of high- and low-risk geographical clusters of cancers was not completely homogeneous.

Assessment of the quality of services of reception with risk classification in obstetrics: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionQuality assessment in the context of maternal health services in Brazil has been the object of study due to maternal mortality rates that remain high in the country, in addition...

The Association Between Congenital Heart Disease and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is linked to an increased incidence of neurodevelopmental impairments in young patients. Given the number of published studies on this topic, a synthesis of the literature is timely and needed. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the medical literature to assess the evidence linking CHD to incidence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A systematic review of studies on CHD and ASD in PubMed, Cochrane and Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) from 1965 to May 2021 was conducted. Quantitative estimates of association between CHD and ASD were extracted from eligible studies for the meta-analysis. Pooled estimates were obtained using a random effect models fit by a generalised linear mixed model. We screened 2709 articles and 24 articles were included in this review. Among the 24 studies, there was a total of 348,771 subjects (12,114 CHD, 9829 ASD and 326,828 controls). Seven of 24 studies were eligible for the meta-analysis, which included information on a total of 250,611 subjects (3984 CHD, 9829 ASD, and 236,798 controls). The summary estimate indicated that having CHD is associated with almost double the odds of ASD compared with patients without CHD (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.77-2.24, p < 0.01). Early developmental delay, perinatal factors, and genetics were potential risk factors and etiologies for the onset of ASD symptoms in CHD patients. Having CHD is associated with an increased risk of presenting with a diagnosis or symptoms suggestive of ASD.

Factors Associated with Medication Adherence in Elderly Individuals with Tuberculosis: A Qualitative Study.

This qualitative study was conducted in two phases, using an integrative literature review and individual interviews. Studies were gathered without time restriction from MEDLINE databases, Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), Google Scholar, Scopus, and EMBASE, as well as national databases, including Scientific Information Database and Magiran. The findings of 38 studies that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed through the conventional content analysis method based on the ecological approach. After reviewing and forming the data matrix, purposive sampling was performed among healthcare professionals, elderly tuberculosis patients aged 60 and over, and family caregivers of elderly patients to conduct individual interviews. Data obtained from 20 interviews were analyzed using the directed content analysis method. After coding, the data from individual interviews were entered based on similarity and difference in the categories of data matrix obtained from the literature review. In general, the aforementioned codes were placed in four main categories, including individual factors (i.e., biological factors, affective-emotional factors, behavioral factors, cognitive factors, tuberculosis-related factors, and economic factors), interpersonal factors (i.e., patient's relationship with treatment team and family-related factors), factors related to healthcare service provider centers (i.e., medical centers' facilities and capacity building in healthcare service provider), and extraorganizational factors (i.e., social factors and health policymaking). The results of this study showed that medication adherence in elderly patients with tuberculosis was a complex and multidimensional phenomenon. Therefore, society, policymakers, and healthcare providers should scrutinize the factors affecting medication adherence in this group of patients to plan and implement more effective interventions.

Relations Between Gender and Science-Technology in Brazilian Science Teaching: What do Researches Say?

Through discourses constructed in historical, cultural and social contexts, women face difficulties regarding the insertion, permanence and ascension in the scientific-technological career. In this context, we aim to understand and analyze what is shown in research on gender issues and Science-Technology (ST) in science education in Brazil. To do so, we present a qualitative research, a state of the art, which had as corpus of analysis theses and dissertations present in the repository of the Brazilian Institute of Information in Science and Technology. Methodologically, we used the Textual Discourse Analysis, from which three categories emerged, namely: (1) The discourse of women's non-belonging in ST (2) The (in)visibility of female models who did/do ST and (3) Scientist-mothers and the multiplied workdays. We realize that the feminine gender faces stereotypes and prejudices that end up influencing its inclusion and path in ST. In the search for making ST visible and showing it as a possible career for the female gender, family, school, teachers, and the promotion of public policies of support and incentive are some of the essential means for this.

Relations Between Gender and Science-Technology in Brazilian Science Teaching: What do Researches Say?

Through discourses constructed in historical, cultural and social contexts, women face difficulties regarding the insertion, permanence and ascension in the scientific-technological career. In this context, we aim to understand and analyze what is shown in research on gender issues and Science-Technology (ST) in science education in Brazil. To do so, we present a qualitative research, a state of the art, which had as corpus of analysis theses and dissertations present in the repository of the Brazilian Institute of Information in Science and Technology. Methodologically, we used the Textual Discourse Analysis, from which three categories emerged, namely: (1) The discourse of women's non-belonging in ST (2) The (in)visibility of female models who did/do ST and (3) Scientist-mothers and the multiplied workdays. We realize that the feminine gender faces stereotypes and prejudices that end up influencing its inclusion and path in ST. In the search for making ST visible and showing it as a possible career for the female gender, family, school, teachers, and the promotion of public policies of support and incentive are some of the essential means for this.

Influence of socioeconomic factors on COVID-19 mortality in children: a scoping review

Objective: to identify the scientific evidence on the relationship between socioeconomic factors and mortality in children due to COVID-19. Methods: this is a scoping review. Searches were carried out in the following databases: US National Library of Medicine - National Institutes of Health; Scientific Electronic Library Online; Institute for Scientific Information; Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature; and SciVerse Scopus. Results: 15 articles were selected that showed the influence of socioeconomic factors on infant mortality from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2. Conclusion: it was shown that socioeconomic factors are related to increased mortality from COVID-19 in the infant population, low income and residence in locations considered to be of greater socioeconomic vulnerability, which were presented as important variables to be considered in the COVID-19 pandemic. Contributions to practice: several factors are related to increased susceptibility to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus infection and worsening of the disease in children. However, understanding that socioeconomic factors can be a determinant of COVID-19 incidence and mortality in children highlights the need to invest in actions aimed at reducing socioeconomic inequalities, to reduce preventable deaths.

Как разрушалось господство "научного атеизма" в советском обществоведении (1960–1980-е гг.)

As an integral part of Marxism-Leninism, scientific atheism was being protected fromcriticism with the help of an information blockade. Teaching its basics (from 1959) in higher education institutions formed such a theoretical attitude to religion, which practically excluded from the socio-cultural and scientific space any full-fledged knowledge about religion, religious institutions, religious figures and thinkers. But if atheism in the USSR was planted using the full power of ideological services and the entire system of higher education of the country, then resistance to it was an individual matter. And it remained so throughout the entire Soviet period. Realizing the negative attitude of society towards the anti-religious and anti-church campaigns, Soviet leaders stopped to destruct churches. Shortly after the fall of N. Khrushchev, the All-Russian Society for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments (VOOPiK) was created, which began to be legal opposition to anti-church policy. Since the late 60s , religious samizdat has begun to develop. Our article is devoted to two special cases from the history of destruction in the scientific space of the information blockade on religious and ecclesiastical matters. This blockade breakthrough was carried out by employees of two major Soviet ideological institutes: the editorial office of the Philosophical Encyclopedia and the Institute of Scientific Information on Social Sciences of the USSR Academy of Sciences (INION of the USSR Academy of Sciences). Preparation of The Philosophical Encyclopedia started during the years of the anti-religious and anti-church campaign. It seemed that the situation itself excluded any resistance to the ideological policy of the CPSU. But it was in this edition that the young philosophers, led by Renata Galtseva, with their articles on Russian religious philosophy, dealt a tangible blow to the monopoly of scientific atheism. The second blow was inflicted by INION employees with their abstract collections. They managed to show what role religion and churches have played and continue to play in people's lives, in socialist countries including. The author was a contemporary, and in some cases a participant in the events described in the article.

Advance in grey system theory and applications in science and engineering

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to summarize the advances in grey system theory research and various application achievements in science and engineering. At the same time, it commemorates the 40th anniversary of the birth of grey system theory and the 10th anniversary of Grey Systems–Theory and Application.Design/methodology/approachFirstly, the innovations of theoretical research in grey system theory were summarized and some of the widely recognized new results are briefly described. By searching and combing the research results of grey system theory in China national knowledge infrastructure (CNKI) database and Web of Science by Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), this paper shows the rapid development trend of grey system theory in the past 40 years, and the successful applications of grey system theory in the fields of social sciences, natural sciences and engineering technologies.FindingsMore than 227 thousands literature were found by input 10 phrases such as grey system, grey number and sequence operator etc. in CNKI database. After entering the new century, the number of grey system papers included in CNKI database is increasing rapidly. Since 2008, more than 10 thousands papers have been included per year and more than 15 thousands papers have been included per year since 2014. Grey system method and model are widely used in physics, chemistry, biology and other fields of natural science, as well as transportation, electric power, machinery and other fields of engineering technology, and a large number of valuable results have been achieved.Practical implicationsIt can be seen that the grey system theory plays an important role in promoting China’s scientific and technological progress, innovation and development and high-level talent training from tens of thousands of literatures marked with important national science and technology projects and a large number of grey system literatures published by China’s double first-class universities and double first-class discipline construction universities.Originality/valueBoth innovations of theoretical research and practical application play important role in the growth of new theory. The innovations of theoretical research provide methods and tools for practical application, which is conducive to improve application efficiency and broaden application fields. A large number of practical applications needs have become the source of theoretical innovation and the solid background for the birth of theoretical innovation achievements.