International Collaborative Research Research Articles

International Expert Consensus on Semantics of Multimodal Esophageal Cancer Treatment: Delphi Study.

Recent developments in esophageal cancer treatment, including studies exploring active surveillance following chemoradiotherapy, have led to a need for clear terminology and definitions regarding different multimodal treatment options. The aim of this study was to reach worldwide consensus on the definitions and semantics of multimodal esophageal cancer treatment. In total, 72 experts working in the field of multimodal esophageal cancer treatment were invited to participate in this Delphi study. The study comprised three Delphi surveys sent out by email and one online meeting. Input for the Delphi survey consisted of terminology obtained from a systematic literature search. Participants were asked to respond to open questions and to indicate whether they agreed or disagreed with different statements. Consensus was reached when there was ≥75% agreement among respondents. Forty-nine of 72 invited experts (68.1%) participated in the first online Delphi survey, 45 (62.5%) in the second survey, 21 (46.7%) of 45 in the online meeting, and 39 (86.7%) of 45 in the final survey. Consensus on neoadjuvant and definitive chemoradiotherapy with or without surgery was reached for 27 of 31 items (87%). No consensus was reached on follow-up after treatment with definitive chemoradiotherapy. Consensus was reached on most statements regarding terminology and definitions of multimodal esophageal cancer treatment. Implementing uniform criteria facilitates comparison of studies and promotes international research collaborations.

An empirical analysis of individual and collective determinants of international research collaboration

An empirical analysis of individual and collective determinants of international research collaboration

Do research collaborations age like wine? Absolute and relative measures of CANZUK research partnerships' strength since the 1950s.

Although previous studies of today's globalised and competitive research landscape have mentioned the research collaborations of CANZUK countries (i.e., Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom), none have yet studied them in detail. Further, such studies have used different measures of international research collaboration (IRC), resulting in disparate findings. This paper, therefore, analyses the strengths of CANZUK research collaborations, how those collaborations have changed over time, and assesses the effect of three ways of measures on the results (absolute strength, bilateral similarity, and multilateral similarity). We provide a detailed characterisation of the CANZUK research network and its relationships with partner countries, which reveals that the most collaborative CANZUK countries are the UK and Australia, among other findings. We also confirm that many findings differ depending on which measures are used. We offer an explanation of this difference with reference to the nature of the measures (i.e., what they really measure) and make suggestions for suitable measures in future studies depending on their purpose. Finally, we discuss how this study's findings can be used by research policy makers (in CANZUK and elsewhere) in deciding on research strategy and by researchers in appropriately measuring IRC.

Cultural Adaptation of the Functional External Memory Aid Tool for Use in the United Kingdom and Australia

Purpose: The Functional External Memory Aid Tool (FEMAT) is a performance-based measure of applied cognitive-linguistic abilities and attempted use of compensatory aids and strategies (e.g., using a calendar to recall an appointment) through completion of simulated everyday living tasks. The FEMAT was originally developed in the United States (US), and a need arose from clinicians to adapt the FEMAT for use in other countries. The aim of this study is to describe the cultural adaptation process that resulted in the United Kingdom (UK) and Australian (AU) versions of the FEMAT via international clinical research partnerships. Method: The FEMAT was adapted into UK and AU cultures using established guidelines for cultural and linguistic adaptation. The adaptation was completed by researchers and clinicians from the US, UK, and AU, and we followed a six-step process: (a) preparation, (b) forward translation, (c) back translation, (d) committee review, (e) field testing, and (f) finalization. Results: The FEMAT items and materials were successfully adapted from the source culture (i.e., English-US) to the target cultures (i.e., English-UK, English-AU). Through the adaptation process, the FEMAT items were determined to be conceptually appropriate for each culture and minimal modifications were made to the FEMAT materials (e.g., voicemail recordings recorded in target dialect). The finalized FEMAT-English-UK and the FEMAT-English-AU versions are available for free on the FEMAT website. Conclusions: Through successful international clinical research collaborations, the FEMAT was successfully adapted for use in other English-speaking cultures. This work provides guidance to streamline future FEMAT cultural adaptations. Supplemental Material: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.25564461

International Mobility and Knowledge Exchange Between China and the West: A Study of Chinese Humanities and Social Sciences Scholars

Purpose This study examines the impact of international academic mobility on knowledge exchange between China and the West, including its potential benefits and risks, specifically in the humanities and social sciences (HSS) fields. Design/Approach/Methods This study employed qualitative research methods; specifically, data were collected through interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings With increasing knowledge flows in global academia, Chinese HSS scholars are benefiting from international academic mobility. They engage in various activities, such as international visits, conferences, and research collaborations, and praise the role of mobility in building an understanding of Western culture and knowledge, including research dynamics, embodied and encultured knowledge, and location-specific textual materials. However, international mobility has inadvertently exacerbated global knowledge asymmetries, with some Chinese scholars uncritically adopting Western paradigms. Nonetheless, pioneering Chinese HSS scholars aim to promote a two-way knowledge exchange between China and the West by fostering cultural reflexivity and enhancing their global visibility. Originality/Value Chinese HSS scholars serve as an illuminating example in the context of global knowledge asymmetries dominated by the Anglo-American West. These findings have theoretical and practical implications for fostering equitable and inclusive knowledge exchange between Western and non-Western societies through international academic mobility.

The 23rd Annual Meeting of the Rocky Mountain Virology Association.

Located 50 miles west of Fort Collins, Colorado, Colorado State University's Mountain Campus in Pingree Park hosted the 23rd annual Rocky Mountain Virology Association meeting in 2023 with 116 participants. The 3-day event at the end of September consisted of 28 talks and 43 posters that covered the topics of viral evolution and surveillance, developments in prion research, arboviruses and vector biology, host-virus interactions, and viral immunity and vaccines. This year's Randall Jay Cohrs keynote presentation covered the topic of One Health and emerging coronaviruses. This timely discussion covered the importance of global disease surveillance, international collaboration, and trans-disciplinary research teams to prevent and control future pandemics. Peak fall colors flanked the campus and glowed along the multiple mountain peaks, allowing for pristine views while discussing science and networking, or engaging in mountain activities like fly fishing and hiking. On behalf of the Rocky Mountain Virology Association, this report summarizes select presentations from the 23rd annual meeting.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Research Center: a cornerstone for strengthening safety evidence for COVID-19 vaccination in the Republic of Korea.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Research Committee (CoVaSC) was established in November 2021 to address the growing need for independent, in-depth scientific evidence on adverse events (AEs) following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. This initiative was requested by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and led by the National Academy of Medicine of Korea. In September 2022, the COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Research Center was established, strengthening CoVaSC's initiatives. The center has conducted various studies on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. During CoVaSC's second research year, from September 29, 2022 to July 19, 2023, the center was restructured into 4 departments: Epidemiological Research, Clinical Research, Communication & Education, and International Cooperation & Policy Research. Its main activities include (1) managing CoVaSC and the COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Research Center, (2) surveying domestic and international trends in AE causality investigation, (3) assessing AEs following COVID-19 vaccination, (4) fostering international collaboration and policy research, and (5) organizing regular fora and training sessions for the public and clinicians. Causality assessments have been conducted for 27 diseases, and independent research has been conducted after organizing ad hoc committees comprising both epidemiologists and clinical experts on each AE of interest. The research process included protocol development, data analysis, interpretation of results, and causality assessment. These research outcomes have been shared transparently with the public and healthcare experts through various fora. The COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Research Center plans to continue strengthening and expanding its research activities to provide reliable, high-quality safety information to the public.

The Network Structure of International Research Collaboration in Secondary Batteries

The Network Structure of International Research Collaboration in Secondary Batteries

Mapping the landscape of medical research in the Arab world countries: A comprehensive bibliometric analysis.

To describe the productivity, performance, and impact of medical research in the Arab world countries. We carried out a bibliometric analysis using Clarivate Analytics databases from January 2017 to March 2023. We reported research productivity, national and international research collaboration patterns, impact of Arab medical research output compared to the global average, top medical journals publishing Arab-affiliated research, and performance of the most productive Arab institutions. The Arab world contributed 2.72% to global medical research publication, with a citation impact of 11.98 compared to the global impact of 12.02. Qatar, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia led medical research publications per million population among Arab countries, ranking 26th, 36th, and 37th globally. Medical research publications increased by 87% annually from 2017-2022, with 70% of research originating from Saudi Arabia and Egypt. National collaborations accounted for 15% of Arab world publications, while international collaborations represented 66%. The median impact factor across the top 20 medical journals with Arab-affiliated authors was 5.14, with 50% being quartile one journals. The top 10 Arab-origin medical journals had a median impact factor of 3.13. Approximately 80% of the top 20 Arab institutions were academic, with a median publication count of 3,162.5 and a median citation impact of 14.5. The study provides insights into the state of medical research in the Arab countries, indicating room for improvement in the region's medical research.

Mapping knowledge landscapes and emerging trends of Marburg virus: A text-mining study

BackgroundMarburg virus (MARV), a close relative of Ebola virus, could induce hemorrhagic fevers in humans with high mortality rate. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to this highly lethal virus due to sporadic outbreaks observed in various African nations. This bibliometric analysis endeavors to elucidate the trends, dynamics, and focal points of knowledge that have delineated the landscape of research concerning MARV. MethodsRelevant literature on MARV from 1968 to 2023 was extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection database. Following this, the data underwent bibliometric analysis and visualization procedures utilizing online analysis platform, CiteSpace 6.2R6, and VOSviewer 1.6.20. Three different types of bibliometric indicators including quantitative indicator, qualitative indicators, and structural indicators were used to gauge a researcher's productivity, assess the quality of their work, and analyze publication relationships, respectively. ResultsMARV is mainly prevalent in Africa. And approximately 643 confirmed cases have been described in the literature to date, and mortality observed was 81.2 % in overall patients. A total of 1014 papers comprising 869 articles and 145 reviews were included. The annual publications showed an increasing growth pattern from 1968 to 2023 (R2 = 0.8838). The United States stands at the forefront of this discipline, having dedicated substantial financial and human resources to scientific inquiry. However, co-authorship analysis showed the international research collaboration needs to be further strengthened. Based on reference and keywords analysis, contemporary MARV research encompasses pivotal areas: primarily, prioritizing the creation of prophylactic vaccines to impede viral spread, and secondarily, exploring targeted antiviral strategies, including small-molecule antivirals or MARV-specific monoclonal antibodies. Additionally, a comprehensive grasp of viral transmission, transcription, and replication mechanisms remains a central focus in ongoing investigations. And future MARV studies are expected to focus on evaluating clinical trial safety and efficacy, developing inhibitors to contain viral spread, exploring vaccine immunogenicity, virus-host association studies, and elucidating the role of neutralizing antibodies in MARV treatment. ConclusionThe present study offered comprehensive insights into the contemporary status and trajectories of MARV over the past decades. This enables researchers to discern novel collaborative prospects, institutional partnerships, emerging topics, and research forefronts within this domain.

The impact of investor sentiment on stock liquidity of listed companies in China

Researchers have scrutinized the link between investor sentiment and stock market liquidity globally, yet few have delved into this dynamic in emerging markets, especially China. Utilizing a sample of 1,839 publicly listed companies in China from 2010 to 2019, this study applies firm- and year-fixed-effects models to explore the nexus between investor sentiment and stock illiquidity, employing the Amihud measure for stock illiquidity assessment. The outcomes of these fixed-effect regressions illustrate a significantly positive relationship between investor sentiment and stock liquidity in the Chinese market. The positive link is more evident in scenarios characterized by high firm leverage, rapid revenue growth, larger corporations, greater institutional ownership, higher stock volatility, and lower book-to-market ratios. Intriguingly, this analysis incorporates the quadratic term of investor sentiment to examine the potential for a nonlinear dynamic between stock illiquidity and investor sentiment. The findings elucidate that the effect of investor sentiment on stock liquidity diminishes at elevated levels of sentiment, revealing a nonlinear inverse U-shaped relationship. The positive correlation between investor sentiment and stock liquidity persists across the three divisions of the Chinese Shenzhen Stock Exchange and remains robust using alternative liquidity measures, such as Roll’s impact and zeros impact. Addressing causality concerns, current investor sentiment appears to influence subsequent liquidity levels. These results provide valuable perspectives for policymakers, business executives, and investors in the stock market. Acknowledgment This research was funded by the Department of Education of Zhejiang Province General Program [Y202353438], the Wenzhou Association for Science and Technology—Service and Technology Innovation Program [jczc0254], the Wenzhou-Kean University Student Partnering with Faculty Research Program [WKUSPF2023004], and the Wenzhou-Kean University International Collaborative Research Program [ICRP2023002].

A Bibliometric Analysis Study of Global Academic Articles on Malaria and Contribution of Türkiye

Objective: Malaria is a parasitic infection that has a significant negative influence on public health around the world, including Türkiye in recent years with the prevalence of imported cases. This study was conducted to provide a bibliometric analysis of publications on malaria in Türkiye and worldwide, and to determine Türkiye's current position in malaria research.
 Methods: This study was observational, descriptive, and retrospective designed study and utilized scientometric technique and scientific mapping. The research was conducted in the Web of Science online database. The MESH keywords (malaria OR plasmodium) were used. The title (TI) field and only Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-E) index was used for the search queries. The following inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied: The studies published after the end of 2022 were excluded and only the articles were chosen according to the document type.
 Results: On the basis of the defined search, 31376 articles were extracted from the WoS database indexed in the SCI-E category, for the period 1970-2022. The earliest article was published in 1970 and the most of the articles were published in 2021 (n=1274). There was a growth in publications number since end of the 1970s. A total 469 countries contributed the malaria literature. The United States of America (USA) (32.07%), England (18.56%) and France (9.90%) were the leading countries on the malaria literature according to the published article numbers. Türkiye ranked in 71st. A total of 80 articles were retrieved according to search criteria. The articles were cited 1347 times totally and 17.75 times per article. The mean of H index was 18. The earliest articles were published in 1987. The number of articles limited but since 2005 never dropped below two articles per year.
 Conclusion: Scientific production from Türkiye is low. This topic can be improved by increasing both the financial support for and the involvement of researchers in national and international collaborative research projects.

Doxa in international research collaboration: a critical collaborative autoethnographic account

ABSTRACT Funders are increasingly requiring international collaboration for research projects and such projects add to the reputation, rankings and research gravitas of institutions and individual researchers alike. The power asymmetries in global knowledge production means that international research collaboration comes with a range of taken-for-granted and unquestioned rules and rituals. These have become naturalized in international research collaboration and shape researcher identity, development and career progression. In this paper, we operationalize the term ‘doxa’ as a methodological tool through a critical collaborative autoethnography to examine how researchers negotiate the opportunities, tensions, and power struggles emerging from their varying possession of symbolic capital and (dis)positions in a globalized research landscape. In doing so, the paper considers how global power structures play out in individuals’ lives and identities, and suggest that international research collaboration contributes to the reproduction of inequalities in the highly competitive and unequal field of academic research.

An international snapshot of peer leadership in higher education

PurposeThis paper describes an exploratory, international research collaboration that seeks to gain a deeper understanding of the development and experiences of peer leaders in higher education across different international contexts, namely the USA, Canada (CAN), Australasia (Australia and New Zealand) (ANZ), the United Kingdom (UK) and South Africa (SA).Design/methodology/approachData are summarized and compared across each of the participating countries, providing a more global context and depth of perspective on peer leadership (PL) in higher education than is currently available in the literature.FindingsThe findings highlight some apparent differences between countries in relation to student engagement in peer leader roles and the ways in which PL is supported by higher education institutions, as well as some similarities across the different international contexts, particularly in the way peer leaders view the benefits of their involvement in PL.Originality/valueThese insights provide a valuable addition to the literature on PL and practical information to higher education institutions for supporting student leadership development and involvement.

Evaluating the asymmetric effect of patents driven environmental technologies on environmental degradation in the E7 countries: An extended model of STIRPAT

AbstractThis research employed an extended Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence and Technology (STIRPAT) modelling providing original empirical evidence on how technological innovation with the presence of green finance, energy transition vectoring renewable and non‐renewable energy, population, affluence, and financial development affect environmental sustainability measured on the carbon emissions and ecological consequences in E7 during the 1996–2019 period. The study applied mean group (MG), pooled mean group (PMG), and dynamic fixed effects (DFE) after conducting various preliminary tests. The findings predominantly revealed that renewable energy, green finance, and the patent in environmental technologies play an important role in mitigating environmental degradation. However, non‐renewable energy, financial development, population growth, and affluence escalate environmental degradation in the emerging countries under investigation. The outcome of this research proved conclusively that it is vital to introduce the patent on environmental technologies to encourage the collaboration on technology development related to global climate change. Furthermore, enhancing international collaboration in research and technology will positively affect local businesses through utilizing the modern climate change mitigation.

Leveraging qualitative approaches to guide sustainable international research collaborations.

Qualitative research approaches were used to launch an international research collaboration between the U. S. and Cambodia. Cambodian officials requested assistance in learning qualitative approaches to complement the research skills of Cambodian mental health providers. This article provides a description of how U. S. researchers responded to that request and engaged with Cambodian psychiatrists to explore mental health needs and interventions in both countries and initiate a sustainable relationship. The early focus on qualitative research methodologies may be an avenue that mitigates some of the challenges that can characterize international research. In this study, early communications involved developing a plan to teach qualitative methods while also collecting and analyzing data in both countries that would address the mental health concerns experienced by respective care providers. A case study exemplar was embedded with a scripted focus group guide to collect data from U. S. focus groups, then share with Cambodian psychiatrists. Components of hermeneutic phenomenological interviewing and descriptive content analysis were used to simultaneously teach and enact the research methods, gather data in both countries to analyze, and inspire participants to replicate the methods in their ongoing work. Cambodian psychiatrists were able to demonstrate competence in facilitating focus groups after being participant-observers. Researcher/practitioners from both U. S. and Cambodian teams gained new understandings about the mental health needs of their patients. The mutual engagement of a research focus is an effective way to establish cross-cultural relationships. The challenges of staying with stable teams over times remain, but the content shared and learned in a participatory structure yields understandings that cross cultural boundaries. Anticipated and unexpected challenges may be offset by an intention of reciprocity and mutual engagement. The use of qualitative methodologies, early and repeatedly, can facilitate relational understanding.

Catalysing global surgery: a meta-research study on factors affecting surgical research collaborations with Africa.

In December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for rapid collaboration, research, and interventions. International research collaborations foster more significant responses to rapid global changes by enabling international, multicentre research, decreasing biases, and increasing study validity while reducing overall research time and costs. However, there has been low uptake of collaborative research by African institutions and individuals. To systematically review facilitating factors and challenges to collaborative surgical research studies conducted in Africa. A meta-research review using PubMed®/MEDLINE and Embase on surgical collaboration in Africa from 1st of January 2011 to 31st of September 2021 in accordance to PRISMA guidelines. Surgical studies by collaborative groups involving African authors and sites were included (55 papers). Data on the study period, geographical regions, and research scope, facilitating factors, and challenges were extracted from the studies retrieved from the search. Most of the collaborations in Africa occurred with European institutions (76%). Of the 54 African countries, 63% (34/54) participated in surgical collaborations. The highest collaboration frequency occurred in South Africa (11%) and Nigeria (8%). However, most publications originated from Eastern Africa (43%). Leveraging synergies between high- and low- to middle-income countries (LMICs), well-defined structures, and secure data platforms facilitated collaboration. However, the underrepresentation of collaborators from LMICs was a significant challenge. Available literature provides critical insights into the facilitating factors and challenges of research collaboration with Africa. However, there is a need for a detailed prospective study to explore the themes highlighted further. PROSPERO 2022 CRD42022352115 .

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Diagnosis of Neoplastic Diseases: A Systematic and Bibliometric Review

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Diagnosis of Neoplastic Diseases: A Systematic and Bibliometric Review

Unlocking the promise of liquid biopsies in precision oncology

Liquid biopsies have emerged as a promising and minimally invasive alternative to traditional tissue biopsies for detecting and monitoring cancer. Liquid biopsies offer a comprehensive analysis of cancer genetics and tumor burden by examining circulating cells and cell-derived analytes using a variety of assays, including conventional PCR methods and cutting-edge tools like long-read sequencing and nanotechnology. However, there are still some limitations and challenges that need to be overcome for their implementation in clinical routine, including the need for further research on their sensitivity and specificity, cost-effectiveness, standardization, and regulatory approval. Despite these challenges, liquid biopsies have the potential to become widely used tools in oncology. Here we provide an overview of the current state of liquid biopsies, highlighting recent advancements in the field and their potential benefits in clinical settings for cancer patients. The article further discusses the challenges that need to be addressed in order to facilitate their application worldwide. Prompt resolution of these challenges can be achieved by fostering international research collaborations and establishing standardized guidelines for liquid biopsy sample management and studies.

Accounting for digital currencies: A review of challenges and standardization efforts

In the wake of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the ascent of digital currencies heralds a transformative era in the global financial landscape, challenging traditional paradigms of currency, commerce, and regulation. This study delves into the emergence, integration, and implications of digital currencies within the global economy, with a particular focus on the accounting and regulatory challenges they pose. Through a meticulous examination of global adoption trends, technological advancements, and the historical evolution of digital currencies, this paper aims to dissect the multifaceted impact of these novel financial instruments on financial reporting, transparency, and regulatory frameworks. Employing a qualitative literature review strategy alongside thematic analysis, the study identifies key challenges in volatility, valuation, transaction anonymity, and the pressing need for standardized accounting practices to enhance comparability and transparency in financial reporting. The investigation extends to the scrutiny of current accounting standards, regulatory responses, and the concerted efforts towards standardization and best practices in digital currency accounting. The findings underscore a critical juncture for practitioners and regulators alike, navigating the intricate accounting landscape shaped by digital currencies. The study culminates in advocating for adaptive regulatory frameworks and standardized accounting practices, emphasizing the necessity of international collaboration and continuous research to harness the potential of digital currencies while safeguarding financial stability and integrity. Recommendations for future research and policy development are proposed to address the evolving dynamics of digital currencies, aiming to support innovation, ensure financial transparency, and maintain regulatory efficacy in the digital age.