Local Journals Research Articles

A Systematic Review of Literature on Intellectual Property and the Creative Industry in Africa Using Scopus

The shift of the world to a knowledge economy, mainly driven by Intellectual Property (IP), calls for research dissemination through scholarly publishing to promote the protection and commercialisation of IP. In Africa, innovations such as mobile payment systems, drones, and development in the fields of renewable energy, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence have become key drivers of economic growth and development. However, many African countries have yet to know and appreciate the value of IP to their economies. The benefits of IP may be fully realised through proper awareness and understanding of IP using scholarly publications. The study sought to examine the published documents that focus on IP and the creative industry in Africa in order to create awareness and understanding of the breadth and scope of IP and IPRs. Content analysis was conducted on Scopus using descriptive informetrics. The Scopus database was used to ascertain the published documents that focus on IP and the creative industry in Africa. The researcher used the search string TITLE, ABSTRACT, KEYWORD and also applied Scopus “Analyse Search Results”, which facilitated in-depth analysis of the documents according to the key indicators (the year of publication, territory or country, source, author, institute/ affiliation, types of document, subject areas and sponsors). The analysis revealed that there were very few documents published each year on IP and the creative industry published in Africa. Although documents on IP and the creative industry in Africa were published through three document types, there was a diversity of the subject areas in which research on IP and the creative industry in Africa was found. Of the available research, most authors were affiliated with institutions in Africa, but only one of the journals belonged to an African country, and of all the sponsors, only four belonged to an African country. There was very little research on IP and the creative industry published in Africa, although IP is applicable to different disciplines. Africa needs to improve its science and technology capacity, research facilities and funding, and understanding and awareness of IP. Scholarly publishing on IP and the creative industries would be more pronounced if supported by local sponsors and journals instead of relying on scholars and institutions affiliated with countries outside Africa.

Building the clinical workforce of pediatric infectious diseases in Bolivia for better care of children with cancer

Abstract Background Infections in children with cancer can be fatal if not appropriately managed. Access to trained and competent professionals in infection care and prevention (IC&P) improve care outcomes. Bolivia expects about 1700 new pediatric cancer cases annually. In 2023, 2371 hematological neoplasms were reported in children, cared mainly at 4 public hospitals where, until 2016, 5 pediatric infectious disease (PID) specialists were working in 2 of these 4 hospitals. For better PID clinical workforce for critically ill children, we built a PID medical residency training. In 2017, the training accepted its first trainees at Hospital del Niño “Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría” (Hospital del Niño), a public hospital in La Paz. Here, we describe the program, how we built it, and its outcomes. Methods The PID training goal is to train leaders in PID for clinical observations, PID literature interpretation, and to transform them into concepts that can be applied to ID pathogenesis or treatment. At the end of the 2-year PID training program, we expect trainees will gain expertise in PID clinical practice and clinical or translational science research. Our PID program was based on other PID specialty training programs from Mexico, Spain, and the USA of which, we adapted standard topics and formats of training. The content has routine and prevalent PIDs of Bolivia and the region, including on immunocompromised patients. We expected that the trainee dedicate full time to the PID training program plus caring for assigned patients and those requested consultations in the wards and clinics of Hospital del Niño; review articles; participate in clinical discussions; attend the Infection Control Course of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; attend and / or present in the PID case-based learning international sessions; visit the virology, bacteriology, parasitology and immunology laboratories of the national reference laboratory; and attend international rotations at participating hospitals. Results Since 2017, 5 new PID pediatricians graduated from our program, 3 work in public hospitals that care for children with cancer and 2 work in government insurance hospitals. They are working in hospitals in La Paz (n=2), Cochabamba (n=1), Santa Cruz (n=1), and Tarija (n=1). These graduates are leaders in ICP, antimicrobial stewardships, and education of hospital staffs. As per December 2023, they produced 5 articles for local journals, 2 for international journals, 7 abstracts for scientific meetings. Currently, 2 pediatricians participate in the PID training program, and post-graduation, they plan to work in departments of Potosí and Sucre where there are no PID specialists. Challenges to establish PID specialists in Bolivia are lack of value attributed to PID and its role in care quality. Conclusion Creating local expertise in PID are essential to improve and sustain the optimum care for children with cancer in Bolivia especially in places where these personnel did not exist before. However, for best investment return of PID trained professionals, having PID job descriptions and paid positions in hospitals will absorb PID specialists to benefit the largest population of children with cancer in Bolivia.

From Thesis to Scientific Articles: Publication of Neonatal Research in Ecuador

Objective: To determine the proportion of scientific articles published by health professionals in Neonatology services in Ecuador in the last 20 years. Theoretical framework: Perinatal research is a priority in public health. Writing a thesis allows students to acquire research skills. Publishing these findings in indexed journals ensures their validity and relevance, becoming references for future studies, systematic reviews, hospital protocols and clinical guidelines. Method: Bibliometric study that examined the temporal evolution, research design, language, affiliations, keywords, journals and academic degrees of thesis writers. The search was carried out in databases and repositories from the last 20 years, using Zotero, Mendeley, Rayyan and R for the analysis. Results and Discussion: It was identified that 13% of the theses were published in indexed journals in Ecuador. (79%) corresponded to postgraduate studies in pediatrics and neonatology. Almost half (48.97%) were published in local journals and the majority (63.69%) in Spanish. The low rate of scientific publication is a common problem in Spanish-speaking countries. Ecuador contributes only 0.11% of world publications. Research implications: Strengthen research training for students and encourage other professionals involved in newborn care to publish their theses. Originality/Value: The publication of theses as scientific articles contributes to the advancement of knowledge. This process broadens the scope of research, enhancing its impact and application in clinical practice and evidence-based decision-making.

Demystifying multilingual LIS journals in Scopus: Languages, coverage, metrics, and implications

This study aimed to investigate the languages, countries, geographic distribution, and commonly used journal metrics of multilingual Library and Information Science (LIS) journals indexed in Scopus. The Scimago Journal Rank (SJR) portal was used as a proxy for Scopus-indexed LIS journals. Through examination of the homepages of 249 LIS journals listed in SJR, 42 multilingual LIS journals were identified. For this study, multilingual journals were defined as those publishing in a combination of English and other languages. The findings revealed that although English-only journals have historically dominated the field, a significant number of multilingual journals have been indexed in Scopus over the past two decades. The 42 identified multilingual journals span 25 countries and encompass 18 languages, reflecting a diverse linguistic landscape in LIS scholarship. Notably, 67% are Open Access (OA) and affiliated with major publishers, including university presses. Spain and Brazil emerge as key players, accounting for 27% of all identified multilingual journals, highlighting the importance of their regional languages in LIS scholarship. However, the study also uncovered disparities in journal metrics and rankings, with multilingual journals consistently scoring lower than their English-only counterparts. Despite efforts to include regional and local journals in major databases, these results underscore the persistent challenges multilingual publications face in achieving and maintaining Scopus indexing.

The Value of Grey Literature on Climate Change Research in the Philippines: A Bibliometric Analysis

This study highlights the value of grey literature in climate change research in the Philippines, emphasizing its essential role in understanding the issue within the country’s unique socioeconomic and natural environment. A bibliometric analysis of publications in local journals reveals that various types and formats of grey literature are not merely supplementary but essential for communicating climate change, its effects, and adaptation strategies. Despite the prevalence of major publishers, a substantial amount of research in the country continues to be disseminated through local journals. However, these journals face significant challenges, including limited coverage in major databases and concerns about quality, which hinder their global recognition and impact. The findings recommend that the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) enhance the capacity of higher education institutions (HEIs) to improve the quality and credibility of local journals. This improvement would increase their visibility and reach, ensuring that the comprehensive body of Filipino research is preserved, recognized, and utilized in the global discourse on climate change. Consequently, this will foster a more inclusive and informed approach to understanding and addressing this global challenge.

Intermediate hepatitis C virus (HCV) endemicity and its genotype distribution in Myanmar: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Comprehensive details on Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Myanmar are lacking. This study determined the prevalence of HCV antibodies and ribonucleic acid (RNA) and the distribution of HCV genotypes across different populations in Myanmar from 1990 to 2023. A systematic search in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and local journals identified studies reporting on HCV antibodies, RNA, and genotypes, excluding clinical research related to liver disease prognosis. Screening and data extraction was done by two authors and study populations were categorized into low-risk, high-risk, liver disease patients, and refugees outside the country. The pooled prevalence was performed by Dersimonian and Laird method using the R program. The publication bias was shown by funnel plot, the Egger test was used to assess the symmetry of the plot, and the heterogeneity was examined by the Cochran Q test and I2 index. Out of 135 reports screened for eligibility, 35 reports comprising 51 studies were included in which 33 studies provided data on HCV seroprevalence in 685,403 individuals, 8 studies reported HCV RNA prevalence in 25,018 individuals, and 10 studies examined HCV genotypes in 1,845 individuals. The pooled seroprevalence of HCV among low-risk, high-risk, liver disease patients and refugees were 2.18%, 37.07%, 33.84%, and 2.52% respectively. HCV RNA-positive rates in these groups were 1.40%, 5.25%, 24.96%, and 0.84% respectively. Seroprevalence studies showed publication bias (Egger test, p = 0.0001), while RNA studies did not (Egger test, p = 0.8392). HCV genotype 3 was predominant in all sub-groups in Myanmar. Our study shows Myanmar has intermediate HCV endemicity with lowest HCV prevalence of 2.18% in low-risk groups and highest prevalence of 37.07% in high- risk groups. However, the findings highlight the need for further epidemiological studies to understand actual disease burden and implement effective countermeasures to achieve the WHO's goal of HCV elimination by 2030.

Journals Choice for Research Publication at Ethiopian Public Universities Academia in Decision Making Experience

The purpose of this study is to investigate how academic staff make decisions when choosing journals for publication at Ethiopian public universities. To realize this, a phenomenological research design was employed, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 academic staff from six selected Ethiopian public universities using purposive sampling. Thematic analysis and narrative data analysis were used. The study found a preference for international journals over local ones and highlighted the influence of the Ministry of Education's policy. According to the study, 66% of the participants reported that their articles were rejected when they submitted them for publication in a journal. It also identified challenges such as a lack of awareness about distinguishing peer-reviewed journals from predatory ones, a lengthy review process, and insufficient funding for article publication charges. The study suggests that the Ministry of Education should support accredited local journals to gain recognition equal to highly indexed international journals, provide awareness training for academics about locally accredited and internationally indexed journals, and offer technical and financial assistance to local journals based on their performance to improve their acceptance by academics.

Reconstructing Impact of the 1867 Ionian Sea (Western Greece) Earthquake by Focusing on New Contemporary and Modern Sources for Building Damage, Environmental and Health Effects

The 4 February 1867 Cephalonia (Western Greece) earthquake is the largest in the Ionian Islands and one of the largest in the Eastern Mediterranean. However, it remained one of the least studied historical events. For reconstructing this earthquake, we reevaluated existing knowledge and used new contemporary and modern sources, including scientific and local writers’ reports and books, local and national journals, newspapers, and ecclesiastical chronicles. The extracted information covered the earthquake parameters, population impact, building damage, and earthquake environmental effects (EEEs). The earthquake parameters included the origin time and duration of the main shock, epicenter location, precursors, aftershocks, and characteristics of the earthquake ground motion. The population impact involved direct and indirect health effects and population change. Building data highlighted the dominant building types and the types, grades, and distribution of damage. The EEEs included ground cracks, landslides, liquefaction, hydrological anomalies, and mild sea disturbances. Field surveys were also conducted for validation. The quantitative and qualitative information enabled the application of seismic intensity scales (EMS-98, ESI-07). The study concluded that since the affected areas were mainly composed of post-alpine deposits and secondarily of clay–clastic alpine formations with poor geotechnical properties, they were highly susceptible to failure. Effects and maximum intensities occurred in highly susceptible areas with a rich inventory.

Language bias, not knowledge shortfall, underestimates the evidence of megafauna kill sites in South America

The Megafauna Kill Sites (MKS), with irrefutable empirical evidence of human-megafauna interactions over the late Quaternary, have widely been recognized in North America and historically overlooked in South America. Here, we systematically reviewed the MKS from the Americas and showed that the neglected evidence from South American MKS is as robust as or even more robust, in both quantity and quality, than the evidence from North America. However, the South American studies are often limited to low-reach publications (gray literature or local journals) written in Latin languages, which are less cited than English-written publications. Our findings clearly indicate that the neglect of South American MKS is due to its limited scientific impact caused by language bias, and not due to the lack of robust knowledge, inadequate data, or questionable evidence. To reverse this context and put the rich evidence of South American MKS on an international audience, we strongly recommend that South American researchers prioritize publishing their studies in English, the universal language of science since sec. XX. We also suggest making all archaeological evidence readily available in online databases, such as the KillSite database (www.killsitedatabase.com). We believe our recommendations align with the current scope of science, which predominantly operates in English and benefits from the widespread accessibility provided by the internet, and will help South American publications reach international audiences interested in human-megafauna interaction and animal exploitation.

Sparganosis in the Indian Sub-continent and the Middle East.

Sparganosis is one of the common zoonotic diseases caused by infection with the larval plerocercoids (spargana) of the cestode genus Spirometra. While this parasite distributes globally in canine and feline hosts, human infection is predominantly reported in East Asia, especially China, Korea, Japan, and Thailand. Maybe related to the behavior and food culture, this zoonotic disease is rather rare in South Asia to the Middle East. In these areas, sporadic case reports have been appeared mostly in the local medical journals. To draw a solid picture of sparganosis in these non-endemic areas of Asia, we made an extensive literature survey to gather sparganosis cases in the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East.

Investigating interactive metadiscourse markers in research article discussions published in varied journal levels (local, national, and international)

Interactive metadiscourse markers in the discussion section of a journal play a crucial role in engaging the reader and facilitating a more dynamic interaction. In a discussion journal section, interactive metadiscourse markers may include phrases or expressions that invite the reader to consider alternative viewpoints, respond to the presented ideas, or reflect on the implications of the research findings. This research investigated interactive metadiscourse markers in research article discussion of language teaching within 30 articles published in local, national, and international journals. A mixed-methods approach was adopted and the instrument used in this research was a checklist designed to analyze interactive metadiscourse. The result of the inter-rater agreement of the co-rater and researcher indicated a kappa value of 90.2% (co-rater and researcher respectively) because it shows excellent agreement (above 80%). It shows that the highest frequency used of interactive metadiscourse category is transitions markers in the three-level journals. Evidential markers took the second position in frequency used followed by code glossed in third frequency. Endophoric markers and frame markers are less used by the writers in the article discussions. The research articles published in international reputable journals show the highest number of using interactive metadiscourse devices than the articles published in local and national journals.

Emerging and Reemerging Parasitic Diseases in Taiwan: A Retrospective Study of Clinical Case Reports in 2001~2018.

Emerging and re-emerging parasitic diseases can cause significant economic burdens at national and global levels. However, governments often underestimate or ignore these diseases, especially in developed countries. This retrospective, case-oriented study analyzed parasitic diseases reported in Taiwan between 2001 and 2018. One hundred and thirty-two eligible clinical profiles of Taiwanese patients obtained from the NCBI, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases and local journals according to age, sex, source of infection, symptoms, risk factors, and geographical regions were analyzed. The analysis results showed that the number/frequency of cases caused by nematodes (46.97%) or protozoa (37.88%) was significantly higher than that of trematodes (9.85%) or cestodes (5.30%) (p < 0.0001). Northern Taiwan (46.97%) had a significantly higher rate than Southern Taiwan (33.33%), Central Taiwan (8.33%), and Eastern Taiwan (5.30%) (p < 0.05). The 15-65 age group (68.94%) had a significantly higher rate than the 65-90 age group (22.73%) and the 0-15 age group (8.33%) (p < 0.0001). Males (70.46%) had a significantly higher number/frequency of cases than females (29.54%) (p < 0.0001). People who acquired the infection through the food/soil route (32.58%) or who had a low immune status (32.58%) had a higher rate than travel-related infections (15.15%) (p < 0.001). The present study showed that emerging/reemerging parasitic infections continue to be of great concern to the lives and health of Taiwanese citizens and, if ignored, will threaten the health of the Taiwanese people; therefore, the delineation of preventive measures by health authorities is urgently warranted.

The comprehensive checklist of myxomycetes of Ukraine, based on extended occurrence and reference datasets.

A significant body of valuable data about the myxomycetes of Ukraine lies in a "grey zone". This encompasses undigitised historical books and articles published in languages such as Polish, French or German, as well as proceedings from local conferences, articles featured in local scientific journals and annual reports submitted to public authorities by employees of protected areas, published in Ukrainian or Russian. Yet, due to their exclusive existence in print and often the Cyrillic alphabet, these publications remain neither findable nor accessible to a wider audience. The datasets presented here aim to summarise over 150 years of myxomycetes research in Ukraine. The majority of the data has been extracted from published literature sources spanning the years 1842 to 2023, with a minor supplement from unpublished herbarium specimens. The datasets include 5036 georeferenced occurrences, 339 taxa and 91 literature sources. Seventy-one of the used literature sources, mostly published before 2010, were uploaded to Zenodo and are available in open access.

Extractivism and the ecology of research infrastructure: digitizing precarious materialities in Iquitos, Peru

ABSTRACT How might the creation of digital research infrastructure for preserving archival materials in Latin America resemble the infrastructure of extractivism? This essay examines the development of a digital repository for one of the most important collections of Amazonian history, culture, and politics at the Biblioteca Amazónica in Iquitos, Peru. Funded in part by the Modern Endangered Archives Program (MEAP) at the University of California, Los Angeles, the project seeks to digitally catalog and preserve photographs, newspapers, maps, and local journals at risk of further damage by humidity, rodents, lack of funding, and potential fires. In dialogue with critical infrastructure studies, I consider how this otherwise altruistic project fits into the broader landscape of extractive infrastructure in the Amazon region. To problematize what materialities might be flattened in the process of digitalization and their implications for the potential digital colonialism of the project, I compare the MEAP research infrastructure to other infrastructural projects in the Iquitos area, with special emphasis on the kinds of relational encounters that Iquiteños improvise when infrastructure does not work as intended. I argue that creating similar opportunities to engage and struggle with digital research technologies has the potential to transform them for local use and complicate their potentially extractive qualities.

Implications of Publication Requirements for the Research Output of Arab Academics of Library and Information Science in Scopus in 2011– 2022 (Bibliometric Study)

The Arab can be considered as a new emergent region in the world by using advanced bibliometric methods, the development of science and technology in Unsure is explored. Purpose: This article explores the implications of publication requirements for the research output of Arab academics of library and information science in Scopus, and reviews (12) years of Library and information science research in the Arab World affiliated with the (22) countries of the Arab League: a bibliometric study 2011–2022. As such it contributes to the existing body of knowledge on quantitative and qualitative effects of research evaluation policies. Design/methodology/approach: Three metrics were chosen to analyses the implications of publication requirements for the quality of research output: publications in predatory journals, publications in local journals and publications per SNIP quartile from the disciplinary perspective. Findings: Study results highlight, that: Firstly: publications of Arab academics of library and information science in predatory journals rose to (12.162 % in 2011-2013) – (39.190 in 2020-2022). Secondly: the share of publications in local journals reached the Peak of fourth period 44.595% in 2020-2022. Thirdly: though the total number of publications has risen dramatically since 2011, but the share of Q3+Q4 has exceeded the share of Q1+Q2. Summaries: the study findings highlight, that research evaluation policies are required to contain not only quantitative but also qualitative criteria. Research limitation: The study does not explore in detail the effects of a particular type of publication requirements. Practical implications: The findings of the study have practical implications for policymakers and university managers aimed to develop research evaluation policies. Originality/value: This paper gains insights into the effects of publication requirements on the research output of Arab academics of library and information science in Scopus &amp; local journals.

Local and regional British journals: Natural history, geology, geography and ecology, their role and value

A great range and number of journals exist to promote and disseminate local knowledge in the areas of natural history, geology, geography and ecology. Many are still active; others are lost. The journals act as mouthpieces for local societies and are a repository of local knowledge. Some are hard to locate but the websites of local societies provide information on topics covered and the regularity of publication of the journals. The loss of journals seems to be the result of the pressure on academics to publish in international outlets and the growth of highly informative websites.

Current aspects of information hygiene

Information hygiene is a list of skills that allow a person to safely use information technology. At the same time, despite the growing popularity of digital hygiene research, the relative novelty of this research area largely prevents the formation of stable analytical traditions and methodology. The purpose of this is to consider the basics of information hygiene as a new direction at the intersection of hygiene, physiology, and psychology. The article examines the basics of information hygiene as a new direction at the intersection of hygiene, physiology and psychology, analyzes publications in international and local peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Research on the important functions of local college academic journals in disciplinary construction and development

Research on the important functions of local college academic journals in disciplinary construction and development

Studi Pustaka : Ekstraksi dan Potensi Utilitasasi Ekstrak Komponen Bioaktif Tanaman Murbei di Indonesia

Mulberry is one of the plants that grows well in Indonesia, and has been used to support daily economic activities. Mulberries are of interest to researchers as research objects, regarding the bioactivity of mulberry plants. Over the past decade, from 2013 to 2023, research has been carried out regarding mulberries in Indonesia, with the aim of extracting and analyzing the extract substances. Data from 12 local research journals is known regarding the use of mulberry roots, stems and leaves to be extracted and applied for compound identification purposes, a study of the extraction methods used, and the specific purpose of mulberry extract as a preservative, patch formulation material, as well as an antibacterial agent, preservative, and antioxidants. The mulberry extraction procedures used are the maceration method, wave-based extraction (microwave and ultrasonic) and water bath energy. Qualitative analysis testing of mulberry extract substances was carried out to determine the content of alkaloids, tannins and terpenoid compounds. Quantitative analysis testing of mulberry extract substances was carried out to measure antioxidant activity, anthocyanin levels, and the biological activity of mulberry extract substances.

Sri Lankan Health System Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Post Evaluation to Assess the Strengths and Weaknesses by Using Health Systems Building Blocks

The COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe, threatening almost all health systems, from the strongest to the most vulnerable, and the Sri Lankan health system was no exception. Since the COVID-19 pandemic became a serious public health threat in China, India, and other parts of the world, Sri Lanka has been on high alert and ready to respond. Objectives The purpose of this research is to describe how Sri Lanka's health system dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic using the world health organization's health systems building blocks framework, to assist policymakers in better understanding the deficiencies and planning future crisis management. Methods COVID-19-related documents about Sri Lanka were manually and electronically searched, including peer-reviewed articles in local and international journals, government publications such as circulars, guidelines, and reports, WHO and World Bank publications, regional and international news websites, and non-governmental organizations. Thematic analysis was used. Results and conclusions The Sri Lankan health system responded in a proactive and multi-sectoral manner. Before the pandemic hit the country, the hospital system and a well-established preventive health sector were prepared. However, issues such as human resource shortages, drug shortages, and other medical equipment shortages, as well as financial constraints, were difficult to manage. Delays in decision-making during the third wave led to negative outcomes for the country. However, the country was protected during the fourth wave due to committed vaccination and other timely preventive measures. Keywords: COVID-19, Response, Health system, Sri Lanka, Building blocks approach,