Research Hotspot Research Articles

Potential damage area detection of bridges based on single-temporal point cloud

Abstract With advantages of 3D representation, non-contact measurements and intensive sampling capability, it has been a research hotspot to detect the potential damage area of bridges with point cloud by TLS. However, TLS is commonly used to detect a potential damage area by comparing multi-temporal point cloud data, which limits the timeliness of bridge inspection. Therefore, aiming to accurately detect the potential damage areas of bridges with single-temporal point cloud, this paper proposes a normalized normal vector constrained coordinate transformation method. First, the distribution of sharp features is revealed in a single-temporal point cloud at potential damage areas, and a neighborhood growth method constrained by the normal distance is proposed to eliminate the sharp features in point cloud, which is prone to cause incorrect or missing curvature values from point cloud. Second, a normalized normal vector constrained coordinate transformation method is proposed to construct Gaussian curvature model, which can improve the accuracy of point cloud curvature and accurately detect the potential damage areas in bridges. At last, an evaluation criterion is proposed to quantify the bridge condition by integrating the characteristics of small-span concrete bridges in urban areas with actual damage data from the experimental bridges. The experimental results show that the proposed method can effectively detect the potential damage areas of the measured bridges.

Global microplastics pollution: a bibliometric analysis and review on research trends and hotspots in agroecosystems.

The prevalence of microplastics (MPs) in agricultural ecosystems poses a notable threat to dynamics of soil ecosystems, crop productivity, and global food security. MPs enter agricultural ecosystems from various sources and have considerable impacts on the physiochemical properties soil, soil organisms and microbial communities, and plants. However, the intensity of these impacts can vary with the size, shape, types, and the concentrations of MPs in the soil. Besides, MPs can enter food chain through consummation of crops grown on MPs polluted soils. In this study, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of 1636 publications on the effects of MPs on agricultural ecosystems from 2012 to May 2024. The results revealed a substantial increase in publications over the years, and China, the USA, Germany, and India have emerged as leading countries in this field of research. Social network analysis identified emerging trends and research hotspots. The latest burst keywords were contaminants, biochar, polyethylene microplastics, biodegradable microplastics, antibiotic resistance genes, and quantification. Furthermore, we have summarized the effects of MPs on various components of agricultural ecosystems. By integrating findings from diverse disciplinary perspectives, this study provides a valuable insight into the current knowledge landscape, identifies research gaps, and proposes future research directions to effectively tackle the intricate challenges associated with MPs pollution in agricultural environments.

Research progress and hotspot analysis of allergic rhinitis of pollen sensitisation

Research progress and hotspot analysis of allergic rhinitis of pollen sensitisation

Experimental investigation on thermodynamic and environmental performance of a novel ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC)-Air conditioning (AC) system

In the field of isolated island energy supply, the OTEC system is considered promising due to its large storage capacity, and pollution-free characteristics. To improve energy efficiency, polygeneration systems have gradually become a research hotspot for their low cost and high return features. In this context, a novel Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion system integrated with an air conditioning unit (OTEC-AC) is introduced, demonstrating capabilities in electricity, cooling capacity, and fresh water production by experiments. The effects of various flow rates and temperatures of the heat and cold sources, along with the air-conditioning system water flow rate on the system performance is explored. Besides, the overall performance of the OTEC-AC is compared with four representative OTEC models. The results indicate that there is a threshold for the influence of cold and heat source flow rate on the performance of power generation system. The OTEC-AC system shows a highest net power of 132.6 W, cooling capacity of 2.14 kW, condensate production of 3.24 kg/h, and achieves a system exergy efficiency and CO2 reduction of 34.7 % and 5801 kg/year, respectively. The annual CO2 reduction per kilowatt of installed capacity of the system is increased by 135.6 %, compared with the conventional OTEC system.

Mapping the evolution of liver aging research: A bibliometric analysis.

With the increasing of the global aging population, healthy aging and prevention of age-related diseases have become increasingly important. The liver, a vital organ involved in metabolism, detoxification, digestion, and immunity, holds a pivotal role in the aging process of organisms. Although extensive research on liver aging has been carried out, no bibliometric analysis has been conducted to evaluate the scientific progress in this area. To analyze basic knowledge, development trends, and current research frontiers in the field via bibliometric methods. We conducted bibliometric analyses via a range of analytical tools including Python, the bibliometrix package in R, CiteSpace, and VOSviewer. We retrieved publication data on liver aging research from the Web of Science Core Collection Database. A scientific knowledge map was constructed to display the contributions from different authors, journals, countries, institutions, as well as patterns of co-occurrence keywords and co-cited references. Additionally, gene regulation pathways associated with liver aging were analyzed via the STRING database. We identified 4288 articles on liver aging, authored by 24034 contributors from 4092 institutions across 85 countries. Notably, the years 1991 and 2020 presented significant bursts in publication output. The United States led in terms of publications (n = 1008, 25.1%), citations (n = 55205), and international collaborations (multiple country publications = 214). Keywords such as "lipid metabolism", "fatty liver disease", "inflammation", "liver fibrosis" and "target" were prominent, highlighting the current research hotspots. Notably, the top 64 genes, each of which appeared in at least 8 articles, were involved in pathways essential for cell survival and aging, including the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B, Forkhead box O and p53 signaling pathways. This study highlights key areas of liver aging and offers a comprehensive overview of research trends, as well as insights into potential value for collaborative pursuits and clinical implementations.

Debate on the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and inflammatory bowel disease: a bibliometric analysis

BackgroundInflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic inflammation conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Studies point out an association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and IBD. This study aims to visually assess the research trends and hotspots in the field of H. pylori infection and IBD, review mainstream perspectives in this field, and provide a foundation for future research and treatment.MethodsWe searched the Web of Science Core Collection Database for literature related to H. pylori and IBD, using VOS viewer to generate visual charts.ResultsA total of 246 publications were included, with articles being the predominant type of document. A significant increase in the number of publications was observed after 2011. China contributed the most of researches. Keyword clusters revealed that the researches primarily focused on immune mechanism, gut microbiome, diagnosis and treatment of IBD. Time trend results indicated that current researches centered on gut microbiota and immune mechanisms.ConclusionH. pylori infection may have a protective effect on IBD. The exact mechanisms remain unclear and may involve immunomodulation and changes of gut microbiota. Further researches are necessary for better understanding this relationship and its implications for clinical practice. Further researches and clinical practice should pay attention to this topic.

Exploring the Impact of Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles in Cancer Targeted Drug Delivery: A Bibliometric Review.

Over the last two decades, there has been a considerable increase in the usage of chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) for drug delivery applications in cancer treatment. However, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of this emerging field is lacking. The current analysis pre-sents a detailed bibliometric assessment of the research evolution and trends in CSNPs for can-cer targeted-drug delivery from 2000 to 2022. A total of 626 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database were evaluated using VOSviewer, Bibliometrix, and MS Excel. An in-depth exploration was carried out to find publication trends, the most productive authors, affiliations, countries, and journals as well as the highly cited publications within this particular research domain. Ick Chan Kwon was the most prominent author who made significant contributions to this field. China was the leading country in terms of research on CSNPs for cancer-targeted drug delivery, followed by India and Iran. Concerning the total number of publications, The International Journal of Biological Macromolecules excelled as the leading journal in this research area. Furthermore, the research trends and hotspots were also identified through the analysis of the most commonly used keywords by the authors. Our analysis highlights the growing research interest in CSNPs for cancer drug delivery, emphasiz-ing the need for further exploration to unlock their full potential.

Renewable Solar Energy Facilities in South America—The Road to a Low-Carbon Sustainable Energy Matrix: A Systematic Review

South America is a place on the planet that stands out with enormous potential linked to renewable energies. Countries in this region have developed private investment projects to carry out an energy transition from fossil energies to clean energies and contribute to climate change mitigation. The sun resource is one of the more abundant sources of renewable energies that stands out in South America, especially in the Atacama Desert. In this context, South American countries are developing sustainable actions/strategies linked to implementing solar photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) facilities and achieving carbon neutrality for the year 2050. As a result, this systematic review presents the progress, new trends, and the road to a sustainable paradigm with disruptive innovations like artificial intelligence, robots, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for solar energy facilities in the region. According to the findings, solar energy infrastructure was applied in South America during the global climate change crisis era. Different levels of implementation in solar photovoltaic (PV) facilities have been reached in each country, with the region being a worldwide research and development (R&D) hotspot. Also, high potential exists for concentrated solar power (CSP) facilities considering the technology evolution, and for the implementation of the hybridization of solar photovoltaic (PV) facilities with onshore wind farm infrastructures, decreasing the capital/operation costs of the projects. Finally, synergy between solar energy infrastructures with emerging technologies linked with low-carbon economies like battery energy storage systems (BESSs) and the use of floating solar PV plants looks like a promising sustainable solution.

Research trends of biomechanics in scoliosis from 1999 to 2023: a bibliometric analysis.

Despite the abundance of research on the biomechanics of scoliosis, there is a lack of a comprehensive bibliometric analysis. This study utilizes bibliometric methods to elucidate the research trends and hotspots within this domain. The data for this study were obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection and then analyzed using the open-source Bibliometrix R package and Citespace. The analysis encompassed 410 publications published from 1999 to 2023. There is a sustained increase in the number of publications within the field. Utilizing citation analysis and keyword analysis, the study identified key research focuses. Burst keyword analysis identified 19 keywords. The period from 1999 to 2023 has witnessed significant research attention on the biomechanics of scoliosis. The demographic shift towards an aging population has recently increased interest in ASD. Proximal biomechanical changes and transitional zones in PJK and PJF are hotspots in research, offering emerging scholars in this discipline valuable opportunities for exploration.

Knowledge domain and trends in treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) research based on CiteSpace bibliometrics analysis

BackgroundAlthough the number of studies on treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) has been increasing, the global research hotspots and future research trends have not yet been established.ObjectiveThis study identify the hotspots of TRS research and predict future research trends using a bibliometric analysis.MethodsThe Web of Science Core Collection was searched using the keyword “TRS”, econometric and co-occurrence analyses were conducted using CiteSpace and VOSviewer software, and the results were visualised. PRISMA reporting guidelines were used for this study.ResultsIn total, 912 publications were included in the analysis. The number of publications on TRS has shown an increasing trend over the past 20 years. The United States and University of London were the countries and institutions with the highest total number of publications, respectively. Schizophrenia Research was the journal with the highest number of articles. American Journal of Psychiatry was the most cited journal. Based on the results of this analysis, cognitive impairment, clozapine-resistant schizophrenia, early-onset schizophrenia, and early recognition of TRS will be hotspots for future research in this field.ConclusionThere has been an upward trend in the number of publications on TRS each year. However, issues such as how to use antipsychotics more efficiently to treat TRS and how to predict the emergence of TRS as early as possible are still in urgent need of research and are current challenges for clinicians. The results of this study not only predict and analyse future research hotspots but also help researchers identify appropriate research directions and partners.

Research trends and hotspots of radioiodine-refractory thyroid cancer treatment in the twenty-first century: a bibliometric analysis.

The treatment of radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RAIR-DTC) has made significant advancements in the twenty-first century. This study aimed to assess the current state of research and identify potential new directions by conducting a bibliometric analysis of scientific publications on RAIR-DTC treatment. Publications relevant to RAIR-DTC, published from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2023, were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Bibliometric analyses of major keywords, authors, countries, institutions, publications, and journals were conducted using CiteSpace and VOSviewer. A total of 859 papers were included in the analysis. The results demonstrated a rising trend in the number of publications over time. The United States was identified as the leading contributor in terms of publication output, citations, and international collaborations. Gustave Roussy emerged as the top organization in publication productivity, while the journal Thyroid had the highest number of related publications. The research on RAIR treatment was categorized into three key hotspots: clinical trials of targeted therapies, novel therapeutic strategies, and debates surrounding the RAIR-DTC management. RAIR-DTC research is expanding from the clinical trial phase of tyrosine kinase inhibitor monotherapy to a more complex combination therapy strategy, in particular, the synergistic effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors and other therapeutic agents, requiring more high-quality prospective studies to validate the clinical benefits. Moreover, the timely identification of RAIR-DTC patients holds the potential to enable early disease intervention, constituting a pivotal novel research direction in the future.

A Bibliometric Analysis of STEM Education for Undergraduate Level Based on CiteSpace Software

This study aims to review the STEM education intervention on the undergraduate level by applying CiteSpace software, an innovative tool for bibliometric analysis and visualization. The Web of Science (WOS) database was used and covers the period from January 2008 to August 2023. Based on keyword search, seven clusters with the largest research volume in the past 15 years were identified and analysed with relevant literature. The results revealed that the trending topics of STEM education research included racial and gender differences in STEM education, reform of STEM education assessment and motivation methods for undergraduates, strategies to improve STEM academic performance, and the impact of STEM education on undergraduate employment. Furthermore, a cluster analysis of keywords and references was conducted to explore the connections between the clustered themes and the core theme of STEM. The timeline visualization diagram was used to examine the duration and evolution of each research theme in STEM education, which provided useful information for identifying the direction of STEM research. Finally, through the citation burst analysis, the top 15 most cited references were determined, and the STEM research hotspots were discussed in relation to their literature, which were consistent with the STEM research hotspots derived from the high-frequency themes and node literature. The findings of this study offer important insights into the development trend of STEM education and provide an evidence base and reference for future research and development of STEM education particularly at the undergraduate level.

Unveiling the Immune effects of AHR in tumors: a decade of insights from bibliometric analysis (2010–2023)

BackgroundThe Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) is a transcription factor that regulates several biological processes. Its potential in anti-tumor immunotherapy is becoming clearer, yet no bibliometric studies on this topic exist. This study aims to understand the current research landscape and identify future directions through a bibliometric analysis of AHR’s anti-tumor immunological effects.Methods We conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of AHR antitumor immunotherapy papers in the Web of Science Core Collection. Various aspects of the publications were analyzed, and research hotspots and future trends were identified using scientific bibliometric tools and statistical methods.ResultsWe collected 592 English papers published between 2010 and 2023, with an almost annual increase. Most publications were from the USA, followed by China, Germany, and Italy. The journal “Frontiers in Immunology” had the most papers, and the most cited paper was Christiane A. Opitz’s “An endogenous tumour-promoting ligand of the human aryl hydrocarbon receptor.” The research is centered around AHR gene expression, with a growing focus on intestinal disease and the development of Programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) drugs.ConclusionThis bibliometric study highlights the significance of AHR in immunomodulatory research, outlining the research trends and key contributors. It suggests AHR’s immune effects may mediate the process of colitis cancer transformation, providing valuable insights for future anti-tumor immunotherapy strategies based on AHR.

A bibliometric analysis from 2014 to 2024 reveals research hotspots and trends in the immunotherapy for glomerulonephritis

ABSTRACT This study aimed to present an overview of the current status of research and important discoveries about immunotherapy for glomerulonephritis in general using bibliometric analysis. We collected the literature on immunotherapy for glomerulonephritis from the Web of Science (WOS) database for the last 10 years (2014–2024), and we assessed the mapping of knowledge using Citespace. The findings demonstrated that there were 258 articles concerning the immunotherapy for glomerulonephritis, with a faster growth after 2018. The USA, Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, and Anders, Hans-Joachim are the nation, organization, and writer with the highest number of publications. The most often cited reference is Rovin BH (2021) as well (5). The best partnerships are formed by prestigious universities and developed countries for glomerulonephritis research on immunotherapy. Three research hotspots in this area are rituximab, adjuvant, and antibody production erythematosus, respectively.

Progress and Hotspot Analysis of Bibliometric-Based Research on Agricultural Irrigation Patterns on Non-Point Pollution

With the constant advancement of irrigation technology and the continuous expansion of irrigation areas, non-point source pollution (NPS) caused by agricultural activities has posed a persistent threat to ecosystems and biological safety. Against this backdrop, it is imperative to lay scientific foundations for green, sustainable, and high-quality agricultural development through a thorough review of the relevant research progress. In this study, bibliometric methods are adopted to comprehensively analyze and visualize the current state and key literature on agricultural irrigation and NPS pollution from 2010 to July 2024. The focus of this study is specifically on summarizing the research hotspots and development trends of different irrigation methods and the mechanisms behind their impacts on NPS pollution. The results indicate that publications from the United States and China account for 63.8% of the total, but the fragmentation of research efforts remains, suggesting a necessity to strengthen international and regional collaboration. There are three institutions with the highest publication output, namely Northwest A&F University, Hohai University, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The subjects identified as the key areas of research on irrigation-related NPS pollution (IRR-NPS) include precision irrigation, rapid water pollution response, spatiotemporal management, interdisciplinary integration, wastewater treatment, and crop models. Regarding future research, it is necessary to focus attention on real-time precision irrigation, standardized crop models, data accuracy, spatiotemporal pollution coordination, pollution purification technology development, interdisciplinary integrated governance, and the innovative applications of soil improvement technologies. In addition to offering theoretical support and practical guidance for the management of agricultural NPS pollution, this study also provides management and technical support for policymakers, which is beneficial for advancing agricultural irrigation technology and environmental preservation.

Optimization operation strategy of wind–pumped storage integrated system participation in spot market considering dual uncertainties

Abstract With the gradual increase in the penetration rate of renewable energy, the multifunctional role of pumped storage is becoming increasingly prominent, and the joint operation of “renewable energy + pumped storage” is a current research hotspot. However, during the joint system operation, there are dual risks from internal (renewable energy output) and external (market prices) factors, which significantly impact the system’s overall revenue. Therefore, an analysis is conducted around the operational mechanism of the “wind power–pumped storage” joint operation, and the uncertain factors faced during the system’s operation are identified. Second, an optimization model for wind power–pumped storage under deterministic scenarios is constructed, employing robust optimization theory and information gap decision theory to describe the uncertainty of electricity prices and wind power, thus forming a hybrid of the information gap decision theory and the robust optimization model for wind power–pumped storage. Finally, the results show that: (1) The total revenue of the model proposed in the paper has increased by 2.36% compared to the robust optimization model and by 9.04% compared to the deterministic model, significantly enhancing the model’s robustness and risk resistance capabilities. (2) From the perspective of the economic feasibility of different energy storage system configurations, the wind plant equipped with pumped storage has the highest economic feasibility, with an internal rate of return of 9.8% and net present value of 872 million Chinese Yuan, which is higher than that of compressed air energy storage and electrochemical energy storage systems. (3) Decision makers can set the risk deviation coefficient and the uncertainty budget according to their risk preferences, thereby changing the robustness of the model for differentiated decision making. However, an increase in the uncertainty budget coefficient will cause the total revenue of the joint operation system first to increase and then decrease, with the maximum revenue achievable within the range of 500–625; the total revenue reaches its maximum when the risk deviation coefficient is between 0.1 and 0.125.

Research Hotspots and Trends in Global Cancer immunometabolism:A Bibliometric Analysis from 2000 to 2023

Research Hotspots and Trends in Global Cancer immunometabolism:A Bibliometric Analysis from 2000 to 2023

Research hotspot and trend analysis of heavy metals decontamination of wastewater in past two decades: A bibliometric analysis

Research hotspot and trend analysis of heavy metals decontamination of wastewater in past two decades: A bibliometric analysis

Glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists in cardiovascular diseases: a bibliometric analysis from inception to 2023.

In recent years, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists have garnered increasing attention for their potential cardiovascular benefits beyond glycemic control in patients with diabetes. Understanding the research landscape surrounding GLP-1 agonists and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is crucial for informing clinical practice and guiding future research endeavors. This bibliometric analysis aimed to comprehensively assess the scholarly output and trends in this field, shedding light on the evolving landscape of GLP-1 agonists' role in cardiovascular health. The publications concerning GLP-1 agonists in CVDs were gathered from the Web of Science Core Collection, and visualizations were created utilizing Excel 2019, Cite Space, and VOS viewer software. Using bibliometric and visual methods, the research hotspots and trends regarding GLP-1 agonists in cardiovascular diseases were pinpointed. Additionally, a thriving interest in GLP-1 agonists research within cardiovascular medicine was observed, with a notable surge in publications from 2016 onwards. The analysis revealed that the United States and China are the leading contributors, accounting for over 50% of the total publications. The University of Copenhagen and the University of Toronto emerged as the most prolific institutions in this field. Co-citation analysis highlighted the influential role of landmark clinical trials, such as the LEADER, ELIXA, and EXSCEL. Keyword trend analysis identified the emergence of newer GLP-1 agonists, such as tirzepatide and semaglutide, as well as a growing focus on topics like 'healthy obesity' and chronic kidney disease. These findings suggest that the research landscape is evolving, with a focus on expanding the therapeutic applications of GLP-1 agonists beyond glycemic control. Overall, this bibliometric analysis provided insights into the current state and future directions of research on GLP-1 agonists and their impact on cardiovascular health, guiding future research endeavors, and informing clinical practice.

Synthesis and enhanced adsorption for F− by three novel high entropy LDHs using TEA-assisted hydrothermal technology

Nowadays the design, preparation and application of high entropy LDHs (HE-LDHs) has already become research hotspots. In this paper, three types of high entropy ZnCoCrMgZr-LDHs (HE-LDHs-1, 2 and 3) were successfully prepared for the first time using TEA as alkali source by simple hydrothermal synthesis, and characterized by XRD, TG, SEM, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, BET and zeta potential. The effect of triethanolamine (TEA) on the formation of high entropy LDHs and their adsorption behaviour for F− were investigated. Research showed that high content of TEA can maintain and provide more hydroxyl groups required for the formation of LDHs, while the introduction of high valence Zr4+ breaks the regular arrangement of LDHs themselves. Three types of high entropy LDHs have excellent adsorption performance for F− with the maximum adsorption capacities of 113.78 mg/g, 142.12 mg/g and 128.24 mg/g, respectively. They also have strong resistance to anionic interference. The adsorption process is the transition from physical adsorption to chemical adsorption in the F− adsorption process from HE-LDHs-1 to 3. The adsorption isotherm models of LDHs-1 exhibit high R2 values which shown that their F− adsorption behaviour is the result of the combined effect of physical and chemical adsorption. The adsorption behaviour of LDHs-2 and 3 is more in line with the quasi second-order kinetic model and Langmuir model, indicating that the F− adsorption process is a single-layer adsorption based on chemical reaction-controlled kinetics. The lower temperatures are more conducive to the process for all three adsorbents adsorption process generates heat. FLDHs can still re-adsorb the dye CR after four cycles of adsorbing fluoride ions. HE-LDHs exhibit high adsorption, selectivity, and good reuse performance for fluoride ions, making them promising for wastewater treatment applications.