Scientific Production Research Articles

Research in higher education institutions of Northwestern Mexico during COVID-19 times

This paper presents the results of qualitative research on new practices (habitus) of researchers in higher education (HE) in Mexico during the pandemic in three institutions in the State of Sonora. The research focused on modified or new practices or habitus during the pandemic, the challenges those scholars faced, and their view on remote scientific production in this period. Bourdieu's concepts of Habitus, Discipline, and Socialization are instrumental in interpreting data. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using coding and MAXQDA software. The main results refer to the individual, academia, and the constraint to produce knowledge. The results show that for individuals, habitus refers to the care of people. In the face of a health emergency, the focus is on it combined with academic, administrative, and research activities. Such weight is distributed unequally among the female gender; it is about caring for the family, attending research, and more work. In the case of academia, the specific tasks of some disciplines, such as economics, do not present restrictions on productivity, while others do. The regulations of Mexico’s National System of Researchers, SNI constitute a rule that constrains researchers. We assume that it is the primary mechanism for evaluating his/her productive habitus.

Evaluation of Social Interventions with People with Disabilities: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract This article aims to review the scientific production on social interventions (SI) in the field of persons with disabilities (PWD) and their families and to analyze its evaluations. To do so, it starts from the context of the social model of care of the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the sustainable development goals, and the evaluation of SI. The methodology proposes a systematic review of the existing literature on SI with PWD and their evaluation, based on the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (or PRISMA) model, including 19 articles. The results highlight issues such as the scarcity of publications with evaluations, the lack of homogeneity in the evaluation indicators used, the large number of interventions related to intellectual disability, and a large proportion of community interventions. This scoping review assists future research to consider different questions about evaluation indicators and implementation of the social model or social inclusion, among others.

Work integrated learning and trending areas for future studies: a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis

PurposeThis study intends to conceptually and technically examine the literature on work integrated learning (WIL) through a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis. The present study addresses eight distinct research questions: (1) descriptive features of the extracted literature on WIL, (2) publications trends and thematic evolution in the field of WIL, (3) the most relevant and high-impact sources on WIL, (4) the most global cited articles on WIL, (5) the most relevant and high-impact authors on WIL, (6) the most relevant countries on WIL, (7) outcomes of Bradford’s Law of Scattering and Lotka’s Law of Scientific Productivity and (8) trending research avenues for future studies in the field of WIL.Design/methodology/approachThe present study employed systematic literature review (SLR) and bibliometric analysis mapping techniques to analyze 1,295 articles extracted from the Scopus database. The analysis utilized Biblioshiny software and VOSviewer software as the primary tools.FindingsThe findings reveal that WIL constitutes a steadily expanding subject discipline, showcasing a notable 23.28% annual growth in scientific production spanning from 2002 to 2023 (July). Australia, South Africa and Canada emerged as the most productive countries within the field of WIL, as evidenced by their cumulative scientific production. The thematic map of keyword analysis suggests several burgeoning avenues for future researchers in the WIL domain, including education, reflective practices, curriculum, employability skills, international students, learning and self-efficacy.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the WIL discourse by providing a comprehensive literature review. The present study’s findings hold significance for graduates, universities, employers, the higher education industry, policymakers, regulators and the broader community.

Mapping the research structure on Crohn’s disease in PubMed and Web of Science (2014-2023)

This research aims to generate a thematic analysis and scientific mapping of Crohn's disease research in PubMed and Web of Science databases. The current research is descriptive-cross-sectional and uses a scientometric approach. The required data was collected from Web of Science and PubMed databases on December 23, 2022, and the collection method used was census type. The collected data includes all the documents from 2014 to 2023 in PubMed and Web of Science. Vosviewer 1.6 software was used to draw scientific maps. Gastrointestinal hepatology was the most relevant topic. The United States of America ranked first with 13% of all scientific productions, while Iran ranked 41st in the world. Scientific maps showed the importance of studies related to women. The findings showed the importance of age, nutrition, biomarkers, endoscopy, and their relationship with Crohn's disease. The position of Iran's studies in the field of Crohn's disease was not very favorable among the countries of the world, and scientific maps showed the importance of studies related to women and adults as well as young people and revealed the increase of this disease among women in recent years. The importance of the role of nutrition in the immune system and digestive system in Crohn's disease was also shown.

Students’ research experience, self-perceptions, and scientific productivity in undergraduate research programs: a case study of a Brazilian Midwest Institute

ABSTRACT Scientific and technological initiation programs are developed to introduce students to scientific research and technological development. We use the term undergraduate research (UR) to refer to both initiation modalities. Our study aimed to evaluate undergraduate students’ research experience, self-perceptions, and scientific production during one academic period. Quantitative analysis of curricula vitae and an electronic survey were conducted on students enrolled in a Brazilian Midwest Institute. The results showed that students who had participated in research activities more than once perceived the benefits of UR more positively (p = 0.047) and demonstrated a higher volume of academic production than those were participating for the first time (p < 0.001). Undergraduate students who participate in UR programs contribute positively to academic production and training by providing personal and professional benefits and the opportunity to produce academic work that can help initiate academic careers.

Digital Content for Libraries considering Extended Reality, Physical Interaction Disabilities, Universal Design for Learning and User-Centered Design: A Systematic Review

A systematic review of Digital Content for Libraries, Extended Reality, Physical Interaction Disabilities, Universal Design for Learning and User-Centered Design is presented to find the basis for a software development methodology that covers these characteristics. A protocol oriented to studies in software engineering is used, which consists of the following stages: 1. Defining research questions, 2. Conducting the search for articles, 3. Selecting inclusion and exclusion criteria, 4. Keywords for abstracts, and 5. Data extraction and mapping process. This review is performed through search engines such as Google Scholar, Science Direct, IEEE Xplore, and ACE Library and is limited to publications between 2016 and 2021. Results show an incremental trend in Extended Reality articles but low scientific productivity in Digital Content for Libraries, demonstrating the availability of services that consider the previously exposed topics. Finally, the article defines elements aiming to a future methodological proposal for the construction of Digital Content for Libraries and Extended Reality.

Direct electrochemical reduction of graphene oxide thin film for aptamer-based selective and highly sensitive detection of matrix metalloproteinase 2

Simple and low-cost biosensing solutions are suitable for point-of-care applications aiming to overcome the gap between scientific concepts and technological production. To compete with sensitivity and selectivity of golden standards, such as liquid chromatography, the functionalization of biosensors is continuously optimized to enhance the signal and improve their performance, often leading to complex chemical assay development. In this research, the efforts are made on optimizing the methodology for electrochemical reduction of graphene oxide to produce thin film-modified gold electrodes. Under the employed specific conditions, 20 cycles of cyclic voltammetry (CV) are shown to be optimal for superior electrical activation of graphene oxide into electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ERGO). This platform is further used to develop a matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) biosensor, where specific anti-MMP2 aptamers are utilized as a biorecognition element. MMP-2 is a protein which is typically overexpressed in tumor tissues, with important roles in tumor invasion, metastasis as well as in tumor angiogenesis. Based on impedimetric measurements, we were able to detect as low as 3.32 pg mL−1 of MMP-2 in PBS with a dynamic range of 10 pg mL−1 – 10 ng mL−1. Further experiments with real blood samples revealed a promising potential of the developed sensor for direct measurement of MMP-2 in complex media. High specificity of detection is demonstrated – even to the closely related enzyme MMP-9. Finally, the potential of reuse was demonstrated by signal restoration after experimental detection of MMP-2.

Novel opportunities for clinical pharmacy research: development of a machine learning model to identify medication related causes of delirium in different patient groups.

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has taken the world of science by storm in 2023. The opportunities of this easy to access technology for clinical pharmacy research are yet to be fully understood. The development of a custom-made large language model (LLM) (DELSTAR) trained on a wide range of internationally recognised scientific publication databases, pharmacovigilance sites and international product characteristics to help identify and summarise medication related information on delirium, as a proof-of-concept model, identified new facilitators and barriers for robust clinical pharmacy practice research. This technology holds great promise for the development of much more comprehensive prescribing guidelines, practice support applications for clinical pharmacy, increased patient and prescribing safety and resultant implications for healthcare costs. The challenge will be to ensure its methodologically robust use and the detailed and transparent verification of its information accuracy.

A study on comparison of economic and scientific performances of BRICS countries

PurposeThis study investigates the correlation between economic development and scientific knowledge production indicators in the BRICS countries from 2000 to 2020, highlighting the importance of human resources, natural resources, and innovation. Addressing a gap in the existing literature, this study aims to contribute significantly to understanding this relationship.Design/methodology/approachEmploying a descriptive statistical approach, this study utilizes GDP and per capita income as economic indicators and scientific data from WoS and SCOPUS databases, focusing on scientific document production and citations per document.FindingsThe analysis reveals a strong correlation between economic development and scientific performance within the BRICS nations during the specified period. It emphasizes the interdependence of economic progress and scientific prowess, underscoring that they cannot be considered independently.Research limitations/implicationsHowever, limitations exist, notably the reliance on specific databases that might not cover the entire scientific output and the inability to capture all factors influencing economic and scientific development.Originality/valueUnderstanding this interdependence has crucial originality. Policymakers and stakeholders in BRICS countries can leverage these insights to prioritize investments in human capital development and scientific research. This approach can foster sustainable economic growth by reducing reliance on natural resources.

Analysis of social metrics on scientific production in the field of emotion-aware education through artificial intelligence

Research in the field of Artificial Intelligence applied to emotions in the educational context has experienced significant growth in recent years. However, despite the field’s profound implications for the educational community, the social impact of this scientific production on digital social media remains unclear. To address this question, the present research has been proposed, aiming to analyze the social impact of scientific production on the use of Artificial Intelligence for emotions in the educational context. For this purpose, a sample of 243 scientific publications indexed in Scopus and Web of Science has been selected, from which a second sample of 6,094 social impact records has been extracted from Altmetric, Crossref, and PlumX databases. A dual analysis has been conducted using specially designed software: on one hand, the scientific sample has been analyzed from a bibliometric perspective, and on the other hand, the social impact records have been studied. Comparative analysis based on the two dimensions, scientific and social, has focused on the evolution of scientific production with its corresponding social impact, sources, impact, and content analysis. The results indicate that scientific publications have had a high social impact (with an average of 25.08 social impact records per publication), with a significant increase in research interest starting from 2019, likely driven by the emotional implications of measures taken to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, a lack of alignment has been identified between articles with the highest scientific impact and those with the highest social impact, as well as a lack of alignment in the most commonly used terms from both scientific and social perspectives, a significant variability in the lag in months for scientific research to make an impact on social media, and the fact that the social impact of the research did not emerge from the interest of Twitter users unaffiliated with the research, but rather from the authors, publishers, or scientific institutions. The proposed comparative methodology can be applied to any field of study, making it a useful tool given that current trends in accreditation agencies propose the analysis of the repercussion of scientific research in social media.

A review on sustainable sewage treatment technologies applicable to semi-arid regions

Sustainability in the context of Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) is manifested when the principles of circular economy are prioritized, and the use of by-products takes center stage. From this perspective, a notable gap exists in the literature, as no bibliometric analysis has evaluated the sustainability of sewage treatment technologies in semi-arid climates. Addressing this, the current study aims to contextualize, map, and analyze the evolution and trends of sustainable WWTPs through bibliometric analyses, to assess the hypothesis of the existence of sustainable wastewater treatment plants and, in the affirmative, to evaluate which ones are best suited to the semi-arid climate. The research utilized documentary research data. To this end, the VosViewer software was employed to map information from titles and abstracts. Furthermore, the Bibliometrix software was used for bibliometric analyses. Additionally, a systematic analysis of selected articles was carried out to validate the results obtained in the integrative analysis. The integrative review revealed an evolution in scientific production related to the sustainability of WWTPs, with a significant increase in publications over time. As a result, it can be observed that sewage treatment technologies such as constructed wetlands, pond systems, sand filtration, and septic tanks were highlighted as more sustainable and applicable approaches in semi-arid regions compared to other sewage treatment technologies analyzed. Bibliometric analysis identified prominent authors, leading countries in scientific production, and key scientific journals in the field. The validation of results through systematic analyses reinforced the reliability and robustness of the information obtained in the study. As seen, this study contributes to a significant advancement in knowledge about sustainable sewage treatment in semi-arid regions, providing relevant insights for public and private stakeholders in making informed and sustainable decisions.

The Dynamics of Commodity Research: A Multi-Dimensional Bibliometric Analysis

This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis conducted in R Studio of the scientific landscape regarding commodity markets, trading strategies, sustainable production, integration of technologies such as machine learning, and their economic impacts, covering publications from 1974 to 2023. Employing a sophisticated query in Scopus, we meticulously compiled and analyzed data, revealing an annual growth rate of 10.46% in related scientific publications, with an average citation rate of 6.60 per document. The results indicate sustained interest in commodity research over time, with a significant increase observed in scientific production, particularly since the early 2008s. International collaboration is prominent, reflecting the global nature of research in commodity markets. Key themes such as “futures markets”, “commodity prices”, and “energy commodities” emerge from the analysis of keywords and bigrams, highlighting areas of interest within the field. Additionally, thematic mapping highlights emerging and niche themes in commodity research, providing insight into evolving trends and areas of specialization. Factorial analysis of keywords reveals the underlying structures of association between key concepts, shedding light on the intricate dynamics of research in the field of commodities. This research delineates the complex interplay between commodity markets and global economic dynamics, offering invaluable insights for academics, policymakers, and market participants aiming to navigate the intricate world of commodities in the digital age.

Emerging trends in physical education and inclusive education: A scientometric analysis

Background Problems: In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of inclusive education and physical education in promoting equality, diversity, and overall well-being among students. However, there is a need for a comprehensive understanding of the scholarly landscape and emerging trends in this field. Research Objectives: The aim of this study is to develop a scientometric analysis of scientific production on inclusive education and physical education. Methods: The databases used in this study were acquired from the Web of Science (WoS) and SCOPUS, with the most recent update occurring in 2021. The bibliographic datasets were pre-processed using ScientoPy and VOSviewer. Findings/Results: The results showed that: (i) The trend of publications related to inclusive and physical education has reached 438 papers since its first publication in 1968. Additionally, it is demonstrated that the distribution of papers increases progressively over time. (ii) Justin A. Haegele of Old Dominion University, Norfolk, United States, has become the most contributing and influential writer in the field of inclusive education and physical education, with 11 papers and 192 citations; Of the 10 journals identified, Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy was the journal that contributed the most with 33 papers; the most influential top paper with 172 citations was entitled “Inclusive physical education from the perspective of students with physical disabilities."  The most frequently used keywords were “physical education," "inclusion,” and “inclusive education." Conclusion: The scientometric analysis revealed a wealth of research on inclusive and physical education for students with disabilities, thereby broadening the scope of adaptive physical education. By emphasising the role of inclusive education in promoting equality, diversity, and overall well-being among students, this research contributes to the ongoing discourse on the establishment of inclusive environments in educational settings. 

Psychology, religion and spirituality: a brief history and theoretical study

It can be said that Psychology is configured as an area of study that seeks understanding, listening, reception and assistance in the autonomy of the individual in the different situations of everyday life. Thus, an integral recognition of the human being is necessary, focusing not only on the bodily and psychic dimensions, but also on the spiritual dimension, in order to emerge a care in its entirety. Therefore, this article aims to present the history of Division 36, a subdivision entitled “Division of Psychologists Interested in Religious Problems” (PIRI) of the American Psychological Association (APA) and its challenges; the scientific productions of the Psychology of Religion; research groups in Psychology of Religion in Brazil; and the discussions of the Regional Council of Psychology in relation to the National Working Group – Psychology, Religion and Spirituality.

Analyzing Trends in Green Financial Instrument Issuance for Climate Finance in Capital Markets

Numerous stakeholders concur that tackling the climate change effect requires massive financial mobilization from the public and private sectors to reduce the climate financing gap. Capital markets are among the key players fostering this mobilization by issuing green financial instruments and facilitating capital flows to green investments. The study aimed to conduct a bibliometric analysis to fill a knowledge gap by evaluating the status and linkages in the literature on capital markets’ green financial instrument issuances. We utilized the Bibliometrix R package and VOS viewer to analyze 314 relevant publications from the Web of Science in 2017–2023 following the Sustainable Stock Exchanges’ green finance voluntary action plan. The analysis entailed mapping the scientific production trends, journal significance, author productivity, keyword linkages, emerging and trending topics, and collaborations within social structures. Further, the study assessed the applicability of Bradford’s, Zipf’s, and Lotka’s bibliometric laws. We highlight six conclusions based on the analysis, their relevance to various stakeholders, and future research directions. The findings are essential in enhancing the decision-making process of policymakers, corporations, responsible investors, and researchers interested in understanding the effectiveness and impact of green financial instruments.

Obstetric violence and racism: analysis of scientific production from an intersectional perspective

This study aimed to investigate obstetric violence as a phenomenon arising from racism and its intersectionality, as factors suffered during the pregnancy and puerperal period in hospital institutions in several countries. To this end, systematic literature review research was used as a method, as well as the PRISMA protocol perspective was adopted for data collection. References were recruited from the databases, using the descriptors “obstetric violence” and “racism” or “intersectionality”. The search resulted in 1126 articles which, when applying the eligibility criteria, reached the volume of 3 (three) works. Based on the findings, two categories were constructed, “Intersectionality (race, gender and social class)” and “Obstetric violence”. As a result, there was a shortage in national and international journals dedicated to Health Sciences. Such absences or insufficiencies may indicate the non-consolidation of black women's health as thematic and research fields, related to the low degree of penetration in research institutions debates about racism, its impacts on health and ways of coping.

Science as exploration in a knowledge landscape: tracing hotspots or seeking opportunity?

The selection of research topics by scientists can be viewed as an exploration process conducted by individuals with cognitive limitations traversing a complex cognitive landscape influenced by both individual and social factors. While existing theoretical investigations have provided valuable insights, the intricate and multifaceted nature of modern science hinders the implementation of empirical experiments. This study leverages advancements in Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques to investigate the patterns and dynamic mechanisms of topic-transition among scientists. By constructing the knowledge space across 6 large-scale disciplines, we depict the trajectories of scientists’ topic transitions within this space, measuring the flow and distance of research regions across different sub-spaces. Our findings reveal a predominantly conservative pattern of topic transition at the individual level, with scientists primarily exploring local knowledge spaces. Furthermore, simulation modeling analysis identifies research intensity, driven by the concentration of scientists within a specific region, as the key facilitator of topic transition. Conversely, the knowledge distance between fields serves as a significant barrier to exploration. Notably, despite potential opportunities for breakthrough discoveries at the intersection of subfields, empirical evidence suggests that these opportunities do not exert a strong pull on scientists, leading them to favor familiar research areas. Our study provides valuable insights into the exploration dynamics of scientific knowledge production, highlighting the influence of individual cognition, social factors, and the intrinsic structure of the knowledge landscape itself. These findings offer a framework for understanding and potentially shaping the course of scientific progress.

On Democratizing Data: Diminishing Disparity and Increasing Scientific Productivity

On Democratizing Data: Diminishing Disparity and Increasing Scientific Productivity

Research trends and hotspots of ferroptosis in neurodegenerative diseases from 2013 to 2023: A bibliometrics study

BackgroundWith the aging population, the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases increases yearly, seriously impacting human health. Various journals have published studies on the pathogenesis of ferroptosis in neurodegenerative diseases. However, bibliometric analysis in this field is still lacking. The study aims to visually analyze global research trends in this field over the past decade. MethodsThe articles and reviews regarding ferroptosis in neurodegenerative diseases were retrieved from the Web of Science on September 1, 2023. Citespace [version 6.2. R4 (64-bit)] and VOSviewer (version 1.6.18) were used to conduct the bibliometric and knowledge-map analysis. ResultsIn total, 370 studies were included in the paper and ranked by their citation frequency. Many articles on ferroptosis in neurodegenerative diseases have been published in the past decade. The country, institution, author, and journal with the highest publications were China, Guangzhou Medical University, Maher, Pamela, and Free Radical Biology And Medicine, respectively. The analysis of keyword co-occurrence indicated that research frontiers were molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis in neurodegenerative diseases, especially a few key pathways that triggered ferroptosis in these diseases, including lipid peroxidation signaling, iron metabolism, and GSH/GPX4 signaling. In addition, ferroptosis inhibitors such as liproxstatins and ferrostatins had protective effects in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, future attention should also be focused on therapeutic drugs that target ferroptosis. ConclusionThis study comprehensively analyzed the publications on ferroptosis in neurodegenerative diseases from a bibliometric perspective. Research on this topic is currently expanding at a rapid pace, and the China holds a leading position in this field by its scientific achievements and productivity. Moreover, the research frontiers were molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis in neurodegenerative diseases and developing targeted therapeutic drugs. In summary, our results showed an all-sided overview of the knowledge atlas and a valuable reference for the future research in this field.

Globalização, empresa e responsabilidade socioambiental

The research addresses the globalization’s issue and socio-environmental responsibility of Brazilian companies concerning to adoption of ethical standards and business commitment based on the criteria of Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance, concepts that support the new process of internationalization of business law, globally. This is a systematic interpretation of the corporate production of wealth with emphasis of globalization for a better understanding of the role of the modern company which, in addition to being a supplier of goods and services, must be allied to socio-environmental interests with the creation of new markets, generating jobs and attracting new consumers. As a basis, scientific and bibliographical productions by Brazilian and international authors were researched. It is clear to conclude that there is a need for public policies to promote environmental education and social accountability of all Brazilian business people and thus guarantee the preservation and protection of the sustainable environment through the search for social and ethical values in defense of the global ecosystem.