Research Trends Research Articles

Visitor attitude to tourism destinations: a critical review and future research agenda

ABSTRACT Visitor attitude is fundamental to destination selection in the tourism literature. Yet, there remains a notable dearth of critical reviews to assess the current status of knowledge on the topic. This study, therefore, seeks to map and critically evaluate the state of visitor attitudinal research to set the agenda for future scholarly enquiry. A review of journal articles on the topic in four leading tourism journals was undertaken. To critically explore the literature and identify research trends, a paradigm funnel approach was used. The findings demonstrate that most studies on the topic are based on empirical research and specific theories, most notably the contact model and theory of planned behaviour. However, few publications apply analytical methods and innovative ontological and epistemological approaches. This paper provides recommendations for future studies to advance visitor attitudinal research, advocating for the use of innovative methods and theoretical approaches in parent sub-disciplines, particularly psychology.

Insights into elder abuse: a bibliometric analysis

Purpose This paper aims to explore the trends in academic research on elder abuse from 1990 to 2023 using bibliometric analysis. It seeks to identify research trends, hotspots and gaps and proposes future research directions. Design/methodology/approach Using bibliometric analysis method, this study analyzes 2,404 documents related to elder abuse from the Scopus database. Visual analysis is conducted using VOSviewer software to reveal research trends, thematic clusters and their interrelationships. Findings The study shows a rising concern for elder abuse, especially in nursing homes, domestic settings and among dementia patients. However, research on prevention and intervention measures is lacking, despite increasing international collaboration. Yet, deeper exploration of cross-cultural and regional differences remains limited. Practical implications This study reveals that improving care conditions for nursing home residents and dementia patients requires increased funding, professional training for caregivers, the strengthening of regulations and the establishment of clear guidelines for reporting abuse. Additionally, promoting international cooperation, sharing best practices, raising public awareness and supporting ongoing research are essential measures to ensure the safety and dignity of older adults. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study represents the first systematic review of elder abuse research using bibliometric analysis, providing researchers and policymakers with a comprehensive knowledge framework of the field’s development trends and research hotspots.

Psychological capital: a literature review and research trends

Psychological capital: a literature review and research trends

A depth analysis of recent innovations in non-invasive techniques using artificial intelligence approach for cancer prediction.

The fight against cancer, a relentless global health crisis, emphasizes the urgency for efficient and automated early detection methods. To address this critical need, this review assesses recent advances in non-invasive cancer prediction techniques, comparing conventional machine learning (CML) and deep neural networks (DNNs). Focusing on these seven major cancers, we analyze 310 publications spanning the years 2018 to 2024, focusing on detection accuracy as the key metric to identify the most effective predictive models, highlighting critical gaps in current methodologies, and suggesting directions for future research. We further delved into factors like datasets, features, and modalities to gain a comprehensive understanding of each approach's performance. Separate review tables for each cancer type and approach facilitated comparisons between top performers (accuracy exceeding 99%) and low performers (65.83 to 85.8%). Our exploration of public databases and commonly used classifiers revealed that optimal combinations of features, datasets, and models can achieve up to 100% accuracy for both CML and DNN. However, significant variations in accuracy (up to 35%) were observed, particularly when optimization was lacking. Notably, colorectal cancer exhibited the lowest accuracy (DNN 69%, CML 65.83%). A five-point comparative analysis (best/worst models, performance gap, average accuracy, and research trends) revealed that while DNN research is gaining momentum, CML approaches remain competitive, even outperforming DNN in some cases. This study presents an in-depth comparative analysis of CML and DNN techniques for cancer detection. This knowledge can inform future research directions and contribute to the development of increasingly accurate and reliable cancer detection tools.

Examining the Global Patent Landscape of Artificial Intelligence-Driven Solutions for COVID-19

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies have been widely applied to tackle Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) challenges, from diagnosis to prevention. Patents are a valuable source for understanding the AI technologies used in the COVID-19 context, allowing the identification of the current technological scenario, fields of application, and research, development, and innovation trends. This study aimed to analyze the global patent landscape of AI applications related to COVID-19. To do so, we analyzed AI-related COVID-19 patent metadata collected in the Derwent Innovations Index using systematic review, bibliometrics, and network analysis., Our results show diagnosis as the most frequent application field, followed by prevention. Deep Learning algorithms, such as Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), were predominantly used for diagnosis, while Machine Learning algorithms, such as Support Vector Machine (SVM), were mainly used for prevention. The most frequent International Patent Classification Codes were related to computing arrangements based on specific computational models, information, and communication technology for detecting, monitoring, or modeling epidemics or pandemics, and methods or arrangements for pattern recognition using electronic means. The most central algorithms of the two-mode network were CNN, SVM, and Random Forest (RF), while the most central application fields were diagnosis, prevention, and forecast. The most significant connection between algorithms and application fields occurred between CNN and diagnosis. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the technological landscape involving AI and COVID-19, and we hope they can inform future research and development’s decision making and planning.

Advances and future development prospects of the cross-fusion of computer graphics and artificial intelligence

The application of artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly widespread in today's society, and many fields are beginning to incorporate AI technologies. With the support of artificial intelligence, the processing of graphics and images is also being integrated with computer graphics. The cross-fusion of computer graphics and artificial intelligence is gradually becoming a new technological trend. This paper uses a comparative research method to explore the relevant technologies of the cross-fusion of computer graphics and artificial intelligence, aiming to elucidate its cutting-edge research and future development trends. The paper first introduces the background and significance of the cross-fusion of computer graphics and artificial intelligence and then provides a detailed introduction to the research methods and technologies. It then focuses on discussing cutting-edge technologies such as image generation and processing based on deep learning, as well as image-to-image translation and transformation. The paper also highlights the trends and challenges in this field and proposes possible solutions. Therefore, it can be concluded that the cross-fusion of computer graphics and artificial intelligence is becoming a trend in the development of image processing technologies. Investment should be increased to promote the rapid development of this process, which will undoubtedly lead to a better future.

Review on the Comparative Analysis of Stance Markers in Academic Discourse

Stance is related to the author’s evaluative attitude towards the knowledge conveyed in academic discourse, which is an important criterion for judging the objectivity of knowledge expression. At present, previous reviews on stance markers in academic discourse have mainly focused on analyzing the current state of relevant research from multiple perspectives at a macro level, and there are few reviews of a particular research methodology. In view of this, this paper synthesizes the current research trends with a focus on the comparative study of stance markers in academic discourse so as to find out the research gap and then shed light on possible future research.

Business continuity management: trends, structures and future issues

PurposeThis study assesses the current landscape of business continuity management (BCM) research while exploring research trends, structures and delineating potential future directions.Design/methodology/approachA comprehensive bibliometric analysis was conducted on 360 articles from the Scopus and Web of Science databases using Biblioshiny software. A meta-synthesis was employed to aggregate and synthesize findings from the bibliometric results.FindingsThe results demonstrate a notable increase in publication numbers since the onset of the pandemic, reaching a peak in 2022 with a total of 342 articles. A collaborative bond among scholars transcends geographical boundaries and national affiliations. The analytical results propose avenues for future research, addressing crucial areas such as the integration of business continuity management systems (BCMS), the development of BCM frameworks and a comparative analysis of business impact analysis (BIA) frameworks through pertinent theories.Research limitations/implicationsThe study contributes theoretical and practical implications, serving as a valuable resource for academics and practitioners seeking to deepen their understanding of BCM’s role in business recovery and preserving organizational continuity in the face of disruptions.Originality/valueThis study pioneers a comprehensive approach by integrating bibliometric analysis and qualitative meta-synthesis, providing a consolidated overview of BCM research. Additionally, it presents future research proposals in this area.

Beyond stroke therapy, neuroaid (a chinese herbal) has an effect on cognition and neurogenesis, a bibliometric study

Introduction NeuroAiD, also known as MLC601 or MLC901, is a Chinese herbal combination used worldwide for stroke treatment. It contains herbal components and five hewan components. MLC601 contains herbal components and hewan components, while MLC901 has a similar herbal composition. NeuroAiD is used to support neurologic recovery after stroke and to aid cognitive function in Alzheimer’s disease. Studies show that NeuroAiD has potential in treating Alzheimer’s disease and is beneficial in both local and global stroke models and in the Kortikal culture. However, there is limited bibliometric research on NeuroAiD, which is a method of collecting data from published articles to analyze developments and trends in the field of research. This research contributes significantly to the literature and helps develop more effective stroke treatment strategies. Methods In this work, a literature review methodology is employed to gather data from the Scopus database using the keywords neuroaid. Data were analyzed using Biblioshiny and VOSviewer software to produce visualizations and bibliometric maps. We conducted quantitative and qualitative analysis Results The research trend found are documents by year, most relevant sources, factorial map of the most cited documents, factorial map of The documents with the highest contributes, documents by author, documents by country or territory, documents by subject area, documents by affiliation, network visualization, overlay visualization of scopus database using vosviewer, density visualization, thematic map, thematic evolution, topic dendogram, and world cloud. Conclusions The study investigates the potential of Neuroaid, a neuroprotective drug, for stroke prevention and cognitive function enhancement. It uses terms like “cognition” and “neurogenesis” to highlight its potential. While the study’s focus may be limited, it provides valuable insights into research direction and potential areas of neuroaid for stroke treatment.

Visualization of global research trends and future research directions of financial performance in higher education sector using bibliometric analysis

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to undertake a bibliometric analysis of financial performance research in of higher education sector. The study examines papers over the last 2 decades and performed performance analysis, co-citation analysis, bibliographic coupling and scientific mapping.Design/methodology/approachThe study examines 616 documents retrieved from the Scopus database using bibliometric analysis, performance analysis and thematic clustering. The study looked at the scientific productivity of papers, prolific authors, most influencing papers, institutions and nations, keyword cooccurrence, thematic mapping, co-citations and authorship and country collaborations. VOS viewer was employed as a tool in the research to conduct the performance analysis and thematic clustering.FindingsThis study delves into the recent advancements in financial performance research within higher education, focusing particularly on the year 2023, characterized by a peak of productivity with 46 significant articles. Notable institutions contributing substantially to this discourse include the University of Sussex (UK), and Ratio Institute Stockholm (Sweden), each referenced 227 times. The United Kingdom has emerged as a leader in financial performance research, amassing 3,850 citations from 92 publications. Key journals driving this conversation include “Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice” and “The British Journal of Political Science.” The most cited study examines the impact of business-university partnerships on innovation and financial outcomes.”Originality/valueThis is the first study that provides a performance analysis and scientific mapping of the financial performance literature in the higher education sector. In addition, this study is the initial one to do a thorough analysis and organized representation of financial performance in the higher education sector, providing an unparalleled understanding of a hitherto uninvestigated area of academic research.

A Bibliometric Analysis of Virtual Reality in Higher Education: Research Trends and Productivity

This bibliometric study examines the overall research trends and productivity in virtual reality in higher education based on published articles (2010–2024). Initially, we identified 1,412 studies from the Scopus database using the search string ("virtual reality" AND "higher education" OR "tertiary education"). Finally, we selected 1,128 articles for analysis after filtering by articles, book chapters, review, and conference papers published in English within social science, psychology, multidisciplinary, arts, and humanities subjects. Utilizing Biblioshiny (R Studio) and VOSviewer software, we observed a significant upward trend in publications from 2010 to 2023. Most studies (31.8%) were in Computer Science, and the USA is the dominant contributor, followed by China and international collaborations with other countries. Gregory, S. (n = 14 articles) is the most prolific author, while the Catholic University of Avila is the leading institute (n = 22 articles). The leading source is the “ACM International Conference Proceeding Series” (n = 38 articles). The article “A Systematic Review of Immersive Virtual Reality Applications for Higher Education: Design Elements, Lessons Learned, and Research Agenda” by Radianti et al. (2020) was highly cited (1060). 'Virtual Reality' and 'Higher Education' were the most common co-occurrences among the authors' keywords. The most prominent theme based on the author’s keywords is "Innovative Education Ecosystems in the Digital Age." This study provides valuable insight into the research landscape of VR in HE. The study suggests a comprehensive review and meta-analysis of relevant studies for improved generalization.

Research trends and hotspots in the immune microenvironment related to hepatocellular carcinoma: A bibliometric and visualization study

Research trends and hotspots in the immune microenvironment related to hepatocellular carcinoma: A bibliometric and visualization study

Publication performance and trends in psychological capital research: a bibliometric analysis

Publication performance and trends in psychological capital research: a bibliometric analysis

Technological innovations in education: a scoping review on the impact of AI on academic integrity

This study presents a systematic review on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on academic integrity in higher education. The main objective was to understand how technological innovations, particularly those related to AI, influence the teaching and learning process. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PAGE et al., 2021) guidelines, the methodology involved searching various databases, including IEEE, SAGE, Scopus, ERIC, ACM, Semantic Scholar, and Web of Science. Out of the 3,484 articles initially retrieved, 31 were considered for discussion. The results highlight a growing trend of research regarding the proposed theme with emphasis on ChatGPT and cheating behavior detection systems, demonstrating concern for ethical issues in the academic environment.

Advancing electric mobility with lithium-ion batteries: A materials and sustainability perspective

AbstractIn the last three decades, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become one of the most influential technologies in the world, allowing the widespread adoption of consumer electronics and now electric vehicles (EVs), a key technology for tackling climate change. Decades of research in both academia and industry have led to the development of diverse chemistries for LIB components, aligning these technological advancements with global carbon neutrality goals. In this article, we discuss the fundamental materials chemistries employed in LIBs for EVs, focusing on how materials-level properties influence the electrochemical performance of the battery. We elaborate on factors such as supply-chain sustainability, raw materials availability, and geopolitical influences that shape the market dynamics of these battery materials. Additionally, we delve into current innovative materials design strategies aimed at enhancing the performance of LIBs, with a focus on improving energy density, safety, stability, and fast-charging capabilities. Finally, we offer our insights into the future trajectory of EV batteries, considering the ongoing research trends and evolving landscape of EVs in the context of global efforts toward a more sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation system. Graphical abstract

Aligning technical knowledge to an industry domain in global software development: A systematic mapping

AbstractFinding software developers with expertise in specific technologies that align with industry domains is an increasingly critical requirement. However, due to the ever‐changing nature of the technology industry, locating these professionals has become a significant challenge for companies and institutions. This research presents a comprehensive overview of studies exploring suitable recommendation systems that can assist companies in addressing this pressing need. To conduct this study, we employ a hybrid systematic mapping approach with an initial number of 1,251 studies and a final selection of 21 studies. Our work focuses on collecting data on key technologies, methodologies, and data sets utilized in proposed recommendation systems, to design a new recommendation system that can effectively identify specialists capable of aligning specific technical knowledge with industry domains. The outcomes of this study include insights into the current research trends in this field, alongside a practical overview of considerations necessary for developing a recommendation system that successfully meets the criteria for aligning technical skills with industry domains. By following a hybrid systematic mapping methodology and presenting the outcomes in the form of insights, this research addresses the challenge of finding software developers with domain‐specific expertise in a rapidly changing technology industry, laying the groundwork for aligning technical skills with industry domains.

Tracing the Scientific Legacy: Bibliometric Analysis of LATAM Research in Bariatric Surgery for 33 Years.

Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) has experienced considerable growth, addressing the challenges of obesity and its complications. The lack of a comprehensive bibliometric analysis in Latin America motivates this study, highlighting the need to understand the evolution of research in this area and its impact on clinical decision-making and health policies. A cross-sectional bibliometric study was carried out using the Scopus database. A structured search strategy was designed to identify articles related to bariatric surgery with authors affiliated with Latin American countries. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, followed by a descriptive and bibliometric analysis of the scientific production found. A total of 3553 documents published between 1991 and 2024 were included. There was an annual growth of 11%, with an average age of documents of 7.5years. A concentration was observed in some countries, notably Brazil, Mexico, and Chile. Although scientific output increased, the average number of citations per article showed a downward trend since 2003. Despite the growth in scientific production, the quality and relevance of research is questioned, especially given the decrease in the impact received. It highlights the lack of meaningful regional collaboration, which could limit the sharing of knowledge and resources. Questions are raised about gaps in research capacity and the economic and development implications are discussed. This study provides valuable information to strengthen future research in bariatric surgery in Latin America. It highlights the importance of promoting regional and international collaboration and improving research training in countries with less participation. Clinical intervention strategies can benefit from better understanding research trends and adopting evidence-based practices in a more informed manner.

Research trends and hotspots in exercise interventions for liver cirrhosis: A bibliometric analysis via CiteSpace.

Cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease with severe consequences for a patient's health and survival. Exercise is an essential therapeutic strategy for both cirrhosis prevention and treatment. On the other hand, information regarding the present status of exercise-related research in cirrhosis is limited. Therefore, this study seeks to close the information gap in the scientific literature by using bibliometric techniques to analyze the trends, focal points, and cutting-edge research areas on exercise and cirrhosis. On September 22, 2023, research articles and reviews on exercise intervention for cirrhosis were obtained and downloaded from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). Subsequently, we employed CiteSpace (version 6.1.R6) to conduct bibliometric and knowledge graph analyses. 588 papers in 301 scholarly journals were written by 673 authors from 460 institutions spread over 63 countries and regions. The most productive nation among them is the United States. Not only is Zobair M. Younossi 1 of the most prolific writers, but he also receives the most co-citations. Most articles were published by the University of Michigan in the US, with the University of Alberta in Canada coming in second. Meanwhile, the WORLD JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY has the most published articles, whereas HEPATOLOGY has the greatest number of co-citations. Apart from the theme words, the most frequently utilized keywords were "quality of life," "insulin resistance," and "mortality." Future research may concentrate on "obesity," "sarcopenia," and "Mediterranean diet," according to the analysis of keyword emergence. CiteSpace is used in this work to visually represent the topic of exercise intervention in cirrhosis, offering valuable information to researchers regarding the field's current status and possible future direction.

Longevity as a Responsibility: Constructing Healthy Aging by Enacting within Contexts over the Entire Lifespan

Studying aging now requires going beyond the bio-psycho-social model and incorporating a broader multidisciplinary view capable of capturing the ultimate complexity of being human that is expressed as individuals age. Current demographic trends and the lengthening of life expectancies allow the observation of long-lived individuals in full health. These super-agers are no longer an exception. Indeed, individuals can have a good quality of life even over age 70 and living with chronic or neurodegenerative diseases. This change is driven in part by the cohort effect observed in people who are about to age today (e.g., better schooling, more advanced health conditions, and technologization) but more so by the gradual overcoming of ageist views. An aged person is no longer seen as a quitter but rather as one empowered to direct their own trajectory of potentially healthy longevity. According to this vision, this article proposes a situated lifespan perspective for the study of aging that integrates pedagogical models of developmental ecology with psychological theories of optimal experience to understand the individual motivational perspective on aging. At the same time, it does not disregard analyzing the daily and cultural contexts in which everyone situates and that guide aging trajectories. Nor does it forget that aging people are body-mind (embodied) organisms that, with contexts and through motivations, seize opportunities for action (affordances) to evolve in an optimal way during their lifespan. This theoretical reflection sheds new light on the aging process and on future trends in healthy longevity research.

Current trends in forestry research of Latin-America: an editorial overview of the Special Issue

Mendoza city (Argentina) hosted the VIII Latin American Forestry Congress (CONFLAT) and the V Forestry Congress of Argentina (CFA) in 2023, where relevant issues were addressed, such as climate change, degradation, reforestation, management and forest industry, monitoring, environmental services, social issues, and governance, among others. The objective of this Special Issue was to present the main advances in Forestry Science for Latin-America in the context of changing governance and forest livelihoods for people. The fifteen articles emphasize the interdisciplinary nature of the forest management and conservation, and that multiple variables must be considered to achieve sustainability. The articles come from studies across Southern South-America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay), and the collaboration of researchers of other countries (México, Canada, and Spain). Articles include research in tropical, Mediterranean and temperate Sub-Antarctic forests. Together, these articles provide a snapshot of new forestry research carried out locally and internationally to bring about beneficial ecological and environmental outcomes in a world facing the challenges of sustainable management and conservation amongst the threats and uncertainty of climate change and environmental degradation responsible for extensive loss of biodiversity and environmental services. We believe that this Special Issue will encourage more inter-disciplinary research focusing on management and conservation of forests.