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The role of self-citation has not been discussed in the neurosurgery literature, although citations, citation indices, and impact of research may enhance funding opportunities, academic positions, fellowship opportunities, employment, and professional identity development. We sought to assess the magnitude and role of self-citation in academic neurosurgery. We performed a retrospective analysis of the citation and self-citation rates of articles published in 2001–2020 in 7 major neurosurgery journals: Acta Neurochirurgica, Journal of Neurosurgery , Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics, Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine , Neurosurgery , Neurosurgical Review , and World Neurosurgery. The total number of citations was highest for Journal of Neurosurgery and lowest for Neurosurgical Review. Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine had the highest average number of citations per article, followed closely by Journal of Neurosurgery. The self-citation rate increased for all journals over the time period 2001–2020. The highest number of self-citations per article during 2016–2020 was seen in Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics and World Neurosurgery. Neurosurgical Review had the lowest number of self-citations per article. Academic neurosurgeons must understand the ecosystem around self-citation. In our study, we found overall low levels of self-citations in neurosurgery journals with a few outliers. We have, however, noticed an increasing trend in self-citation rates. Self-citation rates should be considered while evaluating the impact of an author and research productivity. Contrary to popular belief, self-citation is not always unethical and must be understood within its circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many factors influence an author's choice for journal submission, including journal impact factor and publication speed. These and other bibliometric data points have not been assessed in journals dedicated to neurosurgery. Eight leading neurosurgery journals were analyzed to identify original articles and reviews, collected via randomized, stratified sampling per published issue per year from 2016 to 2020. Bibliometric data on publication speed were gathered for each article. Journal impact factor, article processing fees, and open access availability were determined using Clarivate Journal Citation Reports. Correlation analysis and a linear regression model were used to estimate the effect of impact factor and publication year on publication speed. Across the 8 neurosurgery journals, 1617 published articles were reviewed. The mean (standard deviation) time from submission to acceptance (SA) was 131 (101) days, from acceptance to online publication was 77 (61) days, and from submission to online publication was 207 (123) days. Higher impact factors correlated with longer publication times for all metrics. Later years of publication correlated with longer times from SA and submission to online publication. For each point increase in a journal's impact factor, multivariate regression modeling estimated a 19.2-day increase in time from SA, a 19.7-day increase in time from acceptance to online publication, and a 38.9-day increase in time from submission to online publication (P < 0.001 for all). Publication speeds vary widely among neurosurgery journals and appear to be associated with the journal impact factor. Time to publication increased over the study period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: & Purpose: The Irish Otolaryngology Society (IOS) conference takes place annually. This conference allows surgeons and surgical trainees from Ireland and abroad an opportunity to showcase research ideas from their respective centres. This allows them to disseminate results, accept critique, and obtain different perspectives. We sought to examine research presented at the IOS meetings over 20 years. We aimed to analyse the publication rates, impact factor of journals, and citation rates of presented abstracts.Methods: All oral presentations from IOS conferences were analysed between 2000 and 2019. Presentation titles and authors were searched using Pubmed, Google Scholar and Research Gate. We identified scientific publications which resulted from the research presented and the characteristics of each publication.Results: Of 703 presentations made at the conferences spanning 20 years, 30.15% (n = 212) went on to publish their research averaging 19 citations per publication. Median time to publication was 2 years (-1-11). Each year there have been an increasing number of oral presentations with a declining publication rate.Conclusion: The Irish otolaryngology society meeting is a high-quality meeting with comparable publication rates to similar international conferences. Despite this, many presentations do not have any lasting impact as they are not published. The increasing pressure for trainees to rapidly present research projects without emphasis on completion of projects may explain the declining publication rate. Our study highlights the importance of completing high-quality research projects through publication. Meaningful conclusions from these projects can add to the body of knowledge and contribute to evidence-based practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

· The study develops analytical formulation to predict the dynamic response of girders with CSWs by considering shear deformation. · The credibility of the proposed analytical formulation is strengthened through rigorous validation conducted via finite element simulations. · Valuable insights are provided into the dominant influence of shear deformation on the dynamic response of girders with CSWs. · A high-frequency resonance phenomenon is identified when the speed parameter S E1 and the shear parameter α S conformed to " πS E1 α S = 1". · The effect of rotational inertia on the dynamic response of girders with CSWs is negligible. Girders with corrugated steel webs (CSWs), replacing traditional concrete webs in prestressed concrete box girders, exhibit a unique dynamic behavior due to the accordion effect and the thinner dimension of CSWs. The study aims to investigate the dynamic response of girder bridges with CSWs under moving loads. Utilizing the Timoshenko beam theory and modal analysis method, the analytical formula for the dynamic response, considering shear deformation and rotational inertia, was developed. The proposed analytical formula was validated through finite element simulation. Employing dimensionless parameters, a parametric analysis was conducted to examine the effects of multi-modes, loading position and shear deformation on the dynamic response of girders with CSWs. The results highlight the significant influence of the shear parameter α S and the speed parameter S E1 on the magnitude of the impact factor. Precise calculations for deflection and bending moment only require consideration of low-order modes, whereas accurate estimation of shear force requires attention to higher-order modes. In particular, a high-frequency resonance phenomenon is identified when the speed parameter S E1 and the shear parameter α S conform to the formula "π S E1 α S = 1". The suggested impact factor formulas for midpoint deflection, midpoint bending moment and end shear force have been developed and categorized into three groups based on the magnitude of the shear parameter α S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Against the backdrop of global climate change and the "dual carbon" target, cities have a significant responsibility to achieve carbon reduction targets. As a crucial urban agglomeration in northern China, effectively balancing economic growth with CO 2 emission reduction to achieve high-quality economic development remains a significant challenge that the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region should address both presently and in the future. The objective of this study is to utilize nighttime lighting data and energy consumption information to quantify the CO 2 emissions of diverse cities within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region spanning from 2006 to 2020. The research aims to analyze the spatial progression patterns of CO 2 emissions across these urban centers, identify key determinants and their interrelations, and delve into the underlying mechanisms pivotal for advancing carbon mitigation strategies within urban agglomerations. The results indicate that: with an exception in Beijing where CO 2 emissions slightly decreased compared to 2006, CO 2 emissions increased across cities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region by 2020. High-value CO 2 emission areas are primarily concentrated in central of the study area, exhibiting negative spatial correlation characteristics. Based on its urban development positioning, it is imperative for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration to formulate and implement carbon reduction strategies on innovative development, industrial upgrading, and ecological protection among other aspects towards coordinated low-carbon development. [Display omitted] • Within 15 years, the CO 2 emissions in the research area have increased by 73.4%. • High CO 2 emission areas were clustered in the central part of the research area. • The share of the secondary industry significantly influences urban CO 2 emissions. • Divide urban agglomerations into three categories for carbon reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Minority of radiology journals follow gender equity guidelines. • Higher impact factor in gender-inclusive journals. • Elsevier leads in adopting gender equity in research. • Gender equity linked to better journal metrics. • Study promotes gender inclusivity in medical research. Our study aimed to determine the current percentage of gender and sex equity promoting (GSEP) radiology journals, defined as satisfying at least one criterion of the Sex and Gender Equity in Research (SAGER) checklist, published by the European Association of Science Editors (EASE). A secondary objective was to compare characteristics of GSEP and non-GSEP journals. A cross-sectional analysis between June 24 and July 3, 2023, was conducted. The author submission guidelines of radiology journals with a 2021 Journal Impact Factor (JIF) were assessed according to the SAGER checklist. GSEP journals were defined as satisfying one or more SAGER checklist criteria in their research instructions. Bibliometric data and journal information were collected from the Journal Citation Reports and National Library of Medicine catalogue. Only 39.7 % (52) of 132 journals satisfied at least one SAGER checklist criterion. Median 2021 JIFs were higher in GSEP journals (4.62, IQR: 3.73 – 5.21) than non-GSEP journals (2.70, IQR: 2.32) (p = 0.00). Median 2021 Journal Citation Index (JCI) scores were higher in GSEP (0.64, 0.56 – 0.73) than non-GSEP journals (0.97, 0.83 – 1.10) (p = 0.00). Cited half-life was shorter for GSEP (5.40, 4.80 – 6.50) than non-GSEP journals (6.70, 5.70 – 7.40) (p = 0.05). Elsevier published 33 of 52 of GSEP journals. 60.3% of radiology journals with a 2021 JIF do not meet a single SAGER checklist criterion in their author submission guidelines. GSEP journals had higher impact and source metrics and a shorter cited half-life. Publishers may play a significant role in promoting endorsement of the SAGER checklist in the author submission guidelines of radiology journals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a world of information at our disposal, and it is increasingly difficult to transform this dull amount of data into knowledge. How to be constantly actualized? This study aims to create an altmetric list of the top 50 articles related to COVID-19 and oral health. Research of terms COVID-19 and oral health was done using Dimensions app. Results were ranked in altmetric citations and analyzed through Microsoft Excel. Some tables and graphics were created. Graphical illustration of keywords was created using VOSviewer. Some interesting facts can be seen, like growing interest in dental aerosols, perspectives, and virucidal activity of some mouthwashes. Altmetric analysis is a helpful manner to scientific updates, supplementing bibliometric analysis. A terrific manner to see trends. The scientific community goes to great lengths to solve problems with dental aerosols, particularly to reduce contamination. Some adjustments to dental office and the use of barriers are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientometrics and bibliometrics, the subfields of library and information science, deal with the quantity and quality of research outputs. Currently, various scientometric indices are being used to quantify and compare research outputs. The most widely known is the h-index. However, this index and its derivatives suffer from dependence on the mere count of a scholar's highly cited publications. To remedy this deficiency, we developed a novel index, the Universal Research Index (UR-Index) (https://usern2021.github.io/UR-Index/) by which every single publication has its own impact on the total score. We developed this index by surveying international top 1 % cited scientists in various disciplines and included additional component variables such as publication type, leading role of a scholar, co-author count, and source metrics to this scientometric index. We acknowledge that unconscious biases built into the component variables included in the UR-Index might put research from specific groups at a disadvantage, thus continued efforts to improve equitable scholarly impact in science and academia are encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate interventional radiology (IR) research over time based on the study type of published articles and the visibility of articles to non-radiology clinicians. We performed a search of all PubMed-indexed literature from January 1, 1991, through November 11, 2020, for clinical IR articles classified by their study type, categorized as: 1) meta-analyses/systematic reviews/practice guidelines; 2) randomized controlled trials; 3) non-randomized controlled trials; and 4) longitudinal/observational studies. Clinical IR articles were defined as those that met keyword criteria constructed from Society of Interventional Radiology procedure guides. Data were also collected on medical specialty journal categories that published IR-related articles. When we examined the first vs. the last decade of our study period, the number of IR articles published increased across all study types: randomized controlled trials (374 to 2620; 601% change), longitudinal/observational studies (2324 to 12,447; 436%), meta-analyses/systematic reviews/practice guidelines (1179 to 6135; 420%), non-randomized controlled trials (471 to 2161; 359%). The journal categories with the highest mean percentage increase of IR articles across all study types were obstetrics and gynecology (659%), peripheral vascular disease (342%), and emergency medicine (221%). We found a decrease of IR articles published in surgery (−6.0%), pediatrics (−14%), and pulmonary (−21%) journals. The number of IR articles grew quickly and at a similar rate compared with all PubMed-indexed articles and increased as a proportion of articles published in non-imaging specialty journals. This indicates greater visibility of IR studies for all clinicians and is encouraging towards the advancement of IR techniques. • Number of interventional radiology (IR) articles published has increased at a similar rate to all medical literature. • IR articles are increasingly published in non-imaging journals. • An evaluation of publishing trends helps to guide researchers towards future areas of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale and Objectives: Although metrics-based systems may incentivize academic output, no prior studies have evaluated the impact on publication metrics in academic radiology. This study presents a metrics-based system of awarding research protected time, and retrospectively evaluates its 9-year impact on publication productivity and impact factor.Materials and Methods: Based on a metrics-based algorithm to award department funded Research Protected Time (RPT), metrics pre-RPT (2003-2009) and during the RPT period (2010-2018) from an academic radiology department were retrospectively analyzed to test the hypothesis that the RPT program resulted in higher publication productivity and journal impact factor at the departmental level and for faculty members receiving the award. Comparison was made between (1) pre-RPT and RPT periods and (2) during the RPT period, between RPT and non-RPT faculty members, for annual publication productivity normalized to faculty count (Student's t test) and median impact factor (Wilcoxon rank sum test).Results: For the evaluation period of 2003-2018, 724 unique publications were identified: 15% (107/724) pre-RPT period and 85% (617/724) RPT period. Normalized annual publication productivity was higher during the RPT period compared to the Pre-RPT period (1.2 vs. 0.3, p = 0.002), and within the RPT period, higher among faculty who received RPT vs. non-RPT faculty (3.5 vs. 0.4, p = 0.002). Median impact factor was higher during the RPT period compared to pre-RPT period (2.843 vs. 2.322, p = 0.044), and within the RPT period, higher in RPT vs. non-RPT faculty (3.016 vs. 2.346, p < 0.001).Conclusion: The implementation of a metrics-based system of funded, research protected time, was associated with increased publication productivity and increased impact factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobility, group awareness, and temperature are considered as the important factors that may impact the increase in confirmed cases of the COVID-19[1]. This paper aims to verify the above factors on the COVID-19 and show the possible confounding factors of each research variable in reality. Based on this, we collected data about the epidemic from January 20, 2020 to February 24, 2021, including the relevant data of 31 provinces and regions in China. Plus, we use the directed acyclic graph (DAG)[2] to show the causal relationship between the above influencing factors and the confirmed daily epidemic cases, and the confounding is estimated based on DAG. The effective adjustment set of factors are used to perform the regression of the total causal effect among the explanatory variables and the confirmed cases of the epidemic using negative binomial regression. Through the comprehensive causal analysis of the decisive factors for the COVID-19, we provide strong evidence for population mobility, group awareness and the impact of weather on the epidemic, and estimates the possible confounding factors in all aspects of society. Incorporating the above factors, we provide suggestions for future decisions on the prevention of large-scale epidemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acta Neurochirurgica (ANCH) and World Neurosurgery (WN), are 2 journals of significant importance in the neurosurgical community and have been associated with international federations. These journals carry a similar impact factor. The difference is the years they have been active (ANCH starting publication in 1973 and WN in 2010). This factor allows for a unique opportunity to delve deep into comparative, scientometric parameters, to understand the evolution of neurosurgical research. A title-specific search of the Web of Science database using the keywords "Acta Neurochirurgica," "Acta," "Neurochirurgica," "World Neurosurgery," "World," and "Neurosurgery" was performed and arranged according to number of citations. The title of the articles, authors, corresponding authors, country of origin, journal of publication, year of publication, citation count. and journal impact factor were assessed. The average citation for ANCH was 170.1 citations, most being original articles (83/100). The articles of WN garnered nearly 70.48 citations, averaging 8.3 citations per publication. Most corresponding authors in ANCH originated from Germany with neuro-oncology, followed by neurotrauma and vascular as subjects. In contrast, the United States followed by China were the most common countries of origin for WN , with endoscopy and skull base being the topics achieving high impact. Neurotrauma and consensus guidelines have been shown to have maximal citations for ANCH whereas endoscopy and skull base lesions garnered the most for WN. Author subspecialization and increased collaboration across specialties with more articles on refinement of technique and outcome have emerged as recent trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this review article, we discuss the literature pertaining to the bibliometric analysis of academic radiologists' scholarly activity in order to identify current trends, knowledge gaps, and potential future directions. Current research provides cross-sectional analyses of bibliometrics on three main themes: academic ranking, gender disparity, and research funding. The most commonly used parameters are the publication and the citation counts, the h-index and the number of years in academia. The h-index correlates positively with academic ranking and, in the case of editorial board members, with the journal's impact factor. Scholars who have secured National Institutes of Health funding tend to have higher h-indexes than those who have not. Whereas gender balance has been achieved in medical school and in several medical specialties, women remain significantly fewer than men in most areas of radiology. The underrepresentation of women is particularly noticeable at higher academic ranks and in leadership positions, suggesting that significant barriers to female radiologists' career advancement exist. Scholarly productivity of radiology residents and the impact of research on academic productivity are subjects that have received less attention in the published literature. Future studies should focus on whether bibliometric parameters can be used as reliable measurements of scholarly activity to help determine appointments, promotions and grant allocations, and to assess interventions that promote gender parity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bibliometric analysis was conducted to evaluate the publication characteristics of Journal of Dental Sciences (JDS) from ScienceDirect Online between 2009 and 2020. The most common published article type in JDS was original articles. The top four highest number of published articles were related to oral and maxillofacial surgery, periodontology, endodontology, and oral pathology. The most productive geographic region for articles was Asia. Taiwan ranked in the highest country in terms of successful publication in JDS. The impact factor of JDS ranged from 0.107 in 2009 to 2.080 in 2020. As compared with years between 2009 and 2014, there was a significant increase in impact factor during 2015–2020 (P = 0.026). By this bibliometric analysis, JDS needs to attract more audience outside the Asia to gain the higher international influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To define the complicated driving mechanisms of virtual water flow (VWF) in China's main grains production, this study firstly uses the entropy method and a K-means clustering approach to classify the driving types of VWF based on the data from 31 provinces in the mainland of China, and then applies the PLS structural equation model to analyze the driving mechanisms of VWF in four representative provinces or municipalities(Zhejiang, Heilongjiang, Xinjiang and Shanghai)selected by the classified driving types. The results show that the driving types of VWF can be divided into four types, namely, ecology-economy, ecology-environment, ecology-water use, and comprehensive type. In the four typical regions at provincial level, the social factors directly affect the VWF, and reversely it has a direct impact on the nature, environment and economy of the above four regions. In particular, the water use has a direct impact on the VWF in Heilongjiang attached to the ecologic-environmental type. The findings of this paper manifest that the social indicators rather than the indicators in water use play an important role in the VWF, that is, our findings further testify the status quo of China's VWF: the regions with rich water resources import the virtual water while the regions with poor water resources export the virtual water. Finally, for promoting the rational flow of virtual water we propose some corresponding adjustment countermeasures and suggestions that provide a theoretical basis for the rational allocation and management of water resources. • The application of PLS structural equation model reveals the complex driving mechanism of virtual water flow. • Reveals the social indicators play an important role in China's virtual water flow. • Proposed targeted countermeasures and suggestions to promote the rational flow of virtual water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines bibliographies of student dissertations and faculty publications in the fields of reading and educational leadership to determine the types of items that were cited during preweb (1983–1990), emergent (1991–1998), and post-web (1999–2014) time periods. Cited items were examined for the following characteristics: format such as books, journal articles, technical reports, etc.; citation age; and scholarliness of journal articles as determined by impact factor. Seventy-five student dissertations as well as 63 faculty articles written between 1983 and 2014 were inspected, resulting in a total of 11,082 cited items. Results indicate that over all time periods students cited a diverse set of materials including journal articles, monographs, technical reports, and dissertations while faculty cited primarily journal articles and monographs. Moreover, students lean toward citing journals with a lower impact factor than faculty who generally cited journals with a medium or high impact factor. Additionally, the average citation age found in students' bibliographies was 12.4 years while the average citation age for faculty publications was 9.6 years. Cited items exhibited a continuously longer citation age from pre-web, through emergent, to post-web years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of retractions has been increasing steadily, in direct proportion to the volume of scientific literature. Retraction of published articles depends on the visibility of journals and on postpublication scrutiny of published articles by peers. The possibility thus exists that not all compromised ("retractable") articles are detected and retracted from the less-visible journals. The proportion of "retractable" articles and its converse, the proportion of published articles in each journal that are likely to be "true" (PTP), have not been estimated hitherto. Three journal sets were created: pure neurosurgery journals (NS-P), the neurosurgery component of multidisciplinary journals (NS-MD), and high-impact clinical journals (HICJs). We described a new metric (the retraction gap [RGap]), defined as the proportion of retractable articles in journals that have not been retracted. We computed the expected number of retractable articles, RGap, and PTP for each journal, and compared these metrics across groups. Fifty-three NS-P journals, 10 NS-MD journals, and 63 HICJs were included in the analysis. The estimated number of retractable articles was 31 times the actual number of retractions in NS-P journals, 6 times higher in the NS-MD journals, and 26 times higher for the HICJs. The RGap was 96.7% for the NS-P group, 83.5% for the NS-MD group, and 96.2% for the HICJs. The PTP was 99.3% in the NS-P group, 99.2% in the NS-MD group, and 98.6% in the HICJs. Neurosurgery as a discipline had a higher RGap but also a higher PTP than the other 2 groups. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Aiming at the similarity law of underwater explosion model test, the deficiency of traditional impact factor and the similarity condition of single value of model test are analyzed by dimensional analysis method. • In view of the shortcomings of the traditional impact factor, this paper deduces a new impact factor from the perspective of single value similarity. • Based on the traditional and new impact factors, a scaled model test is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the impact factors from multiple aspects by combining numerical and experimental methods. The dimensionless quantity is the invariant under the unit conversion, and the only choice to characterize the laws of physics. Aiming at the similarity law of underwater explosion model test, the deficiency of traditional impact factor and the similarity condition of single value of model test are analyzed by using dimensional analysis method and combining with domestic and foreign research. In view of the shortcomings of traditional impact factors, a new impact factor is derived from the perspective of single-value similarity based on the impact dynamic response characteristics of underwater explosion structures. Taking the midship cabin structure of a certain frigate as the prototype, the scale model tests are designed based on the traditional and new impact factors respectively. The effectiveness of the impact factors is evaluated from the aspects of structural damage characteristics, dimensionless deformation deflection, dimensionless velocity and dimensionless acceleration at the center of the structure. To account for the impact of structural characteristics, scale ratio, and proportional distance on the impact factor's effectiveness, various grillage, cabin, and hull girder model tests are conducted using ships of different tonnages as prototypes. The results of the model test, guided by the new impact factor, align well with the prototype test data. In contrast to the traditional impact factor, the model test exhibits greater precision for predicting structural responses, with a broad spectrum of potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Reservoir drawdown zone was a hotspot of GHG emissions. • CH 4 fluxes went to zero due to dam decommissioning. • Soil volumetric moisture content and soil bulk density were the major factors contributing to GHG emissions. • The desiccation of reservoir sediments can result in loss of C from reservoir. Reservoirs are a category of artificial ecosystem that play a key role in the global carbon cycle. However, there has been limited research on the impacts of dam decommissioning (DD) on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over a reservoir life cycle. This study analyzed the effects of DD on CO 2 and CH 4 fluxes emitted from impounded water zone (area of inundated sediments), the drawdown zone (area of sediment exposure during DD), and the margin zone (area of long-term sediment exposure) before, during, and after the drawdown of a retired reservoir in Inner Mongolia. The margin zone encompassed ± 90 % of the total reservoir area over the study period, whereas the impounded water and drawdown zones accounted for the remainder. CO 2 emissions decreased during DD process in the margin zone (325.24 ± 313.80–128.81 ± 128.78 mg m−2h−1) and impounded water zones (286.00 ± 242.00–0.00 ± 0.00 mg m−2h−1), whereas they increased in the drawdown zone (0.00 ± 0.00–239.52 ± 104.35 mg m−2h−1). CH 4 emissions gradually declined over time after DD in the impounded water zone and this zone was the main contributor of CH 4 fluxes before DD (57.36 ± 12.77 mg m−2h−1), and finally emissions went to zero. Exposure of sediments gradually resulted in a significant increase in CO 2 emissions. The major factors affecting GHG emissions were soil volumetric moisture content (SMC) and soil bulk density (ρb). The CO 2 -eq of the reservoir ecosystem decreased after DD. This happened despite CO 2 emissions increasing because CH 4 , which has a higher global warming potential, decreased following DD. The consideration of DD in the carbon footprint of reservoirs for understanding of reservoir carbon dynamics and the global carbon balance requires further study of the long-term effects of DD on carbon fluxes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spine is a rapidly growing branch with fully-dedicated peer-reviewed journals. Journal impact factor (JIF), speed of publication, and readership are some critical factors affecting the author's choice for submission. This study aimed to find the bibliometric data of spine journals. Fourteen Spine journals in NCBI (National centre for Biotechnology information, USA) database, meeting the inclusion criterion were analyzed for original articles, collected via stratified sampling from each issue of the journal. The dates to submission (DS), acceptance (DA), and publication (DP), study design, corresponding author's details like-subject specialization and country of affiliation were recorded for each original article. Data on JIF, number of issues/years, open access availability (OA), article processing charges (APC) were also retrieved. Correlation and geographic plot were used to display the findings. The median (interquartile range) time for submission to publication/total time (TT) in spine journals was 175 (120–313) days with a submission to acceptance time of 107 (66–168) days and acceptance to publication time of 54 (20–170). Fifty-seven percent of the journals had APC, and all had options for OA. A significant correlation was noted between all determinants of publication speed and the Scimago Journal rankings (SJR) (AT: r = 0.238, PT: r = 0.074, TT: r = 0.288, p < 0.001). Amongst the author affiliations, the USA (37.5%) and Japan (18.6%) had the maximum contributions. Furthermore, 57.4% of authors were orthopaedicians, and 14.4% were neurosurgeons. Retrospective and prospective cohort studies were the standard study designs (48% vs. 20.9%), while clinical trials accounted for 5.8%. Spine journals had comparable publication speed with other biomedical journals; all s pine journals had OA options. Observational study dominates the pattern in spine research. The contribution is mainly from orthopaedician, but the trend is changing towards collaborative research with neurosurgeons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Context: Impact factor, citation rate, and other traditional measures of scholarly impact do not account for the role that social media has in the dissemination of research. The Altmetric Attention Score (AAS) quantifies the active online presence of individual articles on various platforms (eg, Twitter, Facebook).Purpose: We sought to better understand the factors associated with greater online attention and AAS in seven spine journals.Study Design/setting: Cross-sectional study.Patient Sample: No patients were included in this study. We analyzed 380 articles in seven major spine journals.Outcome Measures: Extracted manuscript characteristics included AAS; number of Twitter, Facebook, and news outlet mentions; number of citations, references, academic institutions, and authors; and sample size, geographic region, subject of study, and level of evidence.Methods: All original scientific manuscripts published in the official January, February, and March 2017 issues of Spine, The Spine Journal, Spine Deformity, Journal of Neurosurgery-Spine, Clinical Spine Surgery, Global Spine Journal, and European Spine Journal were identified. The correlation of AAS and number of citations was determined by Spearman's Rho (ρ) correlation coefficient. Manuscript factors associated with AAS were determined by a multivariable linear regression analysis.Results: A total of 380 manuscripts were included in the analysis. The average AAS across all seven journals was 4.9 (SD: 19.4; Range: 0-356), with the highest average AAS reported for The Spine Journal at 8.0 (SD: 13; Range: 0-60). There was a weak, positive correlation between AAS and number of citations (ρ = .32; p < .05); this relationship was individually present for four out of the seven included journals. In addition, number of references was associated with higher average manuscript AAS (β: 0.16 [95% CI: 0.002-0.32]; p < .05). No manuscript characteristics were associated with lower AAS.Conclusions: Our analysis of seven spine journals revealed a weak, positive correlation between AAS and number of citations. Number of references was associated with higher AAS. We believe these findings may be useful to authors seeking ways to maximize the impact of their research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The past two decades have seen a vast expansion of social media in all aspects of our lives. Scholars and journals are steadily increasing their social media presence to reach a wider audience. We compared the social media mentions (SMs) of vascular surgery publications and their effect on the literature citations (LCs) for them. A total of 169 articles from three renowned vascular surgery journals (Journal of Vascular Surgery [JVS], Annals of Vascular Surgery, and European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery) in October 2016 were collected. All three journals are published by the same publisher (Elsevier). SMs were tracked using Altmetric Bookmarklet for Twitter and Facebook mentions. The LCs were evaluated using Scopus and Google Scholar. The number of citations was compared between those with and without any SMs and among the three journals using nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis tests. The proportion of articles with SMs was compared among the three journals using a χ 2 test. The relationship between the numbers of SMs and LCs was assessed using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient and reported as 95% confidence intervals. Statistical significance was assigned at P <.05. Of the 169 articles examined, 51 (30.2%) had a presence regarding social media usage. JVS has both Twitter and Facebook presence. The Annals of Vascular Surgery and European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery only have Twitter accounts. JVS had the highest total number of citations, number of LCs per manuscript, and SMs per manuscript. A significant difference was found in the median, Q1 (median of the lower half of the data), and Q3 (median of the upper half of the data) number of total Google citations between those articles with and without SMs (median, 8.0; Q1, 3.0; Q3, 17.0; vs median, 3.0; Q1, 0.0; Q3, 8.0, respectively; Kruskal-Wallis P <.001). Similarly, a significant difference was found in the median number of total Scopus citations between those articles with and without SMs (median, 5.0; Q1, 2.0; Q3, 13.0 vs median, 2.0; Q1, 0.0; Q3, 6.0, respectively; Kruskal-Wallis P <.001). Articles with a SM showed a 2.7- fold increase in median total citations in Google and a 2.5-fold increase in median total citations in Scopus. The Spearman correlation coefficients to determine the relationship between the absolute number of SMs and LCs revealed a positive, but weak, correlation, largely driven by the majority of articles with no SMs. The difference in the median number of citations among the three journals was not statistically significant, either by Google (P =.22) or Scopus (P =.08), nor was the difference in the proportion of articles with SMs among the journals statistically significant (P =.36). The presence of SMs for vascular surgery publications, especially clinical science articles, was associated with a significantly increased number of median LCs during the 3 years after publication. The three journals did not differ with respect to the median number of citations or proportion of articles with SMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular surgical publication activity in the English-language literature during a 10-year interval could have changed. The present study sought to identify which countries have made the most contributions and whether significant shifts have occurred during a 10-year period. The study design was a retrospective study. Screening of 15 international journals in PubMed was performed for the 2006 to 2007 and 2016 to 2017 for studies reported by a first author belonging to a vascular surgery department. Data were collected by country regarding the total number of publications, cumulative impact factors (IFs), publications per inhabitant, IFs per inhabitant, and number of randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews per country in both periods. A total of 975 and 1459 reports were found for 2006 to 2007 and 2016 to 2017, respectively. For 2006 to 2007, most reports (n = 400; 41.0%; 1308.3 IFs) had come from the United States, followed by the United Kingdom (n = 168; 17.2%; 462.3 IFs) and The Netherlands (n = 74; 7.6%; 182.6 IFs). For 2016 to 2017, the United States led again with 607 articles (41.6%; 1968.0 IFs), followed by the United Kingdom (n = 119; 8.2%; 640.5 IFs) and The Netherlands (n = 107; 7.3%; 355.6 IFs). Of the top 15 countries, The Netherlands and Sweden contributed the most articles per inhabitant during both periods. During both periods, the United Kingdom reported the most randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. Vascular surgeons from the United States and United Kingdom were the most productive in terms of the total numbers of English language publications during both periods. However, The Netherlands and Sweden were more active in relation to their population size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the UK the BAPRAS (British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons) meetings have always represented the ideal platform for disseminating new information in the field of plastic surgery. Previous studies have suggested the publication rate for these meetings has been falling. Our aim was to re-assess the conversion rates of presented abstracts to publications. All abstracts from BAPRAS meetings between Winter 2014 and Summer 2016 were included. PubMed and Google Scholar databases were used to search for full publications. A database was collated, this included; time to publication, journal of publication and impact factor of journal. A total of 500 abstracts were presented during the study period for which the publication rate was 28.4%. The average time to publication was 16.8 months. The most common publication journal was the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (JPRAS) (34%). Free papers were published in journals with significantly greater impact factors (p = 0.046). Publication rates were similar to previous literature for BAPRAS meetings and have increased since 2007. A continued downward trend of publication rates for BAPRAS meetings is not seen in our data. A reduction in the number of publications in JPRAS may be explained by a rise in the impact factor of the journal or increasing competitiveness for publications. When variations in methodology are accounted for publication rates are similar to other specialties. In order to continually assess the quality of papers presented at BAPRAS meetings, the conversion to publication should be regularly re-audited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contributions from Latin America to the global literature are scarce; until 2011, spine surgeons had published 320 articles in indexed journals. This systematic review evaluates the scientific production of the Mexican Association of Spine Surgeons (Asociación Mexicana de Cirujanos de Columna –AMCICO) from its inception in 1998 to 2018 with the PRISMA statement using PubMed and Google Scholar search engines. The inclusion criteria were spine-related articles in indexed journals providing any (or no) level of evidence with ≥1 AMCICO member as an author. Journal metrics, article metrics, and author variables were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Of the 444 surgeons historically belonging to AMCICO, only 126 members contributed a total of 441 articles between 1998 and 2018. An average of 21.00 annual publications with an annual scientific output per capita of 0.05 was found. The most frequent evidence level was III (211 articles, 48%), the highest level was I (12 articles, 3%). The main study objective was clinical research, with 308 articles (70%), and the main study foci was trauma, with 103 articles (23%). An average impact factor of 0.16 and 0.92 was obtained for publications in Spanish and English, respectively. Scientific publications by AMCICO members are scarce, with a per capita annual index of 0.05 from a total of 441 articles in indexed journals. Second, the impact factor of these journals is low, with a mean value of 0.53. Further strategies should be implemented to increase the number and track the record of Mexican contributions to the scientific literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an environment where the impact of research is central, scientists face the dilemma of choosing between orthodox writing for objectivity and sensational writing to provoke interest. The use of superlatives in high-ranking ecology journals has increased significantly in recent years, a writing behavior that works against scientific objectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Disciplinary categories in Journal Citation Reports are imbalanced in terms of the number of articles across journal quartiles, this inequality varying across subject categories. • Three factors contribute to quartile inequality: indivisibility of number of journals by 4; different numbers of papers in journals; and selection of the highest quartile when journals are categorized under multiple disciplines. • Narrow research topics taken from SciVal, even with high prominence, may completely lack Q1 journals dedicated to them, or any such journals at all. • Researchers from different disciplines have unequal chances of publishing in highly ranked journals, the quartile approach favors certain areas and penalizes others. The choice to focus on a journal's impact factor, or its quartile, in authoritative rankings, when deciding where to publish research results can be driven by various reasons. These may include personal prestige, enhancing the appeal of a CV, the desire to increase publication-related rewards, meeting the conditions of scientific funds, or fulfilling qualification requirements. While these considerations deviate from the "pure science" perspective, the fact is that they are widely adopted. Our research demonstrates that the conventional division into journal quartiles may privilege certain disciplinary categories while disadvantaging others. Disciplinary categories in Journal Citation Reports (JCR) and similar rankings are imbalanced in terms of the number of articles across different journal quartiles. This is attributable to three factors: the distribution of journals across quartiles, the varying volume of journals, and the selection of the highest quartile when journals are categorized under multiple disciplines. Narrower research areas, such as Topic Clusters from SciVal, may completely lack Q1 journals dedicated to them, or even any such journals at all. This finding might also interest publishers when selecting topics for launching new titles. The apparent inequality between disciplines unveiled in our study offers a new perspective to argue against the use of quartile metrics, at least in a straightforward manner, when evaluating performance and shaping science policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present review article details developments in medical writing and the ongoing transformation of the scientific medical press. With these twin revolutions, French-language scientific medical journals are at a crossroads: are they going to become vehicles of teaching, of popularization, of liaison between members of medical societies, of general public information contributing to decision-making in the field of public health? Or will they maintain their scientific status? Under certain conditions, a move toward French/English bilingualism could be the solution to maintain and advertise their scientific level, while contributing to the quality of medical teaching in French and to the worldwide influence of the French language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Precipitation complexity measurement is often overlooked in precipitation time series research. Entropy, as a measure of system complexity, can be used to diagnose the complexity of precipitation. However, it is difficult to judge the applicability of different theoretical entropy models for solving precipitation uncertainty problems. This paper introduces the distinction degree theory and the serial number sum theory to screen the optimal entropy model for precipitation complexity measurement. The optimal entropy model was used to analyze the spatiotemporal differences of monthly precipitation complexity in Heilongjiang Province, China. Possible influencing factors of precipitation complexity were also examined. The results indicated that in the complexity measurement of precipitation based on entropy theory, the stability and reliability of sample entropy was higher than those of fuzzy entropy, wavelet entropy and permutation entropy. The complexity of monthly precipitation in the selected study area significantly increased with time. The average complexity of monthly maximum precipitation, monthly average precipitation and monthly minimum precipitation were 0.665, 0.622 and 0.545, respectively, and their tendency change rates were 0.070/decade, 0.055/decade and 0.038/decade, respectively. The areas with high monthly precipitation complexity were concentrated in the central, eastern and northwest parts of the study area, and the precipitation was less predictable. Monthly precipitation in the southwest was less complex and more predictable. The highest monthly precipitation complexity was 1.012, at Hulin station, and the lowest was 0.510, at Mingshui station. The increasing complexity of monthly precipitation in the province was strongly related to local industrial and agricultural production. The superposition effects of altitude, topographic relief, change in grassland area and agricultural production formed the basic pattern of spatial differences in monthly precipitation complexity. The results may provide a scientific guidance for regional precipitation predictability measurement, effective assessment of droughts and floods, and water resources management. Highlights • The optimal entropy model was selected to diagnose complexity in precipitation time series. • Complex monthly precipitation was concentrated in the central eastern and northwest parts of the study area. • Monthly precipitation complexity had a strong relationship with local industrial and agricultural production. • This study may provide a scientific guidance for regional water resources management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract As a typical component in particulate matter, respirable suspended particles (PM2.5) can cause increased morbidity and mortality from cystic fibrosis, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. China, with the largest population in the world, is challenged with sever PM2.5 concentration, particularly in the urban area. Understanding the key factors influencing PM2.5 concentration is the basic step for taking targeted measures. Previous studies have identified the key impact factors on PM2.5 concentration in only a few selected cities, which barely contributes to China's PM2.5 concentration reduction. Therefore, this study aims to identify the key impact factors of PM2.5 concentration in 152 Chinese cities in eastern, central, and western China by using Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) method. The findings of the study are as follows: emission intensity (EI) inhibited the PM2.5 concentration of 137 cities (i.e. 90.13% of the152 cities); energy intensity (EnI) depressed that of 99 cities (i.e. 65.13%); economic output (EO) stimulated that of 120 cities (i.e. 78.95%); and population (P) spurred that of 124 cities (i.e. 81.58%). This is the first study that provides a full picture of the key impact factors on Chinese urban PM2.5 concentration. The identified key impact factors can serve as the evidence and guidance for the authorities of China's cities to tailor their strategies towards PM2.5 concentration reduction. Graphical abstract Image 1015 Highlights • Socioeconomic factors of PM2.5 concentrations in 152 Chinese cities are identified. • Emission intensity and energy intensity are major inhibitors of PM2.5 concentrations. • Economic output and population are major contributors of PM2.5 concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Salicylic acid (SA) is a class of trace pollutants widely presented in the environment belonged to pharmaceuticals and personal care products. It is difficult to remove SA by the traditional treatment processes because of its toxicity. In this paper, the degradation of SA by Mn-loaded Cu/Fe particle electrodes was studied. Firstly, the particle electrodes were prepared by impregnation-roasting method and then characterized by SEM, XRF and XRD. The diffraction peaks of Fe 2 O 3 and CuO in the XRD patterns of the particle electrodes which had the dense spherical particles were significantly increased and the content of CuO and Fe 2 O 3 increased by 1.9% and 3.6% respectively. Secondly, single factor experiments were carried out under conditions of cell voltage, electrolyte concentration, pH, HRT, inter-electrode distance and initial pollutant concentration. Under the optimum conditions of all the factors, the degradation rate of SA reached 76.9%. Then, HPLC and GCMS were employed to deduce the degradation pathways of SA by the TDE with Mn-particle electrodes (Mn-PETDE). Under the action of •OH, SA underwent decarboxylation and substitution reactions and then mineralized after the ring-opening reaction. All results demonstrated that this Mn-PETDE was effective for degradation of SA. Highlights • Particle electrodes were used by manganese slag. • Getting the optimal condition by single factor experiments. • Mn-PETDE had a high efficient degradation performance to salicylic acid. • The degradation pathway of salicylic acid was proved through HPLC and GC-MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • According to CiteScore, conferences make up 30% of all 515 top quartile publication venues in computer science. • CiteScore increasingly corresponds with expert ratings as agreement among the latter expands. • CiteScore unambiguously separates top 10% conferences from others within the larger population of top quartile venues. • CiteScore fills a major gap in expert-based ratings by providing a method that effectively assesses the quality of new conferences. • Unlike other rating and ranking systems, CiteScore allows qualified small conference venues to feature among the top quartile. Abstract Publication, hiring, promotion, tenure, and funding decisions in computer science often depend on an accurate assessment of the quality of conferences. This study reviews relevant literature and tests Scopus's CiteScore database and method for evaluating the quality of 395 conferences in the field. The study identifies 154 conferences that match the CiteScore ranges of the top quartile journals. These 154 conferences make up 30% of all 515 top quartile publication venues in computer science, confirming the notion that publishing in conference proceedings—especially top rated ones—are as important and influential as publishing in top journals. The CiteScore method as implemented here shows that it is highly effective as a benchmark to evaluate and compare publication venues in computer science. Scopus, however, needs to enhance several of its indexing practices before the CiteScore database and method can become standard tools for conference quality assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The JIF is used as a surrogate of the citation for paper evaluation. • We compare the evaluations of two papers by the JIF and the number of citations. • JIF paper evaluation fails when the JIF evaluation contradicts citation evaluation. • We find high failure probabilities in JIF evaluations, as high as 0.5 in many cases. Abstract The journal impact factor (JIF) is the average of the number of citations of the papers published in a journal, calculated according to a specific formula; it is extensively used for the evaluation of research and researchers. The method assumes that all papers in a journal have the same scientific merit, which is measured by the JIF of the publishing journal. This implies that the number of citations measures scientific merits but the JIF does not evaluate each individual paper by its own number of citations. Therefore, in the comparative evaluation of two papers, the use of the JIF implies a risk of failure, which occurs when a paper in the journal with the lower JIF is compared to another with fewer citations in the journal with the higher JIF. To quantify this risk of failure, this study calculates the failure probabilities, taking advantage of the lognormal distribution of citations. In two journals whose JIFs are ten-fold different, the failure probability is low. However, in most cases when two papers are compared, the JIFs of the journals are not so different. Then, the failure probability can be close to 0.5, which is equivalent to evaluating by coin flipping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The use of bibliometrics to evaluate authors, institutions, and journals faces significant challenges in comparing biomedical specialties because of marked differences among fields. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of specialty field and physician numbers on bibliometric parameters. Methods For this bibliometric analysis, data from MDLinx.com and SCImago Journal & Country Rank for 2016 were used to rank the journals. The 2015 Physician Specialty Data Report provided the number of specialists in specific fields. We assessed the means for bibliometric parameters across medical and surgical specialties. Results A total of 904 journals within 25 medical and surgical specialties were identified. Medical specialty journals had higher average total citations than did surgical specialty journals (8360 ± 16082 vs. 6217 ± 8743; P = 0.01). Medical specialties with the highest impact factor were oncology (7.8 ± 20.7), psychiatry (4.6 ± 4.0), and neurology (4.4 ± 4.1), whereas surgical specialties were led by urology (2.9 ± 3.3), cardiothoracic surgery (2.9 ± 2.7), and general surgery (2.6 ± 1.7). Impact factor and Eigenfactor score (a measure of both journal citations and caliber) were strongly correlated (r = 0.84, P = 0.0001). Comparison of impact factor per total physicians in the specialty suggested that top-ranked specialty journals were in allergy/immunology, pulmonology, and cardiothoracic surgery. Mean Eigenfactor score per total physicians showed that top journals were in cardiothoracic surgery, rheumatology, and pulmonary medicine. Conclusions Journal bibliometrics, which may strongly influence professional advancement and grant funding, show dramatic differences in ranking after accounting for specialty and physician population. Improved analysis and understanding of available bibliometrics, including their limitations, are necessary to appreciate their role in measuring scholarship. Highlights • Medical journals have more mean total article citations than do surgical journals. • Medical journals have higher average impact factors than do surgical journals. • By specialty size, cardiothoracic surgery, rheumatology, pulmonary medicine, and allergy/immunology have outsize impact. • A range of bibliometric parameters should be factored when comparing journals or physicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objectives The objective of this study was to evaluate the evolution of journal self-citation rates (SCRs) and impact factors (IFs) over time in the dental journals. Materials and Methods The journals listed under the category "dentistry, oral surgery, and medicine" in the Journal Citation Reports for the years 2014-2016 were screened for the following: citations and self-citations to years used in IF calculation, IF, IF without self-citations (corrected IF), SCR, and quartile of the IF distribution the journal occupied (Q1-Q4). Additional data regarding the number of issues published annually, journal's access options, and country of publication were extracted from the "Journal Profile Page." Results The median SCR significantly declined between 2014 and 2016 (13.725 [0-57.049], 12.687 [0-52.326], and 10.667 [0-53.208], respectively [ P <.05]), while at the same time, IFs and corrected IFs significantly increased. SCR was significantly higher in subspecialty journals than that in general journals, as well as in the ones publishing more issues per year. Open-access journals tended to present lower SCR compared to journals requiring payment. No statistically significant differences in SCR were observed with respect to the origin and quartile. Nonsignificant correlations (r < 0.3, P >.05) were found for SCR-IF and SCR-corrected IF for all years. Conclusions There was a statistically significant decrease in SCR during the observation period. SCR was not correlated to IF of dental journals. Subspecialty journals and journals publishing more frequently presented significantly higher SCRs. These findings suggest favorable publishing conditions and citation practices in the dental literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving water use efficiency is an essential strategy in the response to the global water crisis. The assessment of water use efficiency serves as the foundation for improving water use efficiency and water governance. Based on the mixed methods including Super-SBM model, GML index, spatial analysis, and Tobit model, this study assesses the water use efficiency from the scales of regional and provinces in China from 2011 to 2020, explores the evolution characteristics and spatial pattern of water use efficiency, and identifies the impact factors of water use efficiency. The results indicate that regional water use efficiency in China varies significantly by space, the highest in the eastern region with an average value of 0.8052, and the lowest in the central region with an average value of 0.5709. From 2011 to 2020, the average water use efficiency in China is 0.7042, which is in a low efficiency state, and roughly two thirds of the country's provinces use water inefficiently or ineffectively. In addition, regional differences of water use efficiency in China have a tendency of divergence and polarization. The technological progress change is the major factor for promoting water use efficiency. Economic development, water endowment, water use structure, scientific and technological development, and urban development have significant effects on water use efficiency in different regions respectively, while industrial structure and water governance have insignificant effects. This study supports researchers and practitioners in comprehending the characteristics and spatial patterns of water use in China, and also enriches the research system of water governance and integrated water resources management. [Display omitted] • Assessed water use efficiency in China for improving water use efficiency and strengthening water governance. • The mixed methods including the Super-SBM model, GML index, spatial analysis, and Tobit model have been applied. • The spatial characteristics and the impact factors of water use efficiency in China have been explored. • Nearly two-thirds of China's provinces exhibit inefficient or ineffective water use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The COVID-19 pandemic boosted the total number of published articles. • Journals that published more COVID-19-related articles experienced higher impact factor (IF) growth. • Low IF journals experienced more IF growth. Research related to COVID-19 has grown significantly in recent years and dominated health-related publications. Data-driven explorations, such as analysing the quality of COVID-19 research across journals, how the journals prioritised emerging topics and how their prominence has changed during this time, are critical to understanding the scientific community, especially for prospective researchers and editors. Based on the scoring systems of the Impact Factor and its six years of data (2016-21) for 12,873 journals, this study explores how the journal's impact was affected by COVID-19-related research. We examined the variability between non-pandemic and pandemic periods regarding the effect of COVID-19 on the growth of journal performance. The results indicate that journals with COVID-19-related publications show a significantly higher increase in their Impact Factor (IF) values, and journals with lower IF values contributed most to this increase. Journals prioritising publishing COVID-19 research will likely experience increased visibility and IF growth in the long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urbanization and economic growth in China have resulted in severe haze. PM2.5 is a key component of haze. Using machine learning to predict PM2.5 concentrations has become a research hotspot. There are few previous studies on the correlation between PM2.5 and meteorological factors, and the accuracy of other detection results is not high. This study investigates the correlation between six meteorological factors (temperature, dew point, humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed, and visibility) and hourly PM2.5 concentration in Beijing. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze and found that meteorological factors had a stable non-linear effect on the change in PM2.5 concentration. Additionally, a BP neural network model was employed to examine the influence of meteorological conditions on hazy weather, considering both univariate and multifactorial aspects. Experimental results reveal a strong correlation between PM2.5 concentration and the four seasons, exhibiting minimal deviation and varying prediction errors throughout the seasons, confirming the seasonal association with haze weather. Consequently, the utilization of the BP neural network model for air quality index prediction is considered feasible. This research serves as a valuable reference for understanding the formation mechanism, implementing control methods, and establishing a haze prediction system to effectively manage urban air quality. [Display omitted] • Meteorological factors have a robust non-linear influence on PM2.5 concentration. • There is a strong correlation between PM2.5 concentration and the four seasons. • BP neural network model can be used to predict air quality index. • The model has high accuracy, less learning data and fast learning speed. • This study provides a reference for the establishment of haze prediction system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We respond to an invitation by Geoforum's editors to join an exchange on the future of scholarly publishing, in particular debates that have crystallized around the publisher of this journal (and 2500 others), Elsevier, who are part of a wider corporation now known as RELX. Although we write in a personal capacity, we also draw on our experience as past editors of another Elsevier owned journal, Political Geography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract To analyze the dynamic behavior of a submerged floating tunnel (SFT) subjected to moving vehicle loads in an ocean current environment, a theoretical analysis model is proposed. The SFT is simplified as a beam on an elastic foundation, the moving vehicle is modeled as a spring-mass lump, and the current effect is considered as a combination of lift force, inertial force, and hydraulic resistance directly acting on the SFT. The governing equations are solved by the modal superposition method. A finite element method is developed to evaluate the results. The impact effects of the vertical displacement and the bending moment are used to analyze the dynamic responses of the SFT. The effects of some key parameters, such as the current velocity, the buoyancy-weight ratio (BWR), and the inclined angle of the tethers are also investigated. The results show that the behaviors of the structure are amplified under the fluid-vehicle-tunnel interaction. Furthermore, the current and the vehicle velocity will directly affect the impact responses of the SFT by changing the forces on the structure. The BWR and the inclined angle of the tethers will change the vibration characteristics of the SFT and affect the inside state of the structure. Highlights • The model of SFT subjected to moving vehicle load under ocean current environment is proposed. • The current effect is regarded as the lift force, inertial force and hydraulic resistance in the model. • A FEM is developed to evaluate the responses of the SFT due to fluid-vehicle-tunnel interaction. • The effect of the current velocity, the buoyance-weight ratio, and the inclined angle of the tether are studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paddy fields play an important role in the transport of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) due to the filter effects of canopy and their wide distribution. Thus, most studies have been focusing on the filter effects of canopy for POPs. However, shielding effects of canopy might also influence transport and portion of POPs between top and bottom. To investigate these two important processes, our study involved 30 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in a paddy field. Samples of bulk depositions, surface water, and air were taken to investigate the occurrence and the behaviour of PCBs. We found that rice canopy has potentially crucial effects on the transport of PCBs. The results showed slightly higher abundances for most of high‑chlorine PCBs (81.0%) at the top of the canopy, indicating that the high‑chlorine PCBs were intercepted by the rice leaves. Moreover, our study showed that the PCBs in surface water and soil tended to escape into air according to air, water, and soil fugacity. And we found higher atmospheric PCB levels (103 pg m −3 ) at the bottom of the canopy than top (88.9 pg m −3 ), indicating canopy shielding effects on escaped PCBs. In addition, the study showed that the PCBs intercepted by the rice canopy may occur in surface water and soil due to air movement and precipitation. These results suggest that paddy fields can enrich POPs, and effects of the environmental factors on POPs transport need to be investigated further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Research is an essential part of surgical training, so a surgical trainee must publish to prosper. The most important piece of advice is to seek expert help before commencing the process of research and subsequent publication. Having a piece of research worthy of communication to peers is an essential prerequisite, but there are many different types of publication, and many different avenues for publication. Starting with a simple case report is often a good beginning. The higher profile the research, the more likely there are to be formal rules about its conduct and its publication (CONSORT, PRISMA, etc). Writing in scientific English requires economy of style and linguistic restraint. The author has evolved a method to make writing a scientific manuscript as painless as possible. It may be tempting to relax once the writing is complete but managing the paper through submission can also be challenging. Most journals will not accept a paper immediately but will require corrections suggested by independent referees after formal peer review. All dealings with journal Editors should be professional and courteous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The contingent valuation method is used to study the service value regarding the water resources reservation of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in Beijing. The analysis results illustrate that the mean willingness to pay (WTP) is 42.15 CNY per permanent resident of Beijing. We propose a WTP analysis model based on the Bayesian network for its obvious advantages compared to previous models. The results demonstrate certain factors crucial to WTP, including “public support for the project expenditure of financial, material, and human resources to reserve water resources”, “willingness to participate in public benefit activities”, “public cognition of water scarcity in Beijing”, “monthly family income”, and “knowledge of the project”. This study concentrates on the variables that are of most concern to the government, including “education background”, “occupation”, “public cognition of water scarcity in Beijing”, and “public awareness of the SNWDP”. The future of China’s environmental strategy will gradually be market-oriented, and this study also provides a basis for the government to gain insight into public payment behaviour impact factors and set policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Paddy Land-to-Dry Land (PLDL) program, which is a representative example of payment for watershed ecosystem services, has played a critical role in protecting the source of the Beijing Municipality's water supply in the Miyun Reservoir watershed since 2006. Previous studies have evaluated the program's benefits and costs and confirmed its positive impacts. However, local farmers' Willingness to Accept (WTA) for compensation, its impact factors and relevant policies, which are key factors determining its successful implementation, have not been analyzed. In this paper, a hypothesis argues that positive ecological impacts could lead to decreasing WTA values, whereas negative ecological effects could lead to increasing values. The study areas comprised three counties in Hebei Province and one district in Beijing Municipality. A total of 391 randomly selected farmers (with a response rate of 92%) participated in a face-to-face questionnaire-based survey. The contingent valuation method was applied as the main analytical tool for evaluating nonmarket environmental goods or services. Interval regression of the Tobit model was applied to analyze WTA impact factors and was validated using a logit model. The study's findings confirmed the positive effects of the PLDL program, but they did not confirm the lower WTA values that were hypothesized in the study areas. This disparity between the hypothesis and survey results can be explained in three dimensions: environmental, economic, and social. First, environmental awareness had a strong positive correlation with WTA. Respondents who valued environmental protection above economic development required higher compensation. Second, respondents' gender and household's incomes were closely related to their environmental awareness, but were not directly related to the dependent variable of WTA. Third, respondents whose degree of equity relating to the program was lower than that of others required a higher payment. Moreover, an ecological service (ES) provider's age and WTA were negatively related, younger respondents demanded a higher value for payment-related WTA in the study areas. Therefore, policymakers' decisions regarding ecological compensation should evidently take into account WTA impact factors in the PLDL program, especially ES providers' ages, their environmental awareness, and the degree of equity that they have. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simulated signals from Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), reflected off the sea surface and received aboard low Earth orbiting satellites, have been used to derive sea surface height (SSH) and assimilated into an ocean model in an Observing System Simulation Experiment (OSSE). The experimental approach is named GNSS Reflectometry (GNSS-R), which was proposed for the International Space Station (ISS). This scientific experiment was conducted in the frame of the ESA mission called “ G NSS R E flectometry, R adio O ccultation and S catterometry aboard the International Space Station” (GEROS-ISS). In this study, three sources of uncertainties of the planned GNSS-R altimeter are considered by the GNSS-R simulator: the troposphere, the ionosphere, and a noise term. An ensemble optimal interpolation (EnOI) data assimilation system is set up for an eddy-resolving HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) of the South China Sea (SCS), and two data assimilation runs are performed from the 18th June to the 31st July 2014 with and without GNSS-R. In the run assimilating GNSS-R, the measurements come in addition to traditional Sea Level Anomalies (SLA) from present-day altimeters. In spite of the lower precision of individual GNSS-R retrievals, the results obtained in July show an overall improvement of the Root Mean Squared Difference (RMSD) by 14%, compared to traditional altimeter data only. Considering the crossing of Typhoon Rammasun through the SCS, the GNSS-R data improve the realism of the three largest eddies. The temperature sections along the typhoon track show large differences in the upper 200 m depths in excess of 1 °C near the shelf break. Finally, diagnostics of Degree of Freedom for Signal (DFS) provide a quantitative Impact Factor (IF) of the GNSS-R altimetry data over the conventional altimeter data. On average in July, the IF is low (<5%), but for the period of the typhoon it reaches values over 20%. This indicates the complementary of the GNSS-R altimetry data to the present observing system, especially in filling the gaps of the traditional altimeters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use data on economic, management and political science journals to produce quantitative estimates of (in)consistency of the evaluations based on six popular bibliometric indicators (impact factor, 5-year impact factor, immediacy index, article influence score, SNIP and SJR). We advocate a new approach to the aggregation of journal rankings. Since the rank aggregation is a multicriteria decision problem, ranking methods from social choice theory may solve it. We apply either a direct ranking method based on the majority rule (the Copeland rule, the Markovian method) or a sorting procedure based on a tournament solution, such as the uncovered set and the minimal externally stable set. We demonstrate that the aggregate rankings reduce the number of contradictions and represent the set of the single-indicator-based rankings better than any of the six rankings themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]