Category Archives: Research Type

Mapping Case-Based Learning Research from 2014 to 2024: a Bibliometric and Network Analysis

Network analysis

Abstract

Case-based learning (CBL) is a globally recognized pedagogical approach known for
fostering critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and active engagement
among learners. Despite its implementation across multiple educational levels and dis
ciplines worldwide, the global research landscape of CBL remains underexplored. To
address this gap, a comprehensive overview is needed to map the evolution of CBL
research, delineate its geographical and institutional hubs, and identify dominant the
matic areas. This study aims to map global research on CBL. We used the Preferred
Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, bibliometrics, and network
analyses to evaluate 883 articles indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection
between January 2014 and August 2024. Our findings indicate a relevant increase in
annual publications over time. The main author keywords are CBL, medical education,
and problem-based learning. The main Research Areas are Education & Educational
Research, followed by General & Internal Medicine, and Healthcare Sciences &
Services. The United States, China, and Canada are the most productive countries,
while the University of California, the University of Toronto, and Harvard University are
the top organizations contributing to the field. This study provides a general under
standing of the global research landscape on CBL, offering important insights for
future studies and fostering research collaboration between organizations around the
world

For FULL-TEXT: Mapping Case-Based Learning Research from 2014to 2024: a Bibliometric and Network Analysis

Author(s): Fabio Batista Mota, Claúdio Damasceno Pinto, Luiza Amara Maciel
Braga, Renato Matos Lopes

Organization(s): Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;

Source: Cogent Education

Year: 2025

International Boundary Organisationsand the Knowledge-Governance Interface

Dissertations and Theses, ST&I policy

Abstract

Deliberation on Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) for global grand challenges
takes place within International Organisations, where complexity, uncertainty, and
value divergence complicate traditional notions of the science-policy interface. This
thesis argues that the Knowledge-Governance Interface (KGI) better captures the
reciprocal and power-laden relations between knowledge and decision making. It
develops an analytical framework for studying KGIs within International Boundary
Organisations (IBOs), institutions that mediate between communities through the co
production of knowledge and social order. The framework is applied, through mixed
methods, to negotiations under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on
benefit-sharing for Digital Sequence Information (DSI), to examine how divergences
emerge, are mediated and negotiated within an IBO. The empirical chapters
conceptualise DSI as a boundary object whose interpretive flexibility enables
coordination across divergent communities, and trace its emergence and dynamics via
documentary and bibliometric analysis. Subsequent chapters use participant
observation and 35 interviews to show that divergences in knowledge and values
surface through the provision of a deliberative forum, and are shaped by uneven
knowledge politics. Mediation occurs not through deliberative consensus, but through
layered accessibility, the use of DSI as a strategic boundary object, and broader
organisational dynamics, producing anticipatory responses in the wider knowledge
control regime. Findings identify dilemmas that IBOs must navigate, including
balancing broad participation with focused consensus building, and leveraging
strategic ambiguity while anticipating the need for an eventual definition of DSI, each
shaped by formal and informal institutional processes. Despite these tensions, IBOs
remain imperfect yet essential venues for deliberation on STI, enabling stakeholders to
articulate concerns, negotiate conflicts, and shape governance regimes. Accordingly,
the thesis recommends reflexive and anticipatory workshops focused on the identified
dynamics and dilemmas, together with capacity building for policy-relevant knowledge
production on DSI. It makes three contributions. It proposes the KGI analytical
framework, demonstrates its empirical utility, and offers practical insights for
international STI governance.

For FULL-TEXT: International Boundary Organisations and the Knowledge-Governance Interface

Author(s): Adam R. McCarthy

Organization(s): The University of Manchester

Source: A thesis submitted to The University of Manchester for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Year: 2025

Biogas Upgrading to Biomethane in Brazil: Networks, Technologies, and Industrial Pathways

Research Type

Abstract

Waste management is a critical global challenge for sustainability, requiring solutions that integrate efficient treatment, energy generation, and value recovery. This study analyzes the evolution of the biogas sector in Brazil, focusing on the integration of waste sources and industrial plants to produce biogas and biomethane. Using a scientometric approach, we analyzed 3289 peer-reviewed articles and 248 patent documents, to map knowledge production in Brazil on biogas and biomethane, identifying research themes, collaboration patterns, and technological focus in upgrading. We then integrated field evidence, industry datasets, and technical reports to characterize installed capacity, feedstocks, and the upgrading routes currently adopted to produce biomethane. Results show that the number of biogas plants in Brazil increased from 2 in 2003 to 755 in 2021, with annual production rising from 1.09 million Nm³ in 2003 to 2.3 billion Nm³ in 2021. In 2023, annual production reached approximately 2.9 billion Nm³. biomethane is obtained by upgrading biogas, whereby major contaminants are removed and its heating value increases. Seventeen biomethane plants were identified, with seven authorized by the National Petroleum Agency (ANP) and projected capacity of 547,481 Nm³ day⁻¹ in 2024. In Brazil, co-location of biogas plants with waste sources predominates, optimizing logistics and supporting decentralized energy solutions. Collaboration among universities, industry, utilities, and regulators can expand the use of biomethane in small and medium industries and reduce the volume of waste still disposed of in open dumpsites.

For FULL-TEXT: Biogas upgrading to biomethane in Brazil: Networks, technologies, and industrial pathways – ScienceDirect

Author(s): Carolina da Silveira Bueno, José Maria Ferreira Jardim da Silveira, Bruna de Souza Moraes, Telma Teixeira Franco 

Organization(s): University of Campinas

Source: Sustainable Futures

Year: 2025

Identification of technology frontiers of artificial intelligence-assisted pathology based on patent citation network (FULL-TEXT)

Research Examples, Research profiling, Uncategorized

Patents related to artificial intelligence-assisted pathology were searched and collected from the Derwent Innovation Index (DII), which were imported into Derwent Data Analyzer (DDA, Clarivate Derwent, New York, NY, USA) for authority control, and imported into the freely available computer program Ucinet 6 for drawing the patent citation network. The patent citation network according to the citation relationship could describe the technology development context in the field of artificial intelligence-assisted pathology. The patent citations were extracted from the collected patent data, selected highly cited patents to form a co-occurrence matrix, and built a patent citation network based on the co-occurrence matrix in each period. Text clustering is an unsupervised learning method, an important method in text mining, where similar documents are grouped into clusters. The similarity between documents are determined by calculating the distance between them, and the two documents with the closest distance are combined. The method of text clustering was used to identify the technology frontiers based on the patent citation network, which was according to co-word analysis of the title and abstract of the patents in this field.

For FULL-TEXT https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0273355

Author(s): Ting Zhang,Juan Chen,Yan Lu,Xiaoyi Yang,Zhaolian Ouyang
Organization(s):Institute of Medical Information & Library, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College
Source: PloSone
Year: 2022

Twenty years of US nanopatenting: Maintenance renewal scoring as an indicator of patent value (FULL-TEXT)

Research Examples, ST&I indicators

This paper introduces a new measure of patent value – Maintenance Renewal Score (MRSc) – reflecting assignee valuing the patent by paying successive renewal fees. We generate MRSc’s for nanotechnology patents issued by the US Patent Office from 1999 through 2009, with US assignees and US inventors. Patenting increases over this period, coincident with increased US funding of nanotechnology R&D. We compare maintenance rates over the period, and against a comparison set of all 1999 USPTO grants to US inventors/assignees. We find differences in propensity to maintain the nanopatents by institution type, technological sector, and patent complexity.

  • We introduce a new measure of patent quality – Maintenance Renewal Score.
  • We report differences in propensity to maintain US patents.
  • The US National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) begins in 2003.
  • US Nanotechnology patenting increases from 1999 to 2009 as NNI takes place.
  • 52.5% of 1999 US patents maintain to full term; 1999–2009 US nanopatents, 40.5%.

For FULL-TEXT https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wpi.2023.102178

Author(s): Alan L. Porter, Mark Markley, Richard Snead, Nils C. Newman
Organization: Search Technology, Inc.
Source: World Patent Information
Year: 2023

Patent intelligence of RNA viruses: Implications for combating emerging and re-emerging RNA virus based infectious diseases (Full-Text)

Patents, Research Examples, Research profiling

The recent outbreak of one of the RNA viruses (2019-nCoV) has affected most of the population and the fatalities reported may label it as a modern-day scourge. Active research on RNA virus infections and vaccine development had more commercial impact which leads to an increase in patent filings. Patents are a goldmine of information whose mining yields crucial technological inputs for further research. In this research article, we have investigated both the patent applications and granted patents, to identify the technological trends and their impact on 2019-nCoV infection using biotechnology-related keywords such as genes, proteins, nucleic acid etc. related to the RNA virus infection. In our research, patent analysis was majorly focused on prospecting for patent data related to the RNA virus infections. Our patent analysis specifically identified spike protein (S protein) and nucleocapsid proteins (N proteins) as the most actively researched macromolecules for vaccine and/or drug development for diagnosis and treatment of RNA virus based infectious diseases. The outcomes of this patent intelligence study will be useful for the researchers who are actively working in the area of vaccine or drug development for RNA virus-based infections including 2019-nCoV and other emerging and re-emerging viral infections in the near future.

For FULL-TEXT https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.08.169

Author(s): Pratap Devarapalli, Pragati Kumari, Seema Soni, Vandana Mishra, Saurabh Yadav
Organization(s): University of Tasmania, Queensland University of Technology, H.N.B. Garhwal University
Source: International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
Year: 2022

Supply Chain Management: A Review and Bibliometric Analysis (full-text)

Research Examples, Research profiling

Supply chain management (SCM), which generally refers to horizontal integration management, has steadily become the core competitiveness of company rivalry and an essential approach to developing national comprehensive and national strength since the end of the 20th century due to the numerous needs arising from a competitive international economy. Manufacturers develop a community of interest by forming long-term strategic partnerships with suppliers and vendors throughout the supply chain. This paper defines supply chain management by reviewing the existing literature and discusses the current state of supply chain management research, as well as prospective research directions. Specifically, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of the influential studies of SCM in terms of various aspects, such as research areas, journals, countries/regions, institutions, authors and corresponding authors, most cited publications, and author keywords, based on the 8998 reviews and articles collected from the SCI and SSCI database of the Web of Science (WoS) between 2010 and 2020. The results show that the major research areas were Management (3071, 34.13%), Operations Research & Management Science (2680, 29.78%), and Engineering, Industrial (1854, 20.60%) with TP and TPR%. The most productive journal and institution were J. Clean Prod and Hong Kong Polytech Univ with a TP of 554 and 238, respectively. China, USA, and UK were the top three contributing countries. Furthermore, “sustainability”, “green supply chain (management)”, and “sustainable supply chain (management)” were the most popular author keywords in recent three years and since 2010, apart from the author keywords of SCM. When combined with the most cited articles in recent years, the application of block chain and Industry 4.0 in supply chain management increased rapidly and generated great attention

FOR FULL-TEXT https://doi.org/10.3390/pr10091681

Author(s): Hui Fang, Fei Fang, Qiang Hu, Yuehua Wan
Organization(s): Zhejiang University of Technology, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics
Source: Processes
Year: 2022

Research on Shelf-Life Extension Technologies for Food Sustainability: An Assessment of Scientific Activities and Networks (FULL-TEXT)

Network analysis, Research Examples, Research profiling, Strategic planning

A clearer understanding of research streams and players involved in efforts to address the sustainability of global food and agricultural systems is needed to clarify the current state of scientific knowledge and form collaborations to pursue future research directions. This study presents new insights into this issue through a scientometric process involving a case study of technologies for extending fruit shelf-life. The text mining software was utilized to analyze 3,131 Web of Science-indexed articles published between 2000 and 2020 as a means to glean the conceptual structure of current knowledge and conduct a social network analysis to explore scientific and publication activity. The findings were mapped onto a strategic diagram of research productivity and collaboration between players at the national, organizational, and individual levels. This research’s main findings highlight that research on shelf-life technology is in continuous development, and academic institutions from China, Spain, and the U.S. are the core national players in this field. The results provide insights for further investigation to strengthen co-research and technological development programs in other fields. Researchers who are exploring networking opportunities can use the model and process presented as a guideline for identifying emerging and future research trends and formulating strategies.

For FULL-TEXT see https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/7120662

Author(s): Jakkrit Thavorn ,Veera Muangsi, Chupun Gowanit, Nongnuj Muangsin
Organization(s): Chulalongkorn University
Source: The Scientific World Journal
Year: 2022

Patent analysis of chemical treatment technology for wastewater: Status and future trends

Research Examples, Research profiling

In order to reveal the status and trends of chemical treatment for wastewater, the patents analysis from both structured and unstructured data was performed in this study. 35,838 patents recorded in the Derwent Innovation Index database were adopted. The results showed that China was the country with the largest number of patents in the field, and the United States was the main exporter of international technology flows. Chemical processes combined with biological and physical processes was the mainstream, and ozonation and electrochemical treatment were the major single technologies. Technology evolution path generally showed the transition from biological process-combined chemical treatment to electrochemical treatment and finally to physical process-combined chemical treatment. Furthermore, future trends were revealed from both patents and papers. It demonstrated that efficient removal of ammonia nitrogen, green water treatment agents and resourcezation of wastewater were the key innovation directions, and technologies with regard to efficient use of energy (including photocatalytic technology and microbial fuel cell) were the main research hotspots. Overall, this study provided a comprehensive understanding for the research and application of chemical treatment for wastewater technologies.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135802

Author(s): Xiangzhou Sun, Lili Jin, Fengyao Zhou, Kai Jin, Laichun Wang, Xuxiang Zhang, Hongqiang Ren, Hui Huang
Organization(s): Nanjing University
Source: Chemosphere
Year: 2022

Different approaches of bibliometric analysis for data analytics applications in non-profit organisations (FULL-TEXT)

Research Examples, Research profiling, Research Type, ST&I indicators, Tech mining

Profitable companies that used data analytics have a double gain in cost reduction, demand prediction, and decision-making. However, using data analysis in non-profit organisations (NPOs) can help understand and identify more patterns of donors, volunteers, and anticipated future cash, gifts, and grants. This article presents a bibliometric study of 2673 to discover the use of data analytics in different NPOs and understand its contribution. We characterise the associations between data analysis techniques and NPOs using, Bibliometrics R tool, a co-term analysis and scientific evolutionary pathways analysis, as well as identify the research topic changes in this field throughout time. The findings revealed three key conclusions may be drawn from the findings: (1) In the sphere of NPOs, robust and conventional statistical methods-based data analysis procedures are dominantly common at all times; (2) Healthcare and public affairs are two crucial sectors that involve data analytics to support decision-making and problem-solving; (3) Artificial Intelligence (AI) based data analytics is a recently emerging trending, especially in the healthcare-related sector; however, it is still at an immature stage, and more efforts are needed to nourish its development. The research findings can leverage future research and add value to the existing literature on the subject of data analytics.

For FULL-TEXT https://doi.org/10.20517/jsegc.2022.09

Author(s): Idrees Alsolbi, Mengjia Wu, Yi Zhang, Sudhanshu Joshi, Manu Sharma, Siamak Tafavogh, Ashish Sinha, Mukesh Prasad
Organization(s): University of Technology Sydney, Commonwealth Bank Health Society
Source: Journal of Smart Environments and Green Computing
Year: 2022