Publications

23 pages, 715 KB

Open AccessArticle

Publication Trends and Overlapping Subject-Area Classifications in Scopus: Evidence from Business, Management and Accounting

by Margarita De Miguel-Guzmán, Alexander Sánchez-Rodríguez, Rodobaldo Martínez-Vivar, Alejandro Ernesto Pérez-De Miguel, Gelmar García-Vidal and Reyner Pérez-Campdesuñer

Publications 2026, 14(3), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications14030053 - 17 Aug 2026

Abstract

Large bibliographic databases require careful interpretation because publication trends and subject-area counts are shaped by database coverage, document-type selection, and classification practices. This study examines longitudinal changes in articles and reviews indexed in Scopus between 2010 and 2025, focusing on total Scopus-indexed output, [...] Read more.

Large bibliographic databases require careful interpretation because publication trends and subject-area counts are shaped by database coverage, document-type selection, and classification practices. This study examines longitudinal changes in articles and reviews indexed in Scopus between 2010 and 2025, focusing on total Scopus-indexed output, the Business, Management and Accounting (BMA) category, and source-derived subject-area classification multiplicity. A longitudinal bibliometric design combined annual publication counts, growth rates, comparisons between the 2010–2021 baseline and the 2022–2025 recent observation window, exploratory segmented trend models, and the Subject-Area Multiplicity Ratio (SAMR). The SAMR was calculated as the annual sum of source-derived Scopus ASJC subject-area counts divided by the number of unique indexed articles and reviews. It is used as a descriptive ratio of classification multiplicity, not as a measure of article-level interdisciplinarity. The results show sustained but heterogeneous growth across subject areas. BMA recorded comparatively stronger growth during 2022–2025, whereas total Scopus-indexed output did not display a generalized discontinuity after 2022. Generative AI is treated only as contextual background, not as an explanatory factor. The SAMR increased from 1.654 in 2010 to 1.819 in 2025, indicating that summed subject-area counts increasingly exceeded unique-document totals. These findings support cautious interpretation of longitudinal bibliometric indicators in research assessment contexts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Designing the Future of the Knowledge Hub in a AI-Supported Ecosystem, in 2040)

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23 pages, 1174 KB

Open AccessArticle

Trust, Acceptance, and Service Outcomes of AI-Augmented Academic Library Research Support Services in Thailand

by Kittiya Suthiprapa and Kulthida Tuamsuk

Publications 2026, 14(3), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications14030052 - 6 Aug 2026

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly transforming scholarly communication by changing how researchers discover, organize, evaluate, and communicate academic knowledge. Academic libraries are consequently expanding AI-supported research services; however, limited empirical evidence exists regarding how researchers’ trust in AI influences their acceptance, use, and [...] Read more.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly transforming scholarly communication by changing how researchers discover, organize, evaluate, and communicate academic knowledge. Academic libraries are consequently expanding AI-supported research services; however, limited empirical evidence exists regarding how researchers’ trust in AI influences their acceptance, use, and perceived outcomes of these services. This study developed and validated an integrated structural model examining the relationships among Trust in AI, AI Acceptance, AI Use, and Service Outcomes in AI-supported academic library research services. A quantitative survey was conducted with 200 faculty members, researchers, and postgraduate students from higher education institutions in Thailand. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The results revealed that Trust in AI significantly enhanced AI Acceptance, which subsequently promoted AI Use and improved perceived Service Outcomes. Mediation analysis further confirmed that AI Acceptance and AI Use sequentially mediated the relationship between Trust in AI and Service Outcomes. These findings demonstrate that researchers’ trust is fundamental to successful AI-supported research services and highlight the importance of transparent, reliable, and ethically governed AI environments. The proposed model advances understanding of researchers’ engagement with AI-supported research services and provides practical guidance for academic libraries and higher education institutions seeking to implement responsible AI-enabled research support. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Academic Libraries in Supporting Research)

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25 pages, 9666 KB

Open AccessArticle

Governing Scientific Knowledge Through Editorial Transparency: An Exploratory Documentary Assessment of Open Science Practices in Food Science Journals from Peru and Mexico

by Maria Monica Chachi Espinoza, Lina García-Mier, Natalia Giovanna Chachi Quiroz and Adrián García Chachi

Publications 2026, 14(3), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications14030051 - 5 Aug 2026

Abstract

Contemporary scientific publishing plays an increasingly important role in the accessibility, circulation, and governance of scientific knowledge within the context of open science and growing demands for editorial transparency. Despite the expansion of scientific production in emerging academic ecosystems, many journals continue to [...] Read more.

Contemporary scientific publishing plays an increasingly important role in the accessibility, circulation, and governance of scientific knowledge within the context of open science and growing demands for editorial transparency. Despite the expansion of scientific production in emerging academic ecosystems, many journals continue to face structural challenges related to editorial professionalisation, technological infrastructure, international visibility, and implementation of international publishing standards. This study analyses the extent to which food science journals from Peru and Mexico comply with scholarly publishing standards promoted by EASE, COPE, and DOAJ. A qualitative and documentary comparative approach was adopted through the analysis of six scientific journals using an evaluation instrument composed of 23 criteria grouped into three dimensions: editorial ethics, peer review and equity, and transparency and communication of editorial information. The findings reveal important advances in editorial ethics and open access practices, alongside persistent limitations associated with peer review transparency, digital preservation policies, dissemination mechanisms, and governance visibility. Mexican journals demonstrated comparatively stronger transparency-related practices, while Peruvian journals showed greater internal heterogeneity. The study concludes that strengthening scientific communication in emerging publishing ecosystems requires broader commitments to transparency, open science, and equitable access to scientific knowledge. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Open Science: Developments and Disinformation Regarding Scientific Information)

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32 pages, 12573 KB

Open AccessArticle

Matching Artificial Intelligence Methods to Research Problems in Medical Informatics

by Tong Shen and Xiaoling Sun

Publications 2026, 14(3), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications14030050 - 2 Aug 2026

Abstract

Artificial intelligence is reshaping scientific research, yet its contribution may be associated with whether methods are matched to the types of research problems. This study investigates this question in medical informatics using 40,107 articles published during 2000–2024. Large language models are used to [...] Read more.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping scientific research, yet its contribution may be associated with whether methods are matched to the types of research problems. This study investigates this question in medical informatics using 40,107 articles published during 2000–2024. Large language models are used to identify three AI method families—traditional machine learning, neural network methods, and generative AI—while a knowledge-distilled classifier groups studies into three problem types: comprehension-oriented, solution-oriented, and exploration-oriented. The study then examines how different problem–method combinations are associated with citation impact and recombinatorial novelty. AI use increased sharply after 2018 and became increasingly embedded in medical informatics. All three methods are positively associated with citation impact, with relatively stronger associations for generative AI. Associations vary by problem type: all three methods are positively associated with impact in solution-oriented studies; neural networks and generative AI are positively associated with impact in comprehension-oriented studies, whereas neural networks are negatively associated with impact in exploration-oriented studies. Traditional machine learning is positively associated with novelty in comprehension-oriented and solution-oriented studies, whereas neural networks are positively associated only in solution-oriented studies. These findings suggest that AI’s contribution to science is associated with specific problem–method combinations and that broad claims about AI’s role can obscure heterogeneity across research tasks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue AI in Academic Metrics and Impact Analysis)

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27 pages, 4401 KB

Open AccessArticle

Structural Evolution of the Ecuadorian Scopus-Indexed Journal Ecosystem During 2016–2025

by Orlando Meneses Quelal and Alba Lucía Yamá Taimal

Publications 2026, 14(3), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications14030049 - 1 Aug 2026

Abstract

This study analyzed the structural evolution of the Ecuadorian publishing ecosystem indexed in Scopus during the period 2016–2025 using indicators of scientific production, bibliometric impact, quartile positioning, citation concentration, editorial persistence, and women’s participation. Bibliometric information was obtained from the SCImago Journal & [...] Read more.

This study analyzed the structural evolution of the Ecuadorian publishing ecosystem indexed in Scopus during the period 2016–2025 using indicators of scientific production, bibliometric impact, quartile positioning, citation concentration, editorial persistence, and women’s participation. Bibliometric information was obtained from the SCImago Journal & Country Rank (SJR) database by constructing a longitudinal journal-year panel of Ecuadorian scientific journals. The results revealed a sustained expansion of the national publishing ecosystem, reflected in substantial growth in publication output, journal coverage, citation performance, and average SJR values. However, this expansion was not accompanied by equivalent improvements in quartile positioning, as journals classified in Q3 and Q4 continued to predominate throughout the study period. The analysis also identified a high concentration of bibliometric impact within a limited set of journals, along with significant disciplinary transformations, characterized by the growing participation of Engineering and STEM-related fields. Female participation increased over time, although heterogeneous patterns persisted across disciplinary areas. To provide an integrated perspective on ecosystem evolution, a Composite Indicator of Editorial Development (CIED) was constructed, combining dimensions of visibility, citation efficiency, editorial coverage, quartile positioning, and impact dispersion. Overall, the findings indicate that the Ecuadorian publishing ecosystem has strengthened its editorial development and international visibility over the last decade, while persistent asymmetries in quartile distribution and citation concentration continue to pose important challenges to broader integration into the global structure of scientific communication. Full article

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29 pages, 6980 KB

Open AccessArticle

Technological Governance for Diamond Open Access: A Modular Framework for Metadata Excellence and Scholarly Interoperability in University Journals

by Yasiel Pérez Vera

Publications 2026, 14(3), 48; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications14030048 - 1 Aug 2026

Abstract

Diamond Open Access journals face increasing challenges in ensuring metadata quality, interoperability, persistent identification, digital preservation, and international visibility while operating with limited financial and technological resources. Although Open Journal Systems (OJS) provides a robust publishing platform, the absence of an integrated technological [...] Read more.

Diamond Open Access journals face increasing challenges in ensuring metadata quality, interoperability, persistent identification, digital preservation, and international visibility while operating with limited financial and technological resources. Although Open Journal Systems (OJS) provides a robust publishing platform, the absence of an integrated technological governance model can hinder the systematic coordination of scholarly communication infrastructures. This study proposes and evaluates a Technological Governance Framework for Diamond Open Access journals using a Design Science Research methodology. The framework is organized into five governance dimensions: metadata management, persistent identifiers, scholarly interoperability, digital preservation, and editorial technologies. To support the assessment of technological governance performance, five composite indicators were integrated into a Technological Governance Index (TGI). The framework was evaluated through its implementation in the Innovación y Software journal, demonstrating its practical feasibility within a real Diamond Open Access publishing environment. The implementation achieved high levels of metadata quality, persistent identifier adoption, preservation, and interoperability, with a TGI of 97.43%. The journal also received the inaugural Crossref Metadata Excellence Award in the New Members category in 2025, providing complementary evidence of the metadata quality achieved in the evaluated case study. Although the results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed governance model within the evaluated institutional context, further multi-journal studies are required to assess its transferability and broader applicability. The proposed framework provides a structured and measurable basis for coordinating technological capabilities in Diamond Open Access publishing and for future research on technological governance, metadata quality, interoperability, and digital sustainability. Full article

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36 pages, 1096 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Thus We Are Agreed! A Systematic Mapping Review of Adversarial Collaborations in Science

by Annalena Seyr, Ulrich S. Tran and Martin Voracek

Publications 2026, 14(3), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications14030047 - 24 Jul 2026

Abstract

In a time where the methods of science are frequently called into question, open science practices are gaining increased importance. A particularly cooperative form of transparent science is the approach of adversarial collaboration (AC), where research groups with different explanations of the same [...] Read more.

In a time where the methods of science are frequently called into question, open science practices are gaining increased importance. A particularly cooperative form of transparent science is the approach of adversarial collaboration (AC), where research groups with different explanations of the same phenomenon work closely together to develop a study and publish their results jointly, regardless of the outcome. The aim of this work, a systematic mapping review, is to provide a comprehensive overview of the formal aspects of AC and identify the relevant factors that need to be considered when applying this method. For this purpose, both AC studies and publications related to this topic were analyzed. The total of 89 articles retrieved, analyzed, and integrated indicates that accounts on this topic have slightly increased (mostly in psychology) in recent years. However, only a handful of authors have delved more deeply into ACs, and there currently is no journal specifically promoting ACs. The analyzed sources provide a solid foundation for best-practice recommendations and a comprehensive overview of the pros and cons of AC, in the form of organized lists of AC-related known advantages and challenges (alongside solutions to the latter ones). Specifically, some AC studies show weaknesses in study quality, mainly due to a lack of information on the implementation steps. This systematic mapping review serves not only as an introduction to the topic, but also as a guide for future ACs. Full article

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20 pages, 2067 KB

Open AccessArticle

From Regulation to Perceived Strategic Utility: A Research Monitoring System Based on the Elsevier Pure API at UCSM

by Javier Fernando Angulo-Osorio, César Daniel Valdivia-Portugal, Karina Rosas-Paredes, Diego Fernando Angel Angulo-Osorio and Gustavo Eduardo Reinoso-Flores

Publications 2026, 14(3), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications14030046 - 17 Jul 2026

Abstract

This article describes the design, development, and user acceptance evaluation of the Monitor CRIS UCSM, a research monitoring system (RMS) built on the Elsevier Pure REST API for the Universidad Católica de Santa María (UCSM), Arequipa, Peru. The study addresses two research questions: [...] Read more.

This article describes the design, development, and user acceptance evaluation of the Monitor CRIS UCSM, a research monitoring system (RMS) built on the Elsevier Pure REST API for the Universidad Católica de Santa María (UCSM), Arequipa, Peru. The study addresses two research questions: (RQ1) can an API-based CRIS monitoring solution be implemented on a commercial Research Information Management System (RIMS) to meet institution-specific regulatory requirements, and (RQ2) to what extent do institutional stakeholders perceive such a system as usable, normatively relevant, and useful for strategic decision-making? The system integrates bibliometric data from Pure into dashboards covering research production metrics, RENACYT-qualified researcher profiles, SDG alignment, and regulatory compliance indicators aligned with Peruvian higher education legislation (Law No. 30220, SUNEDU, CONCYTEC), implemented on a three-tier architecture (Laravel 11/Vue.js 3/MySQL 8.0) with role-based access control. A User Acceptance Test (UAT) conducted with 134 institutional stakeholders, using an instrument adapted from the System Usability Scale (SUS) and structured into four dimensions, showed excellent internal consistency (α = 0.90), a composite SUS-adapted score of M = 81.12 (SD = 5.83), and very favorable ratings across all four dimensions (global M = 4.32; SD = 0.14 on a 1–5 Likert scale). These findings, bounded to the UCSM institutional case, support the technical feasibility of API-based CRIS monitoring within a single institution. The decision-making utility reported here reflects internal stakeholder perceptions gathered through a single UAT administration, not measured organizational outcomes, external adoption, or longitudinal use. Full article

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14 pages, 274 KB

Open AccessArticle

Citation of Scientific Evidence from Video Description and Its Association with Attention and Impact

by Pablo Dorta-González and María Isabel Dorta-González

Publications 2026, 14(3), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications14030045 - 15 Jul 2026

Abstract

This study investigates how YouTube content producers incorporate scientific evidence into their videos. The purpose is to understand which types of knowledge sources most influence science-related video production and how alternative communication channels shape the visibility of research. A dataset encompassing 81,302 scientific [...] Read more.

This study investigates how YouTube content producers incorporate scientific evidence into their videos. The purpose is to understand which types of knowledge sources most influence science-related video production and how alternative communication channels shape the visibility of research. A dataset encompassing 81,302 scientific papers in biotechnology serves as the empirical foundation for this analysis. Through log-linear regression modeling, the results reveal a divergence. While a research paper’s integration into digital video creation scales positively with its prominence in public-facing platforms (news and Wikipedia), it correlates negatively with traditional scholarly benchmarks, namely peer-reviewed citations, policy document references, and patent applications. Video creators, it appears, prioritize public visibility over conventional academic influence. This asymmetry underscores a systemic gap in how scholarly outputs filter into digital communication spaces. Full article

20 pages, 2475 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Level-Based Master Plan for Strengthening Research Projects

by Adilbek K. Bisenbaev

Publications 2026, 14(3), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications14030044 - 14 Jul 2026

Abstract

This paper proposes a level-based scientific maturation master plan (SMMP) for strengthening research projects prior to manuscript submission. A weak manuscript is often not simply a weak text but an immature project that has been translated too early into publication form. Contemporary research [...] Read more.

This paper proposes a level-based scientific maturation master plan (SMMP) for strengthening research projects prior to manuscript submission. A weak manuscript is often not simply a weak text but an immature project that has been translated too early into publication form. Contemporary research management is better at registering deadlines, deliverables, resources, and visible publication signals than at diagnosing the internal maturity of a scientific object. The result is false readiness: a project may have a topic, structure, literature, methodological vocabulary, and a polished manuscript but still lack a mature problem, a coherent conceptual architecture, a testable design, sufficient evidence, and a disciplined contribution. To address this gap, this paper proposes a nine-level SMMP, moving from thematic impulses to peer review and publication readiness. The model integrates noncompensatory gates, evidence packages, red flags, maturation debt, bottlenecks, the publication maturation gap, and peer-review readiness. Methodologically, the paper is a conceptual design study supplemented by a proof-of-concept documentary application to publicly available CORDIS project biographies. The framework shows how to distinguish publication polish from scientific maturation and how to translate expert criticism into concrete presubmission actions. Full article

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21 pages, 1523 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

How Does Prompt Anchoring Affect Large Language Model Outputs?

by Eungi Kim

Publications 2026, 14(3), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications14030043 - 9 Jul 2026

Abstract

This study examines how different prompt anchoring strategies influence the conceptual representation of LLM-generated keywords and compares those effects with the effects of model selection. A controlled exploratory experiment evaluated four prompt conditions—No Examples, Brief Keywords, Detailed Explanations, and Author-Based Examples—across T. D. [...] Read more.

This study examines how different prompt anchoring strategies influence the conceptual representation of LLM-generated keywords and compares those effects with the effects of model selection. A controlled exploratory experiment evaluated four prompt conditions—No Examples, Brief Keywords, Detailed Explanations, and Author-Based Examples—across T. D. Wilson’s four information behavior dimensions using 1068 abstracts. Four LLMs (GPT-4o-mini, Claude-3-haiku, Gemini-2.0-flash-lite, and DeepSeek V3) were evaluated under all prompt conditions, yielding 17,036 valid observations. Results indicate that model identity accounts for substantially more variance in keyword generation (η² = 0.309) than prompt condition (η² = 0.069), although these estimates should be interpreted with caution given the repeated-measures design and assumption violations. Prompt anchoring, however, consistently reconfigured the conceptual distribution of outputs across all models, indicating that it influences conceptual representation even when model effects are larger. Author-Based Examples substantially increased representation of the typically underrepresented Information Sharing dimension, whereas Detailed Explanations produced the highest overall generation rates and the broadest dimensional coverage. These findings further indicate that different anchoring strategies involve consistent trade-offs in dimensional coverage. The study thereby identifies prompt anchoring as a source of methodological variation in LLM-assisted content analysis, indicating that anchoring strategies should be explicitly specified, justified, and reported as part of the study methodology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Overview on Today’s AI Tools for Authors)

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13 pages, 209 KB

Open AccessEditorial

Sci-Tech Journals Serving Scientific and Technological Innovation in the Context of the “Planning–Communication–Empowerment” Path

by Yuan Liu, Yanyan Huang, Lingxian Xie, Tiantian Guo, Yi Zheng, Xudong Hu and Wenjin Huang

Publications 2026, 14(3), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications14030042 - 9 Jul 2026

Abstract

Currently, the “Planning–Dissemination–Empowerment” approach has become a widely adopted practice paradigm for scientific journals to serve industrial scientific and technological innovation. Nevertheless, how to achieve the effective transformation from knowledge production to scientific and technological innovation remains a core issue urgently to be [...] Read more.

Currently, the “Planning–Dissemination–Empowerment” approach has become a widely adopted practice paradigm for scientific journals to serve industrial scientific and technological innovation. Nevertheless, how to achieve the effective transformation from knowledge production to scientific and technological innovation remains a core issue urgently to be addressed in the academic publishing sector. Taking Yangtze River as the research sample, this paper constructs and conducts an in-depth analysis of a systematic practical path of “Planning–Dissemination–Empowerment” targeting the improvement of research achievement transformation efficiency. Under this path, the planning segment accurately identifies core issues aligned with national strategies and frontline engineering demands through demand anchoring, ensuring the pertinence and application value of academic content; the dissemination segment relies on a diversified digital matrix to realize precise delivery and efficient diffusion of research findings, accelerating the transmission of academic outputs; the empowerment segment intervenes from three dimensions of talent cultivation, decision support, and technology implementation, promoting the conversion of academic achievements into practical innovation capabilities. Practice demonstrates that this path has not only produced more than 1500 high-impact papers but also directly facilitated multiple scientific and technological innovations. Talent empowerment has fostered a cohort of young scientific and technological backbones; decision empowerment has directly underpinned national emergency decision-making via 3 policy advisory reports adopted by central authorities; technology empowerment has driven breakthroughs in key technologies such as barrier lake emergency disposal, with relevant achievements winning the First Prize of Hubei Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award. In addition, the optimal reservoir operation technology was applied in the 2024 basin-wide flood control, reducing flooded arable land by 170,000 hectares and preventing the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents, thus achieving the integration of academic influence and tangible social benefits. Rather than a mere restatement of industry consensus, the path proposed in this paper reveals the underlying mechanism through which scientific journals are deeply embedded in the innovation chain and catalyze the shift from “consensus” to “practical outcomes” via systematic design. Combined with discussions of multi-industry cases, this path provides an operable theoretical framework and practical paradigm for scientific journals to play more substantial and verifiable roles in the national innovation system. Full article

26 pages, 1055 KB

Open AccessReview

Cross-Level Inference Errors in Scientific Interpretation—From Ecological Correlation to the Control of Inference and Communication Levels

by Adam Szromek

Publications 2026, 14(3), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications14030041 - 9 Jul 2026

Abstract

Cross-level inference errors constitute a specific source of misleading scientific interpretation. They arise when the meaning assigned to a finding is transferred from one level of analysis to another without sufficient methodological justification. The conceptual aim of this article is to explain how [...] Read more.

Cross-level inference errors constitute a specific source of misleading scientific interpretation. They arise when the meaning assigned to a finding is transferred from one level of analysis to another without sufficient methodological justification. The conceptual aim of this article is to explain how a formally valid statistical association may become misleading when its interpretation or communication goes beyond the level at which the data were collected and the association was estimated. The practical aim is to propose a procedure for checking level alignment. The article is conceptual and review-based in nature. It relies on a purposive, problem-oriented synthesis of literature from research methodology, social epidemiology, multilevel analysis, selection bias, spin and exaggeration in scientific communication, and misinformation in and about science. Its contribution consists of linking the classical methodological problem of ecological and atomistic fallacies with the communicative processes through which scientific findings are reformulated in abstracts, press releases, media reports, and secondary summaries. On this basis, the article proposes a model of alternative pathways leading from a statistical association specific to a given level to a public claim, distinguishing a level-aligned pathway from a pathway leading to a Level-Misaligned Public Claim. The article also introduces the Inference-Level Alignment Procedure as a procedure for checking the alignment between the level of inference and the level of communication. This procedure includes two diagnostic checkpoints: alignment between analysis and inference, and alignment between inference and communication. The article argues that responsible scientific interpretation and communication require not only fact-checking, but also checking whether the level of analysis, the level of inference, and the level of communication or recommendation remain aligned. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Open Science: Developments and Disinformation Regarding Scientific Information)

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15 pages, 1874 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Bibliometric Analysis of Microbiology and Parasitology Research Indexed in SciELO Peru, 2000–2023

by Kenny Cesar Alca Carrasco, Obert Marín-Sánchez, Ruy D. Chacón, Jimmy Ango-Bedriñana and Homero Ango-Aguilar

Publications 2026, 14(3), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications14030040 - 1 Jul 2026

Cited by 1

Abstract

Scientific output in health sciences has grown exponentially, yet its landscape remains under-analyzed in emerging economies. In Peru, Microbiology and Parasitology are disciplines of strategic relevance for public health, but no specific bibliometric analysis exists. This study provides the first baseline to identify [...] Read more.

Scientific output in health sciences has grown exponentially, yet its landscape remains under-analyzed in emerging economies. In Peru, Microbiology and Parasitology are disciplines of strategic relevance for public health, but no specific bibliometric analysis exists. This study provides the first baseline to identify thematic gaps and characterize research patterns within the SciELO Peru collection. Through a descriptive bibliometric analysis of 549 Microbiology and Parasitology articles indexed in the SciELO Peru collection (2000–2023), temporal, regional, and institutional indicators, methodological design, and journal characteristics were evaluated using R v4.4.0. Results show that production peaked in 2021, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic period and accompanied by a marked increase in Virology-related publications. Lima accounted for 77.3% of the SciELO Peru corpus national output, with UPCH (17.5%), INS (14.9%), and UNMSM (13.7%) leading institutional activity. Bacteriology was the dominant area (44.1%), while Mycology was the most underrepresented (2.4%), and cross-sectional designs predominated (63.9%). Notably, real international collaboration was limited to 1.8%, and RPMESP was the sole Bradford core journal, accounting for 48.5% of the corpus, with no articles appearing in Q1 journals. These findings reveal that while production shows sustained growth, it is marked by high geographic concentration and a scarcity of applied technological research within the analyzed corpus. These findings highlight the urgent need to decentralize research and reorient Peru’s health science agenda toward critical, under-studied disciplines. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diamond Open Access)

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10 pages, 243 KB

Open AccessCommentary

Understanding the Quartile Conundrum: Research Evaluation in Spain and Latin America

by Ana Chacón-Luna, Patricio Álvarez-Muñoz, Ayrton Mariño-Arreaga, Ángel Morán-Herrera and Marco Faytong-Haro

Publications 2026, 14(3), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications14030039 - 30 Jun 2026

Abstract

Quartile rankings of journals have become shorthand for research quality in many national evaluation systems. This Commentary offers a non-systematic documentary analysis of this phenomenon in Spain and selected Latin American systems. It conceptualizes these arrangements as quartile regimes: configurations of rules, indicators, [...] Read more.

Quartile rankings of journals have become shorthand for research quality in many national evaluation systems. This Commentary offers a non-systematic documentary analysis of this phenomenon in Spain and selected Latin American systems. It conceptualizes these arrangements as quartile regimes: configurations of rules, indicators, organizational routines, and incentives that make the Journal Citation Reports or SCImago quartile position of a journal function as a high-stakes proxy for research quality. The article draws on legal and policy texts, agency criteria, reform documents, peer-reviewed literature, and selected integrity cases used as illustrative vignettes rather than prevalence evidence. Spain is analyzed as an early and influential case in which sexenios and accreditation made journal indicators central to individual careers, although the 2024 sexenio criteria now move explicitly toward qualitative narratives, broader outputs, and responsible indicators. Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, and Peru are treated as purposive Latin American cases that show distinct pathways through individual recognition schemes, graduate-program evaluation, journal-indexing systems, career committees, and publication bonuses. The article argues that quartile regimes reshape publication language, research agendas, disciplinary hierarchies, authorship practices, and integrity risks, with particularly strong effects in the social sciences and humanities and in regional journal ecosystems. Current reform efforts, including the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment, the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment, FOLEC-CLACSO, and the ALAEC manifesto, show that quartiles can be repositioned as weak contextual signals within broader, field-sensitive frameworks that value quality, bibliodiversity, multilingual communication, open science, and societal relevance. Full article

13 pages, 347 KB

Open AccessArticle

How Unique Are Hallucinated Citations Offered by Generative Artificial Intelligence Models?

by Dirk H. R. Spennemann

Publications 2026, 14(3), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications14030038 - 29 Jun 2026

Abstract

This paper investigates how generative AI produces and propagates hallucinated academic references, focusing on the recurring non-existent citation “Education Governance and Datafication” attributed to Ben Williamson and Nelli Piattoeva. Drawing on 196 accessible source papers identified through Google Scholar and Google searches, the [...] Read more.

This paper investigates how generative AI produces and propagates hallucinated academic references, focusing on the recurring non-existent citation “Education Governance and Datafication” attributed to Ben Williamson and Nelli Piattoeva. Drawing on 196 accessible source papers identified through Google Scholar and Google searches, the study analyses the structure, recurrence, and onward citation of this phantom reference. It shows that hallucinated citations are not random inventions but patterned re-combinations of real authors, journals, dates, and keywords, with duplication occurring in nearly 30% of these hallucinated citations. The paper also reports a structured interrogation of ChatGPT 5-mini about how it generates citations and finds that, absent of verification, the model reconstructs plausible references from learned patterns rather than factual recall. Finally, 110 AI-generated essays on datafication and school governance were examined: while most references were genuine or partly accurate, 29.8% remained fully hallucinated citations, including exact matches to the most common phantom citation, and an additional 29% were partially hallucinated citations. The findings highlight ongoing risks to academic integrity and show that web-enabled AI still does not fully eliminate fabricated references. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of AI on Disinformation or Misinformation in Science Communication)

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8 pages, 694 KB

Open AccessViewpoint

Manuscript Reviews Performed by a Health Sciences Researcher: A Reviewer’s Reflection on the Process and Outcomes

by Gina Joubert

Publications 2026, 14(2), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications14020037 - 2 Jun 2026

Abstract

Finding willing peer reviewers is challenging. This viewpoint describes a health sciences reviewer’s experience regarding the decision to decline or accept review invitations, and the review process and outcome in terms of journal communication and duration. This audit included all manuscript review invitations [...] Read more.

Finding willing peer reviewers is challenging. This viewpoint describes a health sciences reviewer’s experience regarding the decision to decline or accept review invitations, and the review process and outcome in terms of journal communication and duration. This audit included all manuscript review invitations received by the researcher in 2022–2024. Information was noted from emails received from the journals. Of 130 review invitations received, 49 (38%) were accepted. The most common reason for declining review invitations (23/81; 28%) was that the researcher, a biostatistician, did not regard herself as having the necessary clinical background. Of the 49 accepted invitations, reviews were submitted for 46 manuscripts (94%), with 24 manuscripts (52%) requiring more than one review round. The reviewer was informed of the journal decision after each review round for 22 (48%) reviewed manuscripts. However, the final journal decision regarding acceptance or rejection of the manuscript was received for only 14 (30%) reviewed manuscripts. Journals provided comments of other reviewers for 44% (n = 20/46) of reviewed manuscripts. To align with International Committee of Medical Journal Editors recommendations, journals should provide feedback to reviewers regarding other reviewers’ comments and the final journal decision. Journal information regarding the usual number of review rounds and duration may influence potential reviewers’ willingness to participate. Full article

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6 pages, 194 KB

Open AccessOpinion

Literature Search Query in Academic Databases: Artificial Intelligence Think Tank Guideline for Literature Reviews

by Shahryar Sorooshian

Publications 2026, 14(2), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications14020036 - 1 Jun 2026

Abstract

Literature reviews are essential for synthesizing existing knowledge, mapping research domains, identifying intellectual structures, and highlighting research gaps within a field. However, many literature reviews are incomplete because database search strategies are not adequately specified or validated. Search strategies are frequently underreported and [...] Read more.

Literature reviews are essential for synthesizing existing knowledge, mapping research domains, identifying intellectual structures, and highlighting research gaps within a field. However, many literature reviews are incomplete because database search strategies are not adequately specified or validated. Search strategies are frequently underreported and undermotivated across the systematic review literature and bibliometrics, while query formulation remains time-consuming, error-prone, and particularly difficult in interdisciplinary or rapidly evolving topics. This article fills that void by developing a guideline for designing a professional topic query in existing academic databases and emphasizing search design as the front-end validity problem in bibliometric research. The article uses the Artificial Intelligence Think Tank framework as a methodological engine and applies it to bibliometric retrieval engineering via structured interaction with generative AI systems and human experts. The paper assists scholars performing bibliometric studies, scientometric analyses, systematic literature reviews, scoping reviews, and hybrid evidence-synthesis projects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue AI in Academic Metrics and Impact Analysis)

17 pages, 1137 KB

Open AccessArticle

Scientific Production in Global Mental Health: A Meta-Research Study of Income-Stratified Trends, Gaps, and Health Metrics Impact

by David A. Hernandez-Paez, Mónica Acuña-Rodriguez, Kevin Fernando Montoya-Quintero and Jhon Victor Vidal-Durango

Publications 2026, 14(2), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications14020035 - 1 Jun 2026

Abstract

Aligning mental health research with territorial health needs remains a critical goal, yet the global distribution, coherence, and impact of scientific output across income groups remain poorly understood. We conducted a meta-research study combining scientometric analyses with longitudinal data on 60 health and [...] Read more.

Aligning mental health research with territorial health needs remains a critical goal, yet the global distribution, coherence, and impact of scientific output across income groups remain poorly understood. We conducted a meta-research study combining scientometric analyses with longitudinal data on 60 health and development indicators. Over 386,000 peer-reviewed publications were retrieved from five major databases. Linear regressions, meta-analyses, and meta-regressions were performed, stratified by World Bank income classification. We find that high-income countries (HICs) accounted for 67% of publications, exhibiting the highest research density but the lowest potential marginal health returns. In contrast, low-income countries (LICs) showed the strongest associations between research volume and improvements in life expectancy (β = 0.13; p < 0.01) and child mortality (β = −1.38; p < 0.01). Structural moderators such as governance quality, health expenditure, and education explained up to 48% of between-group variance. In conclusion, the global landscape of mental health research remains unequal. While scientific production is concentrated in HICs, its population-level association is greatest in LICs. These findings underscore the need to redirect investments and enhance research coherence with health needs, particularly through governance safeguards and capacity building in underrepresented regions. Full article

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