DataCite as a novel bibliometric source: Coverage, strengths and limitations

This paper explores the characteristics of DataCite to determine its possibilities and potential as a new bibliometric data source to analyze the scholarly production of open data. Open science and the increasing data sharing requirements from governments, funding bodies, institutions and scientific journals has led to a pressing demand for the development of data metrics. As a very first step towards reliable data metrics, we need to better comprehend the limitations and caveats of the information provided by sources of open data. In this paper, we critically examine records downloaded from the DataCite's OAI API and elaborate a series of recommendations regarding the use of this source for bibliometric analyses of open data. We highlight issues related to metadata incompleteness, lack of standardization, and ambiguous definitions of several fields. Despite these limitations, we emphasize DataCite's value and potential to become one of the main sources for data metrics development.Comment: Paper accepted for publication in Journal of Informetric

Designing a Modeling Language for Customer Journeys: Lessons Learned from User Involvement

Although numerous methods have been formalized for handling the technical aspects of developing domain-specific modeling languages (DSMLs), user needs and usability aspects are often addressed in ad hoc manners and late in the development process. Working in this context, this paper presents the development of the customer journey modeling language (CJML), a DSML for modeling service processes from the end-user's perspective. CJML targets a wide and heterogeneous group of users, making it especially challenging regarding usability. This paper describes how an industry-relevant DSML was systematically improved by using a variety of user-centered design techniques in close collaboration with the target group and how their feedback was used to refine and evolve the syntax and semantics of CJML. We also suggest how a service-providing organization may benefit from adopting CJML as a unifying language for documentation purposes, compliance analysis, and service innovation. Finally, we generalize the experience gained into lessons learned and methodological guidelines.acceptedVersio

Analysing Scientific Mobility and Collaboration in the Middle East and North Africa

This study investigates the scientific mobility and international collaboration networks in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region between 2008 and 2017. By using affiliation metadata available in scientific publications, we analyse international scientific mobility flows and collaboration linkages. Three complementary approaches allow us to obtain a detailed characterization of scientific mobility. First, we uncover the main destinations and origins of mobile scholars for each country. Results reveal geographical, cultural and historical proximities. Cooperation programs also contribute to explain some of the observed flows. Second, we use the academic age. The average academic age of migrant scholars in MENA was about 12.4 years. The academic age group 6-to-10 years is the most common for both emigrant and immigrant scholars. Immigrants are relatively younger than emigrants, except for Iran, Palestine, Lebanon, and Turkey. Scholars who migrated to Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Jordan and Morocco were in average younger than emigrants by 1.5 year from the same countries. Third, we analyse gender differences. We observe a clear gender gap: Male scholars represent the largest group of migrants in MENA. We conclude discussing the policy relevance of the scientific mobility and collaboration aspects.Comment: 37 pages, 9 figures, 5 table

Open Access uptake by universities worldwide

The implementation of policies promoting the adoption of an open science (OS) culture must be accompanied by indicators that allow monitoring the uptake of such policies and their potential effects on research publishing and sharing practices. This study presents indicators of open access (OA) at the institutional level for universities worldwide. By combining data from Web of Science, Unpaywall and the Leiden Ranking disambiguation of institutions, we track OA coverage of universities\u27 output for 963 institutions. This paper presents the methodological challenges, conceptual discrepancies and limitations and discusses further steps needed to move forward the discussion on fostering OA and OS practices and policies

Is there a standard research career? the unintended consequences of task specialisation in science

Research systems often envisage academic careers as linear and sequential. However, Nicolas Robinson-Garcia, Rodrigo Costas, Cassidy R. Sugimoto, Vincent Larivière and Gabriela F. Nane argue that, not only do career stages in science tend to be more diverse than are usually recognised, but they also change profile over the course of a career. By mischaracterising academic careers in this way, the authors warn research systems risk reinforcing a limited interpretation of science

Ionic Liquids as Reaction Media in Catalytic Oxidations with Manganese and Iron Pyridyl Triazacyclononane Complexes

A family of bioinspired iron and manganese complexes of general formula [MII(CF3SO3)2(Me,XPyTACN)], where Me,XPyTACN = 1-[2’-(6-X-pyridyl)methyl]-4,7-dimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane, and M = Fe, and Mn has been studied as efficient catalytic systems for hydrogen peroxide oxidation reactions. Previous work revealed that the manganese derivative [MnII(CF3SO3)2(Me,HPyTACN)], 1, in acetonitrile exhibits a high catalytic activity in the epoxidation of a wide range of olefins (TON: 810-4500), using acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide as primary oxidant. The analogous iron based complex [FeII(CF3SO3)2(Me,HPyTACN)], 2a and [FeII(CF3SO3)2(Me,MePyTACN)], 2b promote the high added value oxidation reaction of alkanes in mild conditions. In this work sustainability and selectivity of the oxidative system is improved with the use of the ionic liquids (ILs) as reaction medium. The possibility to recycle the catalytic phase without loss of the activity with respect to the original reaction in acetonitrile (MeCN) is reported