Scientometric study of global mucormycosis (black fungus) research

376-388Mucormycosis, a rare infection, caught the attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many COVID-19 and postCOVID-19 patients were infected by the black fungus. This study presents a scientometric review of 6661 research articles related to mucormycosis published from 1947 to 2021 indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. The study analyses the publications quantitatively in terms of growth, collaboration, countries, institutions, journals, keywords, and impact (citation) using the Bib-Excel and visualized in the VOSviewer tool. The highest number of publications on mucormycosis research is from the USA, followed by India, China, Germany, France, and Japan. Most of the research collaborations are among institutions in Europe and the USA. The University of Texas-USA is the most productive institute followed by PGIMER-India. However, the papers from Indian institutes have a significantly lower citation impact than those from the other leading countries. Since most international research is restricted among a few institutes, the international collaboration in mucormycosis research needs to be enhanced for high-quality research. The analysis of author-assigned keywords showed that the studies on the drug isavuconazole to treat mucormycosis are lesser than other major drugs. The research on surgical management of mucormycosis can be improved. Research on the diagnosis methods for mucormycosis and the genetic studies on the causative fungi of the order Mucorales are to be promoted. There are a few studies on Rhizomucor, Lichtheimia, Cunninghamella, Saksenaea, and Apophysomyces, among the several fungi genera that cause mucormycosis. Since mucormycosis is becoming more prevalent and severely affecting a larger population as a post-COVID syndrome, research in this area should be strengthened and new drugs should be explored

Thymic epithelial tumours - research trends

The global research trends and potential gaps in global research on thymic epithelial tumours (TETs) were scientometrically identified based on the data retrieved from Web of Science (WoS). The analysis indicates that the global research on TETs is presenting a positive growth trend. The transformative activity index (TAI) value depicts that three Asian countries, China, South Korea, and India, recorded the highest increase in TAI during the last decade, while the maximum decline in TAI was for Norway, Taiwan and Netherlands. The University of Texas has published most papers on TETs, and Heidelberg University had the highest collaboration. There is not enough research ongoing on some paraneoplastic disorders associated with TETs like cerebellar degeneration, erythrocytosis, pancytopenia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, interstitial pneumonitis, chronic mucosal candidiasis, T-cell deficiency syndromes, ulcerative colitis, and hypertrophic osteoarthropathy. Most of the TET treatment studies were on surgery and chemotherapy. Research on other treatment modalities like immunotherapy and targeted therapy also needs improvement

Scientometric study of global mucormycosis (black fungus) research

Mucormycosis, a rare infection, caught the attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many COVID-19 and post- COVID-19 patients were infected by the black fungus. This study presents a scientometric review of 6661 research articles related to mucormycosis published from 1947 to 2021 indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. The study analyses the publications quantitatively in terms of growth, collaboration, countries, institutions, journals, keywords, and impact (citation) using the Bib-Excel and visualized in the VOSviewer tool. The highest number of publications on mucormycosis research is from the USA, followed by India, China, Germany, France, and Japan. Most of the research collaborations are among institutions in Europe and the USA. The University of Texas-USA is the most productive institute followed by PGIMER-India. However, the papers from Indian institutes have a significantly lower citation impact than those from the other leading countries. Since most international research is restricted among a few institutes, the international collaboration in mucormycosis research needs to be enhanced for high-quality research. The analysis of author-assigned keywords showed that the studies on the drug isavuconazole to treat mucormycosis are lesser than other major drugs. The research on surgical management of mucormycosis can be improved. Research on the diagnosis methods for mucormycosis and the genetic studies on the causative fungi of the order Mucorales are to be promoted. There are a few studies on Rhizomucor, Lichtheimia, Cunninghamella, Saksenaea, and Apophysomyces, among the several fungi genera that cause mucormycosis. Since mucormycosis is becoming more prevalent and severely affecting a larger population as a post-COVID syndrome, research in this area should be strengthened and new drugs should be explored

E = Pi² - the energy of ideas approach to bibliometric research assessment

282-286The performance index (p-index) is a composite indicator which can effectively combine size and quality of scientific papers. It is able to complement the h-index and give it better resolving power and at the same time is free of the many limitations that the h-index has. The curious structure of the p-index allows it to be interpreted using an energy argument and here, borrowing from electrical analogy, the power/energy basis for bibliometric research assessment is proposed. The proxy for the energy of ideas turns out to be E = Pi2 where P is measured in the unit in which ideas are conveyed (here, the number of papers) and i is a measure of the rate at which ideas are transmitted as citations (here, a proxy for quality). The energy assessment technique is demonstrated by applying it to the research assessment of the laboratories belonging to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

Strengthening R&D information systems through library consortium: A case of CSIR laboratories

45-51Examines the changing face of libraries particularly with regard to the journal subscription from print to electronic form through formation of consortia. The benefits accrued to the library and information system of CSIR laboratories owing to formation of a consortium to access e-resources is discussed. Concludes that the CSIR laboratories library and information systems have been strengthened following the widening of the journals base after the formation of the consortium

Mycobacterial tuberculosis and leprosy in India: a scientometric Study

Based on Web of Science data for the period 1987 to 2012, the paper analyses the research carried on mycobacterial tuberculosis and leprosy in India. It is seen that India contributes eight percent to the global research output occupying the third position in terms of quantity of research output and ranks 12th when considering the quality and quantity together. Apart from collaboration pattern, the paper also identifies the major institutions, prolific authors and preferred journals. Three-dimensional performance indicator combining quantity, quality and consistency have been used to rank the productivity of Indian institutions and authors in the field of mycobacterial tuberculosis and leprosy research. From the study it can be concluded that India needs to concentrate more on Mycobacterium research because the cases of tuberculosis and leprosy including multi-drug resistant (MDR) and extensively drug resistant (XDR) strains are emerging each year, and there is a necessity to develop effective controlling programmes for eradicating leprosy

Optical character recognition: A Boon or Bane

121-126<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";="" mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="" lang="EN-US">Optical Character Recognition (OCR) has assumed new importance as a tool for converting paper based information into electronic form. The results of various experiments conducted on a number of available OCR software’s for testing their recognition power in different conditions are presented.</span

Trends in IT Patents filed from India: An Analysis

149-152The paper analyses trends in patents filed/owned from India in the area of information technology (IT). The Delphion Database was searched for finding the patents filed/owned in IT where assignee address contains string “India”. This also includes patents filed by foreign companies operating through their centres in India. These patents were then analysed on the basis of nature of the inventive activities and assignee category. It was found that foreign private companies were leading in the patenting activities. Among government institutes and public sector industry CSIR emerged as leading patent owner/filer