A comment to the papers by Opthof and Leydesdorff,Scientometrics, 88, 1011–1016, 2011 and Waltman et al., Scientometrics, 88, 1017–1022, 2011

In this comment, we re-evaluate an example using a “thermodynamic” paradigm to show how bibliometrics can incorporate normalization into the evaluative process. The motivation for this is the recent exchange in the pages of this journal from two groups that have taken different positions on how normalization should be done.     

Citations to the “Introduction to informetrics” indexed by WOS,Scopus and Google Scholar

Google Scholar and Scopus are recent rivals to Web of Science. In this paper we examined these three citation databases through the citations of the book “Introduction to informetrics” by Leo Egghe and Ronald Rousseau. Scopus citations are comparable to Web of Science citations when limiting the citation period to 1996 and onwards (the citation coverage of Scopus)—each database covered about 90% of the citations located by the other. Google Scholar missed about 30% of the citations covered by Scopus and Web of Science (90 citations), but another 108 citations located by Google Scholar were not covered either by Scopus or by Web of Science. Google Scholar performed considerably better than reported in previous studies, however Google Scholar is not very “user-friendly” as a bibliometric data collection tool at this point in time. Such “microscopic” analysis of the citing documents retrieved by each of the citation databases allows us a deeper understanding of the similarities and the differences between the databases.     

A reply to Etzkowitz’ comments to Leydesdorff and Martin (2010): technology transfer and the end of the Bayh–Dole effect

Three periods can be distinguished in university patenting at the U.S. Patent and Trade Office (USPTO) since the Bayh–Dole Act of 1980: (1) a first period of exponential increase in university patenting till 1995 (filing date) or 1999 (issuing date); (2) a period of relative decline since 1999; and (3) in most recent years—since 2008—a linear increase in university patenting. We argue that this last period is driven by specific non-US universities (e.g., Tokyo University and Chinese University) patenting increasingly in the USA as the most competitive market for high-tech patents.     

Response to the discussion by I.V. Rokach of the paper entitled: “Analysis of the dynamic responses for a pre-cracked three-point bend specimen”

The following response to the discussion of the above mentioned paper is divided into two parts: (1) a response to the issue of our comparison of the apparent period of specimen oscillation, , and the natural vibration period of a cracked specimen, T, and (2) a verification of the applicability of our model to short time-to-fracture tests, which Rokach has questioned, due to a lack of knowledge of Hopkinson bar techniques.     

On the influence of nanoparticles as addition to the A356 aluminum-alloy: Is it acting as a refining or strengthening mechanism?

The effect induced by adding nanoparticles to cast hypo-eutectic aluminum 7 % silicon alloys (A356) is continually reported to show enhanced mechanical properties. The experimental results show a strengthening effect associated with an increase in ductility and/or toughness, induced by adding nanoparticles. The aim of this work is to add a contribution towards understanding the strengthening effect observed in the nanoparticles-reinforced A356 alloy. This is done by calculating the conventional incremental summation of several strengthening mechanisms contributing to strengthening and reinforcement in composites. The results obtained by applying the mathematical calculations are compared with the experimental results reported in literature. Based on the mathematical approach, this work shows that the main strengthening mechanisms acting for metal matrix nano composites (MMNCs) are those contributing to the strengthening of the matrix. These result from contributions by Orowan strengthening and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and elastic modulus (EM) mismatch.     

Territorial innovation models: to be or not to be,that’s the question

Scientometrics - In a recent paper, Hirsch (hα: an index to quantify an individual’s scientific leadership, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-018-2994-1 )  proposes to...     

Assessing obliteration by incorporation in a full-text database: JSTOR,Economics, and the concept of “bounded rationality”

To evaluate the usefulness of a full-text database as a source for assessing obliteration by incorporation (OBI), 3,707 article records including the catchphrases “bounded rationality” and/or “boundedly rational” (connected with the work of H. A. Simon) in the article text were retrieved from JSTOR, a full-text database with broad disciplinary coverage. Two subsets were analyzed—a 10 % systematic sample of all records and a set of all articles in Economics journals (with the addition of the Journal of Economic Theory). A majority of articles in the 10 % sample came from Economics and Management journals, while Psychology was poorly represented. In the 10 % sample, based on the percentage of true implicit citations between 1992 and 2009 in the 80 % of records that had a catchphrase in the body of the article, rather than just in the reference list, annual OBI ranged from 0 to 70 % (mean 33 %) with no discernible trend. The Economics articles showed a narrower range of OBI—fluctuating around 40 % implicit citations over the same time period. In both data sets, a large proportion of indirect citations were to sources that themselves cited a relevant work by Simon. Over 90 % of the articles in both the 10 % sample and the economics journal set would not have been retrieved with a database record search because they lacked the catchphrase in the record fields.     

Correction to: Response to the comments of Turki et al. on “The journals that publish Nobel Prize research”

Scientometrics - This is a correction to the letter “Response to the comments of Turki et al. on “The journals that publish Nobel Prize research”” [1], which failed to...     

Whether or Not to Utilize the Proposals in the “Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement?”

An analysis is given of the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (henceforth referred to as the Guide) and of the report EURACHEM: Quantifying Uncertainty in Analytical Measurements, Version 6 which is based on the Guide. Particular attention is devoted to considering the basic proposals of the Guide according to which the idea of error is abandoned and the new idea of uncertainty is introduced in its place. The contradictory nature of a whole range of its provisions is considered. In a number of examples taken from the Guide it is shown that its concept is inapplicable to the system of providing for the unity of measurements which relies on the centralized reproduction of the units of physical quantities and the transfer of their quantitative determination. Spheres of application of this conception following its revision are proposed.     

The connection between the hassles–burnout relationship,as moderated by coping,and aberrant behaviors and health problems among bus drivers

Driving a bus is a stressful job, and may result in aberrant behaviors or health problems. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of bus driver burnout on aberrant behaviors and health problems, as well as the role of self-criticism and confrontive and reappraisal coping as moderator variables in the hassle–burnout relationship. A self-administered questionnaire was designed to collect empirical data from bus drivers working at a Taiwanese motor transport company. The results confirm that burnout has a significantly positive relationship with both health problems and aberrant driving behaviors. In addition, although self-criticism positively moderates the relationship between job hassles and burnout, confrontive and reappraisal coping negatively moderate it.