1,720,956 research outputs found
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Get PDFThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Livscykelanalys av en klinisk studie i fas I
No full textThe pharmaceutical industry has a considerable environmental impact, and clinical trials contribute significantly to this. This thesis explores the environmental impact of clinical trials within the pharmaceutical sector, using an early-phase trial as a case study. Previous research has predominantly examined later-phase trials and limited their scope to greenhouse gas emissions. This has left a gap both in the understanding of early-phase trials’ impact on the environment, and a gap in understanding of the broad array of potential environmental impacts other than greenhouse gas emissions. This thesis conducts a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment on a phase I clinical trial sponsored by AstraZeneca. The trial evaluated a fixed-dose combination (FDC) of dapagliflozin and sitagliptin. The trial, conducted by global clinical research organization (CRO) Parexel at its Early Phase Clinical Unit (EPCU) in Berlin, involved 45 healthy volunteers. The results indicate that utilities, travel and material usage are the primary contributors to the environmental impact from this clinical trial. The significant contribution from materials contrasts sharply with earlier studies, which reported minimal impact from material usage. Significant contribution to impacts by utilities and travel corresponds to previous research, which has similar findings. The study emphasizes the need for the pharmaceutical industry to continually incorporate sustainable practices in clinical trial design. Recommendations include conducting trials in urban areas with robust public transportation, adopting decentralised clinical trial (DCT) models, and integrating eco-design principles to reduce material usage. The thesis also suggests the development of standardized frameworks to categorize and measure the environmental impacts of clinical trials, enabling comparison and identification of best practices. In conclusion, this research underscores the significant environmental impacts of clinical trials and the urgent need for furthering the sustainable practices of the pharmaceutical industry. By broadening the scope of environmental impact categories under study and incorporating principles that consider solutions from planning to execution, the industry can significantly reduce its environmental footprint, and contribute further to global sustainability goals. Future research and industry leaders should continue to refine their approach to sustainability, ensuring that clinical trials advance medical science while protecting the environment. Läkemedelsindustrin har ett avsevärd miljöavtryck och kliniska studier utgör en betydande del av denna påverkan. Denna avhandling undersöker de miljömässiga konsekvenserna av en klinisk studie inom läkemedelssektorn. Tidigare forskning har huvudsakligen undersökt senare faser av kliniska prövningar och begränsat sitt omfång till växthusgasutsläpp. Det har lämnat en kunskapslucka både gällande miljöpåverkan från kliniska studier i tidiga faser, samt andra typer av miljöeffekter av kliniska prövningar. Denna studie genomför en livscykelanalys (LCA) på en fas I klinisk prövning sponsorad av AstraZeneca. Fas 1 prövningen utvärderar ett kombinatoinspreparat av dapagliflozin och sitagliptin. Prövningen genomfördes av den kliniska forskningsorganisation Parexel vid deras kliniska enhet i Berlin, deltog gjorde 45 friska frivilliga. Resultaten visar att energianvänding vid kliniska enheten, resor och provtagningsmaterial är de främsta bidragande faktorerna till den kliniska prövningens miljöpåverkan. Den betydande påverkan från material står i skarp kontrast till tidigare studier, som rapporterade minimal påverkan från motsvarande material. Den betydande påverkan från energianvändning och resor är däremot i linje med tidigare forskning. Studien betonar behovet av läkemedelsindustrins kontinuerliga integration av hållbara metoder i utformningen av kliniska prövningar. Rekommendationerna inkluderar att genomföra kliniska studier i urbana områden med robust kollektivtrafik, anta decentraliserade kliniska prövningsmodeller, och att integrera ekodesignprinciper för att minska materialanvändningen. Avhandlingen föreslår också utvecklingen av standardiserade ramar för att kategorisera och mäta de miljömässiga konsekvenserna av kliniska prövningar, vilket möjliggör konsekvent jämförelse och identifiering av bästa praxis. Sammanfattningsvis understryker denna forskning de betydande miljömässiga konsekvenserna av kliniska prövningar och behovet av fortsatt utveckling av hållbara metoder inom läkemedelsindustrin. Genom att bredda omfånget av miljöpåverkansbedömningar och beakta lösningar som kan appliceras vid planering och utförande av kliniska studier kan industrin avsevärt minska sin miljöpåverkan och därmed forstätta bidra till globala hållbarhetsmål. Framtida forskning bör fortsätta att förfina dessa metoder för att säkerställa att kliniska prövningar främjar medicinsk vetenskap samtidigt som de skyddar miljön
Variations on the Author
Get PDF“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Get PDFWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Livscykelanalys av en klinisk studie i fas I
No full textThe pharmaceutical industry has a considerable environmental impact, and clinical trials contribute significantly to this. This thesis explores the environmental impact of clinical trials within the pharmaceutical sector, using an early-phase trial as a case study. Previous research has predominantly examined later-phase trials and limited their scope to greenhouse gas emissions. This has left a gap both in the understanding of early-phase trials’ impact on the environment, and a gap in understanding of the broad array of potential environmental impacts other than greenhouse gas emissions. This thesis conducts a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment on a phase I clinical trial sponsored by AstraZeneca. The trial evaluated a fixed-dose combination (FDC) of dapagliflozin and sitagliptin. The trial, conducted by global clinical research organization (CRO) Parexel at its Early Phase Clinical Unit (EPCU) in Berlin, involved 45 healthy volunteers. The results indicate that utilities, travel and material usage are the primary contributors to the environmental impact from this clinical trial. The significant contribution from materials contrasts sharply with earlier studies, which reported minimal impact from material usage. Significant contribution to impacts by utilities and travel corresponds to previous research, which has similar findings. The study emphasizes the need for the pharmaceutical industry to continually incorporate sustainable practices in clinical trial design. Recommendations include conducting trials in urban areas with robust public transportation, adopting decentralised clinical trial (DCT) models, and integrating eco-design principles to reduce material usage. The thesis also suggests the development of standardized frameworks to categorize and measure the environmental impacts of clinical trials, enabling comparison and identification of best practices. In conclusion, this research underscores the significant environmental impacts of clinical trials and the urgent need for furthering the sustainable practices of the pharmaceutical industry. By broadening the scope of environmental impact categories under study and incorporating principles that consider solutions from planning to execution, the industry can significantly reduce its environmental footprint, and contribute further to global sustainability goals. Future research and industry leaders should continue to refine their approach to sustainability, ensuring that clinical trials advance medical science while protecting the environment. Läkemedelsindustrin har ett avsevärd miljöavtryck och kliniska studier utgör en betydande del av denna påverkan. Denna avhandling undersöker de miljömässiga konsekvenserna av en klinisk studie inom läkemedelssektorn. Tidigare forskning har huvudsakligen undersökt senare faser av kliniska prövningar och begränsat sitt omfång till växthusgasutsläpp. Det har lämnat en kunskapslucka både gällande miljöpåverkan från kliniska studier i tidiga faser, samt andra typer av miljöeffekter av kliniska prövningar. Denna studie genomför en livscykelanalys (LCA) på en fas I klinisk prövning sponsorad av AstraZeneca. Fas 1 prövningen utvärderar ett kombinatoinspreparat av dapagliflozin och sitagliptin. Prövningen genomfördes av den kliniska forskningsorganisation Parexel vid deras kliniska enhet i Berlin, deltog gjorde 45 friska frivilliga. Resultaten visar att energianvänding vid kliniska enheten, resor och provtagningsmaterial är de främsta bidragande faktorerna till den kliniska prövningens miljöpåverkan. Den betydande påverkan från material står i skarp kontrast till tidigare studier, som rapporterade minimal påverkan från motsvarande material. Den betydande påverkan från energianvändning och resor är däremot i linje med tidigare forskning. Studien betonar behovet av läkemedelsindustrins kontinuerliga integration av hållbara metoder i utformningen av kliniska prövningar. Rekommendationerna inkluderar att genomföra kliniska studier i urbana områden med robust kollektivtrafik, anta decentraliserade kliniska prövningsmodeller, och att integrera ekodesignprinciper för att minska materialanvändningen. Avhandlingen föreslår också utvecklingen av standardiserade ramar för att kategorisera och mäta de miljömässiga konsekvenserna av kliniska prövningar, vilket möjliggör konsekvent jämförelse och identifiering av bästa praxis. Sammanfattningsvis understryker denna forskning de betydande miljömässiga konsekvenserna av kliniska prövningar och behovet av fortsatt utveckling av hållbara metoder inom läkemedelsindustrin. Genom att bredda omfånget av miljöpåverkansbedömningar och beakta lösningar som kan appliceras vid planering och utförande av kliniska studier kan industrin avsevärt minska sin miljöpåverkan och därmed forstätta bidra till globala hållbarhetsmål. Framtida forskning bör fortsätta att förfina dessa metoder för att säkerställa att kliniska prövningar främjar medicinsk vetenskap samtidigt som de skyddar miljön
The right tax in the right place? : A study of barriers and drivers for the implementation of the Swedish tax on plastic carrier bags
No full textSkatten på engångsplastbärkassar som implementerades i Sverige år 2020 möttes med ideologiskt motstånd. Den forskning som gör gällande skatt på plastbärkassar finns främst i internationell kontext och är fokuserad på konsumenters beteenden och reaktioner. Denna studie gör gällande hur berörda verksamheter och organisationer resonerar kring skattens införande, samt dess resultat. Studien syftar också till att identifiera hinder och drivkrafter för implementeringen. För att undersöka förhållandet användes en explorativ ansats där intervjuer med en variation av berörda verksamheter utgjorde materialet för studien. Resultaten visar på att implementeringen mötts av missnöje av hälften av deltagarna på grund av skattens singulära syfte, samtidigt som den andra hälften anser att tillämpningsområdet var tillfredsställande. De hinder som identifierades var svårigheter att definiera engångs-, respektive flergångskassar, samt bristen på synkronisering eller kombination med andra styrmedel. De drivkrafter som identifierades relaterade till organiseringen och kommunikationen mellan de berörda verksamheterna, till trots förbättringsmöjligheter för dessa aspekter. En av slutsatserna är att styrmedel som detta bör nyttja både ett teknocentriskt perspektiv om plastbärkassens miljö-, och klimatpåverkan, samt ett socioekonomiskt perspektiv utgående från berörda verksamheter och organisationers behov. The Swedish tax on plastic carrier bags that was implemented in 2020 was initially met with dissatisfaction from the public and stakeholders. Current research investigating the tax on plastic carrier bags was done in other countries and is focused on the reactions and behaviours of consumers. Thus, this study investigates stakeholders’ reasoning around the implementation of the tax as well as its results. Another aim is to identify obstacles and driving forces for the implementation. To do so, an explorative approach in combination with interviews of stakeholders were used. The results show that implementation was met with dissatisfaction by half of the participants in the study, owing to the singular aim of the tax. The other half of participants viewed the tax purpose as satisfactory. The obstacles that were identified was difficulties in distinguishing single-use from multi-use plastic carrier bags, as well as the lack of synchronization or combination with other measures. The driving forces that were identified related to the organization and communication between stakeholder, despite opportunities for improvement. One of the conclusions of the study was that policy measures like this tax should use a technocentric perspective on the environmental impact of the plastic carrier bag, in combination with a socioeconomic perspective on the needs of stakeholders.
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Get PDFWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
koamabayili/VECTRON-author-checklist: VECTRON author checklist
No full textWe have done our best to complete the author checklist relating to the use of animals in the hut study. Note that the objective for the hut study was to evaluate the IRS treatment applications for residual efficacy against Anopheles mosquitoes, including the local An. coluzzii mosquito population. Cows were only used to attract mosquitoes into the huts and no tests were carried out directly on the cows. The author checklist is intended for use with studies where experiments are carried out on animals, which is why we have had such difficulty in completing this for the hut study, as many of the questions do not relate to how the cows were used
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