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Trends in research foci in life science fields over the last 30 years monitored by emerging topics

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  • Ryosuke L. Ohniwa

    (University of Tsukuba)

  • Aiko Hibino

    (University of Tokyo)

  • Kunio Takeyasu

    (Kyoto University)

Abstract

We report here a simple method to identify the ‘emerging topics’ in life sciences. First, the keywords selected from MeSH terms on PubMed by filtering the terms based on their increment rate of the appearance, and, then, were sorted into groups dealing with the same topics by ‘co-word’ analysis. These topics were defined as ‘emerging topics’. The survey of the emerging keywords with high increment rates of appearance between 1972 to 2006 showed that emerging topics changed dramatically year by year, and that the major shift of the topics occurred in the late 90s; the topics that cover technical and conceptual aspects in molecular biology to the more systematic ‘-omics’-related and nanoscience-related aspects. We further investigated trends in emerging topics within various sub-fields in the life sciences.

Suggested Citation

  • Ryosuke L. Ohniwa & Aiko Hibino & Kunio Takeyasu, 2010. "Trends in research foci in life science fields over the last 30 years monitored by emerging topics," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 85(1), pages 111-127, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:85:y:2010:i:1:d:10.1007_s11192-010-0252-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-010-0252-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Lu, Kun & Yang, Guancan & Wang, Xue, 2022. "Topics emerged in the biomedical field and their characteristics," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    3. Leonidas Akritidis & Dimitrios Katsaros & Panayiotis Bozanis, 2012. "Identifying attractive research fields for new scientists," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 91(3), pages 869-894, June.
    4. Chaker Jebari & Enrique Herrera-Viedma & Manuel Jesus Cobo, 2021. "The use of citation context to detect the evolution of research topics: a large-scale analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(4), pages 2971-2989, April.
    5. Bornmann, Lutz & Haunschild, Robin, 2022. "Empirical analysis of recent temporal dynamics of research fields: Annual publications in chemistry and related areas as an example," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 16(2).
    6. Daniele Rotolo & Loet Leydesdorff, 2014. "Matching MEDLINE/PubMed Data with Web of Science (WOS): A Routine in R language," SPRU Working Paper Series 2014-14, SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex Business School.
    7. Xu, Shuo & Hao, Liyuan & An, Xin & Yang, Guancan & Wang, Feifei, 2019. "Emerging research topics detection with multiple machine learning models," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 13(4).
    8. Sungchul Choi & Janghyeok Yoon & Kwangsoo Kim & Jae Yeol Lee & Cheol-Han Kim, 2011. "SAO network analysis of patents for technology trends identification: a case study of polymer electrolyte membrane technology in proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 88(3), pages 863-883, September.
    9. Rotolo, Daniele & Hicks, Diana & Martin, Ben R., 2015. "What is an emerging technology?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(10), pages 1827-1843.
    10. Small, Henry & Boyack, Kevin W. & Klavans, Richard, 2014. "Identifying emerging topics in science and technology," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(8), pages 1450-1467.
    11. Zhang, Yi & Wu, Mengjia & Miao, Wen & Huang, Lu & Lu, Jie, 2021. "Bi-layer network analytics: A methodology for characterizing emerging general-purpose technologies," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 15(4).
    12. Shuo Xu & Liyuan Hao & Xin An & Hongshen Pang & Ting Li, 2020. "Review on emerging research topics with key-route main path analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 122(1), pages 607-624, January.
    13. Ryosuke L. Ohniwa & Kunio Takeyasu & Aiko Hibino, 2022. "Researcher dynamics in the generation of emerging topics in life sciences and medicine," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(2), pages 871-884, February.
    14. Kwon, Seokbeom & Liu, Xiaoyu & Porter, Alan L. & Youtie, Jan, 2019. "Research addressing emerging technological ideas has greater scientific impact," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(9), pages 1-1.

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