“Sparking”and“Igniting”Key Publications of 2020 Nobel Prize Laureates

Purpose:This article aims to determine the percentage of"Sparking"articles among the work of this year’s Nobel Prize winners in medicine,physics,and chemistry.Design/methodology/approach:We focus on under-cited influential research among the key publications as mentioned by the Nobel Prize Committee for the 2020 Noble Prize laureates.Specifically,we extracted data from the Web of Science,and calculated the Sparking Indices using the formulas as proposed by Hu and Rousseau in 2016 and 2017.In addition,we identified another type of igniting articles based on the notion in 2017.Findings:In the fields of medicine and physics,the proportions of articles with sparking characteristics share 78.571%and 68.75%respectively,yet,in chemistry 90%articles characterized by"igniting".Moreover,the two types of articles share more than 93%in the work of the Nobel Prize included in this study.Research limitations:Our research did not cover the impact of topic,socio-political,and author’s reputation on the Sparking Indices.Practical implications:Our study shows that the Sparking Indices truly reflect influence of the best research work,so it can be used to detect under-cited influential articles,as well as identifying fundamental work.Originality/value:Our findings suggest that the Sparking Indices have good applicability for research evaluation.

An inspiration to the studies on mechanisms of acupuncture and moxibustion action derived from 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

The editorial board of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine recently convened an academic seminar with a focus on studies regarding the mechanisms mediating acupuncture efficacy and moxibustion action inspired by the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.Specifically,Professor Bailong Xiao introduced the Nobel Prize for research on the mechanically activated Piezo ion channel,evaluating the structure of the Piezo channel and its physiological and pathological functions,and proposed a possible role for the Piezo channel in acupuncture mechanical stimulation.Professor Michael Xi Zhu introduced the discovery of the transient receptor potential(TRP)family,reporting that the therapeutic effects of Chinese medicine and acupuncture may be achieved via the TRP family,and that information regarding associations between the meridian and lymphatic systems may have important research and medical value.In addition,Professor Tianle Xu reviewed the history of ion channel research,particularly the physiological and pharmacological effects of non-classical ion channels(eg,the acid sensing ion channel family)and pointed out that the characterization and neural circuits of acupuncture deqi manipulation are important for elucidating the mechanisms of acupuncture actions.Professor Yongming Li similarly proposed that the 2021 Nobel Prize may open the door to disclosing the histological basis of acupuncture and moxibustion and analyzing the main scientific concerns regarding the clinical translation of acupuncture and moxibustion from basic to translational research.Finally,Professor Yi Guo summarized the study progress of the acupoint microenvironment induced by acupuncture over the course of nearly 30 years and put forward the hypothesis that acupuncture may initiate the physical-chemical coupling network by activating ion channel receptors in acupoints via physical and mechanical stimulation.Therefore,we conclude that a primary achievement of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is in helping interpret how acupuncture and moxibustion adjust homeostasis(ie,by activating mechanical and thermal sensation),which is conducive to validating and promoting the clinical efficacy of acupuncture modalities.

A Review of Toni Morrison’s Nobel Prize Speech

Beginning with an old story, Toni Morrison uses her unique method to tell us the functions of language and her perspectives of language and literature. From this story, we can understand her writing standpoint and her determination of making contributions to her nation and people. This paper tries to review her speech given in the Nobel Prize in Literature from four aspects. They are the introduction and comprehension of the story, narrative point of view, discourse and power and feminist criticism.

Address upon Receiving the Nobel Prize for Literature STOCKHOLM,DECEMBER 10,1950

I feel that this award was not made to me as a man,but to mywork—a life s work in the agony and sweat of the human spirit,not for glory and least of all for profit,but to create out of thematerials of the human spirit something which did not exist before,sothis award is only mine in trust.It will not be difficult to fred a dedi-cation for the money part of it commensurate with the purpose andsignificance of its origin.But I would like to do the same with the ac-claim too,by using this moment as a ...

Research funding and citations in papers of Nobel Laureates in Physics, Chemistry and Medicine, 2019-2020

Purpose:The goal of this study is a comparative analysis of the relation between funding(a main driver for scientific research)and citations in papers of Nobel Laureates in physics,chemistry and medicine over 2019-2020 and the same relation in these research fields as a whole.Design/methodology/approach:This study utilizes a power law model to explore the relationship between research funding and citations of related papers.The study here analyzes 3,539 recorded documents by Nobel Laureates in physics,chemistry and medicine and a broader dataset of 183,016 documents related to the fields of physics,medicine,and chemistry recorded in the Web of Science database.Findings:Results reveal that in chemistry and medicine,funded researches published in papers of Nobel Laureates have higher citations than unfunded studies published in articles;vice versa high citations of Nobel Laureates in physics are for unfunded studies published in papers.Instead,when overall data of publications and citations in physics,chemistry and medicine are analyzed,all papers based on funded researches show higher citations than unfunded ones.Originality/value:Results clarify the driving role of research funding for science diffusion that are systematized in general properties:a)articles concerning funded researches receive more citations than(un)funded studies published in papers of physics,chemistry and medicine sciences,generating a high Matthew effect(a higher growth of citations with the increase in the number of papers);b)research funding increases the citations of articles in fields oriented to applied research(e.g.,chemistry and medicine)more than fields oriented towards basic research(e.g.,physics).Practical implications:The results here explain some characteristics of scientific development and diffusion,highlighting the critical role of research funding in fostering citations and the expansion of scientific knowledge.This finding can support decision-making of policymakers and R&D managers to improve the effectiveness in allocating financial resources in science policies to generate a higher positive scientific and societal impact.

Nobel prize for the artemisinin and ivermectin discoveries: a great boost towards elimination of the global infectious diseases of poverty

The Millennium Development Goals(MDGs)made a marked transformation for neglected and vulnerable communities in the developing countries from the start,but infectious diseases of poverty(IDoPs)continue to inflict a disproportionate global public health burden with associated consequences,thereby contributing to the vicious cycle of poverty and inequity.However,the effectiveness and large-scale coverage of artemisinin combination therapy(ACT)have revolutionized malaria treatment just as the control of lymphatic filariasis(LF)and onchocerciasis have benefitted from harnessing the broad-spectrum effect of avermectin-based derivatives.The paradigm shift in therapeutic approach,effected by these two drugs and their impact on community-based interventions of parasitic diseases plaguing the endemic low-and middle-income countries(LIMCs),led to the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2015.However,the story would not be complete without mentioning praziquantel.The huge contribution of this drug in modernizing the control of schistosomiasis and also some intestinal helminth infections had already shifted the focus from control to potential elimination of this disease.Together,these new drugs have provided humankind with powerful new tools for the alleviation of infectious diseases that humans have lived with since time immemorial.These drugs all have broad-spectrum effects,yet they are very safe and can even be packaged together in various combinations.The strong effect on so many of the great infectious scourges in the developing countries has not only had a remarkable influence on many endemic diseases,but also contributed to improving the cost structure of healthcare.Significant benefits include improved quality of preventive and curative medicine,promotion of community-based interventions,universal health coverage and the fostering of global partnerships.The laudable progress and benefits achieved are indispensable in championing,strengthening and moving forward elimination of the IDoPs.However,there is an urgent need for further innovative,contextual and integrated approaches along with the advent of the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs),replacing the MDGs in ensuring global health security,well-being and economic prosperity for all.

The Nobel Prize: an appetizer before the feast

Autophagy,which means‘‘self-eating’’,is a process in which a portion of the cytosol is enclosed in a double-membrane autophagosome and delivered to the hydrolytic vacuole/lysosome for recycling(Fig.1).Bulk degradation by autophagy provides energy and materials for cell survival under various stress conditions such as starvation and energy deprivation.Autophagy also has a scavenging function

Nobel Prize for Artemisinin Inspires Modern TCM Research

Half of the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Chinese scientist Youyou Tu in recognition of her pioneering work on the antimalarial artemisinin,extracted from Artemisia annua,a traditional Chinese herbal remedy used to treat fever.This is clearly a great encouragement for scientists who engage traditional medicine research.As Youyou Tu stated in her Nobel Prize awarding lecture,artemisinin is a gift from traditional Chinese

Nobel Prize Winner Craig Mello Delivers Speech at Tsinghua University

Dr. Craig Mello, the Nobel Prize Winner of 2006 in Physiology or Medicine, delivered a speech entitled Return to The RNA World： Rethinking Gene Expression, Evolution, and Medicine at Tsinghua on March 26, 2007.

A Reflection on the 2017 Nobel Prize for Physiology and Chinese Medicine

Research on the molecular mechanisms controlling circadian rhythm in Western medicine is comparable to the study of a day-night rhythm in Chinese medicine(CM),as also focus on the same life phenomenon.By comparing the two,this paper elaborates on the differences between them in their respective issues of consciousness,ways of thinking,research methods and research results.Relatively speaking,Nobel Prize research has a stronger sense of the problems and concerns about the essence of“what”,while CM focuses on“how a thing functions”.The former mainly adopts experimental and mathematical methods,while the latter primarily depends on observation and understanding.The natural philosophy and natural science eventually lead to the results and the inevitable,quantitative and qualitative differences.Research on the life rhythm in CM should be proposed,scientific problems should be fully grasped,and research should be carried out with the aid of multidisciplinary new knowledge and new achievements through cross-disciplinary studies.On the basis of clinical epidemiological research and experimental research,a systematic review should be made of the human physiology of CM and the pathological rhythm model to explore the regulatory mechanism of time rhythm and create a new theory of time medicine.

China's TU You-you Wins Nobel Prize in Medicine

Chinese scientist TU You-you on October 5, 2015 won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine amongst a trio for discovering parasite therapies. She and the other two scientists, William Campbell and Satoshi Omura, found ＂therapies that have revolutionized the treatment of some of the most devastating parasitic diseases＂. 85-year-old Tu is awarded this world-renowned prize for developing artemisinin, a drug therapy for malaria that has saved millions of lives across the globe, especially in the developing world.

Practical operation and theoretical basis of difference-in-difference regression in science of science:The comparative trial on the scientific performance of Nobel laureates versus their coauthors

Purpose:In recent decades,with the availability of large-scale scientific corpus datasets,difference-in-difference(DID)is increasingly used in the science of science and bibliometrics studies.DID method outputs the unbiased estimation on condition that several hypotheses hold,especially the common trend assumption.In this paper,we gave a systematic demonstration of DID in the science of science,and the potential ways to improve the accuracy of DID method.Design/methodology/approach:At first,we reviewed the statistical assumptions,the model specification,and the application procedures of DID method.Second,to improve the necessary assumptions before conducting DID regression and the accuracy of estimation,we introduced some matching techniques serving as the pre-selecting step for DID design by matching control individuals who are equivalent to those treated ones on observational variables before the intervention.Lastly,we performed a case study to estimate the effects of prizewinning on the scientific performance of Nobel laureates,by comparing the yearly citation impact after the prizewinning year between Nobel laureates and their prizewinning-work coauthors.Findings:We introduced the procedures to conduct a DID estimation and demonstrated the effectiveness to use matching method to improve the results.As a case study,we found that there are no significant increases in citations for Nobel laureates compared to their prizewinning coauthors.Research limitations:This study ignored the rigorous mathematical deduction parts of DID,while focused on the practical parts.Practical implications:This work gives experimental practice and potential guidelines to use DID method in science of science and bibliometrics studies.Originality/value:This study gains insights into the usage of econometric tools in science of science.

Quark Forces Attract Nobel Prize in Physics

你知道比原子更小的微粒是什么吗?如果你足够博学多识,你肯定可以回答得出:夸克--一个神秘莫测的名字,一个当今物理学家的宠儿!夸克究竟是何方神圣?听听来自本届诺贝尔物理奖得主三位美国物理学家吧。

Reflections on Medical Science Papers Published by 2004 Nobel Prize Laureates in Physiology and Medicine

Based on the number of publications and cita- tion , studies the scientific papers published by 2004 Nobel Prize Laureates in Physiology and Medicine. Using International Authoritative Database and Technical Metrology, this paper discusses the quantity and quality of papers published by these top scientists, the regulations for the medical re- search activities, the progressive processes of the research projects and the cooperation between re- search scientists on these projects. This study tries to shed a light on facilitating outstanding medical scientists and promoting Nobel Prize-level re- searchers in China.

The Nobel Literature Prize Sparks a Mo Yan Craze

正At 19 o'clock, October 11th, Beijing time, the Swedish Academy awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize for Literature to the Chinese writer Mo Yan. Within several hours, Mo Yan's works were struck by the "Nobel effect", sales shooting up in both bookstores and online marts. Some websites also jumped on the bandwagon and put up a reservation service for the new editions.

仪器分析实验课程思政案例设计与实践——以青蒿素的提取与结构鉴定的探究实验为例

中医药文化被喻为中华优秀传统文化的璀璨明珠,是中华传统文化的重要组成和典型代表。而作为抗疟明星的中医药青蒿素来源于天然产物,因此,天然产物中的青蒿素的提取和结构鉴定显得十分必要。课程团队结合课程特点,将青蒿素的提取和结构鉴定引入实验教学并进行课程思政教学案例设计。以此项目为载体,培养学生自主查阅文献、设计实验方案和运用仪器分析技术表征分子结构的科学素养。该教学案例的建立实施有助于教师充分挖掘课程中的思政元素,激发学生的学习兴趣,培养其自主创新意识,增强爱国情怀和民族文化自信,取得了良好的课程思政教学示范效果。

仪器分析实验课程思政案例设计与实践——以气质联用实验为例

中国科学技术大学化学国家级实验教学中心所开设的“仪器分析实验”为安徽省课程思政示范课程,在实验项目“气质联用法测定饮料中塑化剂含量”的教学过程中,课程组针对课程的特点和教学过程,对该项目进行思政示范教学案例设计。思政案例库的建设,有助于教师充分挖掘专业课程中的德育元素,激发学生的学习兴趣,培养学生的自主创新意识,取得了良好的教学效果。

分子水平上的虚拟仿真实验之思政元素的挖掘与提炼——以“高分子的构象、形态及尺寸的模拟与计算”项目为例

高分子的构象、形态及尺寸的模拟与计算,是分子水平上的虚拟仿真实验项目,结合诺贝尔奖获得者de Gennes和P.J.Flory的理论工作、由项目组自身教研成果转化、师生合作研发而成。与小分子化合物相比,高分子的研究方法有很大的不同,特别是需要采用统计方法来描述高分子链的构象、形态,计算高分子链的平均尺寸,这是经典的物理化学方法所不能完成的。本项目从研发到教学实践、再经改进,教学内容的更新优化中,自然融入了诺贝尔奖成果、哲学思想、科学思维、学科发展史、教研成果等多个维度的思政元素。

阿列克谢耶维奇与奥波亚兹

阿列克谢耶维奇荣获诺贝尔文学奖印证了俄国形式主义即奥波亚兹有关文学史演变规律的一个假说:文学的边缘文体始终在向文学的中心地带发起冲击,这种冲击完全可以称之为一种斗争或角逐。阿列克谢耶维奇的获奖,不仅标志着文学边缘文体的一次成功“暴乱”,致使其得以登堂入室,由非正宗摇身一变而为“正室”,从而导致旧的文学观念的被再次刷新。阿列克谢耶维奇的成功,意味着在整个20世纪命途多舛的俄国形式主义——奥波亚兹有关文学史的观念和假说,非但没有因其代表人物的悲剧性遭遇而销声匿迹,反而得到越来越新的文学现象的印证。实践表明:俄国形式主义代表人物的文学史观,具有文学本体论的品质,是对文学内部规律的一种总结和归纳,应该得到文学界应有的关注和理解。