Progress and Knowledge Transfer from Science to Technology in the Research Frontier of CRISPR Based on the LDA Model

Purpose:This study explores the underlying research topics regarding CRISPR based on the LDA model and figures out trends in knowledge transfer from science to technology in this area over the latest 10 years.Design/methodology/approach:We collected publications on CRISPR between 2011 and2020 from the Web of Science,and traced all the patents citing them from lens.org.15,904 articles and 18,985 patents in total are downloaded and analyzed.The LDA model was applied to identify underlying research topics in related research.In addition,some indicators were introduced to measure the knowledge transfer from research topics of scientific publications to IPC-4 classes of patents.Findings:The emerging research topics on CRISPR were identified and their evolution over time displayed.Furthermore,a big picture of knowledge transition from research topics to technological classes of patents was presented.We found that for all topics on CRISPR,the average first transition year,the ratio of articles cited by patents,the NPR transition rate are respectively 1.08,15.57%,and 1.19,extremely shorter and more intensive than those of general fields.Moreover,the transition patterns are different among research topics.Research limitations:Our research is limited to publications retrieved from the Web of Science and their citing patents indexed in lens.org.A limitation inherent with LDA analysis is in the manual interpretation and labeling of"topics".Practical implications:Our study provides good references for policy-makers on allocating scientific resources and regulating financial budgets to face challenges related to the transformative technology of CRISPR.Originality/value:The LDA model here is applied to topic identification in the area of transformative researches for the first time,as exemplified on CRISPR.Additionally,the dataset of all citing patents in this area helps to provide a full picture to detect the knowledge transition between S&T.

“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.

Describing Citations as a Function of Time

Purpose:Providing an overview of types of citation curves.Design/methodology/approach:The terms citation curves or citation graphs are made explicit.Findings:A framework for the study of diachronous(and synchronous)citation curves is proposed.Research limitations:No new practical applications are given.Practical implications:This short note about citation curves will help readers to make the optimal choice for their applications.Originality/value:A new scheme for the meaning of the term"citation curve"is designed.

Task-related functional magnetic resonance imaging-based neuronavigation for the treatment of depression by individualized repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the visual cortex

To determine whether repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation(rTMS)of the visual cortex(VC)provides effective and welltolerated treatment and whether magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)measures functional change of the VC as a biomarker of therapeutic effect in major depressive disorder(MDD),we performed a sham-controlled,double-blind,randomized,three-arm VC rTMS treatment study in 74 MDD patients.Neuronavigated rTMS(10 Hz,90%of resting motor threshold,1,600 pulses over20 min twice per day)was performed over the VC for five days.Clinical outcome was measured by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HAMD-24)at days 0,1,3,5 and after terminating rTMS,with follow-up at four weeks.MRI was measured at days 0 and5.The individualized group exhibited the greatest change in HAMD-24 scores after VC rTMS for 5 days(F=5.53,P=0.005),which were maintained during follow-up period(F=4.22,P=0.016).All patients reported good tolerance.Changes in VC taskrelated functional MRI correlated with symptomatic reduction in the individualized group.Treatment reduced the initially abnormal increase in resting state functional connectivity from the VC to the pre/subgenual anterior cingulate cortex at day 5,especially in the individualized group.We demonstrated therapeutic potential and good tolerance of VC rTMS in MDD patients,indicated by biomarkers of f MRI measurement.

Dickkopf-related protein 1/cytoskeleton-associated protein 4 signaling activation by Helicobacter pylori-induced activator protein-1 promotes gastric tumorigenesis via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is a common malignant tumor with high incidence and mortality rates globally,especially in East Asian countries.Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection is a significant and independent risk factor for GC.However,its underlying mechanism of action is not fully understood.Dickkopf-related protein(DKK)1 is a Wnt signaling antagonist,and cytoskeleton-associated protein(CKAP)4 is a newly identified DKK1 receptor.Recent studies found that the binding of DKK1 to CAKP4 mediated the procancer signaling of DKK1 independent of Wnt signaling.We hypothesize that H.pylori-induced activation of DKK1/CKAP4 signaling contributes to the initiation and progression of GC.AIM To investigate the interaction of H.pylori infection,DKK1 and CAKP4 in GC,as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms.METHODS RNA sequencing was used to identify differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between H.pylori-infected and uninfected primary GC cells.Gain-and loss-offunction experiments were performed to verify the H.pylori-induced upregulation of activator protein-1(AP-1)in GC cells.A dual-luciferase reporter assay and co-immunoprecipitation were used to determine the binding of AP-1 to the DKK1 promoter and DKK1 to CKAP4.Western blotting and immunohistochemistry detected the expression of DKK1,CKAP4,and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)pathway-related proteins in GC cells and tissues.Functional experiments and tumorigenicity in nude mice detected malignant behavior of GC cells in vitro and in vivo.RESULTS We identified 32 DEGs between primary GC cells with and without H.pylori infection,including JUN,fos-like antigen-1(FOSL1),and DKK1,and confirmed that the three proteins and CKAP4 were highly expressed in H.pylori-infected GC cells,H.pylori-infected gerbil gastric tissues,and human GC tissues.JUN and FOSL1 form AP-1 to transcriptionally activate DKK1 expression by binding to the DKK1 promoter.Activated DKK1 bound to CKAP4,but not the most common Wnt coreceptor low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5/6,to promote GC cell growth,colony formation,migration,invasion,and xenograft tumor growth in nude mice.All these effects were driven by activation of the PI3K/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)pathway.Targeting the PI3K signaling pathway by LY294002 inhibited DKK1-mediated CKAP4/PI3K signaling activity and the malignant behavior of GC cells.CONCLUSION H.pylori induces JUN and FOSL1 expression to form AP-1,which transcriptionally activates DKK1.Binding of DKK1 to KAKP4 contributes to gastric tumorigenesis via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

Understanding more about non-patent references

Non-patent references(NPRs)play an important role in the interaction between science and technology.In this contribution,we compare the characteristics of NPRs traced from patents on"metabolic engineering"to those received by the 10%most-cited articles(cited in scientific publications and excluding NPRs)in the same field.We observe that there is a low rate of co-citing articles between the two groups,and many NPRs have a better citation performance than TOP 10%articles.Our results provide preliminary clues to discover new characteristics of NPRs and to better understand the interface between science and technology.