Research on overlapping structures and evolution properties of co-citation network

Purpose: This paper intends to explore methodologies and indicators for the analysis of overlapping structures and evolution properties in a co-citation network, and provide reference for overlapping structure analysis of other scientific networks.Design/methodology/approach: The Q-value variance is defined to achieve overlapping structures of different levels in the scientific networks. At the same time, analyses for time correlation variance and subject correlation variance are used to present the formation of overlapping structures in scientific networks. As a test, a co-citation network of highly cited papers on Molecular Biology & Genetics from Essential Science Indicator(ESI) is taken as an example for an empirical analysis.Findings: Our research showed that the Q-value variance is effective for achieving the desired overlapping structures. Meanwhile, the time correlation variance and subject correlation variance are equally useful for uncovering the evolution progress of scientific research, and the properties of overlapping structures in the research of co-citation network as well.Research limitations: In this paper, the theoretical analysis and verification of time and subject correlation variances are still at its initial stage. Further studies in this regard need to take actual evolution of research areas into consideration.Practical implications: Evolution properties of overlapping structures pave the way for overlapping and evolution analysis of disciplines or areas, this study is of practical value for the planning of scientific and technical innovation.Originality/value: This paper proposes an analytical method of time correlation variance and subject correlation variance based on the evolution properties of overlapping structures, which would provide the foundation for the evolution analysis of disciplines and interdisciplinary research.

Glandular trichomes:new focus on horticultural crops

Plant glandular trichomes(GTs)are epidermal outgrowths with the capacity to biosynthesize and secrete specialized metabolites,that are of great scientific and practical significance.Our understanding of the developmental process of GTs is limited,and no single plant species serves as a unique model.Here,we review the genetic mechanisms of GT initiation and development and provide a summary of the biosynthetic pathways of GT-specialized metabolites in nonmodel plant species,especially horticultural crops.We discuss the morphology and classification of GT types.Moreover,we highlight technological advancements in methods employed for investigating GTs.Understanding the molecular basis of GT development and specialized metabolites not only offers useful avenues for research in plant breeding that will lead to the improved production of desirable metabolites,but also provides insights for plant epidermal development research.

Research on the evolutionary dynamics of interdisciplinary collaboration from the perspective of co-authorship

Despite the growing interest in exploring the interdisciplinary collaboration patterns and the factors in relation to team assembly in the first place, the dynamics of interdisciplinary collaboration with time varying is hardly known. Based on the longitudinally co-authorship network perspective, the paper investigates the evolutionary dynamics of interdisciplinary collaboration using separable temporal exponential-family random graph model(STERGM). The results from STERGM show that structural properties, properties of researcher and link properties affect the evolution of interdisciplinary co-authorship network to varying degrees. Network transitivity and preferential attachment play a decisive role in formation of links and hamper dissolution of ties in the network. The number of collaborators of interdisciplinary researchers plays an active role in the formation of partnerships and hamper dissolution of partnerships in the initial stage;specialization of team members inhibits the establishment of collaborative relationship in the initial stage and promotes the dissolution of connections in the later stage of project;the large difference in specialization value between members is not conducive to the formation of relations in the initial stage, but conducive to the maintenance of collaborative relations after links establishment. The same discipline background is conducive to the formation of relations but not conducive to the maintenance of collaborative relationships in interdisciplinary co-author network.