From Open Access to Open Science from the viewpoint of a scholarly publisher

Design and validation of a conceptual model regarding impact of open science on healthcare research processes

INTRODUCTION

The development and use of digital tools in various stages of research highlight the importance of novel open science methods for an integrated and accessible research system. The objective of this study was to design and validate a conceptual model of open science on healthcare research processes.

METHODS

This research was conducted in three phases using a mixed-methods approach. The first phase employed a qualitative method, namely purposive sampling and semi-structured interview guides to collect data from healthcare researchers and managers. Influential factors of open science on research processes were extracted for refining the components and developing the proposed model; the second phase utilized a panel of experts and collective agreement through purposive sampling. The final phase involved purposive sampling and Delphi technique to validate the components of the proposed model according to researchers' perspectives.

FINDINGS

From the thematic analysis of 20 interview on the study topic, 385 codes, 38 sub-themes, and 14 main themes were extracted for the initial proposed model. These components were reviewed by expert panel members, resulting in 31 sub-themes, 13 main themes, and 4 approved themes. Ultimately, the agreed-upon model was assessed in four layers for validation by the expert panel, and all the components achieved a score of > 75% in two Delphi rounds. The validated model was presented based on the infrastructure and culture layers, as well as supervision, assessment, publication, and sharing.

CONCLUSION

To effectively implement these methods in the research process, it is essential to create cultural and infrastructural backgrounds and predefined requirements for preventing potential abuses and privacy concerns in the healthcare system. Applying these principles will lead to greater access to outputs, increasing the credibility of research results and the utilization of collective intelligence in solving healthcare system issues.

Open research data in African academic and research libraries: a literature analysis

Purpose

The paper presents a literature review on research data management services in African academic and research libraries on the backdrop of the advancing open science and open research data infrastructures. It provides areas of focus for library to support open research data.

Design/methodology/approach

The literature analysis and future role of African libraries in research data management services were based on three areas as follows:open science, research infrastructures and open data infrastructures. Focussed literature searches were conducted across several electronic databases and discovery platforms, and a qualitative content analysis approach was used to explore the themes based on a coded list.

Findings

The review reports of an environment where open science in Africa is still at developmental stages. Research infrastructures face funding and technical challenges. Data management services are in formative stages with progress reported in a few countries where open science and research data management policies have emerged, cyber and data infrastructures are being developed and limited data librarianship courses are being taught.

Originality/value

The role of the academic and research libraries in Africa remains important in higher education and the national systems of research and innovation. Libraries should continue to align with institutional and national trends in response to the provision of data management services and as partners in the development of research infrastructures.

Variation in length of alpha waves reveals how forebrain activity is organized

Background

The cerebral cortex is composed of functional units known as columns. The “two levels” hypothesis states that the activity in a column is either at a high level or at a normal, relatively low level. Measurements indicate that the duration of the high activity in a column is around 450 ms. The number of highly active columns is often 4–5. These data are from previous studies on alpha waves in electroencephalograms. The idea is that alpha waves are created when a regulating system keeps the number of highly active columns within proper limits. If this is true, then regulating signals determines the length of the alpha waves, which opens up for a possibility to test the hypothesis.

Methods and results

Wavelengths were measured in sequences of alpha waves, and distinctive patterns in the wavelength variation were found. The elements of these patterns were repeated at intervals that exactly matched the predicted duration of high activity in individual columns.

Conclusions

The discovery of patterns in the wavelength variation confirms the central part of the two levels hypothesis. The patterns reveal the actual number of highly active columns. Moreover, the duration of high activity in a column can be measured. Number and duration outside the optimal ranges may lead to a variety of symptoms.