A Historical Review of Classic Publications in Web of Science Category of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Classic publications in Web of Science Category of Obstetrics and Gynecology were identified by using bibliometric indicator, TCyear, total citations since publication to the end of the recent year from Web of Science Core Collection. Fourteen classic publications with TC2016 ≥ 1,000 times were analysied. We also applied a citation indicator, the Cyear, total citations in the most recent year only, to assess the recent impact of the classic publications. The results showed that the 14 classic publications were published between 1927 and 2004, and that the most productive journal were American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Citation histories were applied for impact of the classic publications after their publications. In addition, highlight of each classic articles were presented. A classic article by Sampson in 1927 was found to be the classic Sleeping Beauties in Web of Science category of obstetrics and gynecology.

The rapid, massive growth of COVID-19 authors in the scientific literature

We examined the extent to which the scientific workforce in different fields was engaged in publishing COVID-19-related papers. According to Scopus (data cut, 1 August 2021), 210 183 COVID-19-related publications included 720 801 unique authors, of which 360 005 authors had published at least five full papers in their career and 23 520 authors were at the top 2% of their scientific subfield based on a career-long composite citation indicator. The growth of COVID-19 authors was far more rapid and massive compared with cohorts of authors historically publishing on H1N1, Zika, Ebola, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. All 174 scientific subfields had some specialists who had published on COVID-19. In 109 of the 174 subfields of science, at least one in 10 active, influential (top 2% composite citation indicator) authors in the subfield had authored something on COVID-19. Fifty-three hyper-prolific authors had already at least 60 (and up to 227) COVID-19 publications each. Among the 300 authors with the highest composite citation indicator for their COVID-19 publications, most common countries were USA ( n = 67), China ( n = 52), UK ( n = 32) and Italy ( n = 18). The rapid and massive involvement of the scientific workforce in COVID-19-related work is unprecedented and creates opportunities and challenges. There is evidence for hyper-prolific productivity.

The rapid, massive infection of the scientific literature and authors by COVID-19

Importance: COVID-19 is a major global crisis and the scientific community has been mobilized to deal with this crisis. Objective: To estimate the extent to which the scientific workforce in different fields has been engaged publishing papers relative to the COVID-19 pandemic. Design, setting, and participants: We evaluated Scopus (data cut, December 1, 2020) for all indexed published papers and preprints relevant to COVID-19. We mapped this COVID-19 literature in terms of its authors across 174 subfields of science according to the Science Metrix classification. We also evaluated the extent to which the most influential scientists across science (based on a composite citation indicator) had published COVID-19-related research. Finally, we assessed the features of authors who published the highest number of COVID-19 publications and of those with the highest impact in the COVID-19 field based on the composite citation indicator limited to COVID-19 publications. Main outcomes and measures: Publishing scientists (authors) and their published papers and citation impact. Results: 84,180 indexed publications were relevant to COVID-19 including 322,279 unique authors. The highest rates of COVID-19 publications were seen for authors classified in Public Health and in Clinical Medicine, where 11.3% (6,388/56,516) and 11.1% (92,570/833,060) of authors, respectively, had published on COVID-19. Almost all (173/174) subfields (except for Automobile Design & Engineering) had some authors publishing on COVID-19. Among active scientists at the top 2% of citation impact, 15,803 (13.3%) had published on COVID-19 in their publications in the first 11 months of 2020. The rates were the highest in the fields of Clinical Medicine (27.7%) and Public Health (26.8%). In 83 of the 174 subfields of science, at least one in ten active, influential authors in that field had authored something on COVID-19. 65 authors had already at least 30 (and up to 133) COVID-19 publications each. Among the 300 authors with the highest composite citation indicator for COVID-19 publications, 26 were journalists or editors publishing news stories or editorials in prestigious journals; most common countries for the remaining were China (n=77), USA (n=66), UK (n=27), and Italy (n=20). Conclusions and relevance: The scientific literature and publishing scientists have been rapidly and massively infected by COVID-19 creating opportunities and challenges. There is evidence for hyper-prolific productivity.