Disproportionate International Contributions to Subspecialties of Neuroradiology in the American Journal of Neuroradiology

Geographic Trends in Publications and Submissions in Radiology Journals: Decade Report (2010 - 2020)

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE

The Radiology Research Alliance (RRA) of the Association of University Radiologists (AUR) organized a task force to quantify geographic changes in submissions to and publications within radiology journals over time.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty journals were selected: 7 US-based general, 4 European-based general, and 9 subspecialty radiology journals. Journals were solicited for submissions and publications based on country of origin from 2010 -2020. Regression models assessed changes over time across countries, and by continent, with an emphasis on the US and China, for each journal category.

RESULTS

There were 104,679 publications and 92,446 submissions from 149 countries. Overall, there were significant increases in numbers of publications from Asia (R² = 0.66, p <0.01), and specifically, China (R² = 0.87, p <0.01). For US journals, there were increased numbers of publications from Asia (R² = 0.72, p <0.01) and China (R² = 0.98, p <0.01), but decreased numbers from North America (R² = 0.41, p = 0.03). For European journals, there were increased numbers of publications from Asia (R² = 0.79, p <0.01), North America (R² = 0.75, p <0.01), and China (R² = 0.82, p <0.01). For subspecialty journals, there were increased numbers of publications from North America (R² = 0.38, p = 0.04) and China (R² = 0.73, p <0.01). There was an acute COVID spike in submissions during 2020, with a continuous increase most notable in China (R² = 0.96, p <0.01).

CONCLUSION

In the last decade, the numbers of submissions to and publications within general and subspecialty US and European radiology journals have generally increased around the world, with the largest growth in Asia and in particular China.

Scientific Collaboration across Time and Space: Bibliometric Analysis of the American Journal of Neuroradiology, 1980-2018

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Scientific collaboration is traditionally acknowledged through coauthorship. Studies on this topic are few in the neuroimaging literature. This study is a bibliometric analysis of the American Journal of Neuroradiology (AJNR) between 1980 and 2018, with the primary aim of evaluating changes in article collaboration.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Full bibliographic records from 1980 to 2018 were retrieved. Yearly metrics calculated included the number of articles published, the average number of authors, and the average number of affiliations per article. The levels of evidence of 160 random articles were determined. Geographic characteristics of author affiliations were analyzed. Changes across time were evaluated using linear regression, while Spearman rank-order correlation was used to determine relationships between level of evidence and time, number of authors, and number of affiliations.

RESULTS

There was a steady linear growth in the number of articles (R ² = 0.70, P < 1e-10) from 1980 to 2018. There were clear linear increases in the average number of authors (R ² = 0.91, P < 1e-15) and affiliations (R ² = 0.90, P < 1e-15) per article. There was a significant correlation between level of evidence and time period (Spearman ρ = -0.42, P < 1e-7), indicating that articles trended toward better methodologic quality or strength of results over time. A significant correlation existed between the level of evidence and the number of authors (Spearman ρ = -0.39, P < 1e-6). There were linear increases in the average number of different geographic locales of authors per article by country/region (R ² = 0.80, P < 1e-13), state/province (R ² = 0.88, P < 1e-15), and locality/city/town (R ² = 0.86, P < 1e-15).

CONCLUSIONS

From 1980 to 2018, as the quantity of articles published in the AJNR increased, their level of evidence improved, while an increasing number of authors with different affiliations and from different geographic locales collaborated on these articles.