Network analysis of Zentralblatt MATH data

TL;DR

This paper conducts a network analysis of mathematical publications from 1990-2010 in the Zentralblatt MATH database, examining collaborations, publication patterns, and field-specific characteristics using network visualization tools.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive network-based approach to analyze mathematical literature data, including multiple bipartite networks and publication partitioning by year.

Findings

Distribution patterns of works and collaborations analyzed

Characteristics of graph theory publications examined

Network visualization reveals collaboration structures

Abstract

We analyze the data about works (papers, books) from the time period 1990-2010 that are collected in Zentralblatt MATH database. The data were converted into four 2-mode networks (works $\times$ authors, works $\times$ journals, works $\times$ keywords and works $\times$ MSCs) and into a partition of works by publication year. The networks were analyzed using Pajek -- a program for analysis and visualization of large networks. We explore the distributions of some properties of works and the collaborations among mathematicians. We also take a closer look at the characteristics of the field of graph theory as were realized with the publications.