Knowledge-economy building, a national movement that is focused on improving quality of life, is not only grounded in data and information but also embraces knowledge innovation and effective use in practice as core values. When I was an undergraduate student in nursing, biostatistics and nursing research were not part of the curriculum, and my research work after graduation was built on the accumulated experience of exploration and self-study. My academic career began from the position of assistant instructor. I published my first case report in 1980, my first overview paper in 1981, and my first original research paper in 1982, all in the Journal of Nursing. Research at that time was a way to enhance my professional knowledge. Having the opportunity to study for a Master of Science and PhD at the University of Pittsburgh in the United States was the turning point in how I conceptualized my research career. I began to perceive research as "an ongoing reflection of the process of deduction / induction that highlights the power and limitations of science." To be honest, being a scientist is hard work. Congratulations to all authors for establishing their academic legacy.

The nine original articles featured in this issue of The Journal of Nursing Research in 2017 include five quantitative studies and four qualitative studies. The quantitative studies in this October issue address such significant topics as the career obstacles faced by female nurse academicians (Turkey), a comparison of the quality of informal care received by community-dwelling elderly (Taiwan), the correlates of perceived social support in adult child caregivers of parent stroke survivors (China), factors related to immunosuppressive medication adherence in renal transplant recipients (Taiwan), and a retrospective panel study on emotional exhaustion and nursing burnout prior to and 7 months after health sector reform (Iran). In addition, four qualitative studies respectively explore the behavioural change experiences of cardiac rehabilitation patients (Iran), the life experiences of patients with glaucoma (Turkey), the lifestyle change experiences of cancer survivors (Taiwan), and nurses' discourses on the concept of care and its relationship to the concept of autonomy and gender (Spain).

More than just tools for survival or socialization, researching and publishing represent a commitment. As participants who are devoted to academia, we hope you enjoy being a researcher and publishing studies in good journals.