315 articles from THURSDAY 19.12.2019

MAGIC system allows researchers to modulate the activity of genes acting in concert

Genomic research has unlocked the capability to edit the genomes of living cells; yet so far, the effects of such changes must be examined in isolation. In contrast, the complex traits that are of interest in both fundamental and applied research, such as those related to microbial biofuel production, involve many genes acting in concert. A newly developed system will now allow researchers to...

Model beats Wall Street analysts in forecasting business financials

In a paper published this week in the Proceedings of ACM Sigmetrics Conference, MIT researchers describe a model for forecasting financials that uses only anonymized weekly credit card transactions and three-month earning reports. Tasked with predicting quarterly earnings of more than 30 companies, the model outperformed the combined estimates of expert Wall Street analysts on 57 percent of...

NCI-MATCH: Promising signal for nivolumab beyond colorectal cancer

The Journal of Clinical Oncology reports results for Arm Z1D of NCI-MATCH, investigating the activity of nivolumab in tumors with DNA mismatch repair deficiencies. Eighteen different cancer types were studied, mostly rare and none colorectal, with DNA repair defects. The results showed a promising signal for nivolumab beyond colorectal cancer. The 36% response rate across a range of cancers...

New 'tooth-on-a-chip' could lead to more personalized dentistry

A so-called "tooth-on-a-chip" could one day enable more personalized dentistry, giving dentists the ability to identify dental filling materials that work better and last longer based on a patient's own teeth and oral microbiome. The miniaturized tooth system is a thin slice of a human molar placed in between transparent rubber slides that are etched with tiny channels, through which fluids flow....

New algorithm could mean more efficient, accurate equipment for Army

Researchers working on an Army-funded project have developed an algorithm to simulate how electromagnetic waves interact with materials in devices to create equipment more efficiently and accurately. The algorithm could be used in a wide range of fields -- from biology and astronomy to military applications and telecommunications.

New algorithm suggests four-level food web for gut microbes

A new computational model suggests that the food web of the human gut microbiome follows a hierarchical structure similar to that of larger-scale ecosystems. Tong Wang of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and colleagues present the model in PLOS Computational Biology.

New aqueous lithium-ion battery improves safety without sacrificing performance

As the lithium-ion batteries that power most phones, laptops, and electric vehicles become increasingly fast-charging and high-performing, they also grow increasingly expensive and flammable. In research published recently in Energy Storage Materials, a team of engineers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute demonstrated how they could -- by using aqueous electrolytes instead of the typical organic...

New classification system for tumors can guide diagnosis and treatment options for cancer

Based on the largest study of cancer patients of its kind, scientists have created a new way of classifying tumours. Clinicians can use genome sequencing to assign their patients' tumours to one of sixteen groups in the new classification system, ten of which provide important information for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease, like whether an individual will respond to immunotherapy.

New liquid metal wearable pressure sensor created for health monitoring applications

A KAIST research team developed a highly sensitive wearable pressure sensor for health monitoring applications. This work was reported in Advanced Healthcare Materials on Nov. 21 as a front cover article. This technology is capable of sensitive, precise, and continuous measurement of physiological and physical signals and shows great potential for health monitoring applications and the early...

New research shows domestic animals link virus spread among humans and wildlife

New research carried out at Swansea University has highlighted the role domesticated animals -- both pets and livestock -- play in the spread of viruses among humans and wildlife. according to new research involving Swansea University.However, the study has revealed the patterns of how viruses are shared differs between the two major groups of RNA and DNA viruses.

New study identifies last known occurrence of Homo erectus

Scientists have identified the last known occurrence of Homo erectus--in Central Java, Indonesia between 117,000 and 108,000 years ago. An ancient ancestor of modern humans that lived in the Pleistocene era, Homo erectus first appeared approximately 2 million years ago.

NIH-developed Zika vaccine improves fetal outcomes in animal model

An experimental Zika vaccine lowered levels of virus in pregnant monkeys and improved fetal outcomes in a rhesus macaque model of congenital Zika virus infection, according to a new study in Science Translational Medicine. Scientists developed the experimental vaccine and currently are evaluating it in a Phase 2 human clinical trial. The vaccine uses a small circular piece of DNA, or plasmid,...

No storm in a teacup -- it's a cyclone on a silicon chip

University of Queensland researchers have combined quantum liquids and silicon-chip technology to study turbulence for the first time, opening the door to new navigation technologies and improved understanding of the turbulent dynamics of cyclones and other extreme weather.

Number of people in need of renal replacement therapy is rising

The 2017 Annual Report of the ERA-EDTA Registry [1] reveals that only a small fraction of patients accepted for renal replacement therapy are able to start this treatment with the best available therapy, which is transplantation, -- and that the number of people who are in need of renal replacement therapy is rising. This poses a major challenge to our health systems, therefore everything should...

Playing the angles with dramatic effect

Researchers report the most complete model to date concerning the transition from metal to insulator in correlated oxides. These oxides have fascinated scientists because of their many attractive electronic and magnetic properties.