modeling

Jan 11, 2023

Researchers Fix ‘Fundamental Flaw,’ Improving Pandemic Prediction Model

By modifying an existing pandemic model, researchers substantially improved its accuracy in predicting disease spread. 

May 17, 2021

To Preserve Global Food Security, New Tools Needed to Prevent Plant Disease Pandemics

Global plant disease surveillance and detection systems - along with plant disease modeling - are needed to protect plants - and the food supply. 

May 20, 2019

Can a Hands-on Model Help Forest Stakeholders Fight Tree Disease?

Participants don't need coding or software expertise to use Tangible Landscape, a 3D model that allows them to try out different approaches for stopping the spread of sudden oak death, which has killed millions of trees. 

Nov 11, 2015

Researchers Detail How to Control Shape, Structure of DNA and RNA

NC State researchers have used computational modelling to shed light on precisely how charged gold nanoparticles influence the structure of DNA and RNA – which may lead to new techniques for manipulating these genetic materials. 

Sep 29, 2015

Modeling Tool IDs Genes That Control Stress Response in Plants

An interdisciplinary team of researchers has developed a modeling algorithm that is able to identify genes associated with specific biological functions in plants. The modeling tool will help plant biologists target individual genes that control how plants respond to drought, high temperatures or other environmental stressors. 

Apr 30, 2015

Why, and How, Computational Research is Changing Materials Science

To stay competitive, businesses and governments are constantly looking for materials that will open the door to new technologies or sources of energy. And computational research is key to developing those new materials. 

May 15, 2014

Small Number of Genes Have Big Impact on Fish Egg Quality

NC State researchers have taken a big step toward solving a puzzle that has long vexed vertebrates – predicting egg quality, or the viability of embryos in eggs. Using gene expression data and computer modeling, the researchers examined farmed striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and showed that the coordinated interactions of less than 2 percent of the… 

Nov 7, 2013

Designing an Interactive Glimpse Into the Past

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by David Hill, an associate professor of architecture at NC State, about the unveiling of a digital humanities project to create three-dimensional visual and acoustic models of the courtyard of St. Paul’s Cathedral in 17th century London. The Virtual Paul’s Cross Project recreates the reading of a sermon by… 

Sep 12, 2013

How Computer Models Help Keep the Lights on In Kenya

In Kenya, water is power. Literally. And to keep the lights on, Kenyan authorities want to know how much water they can expect in upcoming rainy seasons. That’s where computer models come in. Fifty-eight percent of Kenya’s power supply stems from the country’s hydropower system in the Tana River basin. That system will shut down… 

Sep 9, 2013

Wide Left: Study Shows that Holders Play Key Role in Field Goal Accuracy

NFL and college football teams are back in action, and their success often hinges on the accuracy of their field goal kickers. When the field goals are made, kickers are heroes. When they miss, they’re goats. But a study by aerospace researchers shows that kickers aren’t always at fault – the way the ball is… 

Feb 12, 2013

The Big Picture: Helping Companies Make Products We Actually Want

Researchers have developed a model that will, hopefully, help companies develop innovative products that people actually want to use. The model is a first step towards capturing the behavior of both companies and consumers, so that we end up with more iPods and fewer Edsels. This concept may sound obvious, but companies have difficulty grasping… 

Oct 29, 2012

In Particulate Matter, the Particulars Matter

When statisticians start talking about PM, they aren’t referring to political leadership. PM stands for particulate matter, and it’s important because it has a direct effect on the health and well-being of anyone who breathes. Statistician Montserrat Fuentes has built a career on looking at the effects of PM 2.5 (the 2.5 means that the… 

Sep 17, 2012

Estimating ‘Regions of Attraction’ Should Improve Computer Models of Biological Systems

Researchers have found an effective means of estimating the “regions of attraction” (ROA) when developing computer models of biological systems – improving the ability of these models to predict how a system will respond to changing conditions. But to talk about that, we probably need to explain what an ROA is – and why it… 

Sep 11, 2012

Putting the “Fore” in Forecasting

People love to complain about the weather – and especially about weather forecasters. But real, accurate forecasting beyond five to seven days is immensely complicated, due to the sheer volume of atmospheric processes and factors. Fortunately for us, advances in computing are making it possible for mathematicians, atmospheric scientists and statisticians to create “models of… 

Sep 8, 2011

Boxing Up Sub-Atomic Particles

Let’s say you’re a nuclear physicist who – in your quest to learn more about the way the universe works – wants to learn more about the structure and angular momentum, or spin, of an atomic nucleus. However, you can’t just grab a nucleus and stick it under a microscope. What do you do? If…