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Browse the failure-mode index

21,222 real negative results, null findings, and replication failures. Search the index →

WASTE indexes published research — it does not host or republish full papers. Each entry is a metadata record compiled from open scholarly databases; the abstract is shown in full only where the paper is openly licensed, otherwise a short excerpt under fair use. Classifications are automated and approximate.

Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

A phase 1 trial of the oral DNA methyltransferase inhibitor CC‐486 and the histone deacetylase inhibitor romidepsin in advanced solid tumors

Stéphanie Gaillard, Marianna Zahurak, Anup Sharma et al. · 2019 · Cancer

BACKGROUND: Epigenetic abnormalities are manifold in all solid tumors and include changes in chromatin configuration and DNA methylation. The authors designed a phase 1 study to evaluate the oral DNA methyltransferase inhibitor CC-486…

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Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessSocial Sciences

Sycophantic AI decreases prosocial intentions and promotes dependence

Myra Cheng, Cinoo Lee, Pranav Khadpe et al. · 2026 · Science

Despite rising concerns about sycophancy—excessive agreement or flattery from artificial intelligence (AI) systems—little is known about its prevalence or consequences. We show that sycophancy is widespread and harmful. Across 11 state-of-the-art models, AI affirmed users’ actions 49% more often than humans, even when queries involved deception, illegality, or other harms. In three preregistered experiments ( N = 2405), even a single interaction with sycophantic AI reduced participants’ willingness to take responsibility and repair interpersonal conflicts, while increasing their conviction tha

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Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessMedicine

Interplay of cytokines in the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis: insights from Murin models and human

Y Yamamura, Chisa Nakashima, Atsushi Otsuka · 2024 · Frontiers in Medicine

The pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD) is understood to be crucially influenced by three main factors: dysregulation of the immune response, barrier dysfunction, and pruritus. In the lesional skin of AD, various innate immune cells, including Th2 cells, type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s), and basophils, produce Th2 cytokines [interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-31]. Alarmins such as TSLP, IL-25, and IL-33 are also produced by epidermal keratinocytes, amplifying type 2 inflammation. In the chronic phase, not only Th2 cells but also Th22 and Th17 cells increase in number, leading to suppre

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Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessMathematics

Bayesian reanalysis of null results reported in medicine: Strong yet variable evidence for the absence of treatment effects

Rink Hoekstra, Rei Monden, Don van Ravenzwaaij et al. · 2018 · PLoS ONE

Efficient medical progress requires that we know when a treatment effect is absent. We considered all 207 Original Articles published in the 2015 volume of the New England Journal of Medicine and found that 45 (21.7%) reported a null result for at least one of the primary outcome measures. Unfortunately, standard statistical analyses are unable to quantify the degree to which these null results actually support the null hypothesis. Such quantification is possible, however, by conducting a Bayesian hypothesis test. Here we reanalyzed a subset of 43 null results from 36 articles using a default

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Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessMedicine

Time-Restricted Eating in Adults With Metabolic Syndrome

Emily N. C. Manoogian, Michael J. Wilkinson, Monica A. O'Neal et al. · 2024 · Annals of Internal Medicine

BACKGROUND: Time-restricted eating (TRE), limiting daily dietary intake to a consistent 8 to 10 hours without mandating calorie reduction, may provide cardiometabolic benefits. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of TRE as a lifestyle…

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Negative / Null Result Report

“We are not hard to reach, but we may find it hard to trust” …. Involving and engaging ‘seldom listened to’ community voices in clinical translational health research: a social innovation approach

Safina Islam, Olivia Joseph, Atiha Chaudry et al. · 2021 · Research Involvement and Engagement

Abstract Background Public involvement in clinical translational research is increasingly recognised as essential for relevant and reliable research. Public involvement must be diverse and inclusive to enable research that has the…

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Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Temozolomide antagonizes oncolytic immunovirotherapy in glioblastoma

Dipongkor Saha, Samuel D. Rabkin, Robert L. Martuza · 2020 · Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer

Background Temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy is a current standard of care for glioblastoma (GBM), however it has only extended overall survival by a few months. Because it also modulates the immune system, both beneficially and negatively,…

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Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Comparison of the Conformations of KRAS Isoforms, K-Ras4A and K-Ras4B, Points to Similarities and Significant Differences

Mayukh Chakrabarti, Hyunbum Jang, Ruth Nussinov · 2016 · The Journal of Physical Chemistry B

Human HRAS, KRAS, and NRAS genes encode four isoforms of Ras, a p21 GTPase. Mutations in KRAS account for the majority of RAS-driven cancers. The KRAS has two splice variants, K-Ras4A and K-Ras4B. Due to their reversible palmitoylation,…

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Negative / Null Result ReportImmunology and Microbiology

Functionally Significant Differences in Expression of Disease-Associated IL-7 Receptor α Haplotypes in CD4 T Cells and Dendritic Cells

Edwin Hoe, Fiona C. McKay, Stephen D. Schibeci et al. · 2010 · The Journal of Immunology

Common genetic variants of IL-7 receptor alpha (IL-7Ralpha) have recently been shown to affect susceptibility to multiple sclerosis (MS) and type 1 diabetes, and survival following bone marrow transplantation. Transcription of the gene…

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Failed Experiment ReportOpen accessMedicine

In Vitro Neutralization Is Not Predictive of Prophylactic Efficacy of Broadly Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibodies CR6261 and CR9114 against Lethal H2 Influenza Virus Challenge in Mice

Troy C. Sutton, Elaine W. Lamirande, Kevin W. Bock et al. · 2017 · Journal of Virology

ABSTRACT Influenza viruses of the H1N1, H2N2, and H3N2 subtypes have caused previous pandemics. H2 influenza viruses represent a pandemic threat due to continued circulation in wild birds and limited immunity in the human population. In…

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Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Umbrella and basket trials in oncology: ethical challenges

Karolina Strzebońska, Marcin Waligóra · 2019 · BMC Medical Ethics

BACKGROUND: Novel precision oncology trial designs, such as basket and umbrella trials, are designed to test new anticancer agents in more effective and affordable ways. However, they present some ethical concerns referred to scientific validity, risk-benefit balance and informed consent. Our aim is to discuss these issues in basket and umbrella trials, giving examples of two ongoing cancer trials: NCI-MATCH (National Cancer Institute - Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice) and Lung-MAP (Lung Cancer Master Protocol) study. MAIN BODY: We discuss three ethical requirements for clinical trials w

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Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessMedicine

Axitinib plus avelumab in the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma: a stratified, open-label, single-center phase 2 clinical trial (GliAvAx)

Gil Awada, Laïla Ben Salama, Jennifer Cremer et al. · 2020 · Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer

BACKGROUND: No treatment demonstrated to improve survival in patients with recurrent glioblastoma (rGB) in a randomized trial. Combining axitinib with the programmed cell death ligand 1 blocking monoclonal antibody avelumab may result in…

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Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessMedicine

Combined CTLA-4 and PD-L1 blockade in patients with chemotherapy-naïve metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer is associated with increased myeloid and neutrophil immune subsets in the bone microenvironment

Sumit K. Subudhi, Bilal A. Siddiqui, Ana M. Aparicio et al. · 2021 · Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint therapy (ICT) has low response rates in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), in part due to few T cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Anti-cytotoxic T…

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Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessMedicine

Effect of Disulfiram and Copper Plus Chemotherapy vs Chemotherapy Alone on Survival in Patients With Recurrent Glioblastoma

Katja Werlenius, Sara Kinhult, Tora S. Solheim et al. · 2023 · JAMA Network Open

Importance: Disulfiram has demonstrated broad antitumoral effect in several preclinical studies. One of the proposed indications is for the treatment of glioblastoma. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of disulfiram and copper as add-on to alkylating chemotherapy in patients with recurrent glioblastoma. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a multicenter, open-label, randomized phase II/III clinical trial with parallel group design. Patients were recruited at 7 study sites in Sweden and 2 sites in Norway between January 2017 and November 2020. Eligible patients were 18 years

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Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Herpes Simplex Virus Requires Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase Activity for Efficient Replication and Induces Extracellular Signal-Related Kinase-Dependent Phosphorylation and ICP0-Dependent Nuclear Localization of Tankyrase 1

Zhuan Li, Yohei Yamauchi, Maki Kamakura et al. · 2011 · Journal of Virology

Tankyrase 1 is a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) which localizes to multiple subcellular sites, including telomeres and mitotic centrosomes. Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of the nuclear mitotic apparatus (NuMA) protein by tankyrase 1 during…

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Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessEconomics, Econometrics and Finance

FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE SOURCES OF GROWTH AND CONVERGENCE*

Oleg Badunenko, Diego Romero‐Ávila · 2013 · International Economic Review

We extend the deterministic, nonparametric production frontier framework by incorporating financial development. Our analysis convincingly shows that (1) failure to account for financial development overstates the role of physical capital…

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Failed Experiment ReportOpen accessEarth and Planetary Sciences

Crystal Size Distribution (CSD) Analysis of Volcanic Samples: Advances and Challenges

K. V. Cashman · 2020 · Frontiers in Earth Science

Studies of magmatic systems have long used the textures of erupted samples to infer processes that control the location and duration of magma storage and drive volcanic eruptions from these storage regions. Models of volcanic processes and magmatic systems have evolved substantially over the past decades, in large part because of advances in analytical and experimental techniques. Cooling- and decompression-experiments have greatly enhanced our understanding of crystal textures produced by crystallization associated with volcanic eruptions, while advances in compositional mapping, isotopic ana

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Negative / Null Result Report

“Spin” in wound care research: the reporting and interpretation of randomized controlled trials with statistically non-significant primary outcome results or unspecified primary outcomes

Suzanne Lockyer, Rob Hodgson, Jo C Dumville et al. · 2013 · Trials

Abstract Background Spin in the reporting of randomized controlled trials, where authors report research in a way that potentially misrepresents results and mislead readers, has been demonstrated in the broader medical literature. We…

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Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessNeuroscience

BDNF Val66Met genotype determines hippocampus-dependent behavior via sensitivity to glucocorticoid signaling

Michael Notaras, Rachel Hill, Joseph A. Gogos et al. · 2015 · Molecular Psychiatry

The BDNF gene Val66Met single-nucleotide polymorphism is carried by ~0.55% of Sub-Saharan Africans, 19.9% of Europeans and 43.6% of Asians, but may be carried by up to 72% of some Sub-Asian population groups. 1 The switch from a guanine to…

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Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessMedicine

Dynamics of Japanese Encephalitis Virus Transmission among Pigs in Northwest Bangladesh and the Potential Impact of Pig Vaccination

Salah Uddin Khan, Henrik Salje, Abu Sayeed Md. Abdul Hannan et al. · 2014 · PLoS neglected tropical diseases

BACKGROUND: Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus infection can cause severe disease in humans, resulting in death or permanent neurologic deficits among survivors. Studies indicate that the incidence of JE is high in northwestern Bangladesh. Pigs are amplifying hosts for JE virus (JEV) and a potentially important source of virus in the environment. The objectives of this study were to describe the transmission dynamics of JEV among pigs in northwestern Bangladesh and estimate the potential impact of vaccination to reduce incidence among pigs. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We conducted a comprehe

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Negative / Null Result ReportEnvironmental Science

Urban–rural differences in near‐surface air temperature as resolved by the Central Europe Refined analysis (CER): sensitivity to planetary boundary layer schemes and urban canopy models

Britta Jänicke, Fred Meier, Daniel Fenner et al. · 2016 · International Journal of Climatology

ABSTRACT Model‐based studies on urban heat islands can be seriously affected by errors in near‐surface air temperature ( T 2), especially if errors differ between cities and their rural surroundings. Furthermore, errors in T 2 strongly…

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Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessEnvironmental Science

Bare‐Earth DEM Generation in Urban Areas for Flood Inundation Simulation Using Global Digital Elevation Models

Yinxue Liu, Paul Bates, Jeffrey Neal et al. · 2021 · Water Resources Research

Abstract Accurate terrain representation is critical to estimating flood risk in urban areas. However, all current global elevation data sets can be regarded as digital surface models in urban areas as they contain building artifacts that…

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Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessMedicine

Free Fatty Acids Signature in Human Intestinal Disorders: Significant Association between Butyric Acid and Celiac Disease

Simone Baldi, Marta Menicatti, Giulia Nannini et al. · 2021 · Nutrients

Altered circulating levels of free fatty acids (FFAs), namely short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs), and long chain fatty acids (LCFAs), are associated with metabolic, gastrointestinal, and malignant diseases. Hence, we compared the serum FFA profile of patients with celiac disease (CD), adenomatous polyposis (AP), and colorectal cancer (CRC) to healthy controls (HC). We enrolled 44 patients (19 CRC, 9 AP, 16 CD) and 16 HC. We performed a quantitative FFA evaluation with the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method (GC-MS), and we performed Dirichlet-multinomial

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Negative / Null Result ReportMedicine

Machine learning methods are comparable to logistic regression techniques in predicting severe walking limitation following total knee arthroplasty

Yong‐Hao Pua, Hakmook Kang, Julian Thumboo et al. · 2019 · Knee Surgery Sports Traumatology Arthroscopy

PURPOSE: Machine-learning methods are flexible prediction algorithms with potential advantages over conventional regression. This study aimed to use machine learning methods to predict post-total knee arthroplasty (TKA) walking limitation,…

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Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessMedicine

Significant Association Between Low Baseline Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Improved Progression-free Survival of Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer Treated With Eribulin But Not With Nab-Paclitaxel

Yoshimasa Miyagawa, Kazuhiro Araki, Ayako Bun et al. · 2018 · Clinical Breast Cancer

INTRODUCTION: Although eribulin and nab-paclitaxel are chemotherapy agents widely used for locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (MBC), their predictive factors remain unknown. Because the absolute neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio…

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Negative / Null Result ReportOpen accessEconomics, Econometrics and Finance

Return and Volatility Spillovers across Equity Markets in Mainland China, Hong Kong and the United States

Hassan Mohammadi, Yuting Tan · 2015 · Econometrics

Examinations of the dynamics of daily returns and volatility in stock markets of the U.S., Hong Kong and mainland China (Shanghai and Shenzhen) over 2 January 2001 to 8 February 2013 suggest: (1) evidence of unidirectional return spillovers from the U.S. to the other three markets; but no spillover between Hong Kong and either of the two mainland China markets; (2) evidence of unidirectional ARCH and GARCH effects from the U.S. to the other three markets; (3) correlations of returns vary across markets, with the highest correlation of 93.5% between the two Chinese markets, medium correlation o

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