University of Texas at Arlington researcher Yue Liao contributed to an international study showing that changes in people’s physical activity—whether light or moderate—are closely linked to changes in their mood throughout the day.

Using zebrafish as a model organism, UMaine researchers measured how Mylpf protein levels corresponded to muscle development, revealing a surprisingly sensitive relationship between protein levels and muscle health. When Mylpf function was eliminated, fast-twitch muscles failed to build the structures they needed to contract or generate force. Crucially, the severity of this defect tracked closely with how much protein was present. By testing many combinations of gene doses in a single study, the team was able to model the protein's effects with unusual mathematical rigor.