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Starts and Stops of Rhythmic and Discrete Movements: Modulation in the Excitability of the Corticomotor Tract During Transition to a Different Type of Movement

Lim et al. | Aug 27, 2018

Starts and Stops of Rhythmic and Discrete Movements: Modulation in the Excitability of the Corticomotor Tract During Transition to a Different Type of Movement

Control of voluntary and involuntary movements is one of the most important aspects of human neurological function, but the mechanisms of motor control are not completely understood. In this study, the authors use transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to stimulate a portion of the motor cortex while subjects performed either discrete (e.g. throwing) or rhythmic (e.g. walking) movements. By recording electrical activity in the muscles during this process, the authors showed that motor evoked potentials (MEPs) measured in the muscles during TMS stimulation are larger in amplitude for discrete movements than for rhythmic movements. Interestingly, they also found that MEPs during transitions between rhythmic and discrete movements were nearly identical and larger in amplitude than those recorded during either rhythmic or discrete movements. This research provides important insights into the mechanisms of neurological control of movement and will serve as the foundation for future studies to learn more about temporal variability in neural activity during different movement types.

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Implications of various pure tones on Phaseolus vulgaris and Gaultheria shallon

Judit et al. | Jul 13, 2026

Implications of various pure tones on <i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> and <i>Gaultheria shallon<i>

This study investigated how different sound frequencies (0, 1,000, 5,000, and 15,000 Hz) affect the growth of Phaseolus vulgaris and the transpiration rates of Gaultheria shallon. Although some differences in plant growth were observed, the authors found no consistent evidence that sound frequency enhanced overall growth or transpiration, highlighting the need for further research.

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Early detection of student burnout using data science: a study of behavioral and psychological indicators

Baber et al. | Jul 13, 2026

Early detection of student burnout using data science: a study of behavioral and psychological indicators

This study examined behavioral and psychological predictors of burnout among high school and university students in Pakistan using survey data and machine-learning models. Shorter sleep and greater mental fatigue—especially fatigue—were associated with higher burnout risk, while a Random Forest model successfully identified students at risk of burnout.

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Measuring effects of caffeine and melatonin on learning trends of Zebrafish juveniles

Wei et al. | Jun 28, 2026

Measuring effects of caffeine and melatonin on learning trends of Zebrafish juveniles

This study investigates how caffeine and melatonin affect learning in adolescent zebrafish, serving as a model for human teens. Using an automated system to track behavior, we found that melatonin slowed learning while caffeine caused erratic, inconsistent responses, suggesting both substances can negatively impact adolescent learning patterns. These findings highlight the need for further research into their physiological effects and potential implications for human adolescents.

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Exploring Interactions between PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) and proteins

Lu-Yang et al. | May 16, 2026

Exploring Interactions between PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) and proteins
Image credit: Authors

Here the authors investigated how the "forever chemical" perfluorooctanoic acid binds to bovine serum albumin (BSA) using computational software to simulate its potential impact on essential human plasma proteins. They identify a possible, high-energy binding configuration that could persistently impair protein functions, underscoring the critical need for further research into the long-term health risks of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances exposure.

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