University of Massachusetts Boston

About: University of Massachusetts Boston is a education organization based out in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 6541 authors who have published 12918 publications receiving 411731 citations. The organization is also known as: UMass Boston.

Simulating Monovalent and Divalent Ions in Aqueous Solution Using a Drude Polarizable Force Field

Abstract: An accurate representation of ion solvation in aqueous solution is critical for meaningful computer simulations of a broad range of physical and biological processes. Polarizable models based on classical Drude oscillators are introduced and parametrized for a large set of monatomic ions including cations of the alkali metals (Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+) and alkaline earth elements (Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+) along with Zn2+ and halide anions (F−, Cl−, Br−, and I−). The models are parametrized, in conjunction with the polarizable SWM4-NDP water model [Lamoureux et al. Chem. Phys. Lett. 2006, 418, 245], to be consistent with a wide assortment of experimentally measured aqueous bulk thermodynamic properties and the energetics of small ion−water clusters. Structural and dynamic properties of the resulting ion models in aqueous solutions at infinite dilution are presented.

Effects of soil moisture on the temperature sensitivity of heterotrophic respiration vary seasonally in an old-field climate change experiment

Abstract: Microbial decomposition of soil organic matter produces a major flux of CO2 from terrestrial ecosystems and can act as a feedback to climate change Although climate-carbon models suggest that warming will accelerate the release of CO2 from soils, the magnitude of this feedback is uncertain, mostly due to uncertainty in the temperature sensitivity of soil organic matter decomposition We examined how warming and altered precipitation affected the rate and temperature sensitivity of heterotrophic respiration (Rh) at the Boston-Area Climate Experiment, in Massachusetts, USA We measured Rh inside deep collars that excluded plant roots and litter inputs In this mesic ecosystem, Rh responded strongly to precipitation Drought reduced Rh, both annually and during the growing season Warming increased Rh only in early spring During the summer, when Rh was highest, we found evidence of threshold, hysteretic responses to soil moisture: Rh decreased sharply when volumetric soil moisture dropped below ~15% or exceeded ~26%, but Rh increased more gradually when soil moisture rose from the lower threshold The effect of climate treatments on the temperature sensitivity of Rh depended on the season Apparent Q10 decreased with high warming (~35 °C) in spring and fall Presumably due to limiting soil moisture, warming and precipitation treatments did not affect apparent Q10 in summer Drought decreased apparent Q10 in fall compared to ambient and wet precipitation treatments To our knowledge, this is the first field study to examine the response of Rh and its temperature sensitivity to the combined effects of warming and altered precipitation Our results highlight the complex responses of Rh to soil moisture, and to our knowledge identify for the first time the seasonal variation in the temperature sensitivity of microbial respiration in the field We emphasize the importance of adequately simulating responses such as these when modeling trajectories of soil carbon stocks under climate change scenarios

Social anxiety in high-functioning children and adolescents with autism and Asperger syndrome.

Abstract: We examined social anxiety and internalizing symptoms using the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children (SPAI-C), the Social Anxiety Scale for Children -Revised (SASC-R), and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) in a sample of fifty-four high-functioning subjects with autism or Asperger syndrome (HFA/AS) (M = 11.2 ± 1.7 years) and 305 community subjects (M = 12.2 ± 2.2 years). Children and adolescents completed the SPAI-C and SASC-R, and their parents completed the CBCL Internalizing scale. Adolescents with HFA/AS scored higher than the community sample on all measures. Behavioural avoidance and evaluative social anxiety increased by age within the HFA/AS group, whereas behavioural avoidance decreased by age in control participants. Data support that HFA/AS in adolescents may be associated with clinically relevant social anxiety symptoms.

An empirical investigation of decision-making satisfaction in web-based decision support systems

Abstract: Web-based information systems are increasingly being used for decision support applications. However, few empirical studies have been conducted on web-based decision support systems (DSS). This experimental research endeavors to understand factors that impact decision-making satisfaction in web-based decision support systems. Using structural equation modeling (SEM) approach, the analysis reveals that information quality and system quality influence decision-making satisfaction, while information presentation does not have an effect on decision-making satisfaction.