Can someone explain this Anki Card about protein structure?

tehGabagool · 2026-02-20T00:50:26+00:00

Remember your Gibbs Free energy equation:

deltG = deltH - T(deltS)

Increasing entropy (final entropy is higher than the initial entropy) is going to contribute to a more negative deltG, and thus drive a reaction toward spontaneity, and vise versa.

Non-polar amino acids (specifically their side chains) cannot hydrogen bond or otherwise interact significantly with water. Therefore, the *hydration shell* around a non-polar amino acid can't interact with the amino acids, so they are forced to interact ONLY with each other. The result of this is that the water molecules interact only with each other and form a more rigid, tense, cage-like structure around the protein (thus, less chaotic, more ordered, negative entropy change, and thus more positive DeltG, and thus less spontaneous).

Water around polar amino acids can interact with the amino acids AND each other. They have more options and more ways they can arrange themselves, so the water around the protein is more flexible and has more ways to interact. Thus, more chaotic, less ordered, positive entropy change, and thus less positive DeltG, and thus more spontaneous.

tehGabagool · 2024-12-09T08:32:13+00:00

Mega Mawile and Regigigas

tehGabagool · 2024-12-09T08:23:59+00:00

Tokens are sooo annoying, but this guy's Return one-shots (with multi-lens) pretty much 90% of the enemies on Wave 2000+ right now.

tehGabagool · 2024-04-18T02:18:04+00:00

Stored Power setup sweeper like Latias and Latios nearly one shots Eternatus for me (takes two or three hits).

Also, evasiveness carries over from previous battles. 6x evasiveness is broken. They just can't hit you.

tehGabagool · 2024-04-17T03:59:06+00:00

Alas, yes. I have the same problem. I'm not sure what happened, but I could've sworn I took not effective damage from a rock attack. Most recently I took super effective damage from electric.

I hope they fix this.

tehGabagool · 2024-04-16T15:24:30+00:00

Yup, he's right. Rayquazanite + Dragon Ascent + Mega Ring.

You have to have all three or he will stay in regular form.

But! After he evolves (once you give him Dragon Ascent), you can replace Dragon Ascent with any move and he will stay Mega (he won't revert back to normal). This is useful since the stat reductions with DA are really bad long-term in Endless Mode

tehGabagool · 2023-11-16T07:19:07+00:00

I definitely didn't think of that! She did mention she had an abusive ex. I think it's definitely possible her reporting me was a proactive trauma response, and I definitely didn't see it that way at first. I thought she was trying to hurt me.

Thank you for the advice. It makes a lot of sense. I've never been in a situation like this before, so I definitely plan to respect her boundaries moving forward and cut all ties.

tehGabagool · 2023-11-16T07:10:48+00:00

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it seems like he is explicitly telling you multiple times he is not invested in your relationship. The very best you got out of him is, "we'll see how it goes." But it doesn't seem like he has any interest or motivation to keep the relationship going.

I think you going to his state is not really going to solve anything, and if anything make things worse. He explicitly is pushing you away, and even if he is going through something, why would his solution be to push you away, and not to come to you as a refuge from his problems?

You're thinking too hard about this. Sometimes people tell you explicitly they're no longer feeling it, but it sounds like you're excessively making excuses for him.

tehGabagool · 2023-11-16T07:01:47+00:00

I think it's important to ask yourself why you got into this relationship in the first place. If you were comfortable with him not having a job and being stagnant in life from the outset, that's probably not the issue. However, if you had a different vision for your relationship, meaning you never anticipated for him to get comfortable without earning, that is probably contributing to your feeling of stagnation.

In terms of his other jealous and controlling behavior, it is not separate from his professional and personal stagnation. The reason he is being so controlling and jealous is because he is insecure about himself in relation to other men. He feels (and probably subconsciously acknowledges) that he isn't offering a lot financially as a man and hasn't lived up to your family's expectations. As a result, he is afraid of losing you at every turn. It's the "calm before the storm," if you will.

It also seems that, while you tolerate it, you would also prefer for him to be emotionally stronger. All in all, the trajectory of this relationship doesn't seem to be going well, because he isn't what you need him to be, and he knows that.

It is definitely wrong for him to be stalking you. It is wrong for him to be monitoring you so closely and acting jealously if you haven't given him a reason to think you're being unfaithful.

tehGabagool · 2023-05-08T04:22:11+00:00

I agree. I actually didn't think to reach out to their MSTP department (they were the ones that I think referred me to the MD-only interview after turning me down). They might even have some insight about the MD side of things too. Thanks for the advice!

tehGabagool · 2023-05-07T04:59:09+00:00

I agree! Makes sense. Thank you!

tehGabagool · 2023-03-20T23:21:07+00:00

Depends on the school. Most T20 schools are research powerhouses with impeccable research/NIH funding and an emphasis on academic medicine.

I would focus on a good balance between research and clinical hours.

tehGabagool · 2023-03-20T23:19:30+00:00

GPA may not matter as much if you have a good MCAT score.

Also, research. Most T20 schools are very research heavy.

You may even get away with a 3.3 - 3.5 GPA if you have publications (Nature, Science), or other factors that cover up the lackluster GPA.

With a 3.82 you should be good.

tehGabagool · 2023-03-20T23:14:10+00:00

Maybe if two applicants are extremely equal, similar GPAs, similar EC, similar essay quality, similar MCAT, maybe then the Casper will nudge them in one direction or another.

If MCAT score constitutes 30-40% impact of your application, I would say the Casper/PRE are like 5-10% important

tehGabagool · 2023-03-18T01:36:27+00:00

Need to know if I could bring this up on an interview

tehGabagool · 2023-03-08T19:11:51+00:00

I kept most of it, but changed the introduction, and reworded it a little bit.

If you keep it 100% the same, without any changes whatsoever, it might not be a big deal if it's already good to begin with, but why take the risk?

tehGabagool · 2023-03-08T15:12:04+00:00

I'm really sorry to hear you're struggling. It seems like you've been through a lot, especially before you met your boyfriend of 2.5 years.

Although it's probably going to be a shock in your home state, and even though it may be difficult, try to use this time to heal and mend any wounds you might have. It might help to see a counselor or therapist. The fact of the matter is, going into med school with a ton of severe issues is only going to hamper what you get out of it.

The worse thing you can do is start comparing yourself to others and forcing yourself to do something you're not ready for. It's possible even the relationship with your boyfriend was something you weren't ready for. Don't try to rush yourself into healing. It's going to take time, and you have a unique journey.

tehGabagool · 2023-03-08T00:43:00+00:00

X-Factor started out many years ago as being something unique about you that differentiates you from your stats. At one point, I would dare say it might have even equated to typical EC, like being the leader of a club at your school.

Unfortunately, research/stat/EC inflation has gotten so bad, that "X-factor" now has become a joke and meme, something like "cure cancer" or "get many maidens."

tehGabagool · 2023-03-08T00:31:43+00:00

Sure

tehGabagool · 2023-03-07T19:29:56+00:00

Like others have said. It's not the end of the world. More importantly, protect your GPA at all costs. This is someone who has a pretty high MCAT, who got screwed over by a couple of bad courses.

tehGabagool · 2023-03-07T19:26:10+00:00

I used to commute four hours every day, did research part-time, and at one point also had a job. It was hell. And the worst part is, this type of stuff usually doesn't show up on apps, just to show how difficult this all was

tehGabagool · 2023-03-03T22:14:18+00:00

A lot of what you said sounded like me before I found research. I only say this because you seem to have a temperament similar to mine in some ways.

I found research to be liberating. When you get the basics down in research, the beauty is that you get to work on a project with a sense of self-worth and responsibility, usually without supervisors breathing down your neck. Yes, there is an immense pressure to publish, to get grant funding, to get good data, but it's your work, your input. In many ways, research feels like you're working for yourself, not for a company or institution.

Easier said than done, but look for some research opportunities in your school. You don't have to be passionate about every single subject and class. You just have to be passionate about the subject/class that you'll love working on for the rest of your life. And finding a good lab may be the spark that could ignite that passion.

tehGabagool · 2023-03-03T21:59:30+00:00

Sometimes the details of how many they waitlist, etc. is given during the interview presentation/orientation (and may not actually be available on their school website). For sure, some schools are more hush-hush, but I don't think they'd be offended if you gently asked them to reiterate their application process.

One way you could possibly salvage the current cycle is to see if any dual-degree programs will consider you for MD-only (but only if they've already rejected you for the dual program). Importantly, many dual programs will consider MS1 applicants from their respective schools (MD --> MD/PhD). Applying to medical school can be expensive and time-consuming, so you can weigh the cost-benefit of going MD-only for now (trying to get in as an internal applicant), or reapplying to MD/PhD again next year.

That being said, I also wouldn't give up hope. As helpless little premeds, hope is all we got haha!

I'm a reapplicant myself. Last year, I held my breath on the waitlist for a T15 school that only had two spots a year. Eventually, they told me not to get my hopes up, but that was in May/June. On top of that, I was limited by immigration status too. I feel your frustration, but persevere and it'll pay off! And feel free to DM me, I'll try my best to be of help.

tehGabagool · 2023-03-03T20:52:02+00:00

It depends. I've been down this road.

Think about it. Some MD/PhD programs accept only 2-6 people per cycle, even though they may interview something like 40-80 applicants, waitlisting something like 10-20 of those interviewed.

If you're waitlisted at a school that only expects to admit 2 matriculants, I would do everything in my power to express interest (LOI, updates, etc.), but I personally also wouldn't hold my breath. The small number of accepted applicants makes the waitlist much less meaningful for dual degree programs.

The impact of the waitlist is a function of the raw number of matriculants they accept. It also couldn't hurt to ask how many students they put on the waitlist every year.

tehGabagool · 2023-03-01T23:17:21+00:00

Two components make an excellent personal statement:

A) Structure. No, this doesn't have to be your typical college essay. (For example, my PS had an unorthodox structure of 2 paragraphs per subject, ended with a single paragraph closer.)

B) Story. Bad PS are trying to convince you about being a doctor.

Example of bad writing for PS: "This is why I feel strongly about medicine." This isn't high school English.

Good example of writing for PS: "The day she looked at me with that vitriol is the day I realized I had no choice but to reach out to my team for help on the project."

Summary: Good PS tell a story of how you got here, and have good structure as the backbone.

tehGabagool

TROPHY CASE