| line spread function | A measure of the ability of a system to form sharp images; in radiology, determined by measuring the spatial density distribution on film of the X-ray image of a narrow slit in a dense metal, such as uranium; from this can be calculated the modulation transfer function. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| point-spread function | <microscopy> The mathematical representation of the image of a point source. For a diffraction-limited optical system operating in the absence of aberrations, the point-spread function is the Airy disk. See: three-dimensional diffraction pattern. (05 Aug 1998) |
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| metastatic spread | <oncology> Process of development of secondary tumours. Involves local invasion (in most cases), passive transport, lodgement and proliferation at a remote site. (18 Nov 1997) |
| common vehicle spread | Spread of disease agent from a source that is common to those who acquire the disease, e.g., water, milk, air, syringe contaminated by infectious or noxious agents. (05 Mar 2000) |
| spread | 1. To extend in length and breadth, or in breadth only; to stretch or expand to a broad or broader surface or extent; to open; to unfurl; as, to spread a carpet; to spread a tent or a sail. "He bought a parcel of a field where he had spread his tent." (Gen. Xxxiii. 19) "Here the Rhone Hath spread himself a couch." (Byron) 2. To extend so as to cover something; to extend to a great or grater extent in every direction; to cause to fill or cover a wide or wider space. "Rose, as in a dance, the stately trees, and spread Their branches hung with copious fruit." (Milton) 3. To divulge; to publish, as news or fame; to cause to be more extensively known; to disseminate; to make known fully; as, to spread a report; often acompanied by abroad. "They, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country." (Matt. Ix. 31) 4. To propagate; to cause to affect great numbers; as, to spread a disease. 5. To diffuse, as emanations or effluvia; to emit; as, odouriferous plants spread their fragrance. 6. To strew; to scatter over a surface; as, to spread manure; to spread lime on the ground. 7. To prepare; to set and furnish with provisions; as, to spread a table. "Boiled the flesh, and spread the board." (Tennyson) To sprad cloth, to unfurl sail. Synonym: To diffuse, propogate, disperse, publish, distribute, scatter, circulate, disseminate, dispense. Origin: OE. Spreden, AS. Spraedan; akin to D. Spreiden, spreijen, LG. Spreden, spreen, spreien, G. Spreiten, Dan. Sprede, Sw. Sprida. Cf. Spray water flying in drops. 1. To extend in length and breadth in all directions, or in breadth only; to be extended or stretched; to expand. "Plants, if they spread much, are seldom tall." (Bacon) "Govrnor Winthrop, and his associates at Charlestown, had for a church a large, spreading tree." (B. Trumbull) 2. To be extended by drawing or beating; as, some metals spread with difficulty. 3. To be made known more extensively, as news. 4. To be propagated from one to another; as, the disease spread into all parts of the city. 1. Extent; compass. "I have got a fine spread of improvable land." (Addison) 2. Expansion of parts. "No flower hath spread like that of the woodbine." (Bacon) 3. A cloth used as a cover for a table or a bed. 4. A table, as spread or furnished with a meal; hence, an entertainment of food; a feast. 5. A privilege which one person buys of another, of demanding certain shares of stock at a certain price, or of delivering the same shares of stock at another price, within a time agreed upon. 6. <geometry> An unlimited expanse of discontinuous points. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| acquired platelet function defect | <haematology> Platelet function can be affected by a number of different disease processes including polycythaemia vera, leukaemia, myelofibrosis, renal failure, multiple myeloma and some medications (for example penicillins, salicylates, phenothiazines). Disturbed blood clotting can be manifested by: easy bruising, bleeding gums, nosebleeds, abnormal vaginal bleeding, rectal bleeding, skin rash, vomiting blood, coughing up blood or blood in the urine. A measure of bleeding time and coagulation profile will be part of the evaluation. (29 Dec 1997) |
| allomeric function | The combined function of the several segments of the spinal cord and medulla, communicating with each other by means of the white matter. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aperture function | <microscopy> In a diffraction-limited optical system, the function that determines the relationship between the image and each point in the object. Modifying the aperture function changes the image according to the modified Fourier-filtering (or optical filtration) property of the aperture. (05 Aug 1998) |
| arousal function | The ability of a sensory event to arouse the cortex to vigilance or readiness. (05 Mar 2000) |
| atrial function | The haemodynamic and electrophysiological action of the atria. (12 Dec 1998) |
| atrial function, left | The haemodynamic and electrophysiological action of the left atrium. (12 Dec 1998) |
| atrial function, right | The haemodynamic and electrophysiological action of the right atrium. (12 Dec 1998) |
| atrial transport function | The role of the atria in filling and stretching the ventricles by their presystolic contraction, without which the force of ventricular contraction and hence the cardiac output may significantly decrease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pancreatic function tests | Tests based on the biochemistry and physiology of the exocrine pancreas and involving analysis of blood, duodenal contents, feces, or urine for products of pancreatic secretion. (12 Dec 1998) |
| mapping function | In linkage analysis, a formula that converts the recombination fraction (which is on the probability scale) into map distance (in morgans). (05 Mar 2000) |
| ventricular function | The haemodynamic and electrophysiological action of the ventricles. (12 Dec 1998) |