| mini | A moderate-sized computer that can serve many users in a department, or one dedicated to a complex computational function such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging; smaller and slower than a mainframe, more complex and powerful than a personal computer. Origin: It. Miniatura, decoration of manuscripts, fr. L. Minium, red lead (05 Mar 2000) |
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| miniature end plate potential | <physiology> Small fluctuations (typically 0.5 mV) in the resting potential of postsynaptic cells. They are the same shape as, but much smaller than, the end plate potentials caused by stimulation of the presynaptic cell. Miniature end plate potentials are considered as evidence for the quantal release of neurotransmitters at chemical synapses, a single miniature end plate potential resulting from the release of the contents of a single synaptic vesicle. (12 Jan 1998) |
| miniature scarlet fever | A reaction consisting of fever, nausea, vomiting, and a transient scarlatiniform rash that appears in a susceptible person when injected with the toxin of Streptococcus pyogenes. Origin: L. Minio, pp. Atus, to colour with minium, red-lead (05 Mar 2000) |
| miniature stomach | at different points along the dogs' digestive tracts, the russian physiologist ivan petrovich pavlov (1848-1936) surgically created pockets ( pavlov pouches ) from which he could obtain secretions, the aim being to study the physiology of the digestive tract. He did so from the salivary glands down to the stomach, liver and pancreas with considerable success and in 1904 (the 4th year it was awarded) he received the nobel prise for his work on the physiology of digestion, through which knowledge on vital aspects of the subject has been transformed and enlarged. (12 Dec 1998) |
| minibrain kinase | <enzyme> A cell type-specific kinase expressed and required in distinct neuroblast proliferation centres during postembryonic neurogenesis in drosophila; shares extensive sequence similarities with kinases involved in the regulation of cell division; genbank x70794 Registry number: EC 2.7.10.- Synonym: minibrain gene product, mnb gene product (26 Jun 1999) |
| minicell | <molecular biology> Spherical fragment of a bacterium produced by abnormal fission and not containing a bacterial chromosome. (18 Nov 1997) |
| minichromosome | 1. <cell biology> Certain viruses complex with the histones of the host eukaryote cells they have infected to form a chromatin structure resembling a small chromosome. 2. <molecular biology> A plasmid that contains a chromosomal origin of replication. Origin: Gr. Soma = body (18 Nov 1997) |
| minicomputers | Small computers that lack the speed, memory capacity, and instructional capability of the full-size computer but usually retain its programmable flexibility. They are larger, faster, and more flexible, powerful, and expensive than microcomputers. (12 Dec 1998) |
| minilaparotomy | Technique for sterilization by surgical ligation of the fallopian tubes, performed through a small suprapubic incision. (05 Mar 2000) |
| minim | 1. Anything very minute; as, the minims of existence; applied to animalcula; and the like. 2. The smallest liquid measure, equal to about one drop; the sixtieth part of a fluid drachm. 3. <zoology> A small fish; a minnow. 4. A little man or being; a dwarf. 5. One of an austere order of mendicant hermits of friars founded in the 15th century by St. Francis of Paola. 6. A time note, formerly the shortest in use; a half note, equal to half a semibreve, or two quarter notes or crotchets. 7. A short poetical encomium. Origin: F. Minime, L. Minimus the least, smallest, a superl. Of minor: cf. It. Minima a note in music. See Minor, and cf. Minimum. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| minimal | Smallest or least, the smallest possible. Origin: L. Minimus = least (18 Nov 1997) |
| minimal air | The volume of gas that remains in the lungs and cannot be expelled after they have been removed from the body, or after the chest has been opened. (05 Mar 2000) |
| minimal alveolar concentration | The end-alveolar concentration of an inhalation anaesthetic which prevents somatic response to a painful stimulus in 50% of individuals; an index of relative potency of inhalation anaesthetics. Synonym: minimal anaesthetic concentration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| minimal amplitude nystagmus | Nystagmus of so small an amplitude that it is not detected by the usual clinical tests. Synonym: minimal amplitude nystagmus. Origin: micro-+ G. Nystagmos, a nodding (05 Mar 2000) |
| minimal anaesthetic concentration | The end-alveolar concentration of an inhalation anaesthetic which prevents somatic response to a painful stimulus in 50% of individuals; an index of relative potency of inhalation anaesthetics. Synonym: minimal anaesthetic concentration. (05 Mar 2000) |