| stability | The quality of maintaining a constant character in the presence of forces which threaten to disturb it, resistance to change. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| global stability | <ecology> The ability of an ecological unit (such as a habitat) or taxonomic unit to withstand great disturbances without being greatly affected. (09 Oct 1997) |
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| second-stability region | <radiobiology> A high pressure region where the plasma becomes stable to the pressure-gradient-driven ballooning instability. The plasma is stable in the limit of small pressure gradients, becomes unstable at some intermediate pressure, and then becomes stable again at still higher pressures. Tokamaks operating in the second-stability region would be more attractive because the higher pressures (beta) would provide more fusion reactivity per unit volume of plasma, allowing smaller reactors to be built. (09 Oct 1997) |
| suspension stability | A very slow sedimentation rate. (05 Mar 2000) |
| suydam stability criterion | <physics> A criterion for the stability of modes localised arbitrarily close to a mode-rational surface in a circular cylindrical geometry. See: rational surface. (19 Jan 1998) |
| denture stability | The quality of a denture to be firm, steady, constant, and resist change of position when functional forces are applied. Synonym: stabilization. (05 Mar 2000) |
| detrusor stability | A detrusor that accommodates increasing bladder volume without significant increase in detrusor pressure and without involuntary detrusor contraction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dimensional stability | The property of a material to retain its size and form. (05 Mar 2000) |
| endemic stability | A situation in which all factors influencing disease occurrence are relatively stable, resulting in little fluctuation in disease incidence over time; changes in one or more of these factors (e.g., reduction in proportion of individuals with immunity from exposure to infectious agent) can lead to an unstable situation in which major disease outbreaks occur. Synonym: enzootic stability. (05 Mar 2000) |
| enzootic stability | A situation in which all factors influencing disease occurrence are relatively stable, resulting in little fluctuation in disease incidence over time; changes in one or more of these factors (e.g., reduction in proportion of individuals with immunity from exposure to infectious agent) can lead to an unstable situation in which major disease outbreaks occur. Synonym: enzootic stability. (05 Mar 2000) |
| enzyme stability | The extent to which an enzyme retains its structural conformation or its activity when subjected to storage, isolation, and purification or various other physical or chemical manipulations, including proteolytic enzymes and heat. (12 Dec 1998) |
| foam stability test | A test for foetal pulmonary maturity, determined by the ability of pulmonary surfactant in amniotic fluid to generate stable foam in the presence of ethanol after mechanical agitation. Synonym: shake test. (05 Mar 2000) |