shimming
| Zeeman effect | The splitting of spectral lines into three or more symmetrically placed lines when the light source is subjected to a magnetic field. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| Fenn effect | The increased liberation of heat in a stimulated muscle when it is allowed to do mechanical work; the amount of heat liberated is increased in proportion to the distance the muscle is allowed to shorten and in proportion to the tension it must develop (e.g., the weight it lifts) during shortening; thus increased chemical energy is consumed both to liberate increased heat and to do increased mechanical work. (05 Mar 2000) |
| zygotic effect gene | <genetics> A gene whose phenotype is dependent on the genotype of the zygote, rather than the genotype of the mother. See: maternal effect gene. (18 Nov 1997) |
| late effect | Side effects of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy which only become apparent with long-term monitoring of the patient over a period of years. These are of particular concern in patients below the age of puberty. (18 Nov 1997) |
| founder effect | The establishment of a new population by a few original founders (in an extreme case, by a single fertilized female) which carry only a small fraction of the total genetic variation of the parental population [Ernst Mayr, 1963]. The result is that a given allele, gene, chromosome, or part of a chromosome found in members of the population can be traced back to one ancestral individual. (09 Oct 1997) |
| accelerated phase of leukaemia | Refers to chronic myelogenous leukaemia that is progressing. The number of immature, abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow and blood is higher than in the chronic phase, but not as high as in the blast phase. (12 Dec 1998) |
| acceleration phase | <cell biology, cell culture> A period of increasing growth before the log phase in a culture of microbes. After the culture is started on a medium, at first there is no growth (the lag phase) and then the microbes start to gradually grow (acceleration phase) until they reach a constant maximum rate of growth (log phase). (15 Jan 1998) |
| acute-phase protein | <haematology> These plasma proteins (in addition to fibrinogen) increase 25% or more in response to inflammation and injury are under direct control of interleukin-6 (IL-6) (hepatocyte-stimulating factor). Other proteins which increase are ceruloplasmin, C3 and C4 which increase 50% or more; alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, alpha-1 antitrypsin, haptoglobin and fibrinogen (the major determinant of viscosity 1 ) which increase two- to fourfold; C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A which increase several hundred-fold. Despite long-held clinical opinion to the contrary, available data indicate that neither ESR nor measurement of specific acute-phase reactants are useful in excluding underlying infection or inflammation regardless of the pretest probability. These proteins are secreted into the blood in increased or decreased quantities by hepatocytes in response to trauma, inflammation, or disease. They can serve as inhibitors or mediators of the inflammatory processes. Certain acute-phase proteins have been used to diagnose and follow the course of diseases or as tumour markers. See also: amyloid, c-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, viscosity. (25 Jun 1999) |
| acute-phase reaction | <immunology, rheumatology> Refers to the changes in synthesis of certain proteins within the serum during an inflammatory response, which provides rapid protection for the host against microorganisms via non-specific defense mechanisms. It consists of fever, an increase in inflammatory humoral factors, and an increased synthesis by hepatocytes of a number of proteins or glycoproteins usually found in the plasma; the reaction is mediated by endogenous pyrogens, the hypothalamus, adrenal hormones, and other factors. (12 Jul 2000) |
| anal phase | In psychoanalytic personality theory, the stage of psychosexual development, occurring when a child is between 1 and 3 years, during which activities, interests, and concerns are centreed around the anal zone. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aqueous phase | The water portion of a system consisting of two liquid phase's, one mainly water, the other a liquid immiscible with water (e.g., benzene, ether). (05 Mar 2000) |
| blast phase | Refers to advanced chronic myelogenous leukaemia. In this phase, the number of immature, abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow and blood is extremely high. Also called blast crisis. (12 Dec 1998) |
| g0 phase | Phase of the cell cycle where cells exist in a quiescent state. These cells have unduplicated DNA, degraded RNA and protein, and low enzyme activity. The ability to switch between g0 and g1 (and vice versa) determines the post-embryonic cell proliferation rate and is defectively controlled in neoplastic cells. (12 Dec 1998) |
| g1 phase | <cell biology, molecular biology> The period during interphase in the cell cycle between mitosis and the S phase (when DNA is replicated). Also known as the decision period of the cell, because the cell decides to divide when it enters the s phase. The G stands for gap. (09 Oct 1997) |
| g2 phase | <cell biology, molecular biology> The period during interphase in the cell cycle between the S phase (when DNA is replicated) and mitosis (when the nucleus, then cell, divides). at this time, the cell checks the accuracy of DNA replication and prepares for mitosis. The G stands for gap. (09 Oct 1997) |