| confocal microscope | <instrument> A microscope that allows the observer to visualise objects in a single plane of focus, thereby creating a sharper image (usually the objects are fluorescent molecules); a refinement of this microscope uses optical sectioning and a computer to record serial sections. This permits three-dimensional reconstruction. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| confocal microscopy | <procedure> A system of (usually) epifluorescence light microscopy in which a fine laser beam of light is scanned over the object through the objective lens. The technique is particularly good at rejecting light from outside the plane of focus and so produces higher effective resolution than is normally achieved. (18 Nov 1997) |
| confocal optics | <microscopy> A (microscope) optical system in which the condenser and objective lenses both focus onto one single point in the specimen. Generally, the image of a pinhole source is focused onto a point in the specimen, and that point is focused by the objective lens onto a point detector or through a mask with a pinhole aperture. With confocal optics, the Abbe limit of resolution can be exceeded since only a limited region of the specimen is viewed at any onetime. (05 Aug 1998) |
| conformation | The three-dimensional arrangement of side groups on a molecule which canfreely rotate into different positions without breaking any bonds. (09 Oct 1997) |
| conformational change | <cell biology> Alteration in the shape usually the tertiary structure of a protein as a result of alteration in the environment pH, temperature, ionic strength) or the binding of a ligand (to a receptor) or binding of substrate (to an enzyme). (18 Nov 1997) |
| conformational map | A graphical representation in which the dihedral angle of rotation about the alpha-carbon to carbonyl-carbon bond in polypeptides is plotted against the dihedral angle of rotation about the alpha-carbon to nitrogen bond. Synonym: conformational map. (05 Mar 2000) |
| conformer | A mold, usually of plastic material, used in plastic surgical repair to maintain space in a cavity or to prevent closing by healing of an artificial or natural opening affected by neighboring surgical repair. Origin: L. Conformo, to fashion (05 Mar 2000) |
| confounding | 1. A situation in which the effects of two or more processes are not separated; the distortion of the apparent effect of an exposure on risk, brought about by the association with other factors that can influence the outcome. 2. A relationship between the effects of two or more causal factors observed in a set of data, such that it is not logically possible to separate the contribution of any single causal factor to the observed effects. (05 Mar 2000) |
| confounding factor | <epidemiology> Factors that can cause or prevent the outcome of interest, are not intermediate variables, and are not associated with the factor(s) under investigation. They give rise to situations in which the effects of two processes are not separated, or the contribution of causal factors cannot be separated, or the measure of the effect of exposure or risk is distorted because of its association with other factors influencing the outcome of the study. (03 Jul 1999) |
| confrontation | The act by the therapist, or another patient in a therapy group, of openly interpreting a patient's resistances, attitudes, feelings, or effects upon either the therapist, the group, or its member(s). (05 Mar 2000) |
| confrontation method | A method of perimetry; the examiner compares the visual fields of the patient with his own by facing the patient who has one eye covered and the other fixed upon the corresponding (confronting) eye of the examiner. The examiner then holds his finger midway between the patient and himself and moves it slowly in different directions until the patient fails to see it. In each instance the finger is moved again toward the original position until it is just seen by the subject. (05 Mar 2000) |
| confusion | Disturbed orientation in regard to time, place or person, sometimes accompanied by disordered consciousness. (18 Nov 1997) |
| confusion colours | A set of colour's (usually of coloured wools), cream, buff, pale blue, gray, brown, green, violet, etc., used in tests for colour blindness. (05 Mar 2000) |
| confusional | Characterised by, or pertaining to, confusion. (05 Mar 2000) |
| congelation | Synonym: freezing. 2. Obsolete term for frostbite. Origin: L. Con-gelo, pp. -atus, to freeze (05 Mar 2000) |