| CSF | cancer family syndrome; cerebrospinal fluid; cold stability factor; colony-stimulating factor; coron... |
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| DRF | Daily Rating Form; daily replacement factor; Deafness Research Foundation; dose reduction factor |
| EDF | eosinophil differentiation factor; erythroid differentiation factor; extradural fluid |
| EIF | erythrocyte initiation factor; eukaryotic initiation factor |
| FF | degree of fineness of abrasive particles; fat-free; father factor; fecal frequency; fertility factor... |
| duty factor | <radiobiology> Ratio of the duration of time when a system is actually operating to the total time for a complete cycle of the system. For example: if a tokamak experiment runs for 5 seconds and then sits for 500 seconds while the power supplies are recharged, then the duty factor is 1%. Similar to capacity factor for powerplants. Synonym: duty cycle. (09 Oct 1997) |
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| q-factor | <radiobiology> Ratio of power produced by fusion to power put into the reactor to heat the plasma and drive the magnetic fields. Q = 1 is the definition of scientific breakeven, where power out = power in. Economical fusion will require Q significantly greater than 1. Fortunately Q increases dramatically as the plasma parameters approach the Lawson criterion for ignition. Power to drive the magnetic fields is frequently ignored in discussions of Q, with the justification that a steady-state, continuous-output fusion reactor will have superconducting magnet coils. (15 Dec 1997) |
| quality factor | <radiobiology> (Q) A multiplying factor used with absorbed dose to convert to dose equivalent and therefore to express the radiation's effectiveness in causing biological effects. (16 Dec 1997) |
| inhibition factor | <growth factor> A soluble, nondialysable factor that is produced by sensitised lymphocytes following exposure to a specific antigen. It inhibits macrophage migration and causes adherence. It was originally defined on the basis of inhibition of emigration of mononuclear cells from capillary (haematocrit) tubes, more recently a 13 kD protein with migration inhibitory activity has been isolated. Acronym: MIF Synonym: inhibition factor. (22 Sep 2002) |
| initiation factor | One of several soluble proteins involved in the initiation of protein or RNA synthesis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| insulin activating factor | <chemical> Activates insulin gene transcription in pancreatic beta cells. Synonym: insaf (05 Dec 1998) |
| insulin-antagonizing factor | A principle in extracts of the anterior lobe of the hypophysis that raises the blood sugar and antagonises the action of insulin; purified pituitary growth hormone produces an identical effect. Synonym: insulin-antagonizing factor. (05 Mar 2000) |
| insulin like growth factor | <growth factor> Insulin like growth factors I and II are polypeptides with considerable sequence similarity to insulin. They are capable of eliciting the same biological responses, including mitogenesis in cell culture. On the cell surface, there are two types of insulin like growth factor receptor, one of which closely resembles the insulin receptor (which is also present). Insulin like growth factor I = somatomedin A = somatomedin C Insulin like growth factor II = MSA (Multiplication stimulating activity). Insulin like growth factor 1 is released from the liver in response to growth hormone. Acronym: IGF (18 Nov 1997) |
| insulin-like growth-factor-binding proteins | A family of soluble proteins that bind insulin-like growth factors and modulate their biological actions at the cellular level. (int j gynaecol obstet 1992;39(1):3-9) (12 Dec 1998) |
| insulin-like growth factor I | <chemical> A well-characterised basic peptide believed to be secreted by the liver and to circulate in the blood. It has growth-regulating, insulin-like, and mitogenic activities. This growth factor has a major, but not absolute, dependence on somatotropin. It is believed to be mainly active in adults in contrast to insulin-like growth factor II, which is a major foetal growth factor. Chemical name: Insulin-like growth factor I (12 Dec 1998) |
| insulin-like growth factor II | <chemical> A well-characterised neutral peptide believed to be secreted by the liver and to circulate in the blood. It has growth-regulating, insulin-like and mitogenic activities. The growth factor has a major, but not absolute, dependence on somatotropin. It is believed to be a major foetal growth factor in contrast to insulin-like growth factor I, which is a major growth factor in adults. Chemical name: Insulin-like growth factor II (12 Dec 1998) |
| integrin modulating factor 1 | <chemical> A lipid that alters the function of leukocyte integrins; may be an unsaturated fatty acid or an isoprenoid acid Synonym: imf 1, imf-1 (05 Dec 1998) |
| intrinsic factor | A mucoprotein normally secreted by the epithelium of the stomach and that binds vitamin B12, the intrinsic factor/B12 complex is selectively absorbed by the distal ileum, though only the vitamin is taken into the cell. (18 Nov 1997) |
| osteoclast activating factor | A lymphokine that stimulates bone resorption and inhibits bone-collagen synthesis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| T-cell growth factor | <cytokine> A hormone-like substance released by stimulated T lymphocytes, causes activation and differentiation of other T lymphocytes independently of antigen. A type of interleukin, a chemical messenger, a substance that can improve the body's response to disease. It stimulates the growth of certain disease-fighting blood cells in the immune system. It is secreted by Thl CD4 cells to stimulate CD8 cytotoxic T-1yrnphocytes. Interleukin 2 also increases the proliferation and maturation of the CD4 cells themselves. During HIV infection, Interleukin-2 production gradually declines. Use of interleukin 2 therapy is under study as a way to raise CD4 cell counts and restore immune function. Acronym: IL-2 (12 Dec 1998) |