| ionic strength | Symbolised as g/2 or I and set equal to 0.5σmizi2, where mi equals the molar concentration and zi the charge of each ion present in solution; if molar concentrations (ci) are used instead of molality (and the solution is dilute), then I == 0.5(1/ρo)σcizi2 where ρo is the density of the solvent; a number of biochemically important events (e.g., protein solubility and rates of enzyme action) vary with the ionic strength of a solution. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| tensile strength | The maximum stress a material subjected to a stretching load can withstand without tearing. (12 Dec 1998) |
| yield strength | The amount of stress at which a permanent (plastic) deformation in a component becomes measurable (usually taken as 0.2% permanent strain). (05 Mar 2000) |
| ultimate strength | The maximum stress achieved prior to failure of a component on a single application of the load. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fatigue strength | The stress level below which a particular component will survive an indefinite number of load cycles (typically about 50% of the ultimate strength of the component). (05 Mar 2000) |
| aneurysmal cough | Cough due to impingement of an aortic aneurysm on the recurrent laryngeal nerve or other nearby structures. (05 Mar 2000) |
| brassy cough | Loud metallic barking cough caused by subglottic oedema. (05 Mar 2000) |
| reflex cough | A cough excited reflexly by irritation in some distant part, as the ear or the stomach. (05 Mar 2000) |
| weaver's cough | An obsolete term for cough, dyspnea, and sense of constriction of the chest, caused in persons working with mildewed yarns. (05 Mar 2000) |
| whooping cough | <paediatrics> A bacterial infection that has become quite rare due to effective and widespread vaccination programs (DPT vaccine). Only about 4, 500 cases are reported annually in the U.S. Can present as a mild or severe illness. Symptoms include runny nose, low-grade fever, conjunctivitis and a characteristic cough. Coughing spells end in a whoop caused by the forceful inspiration of air. (13 Nov 1997) |
| whooping-cough vaccine | See: diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid, and pertussis vaccine. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cough | <clinical sign> A rapid expulsion of air from the lungs typically in order to clear the lung airways of fluids, mucus, or material. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cough fracture | <orthopaedics> A fracture of a rib or cartilage, usually the fifth or seventh, from vigorous coughing. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cough reflex | <chest medicine, neurology, physiology> The reflex which mediates coughing in response to irritation of the larynx or tracheobronchial tree. Synonym: laryngeal reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cough suppressant | <pharmacology> A medication which acts to suppress the cough reflex. Examples include codeine and dextromethorphan. (27 Sep 1997) |