| fast neutrons | Neutrons, the energy of which exceeds some arbitrary level, usually around one million electron volts. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| fast pyrolysis | Thermal conversion of biomass by rapid heating to between 450> To 600>C in the absence of oxygen. (05 Dec 1998) |
| fast ray | <microscopy> The fast ray or fast component for a crystal or fibre corresponds to the lower refractive index. (05 Aug 1998) |
| fast smear | A cytologic smear containing material from the vaginal pool and pancervical scrapings, mixed and prepared on one microscopic slide, smeared, and fixed immediately; used principally for routine screening of ovaries, endometrium, cervix, vagina, and hormonal states. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Kluver-Barrera Luxol fast blue stain | <technique> In combination with cresyl violet, a stain useful for demonstrating myelin and Nissl substance. (05 Mar 2000) |
| liquid-metal fast-breeder reactor | <physics> Fission breeder reactor concept using liquid-metal coolant and breeding additional fuel off fast neutrons. See: breeder reactor. (09 Oct 1997) |
| Luxol fast blue | Name for a group of closely related copper phthalocyanin dyes used as stains (with PAS, PTAH, haematoxylin, silver nitrate, etc.) for myelin in nerve fibres. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Rambourg's chromic acid-phosphotungstic acid stain | <technique> A stain for glycoproteins, used with an electron microscope, with which ultrathin tissue sections reveal complex carbohydrates in the same locations as shown by Rambourg's periodic acid-chromic methenamine-silver stain. (05 Mar 2000) |
| a1-acid glycoprotein | <biology> Plasma protein of mammals and birds, 38% carbohydrate. In humans a single chain glycoprotein of 39 kD. Increased levels are associated with inflammation, pregnancy and various diseases. (18 Nov 1997) |
| abscisic acid | <biochemistry> A lipid hormone that inhibits cell growth in plants, it is associated with fruit drop, leaf death and seed dormancy. It is synthesised in the plastids from carotenoids. This hormone helps plants deal with water loss, and its effects can be reversed with gibberellins. (06 May 1997) |
| abscisic acid 8'-hydroxylase | <enzyme> Catalyses conversion of abscisic acid to 8'-hydroxyabscisic acid, which rearranges to phaseic acid Registry number: EC 1.14.99.- Synonym: aba 8'-hydroxylase (26 Jun 1999) |
| acetic acid | <chemical> The acid most commonly associated with vinegar, it is the most commercially important organic acid and is used to manufacture a wide range of chemical products, such as plastics and Acetobacter but, except for making vinegar, is usually made through synthetic processes. Derivatives of acetic acid which may be formed by substitution reactions. Mono- and di-substituted, as well as, halogenated compounds have been synthesised. Experimentally, alpha- and n2- substituted acetic acids have been examined for their anti-inflammatory activity and effect on the central nervous system respectively. Additionally, limited exposure data has been collected on dibromo and dichloroacetic acids to determine whether they pose health effects. Synonym: ethanoic acid. (26 Jun 1999) |
| acetoacetic acid | CH3COCH2COOH;one of the ketone bodies, formed in excess and appearing in the urine in starvation or diabetes. Synonym: diacetic acid. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acetohydroxamic acid | C2H5NO2; N-Hydroxyacetamide;an inhibitor of urease, used as adjunctive therapy in chronic urea-splitting urinary infections. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acetrizoic acid | <chemical> A water-soluble, iodinated radiographic contrast medium, used as sodium acetrizoate in hysterosalpingography. Pharmacological action: contrast media. Chemical name: Benzoic acid, 3-(acetylamino)-2,4,6-triiodo- (12 Dec 1998) |