| Bayesian hypothesis | An array of surmised values of a parameter to be severally explored in the light of a current set of data, with logical symmetry being preserved among all. The merits of each hypothesis entertained are based on quantity, the prior probability. The probability of the data conditional on the hypothesis is computed as the conditional probability for each; the product of the two for each hypothesis is the joint probability, and the ratio of each joint probability to the sum of all the joint probabilities is the posterior probability for that hypothesis. Unlike the Neyman-Pearson test of hypotheses, the answer is a statement about the hypothesis, not about the sample conditional on the hypothesis. No hypothesis is preferred or prevails by default. The procedure may be applied recursively any number of times, as the data becomes available. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| Bayle's disease | <neurology> Slight or incomplete paralysis. Origin: Gr. = relaxation (18 Nov 1997) |
| Bayle, Antoine | <person> French physician, 1799-1858. See: Bayle's disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Bayley Scales of Infant Development | A psychological test used to measure the developmental progress of infants over the first two and one-half years of life; consists of three scales: mental, motor, and behaviour record. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Bayley, Nancy | <person> U.S. Psychologist, *1899. See: Bayley Scales of Infant Development. (05 Mar 2000) |
| baylisascariasis | The disease caused by nematode parasites of the genus Baylisascaris; migrating larvae of the raccoon parasite B. Procyonis can cause a severe disease of the central nervous system in a variety of wild and domestic animal species and, rarely, in human beings; human disease has been manifested as either a fatal eosinophilic meningoencephalitis or a diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Baylisascaris | A genus of ascarid nematodes found in the intestine of mammals. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Baylisascaris procyonis | A large roundworm commonly found in raccoons; has been the cause of human visceral larva migrans and ocular larva migrans, following accidental ingestion of embryonated Baylisascaris procyonis eggs in faeces of infected raccoons. Central nervous system tissue following systemic migration by larvae of Baylisascaris is thought to be due to cytotoxic eosinophil ungranule proteins released by the migration of these larvae. Can cause severe disease in a variety of wild and domestic animal species and in human beings. See: visceral larva migrans. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bayonet | An instrument having a blade or nib that is offset and parallel to the shaft. Origin: Fr. Bayonette, fr. Bayonne, France, where first made (05 Mar 2000) |
| bayonet forceps | Forceps with offset blades, such as those for use through an otoscope. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bayonet hair | A spindle-shaped developmental defect occurring at the tapered end of the hair. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bayou | A marshy inlet or outlet of a lake, river, etc., also a backwater. (09 Oct 1997) |