| developmental milestones | <paediatrics> (1-3 years) In ascending order: masters walking, recognises gender differences, uses up to 8 words and understands simple commands, able to run, pivot and walk backwards, uses spoon to feed self, can name pictures of common objects, can point to body parts, imitates speech of others, begins pedaling tricycle, learns to take turns in play with other children, able to feed self neatly with minimal spill, able to say first and last name, able to draw a line when shown, dresses self with minimal help, learns to share toys without parent direction (12-18 years) In ascending order: boys exhibit secondary sexual characteristics (chest, facial, axillary and pubic hair growth voice changes, penile enlargement), movement into adult height/weight category, cognitive abilities move from simply concrete to abstract, peer acceptance and recognition is vital (3-6 years) In ascending order: rides tricycle well, able to draw a circle, able to draw stick figures, hops on one foot, catches a bounced ball, understands size concepts, enjoys rhymes and word play, able to skip, increased independence in performing tasks without parental assistance, begins to ride bicycle, understands time concepts, begins to recognise written words, starts reading skills, starts school (6-12 years) In ascending order: understands and is able to follow sequential directions, beginning skills for team sports, begins to lose baby teeth and erupt permanent teeth, reading skills develop further, peer recognition becomes important, girls begin to demonstrate secondary sexual characteristics (pubic hair, axillary hair, breast development), first menstrual period may occur (birth-1 year) In ascending order: displays social smile, rolls over by self, able to sit alone without support, babbling, plays peek-a-boo, eruption of first tooth, pulls self to standing position, walks while holding on to furniture or other support, says mama or dada in proper situations, able to drink from cup, understands NO and will stop activity in response, walks without support (27 Sep 1997) |
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| developmental psychology | The study of the psychological, physiological, and behavioural changes in an organism that occur from birth to old age. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ACE level | <investigation> This is a blood test which measures the concentration of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in the bloodstream. Elevations in angiotensin-converting enzyme are seen sarcoidosis, histoplasmosis, alcoholic cirrhosis, asbestosis, berylliosis, diabetes, Hodgkin's disease, hyperthyroidism, amyloidosis, primary biliary cirrhosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary embolism, scleroderma, silicosis, tuberculosis, Gaucher's disease and leprosy. The normal values are 18 to 67 U/ml over 20 years of age (people under 20 have higher levels). (15 Jan 1998) |
| acoustic reference level | The biological reference level for sound measurements. When the term decibel is used to indicate the noise level, a reference quantity is implied; this reference value is usually expressed as a sound pressure of 20 micronewtons per square meter. The reference level is referred to as 0 decibels, the baseline of the scale of noise level's; this baseline is considered the weakest sound that can be heard by a person with very good hearing in an extremely quiet location. Other equivalent reference level's still being used include 0.0002 microbar and 0.0002 dyne per square centimeter. (05 Mar 2000) |
| background level | The average amount of a substance present in the environment. Originally referring to naturally occurring phenomena. Used in toxic substance monitoring. (05 Dec 1998) |
| blood porphyrin level | A test which is used to measure red blood cell porphyrin levels. Porphyrins are pigments found in both animal and plant life. This test is useful in evaluating any number of porphyrin disorders (involving the various porphyrins) of red blood cells. Increased levels of coproporphyrins can indicate congenital erythropoietic porphyria or sideroblastic anaemia. Increased protoporphyrins may be seen in infection, thalassaemia, sideroblastic anaemia, iron deficient anaemia, increased erythropoiesis and lead poisoning. Increased uroporphyrins may indicate congenital erythropoietic porphyria or erythropoietic protoporphyria. (27 Sep 1997) |
| carbon dioxide blood level | A measure of the bicarbonate level in the blood based on a venipuncture specimen. The serum carbon dioxide is one of the normally reported values in the electrolytes profile. Lower levels of carbon dioxide indicate an acidosis. The normal level is 20 to 29 mEq/L. Lower than normal levels can indicate diabetic ketoacidosis, lactic acidosis, alcoholic ketoacidosis, kidney disease, renal failure, diarrhoea, Addison's disease, ethylene glycol poisoning or methanol poisoning. Greater than normal levels can be seen with excessive vomiting, hyperaldosteronism and Cushing's syndrome. (27 Sep 1997) |
| vasopressin level | This test measures the amount of ADH in the serum. It is used to detect disorders that may affect the level of ADH in the serum. Normal values are: 0 to 4.7 pg/ml. Elevated ADH levels can indicate a CNS infection, fluid imbalance, CNS tumour, SIADH or acute porphyria. Low levels can indicate: diabetes insipidus or damage to the pituitary gland. (27 Sep 1997) |
| maximum permissible exposure level | The highest level of exposure to a substance, usually noxious, in the environment or during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, that a body can tolerate without injury. (12 Dec 1998) |
| mean sea level | <marine biology> A tidal datum: the arithmetic mean of hourly water elevations observed over a specific 19-year cycle. Points on land can be referenced to a mean sea level, in which case the datum assumes zero elevation. (09 Oct 1997) |
| gray level also gray value | <microscopy> The brightness of pixels in a digitised video image, commonly expressed in integers ranging from 0 (black) to 255 (white) for an 8-bit digital signal. (05 Aug 1998) |
| gray level histogram | <microscopy> In digital image processing, a histogram that depicts the number of pixels at each gray value. The histogram can be used to measure the areas that have given ranges of gray values or to adjust image contrast by histogram stretching or equalisation. See: Image histogram. (05 Aug 1998) |
| Clark's level | The level of invasion of primary malignant melanoma of the skin; limited to the epidermis, I; into the underlying papillary dermis, II; to the junction of the papillary and reticular dermis, III; into the reticular dermis, IV; into the subcutaneous fat, V. The prognosis is worse with each successive deeper level of invasion. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cohb level | A blood test which is performed on an arterial specimen and is a measurement of the amount of carbon monoxide which is present and bound to haemoglobin. This is an important test to diagnosis carbon monoxide toxicity (smoke inhalation). Normal carboxyhaemoglobin may be from 3% to as high as 12% in heavy smokers. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning begin at about 20% carboxyhaemoglobin. (27 Sep 1997) |
| white level | <microscopy> Also reference white level. The IEEE scale, or voltage level, of the video picture signal that corresponds to a specified maximum limit for white peaks. (05 Aug 1998) |