| random variable | A variable that may assume a set of values, each with fixed probabilities or probability densities (its distribution), in such a way that the total probability assigned to the distribution is unity; the random variable may be discrete, continuous, or mixed discrete-continuous. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| random waves | Wave's in the electroencephalogram which occur paroxysmally and asynchronously. (05 Mar 2000) |
| mixed discrete-continuous random variable | <statistics> A random variable that may assume some values with probabilities and others with probability densities. For example, in a 35-year-old man with familial polyposis of the colon, the distribution of time until malignant disease occurs consists of a probability that he already has cancer (which would be assigned the waiting time 0), a probability density of developing it in the future and a probability that he will die of some other cause before he develops cancer. (05 Mar 2000) |
| continuous random variable | Continuous variable that may randomly assume any value in its domain but any particular value has no probability of occurring, only a probability density. (05 Mar 2000) |
| sample, random | A group selected randomly, solely by chance. (12 Dec 1998) |
| pure random drift | That which has random components only with an average value of zero and no systematic effects. Brownian movement in a still container shows pure random drift but in the Mississippi shows a steady downstream tendency. (05 Mar 2000) |
| discrete random variable | A random variable that may assume a countable number of values, each with a probability strictly greater than zero. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ordered on-random off mechanism | A scheme for substrate binding and product release for multisubstrate enzymes; for a two-substrate two-product enzyme with this mechanism, the individuals have to bind to the enzyme in a distinct order; however, once the products are formed they may dissociate from the enzyme in either order. It has been suggested that pyruvate kinase has such a mechanism. The random on-ordered off mechanism is simply the reverse of this mechanism. (05 Mar 2000) |
| A chain | A polypeptide component of insulin containing 21 amino acyl residues, beginning with a glycyl residue (NH2-terminus); insulin is formed by the linkage of an A chain to a B chain by two disulfide bonds; the amino-acid composition of the A chain is a function of species. Synonym: glycyl chain. In general, one of the polypeptides in a multiprotein complex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alpha chain disease | A vague or indefinite term; could be used for alpha-heavy-chain disease (a lymphoplasma cell proliferative disease usually seen in Mediterranean men, characterised by intestinal involvement with steatorrhoea, often progressive with fatal outcome) or a thalassaemia (a genetic abnormality in the alpha globin chain of haemoglobin). (05 Mar 2000) |
| amino acids, branched-chain | Amino acids which have a branched carbon chain. (12 Dec 1998) |
| B chain | A polypeptide component of insulin containing 30 amino acyl residues, beginning with a phenylalanyl residue (NH2-terminus); insulin is formed by the linkage of a B chain to an A chain by two disulfide bonds; the amino-acid composition of the B chain is a function of species. Synonym: phenylalanyl chain. (05 Mar 2000) |
| behaviour chain | Related behaviours in a series in which each response serves as a stimulus for the next response. (05 Mar 2000) |
| branched chain acyl-CoA oxidase | <enzyme> Enzyme from human liver peroxisomes acts on both 2-methyl branched fatty acyl- and bile acid-CoA intermediates, unlike rat liver peroxisomes which have separate enzymes for branched chain fatty acids (pristanoyl-CoA) and bile acid-CoA; involved in beta-oxidation of fatty acids and bil Registry number: EC 1.3.3.- Synonym: 2-methyl-branched chain acyl-CoA oxidase, hbrcacox (26 Jun 1999) |
| branched-chain fatty-acid-kinase | <enzyme> From anaerobic spirochete ma-2 Registry number: EC 2.7.2.14 Synonym: isovalerate kinase, 2-methylbutyrate kinase, isobutyrate kinase (26 Jun 1999) |