| zero energy thermonuclear assembly | <radiobiology> A British fusion device in which scientists observed fusion neutrons in 1958. They were erroneously considered to be thermonuclear (coming from particles with a Maxwellian velocity distribution) and were a cause for the initial optimism that fusion energy would be easy. They were actually due to electromagnetic acceleration during a plasma instability, an effect which cannot be scaled up to produce useful energy. (09 Oct 1997) |
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| zero gravity | A physical state existing in space or at a time in flight when the centrifugal thrust of a parabolic glide or turn exactly counteracts the force of gravity. (05 Mar 2000) |
| zero time-binding DNA | DNA that has become the duplex form at the start of a reassociation process. Acronym: DNA (05 Mar 2000) |
| accelerated reaction | A response occurring in a shorter time than expected; the cutaneous manifestations occurring during the period between the second and tenth day following smallpox vaccination; because it is intermediate between a primary reaction and an immediate reaction, it is regarded as evidence of some degree of resistance. Synonym: vaccinoid reaction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acid reaction | Any test by which an acid reaction is recognised such as the change of blue litmus paper to red, an excess of hydrogen ions over hydroxide ions in aqueous solution indicated by a pH value less than 7 (at 22캜). Compare: dissociation constant of water. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute-phase reaction | <immunology, rheumatology> Refers to the changes in synthesis of certain proteins within the serum during an inflammatory response, which provides rapid protection for the host against microorganisms via non-specific defense mechanisms. It consists of fever, an increase in inflammatory humoral factors, and an increased synthesis by hepatocytes of a number of proteins or glycoproteins usually found in the plasma; the reaction is mediated by endogenous pyrogens, the hypothalamus, adrenal hormones, and other factors. (12 Jul 2000) |
| acute situational reaction | An acute emotional reaction related to extreme environmental stress. Synonym: acute situational reaction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute stress reaction | A sudden bout of anxiety that is often accompanied by the features of hyperventilation (tingling around mouth and in fingertips, rapid breathing, faintness or fainting). (27 Sep 1997) |
| addition reaction | <chemistry> Any reaction in which two chemicals combine to form a single chemical. (15 Jan 1998) |
| adverse drug reaction reporting systems | Systems developed for collecting reports from government agencies, manufacturers, hospitals, physicians, and other sources on adverse drug reactions. (12 Dec 1998) |
| adverse reaction | Any undesirable or unwanted consequence of a preventive, diagnostic, or therapeutic procedure or regimen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| agar-gel reaction | <immunology> The reaction between an antibody and an antigen during an immunology lab procedure where the two are allowed to diffuse toward each other through an agar-gel medium. Lines of precipitation form in the places on the gel where the two react with each other and shows where the reaction has occurred. (09 Oct 1997) |
| alarm reaction | The various phenomena, e.g., stimulated endocrine activity, which the body exhibits as an adaptive response to injury or stress; first phase of the general adaptation syndrome. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aldehyde reaction | The reaction of the indole derivatives with aromatic aldehydes; e.g., tryptophan and p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde in H2SO4 give a red-violet colour useful in assaying proteins for tryptophan content. Synonym: Ehrlich reaction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alkaline reaction | Any test by which an alkaline reaction is recognised, such as the change of red litmus paper to blue, an excess of hydroxide ions over hydrogen ions in aqueous solution as indicated by a pH value greater than 7 (at 22캜). Compare: dissociation constant of water. Synonym: basic reaction. (05 Mar 2000) |