| eddy-current loss | <radiobiology> Energy loss due to eddy currents circulating in a resistive material. (09 Oct 1997) |
|---|---|
| tooth loss | The failure to retain teeth as a result of disease or injury. (12 Dec 1998) |
| functional visual loss | An apparent loss of visual acuity or visual field with no substantiating physical signs; often due to a natural concern about visual loss combined with suggestibility and a fear of the worst; best treated with reassurance. (05 Mar 2000) |
| loss cone | In a magnetic mirror machine, particles with a large velocity parallel to the magneitc field and a small velocity perpendicular to the field will be able to escape past the magnetic mirror (see magnetic mirror). In that case the velocity distribution function (see distribution function) will be almost zero in the region of velocity space that allows particles to escape. The shape of that region (in a velocity space diagram with parallel velocity and perpendicular velocity as the axes) is a cone. When a particle undergoes a collision, its velocity gets somewhat randomised. Particles that are scattered into that cone are lost very quickly (in one mirror bounce time). Thus it is called a loss cone. Because of the loss cone, the theoretical maximum particle confinement time of a magnetic mirror machine can be only a few times the particle collision time, this is generally seen as a showstopper for mirror-based fusion research. (09 Oct 1997) |
| loss of consciousness | Total unresponsiveness. An important neurologic sign. (27 Sep 1997) |
| loss of heterozygosity | Refers to a mutation that results in the loss of allelic uniqueness, which is often defined as a greater than or equal to 40 percent increase in signal intensity of allelic signal. Loss of heterozygosity is most frequently identified in certain chromosome regions, including 5q, 17p, and 18q. (12 Dec 1998) |
| adrenal weight factor | A postulated substance of adenohypophysial origin responsible for maintenance of the weight of the adrenal cortex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| apothecaries' weight | An obsolescent system of weights based upon the weight of a grain of wheat. Has been used for centuries in weighing medicines and precious metals (Troy measure). Some drugs which have been available for long periods are still often designated as grains (e.g., 5 grains of aspirin, 1/2 grain of codeine, 1/100 grain nitroglycerin). This weight system has been largely superseded by the metric system (based on grams). One grain is the equivalent of 64.8 milligrams. One scruple contains 20 grains; one dram contains 60 grains; one apothecary ounce contains 8 drams (480 grains); one apothecary pound contains 12 ounces (5760 grains). (05 Mar 2000) |
| atomic weight | <chemistry> The average weight of an atom of an element, i.e. The total mass of protons and neutrons in an atom. (09 Oct 1997) |
| birth weight | In humans, the first weight of an infant obtained within less than the first 60 completed minutes after birth; a full-size infant is one weighing 2500 g or more; a low birth weight is less than 2500 g. (05 Mar 2000) |
| body-weight ratio | Body weight (in grams) divided by stature (in centimeters). (05 Mar 2000) |
| gram-atomic weight | Atomic weight expressed in grams. Compare: mole. (05 Mar 2000) |
| gram-molecular weight | Molecular weight expressed in grams. Compare: mole. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Clark's weight rule | An obsolete rule for an approximate child's dose, obtained by dividing the child's weight in pounds by 150 and multiplying the result by the adult dose. (05 Mar 2000) |
| molecular weight | The sum of the atomic weight's of all the atoms constituting a molecule; the mass of a molecule relative to the mass of a standard atom, now 12C (taken as 12.000). Relative molecular mass (Mr) is the mass relative to the dalton and has no units. See: atomic weight. Synonym: molecular mass, molecular weight ratio, relative molecular mass. (05 Mar 2000) |