| ignition temperature |
<radiobiology> For given values of density and energy confinement, the temperature at which ignition occurs. (see ignition above)
(09 Oct 1997) |
| optimum temperature |
The temperature at which any operation, such as the culture of any special microorganism, is best carried on.
(05 Mar 2000) |
| temperature |
<chemistry> Temperature is proportional to the average random kinetic energy of ideal gases.
(09 Jan 1998) |
| temperature coefficient |
The fractional change in any physical property per degree rise in temperature.
(05 Mar 2000) |
| temperature-compensated vaporiser |
A vaporiser of liquid anaesthetics with graduated settings calibrated to deliver a known constant concentration of a specific anaesthetic despite changes in inflow volume and despite cooling brought about by vaporization.
(05 Mar 2000) |
| temperature midpoint |
The midpoint in the change in optical properties (absorbance, rotation) of a structured polymer (e.g., DNA) with increasing temperature.
Synonym: melting temperature.
(05 Mar 2000) |
| temperature, plasma |
<radiobiology> A measure of the random (thermal) kinetic energy of the ions or electrons in the plasma. The temperature of each component of a plasma depends on the mean kinetic energy of that component. An example of this is the fluorescent light bulb, which is an example of a weakly-ionised plasma where the electrons are at temperatures of tens of thousands of degrees, whereas the ions and neutrals are much cooler (so that you can touch the bulb without being burned).
See: atomic temperature, electron temperature, ion temperature.
(09 Oct 1997) |
| temperature sense |
The sensation of cold, heat, coolness, and warmth.
(12 Dec 1998) |
| temperature-sensitive mutant |
A viral mutant that is able to replicate at one portion of a temperature range but not at another, the parent (wild type) strain being able to replicate over the whole temperature range.
Compare: cold-sensitive mutant, quick-stop mutant.
(05 Mar 2000) |
| temperature sensitive mutation |
<genetics, molecular biology> A type of conditional mutation in organism, somatic cell or virus that makes it possible to study genes whose total inactivation would be lethal. Such ts mutations can also make possible studies of the effect of reversible switching by temperature changes) in expression of the mutated gene. The usual mechanism of temperature sensitivity is that the mutated gene codes for a protein with a temperature dependent conformational instability, so that it possesses normal activity at one temperature (the permissive temperature), but is inactive at a second (nonpermissive) temperature.
(18 Nov 1997) |
| temperature spot |
One of a number of definitely arranged spot's on the skin sensitive to heat and cold, but not to ordinary pressure or pain stimuli.
(05 Mar 2000) |
| effective temperature |
A comfort index or scale which takes into account the temperature of air, its moisture content, and movement.
(05 Mar 2000) |
| effective temperature index |
A composite index of environmental comfort which is compared after exposure to different combinations of air temperature, humidity, and movement.
(05 Mar 2000) |
| transition temperature |
<chemistry> The temperature at which there is a transition in the organisation of, for example: the phospholipids of a membrane where the transition temperature marks the shift from fluid to more crystalline. Usually determined by using an Arrhenius plot of activity against the reciprocal of absolute temperature, the transition temperature being that temperature at which there is an abrupt change in the slope of the plot. In membranes such phase transitions tend to be inhibited by the presence of cholesterol.
(18 Nov 1997) |
| equivalent temperature |
The temperature of a thermally uniform enclosure in which, under still air conditions, a "sizable" black body loses heat at the same rate as in the nonuniform environment.
(05 Mar 2000) |
