| kininogen, high-molecular-weight | A plasma protein, molecular weight of 110 kD, that normally exists in plasma in a 1:1 complex with prekallikrein. Hmwk is split by plasma kallikrein to produce bradykinin. The complex is a cofactor in the activation of coagulation factor xii. The product of this reaction, xiia, in turn activates prekallikrein to kallikrein. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| unit of weight | See: unit of mass. (05 Mar 2000) |
| back pain, low | Symptoms in the low back can relate to the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen, and the skin covering the lumbar area. The low back, or lumbar area, functions in structural support, movement, and protection of certain body tissue. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blood sugar, low | The sugar here is glucose. Low blood glucose constitutes hypoglycaemia. Hypoglycaemia is only significant when it is associated with symptoms. It has many causes including drugs, liver disease, surgical absence of the stomach, pre-diabetes, and rare tumours that release excess insulin. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cardiac output, low | A state of subnormal or depressed cardiac output, usually seen in patients with heart failure secondary to coronary artery, hypertensive, primary myocardial, valvular, or pericardial disease. (12 Dec 1998) |
| very low density lipoprotein | <biochemistry> A lipoprotein substances (combination of a fat and a protein) which acts as a carrier for cholesterol and fats (particularly triglycerides) in the bloodstream. Elevations in very low density lipoprotein in the bloodstream are associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. Acronym: VLDL (18 Nov 1997) |
| Castellani-Low sign | <clinical sign> A fine tremor of the tongue observed in sleeping sickness. (05 Mar 2000) |
| mean lower low water | <marine biology> The average height of the lower low waters over a 19-year period. For shorter periods of observations, corrections are applied to eliminate known variations and reduce the result to the equivalent of a mean 19-year value. (09 Oct 1997) |
| mean low water | <marine biology> The average height of the low waters over a 19-year period. For shorter periods of observations, corrections are applied to eliminate known variations and reduce the result to the equivalent of a mean 19-year value. All low-water heights are included in the average where the type of tide is either semidiurnal or mixed. Only the lower low-water heights are included in the average where the type of tide is diurnal. So determined, mean low water in the latter case is the same as mean lower low water. (09 Oct 1997) |
| placenta, low | Location of the placenta in the lower part of the uterus (womb) so that the placenta partially or completely covers the cervix. Also known as a placenta previa. (12 Dec 1998) |
| ear, low-set | A minor anomaly involving an ear situated down below its normal location. Technically, the ear is low-set when the helix (of the ear) meets the cranium at a level below that of a horizontal plane through both inner canthi (the inside corners of the eyes). The presence of 2 or more minor anomalies in a child increases the probability that the child has a major malformation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| low | 1. Occupying an inferior position or place; not high or elevated; depressed in comparison with something else; as, low ground; a low flight. 2. Not rising to the usual height; as, a man of low stature; a low fence. 3. Near the horizon; as, the sun is low at four o'clock in winter, and six in summer. 4. Sunk to the farthest ebb of the tide; as, low tide. 5. Beneath the usual or remunerative rate or amount, or the ordinary value; moderate; cheap; as, the low price of corn; low wages. 6. Not loud; as, a low voice; a low sound. 7. Depressed in the scale of sounds; grave; as, a low pitch; a low note. 8. Made, as a vowel, with a low position of part of the tongue in relation to the palate; as, (m), (all). 9. Near, or not very distant from, the equator; as, in the low northern latitudes. 10. Numerically small; as, a low number. 11. Wanting strength or animation; depressed; dejected; as, low spirits; low in spirits. 12. Depressed in condition; humble in rank; as, men of low condition; the lower classes. "Why but to keep ye low and ignorant ?" (Milton) 13. Mean; vulgar; base; dishonorable; as, a person of low mind; a low trick or stratagem. 14. Not elevated or sublime; not exalted or diction; as, a low comparison. "In comparison of these divine writers, the noblest wits of the heathen world are low and dull." (Felton) 15. Submissive; humble. "Low reverence." 16. Deficient in vital energy; feeble; weak; as, a low pulse; made low by sickness. 17. Moderate; not intense; not inflammatory; as, low heat; a low temperature; a low fever. 18. Smaller than is reasonable or probable; as, a low estimate. 19. Not rich, high seasoned, or nourishing; plain; simple; as, a low diet. Low is often used in the formation of compounds which require no special explanation; as, low-arched, low- browed, low-crowned, low-heeled, low-lying, low-priced, low-roofed, low-toned, low-voiced, and the like. Low Church. See High Church, under High. Low Countries, the Netherlands. Low German, Low Latin, etc. See German, Latin, etc. Low life, humble life. Low milling, a process of making flour from grain by a single grinding and by siftings. Low relief. See Bas-relief. <medicine> Low side window, a contrivance of various forms attached to a boiler for giving warning when the water is low. Low water mark, that part of the shore to which the waters recede when the tide is the lowest. Low wine, a liquor containing about 20 percent of alcohol, produced by the first distillation of wash; the first run of the still; often in the plural. Origin: OE. Low, louh, lah, Icel. Lagr; akin to Sw. Lag, Dan. Lav, D. Laag, and E. Lie. See Lie to be prostrate. 1. In a low position or manner; not aloft; not on high; near the ground. 2. Under the usual price; at a moderate price; cheaply; as, he sold his wheat low. 3. In a low mean condition; humbly; meanly. 4. In time approaching our own. "In that part of the world which was first inhabited, even as low down as Abraham's time, they wandered with their flocks and herds." (Locke) 5. With a low voice or sound; not loudly; gently; as, to speak low. "The . . . Odourous wind Breathes low between the sunset and the moon." (Tennyson) 6. With a low musical pitch or tone. "Can sing both high and low." (Shak) 7. In subjection, poverty, or disgrace; as, to be brought low by oppression, by want, or by vice. 8. <astronomy> In a path near the equator, so that the declination is small, or near the horizon, so that the altitude is small; said of the heavenly bodies with reference to the diurnal revolution; as, the moon runs low, that is, is comparatively near the horizon when on or near the meridian. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| low-activation materials | <radiobiology> In fission reactors, one is forced to deal with the radioactive byproducts of the fission process, but in fusion reactors one generally has a choice of what materials to expose to neutrons produced by the fusion process. A major problem for fusion reactors is developing materials (such as for the reactor vacuum vessel structure) which can be exposed to high levels of neutron bombardment without becoming permanently radioactive. Candidate structural materials which have relatively low induced radiactivation (generally relative to stainless steel) are known as low-activation materials, these include titanium, vanadium, and silicon-carbide. (09 Oct 1997) |
| low affinity platelet factor IV | Cytokine, produced from platelet basic protein, that acts as a growth factor. (18 Nov 1997) |
| low aspect ratio | <physics> An aspect ratio for a torus that is small (minor radius is almost as big as major radius). There are many fusion devices which are designed to have a low aspect ratio. Such devices look more like tractor tires than bicycle tires, as toruses go. There are reasons to believe that low aspect ratio devices will offer some advantages for a fusion reactor. Usually, ease of theoretical and/or numerical analysis is not one of these advantages. (16 Mar 1998) |