Category: L

A statistical tool used to help determine the usefulness of a diagnostic test for including or excluding a particular disease. An LR = 1 suggests that the test ordered neither helps to diagnose the disease in question nor helps to rule it out. Higher LRs increase the probability that the disease will be present; LRs…

A saturated, naturally occurring fatty acid, C24H4g02, present in certain foods, including peanuts.  

A stylet that transilluminates the soft tissues of the neck. It is used in endotracheal intubation.  

A foot-candle, or the amount of light 1 ft from a standard candle. The ideal amount of light required for work varies with the specific type of work being done. The term foot-candle took the place of candle power, but light intensity in the International System of Units is indicated by lumen.  

A colloquial term for the first stage of non- rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. It is sometimes also applied to the second stage of NREM sleep.  

That stage of photosynthesis in which photons are captured by cells and used to supply the energy needed to synthesize carbohydrates. Chlorophyll is the light-trapping molecule of most plants. Bacteriochlorophyll is a related compound used by bacteria to capture the energy supplied by light.  

Any of the rules that, if followed, could reduce the deaths that occur from electrocution due to lightning. During a lightning storm one should remain indoors but not near open doors, fireplaces, radiators, or appliances. Plug-in electric equipment (e.g., hair dryers, electric toothbrushes, or electric razors) should not be used. One should not take laundry…

The discharge of atmospheric electricity from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth. About 100 lightning strokes hit the earth every second. In the U.S. each year, about 500 to 1000 people are struck by lightning; between 150 and 300 of these die as a result of being struck.  

The feeling of dizziness or of being about to faint; a nonspecific symptom of many conditions, including for example, anemia, anxiety, cardiac rhythm disturbances, fever, low blood pressure, many infections, and some drugs.  

One of the three parts of visual function, the other parts being color sense and form sense. It is tested by visual field examination.