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plasma
plasma
The Oxford Companion to the Body
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2001
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© The Oxford Companion to the Body 2001, originally published by Oxford University Press 2001. (Hide copyright information)
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plasma is the liquid component that accounts for about 55% of the volume of
blood and in which are suspended the 45% taken up by cellular elements. When the two components are separated by centrifuge, using a test tube sample of blood treated to prevent clotting, the plasma separates as a yellowish layer. Plasma is different from
serum — the fluid which is extruded when blood is allowed to clot — because some plasma constituents take part in clot formation. Plasma is about 95% water, with dissolved or suspended substances ranging from simple chemicals to complex protein molecules and fat particles. Its osmolarity (close to 300 milliosmoles/litre) and pH (close to 7.4) are closely controlled; likewise the main anions (chloride, bicarbonate) and cations (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium) and the major
proteins (albumin and globulins). Nutrients (glucose,
fatty acids,
amino acids) and the nitrogenous waste product urea, vary more in their concentration, along with meals and metabolic activity. Other substances in much smaller concentration are equally important, such as the
hormones, factors required for coagulation, and trace elements. Plasma is continually exchanging its constituents, apart from the large proteins, with all tissue fluids across capillary walls; it is also continually ‘sampled’ and its composition corrected by the
kidneys, which partially filter it off from the blood at a rate of 2–3 times the whole 2–3 litres of circulating plasma every hour, process it, and restore it to the circulation — except for about 1% which forms the urine.
Stuart Judge
See
blood;
body fluids;
kidneys.
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Plasma in the Digital Studio.
Magazine article from: EMedia, The Digital Studio Magazine; 11/1/2002; ; 700+ words
; ...of projectors and plasmas in my garage, and...s image. But a plasma's image remains...screening room. Plasmas may not be light...t even 60-inch plasma into their office...distant future when plasmas would cost around...Taiwan 42-inch plasma from Sampo, the...
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Plasma treatment: boosts adhesion.
Magazine article from: Adhesives & Sealants Industry; 5/1/2004; ; 700+ words
; ...about the benefits of plasma treatment, such as higher...low-pressure vacuum plasmas have been used to treat...density atmospheric plasma for film, foil, paper...density atmospheric plasma represents a new generation...technology. It allows plasmas to be sustained at atmospheric...
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Plasma vs. LCD: which display is right for your studio or boardroom? (Presentations).
Magazine article from: AV Video Multimedia Producer; 9/1/2002; ; 700+ words
; ...them another advantage over plasma screens: resolution. "Bight...can't produce a 30-inch plasma with that resolution." LCDs...that LCDs have an edge over plasma in terms of resolution. "Almost all the 40- to 42-inch plasmas that are on the market have...
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Plasma Panel Shipment Growth Decelerates.
M2 Presswire; 3/25/2009; 700+ words
; ...PRESSWIRE-25 March 2009-iSuppli Corp: Plasma Panel Shipment Growth Decelerates(C...The long-dreaded slowdown in the plasma panel market now is at hand, with shipment...2008, according to iSuppli Corp. Global plasma panel shipments will increase by a mere...
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Plasmas for surface modification and coatings: plasma processing as part of the manufacturing process has an important role to play in enhancing surface properties. This case study describes its use in a diagnostic blood sensor.(marketplace)
Magazine article from: Medical Device Technology; 1/1/2004; 700+ words
; ...the surface. Principles of plasma processing Plasma is often described as the...thousand degrees Kelvin. Plasmas may be divided into two categories...Variants of nonequilibrium plasma are atmospheric plasmas, for example, corona treatment...
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Plasma treatment: the better bond. (plastic processing)
Magazine article from: Plastics Technology; 10/1/1992; ; 700+ words
; ...print on or stick to. Plasma is also used to treat...them more dispersible. Plasmas were first used commercially...treatment from microwave plasma on a bumper could mean...microwave-generated plasmas. Gerhard Winter, general manager of Technics Plasma (which uses only microwaves...
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Plasma processing equipment for minimum damage and chamber contamination.
Magazine article from: Solid State Technology; 2/1/1991; ; 700+ words
; Plasma Processing Equipment for Minimum Damage...free, noncontaminating environment for plasma processing, in consonance with the philosophy...substrates as well as the time-average plasma potential distribution must be well controlled...
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Hexafluoropropylene plasmas: polymerization rate-reaction parameter relationships.
Magazine article from: Polymer Engineering and Science; 10/1/1996; ; 700+ words
; ...biocompatibility, and chemical resistance. Fluorocarbon plasmas, however, are also widely used for plasma etching. Finding a comprehensive description...plasma is especially complex for fluorocarbon plasmas since the role of etching is more significant...
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 "Post-Tribune (IN)")
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Futuristic 'plasma incinerator' seen as waste cure-all
Newspaper article from: Post-Tribune (IN); 10/30/2005; ; 700+ words
; ...commissioner calling for a Northwest Indiana plasma stream incinerator may as well be thinking of the "plasma rifle in the 40-watt range" that Arnold...In 1985 and even now, they don't have plasma rifles. And plasma incinerators may be...
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Plasma sources for high-rate etching of SiC.(MEMS)(microelectromechanical systems, silicon carbide)
Magazine article from: Solid State Technology; 5/1/2005; ; 700+ words
; ...to patterning SiC is to use plasma-based dry etching. However, plasma etch applications (used for...5] for inductively coupled plasmas (ICP). For through-wafer...achieved, then other possible plasma etch applications become more...
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Plasma
Encyclopedia entry from: The Gale Encyclopedia of Science
Plasma Plasma is defined differently depending on whether one is involved with chemistry...ionized gas. Both descriptions will be discussed in more detail below. Plasma is the liquid (fluid) portion of blood which is about 90% water and...
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Plasma Membrane
Book article from: Biology
Plasma Membrane Plasma membranes envelop all plant and animal cells and all single-celled...similarities and differences, in turn, are reflected in the ways in which plasma membranes carry out their functions, facilitating solute transport...
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plasma
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
plasma in physics, fully ionized gas of low density, containing approximately...electrically conductive and is affected by magnetic fields. The study of plasma, called plasma physics, is especially important in research efforts to produce a controlled...
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Plasma Renin Activity
Encyclopedia entry from: Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed.
Plasma Renin Activity Definition Renin is an enzyme released by the...potassium balance, fluid volume, and blood pressure. Purpose Plasma renin activity (PRA), also called plasma renin assay, may be used to screen for high blood pressure...
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inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry
Book article from: A Dictionary of Earth Sciences
inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry Technique for the...and the charged species present in the plasma . Argon gas is passed through the field producing a toroidal (doughnut-shaped) plasma at temperatures of over 5000°...
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