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sensitivity
sensitivity A measure of the weakest signal discernible by a detecting system. The ratio of the amplitude of a signal above the noise level to the amplitude of the noise level itself is known as the signal-to-noise ratio. For most purposes, a minimum signal-to-noise ratio of 1 : 1 is required for the signal to be regarded as definitely detected. In the radio and infrared regions, the use of techniques such as integration, chopping, comparison with a stable laboratory source, and phase-sensitive detection can improve the basic sensitivity of the system by several orders of magnitude.
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"sensitivity." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "sensitivity." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-sensitivity.html "sensitivity." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-sensitivity.html |
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sensitivity
sensitivity
1. The consistency of clay as this is affected by remoulding. The effect depends on the type of clay and the amount of pore water. In a sensitive clay, shear strength is decreased dramatically on remoulding when moisture content remains constant. Sensitivity is measured as the ratio of the unconfined compressive strength to the strength in the remoulded state at the same water content. 2. In chemical analysis, the smallest change in concentration which can be discriminated by the analytical method. |
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AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "sensitivity." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "sensitivity." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-sensitivity.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "sensitivity." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-sensitivity.html |
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sensitivity
sen·si·tiv·i·ty / ˌsensiˈtivitē/ • n. (pl. -ties) the quality or condition of being sensitive: a total lack of common decency and sensitivity | he has a sensitivity to cow's milk. ∎ (sensitivities) a person's feelings which might be easily offended or hurt; sensibilities: the only rules that matter are practical ones that respect local sensitivities. |
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"sensitivity." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "sensitivity." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-sensitivity.html "sensitivity." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-sensitivity.html |
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sensitivity
sensitivity (irritability) One of the fundamental properties of all organisms: the capacity to detect, interpret, and respond to changes in the environment (e.g. the stimuli of light, touch, chemicals, etc.). Multicellular animals have specialized sense organs and effector organs for this purpose; in unicellular organisms, which lack a nervous system, the reception of and response to a stimulus occur in the same cell.
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"sensitivity." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "sensitivity." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-sensitivity.html "sensitivity." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-sensitivity.html |
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sensitivity
sensitivity (sen-sit-iv-iti) n.
1. the degree to which a disease-causing organism responds to treatment by antibiotics or other drugs. 2. a measure of the reliability of a screening test based on the proportion of people with a specific disease who react positively to the test: the higher the sensitivity, the fewer the false negatives. Compare specificity. |
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"sensitivity." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "sensitivity." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-sensitivity.html "sensitivity." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-sensitivity.html |
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sensitivity
sensitivity Of a landscape, the likelihood that a change in the controls of a system will produce a recognizable response. Sensitivity has also been thought of as the ratio of disturbing to resisting forces; the relation of forces to a particular threshold condition; and the ability to recover from a disturbance (see relaxation time).
2. See irritability. |
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "sensitivity." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "sensitivity." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-sensitivity.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "sensitivity." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-sensitivity.html |
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sensitivity
sensitivity See IRRITABILITY.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "sensitivity." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "sensitivity." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-sensitivity.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "sensitivity." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-sensitivity.html |
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