Glossary

Those microorganisms that are passively floating or drifting in a body of water.

Term used to describe aquatic microorganisms that float.

Maintenance that is scheduled before it is performed. This includes Preventive and Predictive Maintenance.

A clear zone in a bacterial culture grown on an agar plate caused by localized destruction of bacterial cells by a bacteriophage. Applying the fluid to a culture and counting the number of plaques formed can estimate the concentration of infective virus in a fluid.

The liquid portion of blood in which the cellular elements are suspended. As a fresh liquid obtained by centrifugation, plasma is a clear, amber-colored solution containing eight to nine percent solids; of these, 85 percent are proteins while the other components are the lipids that include the neutral fats, fatty acids, lecithin, and cholesterol. Also present are sodium, chloride and bicarbonate, potassium, calcium and magnesium. A most essential function of plasma is the maintenance of blood pressure and the exchange with tissue of nutrients for waste. Contains fibrinogen.

A cell derived from a B-lymphocyte and solely responsible for the production of antibodies. Each plasma cell forms only one type of antibody and is characterized by an eccentric nucleus, a prominent Golgi zone, bulky basophilic cytoplasm (due to an extensive endoplasmic reticulum) and large numbers of mitochondria.

The physical barrier that surrounds the cytoplasm of all cells. It is composed of lipid, protein, and carbohydrate and is semi-permeable.

The proteins found in plasma, usually divided into albumin, globulin and fibrinogen fractions.

The process of separating certain cells from the plasma in the blood by a machine; only the cells are returned to the person. Plasmapheresis can be used to remove excess antibodies from the blood.

A technique used to separate useful factors from blood.

Self-replicating, extrachromosomal circular DNA molecules found in the cytoplasm of cells (naturally in bacteria and some yeasts), distinct from the normal bacterial genome and nonessential for the cell survival under nonselective conditions. Some plasmids are capable of integrating into the host genome. A number of artificially constructed plasmids are used as cloning vectors for introducing up to 10,000 base-pairs of foreign DNA into recipient cells.

A small piece of DNA of bacterial origin capable of independent reproduction within a host organism. Most genetic manipulations are performed on plasmids.

(EMEA – CHMP) A material that contains one or more organic macromolecular compounds obtained by polymerization, polycondensation or polyaddition or any other similar process from molecules with a lower weight or by chemical alteration of natural macromolecules as an essential ingredient. Elastomers and natural and synthetic rubber are not within the scope of this guideline.

A chemical component of plastics to make them softer and more flexible.

High molecular weight polymers or copolymers. The wide range in physical properties of polymeric materials allows for utilization as elastomers, fibers, adhesives, rigid castings, composites, and laminates. ASTM D883 defines a plastic as a material that contains as an essential ingredient, one or more organic polymeric substances of large molecular weight, is solid in its finished state, and, at some stage in its manufacture into finished articles, can be shaped by flow. Plastics, or more appropriately polymers, are composed primarily of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, silicon, chlorine, fluorine, and nitrogen, in various combinations and permutations.Plastics are grouped into two categories:1.Thermoplastics: can be melted, cooled and remelted without destroying the physical or mechanical characteristics of the polymer. This property permits components to be molded or extruded. Thermoplastic polymers include: Chlorinated Vinyls, Fluorinated plastics, Ketone, Nitrile, Nylon, Polyamide-imide, Polyolefin, Polycarbonate, and Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). 2.Thermosets: begin as a liquid or powder that through chemical reaction with a second reactant or through catalyzed polymerization result in anew product with characteristics different from either starting material. Thermoset resins include: Epoxy, Phenolic, Polyurethane, Silicone, Urea and Melamine, Polyester, Vinyl ester, Furan, Bisphenol A fumarate.

The hardware and software which must be present and functioning for an application program to run (perform) as intended. A platform includes, but is not limited to the operating system or executive software, communication software, microprocessor, network, input/output hardware, any generic software libraries, database management, user interface software, and the like.

A reasonable route of potential exposure.

Programmable Logic Controller

An automated system with analog capability as well as binary (discrete). PLCs must be equipped with a digital interface to a “front end” computer for data collection and for programmer interface.

Any automated system using a Programmable Logic Controller as its primary controller.

Programmable Logic Device

One gene that causes many different physical traits such as multiple disease symptoms.

The plural of plenum.