Biphasic
Encyclopedia
A biphasic system is one which has two phases
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Phase (matter)
In the physical sciences, a phase is a region of space , throughout which all physical properties of a material are essentially uniform. Examples of physical properties include density, index of refraction, and chemical composition...
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- In the physical sciences, a liquid water and steam system would represent a biphasic system. See phase (matter)Phase (matter)In the physical sciences, a phase is a region of space , throughout which all physical properties of a material are essentially uniform. Examples of physical properties include density, index of refraction, and chemical composition...
. - In chronobiologyChronobiologyChronobiology is a field of biology that examines periodic phenomena in living organisms and their adaptation to solar- and lunar-related rhythms. These cycles are known as biological rhythms. Chronobiology comes from the ancient Greek χρόνος , and biology, which pertains to the study, or science,...
, biphasic sleep refers to a nap or siesta in addition to the usual sleep episode at night. Monophasic sleep means just one sleep episode per day. - In psychiatryPsychiatryPsychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
it may refer to a sigmoidal curveSigmoid functionMany natural processes, including those of complex system learning curves, exhibit a progression from small beginnings that accelerates and approaches a climax over time. When a detailed description is lacking, a sigmoid function is often used. A sigmoid curve is produced by a mathematical...
that goes downward as the axis increases because a competing behavior is impeding. This competing behavior is called stereotypyStereotypyA stereotypy is a repetitive or ritualistic movement, posture, or utterance, found in people with mental retardation, autism spectrum disorders, tardive dyskinesia and stereotypic movement disorder. Stereotypies may be simple movements such as body rocking, or complex, such as self-caressing,...
. Stereotypy is when an individual or an animal do simple tasks over and over (ex: experimental rat making circles for several hours). - Biphasic diseaseBiphasic disease- List of biphasic diseases :* Anthrax* Atopic dermatitis* Bartonellosis* Dengue fever* Insulitis* Kyasanur Forest disease* Leptospirosis* Nephropathia epidemica* Reye's syndrome* TBEV * Theiler's virus* Trichinosis* Tuberculosis...