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porphyria

n. a metabolic disorder involving the excretion of excessive or abnormal porphyrins (breakdown products of hemoglobin) in the urine. The acute intermittent form is characterized by abdominal pain, nausea, weakness or paralysis of the extremities, and psychiatric symptoms, such as irritability, depression, agitation, and delirium.

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Psychology term of the day

September 8th 2024

drift

drift

n.

1. a reduction in variation in genetic traits that can occur when sampling from continually smaller groups, such that some traits ultimately become excluded from possibility.

2. a reduction in the reliability of technical instruments orin the accuracy of observers over time. See instrument drift; observer drift.