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A process of making physical objects directly from digital models, usually layer by layer; also known as additive manufacturing (AM). 3D printing has been hailed by many as the technology that will revolutionize how we live. As information…

A viral disease of humans caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which attacks and compromises the body's immune system. Individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) proceed through a spectrum of stages that ultimately…

Habituation to a specific practice, such as drinking alcoholic beverages or using drugs (for example, heroin, cocaine, or amphetamines), and disorders characterized by the chronic use of a drug, alcohol, or similar substance. Addiction and addictive…

Malfunctions of the paired adrenal glands. The paired adrenal glands are complex endocrine organs in proximity to the kidneys (see illustration), and disorders of the adrenal glands can have serious consequences. Under specific circumstances,…

Any disorder of recognition. Agnosia is a rare neurological condition in which an individual fails to recognize and identify persons or objects (see illustration). Typically, agnosia is the result of damage to specific areas of the brain.…

A disease of the nervous system characterized by a progressive dementia that leads to profound impairment in cognition and behavior. Dementia occurs in a number of brain diseases where the impairment in cognitive abilities represents a decline from…

A significant, yet relatively selective loss of memory. Amnesia is a type of memory loss, often resulting from brain disease or injury (see illustration). The inability to remember can be temporary or permanent. In general, amnesia can be…

Loss of sensation with or without loss of consciousness. Anesthesia is used to prevent pain during surgery and other medical procedures. There are several ways of producing anesthesia, with the choice dependent on the type of surgery and the medical…

A disorder of language acquired as a result of brain disease. Aphasia is impairment in the use of spoken or written language caused by brain disorders (see illustration) that cannot be explained by paralysis or incoordination of the articulatory…