period, in geology, the basic unit of the geologic time scale; during these spans of time specific systems of rocks were formed. Originally, the sequential nature of defining periods was a relative one, originating from the superposition of corresponding stratigraphic sequences and the evidence

George Roy Hill: Film directing: Period of Adjustment (1962) was a light but pleasant romantic comedy starring Jane Fonda, Anthony Franciosa, and Jim Hutton, and Toys in the Attic (1963; based on Lillian Hellman’s drama) featured the unlikely cast of Dean Martin, Geraldine Page, and Wendy Hiller.

Russia: The lands of Rus: …often been called the “Period of Feudal Partition.” This phrase is misleading: feudal is hardly more applicable to the widely varying institutions of this time than to those of the Kievan period, and partition implies a former unity of which there is insufficient evidence. The distinctiveness of the character…

galaxy: The problem of the Magellanic Clouds: …he made use of the period-luminosity (P-L) relation discovered by Henrietta Leavitt of the Harvard College Observatory. In 1912 Leavitt had found that there was a close correlation between the periods of pulsation (variations in light) and the luminosities (intrinsic, or absolute, brightnesses) of a class of stars called Cepheid…

contraception: Fertility awareness techniques: Three procedures can be followed to predict ovulation so that, during the approximately six days of a woman’s most fertile monthly phase, sexual intercourse can be avoided. Their effectiveness is typically about 80 percent but may reach as high as 99 percent,…

space group, in crystallography, any of the ways in which the orientation of a crystal can be changed without seeming to change the position of its atoms. These changes may involve displacement of the whole structure along a crystallographic axis (translation), as well as the point group operations

reproductive behaviour: Natural selection and reproductive behaviour: …favourable rather than less favourable period will eventually dominate succeeding generations. This is the basis for the seasonality of reproduction among most animal species.

periodical cicada, (genus Magicicada), genus of seven species of cicadas known for their unusual highly synchronized life cycles and raucous choruses. Periodical cicadas are native to the eastern and midwestern United States but are not present aboveground every year. In what are among the longest

comet: General considerations: …after the name of a periodic comet denoted its order among comets discovered by that individual or group, but for new comets there would be no such distinguishing number.

election, the formal process of selecting a person for public office or of accepting or rejecting a political proposition by voting. It is important to distinguish between the form and the substance of elections. In some cases, electoral forms are present but the substance of an election is

trigonometry: Trigonometric functions of an angle: …that the trigonometric functions are periodic and have a period of 360° or 180°.

brick and tile: Firing and cooling: In so-called periodic kilns the bricks are placed with sufficient air space to allow the heat from the fires to reach all surfaces. They are placed directly from the drier, and heat is gradually increased until the optimum firing temperature is reached. When they are sufficiently fired,…

atom: Atomic weights and the periodic table: …paper of 1869 introducing the periodic law, he credited Cannizzaro for using “unshakeable and indubitable” methods to determine atomic weights.

periodic motion, in physics, motion repeated in equal intervals of time. Periodic motion is performed, for example, by a rocking chair, a bouncing ball, a vibrating tuning fork, a swing in motion, the Earth in its orbit around the Sun, and a water wave. In each case the interval of time for a

periodic paralysis, any of the forms of a rare disorder that is characterized by relatively short-term, recurrent attacks of muscle weakness. Usually the disorder is inherited; it occurs three times more often in males than in females. Hypokalemic paralysis (often referred to as familial) is caused

celestial mechanics: Examples of perturbations: …longitude of the node are periodic perturbations (periodically changing their direction), which are revealed by the fact that the rate of secular regression of the node is not constant in time. The Sun causes a secular increase in the longitude of the lunar perigee (Ω + ω in Figure 2)…

continental landform: The concept of periodic random dominance: The concept of periodic random dominance as an aspect of landform evolution carries with it the implication of polygenetic landforms and landscapes where geomorphic system dominance fails to develop. Indeed, dominance becomes the special case because it is dependent on a particular juxtaposition of tectonic and/or climatic elements…

periodic table, in chemistry, the organized array of all the chemical elements in order of increasing atomic number—i.e., the total number of protons in the atomic nucleus. When the chemical elements are thus arranged, there is a recurring pattern called the “periodic law” in their properties, in

periodic table, in chemistry, the organized array of all the chemical elements in order of increasing atomic number—i.e., the total number of protons in the atomic nucleus. When the chemical elements are thus arranged, there is a recurring pattern called the “periodic law” in their properties, in

The Periodic Table, collection of memoirs by Primo Levi, published in Italian as Il sistema periodico in 1975 and regarded as his masterwork. It is a cycle of 21 autobiographical stories, each named after and inspired by a chemical element. To Levi, who was a chemist as well as a writer, each

property law: Landlord and tenant: …before the term expires (periodic tenancy). Thus, tenancies can be arranged, for example, from week to week, month to month, or year to year. It is also possible to have a tenancy for no fixed term but subject simply to the will of the landlord and tenant (tenancy at…

magazine, a printed or digitally published collection of texts (essays, articles, stories, poems), often illustrated, that is produced at regular intervals (excluding newspapers). A brief treatment of magazines follows. For full treatment, see publishing: Magazine publishing. The modern magazine

periodical cicada, (genus Magicicada), genus of seven species of cicadas known for their unusual highly synchronized life cycles and raucous choruses. Periodical cicadas are native to the eastern and midwestern United States but are not present aboveground every year. In what are among the longest

rhythm: Theories requiring “periodicity” as the sine qua non of rhythm are opposed by theories that include in it even nonrecurrent configurations of movement, as in prose or plainchant.

sound: The ear as spectrum analyzer: This effect, known as the missing fundamental, subjective fundamental, or periodicity pitch, is used by the ear to create the fundamental in sound radiating from a small loudspeaker that is not capable of providing low frequencies.

reproductive behaviour: Natural selection and reproductive behaviour: …favourable rather than less favourable period will eventually dominate succeeding generations. This is the basis for the seasonality of reproduction among most animal species.

amorphous solid: Distinction between crystalline and amorphous solids: …property called long-range order or translational periodicity; positions repeat in space in a regular array, as in Figure 2A. In an amorphous solid, translational periodicity is absent. As indicated in Figure 2B, there is no long-range order. The atoms are not randomly distributed in space, however, as they are in…

periodontal membrane, fleshy tissue between tooth and tooth socket that holds the tooth in place, attaches it to the adjacent teeth, and enables it to resist the stresses of chewing. It develops from the follicular sac that surrounds the embryonic tooth during growth. The periodontal membrane

periodontal membrane, fleshy tissue between tooth and tooth socket that holds the tooth in place, attaches it to the adjacent teeth, and enables it to resist the stresses of chewing. It develops from the follicular sac that surrounds the embryonic tooth during growth. The periodontal membrane

periodontics, dental specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of functional and structural diseases of the periodontal membrane and related tissues that surround and support the teeth. Degeneration or inflammation of these tissues can be caused by various systemic or local

periodontitis, inflammation of the soft tissues around the teeth, characterized by swollen, tender gums, that may lead to the eventual loss of teeth. Periodontitis begins with the deposition of bacterial plaque on the teeth below the gum line, irritating and eroding the neighbouring tissues. At

periodontal membrane, fleshy tissue between tooth and tooth socket that holds the tooth in place, attaches it to the adjacent teeth, and enables it to resist the stresses of chewing. It develops from the follicular sac that surrounds the embryonic tooth during growth. The periodontal membrane

sports: Crete and Greece: …events were known as the periodos, and great athletes, such as Theagenes of Thasos, prided themselves on victories at all four sites. Although most of the events contested at Greek sacred games remain familiar, the most important competition was the chariot race. The extraordinary prestige accorded athletic triumphs brought with…

Hecataeus of Miletus: …of the Periodos gēs or Periēgēsis (“Tour Round the World”); it was written in two parts—one covering Europe, the other “Asia” (which included Egypt and North Africa). The work describes the peoples who would be met in voyages around the Mediterranean and Black seas, in a clockwise direction, beginning with…

annelid: Regeneration: …obtained in an earthworm (Perionyx excavatus). A piece removed from the anterior end regenerates a head at both cut ends if the cuts are made simultaneously. If the new anterior head then is removed, the posterior head becomes dominant and evokes tail regeneration at the surface from which the…

periosteum, dense fibrous membrane covering the surfaces of bones, consisting of an outer fibrous layer and an inner cellular layer (cambium). The outer layer is composed mostly of collagen and contains nerve fibres that cause pain when the tissue is damaged. It also contains many blood vessels,

bivalve: The shell: The periostracum, the outermost organic layer, is secreted by the inner surface of the outer mantle fold at the mantle margin. It is a substrate upon which calcium carbonate can be deposited by the outer surface of the outer mantle fold. The number of calcareous layers…

Aristotle: The Lyceum of Aristotle: …brilliant research students, called “peripatetics” from the name of the cloister (peripatos) in which they walked and held their discussions. The Lyceum was not a private club like the Academy; many of the lectures there were open to the general public and given free of charge.

Lyceum, Athenian school founded by Aristotle in 335 bc in a grove sacred to Apollo Lyceius. Owing to his habit of walking about the grove while lecturing his students, the school and its students acquired the label of Peripatetics (Greek peri, “around,” and patein, “to walk”). The peripatos was the

velvet worm: A common genus is Peripatus, found in the West Indies, Central America, and the northern parts of South America. About 20 species of Peripatus are known. They have an elongated body consisting of 14 to 44 trunk segments, each having a pair of short legs. The number of segments…

peripeteia, the turning point in a drama after which the plot moves steadily to its denouement. It is discussed by Aristotle in the Poetics as the shift of the tragic protagonist’s fortune from good to bad, which is essential to the plot of a tragedy. It is often an ironic twist, as in Sophocles’

peripheral device, any of various devices (including sensors) used to enter information and instructions into a computer for storage or processing and to deliver the processed data to a human operator or, in some cases, a machine controlled by the computer. Such devices make up the peripheral

human ear: Auditory nerve fibres: …cochlear nerve, and the shorter, peripheral fibres extend to the bases of the inner and outer hair cells. They extend radially from the spiral ganglion to the habenula perforata, a series of tiny holes beneath the inner hair cells. At this point they lose their myelin sheaths and enter the…

AGP: …processing unit) and system memory—unlike PCI (peripheral component interconnect), an earlier graphics card standard on which AGP was based. In graphics-intense applications, this direct channel gave AGP a performance advantage over PCI, which had been used for graphics cards, network cards, and countless other devices.

AGP: …graphics technology about 2010 by PCI Express, a high-speed version of PCI that replaced both PCI and AGP.

peripheral device, any of various devices (including sensors) used to enter information and instructions into a computer for storage or processing and to deliver the processed data to a human operator or, in some cases, a machine controlled by the computer. Such devices make up the peripheral

Ranunculales: …and orders known as the peripheral eudicots. One of the main characteristics that distinguish these families and other eudicots from the monocotyledons (species with one embryonic leaf in their seed) and basal angiosperms is the pollen, which typically has three openings (colpi) instead of one. They also lack ethereal oils,…

air-cushion machine: History: …system is known as a peripheral jet. Once air has built up below the craft to a pressure equaling the craft weight, incoming air has nowhere to go but outward and experiences a sharp change of velocity on striking the surface. The momentum of the peripheral jet air keeps the…

Romance languages: Classification methods and problems: …whereas French and Romanian are peripheral (they lack similarity to other Romance languages and require more effort for other Romance speakers to understand them).

spinal cord injury: Changing attitudes and therapeutic approaches: Specialized hospital units known as peripheral nerve centres, which had been developed in the time between the two World Wars, demonstrated the advantages of delivering tailored care to special-needs patients. Great importance was attributed to the unique opportunities offered by such specialized units, particularly their ability to offer new insight…

human nervous system: The peripheral nervous system: The peripheral nervous system is a channel for the relay of sensory and motor impulses between the central nervous system on one hand and the body surface, skeletal muscles, and internal organs on the other hand. It is composed of (1) spinal…

alcoholism: Acute diseases: …alcoholism can also lead to polyneuropathy, a degenerative disease of the peripheral nerves with symptoms that include tenderness of calf muscles, diminished tendon reflexes, and loss of vibratory sensation. Inflammation and fatty infiltration of the liver are common, as are disorders of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, duodenal ulcer, and, less…

cell membrane: One type, called the extrinsic proteins, is loosely attached by ionic bonds or calcium bridges to the electrically charged phosphoryl surface of the bilayer. They can also attach to the second type of protein, called the intrinsic proteins. The intrinsic proteins, as their name implies, are firmly embedded within…

pump: Kinetic pumps.: A regenerative pump is also called a turbine, or peripheral, pump. The impeller has vanes on both sides of the rim that rotate in a ringlike channel in the pump’s casing. The fluid does not discharge freely from the tip of the impeller but is recirculated…

William Gibson: The Peripheral (2014) investigates the possibility of communication with future societies by way of computer technology. Its prequel/sequel, Agency, was published in 2020.

periphrasis, the use of a longer phrasing in place of a possible shorter form of expression; a roundabout or indirect manner of writing or speaking. In literature periphrasis is sometimes used for comic effect, as illustrated by Charles Dickens in the speech of the character Wilkins Micawber, who

Platonism: Medieval Platonism: …the Periphyseon (usually known as De divisione naturae [On the Division of Nature]), was not much read and ceased to be copied after his condemnation in 1210. But a considerable part of the text circulated in the form of anonymous glosses to the Latin translations of the Pseudo-Dionysius (of which…

inland water ecosystem: Population and community development and structure: …in the water column); the periphyton (microscopic biota on submerged objects); the psammon (biota buried in sediments); and the neuston (biota associated with surface film). These organisms differ enormously in size, ranging from less than 0.5 micrometre (0.00002 inch) to greater than 1 metre (3.28 feet). They also vary in…

inland water ecosystem: Population and community development and structure: …in the water column); the periphyton (microscopic biota on submerged objects); the psammon (biota buried in sediments); and the neuston (biota associated with surface film). These organisms differ enormously in size, ranging from less than 0.5 micrometre (0.00002 inch) to greater than 1 metre (3.28 feet). They also vary in…

cockroach: Family Blattidae: The American cockroach (species Periplaneta americana), a native of Africa and the Middle East, is 30 to 50 mm (1.2−2 inches) long, is reddish brown, and lives outdoors or in dark heated indoor areas (e.g., basements and furnace rooms). During adult life, a period of about…

navigation: Sailing instructions: …to coastal navigation was the pilot book, or periplus, in which the courses to be steered between ports were set forth in terms of wind directions. These books, of which examples survive from the 4th century bc, described routes, headlands, landmarks, anchorages, currents, and port entrances. No doubt the same…

history of Arabia: Ḥimyarites: …known to scholars as the Periplus Maris Erythraei mentions an individual who was “king of two nations, the Homerites and the Sabaeans.” But this dual kingship was not definitive: throughout the 2nd and 3rd centuries there were phases of warfare between native Sabaean rulers and Ḥimyarite ones. Royal titulature in…

José Joaquín Fernández de Lizardi: His El periquillo sarniento (1816; The Itching Parrot), the first picaresque novel of Spanish America, is a colourful tale that depicts the state of Mexican society in the early 19th century and reflects the ideas of the French Enlightenment and of Jean-Jacques Rousseau on education. He also wrote La Quijotita…

chemoreception: Cellular mechanisms in chemoreception: …bathed; these are known as perireceptor events. Second, the molecule must interact with the surface of the receptor cell in a specific way to produce reactions within the cell. These reactions lead to a change in cellular electrical charge, which generates a nerve impulse. Transformation of an external stimulus into…

periscope, optical instrument used in land and sea warfare, submarine navigation, and elsewhere to enable an observer to see his surroundings while remaining under cover, behind armour, or submerged. A periscope includes two mirrors or reflecting prisms to change the direction of the light coming

jay: The gray jay (Perisoreus canadensis) inhabits the northern reaches of the United States and most of Canada.

seed: Angiosperm seeds: …derived from the nucellus, the perisperm, as in coffee. Other seeds, such as those of beets, contain both perisperm and endosperm. The seed coat, or testa, is derived from the one or two protective integuments of the ovule. The ovary, in the simplest case, develops into a fruit. In many…

perissodactyl, any member of the order Perissodactyla, a group of herbivorous mammals characterized by the possession of either one or three hoofed toes on each hindfoot. They include the horses, asses, and zebras, the tapirs, and the rhinoceroses. The name—from Greek perissos, “odd,” and daktylos,

perissodactyl, any member of the order Perissodactyla, a group of herbivorous mammals characterized by the possession of either one or three hoofed toes on each hindfoot. They include the horses, asses, and zebras, the tapirs, and the rhinoceroses. The name—from Greek perissos, “odd,” and daktylos,

peristalsis, involuntary movements of the longitudinal and circular muscles, primarily in the digestive tract but occasionally in other hollow tubes of the body, that occur in progressive wavelike contractions. Peristaltic waves occur in the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. The waves can be

peristalsis, involuntary movements of the longitudinal and circular muscles, primarily in the digestive tract but occasionally in other hollow tubes of the body, that occur in progressive wavelike contractions. Peristaltic waves occur in the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. The waves can be

circulatory system: Hearts: This type of heart is widely found among invertebrates, and there may be many pulsating vessels in a single individual.

locomotion: Bottom locomotion: Peristaltic locomotion is a common locomotor pattern in elongated, soft-bodied invertebrates, particularly in segmented worms, such as earthworms. It involves the alternation of circular- and longitudinal-muscle-contraction waves. Forward movement is produced by contraction of the circular muscles, which extends or elongates the body; contraction of…

scorpaeniform: Annotated classification: Family Peristediidae (armoured gurnards and armoured sea robins) Characterized by rather slender form, body and tail with large bony scutes; head heavily armoured. 2 lower pectoral fin rays separate. Large barbels on lower jaw. Deep benthic marine fishes from 200 to 500 metres (660 to 1,650…

Prudentius: The Peristephanon (“Crowns of Martyrdom”) contains 14 lyric poems on Spanish and Roman martyrs. Three long didactic poems give a polemical exposition of Christian doctrine in a form agreeable to those steeped in the old classical literary tradition. The Apotheosis is directed against disclaimers of the…

peristerite, iridescent gemstone in the plagioclase (q.v.) series of feldspar minerals. The name (from Greek peristera, “pigeon”) refers to the resemblance of fine specimens such as those from Ontario and Quebec to the commonly iridescent feathers of a pigeon’s neck. In peristerite—usually a form

bryophyte: Annotated classification: …opening by apical cap (operculum); peristome teeth usually surrounding the sporangium mouth and influencing spore release; columella usually present, encircled or overarched by a spore-bearing layer; calyptra capping apex of elongating seta and influencing survival and differentiation of sporangium; spores generally shed over extended period; seta a rigid structure with…

domus: Located between the atrium and peristyle was the tablinum, an open living room that could be curtained off from public view. A hallway, or fauces, was positioned to one side of the tablinum, to provide convenient access to the peristyle.

ascocarp: …called apothecium, cleistothecium [cleistocarp], or perithecium) contain saclike structures (asci) that usually bear four to eight ascospores. Apothecia are stalked and either disklike, saucer-shaped, or cup-shaped with exposed asci. The largest known apothecium, produced by Geopyxis cacabus, has a stalk 1 metre (40 inches) high and a cup 50 centimetres…

Santa Cruz: Perito Francisco P. Moreno National Park, with an area of 444 square miles (1,150 square km) in the northwestern part of the province, includes the Andean divide between Pacific and Atlantic drainage. The northeast-central Petrified Forest National Monument (1954) covers nearly 14 square miles (35…

ascites: …accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, between the membrane lining the abdominal wall and the membrane covering the abdominal organs. The most common causes of ascites are cirrhosis of the liver, heart failure, tumours of the peritoneal membranes, and escape of chyle (lymph laden with emulsified fats) into the…

renal system disease: Dialysis: In peritoneal dialysis, the patient’s own abdominal cavity is used as the container of fluid; the fluid is run in, allowed to reach equilibrium, and removed, taking with it urea and other wastes. The process has proved suitable for the short-term treatment of acute renal failure,…

laparoscopy, procedure that permits visual examination of the abdominal cavity with an optical instrument called a laparoscope, which is inserted through a small incision made in the abdominal wall. The term comes from the Greek words laparo, meaning “flank,” and skopein, meaning “to examine.” The

peritoneum, large membrane in the abdominal cavity that connects and supports internal organs. It is composed of many folds that pass between or around the various organs. Two folds are of primary importance: the omentum, which hangs in front of the stomach and intestine; and the mesentery, which

peritonitis, inflammation of the peritoneum, the membrane that lines the abdominal wall and then folds in to enclose the abdominal organs. The condition is marked by an accumulation of cells, pus, and other bodily fluids, such as serum and fibrin, in the peritoneal cavity (between the two folds of

quinsy, pus-filled swelling in the throat that develops infrequently as a complication of acute tonsillitis. It extends through the tonsillar capsule into the loose connective tissue of the neck and displaces the involved tonsil toward the midline of the throat. Extreme pain accompanying the

peritrich, any ciliated vase-shaped protozoan of the order Peritrichida (more than 1,000 species), found in both fresh and salt water. Usually nonmotile (sessile), they attach themselves to underwater objects, but a few genera, such as Telotrochidium, are free-swimming. In most peritrichs a

peritrich, any ciliated vase-shaped protozoan of the order Peritrichida (more than 1,000 species), found in both fresh and salt water. Usually nonmotile (sessile), they attach themselves to underwater objects, but a few genera, such as Telotrochidium, are free-swimming. In most peritrichs a

echinoderm: Body wall and body cavity: …of the coelom are the perivisceral coelom and the water-vascular system. The perivisceral coelom is a large, fluid-filled cavity in which the major organs, particularly the digestive tube and sex organs, are suspended. Other regions of the coelom include the axial sinus (absent from adult holothurians and all echinoids), the…

peruke, man’s wig, especially the type popular from the 17th to the early 19th century. It was made of long hair, often with curls on the sides, and was sometimes drawn back on the nape of the neck. Use of the word peruke probably became widespread in the 16th century, when the wearing of wigs

periwinkle, in zoology, any small marine snail belonging to the family Littorinidae (class Gastropoda, phylum Mollusca). Periwinkles are widely distributed shore (littoral) snails, chiefly herbivorous, usually found on rocks, stones, or pilings between high- and low-tide marks; a few are found on

periwinkle, in botany, any of various plants of the genus Vinca of the dogbane family (Apocynaceae). The name periwinkle is possibly taken from pervinka, the Russian name of the flower, which in turn is derived from pervi, “first,” as it is one of the first flowers of spring. The lesser periwinkle

Periyar River: …north a short distance to Periyar Lake. The lake, 12 square miles (31 square km) in area, is an artificial reservoir created by damming the river. It lies at an elevation of about 2,800 feet (850 meters), is ringed by mountain peaks, and is surrounded by a wildlife sanctuary. A…

Periyar River, river in southern Kerala state, southwestern India. Periyar is also the name given to a lake in the river’s course. The river, 140 miles (225 km) long, rises in the Western Ghats range near the border with Tamil Nadu state and flows north a short distance to Periyar Lake. The lake,

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, wildlife preserve in south-central Kerala state, southern India. The sanctuary is noted for herds of Asian elephants, sometimes having 50 members. In addition, bonnet monkeys, nilgai (Indian antelope), langurs, porcupines, sloth bears, tigers, leopards, barking deer,

perjury, in law, the giving of false testimony under oath on an issue or point of inquiry regarded as material. Both traditional and modern legal systems have provisions for taking testimony under oath and mandate penalties for giving false testimony. Islamic law, for example, relies heavily on

fringe benefit, any nonwage payment or benefit (e.g., pension plans, profit-sharing programs, vacation pay, and company-paid life, health, and unemployment insurance programs) granted to employees by employers. It may be required by law, granted unilaterally by employers, or obtained through

Dutch literature: Romanticism: …the new generation, such as Jacques Perk, who wrote sketches in Dekker’s humorous style before composing a sonnet cycle, Mathilde (published posthumously in 1882), which opened a new epoch in Dutch literature.

Sir William Henry Perkin: …which became known as the Perkin reaction, to synthesize coumarin, the first artificial perfume. He also investigated other dyes, salicyl alcohol, and flavourings.

John Ford: …’Tis Pity She’s a Whore; Perkin Warbeck; The Queen; The Fancies, Chaste and Noble; Love’s Sacrifice; and The Lady’s Trial (1638). There are a few contemporary references to Ford, but nothing is known of his personal life, and there is no certain record of him after 1639.