The term "effective half-life" functions as a noun phrase.
/ɪˈfɛktɪv ˈhæf laɪf/
The "effective half-life" refers to the time it takes for the activity of a radioactive substance to decrease to half its initial value considering biological and physical decay processes. It is commonly used in fields such as nuclear medicine, pharmacology, and radiobiology. The term reflects both the physical half-life (the time it takes for half of a radioactive isotope to decay) and biological half-life (the time it takes for a substance to be cleared from the body).
"Effective half-life" is a term often used in specialized scientific and medical contexts, making it more prevalent in written academic literature and research papers rather than in everyday conversation.
The effective half-life of the radioisotope used in the treatment was determined to be approximately 10 hours.
El tiempo de media vida efectiva del radioisótopo utilizado en el tratamiento se determinó en aproximadamente 10 horas.
Understanding the effective half-life of a drug is essential for dosing regimens in medical therapy.
Entender la media vida efectiva de un medicamento es esencial para los regímenes de dosificación en la terapia médica.
Researchers calculated the effective half-life to ensure patient safety during radiation therapy.
Los investigadores calcularon la media vida efectiva para garantizar la seguridad del paciente durante la terapia de radiación.
While "effective half-life" does not commonly appear in idiomatic expressions, its components can be used in various scientific contexts. Below are some related phrases that involve the concept of "half-life":
Half-life of trust
Trust has a half-life; once broken, it can take years to restore.
La confianza tiene una media vida; una vez rota, puede tardar años en restaurarse.
Biological half-life
The biological half-life of the medication impacts how it is prescribed for chronic conditions.
La vida media biológica del medicamento impacta en cómo se prescribe para condiciones crónicas.
Physical half-life
The physical half-life of the substance means it will remain hazardous for an extended period.
La vida media física de la sustancia significa que seguirá siendo peligrosa durante un período extendido.
The term "half-life" derives from the combination of "half," meaning one of two equal parts, and "life," from the Old English "līf," meaning the condition of living or the duration of existence. It was first used in the context of radioactivity in the early 20th century.
Overall, "effective half-life" is an essential term in various scientific fields, particularly in understanding the dynamics of radioactive materials and drug metabolism in the body.