Effects of post-exercise ice-water and room-temperature water immersion on the sensory organization of balance control and lower limb proprioception in amateur rugby players: A randomized controlled trial

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Coronavirus HKU15 in respiratory tract of pigs and first discovery of coronavirus quasispecies in 5′-untranslated region

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Effects of Ving Tsun Chinese martial art training on upper extremity muscle strength and eye-hand coordination in community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults: A pilot study

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Nitrogen doped-ZnO/n-GaN heterojunctions

Nitrogen-doped ZnO nanorods were prepared by electrodeposition using two different Zn precursors (zinc nitrate and zinc acetate), while all other growth conditions (dopant precursor, concentration, growth temperature, and bias) were identical. We have shown that the precursor used affects the properties of the ZnO nanorods, and that the presence of rectifying properties in n-GaN/N:ZnO heterojunctions is strongly related to the use of nitrate precursor for ZnO growth. The difference in the properties of ZnO obtained from two precursors is attributed to the differences in native defect and impurity concentrations, which could affect the electronic properties of the samples. © 2011 American Institute of Physics.published_or_final_versio

Solution-based growth of ZnO nanorods for light-emitting devices: Hydrothermal vs. electrodeposition

ZnO nanorods have been grown by two inexpensive, solution-based, low-temperature methods: hydrothermal growth and electrodeposition. Heterojunction n-ZnO nanorods/p-GaN light-emitting diodes have been studied for different nanorod growth methods and different preparation of the seed layer. We demonstrate that both the nanorod properties and the device performance are strongly dependent on the growth method and seed layer. All the devices exhibit light emission under both forward and reverse bias, and the emission spectra can be tuned by ZnO nanorod deposition conditions. Electrodeposition of rods or a seed layer results in yellow emission, while conventional hydrothermal growth results in violet emission. © The Author(s) 2010. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com.published_or_final_versionSpringer Open Choice, 01 Dec 201

Effect of WeiJia on carbon tetrachloride induced chronic liver injury

Aim: To study the effect of WeiJia on chronic liver injury using carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4) induced liver injury animal model. Methods: Wista r rats weighing 180-220g were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group (Group A), CCl 4 induced liver injury control group (Group B) and CCl 4 induction with WeiJia treatment group (Group C). Each group consisted of 14 rats. Liver damage and fibrosis was induced by subcutaneous injection with 40% CCl 4 in olive oil at 3 mL/kg body weight twice a week for eight weeks for Groups B and C rats whereas olive oil was used for Group A rats. Starting from the third week, Group C rats also received daily intraperitoneal injection of WeiJia at a dose of 1.25 μg/kg body weight. Animals were sacrificed at the fifth week (4 male, 3 female), and eighth week (4 male, 3 female) respectively. Degree of fibrosis were measured and serological markers for liver fibrosis and function including hyaluronic acid (HA), type IV collagen (CIV), γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were determined. Alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunohistochemistry were also performed. Results: CCl 4 induction led to the damage of liver and development of fibrosis in Group B and Group C rats when compared to Group A rats. The treatment of WeiJia in Group C rats could reduce the fibrosis condition significantly compared to Group B rats. The effect could be observed after three weeks of treatment and was more obvious after eight weeks of treatment. Serum HA, CIV, ALT, AST and γ-GT levels after eight weeks of treatment for Group C rats were 58±22 μg/L (P 0.05) respectively, similar to normal control group (Group A), but significantly different from CCl 4 induced liver injury control group (Group B). An increase in PCNA and decrease in α-SMA expression level was also observed. Conclusion: WeiJia could improve liver function and reduce liver fibrosis which might be through the inhibition of stellate cell activity. © 2006 The WJG Press. All rights reserved.published_or_final_versio

High-transition-temperature superconductivity in the absence of the magnetic-resonance mode

The fundamental mechanism that gives rise to high-transition-temperature (high-Tc) superconductivity in the copper oxide materials has been debated since the discovery of the phenomenon. Recent work has focussed on a sharp 'kink' in the kinetic energy spectra of the electrons as a possible signature of the force that creates the superconducting state. The kink has been related to a magnetic resonance and also to phonons. Here we report that infrared spectra of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O(8+d), (Bi-2212) show that this sharp feature can be separated from a broad background and, interestingly, weakens with doping before disappearing completely at a critical doping level of 0.23 holes per copper atom. Superconductivity is still strong in terms of the transition temperature (Tc approx 55 K), so our results rule out both the magnetic resonance peak and phonons as the principal cause of high-Tc superconductivity. The broad background, on the other hand, is a universal property of the copper oxygen plane and a good candidate for the 'glue' that binds the electrons.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Diagnostic yield of array CGH in patients with autism spectrum disorder in Hong Kong

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Intravitreal ranibizumab, photodynamic therapy, and vitreous surgery for the treatment of juxtapapillary retinal capillary hemangioma

published_or_final_versionSpringer Open Choice, 21 Feb 201

Molecular Cloning of a New Immunomodulatory Protein from Anoectochilus formosanus which Induces B Cell IgM Secretion through a T-Independent Mechanism

An immunomodulatory protein (IPAF) was purified and cloned from Anoectochilus formosanus, an Orchidaceae herbal plant in Asia. The major targeting immune cells of IPAF and its modulating effects toward B lymphocytes were investigated. Rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) was conducted to clone the IPAF gene, and the obtained sequence was BLAST compared on the NCBI database. MACS-purified mouse T and B lymphocytes were stimulated with IPAF and the cell proliferation, activation, and Igs production were examined. IPAF comprised a 25 amino acids signal peptide and a 138 amino acids protein which was homologous to the lectins from Orchidaceae plant. IPAF selectively induced the cell proliferation in mouse splenic B lymphocytes but not T lymphocytes. The IPAF-induced B cells exhibited increased CD69 and MHC class II expression, and a dose- and time-dependent enhancement in IgM production. These results suggested potential benefits of IPAF to strengthen the humoral immunity