Emergence of macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae in Hong Kong is linked to increasing macrolide resistance in the multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis type 4-5-7-2

Macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MRMP) is rapidly emerging in Asia, but information on the temporal relationship between the increase in macrolide resistance and changes in strain types is scarce. Between 2011 and 2014, M. pneumoniae infection was diagnosed by PCR as part of routine care in a health care region in Hong Kong. Testing was initiated by clinicians, mainly in patients with suspected M. pneumoniae pneumonia. Specimens positive for M. pneumoniae were retrospectively investigated by macrolide resistance genotyping and a four-locus (Mpn13 to-16) multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) scheme. The overall percentage of M. pneumoniae-positive specimens was 17.9%, with annual rates ranging from 9.8% to 27.2%. The prevalence of MRMP had rapidly increased from 13.6% in 2011 to 30.7% in 2012, 36.6% in 2013, and 47.1% in 2014 (P=0.038). Two major MLVA types, 4-5-7-2 and 3-5-6-2, accounted for 75% to 85% of the infections each year. MLVA types 4-5-7-2 and 3-5-6-2 predominated among macrolide-resistant and macrolide-sensitive groups, respectively. The increase in MRMP was mainly caused by increasing macrolide resistance in the prevalent MLVA type 4-5-7-2, changing from 25.0% in 2011 to 59.1% in 2012, to 89.7% in 2013, and to 100% in 2014 (P<0.001). In conclusion, increasing MRMP in Hong Kong was linked to a single MLVA type, which was both prevalent and increasingly resistant to macrolides. Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.postprin

Luminescent dinuclear platinum(II) terpyridine complexes with a flexible bridge and "sticky ends"

(Figure Presented) Sticking together: Dinuclear platinum(II) terpyridyl complexes display a high tendency towards intramolecular self-association, in which the two Pt terpy units "stick together". The driving force is provided by metal-metal and π-π interactions which can be controlled by temperature modulation. © 2006 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Joint generalized singular value decomposition and tensor decomposition for image super-resolution

202307 bckwAccepted ManuscriptSelf-fundedPublishe

Performing fractional delay via fractional singular spectrum analysis

202107 bcvcNot applicableOthersthe National Nature Science Foundation of China (no. U1701266, no. 61671163 and no. 62071128), the Team Project of the Education Ministry of the Guangdong Province (no. 2017KCXTD011), the Guangdong Higher Education Engineering Technology Research Center for Big Data on Manufacturing Knowledge Patent (no. 501130144), Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Commission, Enterprise Support Scheme (no. S/E/070/17)Early release12 month

Image super resolution via combination of two dimensional quaternion valued singular spectrum analysis based denoising, empirical mode decomposition based denoising and discrete cosine transform based denoising methods

202307 bckwNot applicableSelf-fundedPublished12 month

The experience of Chinese bereaved persons: A preliminary study of meaning making and continuing bonds

This study explores the bereavement process of Chinese persons in Hong Kong, with the focus on how they make meaning of the death as well as how they maintain a bond with the deceased. A review of video- and audiotapes of 52 bereaved persons in bereavement counseling pointed to how these concepts are reflected in key themes that appeared throughout these interviews. The way this bereaved population found meaning in the death was reflected in how they understood the cause of death, their observations at the death moment, their understanding of the life of the deceased after the death, the life of the bereaved after the death, and the burial and mourning rituals that were followed. The continuing bond the bereaved felt with the deceased was experienced by the bereaved as either initiated by the deceased, for example by the deceased appearing in dreams or initiated by the bereaved themselves in their talking with the deceased. These 2 aspects of the bereavement process seem to be similar to those found in other societies, but the ways in which they were manifested were unique to the Chinese culture. Based on these findings, the authors conclude with implications for intervention with this bereaved population. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Inc.link_to_subscribed_fulltex