News

Prof. Ioannis BRILAKIS of Cambridge University delivers PAIR Distinguished Lecture on digital twinning in built environment

Prof. Ioannis BRILAKIS of the University of Cambridge delivered the 14th PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Digital Twinning the Built Environment” on 8 March 2024. The hybrid lecture attracted over 370 participants joining in person and online from more than 40 countries and regions across Australia, Asia, Europe and North America. It was also broadcast live on multiple social media platforms, captivating online viewing audience of over 13,100. The lecture commenced with a welcome speech by Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PAIR, followed by a brief speaker introduction by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation).  In his presentation, Prof. Brilakis first gave a brief introduction to digital twins (DT), pointing out that DT plays a central role in digital transformation. Next, he elaborated on the application of DT in the construction industry and explained how DT is involved in the planning, design, construction, maintenance and operation processes. He introduced research conducted at the University of Cambridge on inexpensive methods for generating object-oriented infrastructure geometry, detecting, and mapping visible defects on the resulting DT, automatically extracting defect spatial measurements, and sensor and sensor data modelling. Prof. Brilakis also provided examples of how these resulting DT are further exploited in design for manufacturing and assembly (DfMA), mixed-reality-enabled mobile inspection, and proactive asset protection from accidental damage. To conclude, Prof. Brilakis stated that DT, smart materials, data science, and automation and robotics, constitute important digital assets for driving sustainability, and pointed out the future development directions in these areas.  A question-and-answer session moderated by Prof. DING Xiaoli, Director of the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS), and Prof. WANG Yuhong, Member of RILS, followed. This session provided both the online and on-site audience with an opportunity to engage in a fruitful discussion with Prof. Brilakis. Please click here for an online review.  

Dr James FANG awarded 2024 Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation

Congratulations to Dr James FANG Kar-Hei, Core Member of the Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood), Member of the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) and Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD), and Associate Professor in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition, for receiving the 2024 Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation by The Pew Charitable Trusts. A total of six scientists around from the world have been awarded the fellowship this year and Dr Fang is the recipient from East Asia. Each recipient is awarded a grant of US$150,000 allocated over three years, to support conducting an original, research-based marine conservation project. Dr Fang’s research focuses on the restoration pearl oyster reefs for enhancing Hong Kong’s marine environmental health, biodiversity and seafood sustainability.

RISE publishes ground-breaking research on organic solar cells

Prof. LI Gang, Associate Director of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), Sir Sze-yuen Chung Endowed Professor in Renewable Energy and Chair Professor of Energy Conversion Technology, and his team have achieved major breakthroughs in two studies on organic solar cells. The research has been published in the journal Nature Communications. The study titled “Rational molecular and device design enables organic solar cells approaching 20% efficiency” is a collaborative work by researchers from PolyU, universities in Mainland China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong and, South Korea and the United States. The team successfully developed a kind of supplementary light-absorbing molecule, o-BTP-eC9, and achieved a record power conversion efficiency of 19.9% in PM6:BTP-eC9 based organic solar cells. Another study titled “Efficient all-small-molecule organic solar “cells processed with non-halogen solvent” is joint work involving researchers from PolyU, the City University of Hong Kong and universities in Xiamen, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Wuhan. The team designed and synthesised a small molecule donor, BM-ClEH, to improve the non-halogen solvent processing of all-small-molecule organic solar cells, and achieved high power conversion efficiencies of 15.0% in binary device and 16.1% in ternary device. Read the full articles: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-46022-3   https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-46144-8

PAIR Newsletter · Issue 9 · March 2024 is now available online

We are thrilled to announce the release of the 9th Issue of the PAIR Newsletter. Join us and embark on an extraordinary science adventure with our “Feature Stories” covering the newly established Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism, insights on proactive health research from esteemed scholar, and the neuroscience behind memory decline and mental health. Stay informed about PAIR’s latest scientific breakthroughs and diverse activities through reading our “Knowledge Transfer”, “Research Achievements”, “People”, and “News & Events” sections! We encourage you to share valuable articles and links from our Newsletter with your friends and colleagues. Share PAIR’s impact stories to spread knowledge, inspire innovation and foster interdisciplinary excellence! Happy reading! https://www.polyu.edu.hk/pair/publications/

MHRC studies lateral frontopolar cortex of human brains to understand human decision-making

Dr Bolton CHAU, Associate Director of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC) and Associate Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, and his team discovered the function of a lateral frontopolar cortex (FPl), a brain region unique to humans, hence providing important insights as to why humans are capable of generating complex behaviours. The findings have been published in Cell Reports. With the use of brain imaging and artificial intelligence, the team identified that the FPl is involved in digesting complex information during decision-making. The FPI uses a parallel processing mechanism that decomposes high-dimensional choice information into simpler forms and transfers this simplified information to another region, the posterior cingulate cortex, to guide decision-making. The team also received a funding from the Collaborative Research Fund of the Research Grants Council (RGC) to conduct follow-up studies for three years. These studies aim to investigate the specific information represented in the FPl, develop artificial neural networks to reverse-engineer the FPl, and develop effective brain stimulation approaches to modulate the FPl. The studies will be conducted by a team comprising researchers from PolyU, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University and the University of Oxford, and will leverage MHRC collaboration platform and the cutting-edge facilities of the University Research Facility in Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience (UBSN).   Read the full paper: https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(23)00566-1

RiFood-developed fungus-based fat replacer enables healthy low-fat indulgences

AkkMore™, a novel formula of fat replacer developed by the Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood), has been used in the production of low-fat food products including low-fat ice cream of 3% fat content. The innovation was developed by the team led by Dr Gail CHANG Jinhui, RiFood Core Member, and was awarded silver medal at the 2022 Special Edition of the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions. AkkMore™ is produced from natural fungal sources, and has been tested for its effectiveness in bringing a number of health benefits, including preventing obesity and other metabolic diseases, enhancing gut health, modulating the immune response, and reducing anxiety. The research team is now working on “Cream Mate”, an AkkMore™-based cream substitute. Cream Mate enables cream products to contain less fat, to be able to be frozen for long time, and to extend shelf-life while holding sensory appeal comparable to traditional cream. The use of Cream Mate helps reduce calorie and the consumption of dairy products in the desserts, as well as the amount of food waste due to expiration. This helps food producers to make their production more sustainable and economical. In addition, RiFood is collaborating with Hotel ICON on the use of Cream Mate in preparing reduced-fat desserts to be served on the hotel regular menus, which will be available starting in early-June.

PolyU-developed wearable system for improving mobility in patients with Parkinson’s Disease featured on ViuTV programme “Medicine Online”

Prof. TAO Xiaoming, Director of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems, Vincent and Lily Woo Professor in Textiles Technology, and Chair Professor of Textile Technology, and Prof. Margaret MAK, Adjunct Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, were featured on ViuTV programme “Medicine Online”, introducing an intelligent wearable system they developed for improving mobility in patients with Parkinson’s Disease. The system comprises four devices worn by patients, including a pair of smart insoles, a smartphone application, earphones and laser light generator. The system can accurately detect abnormal gait in real-time and provide timely cues for patients.   Online coverage: ViuTV - https://polyu.me/3uD8NQU (5:36 – 8:35) (Chinese only)

RCSV develops AI-powered portable camera to screen diabetic retinopathy

Prof. HE Mingguang, Director of the Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV) and Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology, and his team have developed an AI-powered portable camera designed specifically for retinal screening of diabetic retinopathy.  Starting from 1 March, PolyU has joined forces with OPTICAL 88 to recruit 300 people with high risk of diabetes to participate in the AI Diabetic Retinopathy Eye Screening Research Project.   Online coverage: Oriental Daily News - https://polyu.me/49t85F7 Ming Pao Daily News - https://polyu.me/3wpzGIr Hong Kong Economic Times - https://polyu.me/3UV0quw am730 - https://polyu.me/3UUVVjE

MHRC Member delivers mindful eating health talks at The University of Western Australia

Dr Dalinda Isabel SANCHEZ VIDANA, Member of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC), Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, was invited to deliver interactive health talks “Mindful Bites: Exploring Mindful Eating and Taming Food Cravings” at The University of Western Australia, 27–28 February 2024. The interactive sessions included mindfulness exercises for developing healthy and mindful eating habits, providing participants with the opportunity to experience the benefits of mindfulness in eating and weight management.

PAIR researchers shine at PolyU President’s Awards for Outstanding Achievement 2023

Congratulations to the following PAIR researchers for receiving The President’s Awards for Outstanding Achievement 2023 of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University!   Category of Award Awardee(s) Title(s) Individual Awards Teaching (Outstanding Young Teacher) Dr HSU Li-ta Associate Head and Associate Professor of Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering, Limin Young Scholar in Aerospace Navigation, and Member of RIAIoT, RILS, RISUD and SCRI Research and Scholarly Activities (Outstanding Researcher) Prof. LI Xiangdong Director of RISUD, Dean of Faculty of Construction and Environment, Ko Jan Ming Professor in Sustainable Urban Development, and Chair Professor of Environmental Science and Technology Research and Scholarly Activities (Outstanding Young Researcher) Prof. ZHENG Zijian Associate Director of RI-IWEAR, Associate Director of University Research Facility in Materials Characterization and Device Fabrication, Chair Professor of Soft Materials and Devices, Management Committee Member of RISE, and Member of RIAIoT, PRI and RISUD Team Awards Knowledge Transfer: Industry Prof. XIA Yong (Team Leader) Director of Joint Research Centre for Marine Infrastructure, Management Committee Member of RIAIoT, and Member of RISUD and RCDSE Prof. CAO Jiannong Director of RIAIoT, Director of University Research Facility in Big Data Analytics, Dean of Graduate School, Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Professor in Data Science, Chair Professor of Distributed and Mobile Computing, Management Committee Member of RISUD, and Member of RiFood, RI-IWEAR, RISE, RISA and SCRI Prof. ZHU Songye Associate Head (Research) of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Leading Member of RIAIoT, and Member of RISE and RISUD