News

RISE member develops novel catalysts for carbon dioxide reduction

Dr HUANG Bolong, Member of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) and Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, developed novel catalysts for the chemical reactions that are important for energy conversion and sustainable energy technologies, including water-splitting hydrogen generation, oxygen reduction and evolution for fuel cells and metal-air batteries, and carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction for controlling carbon emission. Dr HUANG’s recent research, “Double-dependence correlations in graphdiyne-supported atomic catalysts to promote carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) toward the generation of diatomic carbon (C2) Products,” was published in Advanced Energy Materials in December 2022. It provides useful references for informing the choice of suitable catalysts to overcome the current technical bottleneck in converting CO2 into high value-added C2 products. Read more: https://polyu.hk/VNsmH Read the full research article: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/aenm.202203858

Insightful study published in renowned journal Addressing ozone pollution challenges with synergistic control

An international research team led by PolyU scholars has published a ground-breaking perspective article in the prestigious journal One Earth. The study focuses on combating ground-level ozone pollution, a pressing environmental issue affecting human health, crop yields, and global climate change. The team, comprising 30 scholars from 10 countries, proposes a synergistic control approach between ozone and climate to address the challenges of rising tropospheric ozone levels. Prof. GUO Hai and Prof. WANG Tao from the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) are one of the corresponding authors and co-authors, respectively. The research highlights the alarming increase in warm-season ozone pollution over the past decade. Key regions, including Mainland China, the United States, and Europe, have experienced significant ozone rises, posing challenges in pollution control due to changing emissions and the influence of climate warming. The study emphasises the need for a comprehensive strategy that integrates ozone and climate control, prioritising both human and ecosystem health. By connecting emissions, mechanisms and policies, this approach offers a remarkable solution to mitigate ozone pollution while fostering international collaboration for a low-carbon future. For more details, read the full article in One Earth journal. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2023.07.004

Prof. CAO Jiannong gives keynote speech at global blockchain summit

Prof. CAO Jiannong, Director of the Research Institute of Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), Dean of the Graduate School, Director of the University Research Facility in Big Data Analytics, Chair Professor of Distributed and Mobile Computing and Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Professor in Data Science, delivered a keynote speech on decentralised data infrastructure for Web 3.0 at the 9th Global Blockchain Summit 2023 held in Shanghai. Prof. Cao said that Web 3.0 is marked by three characteristics: de-platforming and decentralisation—a single centralised platform will no longer be needed to control and manage user information; user data ownership—users will have complete control over their own information and identity; and tokenisation—the values of user-generated data and contents can be expressed in the form of tokens. He also pointed out that, the Web 3.0 environment can drive many innovations. Innovations in high application layers including decentralised finance (DeFi), finance gamification (GameFi) and social finance (SocialFi), are all about decentralised finance, i.e., the use of blockchain, smart contracts and digital identities to remove the unnecessary intermediate channels in traditional finance. GameFi and SocialFi apply the concepts and technologies of decentralised finance to games and social platforms respectively.  In addition to innovation at the application level, Web3.0 can also drive organisational, social and economic innovation.   Online coverage (Chinese only): Zhihu - https://polyu.me/3ZnxNXl China.com - https://polyu.me/3PKLUCD East Money - https://polyu.me/48mmi6m

Dr SHOU Dahua awarded The Fiber Society’s 2023 Distinguished Achievement Award

Dr SHOU Dahua, Member of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports), Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality (RCRE), and Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion (RCTFF), Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Advanced Textiles Technologies, and Assistant Professor in the School of Fashion and Textiles, has been bestowed with the 2023 Distinguished Achievement Award by The Fiber Society.   The Fiber Society is a scientific association dedicated to the advancement of knowledge pertaining to fibres, fibre-based products, and fibrous materials. The Award is presented annually to an outstanding researcher under the age of 40 who has made significant contributions to the field of fibre science and engineering worldwide.

Ten PAIR projects granted Health and Medical Research Fund, bringing evidence-based solutions for better health

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has received a funding totalling of HK$25.1 million for 27 projects in the 2021 Exercise of the Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF), a higher number of projects supported and amount awarded than previous year.  Among them, 10 projects are led by researchers from PAIR constituent units: In alphabetical order of surnames Research Units Principal Investigator Project Title RCSV Dr CHUN Ka-man Combination effect of optical defocus and low dose atropine in myopia control – A randomized clinical trial RiFood, RISA, RCMI and RCSV Dr DO Chi-wai Characterization of baicalein, a natural molecule, as anti-glaucoma agent RiFood Dr DONG Xiaoli Rational design of oral drug delivery system for celastrol as a novel catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor to treat Parkinson’s disease RCMI Dr HO Yuen-shan Investigation of electroacupuncture as paramedicine to alleviate cognitive impairment in depression: A pre-clinical study MHRC Dr Georg KRANZ Intermittent theta-burst stimulation for major depression: an intensity-response study RiFood Dr LI Tian Investigation of a deep learning-empowered 4D multi-parametric MRI (4D-mpMRI) technique for liver cancer radiotherapy in a prospective clinical trial MHRC Dr Jessie LIN Jingxia A mobile application for early detection and symptoms trajectories of postpartum depression using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA): A prospective cohort validation study PRI Prof. QIN Jing Effectiveness of social virtual-reality on enhancing social interaction skills in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A three-arm pilot randomised controlled trial RCSV Dr Stanley John WINSER Cost of disease and falls among individuals with Parkinson’s disease living in Hong Kong: A prospective cost-of-illness analysis RI-IWEAR, RISports and RISA Dr Arnold WONG Yu-lok Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy versus active controls in improving psychological functions of parents and children with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A randomized controlled trial   Further reading: https://polyu.me/44RGtGw   Online coverage: Hong Kong China News Agency - https://polyu.me/3t5ccXl(Chinese only)

Prof. CHEN Wu gives speech at APAS Forum on Beidou Satellite Navigation System Technologies

Prof. CHEN Wu, Associate Director of the Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), Management Committee Member of the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) and Head of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, delivered a keynote speech at the APAS Forum on Beidou Satellite Navigation System Technologies on 18 September. The Forum brought together experts and industry leaders to discuss on the opportunities and challenges in the application of Beidou satellite navigation system in smart cities and digital economy.   Online coverage (Chinese only): Sohu - https://polyu.me/3LsujwT China News - https://polyu.me/45WiDut

PAIR scholars honoured by National Natural Science Foundation of China

Dr HUANG Xinyan, Member of the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) and Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) and Associate Professor in the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, has been awarded the 2023 Excellent Young Scientists Fund (Hong Kong and Macao) by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), to support his research. Three research projects led by Prof. WANG Zuankai, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation), Prof. DING Xiaoli, Director of the Research Institute for Land and Space and Chair Professor of Geomatics, and Prof. XU Zhao, Management Committee Member of the RISE, respectively, have been selected as NSFC Key Programmes.   Online coverage (Chinese only): Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/45WNVBt Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3PDxDHQ

RCMI Member explains sleep and insomnia from Chinese medicine perspective

Dr Jerry YEUNG, Management Committee Member of the Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation (RCMI) and Associate Professor in the School of Nursing (SN), was featured in RTHK’s TV programme “Healthpedia”, sharing traditional Chinese medicine perspective on sleep and insomnia. Dr Yeung mentioned that Chinese medicine believes in the connection between emotions and organs, and five organs (heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney) are linked to five basic human emotions (anger, joy, anxiety, sorrow, melancholy, fright); insomnia is most closely linked to the heart, and is also related to the liver, spleen and kidney. Dr Yeung also explained the relationship between dreaming and insomnia, and introduced the traditional Chinese medicine herbal formulae, acupuncture and acupoint massage that can effectively relieve insomnia.   Online review (Chinese only): RTHK – First Episode on 5 September 2023: https://polyu.me/3wGUIjF (03:42 - 18:00)  RTHK – Second Episode on 12 September 2023: https://polyu.me/3wGUIjF (03:42 - 18:00)

PolyU research team develops liquid metal microelectrodes for implantable bioelectronics

The interdisciplinary research team led by Prof. ZHENG Zijian, Associate Director of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), Member of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute of Smart Energy (RISE), Chair Professor of Soft Materials and Devices, and Professor in the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, has developed liquid metal microelectrodes (μLMEs) which are suitable for skin-attachable and implantable electronic devices. The pioneering study “Wafer-patterned, permeable, and stretchable liquid metal microelectrodes for implantable bioelectronics with chronic biocompatibility”, was published in Science Advances. Wearable or implantable bio-electronic technology requires unique properties that are different from conventional electronics. The developed μLMEs are stretchable, soft and permeable, and can therefore be worn or implanted without causing discomfort or harm to the users. The conductive component of the μLMEs was made from eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn), a liquid metal alloy which allows the μLMEs to retain high conductivity under strain. Read the research article: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adg8602 Read the press release: https://polyu.hk/tPoIF   Online coverage: Oriental Daily News - https://polyu.me/3Ex3gwH Hong Kong Economic Times - https://polyu.me/3Z9YFKh Sing Tao Daily - https://polyu.me/3sOOe2F Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/3Ljk8ea Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3Pb62fT Hong Kong Commercial Daily - https://polyu.me/3LnClHh Hong Kong China News Agency - https://polyu.me/48aex3q Line Today - https://polyu.me/3Phe0nT Hong Kong Economic Journal - https://polyu.me/46by1CP

PolyU-developed smart car defense system showcases at Smart & Secure City Hall

The Smart Defense System for Connected Vehicle and Smartphone Security developed by Prof. Daniel LUO Xiapu, Leading Member of the Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT) and Professor of the Department of Computing, and his team, is now being showcased at Hong Kong Productivity Council’s newly launched Smart & Secure City Hall. At the launching ceremony on 4 September, Prof. Luo shared that cyberattacks on cars has surged by 225% from 2018 to 2021; as intelligent automobile network gains prevalence in recent years, it provides hackers with an attack surface that is more convenient and hidden. The smart defense system by the team can provide real-time defense with prompt responses, and state-aware detection capable of detecting various attacks.    Online coverage: Southcn.com - https://polyu.me/3P7o4zw (Chinese only) Bauhinia - https://polyu.me/3L7gOm9 (Chinese only) IT Pro - https://polyu.me/45YyckU (Chinese only)