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15 PolyU academics recognised amongst world’s most highly cited researchers; PolyU ranked third in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has the third highest number of the world’s most highly cited researchers in Hong Kong this year, with 15 PolyU academics (including two former PolyU scholars) being recognised in the list of “Highly Cited Researchers 2023” by Clarivate Analytics for their significant research impact, as reflected in their publication of multiple papers that have been frequently cited by fellow academics. A total of 6,849 researchers from 67 countries and regions from a diverse range of research fields are named as Highly Cited Researchers in 2023. The list identifies the most influential scholars from around the world, determined by the production of multiple highly-cited papers that rank in the top 1% by citations for field and year in the Web of Science citation index over the last 11 years. The inclusion of 15 PolyU academics in the list is a testament to the University’s pursuit of research excellence and commitment to positive societal impact on various fronts. PolyU researchers featured in the list are as follows (in alphabetical order):   Category Name Title and Department Cross-Field Prof. Daniel S.P. LAU Chair Professor of the Department of Applied Physics Prof. LI Gang Chair Professor of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Prof. Kian Ping LOH Chair Professor of the Department of Applied Physics Dr MA Ruijie Postdoctoral Fellow of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Prof. Geoffrey Q. P. SHEN Associate Vice President (Global Partnerships) and Chair Professor of the Department of Building and Real Estate Prof. WANG Zuankai Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Chair Professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering Prof. Tom Tao WU Chair Professor of the Department of Applied Physics Prof. YAN Feng Chair Professor of the Department of Applied Physics Dr Iris YU Ka-ming Former Research Assistant Professor of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology Dr ZHANG Xiao Assistant Professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering Engineering Prof. YAN Jinyue Jerry Chair Professor of the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering Prof. ZHANG Lei John Chair Professor of the Department of Computing Chemistry Dr HUANG Bolong Associate Professor of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology Computer Science Dr GUO Song Former Professor of the Department of Computing Social Science Prof. LAW Rob Honorary Professor of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management

PolyU researcher develops novel selenium nanoparticles for managing postmenopausal osteoporosis

As the aging population around the world grows, metabolic diseases like osteoporosis are becoming more prevalent and placing a greater burden on healthcare systems. Rising to this challenge, a research team led by Prof. WONG Ka-hing, Director of the Research Institute for Future Food and Professor of the Department of Food Science and Nutritionat The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), has developed novel selenium nanoparticles (Cs4-SeNPs) for managing postmenopausal osteoporosis. The latest research findings were recently published inJournal of Functional Foods. This patented nanotechnology has also gained wide recognition, leading to various national and international awards, including the Ministry of Education’s Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Awards (Science and Technology) 2020: Second-Class Award in Technological Innovation. Selenium (Se) is an essential trace mineral for human health, playing important roles in many physiological functions. In the past decades, substantial evidence has demonstrated that Se deficiency is detrimental to bone microarchitecture and is associated with osteoporosis, suggesting its crucial role in bone metabolism. Recently, selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have become a new target of research, since they were found to possess remarkable bioactivity and lower toxicity compared to selenocompounds commonly found in foods. However, scientific research concerning their effects on bone health is currently very limited. Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. is a medicinal fungus which has been long used as a tonic and therapeutic agent. By using polysaccharide–protein complexes (PSPs) isolated from the C. sinensis mycelium (Cs4) and a previously patented nanotechnology, the research team has recently prepared novel selenium nanoparticles with a uniform structure and high stability (Cs4-SeNPs). In experiments using pre-osteoblast murine MC3T3-E1 cells, the research team demonstrated that Cs4-SeNPs were taken up rapidly and efficiently by the cells. Treatment with Cs4-SeNPs (10µM) increased proliferation of the MC3T3-E1 cells and promoted their differentiation to mature osteoblasts. Enhancement of bone mineralization of the MC3T3-E1 cells was also observed, indicating the promoting effect of Cs4-SeNPs on new bone formation. Further investigation of their action mechanism revealed that Cs4-SeNPs induced the production of physiological levels of reactive oxygen species to trigger osteoblast differentiation. Interestingly, comparison of these effects with those of common selenocompounds found that only Cs4-SeNPs showed significant osteogenic activity, and it was less toxic to the cells. More importantly, Cs4-SeNPs (25-500μg/kg BW/day) exhibited promising in vivo bone protective efficacy against OVX-induced osteoporosis by promoting bone formation, inhibiting bone resorption, and improving bone microarchitecture after oral gavage for 6 weeks. The team is currently working with local industry partners to bring the resulting health food products to market. Prof. Wong said, “The novel nano-mineral Cs4-SeNPs has a wide spectrum of health promotion and disease prevention applications, not just for postmenopausal osteoporosis management. Apart from developing a high-quality, safe and evidence-based bone protective agent to improve the quality of life of postmenopausal osteoporosis patients, our team is now investigating the effects of Cs4-SeNPs on treating Parkinson’s disease and more. We hope to tap into its potential biomedical value through interdisciplinary collaboration, thus further promoting research and applications in related fields.”

PolyU research project on climate-resilient coastal infrastructure supported by French National Research Agency/RGC Joint Research Scheme

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing the world. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has received support from The French National Research Agency (Agence Nationale de la Recherche)/Research Grants Council Joint Research Scheme (ANR/RGC Joint Research Scheme) - 2023/24 Exercise to conduct an innovative project on enhancing the resilience of coastal infrastructure to mitigate climate change risks such as sea-level rise and storm surges. It is one of three projects awarded funding from among Hong Kong institutions. Global warming is seen to be leading to more frequent occurrences of extreme weather. In the face of this challenge, the project “Smart and Flexible Climate Change Adaptation of Coastal Infrastructure”, led by Dr You DONG , Associate Professor of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of PolyU, has been granted HK$2.45 million under the ANR/RGC Joint Research Scheme for a period of 48 months. The project is being undertaken in collaboration with Prof. Edgar Emilio Bastidas Arteaga of La Rochelle University in France. Prof. Christina WONG, PolyU Director of Research and Innovation, said, “As an innovative world-class university excelling in diverse disciplines, PolyU has established extensive global partnerships for academic and research collaboration. With a mission to address complex global issues and tackle scientific challenges, we will continue to work closely with our partners to leverage our research strengths, drive innovation across a broad spectrum of cutting-edge research initiatives, and achieve a lasting global impact.” The funded project will focus on robust and intelligent adaptation of high-risk coastal building structures in Hong Kong and France to withstand compounded coastal flooding and sea level rise caused by global warming, storm surges resulting from tropical cyclones, and heavy rainfall. The intensity and frequency of these events are expected to increase due to climate change. A physics-informed data-driven approach is proposed to predict the occurrence and intensity of future flood hazards. Fluid-structure-interaction models will be developed to explore flood-related damage and failure mechanisms of coastal buildings in a life-cycle context. In addition, physics-guided deep learning will be utilised to develop multivariate vulnerability and risk models that focus on different building archetypes in the area under investigation and to form a framework for community-level vulnerability and resilience assessment. The research results are expected to generate technologies and knowledge that will contribute to the upgrading of climate-resilient infrastructure in Hong Kong and globally in the near-future. The ANR/RGC Joint Research Scheme aims to strengthen collaboration between French and Hong Kong research communities, and both basic and applied research proposals of high academic merit in all areas are invited under the Scheme. The assessment criteria include technical and scientific quality, quality of project management and methodology, global impact and the quality of synergies between the partners.

PolyU joins hands with Hangzhou and Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province to build innovation platforms for advancing technologies and cultural tourism

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PolyU-Hangzhou Technology and Innovation Research Institute officially unveiled, deepening industry-academia-research collaboration

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PolyU research seizes BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize 2023

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) research has been honoured with the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited (BOCHK) Science and Technology Innovation Prize 2023 (STIP) for its exceptional accomplishments in the fields of “Advanced Manufacturing” and “FinTech”. Since the inception of this prestigious award last year, PolyU has reinforced its position as the leading institution in Hong Kong, securing a total of four awards. Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, PolyU President, congratulated the three laureates and said, “PolyU takes pride in being home to such a distinguished group of scholars. These exceptionally talented researchers are driven by their passion for scientific breakthroughs and innovation. They strive to develop cutting-edge technologies and make ground-breaking discoveries that contribute to the betterment of the community, and which will have a lasting impact on the world. PolyU remains committed to supporting its researchers in their pursuit of research that not only benefits Hong Kong, but also the country and the world.” The three award-winning PolyU scholars: Prof. CHEUNG Chi Fai Benny, Chair Professor of Ultra-precision Machining and Metrology of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and Director of the State Key Laboratory of Ultra-precision Machining Technology (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University), is recognised in the “Advanced Manufacturing” field. His pioneering ultra-precision nano multi-ring machining technology has successfully been applied in the research and development of a novel and high-efficacy nano multi-ring defocus incorporated spectacle lens for myopia control, which has the potential to benefit myopic schoolchildren globally. A novel magnetic field-assisted batch superfinishing technology and equipment have also been developed for mass superfinishing surgical tools that can reduce wound trauma during bio-medical applications. His innovative research on the next generation of in-situ precision three-dimensional surface metrology not only supports manufacturing of high-precision products but also can be used under various manufacturing or measurement scenarios in the context of Industry 4.0 to realise smart precision manufacturing. Prof. Cheung has made outstanding contributions with his innovative research into new methods, new processes and new equipment for ultra-precision machining, precision metrology and smart precision manufacturing. Prof. AU Man Ho Allen, Professor of the Department of Computing is recognised in the “FinTech” field. His ground-breaking research focuses on the design and analysis of privacy-enhancing and quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms to address security, privacy and scalability needs in real-world blockchains. His research advances blockchain technology and spearheads the Web3 revolution through innovative approaches and transformative solutions, paving the way for secure, interoperable and scalable applications in the next generation of decentralised protocols and applications. Many of his inventions have been recognised and adopted by leading IT companies and blockchain platforms. Prof. Au’s recent research on zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) is noteworthy. ZKP is widely regarded as a breakthrough technology that enables data privacy protection, efficiency improvement and scalability of transparent systems such as blockchains. He developed innovative solutions that reduce the computation cost of ZKP. His team optimised ZKP using distributed computing and GPU acceleration, winning US$550,000 at ZPRIZE organised by the Web3 community. Prof. LUO Xiapu Daniel, Professor of the Department of Computing, is also recognised in the “FinTech” field. His innovative work in the field of cybersecurity has been instrumental in identifying and fixing security vulnerabilities and defending against cyber-attacks that pose significant risks to critical infrastructures, including blockchain systems, smart contracts, smartphones, IoT devices and automobiles. His research findings have been recognised by prominent blockchain platforms and leading IT companies. Prof. Luo’s research contributes to strengthening the robustness of blockchain technologies, advancing the security and privacy of mobile and IoT devices and enhancing network security measures. His work has led to ten best/distinguished paper awards, including the ACM SIGSOFT Distinguished Paper Award at ISSTA 2022, ACM SIGSOFT Distinguished Paper Award at ICSE 2021 and Best Paper Award at INFOCOM 2018, as well as several awards from industry. The STIP, established by the Hong Kong Alliance of Technology and Innovation and sponsored by BOCHK, is a non-governmental merit-based award. It aims at facilitating the development of science and technology innovation in Hong Kong by rewarding outstanding individuals and groups who have made significant contributions to science and technology innovation in Hong Kong. A cash prize of HK$2 million is awarded for each field. PolyU achieved remarkable success in last year’s STIP 2022 in the areas of “Advanced Manufacturing” and “Life and Health”, with the prestigious awards being bestowed upon Prof. WANG Zuankai, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Chair Professor of Nature-Inspired Engineering in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Prof. ZHENG Yongping, Henry G. Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering, Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering, and Director of Research Institute for Smart Ageing.

PolyU scholar shares at THE Innovation and Impact Summit 2023

Prof. Christina Wong, Director of Research and Innovation of PolyU was invited to be one of the honourable speakers of THE Innovation and Impact Summit 2023 in Shenzhen on 7 November 2023. The Summit aims at examining the importance of universities in supporting the creation of new cities and new regional economies such as Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area. Prof. Wong delivered an informative and insightful presentation which shed light on the importance of sustainability and how we can enhance cities’ resilience to better cope with the impact of climate change. The Summit, themed ‘Universities and cities: Advancing sustainable innovation’, explored how universities can create and sustain cities that are innovation hubs.

PolyU-Wuxi Technology and Innovation Research Institute officially inaugurated, driving collaboration and advancements in innovation and technology industry

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Young PolyU scientist lauded in MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 Asia Pacific 2023

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) Assistant Professor Dr Kathy K. LENG from the Department of Applied Physics, has been named by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Review as one of the “Innovators Under 35” (TR35) in the Asia Pacific region in 2023. This prestigious recognition highlights Dr Leng’s outstanding achievements and advancements in science and technology innovation. Dr Leng is actively engaged in research focused on discovering new physics in the emerging field of molecularly thin 2D hybrid perovskites. She has developed a set of nanotechnology tools and methods for investigating these materials at the molecular level and harnessing their potential for multifunctional smart device applications. Currently, her team is focusing on the large-scale growth of molecularly thin 2D hybrid perovskite films and exploring their novel spintronic device applications. She is the first scholar to observe the atomic structure of molecularly thin hybrid perovskites and correlate it to their optoelectronic properties. She discovered that very thin perovskites undergo structural relaxation, resulting in changes to their optical properties, which can be reversibly controlled by light or strain. This breakthrough has enabled her to fabricate the first monolayer perovskite photodetector that converts light to electricity with very high efficiency. The capability to tune the optoelectronic properties of these materials through external stimuli enables applications in intelligent and multifunctional devices. This research outcome will play a significant role in advancing the field of flexible optoelectronics and fundamental physics in the future. Dr Leng said, “Throughout my research journey, I have been inspired and encouraged by my peers and senior colleagues. Some of them have served as my mentor and role model, while others have collaborated with me and provided advice. Being part of this supportive and collaborative research network gives me much inspiration and encouragement. Recognition through impactful publications, grants, and conference presentations also spurs me on to work harder.” Based on her niche area of molecularly thin 2D hybrid perovskites, Dr Leng has recently received several awards in recognition for her outstanding achievements, including the Excellent Young Scientist Fund (Hong Kong and Macau) from the National Natural Science Foundation of China in 2023. She was also the recipient of a Young Innovative Researcher Award 2023 from PolyU. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, said, “PolyU has consistently dedicated itself to nurturing exceptional young scientists, providing ample resources to cultivate a vibrant environment for innovation and technology, and advocating for groundbreaking research. We take great pride in honouring PolyU’s talented scholars as they shine globally through their remarkable scientific research capabilities and impactful contributions.” MIT Technology Review identifies the TR35 annually from diverse technical fields, including biotechnology and medicine, energy and material, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and telecommunications, and intelligent manufacturing. This recognition is given to 35 top-notch young innovators who have demonstrated significant impact, leading capabilities, and ground-breaking achievements in their respective research areas.

PolyU develops first-of-its-kind multimodal robot empowering post-stroke ankle-foot telerehabilitation

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has achieved another breakthrough in rehabilitation device development. The Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton is the first-of-its-kind multimodal robot for ankle-foot rehabilitation specifically designed for stroke patients with hemiplegia, which helps improve the motor function of their lower limb and walking ability. Powered by Internet of Things (IoT) technology, the device enables telerehabilitation for remote management of patients’ rehabilitation progress and allows them to undertake self-help rehabilitation exercises at home. Therapists can remotely monitor the rehabilitation progress of multiple patients. In recent years, Hong Kong has seen around 50,000 new cases of stroke annually, with 85% of patients experiencing varying degrees of impaired physical mobility. Regular, repeated and intensive rehabilitation training is critical for restoring the physical mobility of stroke patients, thereby alleviating post-stroke symptoms such as disability. However, due to overwhelming demand, access to daytime outpatient rehabilitation services in local hospitals and rehabilitation clinics is challenging. Consequently, stroke patients are often unable to undergo timely and routine rehabilitation exercises. Common functional impairments among stroke patients include foot drop and inversion, which significantly disrupt their daily lives. Developed by a research team led by Dr Hu Xiaoling, Associate Professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering of PolyU, the Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton is an innovative multimodal wearable robot for ankle-foot rehabilitation that integrates the advantages of exoskeleton, soft pneumatic muscles, tactile sensory feedback and neuromuscular electrical stimulation technology in one system. The device can not only correct foot drop and foot inversion effectively, but also improve the gait of stroke patients. Additionally, it can help improve balance while walking and contribute to rehabilitative neuroplasticity in the long term. Stroke patients with hemiplegia generally have weakened muscle strength and discoordination at their affected lower limb, especially in the foot and ankle. The Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton can automatically detect patients’ gait events including the standing state, heel strike, heel off and toe off. The multimodal assistance from the device can help a patient stand firm on their affected foot with mechanical support from the exoskeleton and soft pneumatic muscles, learn to balance the plantar pressure and exert propelling force when walking with the vibration tactile feedback and neuromuscular electrical stimulation, and improve foot drop with the neuromuscular electrical stimulation. The Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton features a lightweight design weighing about 400g which, together with its sportswear features, makes it more suitable for the hemiplegic patients to wear it unilaterally on their own. This device also has the advantage of low power consumption and can be used continuously for four hours with a 9V rechargeable battery, enabling patients to practice anytime, anywhere – at home, outdoors, or indoors. Other exoskeleton lower-limb robots available on the market, which rely solely on external force to assist patients in walking, they are of very limited value in improving ankle joint and muscle coordination for stroke patients with hemiplegia. These robots are also limited to use in hospitals and rehabilitation clinics due to their high weight and power consumption. As for conventional ankle-foot orthoses, these are prone to causing muscle atrophy and interference to patients regaining voluntary motor control over the ankle of the affected leg. Dr Hu stated, “Combining the research capabilities of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Industrial Centre, School of Fashion and Textiles and Department of Computing, the Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton is a testament to PolyU’s exceptional strength in interdisciplinary research. This research achievement provides stroke patients a better option for lower limb rehabilitation training, incorporating the training into their daily activities. It also enables therapists to provide tele-supervision of the rehabilitation progress of multiple patients. We hope such flexible self-help training can effectively supplement traditional outpatient rehabilitation services, helping stroke patients achieve more efficient rehabilitation progress.” Dr Hu’s research team is collaborating with several local and Mainland hospitals and rehabilitation clinics to conduct clinical studies on the Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton. Research studies have confirmed that rehabilitation training for stroke patients using the device is 40% more effective for stroke rehabilitation than applying external mechanical forces alone. Among the 12 patients participating in the clinical studies who completed a 1.5-month training programme consisting of 20 one-and-a-half-hour sessions, ankle dorsiflexion improved from an initial five degrees to 10 degrees without equipment assistance, approaching the normal level of 15 degrees. In addition, more than 90% of the patients successfully corrected their foot inversion. The research team also utilised IoT technology to record patients’ rehabilitation progress via a mobile app. This approach, incorporating functions such as real-time monitoring and progressive evaluation, as well as personalised guidance and reminders, enables patients to effectively engage in rehabilitation training even without the physical presence of a therapist, thereby improving patient engagement and treatment outcomes. The rehabilitation progresses of multiple patients can be matched to each other via the app for fostering mutual support and companionship throughout their training journey. It also enables therapists to provide remote monitoring and supervision on the progress of multiple patients, ensuring that rehabilitation proceeds smoothly. Dr Hu’s research team plans to commercialise the Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton next year. In 2021, she co-founded the startup Thecon Technology (HK) Limited, which has been supported by the Incu-Bio Programme of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks. Last year, the startup successfully launched a mobile exoneuromusculoskeleton for upper limb rehabilitation, the “Mobilexo Arm”, onto the market. This product has been adopted by a number of local and Mainland hospitals and rehabilitation clinics.