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PolyU innovates firefighting technology with smart solutions to enhance urban resilience

The increase in high-rise and densely populated urban development has heightened the demand for safety and resilience solutions against emergencies, such as fires. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has created advanced technological solutions to enhance firefighting and urban resilience. Prof. Asif USMANI, Chair Professor of Building Sciences and Fire Safety Engineering, and Dr HUANG Xinyan, Associate Professor of the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering at PolyU, hosted the 2nd International Smart Firefighting Workshop (SureFire 2024) in PolyU, which aimed to tackle future urban fire threats and enhance smart firefighting capabilities. This workshop is a component of the “SureFire: Smart Urban Resilience and Firefighting” project, which is funded by the Research Grants Council’s Theme-based Research Scheme. Under the research of Prof. USMANI and Dr HUANG, the SureFire System adopts complex data-generating networks to enable real-time monitoring of urban environments and hazards. Proper AI-based analysis of the data can provide information that continuously assesses the state and evolution of systems, diagnoses emerging pathologies, and supports decision-making. The increasing occurrence of fires in high-rise buildings globally demonstrates how the evolution of the built environment has altered the nature of fire threats. At the workshop, over 70 international research experts and scholars presented emerging topics in fire safety, covering areas in fire safety design, thermal safety management for battery systems, and artificial intelligence (AI) fire forecasting. Dr HUANG said, “Together with a multidisciplinary research team, we are uncovering answers to fundamental research questions necessary for developing the foundational technology of a smart firefighting system. This system leverages the rapidly evolving landscape of cyber-physical technologies.” To improve fire safety management during emergencies, Dr HUANG and his research team have recently introduced an intelligent digital twin system. This system couples an Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) system and a computer vision model to enable real-time fire risk assessment. Prior to a fire event, this digital twin can map the distribution of vehicles with different fire risks inside the building in real-time. In the event of a fire incident, the AI engine not only assesses the current fire scene but also forecasts the future fire progression to support fire fighting, evacuation and rescue efforts. To demonstrate the system’s performance, the SureFire team has conducted multiple large-scale fire tests in tunnels in Sichuan and multi-storey buildings in the Fire and Ambulance Services Academy (FASA) of the Hong Kong Fire Services Department. Leveraging advanced computational fire modelling techniques, the SureFire system can forecast the fire scene 1-3 minutes in advance with an accuracy exceeding 90%. Dr HUANG said, “This developed SureFire system has the potential to be installed in all future buildings and infrastructures, enhancing public safety, providing early disaster warnings, and optimising emergency evacuations.” This research is a great leap towards achieving true intelligent public safety and emergency response. The PolyU SureFire team has dedicated the past five years to developing intelligent solutions for fire safety. The latest research progresses for tunnel safety include “AIoT-enabled digital twin system for smart tunnel fire safety management” published in Developments in the Built Environment, and “Smart real-time evaluation of tunnel fire risk and evacuation safety via computer vision” published in Safety Science. The latest system provides an intelligent emergency management system framework for public fire emergencies. Also, the team is currently collaborating with multiple property management companies in China and overseas to implement the SureFire system in metro stations, tunnels, and high-rise buildings.  Powered by the groundbreaking SureFire system, a Smart Dynamic Exit sign system can be implemented into the building to guide people during fire evacuations. This system has been developed and communalised by the PolyU start-up, GABES. Not only does the SureFire system reduce fire casualties by facilitating fire evacuation, but it also holds great potential to empower firefighting robots, leading to fully automated and causality-free firefighting operation. Currently, Dr HUANG and his team are developing the next generation of autonomous firefighting robots to support firefighters and minimise fire causalities. The integration of this new technology will position Hong Kong as the world's leading smart city.

PolyU joins forces with Peking University Third Hospital to foster collaboration on physiotherapy

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Peking University Third Hospital (PUTH) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) earlier this month, deepening their collaboration in the field of physiotherapy. The MoU was signed by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, and Prof. LI Rong, Vice President of PUTH and Director of the Reproductive Medicine Department. The MoU aims to establish a strategic partnership between PolyU and PUTH, focused on developing physiotherapy research, cultivating talent and building research platforms to enhance industry development and meet the growing global demand for healthcare. Prof. Christopher Chao said, “PolyU is committed to conducting world-leading research and innovation, while encouraging cross-disciplinary collaboration to provide societal solutions. As a top-tier comprehensive hospital in China, with clinically orientation, PUTH promotes the innovative development of medical technologies through research and technology transfer. By joining hands, both parties will leverage their respective strengths to jointly advance physiotherapy treatment technologies, achieving mutual benefits and translating cutting-edge research into practical applications to create a positive impact globally.” Prof. Li Rong said, “PolyU's Department of Rehabilitation Sciences has a distinguished international reputation. This collaboration with PolyU marks a new chapter, whereby both parties will elevate the standard of education and research in physiotherapy, ultimately enhancing physiotherapy services for patients.” The collaboration will enhance regional medical technology capabilities and benefit more patients in need. Looking forward, PolyU and PUTH will deepen their cooperation in areas such as clinical treatment, technological innovation, and talent cultivation, striving to set new benchmarks in the field of physiotherapy services in the Asia-Pacific region and globally.

PolyU young scholar awarded Asian Young Scientist Fellowship 2024 for breakthroughs in materials physics

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has always been committed to nurturing young researchers to drive new quality productive forces in science and technology. Dr Kathy LENG Kai, Assistant Professor of the Department of Applied Physics, has been awarded a prestigious 2024 Asian Young Scientist Fellowship (AYSF), in recognition of her outstanding achievements in physical science. The AYSF aims to encourage and support talented young scientists in Asia to carry out creative and transformative research in three fields: “Life Science,” “Physical Science,” and “Mathematics and Computer Science.” The Fellowship is awarded annually to 12 recipients selected from Asia after a rigorous selection process. A total grant of USD100,000 is disbursed to each Fellow’s home institution over two consecutive years to support their research endeavors. This new Fellowship, specifically targeting young Asian scientists, has been established by the founders of the Future Science Prize. Dr Leng stood out from a large pool of talented and highly-qualified candidates from across Asia. The AYSF Committee acknowledged her groundbreaking work in molecularly thin two-dimensional hybrid perovskites and have shown they are willing to support her further exploration in this cutting-edge field. She said, “I am honoured and encouraged to have been awarded this fellowship following an intensive selection process. I look forward to engaging with forward-thinking young scientists from across Asia and expanding opportunities for collaboration. My team and I will continue to strive for breakthroughs and explore innovationsthat pave the way to versatile applications in flexible microelectronics and spintronics.” Dr Leng is the first scholar to isolate the 2D hybrid perovskite monolayers and uncover their novel physical properties. She is also dedicated to establishing accurate atomic structure-property relationships and pushing the boundaries of their novel device applications, particularly in the field of opto-microelectronics and spintronics. Currently, her team is focused on the scalable growth of hybrid perovskite single-crystalline thin films and their large-scale device integration. Dr Leng has been recognised with several prestigious awards, including the PolyU Young Innovative Researcher Award, the Asia Pacific TR35 Award from MIT Technology Review, the Croucher Tak Wah Mak Innovation Award, the Early Career Research Gold Award from the Singapore National Institute of Chemistry and the China Excellent Young Scientist award.

Media Interview: PolyU SFT research team tests the safety of sandals and slippers

To understand how the design of sandals and slippers impacts plantar pressure and gait stability, a research team led by Prof. Joanne Yip, Associate Dean and Professor of the School of Fashion and Textiles of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), collaborated with the Ming Pao Daily News to conduct tests on a variety of sandal and slipper models, assessing their influence on plantar pressure and gait stability. The results showed that overly soft soles fail to adequately support the ankle joints and plantar muscles, reducing stability and dynamic balance. This increases the risk of ankle sprains and falls. Furthermore, the leg muscles become tired as they exert more force to maintain balance. On the contrary, if the soles are excessively hard or thick, the forefoot forces an unnatural walking pattern that can cause leg muscle fatigue and joint pain. Prof. Kit Yick, Professor of the School of Fashion and Textiles of PolyU, suggested that when choosing sandals, it is important to select the optimal level of hardness and softness. The sole design should balance softness and comfort with appropriate support and cushioning. Based on the foot shape and activity needs, individuals can choose the appropriate shoe type to ensure both "comfort" and "safety".

PolyU researchers invent intelligent soft robotic clothing for automatic thermal adaptation in extreme heat

As global warming intensifies, people increasingly suffer from extreme heat. For those working in a high-temperature environment indoors or outdoors, keeping thermally comfortable becomes particularly crucial. A team led by Dr Dahua SHOU, Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Advanced Textiles Technologies and Associate Professor of the School of Fashion and Textiles of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has developed first-of-its-kind thermally-insulated and breathable soft robotic clothing that can automatically adapt to changing ambient temperatures, thereby helping to ensure worker safety in hot environments. Their research findings have been published in the international interdisciplinary journal Advanced Science. Maintaining a constant body temperature is one of the most critical requirements for living and working. High-temperature environments elevate energy consumption, leading to increased heat stress, thus exacerbating chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mental health issues and asthma, while also increasing the risk of infectious disease transmission. According to the World Health Organisation, globally, there were approximately 489,000 heat-related deaths annually between 2000 and 2019, with 45% occurring in Asia and 36% in Europe. Thermal protective clothing is essential to safeguard individuals in extreme high-temperature environments, such as firefighters who need to be present at fires scenes and construction workers who work outdoors for extended periods. However, traditional gear has been limited by statically fixed thermal resistance, which can lead to overheating and discomfort in moderate conditions, while its heat insulation may not offer sufficient protection in extreme fire events and other high-temperature environments. To address this issue, Dr Shou and his team have developed intelligent soft robotic clothing for automatic temperature adaptation and thermal insulation in hot environments, offering superior personal protection and thermal comfort across a range of temperatures. Their research was inspired by biomimicry in nature, like the adaptive thermal regulation mechanism in pigeons, which is mainly based on structural changes. Pigeons use their feathers to trap a layer of air surrounding their skin to reduce heat loss to the environment. When the temperature drops, they fluff up their feathers to trap a significant amount of still air, thereby increasing thermal resistance and retaining warmth. The protective clothing developed by the team uses soft robotic textile for dynamic adaptive thermal management. Soft actuators, designed like a human network-patterned exoskeleton and encapsulating a non-toxic, non-flammable, low-boiling-point fluid, were strategically embedded within the clothing. This thermo-stimulated system turns the fluid from a liquid into a gas when the ambient temperature rises, causing expansion of soft actuators and thickening the textile matrix, thereby enhancing the gap of still air and doubling the thermal resistance from 0.23 to 0.48 Km²/W. The protective clothing can also keep the inner surface temperatures at least 10°C cooler than conventional heat-resistant clothing, even when the outer surface reaches 120°C. This unique soft robotic textile, made by thermoplastic polyurethane, is soft, resilient and durable. Notably, it is far more skin-friendly and conformable than temperature-responsive clothing embedded with shape-memory alloys and is adjustable for a wide range of protective clothing. The soft actuators have exhibited no signs of leakage after undergoing rigorous standard washing tests. The porous, spaced knitting structure of the material can also significantly reduce convective heat transfer while maintaining high moisture breathability. Not relying on thermoelectric chips or circulatory liquid cooling systems for cooling or heat conduction, the light-weighted, soft robotic clothing can effectively regulate temperature itself without any energy consumption. Dr Shou said, “Wearing heavy firefighting gear can feel extremely stifling. When firefighters exit a fire scene and remove their gear, they are sometimes drained nearly a pound of sweat from their boots. This has motivated me to develop a novel suit capable of adapting to various environmental temperatures while maintaining excellent breathability. Our soft robotic clothing can seamlessly adapt to different seasons and climates, multiple working and living conditions, and transitions between indoor and outdoor environments to help users experience constant thermal comfort under intense heat.” Looking forward, Dr Shou finds the innovation to have a wide range of potential applications, from activewear, winter jackets, healthcare apparel and outdoor gear, to sustainable textile-based insulation for construction and buildings, contributing to energy-saving efforts. Supported by the Innovation and Technology Commission and the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel, Dr Shou and his team have also extended the thermo-adaptive concept to develop inflatable, breathable jackets and warm clothing. This soft robotic clothing is suitable for low-temperature environments or sudden temperature drops to aid those who are stranded in the wilderness to maintain normal body temperature.

Media Interview: PolyU RiFood study finds lactating women eating not enough fruit and vegetable

A recent study conducted by the Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has found that while the fruit and vegetable intake of lactating women has increased significantly in the past decade, it is still below the recommended level by the Department of Health. The PolyU research team examined the eating habits of over 80 lactating women from 2022 to 2024 and compared the results to a similar survey done in 2014. It found that the women's vegetable intake increased by 34% compared to 2014 and their dietary fibre and vitamin A intake also rose by 19% and 20.4% respectively. However, their overall intake is still below the Department of Health's recommendations, lower from 22% to 103% of the daily goals. Only 10% of women meet the recommendation of 2 servings of fruit and 3 servings of vegetables per day. The research team also revealed that more than half of breastfeeding women consume too much fat, saturated fat and sugar, and nearly half have bad cholesterol and weight levels outside the normal range. Dr Kenneth LO Ka-hei, Assistant Professor in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition and member of RiFood of PolyU, suggests that lactating women should focus on a balanced diet. Fruits and vegetables contain different vitamins and minerals, which increase the absorption of protein, calcium and iron, helping alleviate postpartum problems such as constipation. 

Media Interview: PolyU’s outstanding innovative research shines on the international stage

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has been actively showcasing its latest scientific research and innovative achievements on the international stage. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-French diplomatic relations and the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games. PolyU organised the “Flying High” exhibition in Paris to highlight two main themes, “Style in Motion” and “Sustainability in Innovation”, featuring 10 projects that highlight a diverse array of research and innovations across disciplines, from fashion to technology and sustainable materials. In addition, two research projects led by PolyU have recently won over HK$100 million in funding from the Research Grants Council’s (RGC) Theme-based Research Scheme 2024/25 to advance emerging research and innovations. Prof. Christina WONG, Professor of the School of Fashion and Textiles and Director of Research and Innovation of PolyU has also been awarded by the RGC’s Senior Research Fellow Scheme with a total grant of approximately HK$8 million in funding to promote research related to circular economy and sustainable development. PolyU will participate in the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Milan, Italy, in October this year. Prof. Wong said PolyU is committed to promoting the university's scientific and technological development. Moving forward, PolyU continues to expand innovative and cutting-edge research that enhances well-being and leads to a brighter future.

PolyU and ChemPartner collaborate on developing novel immunotherapy agents

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Shanghai ChemPartner Co. Ltd. (ChemPartner) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 9 August to establish the partnership and jointly develop next-generation cancer immunotherapy agents. This partnership combines expertise from both academia and industry, with the long-term goal of benefiting cancer patients. PolyU continues to advance its novel targets into personalised cancer treatments based on antibodies. The collaboration integrates the University's strengths in fundamental scientific research and the industry's translational expertise, creating a synergistic relationship. The partnership aims to bridge research on drug development, accelerating innovation and commercialisation of cancer treatments. This synergy promotes knowledge exchange and resources, paving the way for oncology advancements. The MOU was signed by Prof. CHOW Ming-cheung, Larry, Head and Professor of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology of PolyU, and Mr Shixin FAN, Board Director of ChemPartner. Prof. CHOW said, "This partnership exemplifies the need for academia and industry to collaborate closely to achieve success. To achieve complementary advantages, we will focus on the early discovery phase of markers, while ChemPartner will work on the later stages of antibody development." Mr. William Woo, Chairman and CEO of ChemPartner, said, "We hope that through this partnership, we can promote exchanges and collaboration between the two sides in the field of medical technology, share resources, complement each other's strengths, and jointly make greater contributions to human health."

PolyU brings together global quantum experts at the First Quantum Hong Kong

The First Quantum Hong Kong (Quantum HK) was successfully held on 9 August at The Polytechnic University of Hong Kong (PolyU). The day was packed with insightful discussions and cutting-edge presentations. We were honoured to invite renowned plenary speakers, quantum industry leaders and quantum researchers from international institutions for thought-provoking panel discussions, and presentations. Prof. Wing-tak Wong, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU welcomed attendees and delivered opening remarks to kick off the event. The event attracted over 80 overseas researchers and participants and it was also enthusiastically received by the local research community. Quantum HK provided an invaluable international platform for the exchange of the latest findings in quantum computing, quantum communications, quantum metrology, and quantum materials. This has also greatly benefited the quantum research community, industry, professionals, funding agencies, and publishers in Hong Kong. Furthermore, the conference has also widened and strengthened collaborations between local and global academic and industrial scientists, driving fundamental research and science education forward.

PolyU develops versatile fluidic platform for programmable liquid processing

Society relies heavily on diverse fluidic technologies. The ability toprecisely capture and release various chemical and biological fluids plays a fundamental role in many fields.A long-standing challenge is to design a platform that enables the switchable capture and release of liquids with precise spatial and temporal control and accurate volumes of the fluid. Recently, researchers at The Polytechnic University of Hong Kong (PolyU) have invented a new method to effectively overcome this challenge. Led by Prof. WANG Liqiu, Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Professor in Smart and Sustainable Energy, Chair Professor of Thermal-Fluid and Energy Engineering, of the PolyU Department of Mechanical Engineering, the research team has developed a unique fluidic processor, “Connected Polyhedral Frames” (CPFs). With CPFs, switching between liquid capture and release becomesreversible, programmable and independent of used polyhedral frames and processed liquids, making the processor a meta-metamaterial.This research has recently been published in Nature Chemical Engineering, with Dr ZHANG Yiyuan, Research Assistant Professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, as the first author. Unlike in the highly developed area of solids manipulation, convenient handling of fluids remains a cumbersome task despite the ubiquity of fluids in, for example, the healthcare, pharmaceutical, biological and chemical industries. As fluids interact with tools, they frequently wet and spread on the solids, preventing complete liquid transfer, impairing volumetric accuracy and causing inter-sample cross contamination. To preserve the purity of fluids, disposable plastics such as pipettes and microtubes are widely used, adding to the global problem of plastic waste. Reversible switching between capture and release is the key to CPFs’ capability to precisely process liquids, enabling the liquid in the network to be retained or drained locally, dynamically and reversibly as desired. In the CPFs, frames above the single-rod connection without a pathway for liquid drainage between frames, capture and retain liquids, thus functioning as capturers. While the frames above the double-rod connection imbibe but release liquids, serving as releasers. This is because when the CPFs are lifted from the liquid, a liquid film forms between the double-rod connections, creating channels between frames that facilitate liquid release. Reversible switching between capture and release can be achieved, using available tools, by constructing or breaking the liquid continuity between frames. CPFs offer a versatile platform that enables many unique functions including 3D programmable patterning of liquids, 3D spatiotemporal control of concentrations of multiple materials, packaging of 3D liquid arrays and large-scale manipulation of multiple liquids. It is compatible with a broad range of liquids, including but not limited to aqueous solutions, biofluids, hydrogels, organic solvents, polymer solutions and oils. Therefore, a variety of biomaterials and chemicals can be incorporated into CPFs for various applications. To demonstrate the practical utility of CPFs in controlled multidrug release, Prof. Wang’s team designed a CPF network for the 3D binary liquid patterning of vitamins B2 and B12. The two vitamins, representing two different types of drug molecules, were encapsulated in sodium alginate hydrogel and gellan gum, respectively, and released in aqueous solution. By altering the thickness of the gel membrane, the relative release rates of the two “drugs” can be precisely controlled. Traditional cotton swabs and flocking swabs suffer from severe sample residues during their sample release. CPFs can effectively overcome this challenge because their frame structure renders free liquid-liquid interfaces for high release efficiency. Using the influenza virus as an example, the research team demonstrated the superiority of CPFs as sampling tools with much better release performance. When the virus concentration was low, the CPFs detected the virus, while both the flocking swab and cotton swab failed to do so. The team has also demonstrated the application of CPFs in biomaterial encapsulation. Taking Acetobacterium encapsulation as an example, the CPFs show many advantages over traditional devices, including by facilitating the separation of bacteria and reaction products, simplifying the microbial reaction process and enhancing the utilisation rate of bacteria. It is conceivable that CPF could also be applied to encapsulate other biological materials for efficient production of other valuable products. In addition to medical and microbial applications, Prof. Wang’s team has further demonstrated the practicability of CPFsfor air conditioning. They prepared a commercial-scale humidifierprototype, which has a higher water storage capacity and requires less water flow, making them potentially more energy efficient.The CPFs also allow large-scale 3D liquid dispersionto form a larger surface area, making them very useful for gas absorption. An ideal CO2 cycle process is successfully generated with CPFs, which includes carbon capture and storage and CO2 reutilisation. Importantly, each frame in CPFs captures or releases liquids independent of its base materials, structures and handled liquids, being thus an innovative meta-metamaterial that makes the dream of “precisely scooping water with a bamboo basket” come true. The availability of such a fluidic processor sets a new standard for handling liquids with controllability, versatility and high performance, inspires a new field of meta-metamaterials, and facilitates new scientific and technological breakthroughs in various fields.