E-HKU701/17
Highly-sensitive multimodal optical microscopy and spectroscopy by wavelength idler-signal-enhancement (WISE)

Hong Kong Principal Investigator: Prof Kenneth Kin-Yip Wong (The University of Hong Kong)
European Principal Investigator: Prof Thomas Huser (University of Bielefeld)

The unprecedented demands of the life sciences and challenges in health care necessitate incessant and substantial advancements in various optical imaging modalities, particularly in the context of highly-sensitive multimodal optical microscopy and spectroscopy. Dysfunction of endothelial cells and their impact on tissues is a primary and very timely research topic in biomedicine to which these methods apply. State-of-the-art fiber-based photonics technology offers a powerful knowledge base that can be utilized in addressing the demanding requirements of these applications, and we envision a new regime of multimodal optical image data that can be reached by adopting advances in photonic signal processing.

In this project, we propose to develop a scheme denoted as wavelength idler-signal-enhancement (WISE), to provide a platform for multimodal (nonlinear) optical microscopy and spectroscopy, such as coherent Raman scattering (CRS). Through a three-phase implementation, we will demonstrate WISE as a core technology to meet some of the critical challenges among next-generation nonlinear optical imaging modalities to facilitate imaging studies of alterations resulting from the dysfunction of endothelial cells and their surrounding tissues.

The collaboration between the Hong Kong and European research teams is expected to significantly extend the development and knowledge in minimally invasive biomedical detection and imaging technology, in the context of versatile source generation, optical amplification and wavelength conversion, and thereby high-speed optical imaging capabilities with high detection sensitivity over various desirable wavelength windows. The wide spectrum of knowledge developed here will equip the researchers to confidently navigate in an intercontinental arena.

E-CityU101/17
Cortical mechanisms of temporal predictions in processing rhythmic sounds and speech

Hong Kong Principal Investigator: Prof Wilbert Jan Schnupp (City University of Hong Kong)
European Principal Investigator: Prof David Poeppel (Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics)

Processing complex, structured sounds such as speech and music is a challenging task for the brain. Such sounds tend to be rhythmic, and the brain is thought to be able to exploit these rhythms to generate time-specific expectations which help separate these sounds from backgrounds and ensure speedy, accurate recognition. Magneto- and electroencephalogram recordings on human volunteers suggest that oscillations of brain activity (neural rhythms) tend to synchronize, or “entrain”, to the rhythm of the sounds we hear, which may be fundamental to speech processing. Brain rhythms have also been shown to entrain to rhythmic visual or touch stimuli. It has been proposed that this rhythmic entrainment may be a manifestation of temporal expectation signals in the brain, creating windows of increased sensitivity to relevant stimuli, regardless of sensory modality.

Since neural entrainment has predominantly been studied using non-invasive methods, how this entrainment alters the encoding of information at the level of groups of individual neurons remains largely unknown. Investigating this requires detailed intracranial recordings which are only possible in animal experiments. Understanding the mechanisms of entrainment not only provides deep insights into how our brains generate anticipation and temporal attention; it also has clinical relevance, as has been shown in individuals with phonological difficulties in speech processing. To work towards this important goal, we propose an integrated research programme combining state-of-the-art animal electrophysiology, human neuroimaging, and computational modelling, which will allow us to test our hypothesis that oscillations in brain activity induce rhythmic changes in the sensitivity and frequency selectivity of individual neurons in early auditory cortex, which can be flexibly tuned to the rhythm of the acoustic inputs.

Our aims are to (1) establish an animal model which, in parallel to work on human volunteers, will allow us to study the mechanisms of neural entrainment to complex sounds and its role in predictive coding in unprecedented detail; (2) disambiguate between proposed mechanisms of entrainment by studying interactions between auditory cortex and other cortical and subcortical regions. To tackle these aims, we will perform three studies, each comprising matched experiments on rats and humans.

E-HKUST601/17
Biomaterial Risk Management (BIORIMA) - "Safer-by-Design" Nano-Biomaterials (NBMs) for Mitigating Exposure and Hazards

Hong Kong Principal Investigator: Prof Yeung King Lun (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)
European Principal Investigator: Prof Tran Lang (Institute of Occupational Medicine)

Nano-biomaterials (NBMs) are revolutionizing medicine by advancing technologies in diagnosis, therapy, implants and prosthetics. NBMs enable earlier and more accurate diagnosis of diseases using less invasive tools and significantly improve treatments. Advanced therapy medicinal products employ NBMs to create a range of smart drugs that provide more precise and targeted treatment of a disease. NBMs have improved the biocompatibility of implants and prosthetics to dramatically reduce complications. They are particularly relevant to Hong Kong with its ageing population as elderly people are the major beneficiaries and users of NBMs-enabled and NBM-enhanced medical products. Their use has the desired effects of not only improving patient care but also their well-being and quality of life.

This project in partnership with the European Commission H2020 BIORIMA project aims to remove the important bottlenecks in realizing the full application and market potential of NBMs in medicine. BIORIMA will set the framework for the integrated risk management of NBMs, while this proposed project will work to implement “Safer-by-Design” and “Safe-Production” of NBMs. The purpose is to integrate risk management concepts at the very early stage of NBMs formulation and synthesis to avoid unwanted impacts on health and the environment.

E-PolyU502/17
Virtual Spindle based Trans-scale Tool Servo Diamond Cutting of Hierarchical Optical Surfaces

Hong Kong Principal Investigator: Dr To Sandy Suet (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
European Principal Investigator: Dr Riemer Oltmann (University of Bremen)

Hierarchical optical surfaces which have trans-scale features ranging from macro-, to meso-, to micro-, and even to nano-scales are very promising to serve as key components with integrated multiple functions. However, the complicated trans-scale features on the surfaces impose strong challenges on the manufacturing process. To enhance the machining capability of current mechanical cutting systems, this project proposes a novel virtual spindle based trans-scale tool servo (TSTS) diamond cutting techniques.

Unlike the fixed rotational axis at the spindle center in conventional cutting, the spindle axis is virtualized to be at any arbitrary points for the proposed cutting technique through deliberately modulating planar motions vertical to the spindle axis. Taking advantage of the virtual spindle, freely combining or switching between turning and milling can be realized in one cutting process, greatly extending the capability for the generation of more complicated optical surfaces. In addition, serial trans-scale motions with multiple strokes, resolutions, and working bandwidths are proposed to implement along the spindle axis direction, accordingly to gain more flexibility to fabricate the hierarchical features.

To realize the virtual spindle based TSTS method, this study will focus on the following issues: (i) Construction of the novel cutting system through spindle axis virtualization as well as optimal design of both the trans-scale actuation and the corresponding feedback control system; (ii) Establishment of the optimal strategy for the toolpath determination with respect to surface features and unique kinematics of the cutting system, and also, for the rearrangement of tool motions to actuations in different scales; (iii) Revelation of surface generation mechanism through multi-physics coupling model and practical experiment tests, and also of the underlying material removal behavior subjecting to the complex cutting motions.

The proposed virtual spindle based TSTS technique will result in an advanced manufacturing system for the generation of the hierarchical optical surfaces. It can greatly exceed the capability of existing machining systems in terms of machining flexibility, structure complexity and machining efficiency. This research will further lead to much wider applications of the complex hierarchical optical surfaces for function integrations in artificial components. Further investigations of the surface generation and material removal mechanisms will give an in-depth understanding of the process, and provide valuable guidance for optimal selection of corresponding machining parameters.

E-PolyU503/17
Holistic Investigation of Fate and Behaviour of Emerging Contaminants in Complex Environmental Matrices

Hong Kong Principal Investigator: Dr Tsang Daniel Chiu-wa (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
European Principal Investigator: Prof Harrad Stuart (University of Birmingham)

Environmental contamination by organic chemicals in daily consumer products has been a growing concern, especially flame retardants (FRs) and pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) in view of their vast market size, as well as their high toxicity, high environmental persistence, and high potential of bioaccumulation. The FRs can be released to the environment upon disposal and recycling of waste electric and electronic equipment (e-waste). The annual e-waste generation was estimated as 20-50 million tonnes worldwide, of which the majority was received by mainland China and Hong Kong. Chemicals in PPCPs (e.g., antibiotics) have been found in surface water and marine sediment, arousing public’s attention on these emerging contaminants.

However, traditional target analysis focusing on particular types of contaminants only partially explains the sample toxicity, leaving profiles and impacts of non-targeted/non-selected contaminants uncertain. This proposal therefore is to investigate FRs and PPCPs present in the environment and major waste streams in a holistic approach. A wide coverage of environmental sample analysis via high-resolution mass spectrometry will verify the distribution patterns of chemical contaminants in relation to geological features and environmental media. Sophisticated effect-directed analysis will identify corresponding structures of chemicals to their toxicity. In order to evaluate the environmental significance of the contaminants, bioavailability is considered in this study, of which the capacity will be examined in relation to dynamic physicochemical properties in various environmental compartments.

Our holistic investigation via advanced analyses in this project will help to (i) reveal comprehensive profiles of contaminants in soils, sediments, and incineration ashes from Hong Kong and China, (ii) promote the evaluation of environmental significance (i.e., biological activity and bioavailability) as an extended research landscape from the current knowledge base; and (iii) offer intellectual merits with enhanced understanding on the dynamics in complex contaminated systems. In the long term, we hope to achieve broader impacts on the prioritisation of contaminants for science-informed decision making in risk monitoring and assessment programmes, as well as development of regulatory mechanisms.

E-HKU702/17
Understanding extreme heat events in and around a dense high-rise city

Hong Kong Principal Investigator: Prof Li Yuguo (The University of Hong Kong)
European Principal Investigator: Prof Silvana Di Sabatino (University of Bologna)

Extreme heat events or heatwaves is one of the most significant climatic stressors for public health, ecosystems, economies, and societies, and affect many regions of the world. The number of extreme heat events throughout the world is almost three times higher than it was in the early 1900s. In Hong Kong, the occurrence of heatwaves has been on the rise over the last ten years.

The proposed project will be based on our recent study of the unexpected urban cool island phenomenon in Hong Kong, a preliminary study of the urban moisture environment, and new finding of the synergistic warming phenomenon. In this project, we will investigate the mechanisms of extreme heat events in both rural and urban Hong Kong, and the effectiveness of their green mitigation strategies using natural-based solutions such as tree planting and urban parks in urban areas. It will also be based on in-depth analyses of the daily and annual absolute humidity profiles in both rural and urban areas using the weather data from Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), and the development of new city-scale moisture balance models. Our verified meso-scale modelling will be applied with a new urban moisture sub-model. We shall explore the local climate impact of the planting of new vegetation in both rural and urban Hong Kong with a particular focus on extreme heat days, as well as their territory-scale impact by meso-scale model simulations.