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Tag: Hong Kong

EdUHK’s health risk assessments based on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in freshwater fish

Posted on by eduhk

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are toxic organic pollutants, which are usually deposited in soil and marine sediments through petroleum contamination, fossil fuel burning, fallout from air pollution, and terrestrial runoff. The dietary intake of contaminated food is considered to be one of the major sources of total human exposure to PAHs.

Previous studies revealed that concentrations of PAHs in human blood plasma collected from Hong Kong residents were positively correlated with consumption of seafood, including fish, which is a major source of protein in Hong Kong. The contamination of PAHs in farmed fish depends partly on the quality of feed. Fish meal and fish oil are commonly used in fish feed, but they are also a source of organic pollutants, including PAHs. Formulated feeds have become the major diet of many important farmed species.

In 2018, Hong Kong produced 3,600 tonnes of food waste per day, which accounted for one third of municipal solid waste sent to landfill. Food waste is a possible replacement of fish meal to produce safe and quality aquatic products. Recycling food waste for fish feed will also reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.

Dr Man Yu-bon, Assistant Professor at the Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, and the research team found that PAH concentrations in all the fish species fed a food waste-based diet were all below the local and international maximum permissible levels, so there was no health risk for human consumption.

The researchers hypothesised that food waste could replace part of fish meal to lower PAHs in fish. The major objectives of the study were to (1) investigate the concentrations of PAHs in food waste used as fish feeds, and (2) assess potential human health risks based on PAH concentrations in the fish meat.

Two farmed freshwater fish species, Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and jade perch (Scortum barcoo) were fed food waste-based diets (experimental diet) and compared with fish on a commercial formulated control diet (control diet) for a period of six months. Sixteen priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the diets and cultured fish meat were tested by gas chromatographyemass spectrometry.

No significant differences in PAHs were observed between two fish species fed with the experimental diet and the control diet (p > 0.05). However, there was a significantly higher concentration of PAHs in market fish compared with the same species of fish on the experimental diet (p < 0.05). Thus, the experimental diet has the potential to lower the PAH concentration in farmed fish compared to market fish.

A human health risk assessment based on the PAH concentration found there were no non-cancer risks and very low cancer risks from consuming fish fed the experimental diet. In general, the fish fed with the experimental diet were unlikely to cause adverse health effects. There is therefore great potential for using food waste-based diets as an alternative to commercial feeds for cultivating freshwater fish, while also reducing pressure on Hong Kong landfills.

To learn more about the study, please click here.

HKAPA School of Film and Television’s “Dance In The End” selected for screening in the 7th Jacksonville Dance Film Festival 2022 and as an Honourable Mention in the Tokyo International Monthly Film Festival

Posted on by Communications Office

School of Film and Television’s Master of Fine Arts Project “Dance In The End“ has been selected for screening in the 7th Jacksonville Dance Film Festival 2022 to be held in Florida, US. It has also been selected as an Honourable Mention in the Tokyo International Monthly Film Festival.

Jacksonville Dance Film Festival is an extension of Jacksonville Dance Theatre, which “aims to connect diverse audiences, cultures, and creative communities through the universal language of film and movement.”

Tokyo International Monthly Film Festival is a monthly film festival in which a film wins the award of the current month, and the 12 monthly winners compete for the annual award of “Best Movie of the Year”.

Learning to apply psychology to our real-world problems

Posted on by Editorial Team

Long before the mental, as well physical, stresses generated by the COVID pandemic began to have their profoundly negative impact, the accelerating pace of modern life was already exacting an increasing toll on many people’s psychological well-being.

In response, there has been a growing interest from organisations, as well as individuals, in understanding the drivers of human behaviour, and in the identification and treatment of specific mental health issues. Unfortunately, however, there remains a shortage of skilled professionals, and trained academics, equipped to respond to these developments.

This is a key reason why Lingnan University’s Department of Applied Psychology created its new Master of Social Sciences in Applied Psychology (MAP) programme, which will be launched in September 2022. The MAP will not only provide students with a broad foundation in the practical applications of psychology, but also enable them to take the first steps along specific career paths.

Increasing opportunities

“People with a background in psychology can work in a diverse range of fields: in both public and private organisations, in NGOs, in schools, in health settings, almost everywhere,” points out Professor Padmore Amoah of Lingnan’s Department of Applied Psychology.

In this one year full-time or two years part-time programme, a range of elective courses enable students to explore their own specific interests. A number of these courses will cover topics not usually found in postgraduate psychology programmes in Hong Kong, such as sleep and health, positive gerontology, and consumer psychology. Furthermore, MAP students will get the chance to conduct their own research project with the support of a supervisor.

On graduation, MAP students will be eligible to join the Hong Kong Psychological Society (HKPS), and they can go on to enrol in professional programmes, such as those in clinical, educational, and industrial and organisational, psychology.

For students wishing to begin training for a career in counselling, the options open to them include the programme’s Concentration in Counselling Psychology. Despite the huge and growing demand for counsellors and clinical psychologists in Mainland China, very few Chinese universities currently offer relevant degrees, either at undergraduate or postgraduate levels. These types of professional skills also seem certain to be increasingly sought after in the wider region, as well.

Alternatively, rather than pursue professional training or employment opportunities, MAP graduates may choose to stay in academia and apply to doctoral research programmes.

Faculty and facilities

With international faculty of the highest quality, Lingnan’s Department of Applied Psychology is recognised as one of the best in its field within the region. In its research and teaching, the department aims to apply psychological principles to real-world, practical problems. Among the other taught master’s programmes already offered at Lingnan is the MSc in Work and Organisational Psychology, which is also a professional degree.

The resources MAP students will be able to access include the Wofoo Joseph Lee Consulting and Counselling Psychology Research Centre (WJLCCPRC). The WJLCCPRC’s work focuses on innovative research in the fields of consulting psychology, counselling psychology and the physiological indicators of well-being.

CityU’s advanced robotic VR system teleoperates robots for COVID-19 swab tests

Posted on by Editorial Team

A research team co-led by City University of Hong Kong (CityU) recently developed an innovative human-machine interface (HMI) that can teleoperate robots to imitate the user’s actions and perform complicated tasks. The breakthrough technology demonstrates the potential for conducting COVID-19 swab tests and nursing patients with infectious diseases.

A key part of the advanced HMI system, named Robotic VR, is the flexible, multi-layered electronic skin developed by Dr Yu Xinge, Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) at CityU, and his team. The system’s bottom layer of skin-tone elastomeric silicone serves as a soft adhesive interface that can be mounted on the skin and joints of the user.

“This new system enables teleoperating robotics to conduct complicated tasks. Doctors wearing the HMI system with VR glasses can remotely control the robots and experience the tactile sensations of the robots to accurately conduct surgery, and medical workers can remotely manipulate the robots to look after infectious patients or collecting bio-samples, thus greatly decreasing the infection risk,” says Dr Yu.

The team conducted experiments such as remotely controlling the robotic hand to collect throat swab samples for COVID-19 tests and to teleoperate humanoid robots to clean a room and even provide patient care. The team is developing a next-generation system for the robotic collection of nasal swab tests.

The layers of the electronic skin are interconnected with a collection of chip-scale integrated circuits and sensing components, including resistors, capacitors, a Bluetooth module, a microcontroller unit (MCU), and soft sensors and actuators developed by the team.

The sensors of the Robotic VR system can accurately detect and convert subtle human motion into electrical signals, which are processed by the MCU and wirelessly transmitted to the target robot. In this way, the user can teleoperate the robot to imitate their motion to accomplish tasks remotely. The pressure sensors on the robot can send feedback signals to control the vibration intensity of the haptic actuators through the Bluetooth module, thus providing haptic feedback for the user. The user can then precisely control and adjust the motion and strength of the robot, or its arm, according to the intensity of the feedback.

The sensors of the Robotic VR system can accurately detect and convert subtle human motion into electrical signals, which are processed by the MCU and wirelessly transmitted to the target robot. In this way, the user can teleoperate the robot to imitate their motion to accomplish tasks remotely. The pressure sensors on the robot can send feedback signals to control the vibration intensity of the haptic actuators through the Bluetooth module, thus providing haptic feedback for the user. The user can then precisely control and adjust the motion and strength of the robot, or its arm, according to the intensity of the feedback.

“The new system is stretchable and can be tightly mounted on human skin and even the whole human body for a long time. In addition, the interface provides both haptic and visual feedback systems, providing an immersive experience for users,” says Dr Yu.

The HMI system links users to robotics or computers and plays a significant role in teleoperating robotics. However, conventional HMIs are based on bulky, rigid and expensive machines, and the lack of adequate feedback for users limits their application for conducting complicated tasks.

With the advanced circuit design and outstanding mechanical characteristics, Dr Yu believes Robotic VR can teleoperate various machines, e.g. driverless cars, while people with disability can remotely manipulate a robot to carry heavy goods. Dr Yu also expects this new system to help provide a new approach in wirelessly connecting people to a robot or virtual character in the metaverse.

The system supports three wireless transmission methods – Bluetooth (up to tens of metres), Wi-Fi (up to about 100 metres), and the Internet (worldwide) – which can be adjusted according to the practical applications.

The research study was published in Science Advances under the title “Electronic Skin as Wireless Human Machine Interfaces for Robotic VR”. The corresponding authors are Dr Yu and Professor Xie Zhaoqian from Dalian University of Technology (DUT). The first authors are PhD students Liu Yiming, Yiu Chun-ki and post-doc fellow Dr Huang Ya from BME, and Ms Song Zhen from DUT.

Learning how to help the elderly stay healthy, productive and happy

Posted on by Editorial Team

Across the globe, populations are ageing. “In Hong Kong around 31 per cent of the population will be aged 65 or above, by 2036,” notes Professor Padmore Amoah, of Lingnan University’s School of Graduate Studies. “While in Mainland China, it is estimated around 30 per cent of the population will be 60 or above, by 2040.”

Ensuring members of this burgeoning demographic can continue to live healthy, independent, productive and happy lives, for as long as possible, is going to require a greatly expanded body of highly-qualified professionals. It is to this end that Lingnan University’s School of Graduate Studies and Hong Kong Metropolitan University’s School of Nursing and Health Studies have jointly developed a new Master of Science in Smart Ageing and Gerontology (SAG) programme, that will be launched in September 2022.

Successful completion of the programme will open up a growing number of opportunities in both the public and private sectors, in settings such as hospitals and healthcare centres, public health departments, information and technology firms, NGOs, community-based organisations and businesses providing health-related services.

Among the key differentiators of this programme from others available in Hong Kong is a focus on technology and data analytics. Supporting this emphasis are leading specialist academics and facilities, such as Lingnan’s 2,000 sq ft “LU Jockey Club Gerontech-X Lab”.

“This Lab hosts a variety of practical, every day technologies and equipment that older people can use,” explains Prof Amoah.

A dual degree programme with cutting edge courses

Successful graduates from the SAG programme will be awarded two master’s degree certificates; one from Lingnan University (LU) and one from Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU). HKMU is considered the premier nursing education university in Hong Kong, while LU is one of Asia’s leading universities in the fields of social policy, social care and social services research and practice. Together they will offer SAG students nine core courses.

“Lingnan has strong research and teaching expertise in the field of gerontechnology,” points out Dr Daisy Zhu of the university’s School of Graduate Studies. The four courses run by LU’s School of Graduate Studies are: Ageing Policies in Greater China; Research in Health and Social Services, which focuses on qualitative and quantitative approaches to researching health and social care management; Positive Gerontology, which is concerned with the physiological, cognitive, psychological and social changes that come with ageing, and; Data Analytics for Health Management, which introduces the key technologies that support healthcare analytics.

HKMU offers courses in: Smart Ageing, which teaches an understanding of the importance of big data in healthcare; Human Genomics: Implications for Human Health; Building Resilience in the Smart Era, which aims to enhance the capacity of students to survive adversity, and; Frailty Study, which aims to develop students ability to manage the frail.

Finally, a Smart Ageing and Gerontology Capstone Project, run jointly by both universities, will enable students to put theory into practice to solve real-world problems.

HKBU research reveals bisphenol S exposure may increase cancer risk

Posted on by HKBUCPRO

A study led by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has revealed that different degrees of exposure to bisphenol S (BPS), an industrial chemical widely used in paper products and plastic containers, are associated with the growth and deterioration of breast tumours in a mouse model. The research results suggest the need for more in-depth and comprehensive research on the potential negative impact of BPS on human health, and the ongoing search for a safer alternative for use in industrial production may be warranted.

Apart from the HKBU scientists, the research team also included researchers from the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Xi’an Jiaotong University. The research results have been published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, an international scientific journal.

Association between BPS and breast cancer under-researched
In the past, bisphenol A (BPA) was widely used in the production of a diverse range of products, such as baby bottles, food and beverage containers, and the thermal paper used for printing receipts. As previous research has shown an association between BPA exposure and human endocrine system disruption, metabolic disease and an increased risk of breast cancer in recent years, scientists have looked for alternatives to BPA, and BPS has been used as one of the substitutes. Despite reports on the adverse effects of BPS on human health, its impact on tumour progression and how it disrupts the relevant metabolic processes in breast cancer remain poorly understood.

A research team led by Professor Cai Zongwei, Chair Professor of the Department of Chemistry and Director of the State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis at HKBU, carried out several experiments to explore how BPS exposure at environmentally relevant levels affects the development of breast tumours, including the tumour’s morphological characteristics as well as lipid and protein distribution, with the aid of mass spectrometry imaging technology.

BPS exposure increases tumour volume and weight

The research team conducted experiments on three groups of mice model that had been transplanted with human breast cancer cells. In the first dosing group (BPS-10 group), the mice were fed daily with a lower dosage of 10 micrograms of BPS per kilogram of body weight for eight weeks. In the second group (BPS-100 group), the mice were fed with a higher dosage of 100 micrograms of BPS per kilogram of body weight. The mice in the control group were fed olive oil.

Tumour proliferation in the mice was then investigated, and the team used morphological analysis to study the breast tumour tissue. In general, increases in tumour volume and weight represent proliferation of tumour tissues. When a tumour further develops, the condition of its necrotic region and its peripheral tissues will change. However, the volume and weight of the tumour may reduce as a result of changes in the conditions of the tissues.

After the eight-week experiment, the average volume and weight of the tumours in the BPS-10 group were 13 times and 11 times higher than that of the control group respectively, and the average volume and weight of the tumours in the BPS-100 group were 4 times and 4.5 times higher than that of the control group respectively. Therefore, the results show that exposure to BPS was closely related to the proliferation and deterioration of breast tumours.

Different dosages associated with tumour proliferation and deterioration

The research team analysed the necrotic region and neoplastic region of the breast tumours in the three groups of mice. The two regions are common pathological features of solid tumours. An increase in the relative proportion of the necrotic region reflects the proliferation of the tumour, while an extended neoplastic region indicates the deterioration of the tumour.

 

In the control group, the status of tumour cells in the necrotic region and the neoplastic region was stable, and the mice from the group showed no significant tumour proliferation and deterioration after the experimental period. However, in the two BPS treated groups, an increase in tumour size was observed along with changes in the arrangement and distribution of tumour cells conducive to tumour proliferation and deterioration.

 

After the experiment, the necrotic regions in the BPS-10 and the BPS-100 groups accounted for 54.7% and 11.5% of the average section area of the tumours respectively. The results indicate that a low dosage of BPS induces faster tumour growth, and a high dosage of BPS may ultimately lead to deterioration of the tumour, as shown by the relatively small average size of the necrotic region and the extended neoplastic tissue in the BPS-100 group.

BPS affects the distribution of tumour-related lipids and proteins

The research team identified six lipid biomarkers that regulate tumour growth. With the analysis of tumour tissues’ morphological characteristics and the use of mass spectrometry imaging, it was found that in the two BPS-exposed groups, these lipids were highly abundant in the necrotic regions of breast tumours when compared with the control group. The team inferred that the metabolism of these tumour-regulating lipids was interrupted in the breast tumours following exposure to BPS.

The team also discovered the distribution of twelve protein biomarkers, including the proteins associated with breast tumour proliferation and deterioration. The results demonstrate the important function of BPS exposure-related lipids and proteins, and future research will further explore their role in breast cancer.

BPS may increase human breast cancer risk

The research team then compared the distribution of lipids and proteins in the BPS-exposed mice groups with those observed in human breast cancer tissue samples, and similar patterns were identified. While not all tumours will become cancerous, based on the benchmark results, the team deduced that exposure to BPS will increase the risk of breast cancer in humans.

“BPA was replaced by the less studied chemical BPS in industrial production. Our research findings show that BPS may potentially be associated with breast tumour proliferation, and further study is deemed necessary to unveil more about the chemical’s possible negative impact on human health. In the long run, industry may need to identify safer substitutes for both BPA and BPS. Policymakers should also establish relevant safety standards and regulations for the use of BPS,” said Professor Cai.

Spreading the word: new podcast series brings the joys of classical Chinese poetry to the English-speaking world

Posted on by Editorial Team

Digital technology not only opens up exciting possibilities for the future but also allows us to better understand, and enjoy, cultural treasures from the past. In a podcast series launched this month (February 2022), Professor Cai Zong Qi, Lingnan University’s Lee Wing Tat Chair Professor of Chinese Literature and Director of the Advanced Institute for Global Chinese Studies, aims to give a wide listenership the chance to appreciate classical Chinese poetry.

Since his student days, Prof Cai has harboured the desire to share the profound beauty of this art form with Western readers. Having already seen Columbia University Press publish the first six books in his ten-volume series How To Read Chinese Literature, he is now reaching out, via the podcast series, to engage an educated, English-speaking audience, that has little prior knowledge of these works.

An audio journey through genres and dynasties

In each episode, outstanding poems will be read and discussed, and their cultural milieu explored, in English. Each of the poems will also be recited, by professional readers, in Mandarin, and for Tang and Song poetry in Cantonese as well, over a background of classical Chinese qin music.

“We want to help the listener go beyond pure translation,” Prof Cai explains. “You do not really get the same aesthetic pleasure [from a translated text,] as you would get from the original, particularly for some hyper-condensed type of poetry.”

From February 1st, a new 15-minute podcast will be available each week on popular platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Ximalaya (in Mainland China). The full 52-episode series will cover the major poetic genres that have emerged and evolved over a period of almost three millennia, stretching from the early Zhou all the way to the Qing, the last of China’s dynasties, which ended in 1911. A team of experts will guide listeners through the rich heritage of Chinese poetry, poem by poem, genre by genre, and dynasty by dynasty.

Many classical Chinese poems originated as folk songs or tales about the founding father of the Zhou dynasty, Prof Cai points out. Later they came to be used by diplomats and courtiers to convey messages in the form of an indirect expression of the state’s intent. “Poetic talent became a key criterium for selection for promotion to high government office during the Tang dynasty, from around 600 to 900 AD.”

Reaching out to a global audience

Prof Cai’s bi-cultural outlook has been shaped by his experiences in his native China and while studying and teaching in the United States. In his writing, he has used Western theoretical approaches to examine the nation’s classical literature in fresh and original ways. He believes that knowledge of the Chinese literary tradition can also help people in other countries understand the cultural values that shape thinking within China. And interest in this field does seem to be growing, with sales of the published books in his How To Read Chinese Literature series far exceeding initial expectations.

How to Read Chinese Poetry Podcast website

EdUHK’s 3Es helps children’s emotional growth

Posted on by eduhk

A vital part of a child’s development is learning to regulate emotions and build relationships: often called ‘socioemotional competence’. To encourage this life-long learning, The Education University of Hong Kong, with the support of the Simon K. Y. Lee Foundation, has created the 3Es project. The project is in its sixth year and its name represents the goals of early prevention, early identification and early intervention, where local children encounter difficulties in reading and arithmetic (hard skills), and in managing emotions and behaviour (soft skills).

The University launched this evidence-based intervention programme in 2015 and it was initially operated in 24 kindergartens, benefiting some 1,400 children and their parents and teachers. Professor Kevin Chung Kien-hoa, Dr Ian Lam Chun-bun at the Department of Early Childhood Education and the 3Es team conducted a study during the programme’s four-year term to measure its effectiveness.

Based on both qualitative and quantitative data collected from the children, results showed that 3Es helped the children’s cognitive control, emotional understanding, emotional expressiveness, empathy and other behaviours intended to help others. These are skills which experts consider crucial for subsistence and success in the 21st century.

The study was published in one top-five% and six top-10-15% ranked academic journals, and the team further expanded the reach of its outcomes by developing several in-service teacher-training programmes. The scholars also shared their work in the form of newsletters, teaching aids and learning activities for parents and children. The learning materials can be downloaded through the 3Es website and social media platforms.

Following on from this success, the 3Es programme was extended in 2019 to reach kindergartens located in economically disadvantaged areas. The Education Bureau has since invited all kindergartens in Hong Kong to participate, using two formats. The first is school-based teacher training, provided by educational psychologists and school development officers. The second format comprises joint school workshops and sharing sessions, enabling kindergartens to learn from each other’s experiences. Both will begin in September 2021 and will run for two years.

“With the right support, children from any background can have a better future,” said project leader, Professor Chung. “We want to provide such support in the early years, together with parents and teachers,” he added.

HKAPA School of Dance Dean’s Special Artist Series

Posted on by Communications Office
How could technology play a role in dance creation? With the theme “The Future of the Dancing Body in Virtual Space”, the School of Dance Dean’s Special Artist Series will present its first programme this semester via Zoom on Jan 12, 2022 (Wednesday). Dean of Dance Professor Anna CY Chan, along with choreographer Alexander Whitley and Digital Artist Neal Coghlan, will discuss their work with motion capture and 3D animation software in the creation of digital dance productions. They will also share more on their experiments connecting dancers from remote locations in a shared virtual space using motion capture streaming technology.
Join them & explore the possibilities these technologies present for the future of dance performance: https://bit.ly/3HqHv0G　

HKAPA part of “Sir Elton John Global Exchange Programme”

Posted on by Communications Office

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts is pleased to be one of the exchange institutions of the new “Sir Elton John Global Exchange Programme” developed by Royal Academy of Music. Beginning in Sep 2022, students from twelve of the top conservatoires in the world can take part in educational exchanges with Royal Academy of Music.

The twelve participating conservatoires include The Juilliard School (New York), Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki, University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, Hanns Eisler Academy (Berlin), The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Music and Performing Arts (Munich), Reina Sofía School of Music (Madrid), The Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto), Tokyo University of the Arts Faculty of Music and Graduate School of Music.

Talented students of the Academy’s School of Music will be able to benefit from these collaboration projects which vary in length from a short, single-term of intensive project-based work to a full year of tuition.