Media OutReach
PolyU research unveils mechanoelectrical perception in sea urchin spines, empowering next-generation biomimetic sensors
The research team found that, in the long-spined sea urchin (Diadema setosum), when a seawater droplet strikes the tip of a spine, the spine rotates rapidly within a second. Electrical measurements revealed that the droplet simulation produced a voltage of about 100 millivolts inside the spine; when the spine is immersed in water, water flow stimulation triggers a voltage of several tens of millivolts. This mechanoelectrical perception was observed even in dead spines, indicating that the mechanism is unrelated to biological cells.
This response originates from the stereom structure of the spine—the porous internal skeleton composed of pores with varying sizes and distributions. These pores exhibit a gradual gradient along the spine from the base to the tip: larger pores and lower solid density at the base, and smaller pores and higher solid density at the tip, forming a bicontinuous gradient porous structure. As water flows through the porous structure, solid-liquid interfacial interaction occurs and the flow exerts shear force on the electric double layer, inducing the separation and redistribution of interfacial charge, which generates a voltage difference. The gradient structure intensifies the interaction between water flow and pore surfaces, resulting in a stronger voltage difference and enhancing the spine’s sensing capabilities.
Inspired by these findings, the researchers used vat photopolymerisation 3D printing to create artificial samples from polymer and ceramic materials that resemble the spine’s stereom. Experiments showed that the spine-mimicking design produce a voltage output about three times higher and an amplitude about eight times greater than non-gradient designs under water flow stimulation, demonstrating that the key to the mechanoelectrical perception lies in the structure rather than the material. They also constructed a bionic 3D metamaterial mechanoreceptor that is designed in a 3 × 3 array with each unit made of gradient porous material. This mechanoreceptor can record electrical signals in real time underwater and precisely locate the position of water flow impact, without the need for additional electricity.
The research team points out that the gradient porous structure in sea urchin spines enhances signal transmission, thereby improving the precision and sensitivity of the mechanoreceptor. By replicating this structure in different materials, it is possible to extend its application beyond water flow sensing to various types of signals, including those measuring pressure, vibration and electromagnetic waves. This will inspire sensing technologies in multiple fields, such as in relation to its use in brain-computer interfaces to enhance the sensing of brainwaves and neural signals, with tremendous application potential.
Prof. Wang Zuankai said, “Compared to traditional mechanoreceptors, our design excels in manufacturability, structural design flexibility, material versatility, geometric and performance control, and real-time underwater self-sensing. Leveraging gradients of porous materials and 3D printing technologies, we aspire to produce more nature-inspired metamaterial sensors with a range of materials, pore sizes and surface features that support potential applications in many fields.”
At the forefront of nature-inspired science and engineering research, Prof. Wang’s team has also invented various new materials, including lotus leaf-inspired self-cleaning surfaces capable of rapid water repellency, Araucaria leaves-inspired surfaces that enable self-propelled liquid transport, and anti-icing structures that achieve spontaneous ejection of freezing droplets by replicating the biological mechanism of spore shooting in fungi. He envisions that their research will open up new avenues for the development of nature-inspired materials.
“For natural porous materials, mechanical properties such as strength may not be the primary function, but rather a by-product of complex biomineralisation. Uncovering previously unknown mechanisms that lie beyond a material’s traditionally recognised function helps us to more comprehensively understand and fully utilise these natural resources. This is crucial for advancing biomimetic research,” he added.
This joint research was co-led by Prof. LU Jian from CityU, and Prof. YAN Chunze and Prof. SU Bin from HUST. The study findings have been published in the international journal Nature.
Hashtag: #PolyU #MarineEnvironment #NatureInspiredEngineering #SensingTechnology #DeepSeaTechnology #Brain-ComputerInterface #Nature #HongKong
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The decision was announced during the discussion “Competition Development in Global Grain Trade: Joint Efforts of BRICS Countries”, organized by the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre on the sidelines of the 23rd Session of the UNCTAD Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Competition Law and Policy in Geneva.
The event included a closed meeting of BRICS competition authorities and a public panel featuring researchers, academics and representatives of international organizations.
Discussions focused on competition in global grain markets, the growing influence of financialization and digitalization across agricultural value chains, and policy tools to improve market transparency. Participants also reviewed the findings of a joint report prepared by the BRICS Competition Centre and UNCTAD (link: https://www.bricscompetition.org/ru/grainreport) , first presented at the 9th BRICS International Competition Conference in Cape Town in 2025.
A coordinated market study
The central outcome of the meeting was the establishment of a BRICS task force that will coordinate a joint sector inquiry into global grain trade within the framework of the BRICS Working Group on Food Markets.
The task force will be co-chaired by Diogo Thomson, President of Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE), and Mahmoud Momtaz, Chairperson of the Egyptian Competition Authority (ECA).
Thomson welcomed the initiative and proposed making competition in global grain trade a key topic at the next BRICS International Competition Conference, scheduled to take place in Brazil in 2027.
“Brazil is the only jurisdiction that has launched an investigation into digital grain trading platforms such as Covantis. I therefore strongly welcome this sector inquiry, which will help us better understand the impact of digitalization across grain supply chains and the risks it may create for competition. I also support using the BRICS Competition Centre as the coordination platform for this work,” he said.
Momtaz said one of the main conclusions of the BRICS-UNCTAD report was the significant role speculative activity plays in global grain markets.
“One of the key findings of the report presented by the BRICS Competition Centre is the extent to which speculative factors influence global grain trade. The most effective response is greater market transparency. We should not accept a situation where farmers receive only a small share of the value they create while consumers in Egypt pay excessively high prices for bread. Where does this margin accumulate, and who ultimately benefits from it? These are the questions our sector inquiry should answer,” he said.
He also proposed that the task force develop a common AI-powered price monitoring tool covering BRICS grain markets.
“Such a tool would provide the information needed for market analysis and become an important complement to the joint sector inquiry,” Momtaz added.
From analysis to policy recommendations
Hardin Ratshisusu, Deputy Commissioner of the Competition Commission of South Africa, said the study should contribute to the implementation of the BRICS Grain Exchange initiative endorsed by BRICS leaders in the Kazan Declaration (2024) and the Rio de Janeiro Declaration (2025).
“The proposal to establish a BRICS Grain Exchange should become one of the key recommendations of the sector inquiry as an innovative mechanism for restoring competition in global grain trade. Our objective is not merely to identify market problems but to develop practical recommendations that can ultimately be submitted to the leaders of our countries,” he said.
Alexey Ivanov, Director of the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre, said competition authorities should play a central role in designing the institutional framework of the future exchange.
“The BRICS Grain Exchange should not become another formal institution. It must serve as a practical mechanism for improving competition and market transparency. Competition authorities are uniquely positioned to identify the institutional features that will allow the exchange to achieve these objectives,” he said.
Growing international role
Frédéric Jenny, Chairmanof the OECD Competition Committee, said the initiative demonstrated the growing international role of BRICS competition authorities.
“This project illustrates how BRICS competition authorities are becoming drivers of the global competition agenda. In the past, they largely followed the lead of developed jurisdictions. That is no longer the case. There are very few examples worldwide of such close cooperation between competition authorities. This applies not only to joint market studies, but also to enforcement cooperation and competition advocacy. Rather than acting individually, you have found both the mechanisms and the political will to work together,” Jenny said.
The task force will now begin developing the methodology and work plan for the joint inquiry. Its findings are expected to provide policy recommendations aimed at strengthening competition, improving transparency in global grain trade, and supporting future BRICS initiatives in agricultural markets.
Hashtag: #BRICSCompetition
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Today’s premium SUVs are expected to do more than ever before. For EVs, that expectation increasingly extends beyond the drive itself to the ownership experience that comes with it.
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 July 2026 – There’s a reason premium SUVs remain the vehicle of choice across much of the Middle East. People here spend a lot of time in their cars, commuting between cities, shuttling between meetings, while thinking nothing of driving hundreds of kilometers over a long weekend.
A vehicle is where conference calls are taken between appointments, where children fall asleep in the back seat on the drive home, and where many of the ordinary moments of daily life quietly unfold. That is also why buyers in the region tend to value both performance and convenience, rather than simply paying for horsepower or a premium badge.
Electric vehicles have made those decisions even more nuanced. Not long ago, conversations about EVs were largely centered on battery size, driving range and charging times. Those questions still matter, but increasingly, buyers also demand a clear picture of their post-delivery ownership experience, specifically requiring convenient charging, straightforward servicing, and long-term support.
Viewed through that lens, perhaps the most interesting thing about the VinFast VF 8 isn’t any single specification. Rather, it is the way the company has approached the ownership experience around it.
Designed by the legendary Italian design house Pininfarina, the all-electric D-segment SUV combines premium styling with everyday practicality. With up to 493 km of NEDC driving range and up to 402 horsepower through its dual-motor AWD system, the VF 8 is equally at home navigating city traffic or tackling longer journeys across the region. Its spacious cabin, Level 2 driver assistance technologies and 15.6-inch infotainment display are designed with comfort in mind, whether the journey lasts twenty minutes or two hours.
In the UAE, buyers also benefit from a 10-year vehicle warranty, a 10-year unlimited-mileage battery warranty, 24/7 roadside assistance and five years of free maintenance up to 100,000 km. These benefits strike at the heart of the EV ownership experience, especially for first-time buyers. Running low on charge before an important meeting or worrying about finding support on a long drive are precisely the kinds of concerns that can make consumers hesitate about making the switch.
Globally, VinFast has been investing heavily in the ecosystem surrounding its vehicles. Earlier this year, the company signed agreements with 29 international aftersales partners as part of its plan to expand its global service network to more than 1,100 workshops across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia during 2026. The initiative includes globally standardized technician training alongside software updates, battery inspections and technical support throughout the ownership journey.
In the UAE, VinFast works with Al Tayer Motors to provide local aftersales support while continuing to strengthen its regional service network through experienced local partners. Earlier this year, the company also signed an MoU with PlusX Electric, a DEWA-approved charging provider, to complement its charging ecosystem with portable charging pods, on-demand mobile charging and emergency roadside charging services.
In many ways, the Middle East’s EV market is still writing its next chapter. Buyers have more choices than ever before, but expectations are rising just as quickly. Developing a competitive electric SUV addresses only part of the equation; ensuring a seamless ownership experience may ultimately prove equally decisive.
Hashtag: #VinFast
https://me.vinfast.com/enThe issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Media OutReach
Alpro Launches Subsidised RM1 Ferritin Checks to Help Women Understand, Prepare and Live Well Through the Transition to Menopause
Before Menopause, Many Women Are Already Struggling in Silence
While menopause is becoming more widely discussed, the years leading up to it often receive far less attention. During perimenopause, women may experience changes in their menstrual cycle, energy levels, concentration, sleep, mood and overall well-being. These changes may begin several years before menopause and can gradually affect a woman’s daily life, work and family responsibilities.
The fatigue women are expected to live with
Women in their late thirties, forties, and early fifties often carry multiple responsibilities at home, at work, and within their communities. Persistent exhaustion or difficulty concentrating may therefore be dismissed as stress, lack of sleep, ageing or simply part of having a busy life.
Representing the Faculty of Pharmacy, UiTM, Associate Professor Dr Mahmathi Karuppannan said:
Hashtag: #Alpro
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Alpro Group
Founded in 2002, Alpro Group’s ecosystem has grown to include Alpro Pharmacy, Apotek Alpro, Alpro スギ (Sugi) Pharmacy, Alpro Physio, Alpro Clinic, Alpro Baby, Alpro OptiSaver, Alpro Audiology, Alpro Health, and Alpro Foundation. Supported by a team of more than 1,000 healthcare professionals, including doctors, pharmacists, nutritionists, dietitians, physiotherapists, optometrist and many others, Alpro serves over 5 million families in Malaysia and Indonesia through its extensive network of 500 physical outlets.
Alpro Pharmacy is the first and only community pharmacy in the region to offer product liability insurance of MYR 1 million in Malaysia and IDR 3 billion in Indonesia, ensuring the supply of genuine medications and enhancing consumer trust.
With the vision of a healthy and vibrant world, Alpro Group aims to become the No. 1 prescription pharmacy chain in Southeast Asia.
