Latest news with #Xue
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Groundbreaking new contact lens lets people see even in dark
Scientists have created contact lenses that enable wearers to see in the dark using infrared vision, an invention that could lead to advances in emergency and rescue operations. Unlike traditional night vision goggles, these lenses don't require a power source and enable wearers to see infrared and visible light simultaneously, according to a new study published in the journal Cell. 'Our research opens up the potential for non-invasive wearable devices to give people super-vision,' study senior author Tian Xue from the University of Science and Technology of China, said. The lens uses tiny nanoparticles that absorb infrared light and convert it into wavelengths that are visible to mammalian eyes. These particles specifically enable detection of 'near-infrared light', which has a wavelength range of 800-1600 nanometres. This is just beyond what mammals perceive, which is a fraction of the wavelengths corresponding to visible light, typically in the 400-700 nm range. Previous research in mice showed that these particles enabled infrared vision when injected into the retina but the Chinese scientists set out to design a less invasive option. To develop the new lenses, they combined the nanoparticles with flexible, non-toxic polymers used in standard soft contact lenses. Researchers then tested the lenses in both humans and mice. They found that when given a choice of a dark box and an infrared-illuminated box, contact lens-wearing mice chose the dark box, whereas those without the eye gear showed no preference. The pupils of contact-wearing mice also constricted in the presence of infrared light and scans of their brains showed infrared light causing their visual processing centres to light up. In humans, participants wearing the lens could accurately detect flashing Morse code-like infrared signals. 'It's totally clear cut: without the contact lenses, the subject cannot see anything, but when they put them on, they can clearly see the flickering of the infrared light,' Dr Xue said. 'We also found that when the subject closes their eyes, they are even better able to receive this flickering information, because near-infrared light penetrates the eyelid more effectively than visible light.' Currently, the lenses are only able to detect infrared radiation from an LED light source. The researchers are working to increase the particles' sensitivity so they can detect lower levels of infrared light. 'In the future, by working together with materials scientists and optical experts, we hope to make a contact lens with more precise spatial resolution and higher sensitivity,' Dr Xue said. 'This technology has a wide range of practical applications, including infrared information encoding and transmission, enhanced vision in poor visibility conditions like foggy or dusty conditions, and integration into smart devices for rescue and emergencies.'
Associated Press
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Global Times: Ancient village in Guangdong Province being transformed by literature, tourism
05/15/2025, Beijing, China // KISS PR Brand Story PressWire // In South China's Guangdong Province lies an ancient Hakka village called 'China's First Village of Writers,' also known as the Writers' Village. It is the place that gave the renowned Chinese writer Xue Mo endless creative inspiration over the past decade. After settling down in the village in 2010, Xue kept exploring new frontiers in literary creation with his works going to the globe. The Writers' Village's prototype is a small literary community formed by a number of well-known writers in 2007. Attracted by the livable environment and convenient transportation, they chose to settle in the nearly 300-year-old Hakka village in the town of Zhangmutou Town in Dongguan and devoted themselves to writing. In 2010, the local government established the brand of the Writers' Village, putting money and effort into improving the literature creation environment in order to attract more writers. It was not until recently that the Writers' Village transformed from a conceptual idea into a physical space. The Global Times has learned from Cai Zengyu, an official from the Cultural, Sports, and Tourism Office of Zhangmutou Town that 30 million yuan ($4.15 million) has been invested into renovating a 20,000-square-meter cluster of buildings in the Guancang community in Zhangmutou Town since 2023. The Writers' Village now features five main zones separately for artistic creation, cultural performances, public communication, leisure tourism, and scenic experiences. Cai said that the local government has implemented supportive policies including housing and creative grants, as well as a 9-million-yuan investment in third-party operational management to provide better service to writers. Thriving literary creation The improvement of writing environment has enabled the Writers' Village to becomg one of China's most prolific literary bases. Dongguan is a place where it has inspired him with endless creativity, Xue Mo, vice chairman from the Writers Association of Northwest China's Gansu Province and a deputy head of the Writers' Village, told the Global Times. As one of the first batch writers to take up residence in 2010, Xue said many of his important works were finished in Zhangmutou Town of the city in the past 10 years. Xue noted that Dongguan provides the perfect writing ecosystem - natural beauty, a rich cultural heritage, and strong government support. 'This is a blessed land for writers,' he said. Novelist Chen Chongzheng was another writer attracted by the village's atmosphere. He told the Global Times that he conceived and completed the short story Against the Wind in the village. The story blends the atmosphere of both urban and rural life. 'My inspiration came directly from the Writers' Village because it is exactly where the tranquility of the countryside meets the convenience of city living,' he said. Chen said the village not only provides writers with a spiritual haven, but also brings the public closer to the literary community, breaking down the barrier of 'literary elitism.' 'Integrating creative work with rural life exactly echoes the traditional Chinese practice of caifeng (literary fieldwork) - the idea that literature originates from the people and serves the people,' he said. As of April 2025, a total of 97 writers have settled in the village, including 65 national-level writers and critics, as well as nine former members of the China Writers Association, according to Cai. Cai said the number of published literary works of the writers has reached nearly 700. Over 500 of these works have received awards above the municipal level, including eight Lu Xun Literature Awards, one of the most prestigious literary awards in China. 'Dongguan is a city largely made up of migrants from all over China, each bringing their own accents, memories, and views on life. These differences inevitably lead to clashes, exchanges, and integration,' said Xie Youshun, professor of the Chinese Department in Sun Yat-Sen University. Xie emphasized that the dynamic process holds great value for literary story-telling, which may explain why so many writers have gathered in Zhangmutou. 'The gathering speaks to their attraction to this new way of life, which itself is a rich vein of material waiting to be explored in literature,' Xie noted. Booming cultural tourism The thriving literary output has drawn attention to the village, promoting economic growth in Zhangmutou Town. Through the 'literature plus' business model, such as 'literature + film and television,' 'literature + tourism' and 'literature + cultural souvenirs,' Zhangmutou Town found its way to boost local economy. For example, the village has collaborated with 18 top-tier media groups such as iQiyi, Huayi Brothers and Tencent Pictures to explore digital, audio, and film adaptations of writers' works. By partnering with travel platforms such as China Travel Service and Mafengwo, the Writers' Village has linked nearby cultural and natural attractions to create themed travel experiences like educational tours and family trips and other tourism items. Literary-themed local specialties, such as 'Inspiration Water' (a loquat-flavored beverage) and 'Wenzhang Zui' (a literary-themed liquor), along with calendars and music boxes, have also been launched for visitors to buy at supermarkets, hotels, bookstores, and restaurants in the village. The article first appeared in the Global Times: Company: Global Times Contact Person: Anna Li Email: [email protected] Website: City: Beijing
International Business Times
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- International Business Times
Entertainment IP x Consumer Products: Evolving Global Licensing Strategies
Entertainment IP collaborations have evolved beyond traditional marketing initiatives, now representing a core growth strategy across sectors such as gaming, mobility, and food and beverage. By merging cultural relevance with product innovation, these partnerships are reshaping how brands connect with consumers across demographics and regions. An analysis of five notable collaborations, including three developed under the leadership of Cosmo Xue, a global authority in IP licensing and cross-industry brand partnerships, illustrates the changing dynamics and expanding influence of co-branded innovation. Segway x Transformers (2022–2024): Integrating Mobility with Fan Culture The partnership between Segway-Ninebot and Hasbro's Transformers introduced five limited-edition mobility products, including the Optimus Prime and Bumblebee Gokart PROs. Distributed across China, the United States, and Canada, the collaboration remained active through April 2024. The launch campaign delivered a 37% increase in Segway's online traffic and was featured by over 500 media outlets, including License Global and PR Newswire. Under Xue's strategic leadership, the collaboration contributed to Segway's repositioning from a mobility innovator to a lifestyle brand, demonstrating the expanding role of entertainment IP within the mobility sector. PUBG MOBILE x Venom (2024): Advancing Narrative Integration in Mobile Gaming In 2024, Tencent Games collaborated with Sony Pictures to integrate Venom into PUBG MOBILE through immersive in-game content and targeted social media promotions across North America and Southeast Asia. The initiative drove over 12 million video views across TikTok and YouTube within the first weeks of launch and recorded a significant increase in user engagement. Xue directed the global execution of the campaign, ensuring narrative consistency and regional market adaptation, an approach increasingly cited as a model for cross-industry IP licensing. Fortnite x Nike (2023): Expanding Brand Presence in Virtual Spaces Fortnite and Nike's 2023 collaboration introduced "Airphoria Island," a virtual experience featuring exclusive digital Air Max sneakers. The campaign attracted millions of players globally and was widely reported by outlets such as IGN, Hypebeast, and Business of Fashion. Nike's internal metrics showed a measurable rise in brand engagement among Gen Z audiences, underscoring the importance of virtual environments for future brand licensing strategies. McDonald's x Pokémon (2023): Sustaining Franchise Value Through Co-Branding A collaboration between McDonald's and Pokémon across key Asian markets combined themed Happy Meals with location-specific toys and collectibles. The campaign achieved a 20% uplift in product sell-through during its launch week and generated significant consumer engagement, particularly in Japan and Singapore. This initiative further demonstrated the commercial strength of nostalgia-driven IP licensing in the food and beverage sector. Honor of Kings x Meet Fresh (2025): Extending Gaming IP into Lifestyle Markets In early 2025, Tencent introduced a crossover campaign between Honor of Kings and Taiwanese dessert chain Meet Fresh, featuring themed packaging and in-store activations across North America. The month-long promotion generated over 40 million impressions and expanded the gaming IP's reach into new lifestyle consumer segments. Xue led the North American rollout, coordinating execution across cities and ensuring consistent brand alignment. Strategic Impact and Emerging Leadership As global demand for multi-platform brand experiences grows, IP licensing is becoming an increasingly sophisticated discipline requiring creative integration and operational expertise. Across multiple sectors and regions, Xue's role as a senior executive and strategic architect of high-impact collaborations has been recognized for setting new benchmarks within the industry. According to Xue, effective partnerships "build cohesive narratives that extend across content, product, and consumer experiences, ultimately creating value that endures beyond the initial activation." Xue's work exemplifies how strategic IP licensing has moved from a marketing adjunct to a core pillar of global brand development, influencing new standards for cross-sector co-branded innovation.（by ：Jon Stojan）
Forbes
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Amoy New York's Founders On Creating Sustainable, Timeless Fashion
A selection of pieces currently available from Amoy New York The summer that Isabella Chan and Katie Xue were designing Amoy New York's best-selling Jane dress, the ladies found themselves a theme song of sorts. They kept listening to December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night), by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The song, which was originally released in December, 1975, fit the mood they were trying to achieve for the collection, especially with this dress, which was named for the woman who inspired them to design it, none less than Jane Birkin, namesake of that Birkin Bag. The Jane dress has a lightly flared long sleeve, it feels very much like what it is: a sophisticated blend of past and present. Amoy New York is a brand whose look is rooted in a vintage aesthetic, but when considering design and sustainability practices, is thinking and working much further into the future than 2025. 'Sometimes,' Xue told me, 'we'll look at silhouettes and try to bring them into the present a little bit.' The Jane Mini Dress in Black. The 1980s and 1990s produced a lot of collections that inspire this pair of young designers, a lot of work by Roberto Cavalli, maybe especially the 1996 Gucci by Tom Ford collection, the one that featured the luxurious, abstractly printed blue silk. But when thinking about inspiration, it is Stella McCartney's work that resonates most. For the quality of design, of course, but also because of ethos. 'Stella McCartney's graduation show,' Chan explained, 'and that kind of feeling of reigniting fashion for the woman. I think that was a really important thing for us, we want female designers, you know? We want women designing for women. Male designers are amazing. Obviously, there are many, many men that are amazing. But I think that Stella McCartney show, I think the world saw that women have a different take on women's clothing. And that was pretty special for us, especially because we design for ourselves in a way, and that's kind of what she does.' 'I think it's funny,' Xue said, 'our actual design process kind of looks like meditating. In our room, thinking deeply about what we're feeling about the world around us. And then, translating that into designs.' 'It's a meditation,' Chan agreed, 'but it's a meditation on action, you know? How are we going about our day? What are we doing? What are the moments we're investing into?' Chand smiled before she finished. 'And how are we dressing for these moments?' The Jane Mini Dress in White Lace As someone who talks to a lot of people who work in clothing and costume, I always pay attention to the practices and processes being adapted as the fashion industry figures out how to become more sustainable. When I see an emerging brand, like Amoy New York, doubling down on a commitment to creating a sustainable brand instead of becoming one, it makes me feel better about the future of the industry I love most. 'When I was in undergrad, my concentration was on fashion business and sustainability,' Xue told me. 'Dreaming up this brand, sustainability really was a core tenet. That's why we made timelessness a central focus, because we felt like sustainability isn't only about using sustainable fabrics and minimizing carbon emissions and all those things. It's about making sure that the wearer gets the longest wear out of their items. So that was a big part of it. With our original Jane dress, we made it out of recycled polyester made from ocean-bound plastic water bottles. That was our big start in the sustainability field. But I think there's always more to do.' This led Xue to return to school, she's currently working towards a master's degree in Sustainability Management. 'Ultimately,' she told me, 'I chose to go there because there's so much more to learn and more to do as a brand. And I feel like it's a never-ending goal for us to try and make it better.' The company is always working to limit carbon emissions in their supply chain; sourcing as much locally as they possibly can, preventing any Amoy garment manufactured is not traveling from country to country during the production stage. They are dedicated to working with mostly deadstock fabrics. 'We feel like clothes should be sustainable at the end of the day, but especially in the sense that you should always want to wear them again,' Xue explained. The Parkside Dress. Chan didn't have the sustainability exposure that Xue did, but she saw how much it mattered to her partner. Now she completely understands, and would not have their company operate any other way. 'That extra work of making sure your supply chain is sustainable is a huge deal,' Chan told me, 'there are so many aspects to a garment that can be controlled in a very specific way. Before, you didn't know where your fabric was coming from, what its content is, all these things. Now you can track so many aspects of the fabric. And, like Katie said, it's a never-ending journey of improving. There isn't, like, an end-all point of sustainability for anybody. And, yeah, we allocate as many resources as we can for that part of our process' Xue thinks they started at the right time. 'I think if this were 10 years earlier,' she explained, 'it would be impossible to find fabrics, impossible to find manufacturers. Now we find it that manufacturers may not always make things sustainably, but they're almost always willing to try. I think there are more options in the marketplace for organic cotton, deadstock fabrics, and I think it's becoming easier to manage and source as we move further along.' Everything that Chan and Xue do with and for Amoy feels conscious and purposeful. I cannot articulate properly how much this writer appreciates that. All the details are thought out. This pair of ladies are in their mid-20s, young women yes, but focused in a way that phrase does not convey. They have ideals but are very grounded in the way they go about living them. I saw this very clearly when I asked them about the response they get when people understand that they were friends before they were business partners. 'People love to scare you when you're working with your best friend, they're like, be careful,' Chan said as she gave me a pointed look. It was a bit of a caricature, the look she gave me, but I knew she and Xue had experienced that specific stare many times, and probably mostly from people who believed in them and who wanted to offer helpful advice. The Jane Mini Dress in White Lace. 'There have been so many different warnings over the years,' Xue said. I would have rolled my eyes thinking back on that type of conversation. Xue did not, and neither did Chan. 'People tell you, don't work with your best friend,' Chan went on to explain. 'But we're like, okay, so we have to work extra hard at our friendship then. We have to work extra hard at communication. And we're very open.' When something seems off, or one of them isn't in the best mood, they talk about it. Take responsibility for their own behavior and work together to find a solution. They do not mind working. I suspect that they like working a great deal, I believe they love what they do. Love is serious, and seeing the thoughtful way these women approach it, I know they understand exactly how serious it is. 'I talk about this all the time,' Xue said. 'People will be like, don't work with your best friend. Don't work with family. Don't work with a stranger. Okay, so don't work with anybody. Problem solved.' She laughed and then continued. 'We just try to manage it with respect and care, the same way you manage every relationship in your life. I've written before about the dynamics that must exist for a creative/business partnership to be productive and happy. This seems like a good time to remind my readers that this type of relationship is in many ways a marriage, and requires just as much work for the pair of people participating to both feel fulfilled. Seeing a pair of young businesswomen understand this innately, actively looking for ways to develop as a team as well as individuals, it is honestly quite refreshing. Chan laughed a little when I asked them about this, the marriage and business partnership analogy. 'Absolutely,' she told me, we talk about this all the time. When you're taking your relationship to the next level in this very literal way, we had to talk about it. We're like, okay, we're friends first. We had to set a lot of boundaries.' 'Over the years,' Xue shared, 'we would run into people in random places, and they'll be like, your business partner is your marriage partner.' Thinking about this part of our conversation, I felt I understood completely how they feel, and I'd bet many of my lovely readers will also get it. It is hard, especially while doing work that matters personally, to be on the receiving end of a lot of well-intentioned, but ultimately bad advice. Whicgets tossed at young people, often it's by those who love them, who want them to do well. Unfortunately, affection doesn't mean the advice is always good. Or useful, or even apply to the world today. The Jane Micro Mini Skirt in White Lace. Luckily, these two ladies come from down to earth families who want them to succeed, so those closest to them encouraged them to make wise decisions, make choices that would serve them well. Like having a contract drawn up and signed before they began. Excellent advice, that. It has to be helpful that they had similar experiences growing up. The ladies are both born creatives, both felt a connection to clothing from a young age, both felt that what we wear is something important. They shared the experience of growing up internationally, in both China and the US, of attending boarding school. They did not meet until they were both attending University, in New York City, where serendipitously they became friends just before Covid-19 shut the world down. We all had 'pandemic' friendships of one sort or another, but Chan and Xue found that all the time together made them certain that they wanted to work together. They began picking small projects to try, and the success of those endeavors resulted in the founding of Amoy New York in 2021. It is a young brand, but one that is thriving in our current, admittedly strange, global economic situation. A big shift for the brand came in the last year, when Olivia Jade to not just wore Amoy, but to choose to post about doing so on her socials, tagging the brand so her followers could discover the label. They had reached out to her team, sent some pieces, and a few months later the brand found itself tagged on Tik Tok. 'Personally,' Xue said, I had been watching a lot of her YouTube videos, and I just wanted to get Amoy on her. When you gift things, you don't always expect someone to wear them. It was a very happy moment for us.' The Jane Top in Black Mesh. 'A lot of the time,' Chan told me, 'these collaborations end up being very organic, even though we reach out or they reach out. There's some sort of connection, but when people dress themselves, what you wear in the morning, it's how you feel and nobody is going to put something on that they don't feel good in. I mean, we don't know what's gonna happen, and they wear what feels right.' This sort of experience feels like an endorsement to the young designers, and without traditional apparel design training, it also offers them a sense of validation. As much as they love seeing Amoy New York being worn by celebrities and famous names, what Isabella Chan and Katie Xue love most is seeing young women like themselves out in the world, choosing to wear their work. 'Honestly,' Chan said, 'it's even cooler to see a stranger than a celebrity sometimes. Like, seeing someone on the street, you're wondering how you find us?'
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Yahoo
Woman's 10 mortgages 'laundered illegal tobacco funds'
A woman has been charged over an alleged multimillion-dollar mortgage fraud to launder funds on behalf of a crime gang selling black market tobacco. Xiaoli Xue, 36, has been accused of fraudulently inflating her income to secure 10 home loans worth almost $7 million since 2020. She then allegedly laundered funds from organised criminals in the illegal tobacco trade via the repayments. Following her arrest at Berala in the city's west, police raided two properties, seizing $2.5 million worth of cigarettes as well as loose tobacco, more than $100,000 in cash and a luxury SUV. An illegal gambling den and an unlicensed tattoo parlour believed to be linked to the organised crime group were also uncovered, police said. NSW Police Financial Crimes Squad Commander Gordon Arbinja said the use of fraudulent mortgages showed the lengths organised criminals would go to conceal their activities. "We will not tolerate criminals who undermine the integrity of our financial system," he said. Xue was granted bail in Burwood Local Court on Friday after being charged with charged with 20 fraud and criminal proceeds offences. She will have to hand over passports and report to police daily, while $100,000 will need to be deposited to secure her release. Xue is due to face court again on April 30. The seized assets have been frozen and the state of NSW will attempt to claw back the alleged criminal proceeds. The arrest comes after an investigation into seven properties spanning more than six months. In November, state police revealed there had been a string of attacks on tobacconists in northern NSW, sparking fears Victoria's cut-throat turf war over the illicit cigarette and vape trade had spilled across the border. More than 100 arson incidents in the southern state have been linked to Middle Eastern organised crime syndicates and outlaw motorcycle gangs fighting to control the black market.
