Top News of Last Week with ANA
Azad News Agency (ANA) published a number of scientific and technological news during the past week whose top ones are as follows:
University of Tehran Researchers Find New Way for Rehabilitating Autistic Children
Iranian researchers at the University of Tehran have taken an effective step in the assessment and rehabilitation of children with autism by designing two native tools, ‘Hafbak’ and ‘Beta’, in the context of augmented reality.
Researchers at the University of Tehran, led by Ali Akbar Arjmandnia, a professor at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences at the University of Tehran, have succeeded in designing and indigenizing the new diagnostic and rehabilitation tools for children with autism, and the scientific effectiveness of these tools in improving working memory, executive functions, and reducing behavioral problems in children has been confirmed.
Arjmandnia stated that autism, as one of the common neurodevelopmental disorders, is accompanied by challenges in the field of social communication, stereotypical behaviors, and poor eye contact, and said, "In addition, serious problems in working memory, executive functions, and concentration are also considered as other symptoms of this disorder. This research project, using augmented reality technology, has developed two training packages for rehabilitation of inhibition, attention, and flexibility.”
“Based on the findings of this research, the use of the Beta package in the context of augmented reality has led to significant improvement in working memory and executive functions in autistic children, and has also reduced the severity of their behavioral problems. Since autistic children have difficulty communicating directly with those around them, using tools based on new technologies like augmented reality facilitates the interaction and learning process for them,” he added.
Arjmandnia explained that in one of these studies, we found that by using the Beta Rehabilitation Package in the context of augmented reality, the working memory and executive functions of autistic children had been improved and their behavioral problems were also reduced, adding, “At present, Hafbak and Beta are being used in more than 300 counseling and treatment centers across the country by psychologists, counselors and therapists in the field of children and adolescents.”
Iranian Company Uses Innovative Nano-Based Methods to Produce Brake Pads
Pars Pads Company, as the largest disc brake pad manufacturer in the Middle East, has produced two new technological products.
According to Mohammad Hassan Akhoundian, the company’s Marketing and Sales Manager, the two technological products include nano-coating of the pad surface and nanostructured compounds in the friction material, which have reached the industrial production and final preparation stages, respectively. “Nano-paint technology increases corrosion resistance and reduces the cost of the production process, and nanostructured compound technology increases the stability of brake performance at high temperatures.
“In the formulation of the new pads, we have used reinforcing nanoparticles, which increase the stability of braking performance in high temperature conditions, improve wear resistance and extend the product’s lifespan. Also, the nano-structured paint and coating of the surface of the brake pad with a nanostructure, in addition to being more resistant to corrosion and peeling, has reduced the final cost of painting due to better adhesion and lower consumption of raw materials,” Akhoundian said.
He added that the nano-paint technology has now reached the mass production stage and is used in all of the company’s disc pads, noting, “The nanostructured compound technology is also in the final stage of preparation for industrial production, and its infrastructure has been provided for all domestic passenger car platforms.”
Iran Completes Major Overhauls of 35 South Pars Platforms
The deputy director of operations and support of Pars Oil and Gas Company announced the successful completion of the major overhaul program of 35 production platforms of the South Pars joint field in the current Persian calendar year (started on March 21).
“Out of 37 production platforms, 35 platforms were included in the major overhaul program for the current year,” said Sepahdar Abbaszadeh.
“This program was completed without incident and in full, and about 150,000 man-hours of activity were spent by colleagues to complete the project,” he added.
Noting this year's major overhaul program started early April and continued until October 19, he said, “These measures have prepared Pars Oil and Gas Company to fulfill production commitments in the cold season.”
Iran-Made Nano Supplement Treats Iron Deficiency Anemia in Short Period
An Iranian knowledge-based company succeeded in producing a drug for the fast and safe treatment of iron deficiency anemia in a targeted, safe and cost-effective manner, which has minimal gastrointestinal side effects and rapid effectiveness.
The new product of the knowledge-based company, called Ferric Carboxymaltose, is from the new generation of intravenous iron complex drugs, which has been recognized in recent years as the most effective treatment for iron deficiency anemia in the world. In this compound, trivalent iron ions (Fe³⁺) are placed within a network of stable polymaltose, which prevents the sudden release of iron and the occurrence of side effects.
Unlike older compounds such as iron dextran or iron gluconate, ferric carboxymaltose enjoys high colloidal stability and controlled release. This feature causes the iron to be gradually released into the tissues and used in the bone marrow to make hemoglobin. Also, due to the presence of a stable polymer coating, the possibility of allergic reactions, hypotension, or iron accumulation in the organs is greatly reduced.
One of the important advantages of this drug is the possibility of injecting a large amount of iron at a time (up to 1000 mg) without serious complications. This feature reduces the number of injection sessions and eliminates the need for patients to visit medical centers frequently; which is especially important for kidney patients or people with chronic inflammatory diseases.
This injectable drug causes rapid restoration of the body's iron stores by rapidly increasing the level of hemoglobin and serum ferritin. Numerous clinical studies have shown that after injecting this drug, patients see improvement in anemia symptoms, increased energy, improved mental focus, and a return to daily activities within two to three weeks.
Iranian Expatriate Researcher Wins Abu Reyhan Birouni Award
Mahya Mehrmohammadi, a member of the program for cooperation with Iranian experts and technologists abroad (Connect), was selected as the top young researcher in the field of biology in the current Persian calendar year (started on March 21), winning the Abu Reyhan Birouni Award.
At the 11th Abu Reyhan Birouni Award ceremony and which honors the outstanding young Iranian researchers, Mehrmohammadi, a graduate of Cornell and Yale Universities and a researcher at Stanford University, was honored as the top researcher in the field of biology.
The young scientist’s research field is in the field of molecular diagnosis of diseases through blood biomarkers. The technology developed by her is based on sequencing free DNA fragments in blood, and the data obtained from it is analyzed using mathematical models and machine learning to identify diseases such as lung cancer in the early stages.
In addition to early cancer detection, the technology is also used in other fields like organ transplantation, autoimmune diseases, inflammation, and prenatal diagnosis.
Iran to Establish Quantum Communications, Atomic Clock Reference Labs
Iranian Vice-President for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy Hossein Afshin announced plans to establish a quantum communications and atomic clock laboratories, stressing the need for the development of Iran’s infrastructure in the three fields of computing, communications and quantum sensors.
“The quantum field has three sections of quantum computing, quantum communications and quantum sensors, and in the quantum communications section, we are seeking to launch a reference laboratory in cooperation with the Ministry of Communications,” Afshin said.
Noting that the quantum communications laboratory is due to be developed in cooperation with the ICT Research Institute, he said, “If all stages of this project go well and the memorandum of understanding between us and the Ministry of Communications is finalized, this laboratory will be established next year."
Afshin explained that establishment of this laboratory will help to significantly accelerate the development of quantum communications, adding, “We plan to establish reference laboratories in the three areas of quantum computing, quantum communications and quantum sensors.
“Since the field of quantum sensors is diverse, we need to establish a series of reference laboratories, and we will soon prepare the first atomic clock laboratory (in the field of atomic sensors), which is related to the field of quantum sensors,” he underlined.
“This laboratory is in partnership with one of the country's universities, the name of which we will publish in the future,” Afshin said.
Iranian Experts Launch 1st Specialized Mini-Pilot Processing System in Yazd
The first specialized mini-pilot processing system for pharmaceutical, agricultural and biotechnology products was launched in Yazd province in Central Iran with the aim of developing indigenous technologies and facilitating the commercialization of new ideas.
“The plan to launch the first specialized processing mini-pilot system was put into operation with the support of Yazd Science and Technology Park and the cooperation of two knowledge-based companies,” Navid Nasirizadeh, a professor and faculty member of Islamic Azad University’s Yazd branch, told ANA.
“The launch of this center is a practical response to the pre-industrial infrastructure gap in the province. This center shortens and smoothes the path from a laboratory idea to a commercial product for technology companies and startups.
The center, which operates as an advanced manufacturing workshop or specialized Fab Lab, is equipped with advanced laboratory and semi-industrial equipment,” he added.
“These facilities enable research and development projects, prototyping, process optimization, and even semi-industrial scale production in the fields of pharmaceutical and biological supplement production, development of natural-based agricultural products, and design and production of biotechnological raw materials,” Nasirizadeh said.
Iranian Technologists’ Smart Sorting System Applicable in Mineral Processing Lines
Young Iranian technologists at a knowledge-based company active in artificial intelligence and stationed at the Science and Technology Park of University of Tehran succeeded in developing a smart sorting system (based on artificial intelligence) for separating agricultural products with the ability to be used in mineral processing lines too.
“In the field of artificial intelligence, in new technologies, high-resolution industrial cameras record consecutive images of the material flow and the artificial intelligence model recognizes the type of each sample in a fraction of a second. Then, compressed air nozzles separate undesirable grains from the main flow,” said Mohammad Reza Farahnak, the managing director of the company.
He explained that the process not only helps improve the final quality of the product, but can also significantly reduce energy consumption and the need for manpower.
“Our company has succeeded in developing a smart sorting system based on deep learning over the past few years, using a localized approach. The system uses similar architectures to convolutional neural networks (CNNs), the same algorithms used in facial recognition, autonomous driving, and medical image processing, but the main difference is how these models are adapted to the unique characteristics of agricultural products,” Farahnak said.
“Based on the preliminary studies, AI models can distinguish between mineral compositions with high accuracy by simultaneously analyzing image and spectral data. In the future, such systems could replace many of the costly and time-consuming manual sampling methods in mines. The ultimate goal is for smart sorters to be installed directly in mining and processing lines, increasing productivity and safety by making decisions in real time,” he stressed.
Iran to Unveil New Generation of Nanobubble Technology for Wastewater Treatment
The director of the Nanobubble Technology Development Program of the Nano and Micro Technologies Innovation Council (INIC) underlined Iran's significant growth in this field, saying that a new generation of nanobubble technology will be unveiled at the 16th International Nanotechnology Exhibition in November.
“This achievement can increase to more than double the capacity of urban wastewater treatment plants without the need for new infrastructure or increased energy consumption,” Mohammad Mehdi Esmayeeli said.
“At present, Iran is not in the position of reverse engineering, but in the position of developing nanobubble technology and is moving in step with leading countries like the US, Japan, South Korea and China in this area,” he added.
Esmayeeli announced that four approved knowledge-based companies in this field are present at the 16th Nano Exhibition due to be held in Tehran early November.
Nanobubble technology is used as a new solution to significantly reduce energy consumption in treatment plants, since this technology, by reducing electricity consumption by 50% in Iran, not only decreases costs, but also helps the country's electricity grid to remain stable.
University of Tehran Researchers Develop New Method for Corneal Wound Repair
A group of Iranian researchers at the University of Tehran succeeded in presenting a new and combined method for repairing severe corneal wounds, which is based on the intelligent use of stem cells and biological dressings.
The University of Tehran scientists in collaboration with researchers at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Islamic Azad University’s Karaj branch, investigated the effect of limbal tissue with conjunctival flap and bovine amniotic membrane on corneal wounds caused by alkaline burns.
The results can create a major revolution in the treatment of eye injuries and the prevention of blindness. The results of this study, which was conducted on 25 rabbits, show that the use of amniotic membrane - alone or in combination with limbal tissue - has increased the healing process of corneal wounds. Better corneal wound healing due to reduced keratocyte loss and increased angiogenesis are other results obtained in the use of amniotic membrane in the treatment of corneal wounds in the aforementioned method.
“In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of directly applying crushed limbal tissue fragments to alkaline corneal wounds in rabbits, in combination with bovine amniotic membrane or a conjunctival flap as a physical bandage,” said Mir Sephehr Pedram, a faculty member of the Veterinary Medicine department of the University of Tehran and head of the research team.
“Our aim was to assess the wound healing response in terms of re-epithelialization, inflammation, and neovascularization and to compare the biological effects of the two bandage techniques,” he added.
Iran Ranks 2nd in World in Development of Irrigation, Drainage Sciences
Results of a global study published in the prestigious journal (Irrigation and Drainage), the official journal of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, show that Iran was standing on the second place in the development of irrigation and drainage science between 2010 and 2024.
In this evaluation, Iran ranked second in the world with the publication of 215 scientific research articles, after China and above India and the US, with researchers from the University of Tehran having made a significant contribution by publishing over 62 articles.
The study, which examined 1,517 articles published in the journal Irrigation and Drainage over the past 15 years, announced Iran's share of the journal's total scientific production as 14.2 percent.
The effective presence of Iranian researchers, specially from the University of Tehran, in the official journal of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), with a history of 73 years, is a clear testament to the scientific and research position of Iran and the University of Tehran in the global arena.
Iranian Scientists Equip Nano-Device with AI
Iranian specialists at Jikan Surface Nano-Engineering company succeeded in equipping a contact angle, tension and surface energy measuring device with artificial intelligence (AI) in a one-year project.
The company's researchers used deep learning algorithms, which is the first step in using artificial intelligence in nano-equipment in Iran. The process of detecting and calculating contact angle and surface tension is transformed from manual to a fully automated system that calculates and displays accurate values without user intervention and only through photos or videos.
In addition to increasing the accuracy and speed of measurement, this technology eliminates human errors and paves the way for the complete automation of nano-laboratories and also the use of this device in industries.
The system is a combination of an intelligent software module and a precise imaging device. In this system, after recording an image or video of a liquid droplet on the sample surface, the software identifies the droplet boundary, contact angle, and surface parameters based on the convolutional neural network automatically.
Therefore, the parameters that were previously determined manually by the user are now analyzed automatically and with high accuracy by the algorithm. This technology is not only applicable in the static contact angle measurement mode, but also in the calculation of surface energy by simultaneously measuring two different drops on the same surface.
The developed system is able to operate fully in two modes of device-connected mode that is when the artificial intelligence system is connected to the measuring device, the software, performs the analysis without user intervention after receiving an image or video of the sample and then automatically displays the results related to the contact angle and surface tension. The second mode is device-independent mode in which the user only uploads a sample photo or video to the software and the system automatically and accurately extracts contact angle and surface tension data.
Iran among 20 World States with Ability to Manufacture Cargo Planes
Iran conducted test flights on a new home-made cargo plane named Simorq, putting the country among the 20 world states in possession of such technology.
“The number of countries in the world that enjoy the capability to design and produce aircraft is less than 20, and Iran is one of these countries that has achieved the technical know-how to design and manufacture cargo aircraft with the domestic capabilities of Iranian youth and elites,” said Chief of Iran's Civil Aviation Organization (CAA) Hossein Pourfarzaneh.
The home-made plane, Simorq, officially started its test flights as the aircraft prepares to join the country’s cargo fleet.
Simorq’s test flights started in an airfield in the city of Shahin Shahr in Central Iran after a ceremony attended by deputy heads of Iran’s ministries of defense and transportation.
The CAA announced that the plane has to carry out 100 hours of test flights in various circumstances to get a final permit to join Iran’s aviation fleet.
Pourfarzaneh said that Simorq, whose indigenization process has taken over 15 years, is equipped with two 2,500-horsepower engines that can carry 6 metric tons (mt) of cargo over a distance of 3,900 kilometers, while its maximum takeoff weight is 21.5 mt.
The plane carried out a fast-taxi test in May 2022, a year before it conducted its maiden flight.
Iranian Scientists Indigenize Solution for Isolation of Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells
Iranian researchers at Royan Research Institute succeeded in production of polymer solution for isolating umbilical cord blood stem cells.
“The monopoly of several European and American companies in the production of polymer solution for isolating umbilical cord blood stem cells has been broken by the complete production of this product domestically by Iranian researchers,” said Hamed Da’emi, a faculty member at Royan Research Institute and the managing director of a knowledge-based company.
He stressed that the solution, which was previously completely imported, is now completely produced domestically and has been made available to umbilical cord blood banks.
“It took several years from the start of studies to reaching the industrial production stage. Along the way, we faced numerous technical challenges, including the precise design of the polymer formulation, controlling sterilization conditions, and maintaining the stability of the solution at low temperatures,” Da’emi added.
He explained that the process of collecting cord blood involves several steps, noting, “After receiving the cord blood from the mother, the blood is transferred to storage banks, where it is mixed with special solutions to separate out the red blood cells as unnecessary cells and prepare the remaining stem cells for storage at very low temperatures (around minus 200 degrees). The polymer solution is used exactly at this stage.”
4155/v
