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: 

New Generation of Iran-Made Smart Asphalt Reduces Road Accidents, Casualties

A group of researchers from a knowledge-based company in Iran provided a basis for reducing the number of road accidents by producing self-healing smart asphalt.

“In our company, we produced a new generation of smart bitumen through polarization method which can obviate the problems of the previously-developed bitumen,” said Massoud Alizadeh, the manager of the company.

“One of the important features of these asphalts is their self-healing property; since they enjoy a shape memory, they can return to their original status after a change and a possible failure,” he added.

Alizadeh described greater depth and durability as another feature of the knowledge-based product, saying that it is also more resistant to freezing and less slippery which decrease road accidents.

Planetary System's Second Earth-Size World Discovered

Using data from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, scientists identified an Earth-size world, called TOI 700 e, orbiting within the habitable zone of its star -- the range of distances where liquid water could occur on a planet's surface.

Astronomers previously discovered three planets in this system, called TOI 700 b, c, and d. Planet d also orbits in the habitable zone. But scientists needed an additional year of TESS observations to discover TOI 700 e, the Sciencedaily reported.

The newly identified world is 95% Earth's size and likely rocky.

"This is one of only a few systems with multiple, small, habitable-zone planets that we know of," said Emily Gilbert, a postdoctoral fellow at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California who led the work. "That makes the TOI 700 system an exciting prospect for additional follow up. Planet e is about 10% smaller than planet d, so the system also shows how additional TESS observations help us find smaller and smaller worlds."

Iranian PhD Student Invents Buoyant Concrete with High Structural Strength

A Ph.D. student in civil engineering at Islamic Azad University’s Najafabad branch invented a unique product named ‘buoyant concrete with high structural strength’ used in marine, space and strategic industries.

“The concrete has no foreign counterpart and it is the first time in the world that a concrete with the property of buoyancy on water and high structural resistance has been made,” Mohammad Javad Rezayee, a Ph.D. student in civil engineering, geotechnical department of Islamic Azad University’s Najafabad branch told ANA.

In addition to structural strength, the invention enjoys low density, buoyancy and compressive strength in the range of 28 MPa.

Iranian Technologists Manufacture TCU Tester for Trains

A group of Iranian technologists from Sharif University of Technology succeeded in building a Traction Control Unit (TCU) tester used in the field of rail transportation which increases the reliability of locomotives' operation.

A group of technologists from Semitech company stationed at the Science and Technology Park of Sharif University of Technology developed the device for the first time in Iran and the world which significantly saves time and cost of the TCU test process, increases the accuracy and possibility for quick troubleshooting by using smart and automatic testing and monitoring equipment, and provides the results to the operator in a classified and complete manner.

“The TCU tester device tests Traction Control Unit performance in all cases and conditions through industrial communication protocols and relevant connectors, without the need to be placed in the locomotive or to move the locomotive, by smart simulation of the real conditions from the TCU's point of view,” said Sepehr Hashemian, the executive director of Semitech company.

He added that when the TCU is connected to the tester, it performs exactly the same function as if it were connected to a real and moving locomotive.

Knowledge-Based Company in Iran Makes Products for Angioplasty

An Iranian knowledge-based company stationed at the Science and Technology Park of the University of Science and Technology (IUST) managed to produce an ‘inflator syringe’ with application in angioplasty.

“We, in cooperation with a number of graduates of the University of Science and Technology, were able to gain self-sufficiency in producing medical equipment, specially the angiography products, and we were introduced as the first manufacturer of coronary angioplasty inflators in Iran by conducting research and production,” Seyed Mohammad-Hossein Darouyee, the managing director of Raybod Medical Technologies company, told ANA.

He added that the product enjoys the same quality as its foreign counterparts, noting that at present, it is not 100% Iran-made and a microchip used in the device is imported from foreign states.

“Relying on the science and knowledge of the young Iranian scientists, this problem will be resolved soon and we will gain complete self-sufficiency in production of the syringe,” Darouyee said.

Iranian Firm Develops Device to Diagnose Hemoglobin Deficiency with One Drop of Blood

An Iranian knowledge-based company active in making medical equipment designed and produced a device that diagnoses the problem of hemoglobin deficiency in people in just a few seconds.

“The main application of this product is in blood transfusion where people are checked for anemia since the hemoglobin level of people should be checked before donating, and even the thickness of people's blood can be detected with this device,” Fatemeh Haj Mohammad Hosseini, the managing director of ‘Shenasayee Ofoq Salamat’ company, told ANA.

She added that the device is also used in operating rooms and ambulances due to its quick diagnosis and accuracy in measurement of hemoglobin.

“Another advantage of the device is for screening tests in students, and those with anemia and hemoglobin deficiency can be identified and the needed pills can be prescribed for them,” Haj Mohammad Hosseini said.

Production of New Generation of Advanced Lightweight Materials Possible in Iran

A group of Iranian researchers succeeded in formulating and making advanced composite materials in which the electrical and thermal percolation thresholds are observed simultaneously at a very low loading of the conductive material (less than 2% by weight).

“To make these composite materials, nanostructure extensions (multi-walled carbon nanotubes, graphene, and boron nitride) have been used in the polymer environment (polypropylene),” Abbas Ali Saberi, a faculty member of the Sciences Department of University of Tehran.

He underlined that the research is the result of efforts made by a group of researchers, adding, “The group has also developed a single universal theory, within the framework of a generalized percolation model to describe their experimental observations.”

“Based on the new theory, heat diffusion in composite materials is placed in the world class of diffusion problems with two critical powers and is similar to electrical conduction in electrolytes or a network of electrical resistances and capacitors,” Saberi said.

Irradiation Method Reduces Mediterranean Fruit Fly Damages in Citrus Orchards of Iran

A technological company stationed at the Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute affiliated to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) managed to control the Mediterranean fruit fly population and reduce damages to the citrus orchards to less than 1% by irradiation method.

Mehrdad Ahmadi, one of the researchers of the project, called the method as SIT or insect control (sterile male) method, saying, “In this method, the eggs of Mediterranean fruit fly are first grown en masse in the workshop, and artificial food ration is fed to them. When the eggs reach the stage of larva and pupa, they are subjected to gamma radiation.”

“In gamma irradiation, a special dose is chosen that makes the sperm of the male insect infertile,” he said, adding that the appearance, strength, mating, flight and genes of this insect remain intact during irradiation.

“When these sterilized insects mate with healthy insects in citrus orchards, they either cannot lay eggs, or if they lay eggs, they will not hatch and their population is controlled,” Ahmadi noted.

Protective Enzyme against Viruses Could Fuel Cancer Evolution

An enzyme that defends human cells against viruses can help drive cancer evolution towards greater malignancy by causing myriad mutations in cancer cells, according to a new study by the Weill Cornell Medicine.

The finding suggests that the enzyme may be a potential target for future cancer treatments, the journal Cancer Research reported.

In the new study, scientists used a preclinical model of bladder cancer to investigate the role of the enzyme called APOBEC3G in promoting the disease and found that it significantly increased the number of mutations in tumor cells, boosting the genetic diversity of bladder tumors and hastening mortality.

"Our findings suggest that APOBEC3G is a big contributor to bladder cancer evolution and should be considered as a target for future treatment strategies," said study senior author Dr. Bishoy M. Faltas, assistant professor of cell and developmental biology at Weill Cornell Medicine, and an oncologist who specializes in urothelial cancers at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

Iran Produces Durable Chrome Mirrors for Environments with High Humidity

An industrial group in Iran used chrome and aluminum coatings with nanometer thickness to make durable mirrors for installation in environments with high humidity, including swimming pools.

According to the Nanotechnology Development Headquarters of the Iranian Vice-Presidency for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy, this aluminum mirror has been produced by using nanotechnology and layers of aluminum metal on glass.

The chrome mirror is suitable for areas and places with high humidity (bathroom and indoor swimming pools) since the chrome coating is highly resistant, and the moisture leaves a minimum impact on it. In addition, these mirrors can be used as a decorative tool for new designs or production of visual effects with various reflections.

Thanks to these features, this type of mirror can be used in bathrooms, sports halls, dining halls, hotels, conference rooms, facade panels, lighting systems, and interrogation rooms.

Iran-Made Nano Dressings for Orthopedic Surgeries Able to Stop Bleeding within 30 Seconds

Iranian researchers at a technological company succeeded in production of a dressing that is capable of preventing bleeding in bone, jaw and face surgery within 30 seconds.

“The dressing we have produced can reduce bleeding in bone surgery by 90% in nearly 20 to 30 seconds,” said Keyhan Mehdizadeh, one of the researchers of the project.

“The dressing does not cause infection either. In this dressing, we have used a series of nanoparticles and peptides that have been produced in the form of nanofibers and they provide a substrate for red blood cells and platelets to attach to and easily cause blood to clot and prevent bleeding,” he added.

Mehdizadeh said that the nanoparticles used in the product are gold nanoparticles and a special peptide produced in the laboratory, adding that these types of dressings can be applied in open heart surgery, bone, skull, jaw and face surgeries.

New Antibacterial Dressing Made in Iran with Thyme

Iranian researchers at Amirkabir University of Technology succeeded in designing and producing a new antibacterial wound dressing with the capability to release thyme plant’s extract.

Azin Rashidi Ahmadi, a graduate student of Amirkabir University of Technology and the manager of a project elaborated on designing and producing a new antibacterial wound dressing with the ability to release thyme plant extract.

She said that the product is biocompatible (with no cytotoxicity) with the feature of complete healing of the wound within 21 days (based on the animal and histological tests), keeping the moisture necessary for the wound, and controlled and continuous release of the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent (thyme extract) to accelerate the healing process of the wound.

“The wound dressing has no foreign counterpart and is made from a new formulation derived from the medicinal properties of the thyme plant which is very effective in accelerating wound healing,” Rashidi Ahmadi said.

Ophthalmology Control, Warning System Designed in Iran

The head of Khuzestan Science and Technology Park's Medical Biotechnology Center said that an ophthalmology control and warning system was designed and produced by a knowledge-based company for the first time in Iran.

“25 active technological companies are stationed at Khuzestan Science and Technology Park’s Medical Biotechnology Center and they are working in different medical, pharmaceutical and health sectors,” Hossein Yazdani, the head of Khuzestan Science and Technology Park's Medical Biotechnology Center said.

He added that one of the companies stationed at the Center which has recently received the knowledge-based certificate, unveiled one of its products called ‘eye disease control system’.

Another product of the company is the artificial intelligence system for controlling eye pressure, Yazdani said.

Tajikistan Voices Readiness to Cooperate with Iran in Astronomy Research Projects

Head of Tajikistan Academy of Sciences Farhad Rahim announced his country’s preparedness to cooperate with Iran in different astronomy research programs.

Rahim made the remarks in a meeting with Iranian Vice President for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy Rouhollah Dehqani Firouzabadi in Tehran.

During the meeting, Rahim noted that the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan is active in various scientific fields as well as philosophy and law, which can be the basis of cooperation between the two countries.

Referring to the research infrastructure in his country, Rahim said, “We have three large observatories and we can carry out joint (astronomy) research. We have also created infrastructure for seismological studies.”

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