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:
Iran-Made Power Converters Competing with European Rivals
Engineers at an Iranian company managed to design and manufacture power converters that can compete with European products.
Manufacturing the product will decrease the country's need for imports, said Fatemeh Nasrollahzadeh, a member of the board of directors of the company.
She pointed out that the converter consists of electronic components namely inductors and capacitors, which causes the output current to rise or fall slowly.
Together with a transformer, the system is used to convert a certain direct current input voltage into a completely different alternating current output voltage, she explained.
A converter may do one or more functions and give an output that differs from the input.
Iranian Researcher Designs Robot for Repairing Pipelines
An Iranian researcher at the University of Tehran’s faculty of modern sciences designed a robot specialized for repairing pipelines.
Alireza Hadi, the developer of the robot, said the soft robot technology is used to move and change the shape of a robotic arm in a repair robot.
“Though, the repair robot is powerful and capable it has small volume and a simple and cost-effective structure,” Hadi said.
Robotic systems are technology-driven, he said, adding that as a mechatronic product, repair robots have mechanical, electronic, and software subsystems.
Therefore, in the initial version of the robot, hydraulic and pneumatic drive systems were used so that it could be moved in different directions with appropriate power, he explained.
“The new version with the utilized innovation is a lighter, smaller, and at the same time simpler robot,” he added.
Iran Acquires Technology to Reduce Risk of Earthquake’s Destruction
Researchers at the Sharif University of Technology acquired the technology to reduce the risk of destruction in buildings due to earthquakes.
The researchers started studies in this regard in the Iranian calendar year 1383 (March 2004-March 2005).
There are two theories of "increasing resistance" and "plasticity of structural members" to deal with severe earthquakes in such a way that the structures can resist the trembles.
In recent years, preventive methods have received more attention.
Earthquake acceleration of about 25 centimeters per square second on the floors affected by the earthquake increases four times on the higher floors.
Therefore, the use of isolation technology can prevent the transfer of energy to the structure.
Seismic isolators not only reduce the acceleration of the earthquake but also significantly reduce the movement of the structure during the earthquake.
Iranian Company Produces Biodegradable Chitosan Polymer from Mushrooms for 1st Time Worldwide
An Iranian technological company has developed a critical biopolymer called chitosan from mushrooms waste for the first time in the world which is used in various industries such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture and textiles.
Chitosan is a natural polysaccharide that is the most important and commenoly used biopolymer after cellulose. This biopolymer is one of the most important biopolymers in nature and is the most abundant after cellulose on the planet. Chitosan is obtained from the skin of some crustaceans such as shrimp, sea crab, some insects and from the structure of organisms such as bacteria, fungi, yeast and molluscs. This biopolymer has important applications in different fields of medicine, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food and textile industries.
Currently, a technological company has succeeded in producing and developing this broadly used biopolymer from edible mushrooms.
“Our company operates in the field of biopolymers, herbal medicines, and especially has focused on the production of chitosan biopolymer from edible mushrooms,” Ramin Mohammadi Alucheh, the company's managing director and a professor at Islamic Azad University(IAU)- Central Tehran branch told ANA correspondent.
“Previously, the skin of insects, crustaceans, and shrimps were used to produce and prepare this biopolymer, but due to the fact that there is no access to shrimps or crustaceans in all parts of the country, we use technology and through the efforts of young Iranian researchers to produce chitosan biopolymer from edible mushrooms; given the fact that mushroom farms are there in different parts of the country, then the raw material for producing this biopolymer is available for free; because mushroom farms hand over to us their waste for free,” the researcher said.
Iran Produces Meat Analogue as Substitute for Animal Proteins
Iranian researchers at the Institute of Food Sciences and Industries succeeded in production of meat analogue as an alternative for animal proteins.
Ali Rafe’e, the manager of the project, described development of structured protein products based on vegetable protein as a way to reduce environmental risks and improve the health of societies, and said, “In this structured product, several vegetable proteins, binders, vegetable oils, flavors, spices and natural coloring agents have been used to help improve its taste and texture, water binding, mouthfeel and texture simulation.”
He underlined the existence of all types of protein-rich plant seeds like soybeans, peas, beans, flax, etc. in Iran, noting that there is a highly good ground for producing meat analogue.
Rafe’e pointed to the low agricultural water consumption of some of these vegetable seeds and the wide range of their cultivation in the country's climate conditions, and said, “Due to the low price and high production efficiency of these vegetable seeds, the production of meat analogue is highly economical.”
Iranian Researchers’ Invention Increases Efficiency in Oil Transmission Industry
Iranian researchers at a technological company managed to make a special valve which boosts efficiency in oil transmission industry by decreasing waste of fluids and increasing the speed of closing the valves up to 5 times.
“Tank level control valve (mechanical) has been designed to prevent the overflow of liquids inside the tanks without creating a water hammer with high reliability in connecting and disconnecting the fluid input (oil and water) to the tank in a completely mechanical way and at a very low cost compared to conventional hydraulic methods. The newly-designed valve can be installed in any flow rate and pipe size,” said Ahmad Yazerlou, the executive manager of the project.
He added that the special valves can be used in metal or composite tanks for storing fluids like oil, gasoline, diesel, water and in water and sewage companies.
“This valve model is mechanically installed inside the tank, which reduces the initial costs and does not need any maintenance or repair,” Yazerlou said.
Researchers in Iran Use Cubic Nanoparticles to Improve Efficiency of Pipes, Fittings for Industries
Iranian researchers at a knowledge-based company manufactured 500 products in the field of pipes and fittings by using cubic and polyhedral nanoparticles.
Mehdi Abbasi Nourabadi, the managing director of the knowledge-based company, explained that his company has so far supplied nearly 500 products in the field of pipes and fittings to different industries, adding, “They can be used in various industries like construction, water supply companies, agricultural industry and telecommunications.”
“We have increased the impact strength in pipes and fitting products by adding cubic and polyhedral nanoparticles with dimensions less than 100 nm to the UPVC polymer-based material,” he said.
Earlier, Iranian researchers at another knowledge-based company had also used composites and nano materials to produce special pipes and fittings for industries that experience high corrosion in their installations like oil, gas and sewage pipes.
“Our products are composite pipes consisting of glass fibers and different types of resins. Depending on specifications of the fluid passed through, different types of resins are used,” said Atiyeh Andakhshideh, the managing-director of the company.
“The special feature of composite products compared to metal pipes is that composite pipes enjoy mechanical strength similar to metal products, but their chemical resistance is very high,” she added.
Andakhshideh said that the chemical resistance of these pipes has been devised in accordance with corrosive environments, adding that these pipes can be used in different areas, including petrochemical, oil, gas and water industries.
First Semi-Industrial Greenhouse for Producing Spirulina Algae Launched in Iran
The first semi-industrial greenhouse for producing spirulina algae in Iran was launched by a technological company.
Researchers presented a method for pure and contamination-free production of this microalgae in the pharmaceutical and food industry grade.
Spirulina algae, known as green gold, is a complete food due to its high protein and vitamin content and various uses in the pharmaceutical industry.
Although spirulina algae have been considered a food supplement in recent decades, it has opened its place in the diet and medicine of most advanced societies.
As a miracle of nature that is rich in minerals, vitamins, and proteins, it is easily digestible for the body and is considered an ideal food.
Iranian Knowledge-Based Companies Produces Liquid Nitrogen Storage Tanks
Two knowledge-based companies have jointly produced liquid nitrogen storage tanks for storing various biological products such as umbilical cord blood, bone marrow and peripheral blood at a temperature of minus 196 degrees Celsius.
According to a report by the news service of the Iranian Vice presidency for Science and Technology, liquid nitrogen tanks are used for storing biological products such as stem cells, gametes, embryos, human and animal tissues and donated organs for transplantation for a long time at a temperature of minus 196 degrees Celsius and with different capacities in the pharmaceutical, health, food, medical and laboratory industries.
One of the knowledge-based companies, after two years of conducting research in cooperation with another knowledge-based company in the field of cryogenic tanks, succeeded in manufacturing two liquid nitrogen storage tanks with a capacity of 1,800 liters for the storage of biological products such as cord blood, bone marrow, peripheral blood, Umbilical cord tissue, fatty tissue and dental pulp.
The structure of a liquid nitrogen tank is a double-walled container in which two tanks are fused together. They are vacuum-jacketed tanks and there is no temperature exchange with the outside environment. For that, the nitrogen temperature inside the tank remains the same and it is possible to save up various samples in it for a long time.
Knowledge-Based Firm in Iran Finds Formulation of Injectable Spinal Painkillers
A group of researchers from a knowledge-based company in Iran achieved the formulation of production of two types of intraspinal painkiller drugs and commercialized them.
“The latest product unveiled in our company is the intraspinal injection drug called ‘Bupivacaine’ and ‘Ropivacaine’ which were unveiled for the first time in the country by this knowledge-based company and these drugs were presented to the pharmacies,” said Mohammad Taqi Fat'hi, the managing director and a member of the board of directors of the knowledge-based company.
He added that Bupivacaine and Ropivacaine drugs are local anesthetic drugs from the aminoamide family, which have a slow onset of action, but a long duration of action.
“These drugs are used in local anesthesia with peripheral, sympathetic nerve block and lumbar epidural,” Fat'hi said.
In a relevant development, another knowledge-based company active in rehabilitation areas designed and produced lower body exoskeleton for disabled people and those with spinal injuries by using the Iranian experts’ science and creative power.
“Nearly 160 people have used the device for more than 1,200 hours so far and expressed their satisfaction for being able to walk after many years and it leaves a highly positive psychological effect on them,” Seyed Mostafa Havayeji, the managing director of Padasis company, told ANA.
He added that the personal ‘Exoped’ is the latest version of the lower body exoskeleton robot which is able to bear the patient's weight, noting that the robot is worn on the user's clothes.
Iran Joins Countries Holding Helium, LNG Production Technology
Iran has unveiled a pilot plant for production of helium and liquefied natural gases which means the country has accessed technology for producing the valuable gases.
A pilot plant for the production of helium, LNG and three knowledge-based products, namely converters, purification systems, and high-speed turboexpanders were unveiled at Sharif University of Technology in Tehran.
First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber has said the government is serious about supporting domestic knowledge-based companies, especially in strategic areas.
Thanks to its unique properties, helium is considered as a strategic material in the world, which has many applications in the fields of health, oil and gas, advanced materials, space, etc.
In the past years, despite the huge resources in the South Pars gas field, the helium needed by the country was completely supplied through imports.
With the imposition of US sanctions, the import of helium to the country was made impossible and many of the country's industries were damaged.
Market Welcomes Iranian-Made Nanoparticles Antibacterial Pens, Sand Play
A group of researchers, whose antibacterial pens were warmly welcomed by the Iranian consumers, have used antibacterial nanoparticles in production of sand play for children.
According to a report by the National Nano Headquarters of Iran, Nima Mohammad-Beigi, an expert in the research and development department of one of technological companies in Iran pointed to the production of antibacterial pens in their company and said that their product has been warmly received in the market,
“For the three products "Antibacterial Pens", "Dynamic Antibacterial Sand Play" and "Anti-Scratch Gouache Paint", we have received nanoscale certificates,” Mohammad-Beigi said.
Stating that their antibacterial pens have already been sold out, he said, “As regards our dynamic sand play, which is antibacterial, we need the approval of the Food and Drug Organization, and we are wating for gaining the necessary license, and as soon as we obtain the permission, we will start its production. Given that these sand plays usually last up to 5 or 6 years in the hands of children and children use them for a long time, their antibacterial properties becomes very significant. Therefore, we predict that these antibacterial sands will be welcome in the market.”
Mohammad-Beigi further talk about the company's another product, anti-scratch gouache paint, saying, "It contains calcium carbonate nanomaterials. Watercolor paints usually crack and crumble after drying, therefore, we added calcium carbonate nanoparticles to these paints to create an anti-scratch item. These nanoparticles are purchased from one of the technology companies and are added to these paints.”
How to Shelter From Nuclear Explosion
Researchers from the University of Nicosia simulated an intercontinental ballistic missile’s atomic bomb explosion and its resulting blast wave to assess its impact on people seeking refuge indoors.
The findings were published in Physics of Fluids by AIP Publishing.
A nuclear explosion is a catastrophic event with no safe zones. Those in close proximity face immediate vaporization, while the spread of radiation presents a dangerous threat even at a distance. The blast wave generated by the explosion is another hazard, with airspeeds capable of lifting individuals and causing serious harm.
In the moderate damage zone, the blast wave is enough to topple some buildings and injure people caught outdoors. However, sturdier buildings, such as concrete structures, can remain standing.
The team used advanced computer modeling to study how a nuclear blast wave speeds through a standing structure. Their simulated structure featured rooms, windows, doorways, and corridors and allowed them to calculate the speed of the air following the blast wave and determine the best and worst places to be.
“Before our study, the danger to people inside a concrete-reinforced building that withstands the blast wave was unclear,” said author Dimitris Drikakis. “Our study shows that high airspeeds remain a considerable hazard and can still result in severe injuries or even fatalities.”
According to their results, simply being in a sturdy building is not enough to avoid risk. The tight spaces can increase airspeed, and the involvement of the blast wave causes air to reflect off walls and bend around corners. In the worst cases, this can produce a force equivalent to 18 times a human’s body weight.
“The most dangerous critical indoor locations to avoid are the windows, the corridors, and the doors,” said author Ioannis Kokkinakis. “People should stay away from these locations and immediately take shelter. Even in the front room facing the explosion, one can be safe from the high airspeeds if positioned at the corners of the wall facing the blast.”
The authors stress that the time between the explosion and the arrival of the blast wave is only a few seconds, so quickly getting to a safe place is critical.
“Additionally, there will be increased radiation levels, unsafe buildings, damaged power and gas lines, and fires,” said Drikakis. “People should be concerned about all the above and seek immediate emergency assistance.”
While the authors hope that their advice will never need to be followed, they believe that understanding the effects of a nuclear explosion can help prevent injuries and guide rescue efforts.
4155/v
