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:
Chemists Synthesize Ocean-Based Molecule Capable of Fighting Parkinson’s
Organic chemists at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have synthesized the first artificial form of a molecule found in a sea sponge, which holds potential therapeutic benefits for Parkinson’s disease and similar disorders.
The molecule, named lissodendoric acid A, has the ability to counteract molecules that can harm DNA, RNA, proteins, and even destroy whole cells, the journal Science reported.
In a surprising turn, the research team utilized an unusual, long-neglected compound called a cyclic allene to control a critical stage in the chemical reactions required to create a usable form of the molecule in the laboratory. This breakthrough, according to the team, has the potential to be beneficial in the development of other complicated molecules for pharmaceutical studies.
“The vast majority of medicines today are made by synthetic organic chemistry, and one of our roles in academia is to establish new chemical reactions that could be used to quickly develop medicines and molecules with intricate chemical structures that benefit the world,” said Neil Garg, UCLA’s Kenneth N. Trueblood Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry and corresponding author of the study.
A key factor complicating the development of these synthetic organic molecules, Garg said, is called chirality, or “handedness.” Many molecules — including lissodendoric acid A — can exist in two distinct forms that are chemically identical but are 3D mirror images of each other, like a right and left hand. Each version is known as an enantiomer.
When used in pharmaceuticals, one enantiomer of a molecule may have beneficial therapeutic effects while the other may do nothing at all — or even prove dangerous. Unfortunately, creating organic molecules in the laboratory often yields a mixture of both enantiomers, and chemically removing or reversing the unwanted enantiomers adds difficulties, costs, and delays to the process.
Knowledge-Based Firm in Iran Produces Super Lubricant for Concrete
An Iranian knowledge-based company succeeded in production of a super lubricant for concrete which reduces water consumption for mixing concrete and makes its structure stronger.
“In terms of reducing the amount of water required for mixing concrete and making its structure stronger along with increasing its efficiency, the super lubricant has a much better performance compared to other additives like superplasticizers,” Saeed Jameh Bozorgi, a professor at Islamic Azad University’s Hamedan branch, told ANA.
“Concrete super lubricants are the third generation of concrete plasticizers that are prepared based on polycarboxylate ether. Given the different seasons and weather conditions, different formulas should be provided for different climates to increase the strength of concrete and reduce water consumption in making concrete which improves its quality,” he added.
Jameh Bozorgi explained that super lubricant is an additive which is used to make special concretes or is used in special conditions where the ratio of water to cement should be as low as possible or slump loss cannot be compensated with non-super lubricants.
Iranian Researchers Produce Special Supplement to Prevent Respiratory Diseases
A group of researchers from a technological company located in an accelerator in Iran developed a special supplement based on probiotics which is effective in prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases.
“This product is a combination of specific probiotics, vitamins and mineral salts, the combination of which will have positive effects in prevention of respiratory diseases,” said Maryam Tajabadi, one of the researchers of the project.
“This supplement also contains vitamins like selenium and vitamin D which will help strengthen the body's immune system,” she added.
Tajabadi explained that the supplement has been subjected to clinical trials on 420 patients who were infected with the Covid-19 virus, saying, “The results showed that the supplement is effective in both preventing the disease and reducing the complications of the disease.”
Noting that the supplement has received necessary licenses in five countries and has been exported to Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and Lebanon so far, she said, “Consultations are also underway for the exports of this product to Europe.”
Iran-Made Flexible Terminal System Facilitates Remote Control for Different Industries
A group of researchers from a knowledge-based company in Iran succeeded in implementing a flexible remote monitoring and control terminal system applicable in different industrial centers.
“We produced an Iran-made remote control terminal system in our company with the aim of indigenizing electronic technologies and industrial control equipment,” said Mosayyeb Ashrafi, the managing director of the knowledge-based company.
“In addition to having 8 digital input channels, 6 analog inputs and 5 digital outputs, the remote control terminal system enjoys the possibility of expanding the number of inputs and outputs under the protocol, and it also has three internal phases by which the power and energy parameters can be adjusted,” he added.
Ashrafi said that the system’s capability to program in standard languages by means of the device's special software designed by the company's experts is among its unique features.
Noting that the variety of boards and the structure of the remote control terminal system provides the possibility of its full adoption to various applications, he said that the main processor board carries out the operations of gathering and processing information, and its software structure is multitasking at the same time.
Iranian Knowledge-Based Firm Develops Solar-Based System for Measuring, Monitoring Air Pollutants
A knowledge-based company stationed at the Science and Technology Park of University of Tehran managed to design and make a 100% solar-based air quality monitoring system which can monitor ambient air pollutants, noise pollution, odors and atmospheric parameters.
“This device works with solar energy and provides air monitoring information both online (internet system) and offline (city televisions) without any need to urban electricity,” said Sepehr Heydar Arabi, the managing director of the knowledge-based company.
“The device provides information about urban air pollution, including the concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 dust and polluting gases (O3, CO, NO2, SO2 and VOC) and meteorology (temperature, humidity, air pressure, sound, wind speed and direction),” he added.
Heydar Arabi underlined that the whole process of body design, electrical board, computer programming, online site and assembly has been carried out inside Iran by the country’s young researchers.
Iranian Companies Produce Nano-Based Medicinal, Nutritional Supplements
A number of companies active in the field of pharmaceuticals in Iran produced and commercialized nano-based medicinal and nutritional supplements by using nanotechnology.
One of the pharmaceutical companies, active in the field of herbal medicines has produced nano-based medicinal products and supplements like 7 mg iron sachet, 7 mg iron capsule containing nanoliposomal iron and vitamin C, 7 mg iron drop, 15 mg iron drop containing nanoliposomal iron, vitamin A, vitamin D and zinc, and multivitamin syrup.
Discoloration of teeth, digestive problems and constipation are among the side effects of common iron drops in the market; therefore, the company has used a structure called liposomal iron which prevents these problems.
Also, Iranian technologists at another company active in the nanotechnology field produced zinc supplement capsule 10 mg containing zinc oxide nanoparticles encapsulated with fatty acid, vitamin C and vitamin B complex, iron supplement suspension 15 and 20 mg containing nanoliposome of iron-containing compounds, folic acid and vitamin B12, calcium supplement suspension 250mg containing nanohydroxyapatite, lecithin, magnesium, zinc and vitamin D3 and suspension containing nanoliposome of iron-containing compounds.
Medicinal supplements and iron supplements based on nanotechnology are the products manufactured by another Iranian pharmaceutical company.
The company’s experts have managed to reduce the size of particles that make up the drug to enlarge its surface area which leads to an increase in the rate of dissolution of the drug and it further increases the dissolved particles in the solution medium.
Iranian Researchers Produce Nanotechnology-Based Thermal Insulation Materials
Researchers at an Iranian knowledge-based company have used nanotechnology to produce heat and fireproof insulating material that is also waterproof, very high mechanical resistant, corrosion-proof and stable in vibration condition.
According to a report by the IRAN Nanotechnology Innovation Council (INIC), aerogels are solid materials with a specific surface and more than 97% porosity and also broad applications in the industry. These biocompatible materials with very low heat transmission are used as excellent thermal, acoustic and electrical insulation.
These thermal insulators are produced by an Iranian knowledge-based company with the support of the INIC. This nanotechnology-based product is available for different industries at a low price but with high quality.
This thermal and fireproof insulation are highly lightweight and can be used to insulate pipes that get very hot. These insulators can be broadly used in the oil and gas industry. With a lifespan of more than 20 years, these insulators can be used constantly at a temperature between - 200 and +650 degrees Celsius.
Iranian Knowledge-Based Firm Manufactures Flame Controller for Power Plants
The researchers at an Iranian knowledge-based firm have produced a controlling system to monitor the flames of machinery and equipment such as turbines, where the continuity of the existence of a flame is very critical.
“Normally, the flame monitoring system consists of one or more flame detection sensors and a trigger device. The duty of the starter device or amplifier is to receive the signal from the flame detector sensors and announce the state to the output, Mehdi Arianfard, a member of the board of directors of the Iranian knowledge-based firm said, according to a report by the website of the Vice presidency for Science and Technolgy.
He considered gas turbines as one of critical machinery in the oil and gas industry, adding, “The proper operation and efficiency of this equipment requires a device called flame detector or flame controller. Due to the fact that the color of the flame from different fuels varies from infrared to ultraviolet depending on the type of fuel used, and since the fuel that feeds turbines is natural gas and the light range of the flame from this type of fuel has more ultraviolet components; therefore, detector sensors in the ultraviolet range are used to monitor the flame.”
Arianfard stated that the flame controller is of great importance for detecting and announcing the flame in equipment such as turbines and boilers. “The flame monitoring system is a strategic and practical knowhow which exists in the country now. The giant South Pars industrial gas complex has currently replaced the foreign models with the domestic product for monitoring its gas turbines.”
“The flames at all gas turbines related to oil transmission are monitored with this system, and today we have reached a point in the production and manufacturing of flame and temperature monitoring sensors, where we can meet the needs of the country without the need for foreign products. In the meantime, dozens of jobs have been created inside the country and we have also prevented a large amount of money from going out,” according to the manager of the Iranian knowledge-based company.
He noted that their system saves the country more than $2 million annually.
Iranian Company Takes Advantage of Nanocoating to Improve DVD Quality
An Iranian company has used special nanocoating to improve the quality of digital versatile discs (DVDs).
Nanocoating is an ultra-thin layer or a chemical structure that is built upon surfaces by a variety of methods. Typically, nanocoating is used to impart a particular chemical or physical function to a surface.
The company has produced a 120 mm digital versatile disc (DVD9) with a capacity of 9 GB using nanometer coating.
The use of nanocoating has improved the quality of the product.
Compact disks (CDs) and DVDs are used in data storage, in which the information is stored by means of a laser and creating small holes in the spiral tracks on its surface.
The data is coded as zeros and ones (binary) on the disk and read by a weaker laser and an electric eye (photocell) in optical disk drives.
There are different types of discs, including CD, DVD, and DVD9, which are categorized based on the storage capacity for data.
These disks are similar to each other in dimension, and the production process and the type of materials used are almost the same.
Iran to Establish Specialized Center for Producing, Recycling Catalysts
Head of the Materials and Energy Research Institute of Iran announced that a joint specialized center for catalyst production and recycling will be launched in cooperation with a knowledge-based company active in the petrochemical field.
“A specialized catalyst manufacturing and recycling center will be built in the Science and Technology Park of Materials and Energy Research Institute to meet Iran’s needs to key catalysts,” Hamid Omidvar said.
He pointed to the endorsement of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a knowledge-based company active in the field of petrochemicals, and said, “This cooperation will focus on creation of knowledge-based companies in the Materials and Energy Research Institute.”
“We are trying to increase the number of knowledge-based companies stationed at the research institute up to 90,” Omidvar added.
Iran-Made Evaporative Coolers Reduces Power Consumption by 60%
A group of researchers at an Iranian knowledge-based company has developed evaporative coolers that are able to operate while reducing electricity consumption by 60 percent.
The company has managed to indigenize the technology for manufacturing brushless DC motors or BLDC motors, said Amir Naqiha, a member of the research group.
“This type of motor was patented in the United States for the first time,” he said, adding, “We produced the motor in the country with the help of Iranian technical knowledge.”
He added that the motor has been manufactured especially for evaporative coolers.
“The capability of BLDC motors compared to conventional motors is that by using a driver and a smart key, the temperature of the building can be adjusted using sensors placed inside the smart key,” he added.
This sensor can be adjusted in seven different modes. The indigenized motors have a type of coil and magnet that can adjust the ambient temperature with less energy consumption, he explained.
Industrial Effluents Recycling with System Designed by Iranian Researchers
The Iranian researchers at a knowledge-based company have produced a machine for treatment of wastewater to resupply water needed by different industries.
“We have designed and produced an advanced wastewater treatment system to return industrial effluents to the initial production line,” Mehdi Tavakoli, the managing director of an Iranian knowledge-based firm told Iranian media after saying that the researchers at their company have focused their studies on wastewater and industrial effluents treatment.
Saying that all the stages of design, construction and installation of these recycling system are done inside the country, he pointed out that the system initiated in his company is able to purify water with a higher recovery rate of 85% to return the wastewater to the consumption cycle.
Tavakoli pointed out that they put into operation their machine in Rafsanjan in Kerman province in the Southeastern part of Iran, while adding that their product was exported to Saudi Arabia.
The managing director of the company went on to explain the advantages that their machinery has over similar types, saying, “One of the advantages of the manufactured system is that we considered different methods for wastewater treatment. Accordingly, the performance of this device is based on the type of pollutants that exist in the wastewater.”
Iranian Firm Uses Nanotechnology to Improve Performance of Pipes, Sealing Washers for Fittings
A technological company in Iran used silica nanoparticles to produce washers with improved properties which can be applied in sealing connections in fluid transmission pipes.
Polymer or rubber washers (gaskets) are used to prevent water leakage in pipes which are connected to each other. A gasket is a mechanical seal designed to prevent leakage in the space between two pipes that is under air or water pressure.
Gaskets are usually produced by cutting materials and in the form of sheets in various types of cardboard, rubber, silicone, metal, felt, fiberglass or polymer, and strength, elasticity and thermal and chemical stability are among the important parameters in choosing a suitable gasket.
In order to improve these properties, an Iranian technological company used nanoparticles in production of gaskets, and application of nanoparticles improved wear properties, increased strength, and reduced elongation at the point of rupture.
Iranian Researchers Design System to Protect Refineries, Power Plants
A group of researchers from Sharif University of Technology succeeded in setting up a system to protect rotating machines in refineries and power plants.
The team of experts at the Science and Technology Park of Sharif University of Technology, under the supervision of Karim Mazaheri, a member of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, succeeded in designing a ‘rotating machine protection system’ to protect the machines in refineries and power plants.
“Monitoring and protection of rotating machines like pumps, turbines, compressors and fans are very important. Based on the API670 standard, the international standard for protection systems for rotating machines, the presence of a protection system for rotating machines in the oil, gas, and power generation industries including turbines and compressors is mandatory,” Mazaheri said.
“In this system all vital signals of rotating devices and signals related to vibration, current and temperature are processed online based on the technical specifications of the sensors,” he added.
“Also, this system shuts down completely and automatically the main system in case of a problem or disturbance because the smallest disturbance in the systems of power plants and refineries can cause an environmental or human disaster,” Mazaheri noted.
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