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 Herbal Ointment Able to Treat Herpes

Researchers of a knowledge-based company in Iran succeeded in producing anti-herpes ointment and helping patients by research on the effective properties of medicinal plants.

“Production of medicine, cosmetic and health products, food and drink based on traditional medicine and new scientific findings from plants are among the most important activities of our company,” said Azardokht Khakpour, the managing-director of a knowledge-based company.

She described the facial and genital herpes ointment as a knowledge-based product of her company, and said, “The number of patients suffering from herpes is increasing, and since this disease cannot be cured, the medicine can be used for patients.”

“The ointment is highly effective in controlling the symptoms, preventing the progress and reducing the complications of the disease,” Khakpour said.

Nanoporous Alumina Used by Iranian Company to Make Heat Sink

An Iranian nanotechnology company utilized nanoporous alumina to increase corrosion resistance in heat sink.

‘Nano Abkar Isatis’ company made the heat sink whose surfaces are covered by thin layer of nanoporous alumina through anodizing which leads to better corrosion resistance and heat transfer kinetics.

Anodizing exterior surfaces of the heat sink and forming a thin layer of nanoporous alumina increases corrosion resistance, leads to better heat transfer owing to high surface area-to-volume ratio and improves thermal emission coefficient.

The heat sink can be used in production of microprocessors, light-emitting diode lamps and solders.

Iranian Researchers Produce Delivery Drones

The Iranian researcher have designed and manufactured a payload drone to transport deliveries in a fast and secure way.

In an interview with ANA news agency, Iliya Rezayee, the designer of the programming parameters of the delivery drone in an Iranian knowledge-based team, pointed out that drones will become a critical part of the transportation industry in the coming years.

"We have now succeeded in designing a drone named Octacopter P11 that is used for smart transportation of parcels (deliveries).”

Stating that the Octacopter UAV can be directed automatically by radio control, he stated, “This automatic UAV has the capability to carry five kg payload with high endurance in light flights. One of the most important advantages of Octacopter P11 UAV is moving to the destination and returning after receiving the geographical data.”

Pointing out that users can direct the drone only by holding the remote control and determining the geographic location, Rezayee added, “Also, using the mission map, users can get the details of the delivery of the parcel, including the height of the drone during the flight.”

Iranian Knowledge-Based Company Makes Machine to Produce Fresh Fodder Daily for Livestock

Researchers at a knowledge-based company in Iran based in Isfahan's Science and Research Township have produced a machine to produce fresh fodder every day for domesticated livestock.

Ehsan Shokrani, the executive director of the Iranian knowledge-based company described the fodder machine as one of the technological achievements of their firm.

“This machine is able to automatically produce fresh fodder for livestock on a daily basis with a daily capacity of 1 to 10 tons. This capacity can be increased,” the researcher said.

He explained how the fodder machine works, saying, “Dry seeds are put into the machine and the machine automatically provides the best conditions in terms of temperature, light and irrigation for the growth of the seeds at a specific period of time to accelerate the growth of the seeds.”

Shokrani said that seed germination naturally takes between 15 and 20 days, while using the machine it takes about 7 days.

Researchers in Iran Sets up Specific Center to Study, Fight Ticks

Researchers at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Tehran (UT) have recently founded a specific research center to study ticks and explore ways to fight the parasite.

Head of the Research Center of Ticks and Related Contagious Diseases founded at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of University of Tehran (UT) Parviz Shayan said, “In this center, special research activities are being carried out to identify and select suitable proteins for candidate genes and design a vaccine against ticks.”

Stating that Iran's climatic characteristics lay a sutiable gorund for constant proliferation and spread of ticks, he stressed the need to monitor and check the parasite in different regions across the country every two to three years.

"Therefore, one of the activities of this center are determining the distribution of ticks and morphological and molecular identification of their different species."

He stated that the specialists at the UT center are in close contact with companies that produce or import chemical poisons used to fight ticks, adding, "The effectiveness of these poisons in fighting against the ticks is evaluated each year."

Lung Fibrosis Treated Using Stem Cells in Iran’s Kermanshah

A professor of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences announced the successful treatment of pulmonary fibrosis using stem cell injection for the first time in the country in the Western city of Kermanshah.

Kamran Mansouri made the comments in a press conference where he also highlighted Iran's remarkable progress in the field of stem cells.

"After the United States, we are the second country in the world that has conducted the largest number of clinical trials in this field," the professor said.

“Currently, there are eight different categories of diseases in Iran, including different types of paralysis (spinal cord injuries, paralysis caused by neurological and muscular diseases, etc.), different types of wounds (diabetic wounds, burns, etc.), autoimmune conditions (MS, etc.) and different kinds of joint and rheumatic diseases are treated using stem cell injections,”

“The level of success in the treatment of these diseases varies depending on the different conditions of the patient, including the age of the patient,” Mansouri noted.

Iran, Pakistan to Increase Trade Ties to 5 Billion Dollars in 5 Years

The bilateral trade between Iran and Pakistan will rise to $5 billion until 2028, based on the document of Five-Year Strategic Trade Cooperation Plan between the two countries.

Pakistan, which has about 1,000 kilometers of land border, is highly important to Iran, Head of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI) for Indian Subcontinent Affairs Hadi Talebian Moqaddam said.

Focusing on trade exchanges with the Asian countries, specially the neighbors, is Tehran's main approach which can be clearly observed in policies of the government, he added.

Talebian Moqaddam referred to the visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian to Pakistan, saying that a five-year strategic trade cooperation document was inked for a five-year period.

Under the document, the trade value between Iran and Pakistan will increase up to $5 billion in five years, he stressed.

Iranian Knowledge-Based Firms to Attend in IMEX 2023 Expo in Istanbul

Several Iranian knowledge-based companies are due to participate in the International Information Technology and New Technology Exhibition (IMEX 2023) in Istanbul with the support of the Innovation and Prosperity Fund of Iran.

‘IMEX 2023’ exhibition will host companies active in the fields of information technology, software, communication, new technologies computer and accessories, mobile, 5G technology, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, robot and robotics, cloud processing, cyber security, biometrics, biotechnology, 3D printing, big data, wearable devices, portable audio equipment, battery and power supply, electromechanical and optoelectronic components.

The exclusive pavilion of the Iranian knowledge-based companies has a limited capacity and only 15 companies can participate in this pavilion.

Iran Inks Deal with Armenia to Extend, Increase Gas Exports

Iran and Armenia’s officials signed a contract to increase the volume of Iranian gas exports to Armenia, according to which the exchange rate of gas with electricity has also been revised in favor of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) and the deal deadline has also been extended until 2030.

The agreement to expand and enhance the volume of gas-for-electricity barter deal was signed in a ceremony in Yerevan on August 10 and signatories from two sides were Majid Chegeni, the Iranian deputy oil minister and the head of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC), Aram Ghazaryan, the chief executive officer of the Yerevan Thermal Power Plant (Yerevan TPC). Gnel Sanosyan, the Armenian minister of Terrotorial Administration and Infrastructure and Iran's Ambassador to Yerevan Mehdi Sobhani were also present in the signing ceremony.

The initial agreement on the new contract was reached during the visit of Nikol Pashinyan, the Prime Minister of Armenia to Tehran last year, and after technical and expert talks, the final document of the contract was finalized on Thursday (August 10).

According to the deal, Iran's gas exports to Armenia are carried out within the framework of the energy clearing agreement between the two countries, and the discussions of the expert delegations of the two countries focused on the issue of the contract period, the volume of exports and the exchange rate of electricity and gas.

Iranian Knowledge-Based Companies Enter Field of Producing Glasses Lenses

Knowledge-based companies in Iran have entered the field of producing glasses lenses, according to Chairman of Iran’s Eyewear Manufacturers and Sellers Union.

Alireza Khalilnejad, the Chairman of Eyewear Manufacturers and Sellers Union in Iran, told ANA that fortunately, knowledge-based companies have been able to enter the field of lens production, but the current market majorly needs supplying glasses frames.

He added that it is expected that manufacturers and knowledge-based companies also try to diminish the dependence on imports in the feild of frames too by increasing domestic production.

Khalilnejad went on to stress the necessity of using the potential that knowledge-based companies have in producing eyewear frames, saying, those firms’ production of frames will not only create jobs but also will save the country a lot of money by preventing imports.

Strategic Part Used in Steel Industry Produced in Iran

Copper molds are among the strategic products used in Iran’s steel industry which has thus far been imported to Iran, and now an Iranian knowledge-based company has managed to manufacture it at a competitive price and high quality.

“Our company’s research activities are focused on casting and manufacturing copper parts that are used in electric arc furnaces,” Majid Rahimi, the managing director of a knowledge-based company, told ANA.

Noting that these parts are highly important in steel industry, he said, “These copper parts can reduce the cost of making steel products in the country.”

Rahimi named the company’s product as ‘plate copper molds (plate crystallizer)’, and said, “Copper crystallizer is one of the most important equipment in continuous casting lines system. The melt prepared from the tundish drains into this plate and causes the steel to freeze from the sides of the walls.”

“This part was imported from Germany for 30 years but we managed to indigenize the equipment in Iran,” he added.

Iranian Company Develops Nano-Based System for Ballast Water Management in Ships

Managing director of Rah Avaran Ayandeh Darya company announced the experimental installation of an Iran-made nano-based system for ballast water management in vessels.

"In order to transport goods like oil, minerals and containers, the ships need to use several systems to maintain their stability and maneuverability during the trip. One of these systems is the ballast water, in which ships adjust the ballast water without carrying cargo and while unloading part of the cargo in the port for the effective and safe operation of the ship,” said Hosseini, the managing director of the company.

“Ballast water contains biological species and various organisms of bacteria, viruses, plants and coastal organisms. This water is generally transported by ships over long distances and then when the hostile biological species are discharged, they are introduced to the new ecosystem which can lead to water pollution,” the engineer added.

“In order to settle this problem and comply with the international requirements, Rah Avaran Ayandeh Darya company has developed a ballast water management system based on nanofiltration technology in cooperation with Atiyeh Pardazan Zohour Sharif nanotechnology company which is on trial in an Iranian vessels until the end of this year and the results will be released later,” Hosseini said.

Iranian Knowledge-Based Firm Makes Laser Device for Physiotherapy

An Iranian knowledge-based company stationed at the incubator center of the Islamic Azad University’s Shahinshahr branch manufactured a laser-based physiotherapy device.

“The young researchers at the incubator center of the University succeeded in producing a stone engraving machine based on laser technology last year,” Hamidreza Khodayi, the head of Islamic Azad University’s Shahinshahr branch, told ANA.

“As the next step which was completed last month, our knowledge-based company entered the field of treatment and medical sciences and produced another laser-based device, which, in addition to having relative advantages over foreign types, is fully functional in physiotherapy; it can also be used to treat and reduce some tissue pains,” he added.

Khodayi noted that his company is participating in various exhibitions to introduce the device.

Iranian Scientists Make Fastest Mid-Band Infrared Detector

Iranian researchers at a nanotechnology company managed to make the fastest mid-band infrared detector.

Ali Rostami, the managing director of Arman Jostojougaran Energy Nou Company, said that nanomaterials, photonic engineering and electronic engineering are the main fields of activities of his company.

“Our company has succeeded in building the fastest mid-band infrared detector and producing zinc oxide and silica nanopowder in 2014,” he added.

"Due to the production of high-quality nanomaterials and lower prices compared to the global market, our company's products enjoy exports potential, specially in fields of disinfectants and anti-coronavirus products,” Rostami said.

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