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:

Iranian Researchers Make High-Quality Rescue Radar Device

Specialists at an Iranian knowledge-based company succeeded in designing and building a rescue radar device by using bio-electro resonance technology which can quickly detect survivors and the dead trapped beneath the surface or debris.

“This device, which is made by using bio-electro resonance technology, is used to detect and search dead people and survivors in critical situations. It enjoys the capability to detect the living and dead people under debris or underground through frequency detection,” Seyed Ali Hosseini, the managing director of the knowledge-based company, told ANA.

He explained that the device can find the human body under a heavy object, including debris by detecting the frequency, adding that in critical situations, the device is able to send a frequency of 2,500 Hz underground and cover up to a depth of 50 meters underground.

Noting that the device also enjoys the capability to detect the area and extent of the damage, Hosseini said, “After detecting whether a person is alive or dead, the device scans three-dimensional images of the person's body and all images are sent to the user with a warning on the digital radar screen which is highly important in the treatment process.”

“The advantage of this device, which is unique in the world, is the high quality of images recorded by it thanks to its capability to penetrate into a depth of 50 meters and more,” he said.

Iran Exports over 36 Billion Dollars Worth of Non-Oil Products in 9 Months

Iranian Deputy Economy Minister and Head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) Mohammad Rezvanifar announced that the country has exported 101.904 million tons of non-oil goods valued at $36.43 billion during the first nine months of the current Persian calendar year (started on March 21).

Rezvanifar underlined that the nine-month non-oil exports indicates 26.48 percent growth in weight, but 0.68 percent fall in value, year on year, adding that the country's exports in the first nine months of this year, including oil, electricity, and technical and engineering services, and excluding the export via suitcase trade, reached $63.97 billion.

He put the value of the exports of oil at $26.46 billion, electricity at $300 million, and technical and engineering services at $780 million in the first nine months of the current year.

Rezvanifar also said that Iran has imported 28.7 million tons of goods worth over $48.4 billion in the first nine months of the current year, of which $60 million was the value of electricity import.

The nine-month import indicates a 12.29 percent rise in value and six percent growth in weight, year on year, he added.

Iranian Researchers Produce Kit for Fast Detection of Covid-19

The technologists at one of the knowledge-based companies in Iran have produced and commercialized various types of rapid Covid-19 detection kits that can detect the infection in less than 15 minutes with high accuracy.

The technologists at one of the knowledge-based companies have produced and offered to the market various types of rapid detection kits containing nanoparticles, and their corona detection kit can detect the infection in less than 15 minutes with high accuracy, the website of Iran Nanotechnology Innovation Council (INIC) reported.

The knowledge-based company has produced and supplied to the market the rapid detection kit for Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2019), the rapid detection kit for Troponin I (TnI), the pregnancy rapid test (HCG) and the Rapid Fecal Occult Blood (FOB) detection kit.

The rapid Covid-specific antigen test is a rapid membrane-based lateral flow immunoassay for the qualitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigens. During the test, the corona antigens, possibly present in the patient's sample, react with the nanoparticles coated with the antibody present in the test. As a result of chromatography, the resulting complex moves forward due to the capillarity in the strip membrane.

If the sample contains SARS-CoV-2 antigens, they will bind to the SARS-CoV-2 antibodies coated in the test line (T) region and produce a colored line on the test strip, indicating a positive result.

Iran-Made Petrochemical Products Well Sold in European, African, Latin American Markets

A member of Iranian petrochemical industry employers association said that the country’s petrochemical products have found many customers in the markets of the European, African and Latin American states.

“In recent years, we have gained a high potential in the marketing of petrochemical products, specially urea and ammonia, and now, the products of the petrochemical industry can be seen in the markets of Europe, Africa and Latin America,” said Mohammad Reza Miri Lavasani, also the CEO of Pardis Petrochemical Company.

He underlined that Iran Petrochemical Urea brand is now well known in the export markets.

“Considering the fact that all petrochemical units in Iran produce high quality urea, we have been able to achieve a good market in this area,” Miri Lavasani said.

Vice-President Underlines Iran’s Success in Production of Pneumococcal Vaccine

Iranian Vice-President for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy Rouhollah Deqani Firouzabadi said that the country’s scientists have developed the pneumococcal vaccine which inactivates 13 strains of bacteria.

“Iran is the second country that enjoys access to the pneumococcal vaccine which inactivates 13 strains of bacteria,” Dehqani Firouzabadi said.

“We hope to make the pneumococcal vaccine available to people in the next decade after clinical studies,” he added, noting that these upcoming projects will save nearly 280 million euros for the country.

PREVNAR 13 (usually called PCV13, PCV, Pneumococcal conjugate or Pneumococcal on your baby's immunization record) is given to babies, starting at 2 months, and ending at or soon after their 1st birthday, at 2, 4, 6, and 12-15 months of age, to protect against 13 common strains of pneumococcal bacteria.

Iranian Company Produces Robotic Arms to Assist People with Neurological Disorders

Iranian researchers have designed and developed a robotic arm to contribute to treatment process of neurological disorders along with rTMS machines.

“The robotic arm is a supplementary to the rTMS machine, or machine that generates a magnetic field in the brain. After the doctor's diagnosis, the rTMS device creates a magnetic field that stimulates neurons or nerves in specific points of the brain and accelerates the treatment process of depression, addiction and severe anxiety,” Reza Karkon, Technical Manager of a knowledge-based Iranian medical equipment manufacturer said in interview with ANA.

In repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), an electromagnetic coil placed against the scalp creates a magnetic field that stimulates certain areas of the brain. During an rTMS session for depression, an electromagnetic coil is placed against the scalp of your head with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS).

“The intelligent robotic arm is used along with the rTMS machine to create a magnetic field and stimulate the neurons,” he added.

“This smart robotic device is not only used for mental illnesses, but also for any medical conditions involving the human nervous system,” the researcher said.

Iranian Company Produces Aqua Robot to Keep Fish Farms Clean

A knowledge-based company in Iran has produced aqua robots to prevent build-up of algae and biofouling at fish farms with autonomous net cleaning.

In an interview with local Iranian media, Siavash Khani, the founder of a knowledge-based company in Iran said that the research field of their company is the construction of cages for marine fish aquaculture.

"Recently, we succeeded in designing and manufacturing a fish breeding cage net washing machine," he said.

Saying that their device is a robotic tool for keeping the nets in the cages clean, he added, “This robot is placed inside the aquatic fish cage and acts like a submarine, and the operator adjusts its direction. It sticks to the surface of the net and cleans the fish breeding net.”

Stating that the robotic tool does not harm the fish, Khani asserted, “The basis of this robot's work is based on water pressure. Moreover, we are studying the effects of sound waves of this device on fish.”

“This device kills and removes the oysters and barnacles that grow on the net,” he added.

“This device has reached semi-industrial production,” he continued.

Iranian Company Domestically Produces 12-Lead Electrocardiogram

An Iranian company based at Pardis Technology Park in Tehran has designed and produced a 12-lead electrocardiogram device for quick diagnosis of heart conditions.

Heart attack is one of the most common medical emergencies in Iran whose quick diagnosis and rapid transfer of the patient to cardiac centers can prevent irreparable damage or death. For that, one of the knowledge-based companies that is located at Pardis Technology Park has successfully taken an effective step to improve health in the society by producing a 12 lead / channel electrocardiogram ECG machine with the trademark JamH1 for quick diagnosis of heart attacks.

Amir-Hossein Panahi, a senior researcher and one of the executive directors of the project to produce the 12-lead electrocardiogram device considered the production of vital signs monitoring devices to be one of the achievements of their company.

“With these monitors that the company has made, the specialists can learn about the symptoms and signals of cardiac conditions,” he said.

He said that his team of researchers started working on the project a few years ago, adding, “At the request of Iran Emergency Department a few years ago, a device was designed and produced to predict the possibility of heart attacks in those people who contacted the emergency center after feeling pain in their chest. It was provided to the Emergency Department of the country. When the emergency personnel visit the patient's home, this system sends the patient’s cardiograph information online to the cardiologist located in the emergency center, and the heart signal becomes visible.”

Iranian Knowledge-Based Company Produces Nodular Cast Iron Rollers

Experts at a knowledge-based company in Iran have produced high-tonnage rollers by optimizing the alloy and geometry of the roller, and the result of this work has also been presented in articles in prestigious international journals.

“This company is a group that produces different models of rollers and their accessories inside the country. The roller production is divided into two groups of products: hot and cold," said Farhad Monfared, the managing director of a knowledge-based company that produces rollers and industrial equipment.

He described producing nodular cast iron rollers as the most strategic product that is currently produced by his company.

“Rollers usually have a complicated production process due to their complex mechanical structure that is supposed to withstand high heat in momentary stresses such as bending and twisting pressures. That is to say that, its production process is in such a way that they pass through the iron lava next to the melting furnaces, and according to the request of the rolling line, the manufacturing company analyzes the design set and gradually designs its casting,” Monfared said.

“About 18 types of superalloys are needed to form the required complex which can create a structure resistant to destruction, creep and crushing inside the roller,” he added.

Iranian Scientists Produce, Commercialize Pure Hybrid Seeds

Iranian scientists at a technological company in cooperation with the National Center for Genetic Reserves managed to produce and commercialize pure hybrid seeds, breaking the monopoly of foreign states.

The cooperation resulted in production of pure hybrid seeds of over five varieties of greenhouse cucumber, greenhouse colored bell pepper, lettuce, sugar beet and watermelon.

“Research was conducted on 40 varieties of hybrid lettuce seeds for one year and finally 8 varieties (genotypes) of lettuce were selected. These are 8 pure hybrid seed varieties (f1) that have reached the stage of commercialization and presentation to the market,” said Mohammad Sajjad Tabatabayee, the managing-director of the technological company.

Also, Mohsen Khosravi, the manager of seed department of the company, said that one of the achievements of the company was to present to the market a beet seed that was produced by domestic experts from the Iranian-British line.

“We have five varieties of greenhouse cucumbers among other products and hybrid watermelon seed of all types is one of our other achievements,” he added.

“During a ceremony, 8 varieties of lettuce, 5 varieties of greenhouse cucumber, sugar beet and sweet pepper produced in cooperation with other institutions and companies will be unveiled,” Khosravi said.

Iran-Made Hydrogel Composite Wound Dressing Prevents Amputation in Diabetic Patients

Scientists at an Iranian company stationed at the incubator center of the Islamic Azad University’s Yazd branch managed to produce a special ‘hydrogel composite wound dressing’ which prevents amputation of organs in diabetic patients.

“The invention of hydrogel composite wound dressing has a code of human ethics and was tested in two specialized wound healing clinics in Yazd province for people with diabetic ulcers, EB (Epidermolysis Bullosa) ulcers, and bedsores and we obtained highly satisfactory results and quick healing in patients,” Mahboubeh Mahmoudi, the head of the board of directors of Aramis Yazd company, told ANA.

She noted that the product enjoys the capability to create moist healing conditions, release curcumin herbal medicine and cytokines and create regenerative growth factors in the wound site to increase the speed of healing.

“The hydrogel composite wound dressing which contains plant nanoparticles has proved effectiveness on increasing the speed of wound healing and treatment of all types of chronic wounds, improving the living conditions of patients with bedsores and preventing amputation of organs in patients with diabetic ulcers,” Mahmoudi said.

Iran-Made Smart System Prevents Car Theft

Researchers at an Iranian knowledge-based company active in the field of vehicle equipment maintenance and repair succeeded in designing a device for smartization of management of the vehicle maintenance and repair process which can also protect the car from thieves.

“Our company's knowledge-based product is a combination of hardware and software. The hardware part is installed directly on the car and the software part is installed as an application on the car owner's cellphone,” Rouhollah Yazdan, the technical director of the knowledge-based company, told ANA.

“Affairs related to vehicle repair and maintenance, including identification of damaged parts and sending messages to the car owner, are the uses of this product,” he added.

“Geofence capability (or geographic virtual fence) is one of the most attractive uses of this product, based on which, the safe range of the car’s moves in the parking lot is estimated and whenever the car leaves this safe range, a warning message is sent to the car owner,” Yazdan said.

Iranian Knowledge-Based Company Unveils Homegrown Supercritical Fluid Extractor

Researchers at an Iranian knowledge-based company have domestically constructed a supercritical fluid extractor that has broad applications in pharmaceutical industry.

“Our company has successfully constructed a supercritical fluid extractor in two different models of five-liter and half-liter capacities. The device is used to extract the carbon dioxide fluid to the critical phase. In fact, the supercritical phase is between liquid and gas, which allows extracting materials from the gas phase,” Arash Behzadi, technical manager of a knowledge-based company​ said.

Saying that a supercritical fluid (SCF) is any substance at a temperature and pressure above its critical point, he added, “Low extraction temperature to prevent decomposition of the final product, optimal extraction with precise control of temperature and pressure, absence of scum and sedimentation in the final product, recovery of solvent and no generation of pollutants are some of the features of this extraction device.”

“The basic components of the extractor device consist of a CO2 pump that can operate at a maximum pressure bar and a flow rate of 50 liters per hour, and a solvent pump that can operate at a maximum pressure of 500 bar. All pipes, fittings and tanks are made of S316 stainless steel that can operate at a 6,000 psi, two flow meters for solvent and supercritical fluid, four safety valves to increase safety, three stainless pumps for hot water circulation, proper refrigeration system, pressure sensors at various points, PT100 type temperature sensor at different points and display to show temperature in different points if digital display system is used,” he explained more.

Stating that the device is employed in pharmaceuticals, Behzadi clarified, “The difference between this machine and other similar products is that its extraction is done at a low temperature, by which I mean its active ingredient is not changed and its quality is not reduced.”

Face Recognition Software Designed in Iran Based on Deep Learning

A knowledge-based company in Iran succeeded in designing a software based on deep learning that enjoys higher accuracy and speed in recognizing people's faces.

“Our knowledge-based company operates in the field of industrial and agricultural products; therefore, we have designed a software for facial recognition which identifies attendance and absence of employees and registers their entry and exit from the organizations,” Amir Rajabi Behjat, a faculty member of the computer science department of Islamic Azad University’s Rafsanjan branch, told ANA.

“Deep learning algorithms have been used in the development of this software which has higher accuracy and speed in face recognition. Compared to other devices, it does not have a fixed face recognition mode and can record the entry or exit of a person in motion and while moving. Also, it can recognize people with any facial expression while they are smiling or frowning or wearing a mask or glasses,” he added.

Noting that the software can recognize up to 20 people concurrently, Rajabi Behjat said, “This software is installed on the cellphone or system to enlist the received figures and display the information within a few seconds.”

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