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:
Spread Feeder for Shrimp Farms Made in Iran by Using Solar Energy
Specialists of a knowledge-based company which produces aquaculture equipment succeeded in designing and building a shrimp farm spread feeding device by using solar energy.
“Due to the harsh weather conditions and the frequency of feeding the shrimp ponds, the workers endure a lot of hardship which causes excessive fatigue and interferes with the proper work process,” Ali Bazyar, the managing-director of the knowledge-based company, stationed at the Science and Technology Park of the Persian Gulf University, told ANA.
“We often see that a lot of food is wasted due to the hard work, extreme heat and human fatigue, and the food does not reach these aquatic animals properly,” he added.
Noting that there is a term called feed conversion ratio (FCR) in shrimp farms, Bazyar said, “This coefficient shows how much each aquatic organism has grown for the amount of food it received. The use of spread feeding device has reduced the food conversion factor for each farm by a tenth.”
He said that his company’s research and development team decided to use solar panels for shrimp feeding devices since the use of an electric generator faces different difficulties, including cabling, pollution, noise, and the risk of electrocution.
Iranian Researchers Domestically Produce Opto-mechanical Components for Different Uses
Researchers at a technology company in Iran have successfully designed and manufactured opto-mechanical components for use in optics, laser and photonics laboratories.
“In the field of optics, we considered the construction of precision instruments for relocation and measurement. We came to the conclusion that we needed to move and control the light with high precision when we wanted to put an optical assembly together to get the output from it, therefore, we produced tools for this purpose that can move light at the micrometer level with very high motion stability,” Ali Asghar Thani, the production manager of an Iranian technological company said in an interview with local Iranian media.
He named these tools as "opto-mechanical components", saying, “Mechanical movement of light can be done using these tools.”
Thani considered linear, angular and other movements to be among the capabilities of these opto-mechanical components, adding, “Using this tool, it will be possible to control light.”
“When a company wants to produce a quantum-optical setup, it is necessary to control the direction of light radiation and at what point these lights collide with each other, and this requires high precision. These tools make that possible to those companies. It can perform these measurements with a high motion stability,” the knowledge-based company’s production manager further said.
“This tool is used in optics, laser and photonics laboratories,” he concluded.
Iranian Researchers Locally Develop FTIR Septectomy Systems for Different States of Matter
Technicians at a company in Iran have developed a Fourier -transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) system to analyze different states of matter.
Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is a technique used to obtain an infrared spectrum of absorption or emission of a solid, liquid, or gas. An FTIR spectrometer simultaneously collects high-resolution spectral data over a wide spectral range. Able to cope with solid, liquid and gaseous analytes, it has become one of the most widely practiced analytical instrumental techniques in science.
“Every substance has its own spectrum, therefore spectroscopic systems are needed to analyze and identify different states of solid, liquid, gas or plasma of those substances,” Amir Hossein Fakhar, the managing director of the technological company said in an interview with local Iranian media.
“Every substance that is in the ultraviolet and infrared range requires a series of special spectrometers. Because of that, in recent years, we have conducted extensive research in order to produce spectroscopic devices, especially infrared spectroscopic equipment,” Fakhar said.
Iranian Knowledge-Based Firm Produces Polymeric Materials for Anticancer Drugs
A knowledge-based company in Iran succeeded in designing polymer materials to separate blood cells and produce polymer dressings and polymeric materials for making anti-cancer drugs.
“We obtain raw materials from petrochemicals, plant and animal resources and perform a series of chemical processes and reactions on them and turn them into materials with high added value,” Hamed Da’emi, the managing director of the knowledge-based company, the founder of Pouneh accelerator and a member of Royan Research Institute, told ANA.
“The second field of activity of the knowledge-based company is production of tiny molecule materials, the most important of which are the drugs that we use daily,” he added.
“The third field of our activity is related to manufacturing advanced polymer dressings with the aim of treating wounds like diabetic wounds and burns,” Da’emi said.
Knowledge-Based Company in Iran Uses AI in Carpet Cleaning Industry
Mechatronics and IT specialists of an Iranian knowledge-based company stationed at the Science and Technology Park of Yazd province succeeded in producing industrial carpet washing machines equipped with artificial intelligence technology.
“The carpet cleaning industry has three stages of washing, draining and drying the carpet. We have managed to mechanize the entire process without the intervention of operator and manpower by using artificial intelligence,” Mohammad Reza Dehqan, the research and development (R&D) manager of the knowledge-based company, told ANA.
Noting that artificial intelligence technology is used in the equipment inside the smart carpet washing machine, he said, “One of the features of this machine is the advantage of frequency washing or the so-called vibration washing and the special brushes do not cause any damage to the texture, color and root of the carpet.”
“For professional and accurate carpet washing, it is necessary to recognize the texture of the carpet root. We have used artificial intelligence sensors to identify the root texture and how the brushes move, considering the sensitivities of each type of carpet. One of the problems that can be solved by this device is to observe and identify all the stains, fine and coarse dirt on the fabric and even inside the carpet roots,” Dehqan underlined.
Iranian Specialists Manufacture Vehicle Wiring Harness Test Device by Using AI
Electronics department specialists of an Iranian knowledge-based company succeeded in designing and producing a car wiring harness test device by using Python artificial intelligence technology.
“A process exists in the production line of car parts manufacturing and design factories which is called car wiring harness test to check if all wires assembled by human or machine are functionally tested,” Amin Keyqobad, the managing director of the knowledge-based firm, told ANA.
“The testing of these strings of wires is usually conducted by human forces, which, in addition to being dangerous for a human's life, is very time-consuming since nearly 6,000 pixelated strings of wires should be opened by a human operator and then checked one by one,” he added.
“This device has been made by using Python artificial intelligence or Python AI, and it tests a string of wires every three milliseconds. A central computer connected to the device is mounted on a wire test table, which shows the wire connection map on the monitor. When the AI detects that a wire is not working properly, a number of red lines will appear on the monitor,” Keyqobad explained.
Iranian Knowledge-Based Firm’s Researchers Produce Disposable Electrocardiogram's Electrode
Researchers at an Iranian knowledge-based company have domestically produced disposable electrodes used in electrocardiograph devices.
Researchers at an Iranian knowledge-based company based at the Pardis Technology Park have produced single-used electrodes that are key equipment for electrocardiography machines.
“The electrodes monitor the condition of the heart and muscles. They are used to connect the wire of the heart monitor device to the patient's chest to show the heart beating signals,” Amir Hossein Arian Nia, managing director of the technological group said in an interview with local Iranian media after referring to the broad applications of electrocardiography machine electrodes.
“Single-used electrodes are applied as an interface between the human body and the electrocardiography machine and exercise tests, and play a special role in intensive care units and checking the patient's vital signs,” he further explained.
"In collaboration with a team of experts over the past year at Pardis Technology Park's growth center, we started our activity for the production of electrocardiography disposable electrodes and after 6 months we managed to locally produce the electrodes," Arian Nia added.
Iranian Researchers Develop Slide Scanners for Detecting Breast Cancer
A group of researchers at a technological company based at the Science and Technology Park of West Azarbaijan province in the Northwestern part of Iran commercialized a whole slide scanner for breast cancer diagnosis.
Whole slide imaging (WSI) – also known as virtual microscopy or Whole Slide Scanning – is a rather young technology to digitally scan and archive whole slides in high resolution. During scanning, images are taken of each field of view across the entire microscopy slide. Simultaneously, the images are stitched together by the whole slide imaging software to create a single digital image file in full resolution. These whole slide images can then be stored for archiving and documentation, and it can also be shared for consultation and for teaching purposes.
“This company is operating in the production of pathology slide scanners for detecting suspected breast cancer areas,” Mohammad Arghavani, one of the researchers at the technological company said.
“With this product, the doctor does not need to be present in the laboratory to scan and examine the slide, but can scan the slide once and can extract pathology slide information anytime and anywhere with internet access,” the researcher said.
He pointed to the image annotation, the measurement of sensitive points, and the possibility of providing a valid report for probabale cancer areas as other advantages of the domestically produced scanner, adding, "This device has been commercialized and is currently employed in pathology laboratories."
Iran Records 40.5% Increase in Transit of Various Commodities
An official with Iranian Ministry of Roads and Urban Development said that in the first 10 months of this year of 1402 in the Iranian calendar (March 21, 2023-January 21, 2024), a total of 12,661,000 tons of goods were transited from the country, indicating a 40.5% increase compared to the same period last year.
“In total, 12,661,000 tons goods were transited thorough the country, showing an increase by 40.5% in comparison with the same period last year of 1401 (March 21, 2022-January 21, 2023),” said Kamal Hadianfar, the Deputy Minister for Transport Affairs at the Iranian Roads and Urban Development.
Hadianfar, who is also secretary of the Transportation Coordination Supreme Council, said that 4.1 million tons of oil products were transited via Iranian land, showing an 88.5% hike compared to the same period last year.
Meanwhile, 8.561 million tons of non-oil products were transited through Iran’s territory from March 21, 2023, to January 22, 2024, registering a 25.2% growth compared to last year’s corresponding period, the deputy road minister further said.
He went on to say that 11.2 million tons and 1.261 million tons of goods were transited through Iran in road and rail sectors, respectively.
Iranian Scientists Produce Oil from Date Kernels without Heat, Chemicals
The president of Islamic Azad University’s Hajiabad branch said that a technological unit in the University has managed to produce oil from date kernels without heat and chemicals.
“The method used to extract oil from date kernels by this technological unit is without heat and chemicals and the product enjoys high quality and has medicinal and edible uses,” Nasser Shahsavari told ANA.
Noting that 12% oil can be extracted from date kernels, he said, “Since 98% of the country's dates are produced in the Southern parts of the country, the product and raw materials are available, and no initial cost is spent to prepare date kernels.”
“The oil extracted from dates for cosmetic use is expensive but with the production of this oil, imports are prevented and we can even export it,” Shahsavari said.
“Oil extraction from date kernels is traditionally carried out with heat which destroys useful substances and reduces its quality but this technological unit now produces the oil without heat and chemicals by using a special device,” he explained.
Iranian Researchers Use Silver Nanoparticles for Industrial Production of All Types of Yarn, Fabric
A group of Iranian researchers succeeded in production of all kinds of thread and fabric on an industrial scale by using silver nanoparticles.
“Our research team started its work by producing different nanoparticles. Now we are working with more than 10 industrial units in the field of yarn and fabric production and we have achieved good results in this field,” Sa’eed Esfandiar, a graduate of Sharif University of Technology and a researcher in the field of nanotechnology, told ANA.
“One of the main goals of our team was the expansion of nanotechnology in the textile industry. Fortunately, now we have been able to produce many products in this field, the most prominent of which is nano thread,” he added.
“We have also produced other products like shoe soles, sportswear, anti-sweat wear, and fabrics, all of which benefit from the properties of silver nanoparticles,” Esfandiar said, explaining that due to its properties, nanoparticles can cover a large surface and have antibacterial properties.
“Fortunately, these products are now welcomed in the Iranian and foreign markets,” he added.
Knowledge-Based Company in Iran Produces Chemicals with Medicinal Use
A knowledge-based company in Iran succeeded in indigenizing chemicals used for production of different medicine.
“Despite all challenges and problems, we managed to indigenize chemicals with medical use,” Hamed Da’emi, the managing director of the knowledge-based ‘Zharf Andishan Fanavar Zist Baspar (ZFZ)’, stationed at Islamic Azad University’s North Tehran branch, told ANA.
“It usually takes 2 to 3 months for all people who have purchased a chemical or biological substance which is not available in Iran to receive their orders from foreign states but it takes almost two weeks for us to prepare and deliver the material ordered by the customer which increases the buyer's desire to purchase its needs from our company,” he added.
“Some of these raw materials are used to manufacture advanced medication like anti-cancer drugs,” Da’emi said, adding that his company produces special polymer materials that are used to separate blood cells, polymer dressings and other materials with clinical and medicinal applications.
Iran Inaugurates Production Line of Precious Petrochemical Catalyst
A production line for acetylene hydrogenation catalyst required for petrochemicals was inaugurated at a knowledge-based company near Abbas Abad city in the Northern part of Iran.
The production line of acetylene hydrogenation catalyst was launched with the support of the Innovation and Prosperity Fund.
Acetylene hydrogenation catalyst is used to remove acetylene impurities from the ethylene product of olefin units, and ethylene itself is used in polymer industries to produce polyethylene.
Failure to remove these impurities will poison the catalyst and stop the polyethylene production process, which will result in lots of financial losses.
Iranian Knowledge-Based Firm Produces Smart Anti-Counterfeiting Stationery
Iranian researchers at a knowledge-based company have produced smart anti‐counterfeiting inks using nanotechnology to put Iran on the list of few countries with that high-tech capability.
“Knowledge-based companies that play a role in improving people's lives with their products and solve their problems are a source of pride. The aforementioned technological group is one of these powerful and successful groups that is active in the industry of producing different kinds of stationery, which should be proud of themselves. Accuracy, elegance and quality have been combined in this company and made it a successful and well-known group in the field of stationery,” said Rouhollah Dehghani Firouzabadi, Vice-President for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy said on a visit to the knowledge-based factory to inaugurate production line of smart anti‐counterfeiting inks using nanotechnology.
“I hope that by the next year, with the establishment of the second production line of this company, it will be the owner of high-quality products in the domestic and international stationery market with this Iranian trademark and it will be among the top three global trademarks in the field,” the Iranian vice president said.
This technological company, which produces various stationery products, has been able to create jobs for more than 300 people in a working space of 5,000 square meters. The second production plant of this company, which will be put into operation by the beginning of next year, is planned to produce advanced products such as smart ink pens, liquid ink pens, markers, pens, and art paints using nano technology and based on the latest developments in the stationery industry to supply its products to the global markets.
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