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 Firm Uses Tissue Culture Method to Produce Seedlings with Mother Plant's Features
Iranian technologists at a knowledge-based company succeeded in producing plant seedlings by using the tissue culture method while maintaining characteristics of the mother plant.
“We are active in producing vegetative bases of plants by tissue culture method and the researchers of our company succeeded in multiplying each plant by tissue culture method with the same features of the mother plant,” said Arash Shahkar, the managing director of the knowledge-based company.
“They produced and propagated both the rootstock and scion by tissue culture method and transplanted by biograft method,” he added.
“The biggest achievement of our company is implementation of biografting method on seedlings,” Shahkar said, adding, “Considering that our products have a blue label, we can export them to all countries.”
Superstructure Carbons: Newest Breakthrough Could Revolutionize Energy
Research by the Tsinghua University on superstructure carbons (SCC) introduces a novel method of using carbon more effectively in energy storage and conversion, offering potential environmental benefits and performance enhancements over traditional materials.
With emphasis on customizability and efficiency, SCCs could revolutionize carbon-based energy solutions, pending further investigation into their practical application and economic viability. Researchers recently published the findings in Energy Materials and Devices.
There’s a lot of research about moving away from carbon as an energy source, but what if instead the carbon that is being used is applied to its full capacity?
The importance of carbon as an energy source is not to be downplayed. Unfortunately, the reliance on these carbon-based materials has proven to be disastrous for the environment, especially in the quantities they are consumed on a global basis. Therefore, alternative means have to be researched. Superstructure carbons (SCC) are a possible way to use carbons in a more efficient and “green” way that can exceed the current performance and longevity of the standard materials in energy storage and conversion devices.
SCCs are multifaceted in both their construction and performance but also in their concept as a whole. It starts with the fact that they are, indeed, carbons. While this might not seem like a step to reduce overall carbon dependency, it is a way to make the carbons being used more intentionally with more direct functions that can lead to better performance and functionality.
Iranian Nanotechnology Firm Produces Antibacterial Yarn with Constant Color Spectrum
Specialists at an Iranian knowledge-based company succeeded in producing antibacterial fibers and thread by using nanotechnology.
“The knowledge-based product of our company is fancy yarn which is often used in the fashion and clothes industry,” Haman Shahbakhti, the managing director of the knowledge-based company, told ANA.
“We managed to produce four different types of fibers with nanotechnology that are antibacterial,” he added.
“We were able to equip various fibers, including cellulose and viscose yarns, with permanent color stability by using nanotechnology after obtaining the necessary licenses,” Shahbakhti said.
Noting that antibacterial fibers enjoy self-cleaning properties, he said, “When these fibers are exposed to sunlight, they are disinfected and self-cleaned.”
Iranian Knowledge-Based Company Develops Platform to Manage Transportation System
Iranian researchers at a knowledge-based company succeeded in designing a software platform which can render service to the entire transportation process in the country.
“Our company has put on its agenda increasing the productivity and stability of road transport of goods, monitoring and logistics security, the possibility of setting and applying regulations, providing infrastructure services to all stakeholders and the financial system of transportation flows, and data processing to stabilize the transport flow since 8 years ago, and created a software platform for integrated logistics management,” Hadi Alayee, the managing director of the knowledge-based company, told ANA.
“This system was created to empower and establish smart and purposeful communication among all stakeholders in the field of transportation, the owners of industries related to the transportation companies and drivers, to manage all logistics processes in an integrated way, from the arrival of cargo to the delivery and issuance of documents,” Alayee said.
Noting that the platform has been customized based on the needs of each plant and it reads the remittance information and creates it through the web service, he said, “Therefore, the customer also has access to the remittance and can register his/her request, and the companies that are parties to the plant’s contract can also have access to this platform and are able to view remittances. The driver receives his/her load based on the available remittance in the load declaration.”
“We have also designed another platform for terminals so that the driver can virtually view and book loads within a certain radius,” Alayee said.
Iranian Scientists Build Thermoacoustic Engine for Spacecraft
Iranian researchers succeeded in making a thermoacoustic engine based on the Stirling cycle (a generator that produces electricity and heat by using solar energy) which can supply power to spacecraft.
“We could make this engine after 8 tries, so we have now become the third country to achieve this know-how. The first purpose of building this type of engine is to use it to fuel spaceships with nuclear fuel. Spacecrafts need to generate electricity and store it,” Shahriar Zare’, a PhD graduate in mechanics from the University of Tehran, told ANA.
Noting that this type of engine can replace the solar panels to supply electricity and heat, he added, “The engine connects the heat source to the main source of the engine by means of a heat dish that is heated by the focal sun, and that engine starts and produces electricity.”
“The engine can work with any heat source, which is very good and practical in the absence of electricity, and it can provide electricity without the need for a power plant; therefore, this engine is also called a small power plant,” Zare’ said.
Iranian Startup Team Produces Artificial Stones with Natural Materials
An Iranian start-up company stationed at Arak Science and Technology Park succeeded in producing artificial stones by using natural materials that prevents the loss of natural resources and helps protect the environment.
“Members of the artificial stone production start-up decided to produce this new product with a personalized formulation after conducting tests on the artificial stone production formulation by using natural materials and waste from mines and stone-cutting factories to make a stronger and better quality sample than the existing ones,” Hossein Goudarzi, the caretaker of the start-up team, told ANA.
“Among the things that can be produced by using this formulation are stone facades (both interior and exterior), all types of vanities, prefabricated walls, beams and blocks, and all types of accessories and decorative products,” he added.
“Considering the fact that our artificial stones are produced by using completely natural materials and the wastes of mines and stone factories, therefore, there is no need to extract new stone from mines, and we can both protect the environment and meet the construction industry's need for façade stones,” Goudarzi said.
First AI-Based Speedometer System Developed in Iran
An Iranian company active in the field of artificial intelligence and image processing managed to make a speedometer which works based on the AI.
“The vehicle speedometer system, as the first speedometer system based on image processing, applies the law to the vehicles with unauthorized speed. This system is based on image processing technology which has so far been mounted on 76 police cars across the country, and records and reports traffic violations with high accuracy,” Taha Hashemi, the commercial manager of the company, told ANA.
“Another service we provide is image processing used in license plate reading cameras on the streets and roads which sends the data to the servers. Recognizing the color and model of the car without connecting to the police system is another feature of this software which has security applications,” he added.
Noting that the image processing technology is used as a speedometer for a moving car and it automatically takes images of all the cars in the front that have a higher speed than the limit and records its license plate for further action, Hashemi said, “This system includes several cameras, screens, processing, control and monitoring equipment.”
He explained that the speed cameras are mounted on the windshield of the car and a license plate reading camera is mounted on the dashboard, adding that the main structure of the system, including the processor, charger and converter, are installed inside the trunk of the car.
Jordan to Ensure Price Stability during Ramadan
Jordan has said it would ensure the availability of commodities for Ramadan, the state-run Petra news agency reported.
Jordan's Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh said at a meeting with representatives in private and public sectors that the government has taken several steps to ensure no increases in prices during the Islamic holy month.
The country's Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Youssef Shamali said that during Ramadan, the ministry would conduct daily monitoring of commodity prices and market surveillance, as well as ensure the availability of all goods, especially food items, without any disruptions in supplies.
Jordan's Minister of Agriculture, Engineer Khaled Al-Hanifat stressed the abundance of local produce of vegetables, fruits, poultry, and meat, with reserves exceeding the actual needs of the local market and at appropriate prices.
Representatives of the private sector said there has been a slight impact on the imports of commodities due to the developments in the Red Sea but stressed the availability of reserves to cover Jordan's needs.
Iranian Knowledge-Based Firm Produces Transplant Tissues from Human Body
Specialists of an Iranian knowledge-based company succeeded in making human allografts for transplantation by using human tissues.
“These transplant tissues, which are often prepared from the bones of the human body, are widely used in orthopedic, neurological and dental surgeries,” Elham Majidinia, the representative of the marketing and production team of the knowledge-based company, told ANA.
Noting that heart valves are one of the most widely used products of the company, she said, “Heart valves with different diameters for adults and children are among the most widely used knowledge-based products of the company, which are currently applied, specially in Shahid Rajayee hospital and children's medical centers.”
“At present, there are only two types of heart valves for transplantation in children's bodies; synthetic material and animal fibers. Heart valves with human tissue are rarely produced by two companies in Iran,” Majidinia said.
“One of the most important applications of human transplant tissues is in the field of bone tumor treatment. In this process, the patient's bone is drained and the allograft tissue is placed in the human body instead,” she added.
Majidinia explained that at present only two Iranian companies, one in Tehran and the other on the Kish Island, produce human tissue allografts in the Middle East region.
Iranian Knowledge-Based Firm Locally Produces Weather Measuring Instruments
Researchers at a knowledge-based company in Iran have acquired the know-how to produce weather measurement instruments.
These measuring instruments are used in airports and military centers to measure data such as the speed and pressures of the wind.
These technological products were locally produced in Iran after seven years of research in the knowledge-based company.
The products produced by the Iranian knowledge-based company can match with German equivalents in terms of threshold wind speeds, calibration certificate and quality, according to Jamshidi, one of the researchers that worked on the project to domestically produce the weather instruments.
“Our products have been exported to Russia so far. Also, 15 people are working in the company to produce the locally-made equipment,”
“These weather measuring instruments are used in specialized and sensitive centers such as airports, which should provide users with data at the minimum possible error,” the researcher added.
Iranian Company Makes Complex Industrial Parts with Metal 3D Printer
Specialists of an Iranian knowledge-based company have succeeded in direct production of the most complex industrial parts with the highest accuracy by producing metal 3D printers equipped with Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technology.
“SLM technology, which uses alloy powder as a raw material and laser as a manufacturing tool, enables the production of parts with any complexity directly from their 3D file. In this method, the final metal product with any complexity is made directly from its 3D file without the need to any special secondary operations,” said Ahmad Forouzmehr, the managing director of the knowledge-based company.
“In this process, high power laser is used to melt metal powder and mix them together. When a layer is formed, a new layer of powder is spread over the surface. The thickness of the layers varies from at least 20 to 100 microns,” he explained.
Forouzmehr said that among the materials used in the process are tool steel, stainless steel, cobalt chrome and titanium, adding when reactive materials like titanium or aluminum are used, the amount of oxygen in the sealed chamber should be minimized to prevent oxidation of the material and subsequent defects.
“To reduce oxygen, it is sufficient to fill up the chamber with pure argon gas. This machine is used to make parts required for power plant, aerospace, automotive, industrial, medical and dental molds. This device also enjoys many capabilities in the field of research in areas of mechanical engineering and metallurgy,” he noted.
Iranian Researcher Produces Pharmaceutical Compounds for PET Imaging
Iranian researchers produced over five new effective pharmaceutical compounds, specially the Trudate compound, which is used for PET (positron emission tomography) scanning of the patients with Parkinson's disease.
“This project is related to the design and synthesis of bi-functional compounds and using the capability of this group of compounds in the synthesis of organic molecules,” Saeed Belalayee, a professor of organic chemistry at Khajeh Nasir Toosi University in Tehran, told ANA.
“By using this know-how, we have been able to prepare more than five effective medicinal substances that are used in PET imaging,” he added.
“Presenting new solutions in the synthesis of organic compounds can always be transformative and the know-how gained in this field makes it possible to prepare a large number of organic compounds, specially effective medicinal substances with high added value,” Belalayee said.
Knowledge-Based Company in Iran Produces Laboratory Centrifuges at Reasonable Prices
Researchers at a knowledge-based company in Iran have domestically designed and produced laboratory centrifuges to meet the needs of the country's research and laboratory centers.
“The benchtop (desktop) centrifuges produced by this knowledge-based company is used in laboratories and research institutes that operate in fields such as biotechnology, cellular, molecular and health, and performs the task of separating different tissues of fluid samples in laboratory samples,” said Mohammadreza Heidari, the managing director of the knowledge-based company about the laboratory centrifuges they locally produced in Iran.
“The centrifuge produced by the company has a fascinating performance and is produced according to international standards. It has the capability to rotate up to 5,000 rpm and also has a brushless electric motor. It can meet the needs of the country's laboratory industry with safety and high efficiency,” he added.
“This centrifuge spins biological samples such as blood sample around its axis at different speeds and separates and sets down different substances of a mixture or solution,” Heidari said.
He pointed to after sales services provided to the customers by their company as one of the superiorities of their device over the foreign-made equivalents.
Iranian Scientists to Build Satellite Constellation for 2 Simultaneous Missions
Iranian researchers at a knowledge-based company active in the design and construction of sensing and telecommunication satellites are trying to make a satellite constellation that simultaneously performs two remote sensing and telecommunication missions.
The scientists at the knowledge-based company had previously succeeded in building the Kosar sensing satellite (used in agriculture, mapping and surveying) and the Hodhod narrow band telecommunication satellite (used in the fields of agriculture, transportation and crisis management).
"We seek to construct a satellite constellation that simultaneously performs the two tasks of remote sensing and narrowband communications,” Hossein Shahrabi Farahani, the founder and managing director of the knowledge-based company, told ANA.
“This system can perform photography and telecommunication missions concurrently. During the completion of the system, images are taken every 24 hours and real-time telecommunication signals are sent to the users,” he added.
“Although countries like the US are pioneering in this field, this plan has no competitors due to the fact that it is due to fulfill two missions,” Shahrabi Farahani said.
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