Azad News Agency (ANA) published a number of scientific and technological news during the past week whose top ones are as follows:

Iran to Hold 11th Nat’l 'Brain Bee' Competition

The 11th national student competition titled ‘Brain Science’ is due to be held in Iran with the support of the Cognitive Science and Technology Development Headquarters.

The competition is aimed at encouraging students to work in the field of brain science, finding young talents, and persuading the emerging generation to study in the field of neuroscience.

The ‘Brain Science’ is a version of ‘Brain Bee’ competition which is a globally held in the field of neuroscience and encourages students to explore the world of brain research and investigation and takes steps towards improving brain health and cognition. This competition provides a platform for the development of future elites in the field of neuroscience and is a safe and secure experience for students interested in this field.

The first phase of the competition will be held on February 28, 2024, and the second phase will be held in August 2024 among the winners of the first phase.

This competition is organized by the Iranian Neuroscience Association in cooperation with the Synapse Scientific Group.

350 New Ideas Presented at Iran's DANOVA Student Technology Expo

The third 3-day DANOVA Student Technology event was held at the Iran International Innovation Zone at Pardis Science and Technology Park on November 19 for 3 days.

Over 8,000 ideas were sent to the event secretariat, and after initial screening and two stages of expert judging, 350 student ideas and designs were presented to the public at this event.

Also, 140 ideas presented at the exhibition were presented for the final judging. Over 15,000 students will visit this event during the three days of the exhibition.

The event will be held in 10 specialized areas of programming and artificial intelligence, electricity and electronics, mechanics and precision instrumentation, robotics, cybersecurity, health and treatment, chemistry and recombinant materials, soft and creative industries, environment and governance, with the support of the Iran International Innovation Zone and in cooperation with the Iranian Vice-Presidency for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy and the Ministry of Education.

Iran-Made Herbal Product Able to Dissolve Kidney Stones Up to 10 mm

A technological company in Iran has produced a herbal product capable of dissolving kidney stones up to 10 mm, without causing side effects like pain and bleeding.

“Our company operates in the field of planting medicinal plants and processing herbal medicines, and the these medications are for the treatment of kidney stones, so that it removes kidney stones up to 6 mm with a patented medicine and even treats and dissolves kidney stones up to 10 mm without any side effects like pain and bleeding,” Faramarz Badakhshani, the head of the Islamic Azad University’s Yasouj branch in Kohgilouyeh and Boyer Ahmad province, told ANA.

“The next product is anti-burn ointment which is produced from the hairy spike plant which grows as a bush in the streams of springs and foothills,” he added.

Iran-Made Vacuum Distillation Device Separates Hydrocarbons from Oil

An Iranian knowledge-based company succeeded in indigenizing a vacuum distillation device based on the ASTM 1160D standard, which is used to separate hydrocarbons from oil.

“Vacuum distillation device based on the ASTM 1160D standard, atmospheric distillation device based on the ASTM 86D standard, diesel engine oil corrosion device, and semi-automatic closed ignition device are among the products or our company,” said Moslem Mashayekhi, the managing director of the knowledge-based company.

Elaborating on the performance of the vacuum distillation device based on the ASTM 1160D standard, he said, “This test method is used to determine the distillation features of petroleum products that may decompose if distilled at atmospheric pressure. The data obtained from this method can be used as a characteristic of petroleum products, which often include limitations of the distillation process.”

Mashayekhi explained that vacuum distillation is one of the best laboratory and industrial methods used to separate substances in liquid solutions, saying, “In this method, the desired solution is placed under vacuum, which lowers the temperature of the solution. As a result, the dissolved substances can be separated from each other with less energy.”

“Using the vacuum distillation method is suitable for solutions in which the substances in them have a high evaporation temperature and also a high boiling point in the atmosphere,” he added.

Iranian Scientists Produce Hydrolyzed Proteins from Waste Fibers

Specialists of a technological company succeeded in producing hydrolyzed proteins from waste fibers like sheep wool, bird feathers, and human hair.

“This product is used in the cosmetics, construction, agriculture, and medical industries. It is used in organic fertilizers in agriculture because it has a very high hydrogen content,” Matin Dalir, the managing director of the company stationed at the incubator center of Islamic Azad University’s Rasht Branch, told ANA.

“Hydrolyzed keratin is used in the cosmetics sector for skin and hair, which we have worked on professionally,” she added.

“In the construction sector, this product, along with other chemicals, increases the strength of concrete, and in medicine, it is used to heal wounds and produce hydrogels and cell tissue,” Dalir said.

Iranian Knowledge-Based Firm Makes Hygienic Egg Packaging Machinery

Iranian researchers at a knowledge-based company succeeded in designing and producing egg-packaging machinery that performs the packaging process without hand contact and is completely hygienic.

“Farm packers and egg packaging machinery, industrial and manual jet printers, daters and adhesive labels are among the most important products made by our company,” said Amir Asadollah Golestani, the managing director of the knowledge-based company.

“Egg packaging machinery designed and produced in our company performs the process of correctly placing eggs from their sharp tip into the packaging, fully automatically and without hand contact. This makes egg packaging more elegant and increases the shelf life of the product,” he added.

“Our customers, who are equipped with these egg packaging machines and jet printers, offer products with hygienic, elegant, and completely uniform packaging to export markets, which have been well received in these countries,” Golestani said.

Iranian Firm Develops Laser Technology for Road, Dam Construction Machinery

Iranian researchers at a knowledge-based company succeeded in indigenizing advanced laser technology for road and dam construction machinery.

This innovative achievement has created a remarkable transformation in the country's road construction industry and has improved the accuracy and quality of asphalt paving operations to an unprecedented level.

“This new technology is designed to increase the accuracy and quality of asphalt paving operations in construction projects. The system uses a laser beam to create an accurate reference line for the machine,” said Afshin Navvabi, the managing director of the knowledge-based company.

“The laser sensor and controller system automatically adjusts the machine's movements to this reference line by measuring the machine's deviation from the laser beam and applying control signals to the servo-hydraulic section,” he added.

“Making a large-scale laser sensor is one of the most prominent features of this product. These sensors are designed to be resistant to outdoor optical and environmental disturbances, and the control algorithms for the servo hydraulics have been developed to provide better performance,” Navvabi said.

Measuring Viscosity of Drilling Fluids by Iran-Made Viscometer

Iranian researchers at a knowledge-based company succeeded in indigenizing a viscometer device which is an accurate and efficient instrument for measuring the viscosity of drilling fluids.

“Viscometer is an accurate and efficient instrument for measuring the viscosity of drilling fluids, which, with its unique features and very competitive price, has been able to be a suitable alternative to similar foreign models sulike OFITE Viscometer Model 800 and Fann Viscometer Model 35A,” said Alireza Nasrollahnejad, the managing director of the knowledge-based Diaco Energy Pajouh company.

“This product is designed to accurately measure the viscosity of drilling fluids at six different speeds of 3, 6, 100, 200, 300 and 600 rpm. This device is capable of calculating the plastic viscosity, apparent viscosity and inflection point of various drilling fluids with very high accuracy.”

Noting that all parts of the device are designed and manufactured domestically, Nasrollahnejad said, “The use of domestic parts has not only reduced costs, but also made it easier to repair and maintain. Due to its special design, this device is very durable and is perfectly suitable for use in difficult conditions on drilling rigs.”

Iran’s Annual Exports of Nanotechnology Products Experience 110% Growth

Iran’s exports of nanotechnology products in the past Persian calendar year (ended on March 19) increased 110 percent compared to a year earlier.

Iranian producers exported $145 million of nanotechnology products in the mentioned year, according to the official figures.

Iran had exported $69 million worth of nanotechnology products on March 21, 2022, to March 21, 2023.

The total value of Iran’s nanotechnology products in the past year stood at $1.62 billion, of which about 91 percent was sold in domestic markets and only nine percent was exported.

Also, the sales of nano-based products in Iran in 2023 increased by 104 percent compared to 2022.

Iranian Knowledge-Based Firm Makes Spinal Implants

Iranian researchers at a knowledge-based company succeeded in production of a diverse portfolio of spinal implants, specially pediatric implants, with quality on par with foreign models.

“We produce a variety of products, including spinal screws, neck and back implants for adults and children,” said Mojtaba Salimi, the managing director of the knowledge-based company.

“Rayan Novin Teb Roza company is the only firm operating in the field of pediatric spinal implants in Iran. The company's researchers are also working on a new hi-tech product which is a hydroxyapatite-coated spinal screw,” he added.

“All products manufactured by this company are in compliance with current international standards and have a production license from ISO 9001,” Salimi said.

“Given the fact that we are the only manufacturer of pediatric spinal implants in the country, the company's main priority is to meet domestic needs, but we are trying to increase the company's production capacity by creating new infrastructure and expanding activities, and by assessing the needs of regional markets, we will soon start the company's exports plans,” he noted.

Iranian Experts Develop Offline Android Voice Assistant System

Researchers at a knowledge-based company succeeded in producing an offline Android voice assistant system that provides accurate answers at any time and place without the need for the internet.

“In addition to supporting Persian, this product can support two other international languages, namely English and Arabic, which can serve tourists in international hotels,” said Ali Pakdelnia, the managing director of the company.

“This product can be used in various fields, including hotels, home appliances, welfare equipment for the disabled, and homes and parking lots,” he added.

“The smart assistant operates completely without the need for an internet connection and can provide various services in the form of voice,”Pakdelnia said.

“Our young and expert team also has good capabilities in the fields of smart greenhouses and smart equipment and can play a role in these areas,” he noted.

Iranian Scientists Make Acetylene Gas Purification Device

A knowledge-based company in Iran has succeeded in manufacturing an acetylene gas purification device to meet the needs of laboratories which analyze chemical materials.

“The acetylene gas purification device is one of the products of our company. This device has no domestic or foreign analogues and is patented,” said Ali Kashmiri, the managing director of the knowledge-based company.

He explained that pure acetylene gas has always been and is an important need of chemical analysis laboratories, adding that lack of purity of gases available in the market and unprofessional filling of capsules, including not changing the acetone inside the capsule after each charge, not checking the standard level of acetone inside the capsule, etc., are always considered as the main reasons for device failures, which has always put laboratories under pressure due to the high costs of repairs.

Noting that acetylene is produced by mixing water with calcium carbide, Kashmiri said, “The resulting reaction is very exothermic and should be accompanied by the addition of more cold water. Acetylene effervesces and calcium hydroxide (hydrated lime) are by-products of this process.” “After this stage, drying and purification are carried out and the porous material is filled in a solution of acetone in steel cylinders under pressure. This process causes the introduction of many impurities into the gas, which causes corrosion and clogging of parts and adds to the problems of analysis. Impure gas is also one of the main reasons for problems in analysis. For example, in the analysis of arsenic by the hydride generator method, even without pure gas, there is a serious problem in accuracy, which is solved with an acetylene gas purifier,” he added.

Iranian Knowledge-Based Firm Produces Spray to Stop Bleeding

Iranian researchers at a knowledge-based company succeeded in producing and manufacturing a spray that can stop capillary and superficial bleeding.

“This spray is made based on recycled oxidized cellulose and is suitable for stopping capillary and superficial bleeding,” Reza Sayyah, a manager of the knowledge-based company, told ANA.

“The bleeding-stopping spray creates a thin layer on the wound that not only stops bleeding but also prevents re-bleeding. This spray is suitable for stopping bleeding caused by cuts, scrapes, and small, superficial tears,” he added.

Sayyah described stopping bleeding in 30 seconds, reducing pain from the injury, and being non-toxic, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing as some of the benefits of this spray, and said, “To use this spray, the bleeding site must first be cleaned. Then the can of the spray should be shaken well and the powder should be sprayed onto the wound from a distance of 20 centimeters, covering the desired area.”

Iranian Knowledge-Based Firm Produces Hybrid Sugar Beet Seeds

A knowledge-based company in Iran succeeded in producing and supplying hybrid sugar beet seeds with a price less than half of the foreign samples.

“The main mission of our company is to produce hybrid sugar beet seeds,” Majid Valadan, the managing director of the knowledge-based company, told ANA.

“At present, we produce and market 10 varieties of hybrid sugar beet seeds, and in our first mission we have achieved great success in this way,” he added.

Noting that Iran is now self-sufficient in this regard and also enjoys the capability to export, Valadan said, “Production of hybrid vegetable and summer seeds has been the second mission of our knowledge-based company, which produces 9 products and 37 varieties of seeds, including tomato and cucumber seeds.”

“We also produce seeds of pumpkin, eggplant, melon and other vegetable and summer items,” he added.

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