Top News of April 2024 with ANA
Azad News Agency (ANA) published a number of scientific and technological news in April 2024 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.
Iranian Researcher MHN Device to Find Calcified Root Canals in Tooth
A faculty member of Tehran University of Medical Sciences announced the production of an Electronic Micro Hole Negotiator (MHN) device in the field of dentistry to find blocked (calcified) root canals in the tooth.
“When the space inside the root canal is completely blocked by calcium tissue due to age or a disease, finding the canal becomes a serious problem for the dentist,” Mohammad Hossein Nekoufar, a specialist in root canal therapy, told ANA.
“To settle this problem, I designed a device that can find the microscopic holes carved in the bottom of the cavity by sending different types of alternating currents into the root,” he added, noting that the holes can be seen with neither a naked eye nor a microscope, and this electronic tool can find them for the dentist.
Nekoufar said that an agreement with a Chinese company has been made to commercialize the MHN device, adding that the company provided 10 dentists across the world with the device and they confirmed its good quality.
Iranian Scientist, Colleagues Use Gold Nanoparticles to Kill Mouth, Tooth Bacteria
Maryam Hajfathalian, an Iranian researcher at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, in cooperation with her colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania and Stanford University have developed sugar-coated gold nanoparticles that can be utilized for both imaging and destroying biofilms, a report said, adding biofilm is a slimy and hard layer which pave the way for bacteria to develop on the teeth or wounded skin if left unattended.
In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the authors demonstrated the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of the nanoparticles on the teeth and wounded skin of rats and mice, eliminating the biofilms in as little as one minute and outperforming common antimicrobials.
“With this platform, you can bust biofilms without surgically debriding infections, which can be necessary when using antibiotics,” Luisa Russell, a program director in the Division of Discovery Science & Technology at the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), said in a media statement. “Plus, this method could treat patients if they are allergic to antibiotics or are infected by strains that are resistant to medication. The fact that this method is antibiotic-free is a huge strength.”
Oral biofilms, also known as plaques, formed by bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans can cause significant tooth decay. Wound infections, which are commonly caused by Staphylococcus bacteria, can greatly delay the healing process. In either case, the densely packed network of proteins and carbohydrates within biofilms can prevent antibiotics from reaching microbes throughout the affected area.
Over 236 Million Tons of Goods Loaded, Unloaded at Iranian Ports Last Year
Over 236 million tons of goods were loaded and unloaded at the Iranian ports under the supervision of the Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) in the past Persian calendar year (ended om March 19).
The PMO announced that 236,512,240 tons of commodities were loaded and unloaded at the Iranian ports in the said period, showing a 10% hike compared to a year earlier.
Also, over 29 million tons of oil products were unloaded at the Iranian ports from March 21, 2023, to March 19, 2024.
In this period, over 51 million tons of non-oil goods were unloaded at the ports.
Totally, more than 80 million tons of oil- and non-oil goods were unloaded at the Iranian ports in the previous Iranian calendar year.
More than 81 million tons of oil products were loaded at the ports from March 21, 2023, to March 19, 2024, while over 74 million tons of non-oil goods were loaded at the country’s ports.
Iranian Company Saves Country $25 Million by Producing Metal Toy Cars
A creative technological company in Iran has created jobs for 140 people and saved the country $25 million by building a factory to produce toy cars.
“The production of metal toy cars for children is one of our fields of activity. We launched our operation professionally in 2018 and now produce nine million toy vehicles annually,” said Mehdi Assadi, managing director of the technological company said.
“In 2018, with the efforts of a professional team and in line with the goal of increasing domestic production, we built the first factory to produce tow truck in the country in this complex,” he also said.
The products of this company have saved the country $25 million by preventing imports, Assadi continued.
“This company has generated jobs for 150 people in Eyvanaki Industrial Town in Seman Province,” the managing director of the company went on to say, calling for more restrictions on importing foreign-made decorative or metal toy cars into the country in support of domestic production.
He considered imposing customs duties on the imports of the product to be one of the solutions to resolve the challenge, adding, “We are not against imports. On the contrary, we think that with imports domestic production grows. Anyway there is need for customs valuation.”
Iran, Turkey Agree to Operationalize Electricity Exchange
High-ranking Iranian and Turkish officials in a meeting in Tehran underlined the need to operationalize the electricity exchange project between the two neighbors.
“Iran and Turkey enjoy outstanding relations in the political sphere, and in the field of economic relations, there are very high capacities for the development of cooperation between the two countries," said Iranian Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian in a meeting with Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Türkiye Alparaslan Bayraktar.
"One of the most important economic fields in which there is a possibility of developing cooperation between Iran and Turkey is the field of energy, especially electric energy, which was also emphasized in the recent meeting between the presidents of the two countries," he added.
The Turkish official visited Iran for the follow-up to the energy deals signed in January in Ankara during the eighth Türkiye-Iran High-Level Cooperation Council, adding that the two countries aim to increase the bilateral trade to $30 billion.
Researchers in Iran Produce One-Megawatt Solar Inverters
Head of the Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR) of Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST) Valiollah Roshan announced production of one-megawatt solar invertors by the Center’s scientists.
“Since the very beginning, we were looking for high-capacity inverters, 50 kilowatts and above, and megawatt-scale production for the country's huge power plants, and therefore, inverters with a production capacity of one megawatt were produced,” Roshan told ANA.
“Before the production of inverters with a capacity of 1 megawatt, 250-KW inverters had been indigenized by the experts of our Center,” he added.
Roshan explained that an inverter in a power plant receives solar energy by the panel, stores it and then converts it into electricity that can be used in the power grid.
He also underlined the need for introduction of one-megawatt solar inverters to the domestic market.
Iranian Company Makes Strong Nano-Based Profiles for Construction Industry
An Iranian knowledge-based company has succeeded in production and commercializing nano-based unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (UPVC) profiles with twice the mechanical strength of normal profiles.
“Two features are highly important in the UPVC profile production industry; long lifespan, at least 20 years, and the brittleness of the profile so that it does not break when exposed to the cold. We use polymer materials to produce these profiles which are degradable to sunlight so we had to add compounds to the product to reduce its degradability,” said Armin Nazari, the sales manager of the knowledge-based company.
“We have reached the international standards in production of normal profiles, but for further strengthening, we used nanoparticles, by adding which we managed to improve the mechanical properties,” he added.
“Laboratory tests on color change due to sunlight also showed that there is a significant improvement in the resistance to color change in nano-based profiles,” Nazari said.
Iranian Knowledge-Based Company Domestically Produces Fire Alarm System
Iranian experts at a knowledge-based company have successfully designed and produced a smart fire alarm system and set up a laboratory to test those for detection systems in the country using local know-how.
Yusef Nasseri, the managing director the Iranian knowledge-based firm which operates in the field of fire alarm system technology development said that their company locally produces smart and accurate fire alarm systems, adding, “Technicians in different departments of this company work independently or together to develop technology and improve the functions of fire alarm systems.”
He said that after the production of knowledge-based fire alarm systems, since there was no laboratory to refer to go to test the products in the country, he decided to establish the first fire alarm system laboratory to work jointly with the standards department to set conditions to receive standards for fire detectors.
The managing director of the knowledge-based company pointed to some of the fire alarm and detection equipment in their company, saying, domestically manufactured fire alarm systems including "conventional panel" and "addressable panel" are the two equipment that have broad applications and consist of a variety of electronic equipment and systems.
“Using a set of electronic sensors and controllers, the addressable fire alarm system provides accurate information on where and how the fire is occurring. The capability to collect data, send them to the central system and analyze the data in the least time possible that would allow for accurate and swift response for more effectively putting out the fire.”
Iranian Researchers Find New Antibiotics to Treat Infections
Researchers at Tehran University's Biochemistry and Biophysics Research Center have identified a new antimicrobial peptide as a new generation of effective antibiotics.
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are the small molecular peptides that play a crucial role in the innate immunity of the host. They are at the forefront of immune system of the host against the invasion of microorganisms.
The lack of new antibiotics for the treatment of gram-negative bacterial infections, together with the emerging problems of multidrug-resistant organisms highlights the need for new antimicrobial strategies for the treatment of such infections.
Identifying the colossal role that antimicrobial peptides play in preventing infection by microbial pathogens in many organisms, it has been found out that these peptides could lay the ground for producing a new variant of clinical antimicrobials.
Peptide HHC10-4 identified by researchers at the University of Tehran (UT)'s Biochemistry and Biophysics Research Center has antimicrobial activity, which can be used to solve some antibiotic resistance problems and treat bacterial infections.
Iranian-Made Cloud Call Center to Be Unveiled in INOTEX 2024 Exhibition
The manager of a technological company based in the Pardis Technology Park said that a cloud call center system developed in their company will be unveiled at the upcoming INOTEX 2024 exhibition.
"We started designing this system almost three years ago when the global view of the traditional phone call changed to multi-faceted one," Mohammad Reza Sakhavar, the managing director of a technological company operating in the field of smart communications and telecommunications based in Pardis Technology Park’s growth center, told ANA.
“Previously in the past years, focus used to be only on voice and video in the communication networks; but over time and with the progress of engineering and the world of high-tech, there was a move towards the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with the world of video and voice calls,” he said.
“We coded specific data from call centers and telephone networks for any organization and group that wanted this smart system,” he also said.
Iran-Made Mobile Table Laboratory Suitable for Small, Village Schools
Specialists of a creative company succeeded in designing and building a mobile table laboratory that can be used in rural areas and small schools.
“The goal of making a mobile table laboratory is education with an emphasis on experience. This mobile table laboratory is a small and portable table that provides a space like a classroom for the students,” Mostafa Rahvar, a faculty member of university and the managing-director of the company, told ANA.
“This table laboratory is used in schools where students do not have the possibility to use the laboratory or in rural schools,” he added.
Noting that the creative product has been patented inside Iran, Rahvar said, “The mobile table laboratory provides a safe and personal space for the student to do scientific, practical and laboratory work and has other applications, including a desk and a library.”
Iranian Knowledge-Based Company Produces System to Detect Driver’s Drowsiness
Researchers at a knowledge-based company in Iran that makes car driving simulators have developed a system that detects driver’s drowsiness using artificial intelligence(AI).
"We work in the field of manufacturing different kinds of driving simulators for light and heavy vehicles, motorcycles and specific cars," Oveis Hosseini, the director of research and development department of the knowledge-based company that operates in the field of car simulation said in an interview with ANA.
He clarified that by specific vehicles he meant the ones that are used in mines. “We have been able to set up mining simulators in four mines in the country."
Stating that they have also worked in the field of driver assistance systems, Hosseini said, "A very important product of the company is the monitoring of drivers' movements using artificial intelligence. This product receives 30 features from people's faces and when the driver is drowsy, it will deliver the necessary alarms to him."
Hosseini further said that the system not only alerts the driver himself, but also the control room that monitors the driver to avert undesired incidents.
Iranian Knowledge-Based Company Develops Crop Management Software
The researchers at a knowledge-based company in Iran have taken a step towards the localizing agricultural knowledge by developing a software that uses collected data from across the country to help farmers to plan what to grow in their farms.
“The management software initiative, for which we obtained the knowledge-based badge, collects a series of data from across the country about the crop, soil, climatic conditions and the requirement of that crop, and after processing this information, it calculates which region of the country is suitable for growing that crop,” Mohammad Hossein Hosseini, the managing director of the technological company explained about the software developed in their knowledge-based company and how it operates.
“This software shows where each crop is grown. For example, suppose we want to grow oilseeds for food security reasons and we need to know in which part of the country the suitable conditions for growing this product exists. Using this technology, we can give the software the information we need (for example, the type of oilseed such as safflower or sunflower), and the software will assess for you which region of the country is most suitable for growing that crop,” he said.
Hosseini said that the main activities of their firm focuses on plant conservation, soil-related science, veterinary medicine, biotechnology, and research.
Iranian Researchers Making Efforts to Produce Low-Cost Fresh Water with Artificial Leaves
Iranian researchers at Khajeh Nasir Toosi University have conducted research on production of artificial leaves which can be used to produce fresh water on a large scale and at a low cost.
“The expertise of our team is photonanobiocatalysts, and we are seeking to produce artificial leaves which is very important for water splitting, and pure hydrogen energy can be produced through this method without any waste,” said Mohammad Hossein Siyadati, a member of the Faculty of Engineering and Materials Science of Khajeh Nasir Toosi University.
“Also, if we don't want to separate hydrogen and oxygen and direct them to another tank, half an hour later they will combine and produce fresh water, and since the country is in the North and South connected to vast water resources, we can produce fresh water abundantly and cheaply,” he added.
“As our knowledge improves, we can increase the efficiency of these photobiocatalysts, which, of course, cannot be achieved with normal techniques, but we should identify the synchrotron, the active points of the catalyst, as best as we can to produce better catalysts with higher efficiency and finally, artificial leaves with better quality,” Siyadati said.
Iranian Company Produces Sunscreen from Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles
An Iranian technological firm has produced sunscreen from Zinc oxide nanoparticles coated with zinc aluminate, which exhibits a protective effect immediately upon application.
“One of the raw materials needed for the production of sunscreens is zinc oxide nanoparticles, imports of which faced hurdles in due to the sanctions. Subsequently, the producers faced limits and the prices of the imported raw materials increased,” said Nafiseh Nikpay, the representative of the technological company in reference to the production of high-tech raw materials needed for the production of cosmetics and health products in their technological company.
“It was then that the researchers at this company stepped in the direction of the production of high-tech raw materials and a company was established to produce and supply these raw materials. Currently, we use nano compounds to produce sunscreens. When nanoscale zinc oxide is used in producing sunscreens, it becomes more capable of reflecting Sun’s ultraviolet rays away from the skin surface. For that, we use Zinc oxide nanoparticles coated with zinc aluminate.”
Saying that the use of these nanoparticles prevents sunlight from reaching the skin tissues, Nikpap continued, “Nano sunscreens exhibits a protective effect immediately upon application. Meaning that these creams immediately after application, they form a protective layer on the skin surface and create a defense barrier against the Sun's ultraviolet rays.”
“The nanoparticles used in this product do not enter the cell and remain on the surface of the dead skin cells,” the researcher further highlighted.
Iranian Specialists Build Smart Systems for Monitoring Air Pollutants, Waste Management
Experts at an Iranian knowledge-based company used home-made technology to produce smart monitoring systems to measure the amount of air pollutants and implement waste treatment and management plans.
“Our company is active in the field of production of environmental pollutant sampling and measurement equipment, and it is involved in the development of management systems for treatment plants and finding technological solutions to control the release of air pollutants and produce biogas from waste,” said Hossein Karimian, the managing director of the knowledge-based company.
He added that portable industrial smoke detector, environmental gas meter, car exhaust turbidity meter, car exhaust gas meter, environmental sound meter, free air particulate measurement device, and urban air pollution monitoring stations are among the products of the company.
“In addition to setting up water and air purification systems, the design, installation and management of solar systems are also carried out by our knowledge-based group. Measuring and reducing air pollutants, water and sewage pollutants and waste and providing calibration services of measuring equipment are other activities of our company,” Karimian said.
Iranian Knowledge-Based Company Launches Complete Assembly Line of Electronic Components
Specialists of an Iranian knowledge-based company stationed at Pardis Science and Technology Park near Tehran set up a complete assembly line of electronic parts to manufacture and supply electronic products to the customers.
“Signal Houshmand Kasra company provides a full line of production and assembly of electronic boards from supply, production, testing and commissioning to product development for the knowledge-based companies and can act as an arm for the knowledge-based firms,” said Reza Sheraft, the managing director of the knowledge-based company.
“So far, our company has made products in the field of high-frequency telecommunications, automation, electronics, medical equipment, one-kilowatt power supply, etc., and by obtaining the ISO 15000 certificate, the company has guaranteed the quality of its work,” he added.
“The Pick and Place device used in our company has been manufactured by an Iranian knowledge-based group and enjoys the capability to assemble 4,000 electronic parts on the board every hour with high precision,” Sherafat said.
Iranian Scientists Make Chip to Detect Halal, Haram Meat
Iranian researchers at Islamic Azad University’s Shahr-e Kord branch managed to manufacture a type of special chip which can detect halal from haram (forbidden for Muslims) meat.
“The meat of seven or eight animals, including cow, sheep, goat, camel, and haram meat of animals like cat, dog and pig can be detected by the device simultaneously,” Abbas Dousti, a professor of the Biology Department of the Islamic Azad University’s Shahr-e Kord branch, told ANA.
He stated that the chip was designed by using modern biological and molecular technology in the Biotechnology Center of Islamic Azad University’s Shahr-e Kord branch.
Noting that each animal has genetic identifiers that are specific to its species, he said, “When we work on that identifier, it is recognized that the created band is specific to the same animal and we can identify what kind of meat is in this product.”
Dousti said that the device can precisely detect the meat used in different food items, including sausage, salami, hamburger, and kebab, which are processed and the meat types in them are not clear in appearance.
Smart Food Scanner Software Designed in Iran for Diabetic Patients
IT specialists of a technological unit active in the field of making smart medical equipment used artificial intelligence (AI) to develop a smart food scanner software for diabetic patients.
“After installing the food scanner application, people with diabetes can receive all their food information by placing the food image in front of the cellphone’s camera,” Tohid Amadeh, the manager of the technological unit, told ANA.
“Information like the amount of sugar, fat and proteins are among the things transferred to the patient; the information base of this software is so strong that it can also detect the level of ripeness of fruits,” he added.
Noting that after scanning the information and receiving it by the patient, the consumption and non-consumption of the food is suggested to the patient, Amadeh said, “All the processes of collecting information of the diabetic patients, diets and information about calories, fat and sugar in food have been collected and processed by artificial intelligence and the past data.”
Iranian Researchers Produce Specific Powder to Tackle Rat Problem
Researchers at a knowledge-based company in Iran have produced a non-toxic powder that stiffens in the stomachs of rats and other vermin and kill them without the need for chemicals.
“Nine years ago, because there were only hazardous poisons to kill rats, Tehran Municipality was looking for a new product that is only effective for rats and was not dangerous for man and rodents. Therefore, we launched a study on the anatomy of mice/rats and finally, after identifying the characteristics of the digestive system of mice/rats, we produced a specific poison for them. This poison went under changes over time. It is now considered a safe and effective product to kill rats," Akbar Niazi Waqef, the managing director of a knowledge-based company said, according to a report by the Iranian Vice Presidency for Science and Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy.
"We made a kind of food after studying the rat's stomach and intestines. The food stiffens in the animal's stomach, and turns into a stiff paste. For that, the rat cannot discharge it."
"This product could also be used for farmers, shopkeepers, even households," he added.
"Because this product is non-toxic, it does not pose any risk to the environment, animals and humans. This product does not contain any chemical poisons for humans, the environment, livestock and poultry, soil, plants and other organisms. Also, after the rat dies, there is no need to collect its dead body, because when the animal eats this powder, its stomach is full and it goes into its nest that is usually built under the ground. Therefore, its carcass is rarely seen," Niazi Waqef said.
Iranian Knowledge-Based Company Produces Nano Bio-Coatings for Increased Durability of Foodstuff
Researchers at a knowledge-based company in Iran have produced edible bio-coatings to protect food products against physical, chemical, and biological deterioration, a report said, adding, the company also offers services in testing quality of polymer products and foodstuff packages.
“A group of knowledge-based assessment and quality assurance services are offered for all polymer raw materials, additives and polymer packaging products produced by domestic and foreign companies. In these services, the food products are assessed in terms of food safety, health and their food and health grade in accordance with the national and international standards of the European Union, the American Food and Drug Administration, and the Eurasian Customs Union, and the groundwork is provided for improving their quality,” said Abdul Rasool Orumiyehei , the chairman of the Board of Directors and managing director of the knowledge-based company said, according to a report by the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy.
Referring to the development of technology in the field of production of polymer products, he said that the supplying know-how in the production of plastic, wood and recycling of plastic and polymer waste is one of the achievements of this knowledge-based group.
Orumiyehei pointed to the development of “bioprotect” edible coating technology for food products in their company, saying, “In this technology, natural materials are used for packaging of food products that have to be more durable and have long shelf life, including nuts and dried fruits. Moreover, consulting and offering products according to the customer’s needs in the packaging of food products are other services provided in this company.”
“We have received necessary approvals and permits for the production of nano and antibacterial edible coating solution for nuts and dried fruits is in the semi-industrial production stage. This product is an edible coating made of 100% natural materials to protect nuts and dried fruits against environmental pollution and increase the product’s shelf life. These materials are used instead of synthetic plastics. The research and development of biological food coating technology for packaging meat, poultry meat and fruits is also on the path towards commercialization,” the managing director of the company said.
Iran, OIC Members Trade 61 Billion Dollars in 1 Year
Head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) Mohammad Rezvanifar announced that the country and members of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) have traded $61billion in the past Persian calendar year (ended on March 19) showing an 0.19 percent hike compared to a year earlier.
Rezvanifar noted that the volume of the trade exchanges between Iran and the OIC member states reached 94 million tons, registering a 4.22 percent decline compared to the previous year.
Iran exported $29 billion of products to these countries and imported $32 billion worth of products from them, he said.
Rezvanifar added that the country’s exports of products to the OIC members last year registered an 11% decline in value while the imports of products from these countries increased 13% compared to a year earlier.
Among the OIC member states, the UAE, Turkiye, Iraq, Pakistan, Oman, Afghanistan, Malaysia and Indonesia were Iran’s major trade partners, he underlined.
Iranian Researchers Develop Nickel Coating for All Types of Steel by Using Plasma Technology
Iranian researchers at Amirkabir University of Technology succeeded in using the technology of plasma nitrogenization of steel to increase its strength against corrosion and wear for various applications.
“One of the most widely used methods of surface modification in industry, specially the industry of our country, is the electroplating process and one of the conventional methods of electroless plating is the nickel electroless method which can cover conductive and insulating surfaces and form continuous coatings with uniform thickness,” said Saber Mirhosseini, a PhD student in Materials Engineering at Amirkabir University of Technology.
“One of the problems of these coatings is their hardness and low wear resistance; therefore, in this project, for the first time, in order to improve the wear and tribological properties of nickel-boron composite coatings, nano-diamond particles with high hardness were used as reinforcements and the new heat treatment method of plasma nitriding was used,” he added.
Noting that these coatings have many applications in chemical industries, food industries, aerospace and automobile manufacturing, cutting tools, molding and weapons industries, Mirhosseini said, “The main goal of this project was to obtain nickel-boron electroless coatings reinforced with hard nano-diamond particles and plasma nitriding with favorable wear behavior.”
Iranian Scientists Make Nanobiosensor for Simple, Fast Detection of Sepsis Biomarkers
Iranian researchers succeeded in making a nano-biosensor that can help simple and quick detection of CRP and IL-6 biomarkers in sepsis disease.
The researchers, within the framework of a doctoral thesis, have managed to design and study a nano-biosensor based on microfluidic paper that can successfully identify and quantify the two biomarkers of sepsis, the CRP and IL-6.
“The system designed in this doctoral thesis includes a nanobiosensor based on aptamers which enjoys a high potential in detecting target proteins. This nanobiosensor is completely specific and has high reproducibility and stability,” said Ali Hossein Rezayan, a professor of the department of nanobiotechnology and biomimetics of the faculty of Biological Sciences Engineering.
He added that gold nanoparticles are used in this sensor and can create different colors in different states with their special optical properties.
“Therefore, by checking the color of the results, the concentration of the target protein in the plasma is determined,” Rezayan explained.
“One of the important achievements of this thesis is that sepsis can be diagnosed quickly and relatively accurately without the need to complex and time-consuming devices by performing this test,” he said.
Iranian Scientists Review Performance of Drug Inhibitors in Treatment of Colorectal Cancer
Iranian researchers at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences succeeded in studying the therapeutic potential of EW-7197 drug inhibitor in colitis and colorectal cancer.
“Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are a group of chronic diseases of the digestive system that lead to damage and inflammation of the colon and other parts of the digestive system. The two main types of this disease include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis; intestinal inflammation in colitis can lead to a type of colon cancer,” said Maryam Moradi Binabaj, a PhD student in clinical biochemistry from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.
“In this research, the therapeutic potential of the drug inhibitor EW 7197 was studied in the murine model of inflammatory colitis and the cell and animal model of colorectal cancer,” she added.
Moradi Binabaj explained that in the colitis phase, after the creation of the colitis model and the treatment of mice, tissues and blood samples were examined and the mice were used to investigate the effect of drug inhibitor EW-7197 on reducing the pathological symptoms of inflammatory colitis.
Scientists in Iran Make Artificial Ovary for Transplantation of Ovarian Cells
Iranian researchers at Royan Research Institute succeeded in making an artificial ovary to settle the problem of transplanting ovarian cells.
“By removing and isolating damaged tissue from the body of cancer patients and replacing it with new tissue, often obtained from stored fetal umbilical cords and other connective tissues in the body, embryologists perform decellularization. The connective tissue in the ovary is placed inside this cell scaffold and the new tissue in the ovary is regenerated,” Rouhollah Fathi, an associate professor of the Department of Embryology and the vice-chancellor of Royan Research Institute, told ANA.
He explained that results of the project have been published in line with the latest research of the world's largest universities.
Noting that the artificial ovary research project has reached several new achievements, Fathi said, “Proving that women's bodies can produce eggs during adulthood has been one of the most important achievements of this project in the world.”
“If in the future we can have a baby born from regenerated ovarian tissue, we will have taken the most effective step in developing the achievements of this research,” he underlined.
Iranian Technologists Cultivate Brine Shrimp Using Desalination System Effluent
Technologists in a company in Iran have used discharged effluents from desalination plants to cultivate brine shrimps.
A technological company in Iran enjoys 30 years of experience in supplying services to the companies which are active in the field of brine shrimp cultivation and has been able to produce different brine shrimp products such as Artemia (brine shrimp) cyst or eggs, decapsulated brine shrimp cysts, and brine shrimp biomass.
There is a growing market for fish and shrimp in Iran at the same time as the production and breeding of shrimp and fish in the country is increasing in recent years.
The technological company has focused on using new methods and technologies in response to the growing domestic need for the brine shrimps.
One of the most important water resources for brine shrimp cultivation is effluent from desalination plants.
Iranian Specialists Use AI to Develop Smart Production Lines for Different Industries
Iranian experts at a knowledge-based company managed to use artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to develop smart production lines for pharmaceutical, marine, petrochemical, steel and oil industries.
“In our company, we produce software and hardware based on artificial intelligence and machine vision to make all stations of production lines intelligent,” Mohammad Hossein Sokout, the deputy managing director of the knowledge-based company, told ANA.
He added that the smartization of all stations has been proposed in the big platform of IoT which is divided into three areas of control and monitoring of production line machines (self-control), product control and monitoring, and control and monitoring of input and output facilities of production lines, stressing, “Our company operates in all these three areas.”
“This system can be used in the smartization of vessels, engines, gearboxes and systems of vessels. Companies that produce marine industry parts or hardware can also use the system,” Sokout said.
“This system can also control a pharmaceutical product and is extremely useful in the automotive industry, because more than 10,000 parts are connected to each other in a car and all these parts should be intelligently controlled for better performance of the car. Also, this system can be applied in steel industries, upstream petrochemical industries and oil transmission lines; for instance, in the oil and gas industry, it can control and check the pipe breakage, pipe vibration or the distance of oil transmission,” he added.
Iranian Researcher Makes Solar Desalination System with Heat Pump
An Iranian researchers at Sharif University of Technology succeeded in designing and building a new solar water desalination system by using the humidification-dehumidification method which is equipped with a heat pump.
“Desalination by humidification-dehumidification method is one of the most practical small-scale desalination processes. This method has outstanding advantages like low operating temperature, the ability to use solar energy, simple structure and no need for skilled personnel,” said Mohammad Behshad Shafiyee, a professor of Sharif University of Technology and a PhD graduate in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan.
“At present, this method has been industrialized in the European countries and South Africa. On the other hand, with the increase in energy cost, the importance of its optimal use also increases. Today, in order to use energy optimally, the combination of different types of desalination systems with heat pumps has attracted the attention of many researchers,” he added.
Noting that heat pumps are suitable alternatives for heat recovery from various sources for industrial, commercial and domestic applications, Shafiyee said, “The purpose of this research is to experimentally study a new integrated system of desalination, humidification, dehumidification, and solar heat pump. Due to the importance of water in the economic development of Iran and its key role in production processes, it was necessary to conduct such a research.”
Iranian Knowledge-Based Firm Produces Feed for Rainbow Trout
Experts of a knowledge-based company succeeded in producing special feed for rainbow trout used in the fisheries industry.
“We started this project with the aim of meeting the serious need of the agricultural sector to high-quality feed for all types of farmed aquatic animals, and after years of continuous efforts, the company succeeded in producing diverse and high-quality products which resulted in gaining a significant share of the domestic market and making the company known to aqua farmers,” said Mohammad Reza Heydari, the managing director of the knowledge-based company.
He added that feed for the rainbow trout has been produced by his company with research and development and with the help of the Iranian and foreign experts.
“High-quality raw materials are used with exclusive supplements and additives by using the extrusion technology for making this product,” Heydari said.
“Domestically produced feed has improved the production and quality of farmed trout and it can supply over 60% of the country's needs,” he added.
Iranian Company Produces Nano Polishing Liquid for Auto Parts Makers
A manager of a technological company in Iran said that their company has sold their nano polishing liquid to one of the car parts manufacturers in the country, expressing hope for gaining more share of the market.
“We also negotiated with several paint companies so that this polishing liquid is included in the product portfolio of paint producing companies and later enters the market through them,” Mahmoud Khorrami, the managing director of a technological company in Iran that has produced nano polishing liquid said in an interview with the local Iranian media.
“Our current production capacity is 100 kg per day, and we are currently working based on the orders we receive, but we hope that we will be able to use our full potential for production after doing the marketing,” he also said.
“One of our goals is to offer to the market the polishing liquid in 100-gram containers for small consumers(clients) whereby everyone who owns a car has a bottle of this product to easily polish the car body,” he added.
“This product is a composite material produced from water and oil emulsion along with alumina abrasive nanoparticles, which is added to the formula to create a suitable gloss for the car body. Controlling the distribution of particle size and crystal size on the nano scale and the chemical properties of the emulsion are greatly important in the final result,” he added.
“We succeeded in developing this technology and now the mass production of the product has begun. The nanoparticles used in this product are produced by an Iranian company. However, the design of the nanoparticle production process is done by the researchers in our company,” he said.
“In addition to auto manufacturers, this product can be used by refrigerator manufacturers, home appliance producers, and other professions such as car smoothing,” Khorrami said.
Iranian Company Develops Artificial Light Technology for Growing Plants Instead of Sunlight
A knowledge-based company in Iran has developed a technology to use artificial lights instead of sunlight to grow plants indoor.
Zamani, the managing director of the knowledge-based company considered producing hydroponic grow baskets, hydroponics grow beds, the plant factory manufacturer and an expert in the manufacture of artificial plant growth lights to be among the achievements of their company, a report by the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy said.
"Years ago we realized that there is great need in the agricultural sector in the country for a technology to use artificial lights instead of sunlight to grow plants. This technology was spreading all over the world at a high pace, but in our country, not much attention had been paid to it. Therefore, by bringing together experts and top students in physics, agricultural sciences, horticulture and electronics, we decided to form a research group and locally develop the technology in our country," the managing director went on to say.
"Plant growth lights and vertical farming using artificial lights are some of our important achievements. In artificial light technology, to meet the needs of plant photosynthesis, nanometers from the sun that have a positive and greater impact on the plant's photosynthesis are filtered from the sun's spectrum and placed next to each other by LED technology, depending on the type of plant variety to meet the needs of the plant," Zamani added.
Iran-Made Anti-Sediment Product Increases Life of Vehicle, Reduces Gas Consumption
Specialists of an Iranian knowledge-based company succeeded in producing an anti-sediment product that can reduce the costs of corrosion, sediment and rust in all types of cars, facilities and power plants and prevent environmental pollution.
The product is an anti-sediment and anti-corrosion preservative which can be a permanent solution to remove the sediment and rust in water without the need for draining.
Reducing the cost of repairs, increasing the efficiency and productivity of the engine of all types of cars, maintaining the health of the parts of the facilities, eliminating acid washing and reducing the cost of fuel and energy by 40% to 60% in the facilities are among the advantaged of this product.
“The anti-fouling and anti-corrosion product is used in all types of vehicles, facilities and power plants and can prevent failure in their systems,” said Abdolhamid Mosaddeq, the managing-director of the knowledge-based company.
“An instance of these failures can be seen in car radiator and water and oil mixing in combination boilers in houses,” he added.
Noting that failure to use this material causes huge national costs and environmental pollution, Mosaddeq said, “By using this product the car and systems will be rejuvenated and gas consumption will decrease by 60%.”
Iranian Company Makes ‘Coageight’ Drug for Hemophilia Patients
A knowledge-based company in Iran has succeeded in producing ‘Coageight’ drug which contains the active substance efmoroctocog alfa, a recombinant coagulation factor VIII, Fc fusion protein for hemophilia patients.
“Recently, a knowledge-based company has succeeded in producing the Coageight drug for hemophilia patients which is the second source of production of factor 8 medicine and can settle part of the problems of medicine shortage in Iran,” Ahmad Qavidel, an advisor to the managing-director of Iran’s hemophilia center, told ANA.
He added that the Iranian Food and Drug Organization has promised to import 10% to 15% of the hemophilia patients' needs in order to supply the factor VIII drug, so that the country does not face an acute medicine problem when in need.
Iranian Researchers Develop Environmentally-Friendly, Safe Method to Dispose Fluorescent Lamps
Researchers at a knowledge-based company based in the Technology Park of Tarbiat Modares University in Tehran have offered a method for the disposal of fluorescent tubes or bulbs that contain mercury.
When products containing mercury are placed in the trash, the mercury doesn't disappear, it finds its way into the environment. That's why mercury-containing products cannot be disposed with regular trash. Mercury products and compounds must be recycled or managed as a hazardous waste.
“The disposal of energy-efficient and fluorescent lamps is done by looking at the recycling of electronic waste such as batteries and mercury sponge, etc., which exist as specific trash among other wastes and can come with risks; therefore, our main activity is on the disposal of fluorescent, energy-efficient mercury-containing lamps and gas-discharge lamps that contain amounts of mercury,” said Mahmoud Alizadeh, the managing director of the knowledge-based company said.
“After these lamps become trash, their disposing process begins, but that has to be done in a controlled way so that the resulting mercury vapors are not released into the environment,” he stressed.
“In the machine that we produced in this company, we have created an isolated space so that the air inside the lamp does not leak out after it is crushed in the machine,” continued Alizadeh.
Iranian Company Produces Sole Scanner to Diagnose, Treat Foot Injuries, Disorders
Researchers at a knowledge-based company in Iran have designed and produced a foot scanner device known as “Foot Medicines” to diagnose, assess and treat imbalances in the feet's biomechanics.
“This device is used to measure the amount of stress distributed on the soles of the feet in both dynamic and static forms,” said Mojtaba Gohari, the managing director of the knowledge-based company, according to a report by the Iranian Vice Presidency for Science and Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy.
“By drawing and showing graphs relating to the position and amount of pressure put on any point in the sole of the foot, this device identifies the exact origin of additional stress on the sole and shows the results of the body's pressure centers. The device collects accurate and reliable information to analyze the function of the foot, how the foot sole looks and the abnormalities in its functions. It has the capability to synchronize with the camera to identify the bony alignment of the foot and the heels. Also, this device could be connected to a precision lathe to produce medical insoles,” said Gohari.
He added that the device gives a correct analysis of the foot for the doctor to examine to deduce the correct diagnosis.
“The application of the Foot Medicines device has been expanded in technical orthopedic clinics and movement clinics. With the help of this laboratory instrument, not only the origin and extent of foot and movement abnormalities is diagnosed, but also it paves the way for taking treatment measures,” he continued.
Oil Spill Clean Up in Dehloran Oilfield with Iranian Researchers’ Method
University graduates in Iran conducted a research on how to clean up oil spill in Dehloran Oilfield in the Western part of the country and achieved valuable results.
According to a report by the Iranian Vice Presidency for Science and Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy, Saman Hosseini in cooperation with a research team conducted a research on how to clean up oil spills in the oilfields of Naft Shahr, Kermanshah Province and Dehloran in Ilam province in the Western part of Iran. The research was supported by Biotech Development Council.
The previous project done by the same research team was carried out in Naft Shahr District and under the supervision of Iranian Central Oilfields Company, which successfully cleaned up oil spills in Naft Shahr District at the right time. Later, West Oil Company requested that the achievement of the project be used in coordination with the Department of Environment in the Dehloran oil region too. The Dehlran oil rich region had been affected by severe oil pollution and was highly contaminated.
Preliminary studies by the research team showed that the Dehloran Oilfield was in a different condition than Naft Shahr's, then it was decided a new research to be done there to obtain new bacerial isolates compatible with the new conditions.
Iranian Bioengineers Produce Novel Kit for Gene Delivery
A knowledge-based company, consisting of researchers from Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), produced carbon-based kits for gene delivery after three years of studies and research.
“This kit was previously produced only in the United States, but by indigenously producing it, we ended the US monopoly,” Morteza Karimi, the managing director of the knowledge-based company, said.
He said that the domestically-produced kit's price comes out at a one-third of its foreign-made equivalents while at the same quality.
“This knowledge-based company started its activity in the field of providing laboratory services in 2013. In 2021, the management of the group focused its studies on producing gene transfer kits and was able to locally produce this product in the country in 2022 to break the US monopoly. After six months, with the efforts of the research department of the company, this kit reached the commercialization stage and became ready to be distributed in the domestic market,” Karimi added.
Pointing out that the gene delivery kit is used to introduce genes and biomolecules into cells in the laboratory, Karimi added, "This kit is used in two fields of cell culture or tissue culture and nanotechnology. It is used in research centers and institutes that work in the field of gene transfer."
"The corresponding American kit is lipofectamine, which is lipid-based. But our kit is carbon-based. It comes out with a specific feature: it can be tracked because it reflects light."
Iranian Researchers Use Engine Oil Waste for Production of Asphalt in Road Paving
Iranian researchers produced an asphalt mixture by using the waste remaining from the consumed engine oil.
“Nearly 20,000 tons of waste material is produced from engine oil refining every year, and this waste is known as acid sludge and consists of sulfuric acid, vehicle engine chips, burnt polymers and some used engine oil,” said Alireza Aliakbari, a PhD student of the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Amirkabir University of Technology.
Noting that the simple and efficient method settles the problem of the engine oil refining industry and the obtained product can replace a part of the asphalt mixture production materials, he said that it improves the properties of asphalt mixture against rutting damage, and the humidity sensitivity and temperature cracking will reduce.
“In the final step, in order to ensure the sanitary disposal of this waste in the road structure, pollutant emission environmental tests were made, and the emission factors were lower than the maximum permissible limits with a significant confidence interval,” Aliakbari said.
He described choosing a simple and accessible method of acid waste neutralization by lime and the use of the obtained neutralized product as a substitute for stone materials in the production of asphalt mixture as achievements of this research.
Iran-Made Single-Layer, Double-Layer Skins Obtain Permission for Clinical Trial
Iranian researchers at Royan Research Institute succeeded in making single-layer and double-layer skin products which have obtained the necessary permissions for the clinical trial phase one.
“Rouyin Graf product (double-layer skin) and Royan Sheet (single-layer skin), which have recently been developed by Royan stem cell researchers have received the necessary permissions for the initial stages of clinical trial,” Marzieh Ebrahimi, a faculty member and professor at Royan Stem Cell Research Institute, told ANA.
Noting that the skins are used for patients with severe burns and severe skin wounds, she said, “They are more similar to the dermis and epidermis, which has successfully passed the clinical trial phase one and is currently undergoing the phase two.”
Ebrahimi stated that few countries in the world have produced single- and double-layer skins, adding, “Skin simulation technology exists in only one or two countries in the world. At present, only the US and two European countries have been able to widely use this technology.”
Iranian researchers at the Medical Sciences Department of Islamic Azad University’s Saveh branch used artificial intelligence (AI) to make a device which helps rapid monitoring and healing of different wounds.
“We succeeded in building an efficient device for analyzing electrical signals in skin, muscle and nerve layers to detect the healing process of a wound based on machine learning algorithms,” Amirhossein Nazari, a medical engineering expert, researcher and supervisor of the student team, told ANA.
He explained that the device starts sampling of the wound without the slightest side effects and completely non-invasively by putting its electrodes around the wound and pressing the start button.
“Then the received data is analyzed and finally the healing process of the patient's wound is displayed with three LEDs on the device with green (excellent healing process), yellow (borderline healing process) and red (regressive healing process) colors. Next, the received wound data is sent to the PC through the USB protocol,” Nazari said.
“The frequency and resistance of biological tissues are measured by surface or needle electrode connection, and by using algorithms like FFT, DFS, and KNN, and implementation on signals and data, the rate of healing or regression of the wound in a certain period of time is displayed as a percentage,” he added.
Iran-Made Eco-Friendly Bicycle Works with Multiple Energies
Iranian researchers at Islamic Azad University’s Isfahan branch succeeded in designing and building a hybrid-electric-gas-mechanical bicycle with multiple energy management capabilities.
“This hybrid-electric-gas-mechanical engine with multiple energy management capabilities can be installed on any bicycle and turn it into an electric and automatic bike,” Shahin Mamouriani, one of the researchers, told ANA.
“This bike has a hybrid mode, that is, the cyclist moves, pedals, and when you are on the downhill, you can put the bike in charging and production mode and charge the bike while generating electricity. If you get tired of pedaling, you can put the bike in electric mode,” he added.
Noting that if the bike's battery has run out and the cyclist is tired of pedaling and is not going downhill, he/she can put the bike in ‘Move Hybrid Gas’ mode, Mamouriani added, “In this case, a 100-gram PR gas capsule that is mounted at the back of the bike is automatically turned on and by creating a spark in the housing, it ignites the gas and starts the Stirling engine.”
“This device is able to return nearly 60% of the energy and its Stirling cycle efficiency is about 28%,” he said.
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