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Education and research are fundamental pillars of educational systems, including agricultural higher education institutions. However, an inadequate balance between these components can lead to a deviation from the primary goals of these institutions. This study aimed to conduct a pathological analysis of the equilibrium between education and research in the higher education system of agriculture in Iran. “Three-pronged pathology model” was utilized, comprising components of “context” (including knowledge, moral, individual-psychological, satisfaction, and the thematic nature), “behavior” (including planning, coordination, control, and monitoring), and “structure” (including demonstrative, diversity, consequence, and political). This quantitative study is applied in purpose, non-experimental in design, retrospective in timing, survey-based in data collection, and descriptive-causal comparative in data analysis. The data collection instrument was a researcher-developed questionnaire, with face and content validity confirmed by experts. The reliability of the questionnaire was established using Cronbach's alpha for each variable (0.704 ≤ α ≤ 0.902). The statistical population comprised faculty members from agricultural departments of public universities in Iran (N=3335), with a sample of 307 selected. Results indicated a tendency among faculty members towards research activities. The greatest gap and imbalance between education and research were observed in the areas of context, followed by structure and behavior. This indicates that the existing context and structure push faculty members towards research activities for their sustainability and advancement in the agricultural higher education system. This poses a serious issue that must be addressed by policymakers and decision-makers.
 

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Propane and butane that are the contents of LPG are separated from natural gas in the unit 107 of 5^th refinery of South Pars Gas Company (SPGC). The concentration of methyl mercaptan and ethyl mercaptan in the propane stream are 551 and 46ppm, respectively, and the concentration of these components in butane stream are 1218 ppm and 0.8%, respectively. In order to remove mercaptans from butane and propane, aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide with 15 to 20% wt. is used for the scrubbing. In this research, using the Petro-SIM software, which is a particular simulator for oil and gas industries, the units 113, 114, and 115 of 5^th refinery of SPGC are simulated. The results of the simulation are compared with the data of both experimental data and design documents, and they are goodly match. Then, using the software optimizer the operating parameters is optimized. The optimization results show that by increasing the extraction temperature in the unit of 115 up to 46 ° C, the concentration of mercaptan in the products can be reduced. The other independent parameters do not affect the final result of the process.

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Badness-removing belief is done by races in different ways such as sacrificing and alms giving in order to remove the bad. This study analyzes sacrificing animals’ belief in Bakhtiari tribe. Sacrificing is a religious tradition and has been present in different cultures and nations. Many religious traditions recommend sacrificing an animal in order to be protected from badness. Bakhtiari based on Islamic and Eid-ul-Adha codes kill animals such as sheep, goat, and cow on top of the mountains. Another reason people kill animals is to remove badness in wedding ceremony.among other sample of badness-removing based on not killing animals ways such as   writing pray and DamB and Kardan are remarkable. 

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Water conflict is considered as one of the major challenges in agricultural water management. "Agricultural water conflict" is a term describing disputes and differences among water stakeholders over an access to water resources in the agricultural sector. The purpose of this paper was to investigate farmers’ viewpoints toward agricultural water conflicts. A descriptive correlation method was adopted and the study was conducted in Doroodzan dam irrigation network in Fars province, Iran. Multistage stratified random sampling was used to collect data from 294 farmers. The research tool included a questionnaire whose validity was confirmed by a group of professionals. A pilot study was conducted during which the Cronbach's alpha test was calculated to determinate the reliability of data collection instrument. Findings revealed that, among the groups involved in water conflicts, the main conflict was between farmers and the government. Farmers in downstream were the main losers in water distribution. The dominant water conflict was "latent" as well. The main reasons for agricultural water conflict were "water scarcity", "drought", and "the kind of water management". Farmers' satisfaction toward water management was "low". Farmers’ age, education levels, satisfaction toward water management, and attitude toward geographical and climatic conditions had a significant relationship with agricultural water conflict.

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One of the dangers that constantly threatens agricultural sector is soil erosion. The purpose of this study was to investigate and categorize farmers’ views on the factors inhibiting the implementation of soil conservation practices in Koohdasht Township, Iran. The study was fulfilled by using descriptive-correlation method. A stratified random sample of 377 farmers was drawn from a population of 19531 farmers in the township, based on Krejcie and Morgan Table for determining sample size from a finite population. The research questionnaire was validated by a panel of faculty members of agricultural extension and education at Tarbiat Modares University (TMU) and found to have sufficient content and face validity. Using a pilot study, internal consistency reliability was demonstrated with satisfactory alpha coefficient (0.73). Descriptive and inferential statistics, i.e., factor analysis, were used to analyze the data. Factor analysis produced four factors: “economic-extension”, “ecological-farming”, “social-structural”, and “organizational-management” which accounted for 49% of the total variance. The factors that emerged suggest the need for some executive measures to overcome the problems inhibiting the implementation of soil conservation practices in future programs.

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Scientific publication is considered as one of the basic requirements of scientific community. In this regard, the purpose of this study was analyzing pathology of publishing scientific articles in the field of agriculture from the perspective of faculty members, and PhD. students. The research method was descriptive which was carried out by a survey technique for gathering data. The statistical population consisted of all faculty members and PhD. students of agriculture in the public universities of Iran. The study population was 6,773 people (N= 6773). By using Krejcie and Morgan’s Table and multi stage sampling, 363 people were selected as a sample (n= 363). The data collection tool was a questionnaire of which its validity was confirmed by a panel of faculty members of agricultural extension and education. The reliability of the items of the questionnaire was approved with calculating Cronbach's Alpha test (0.66≤ α≤ 0.92). Injuries of scientific articles publishing were classified in three areas of "publishing background", "publishing structure" and "publishing behavior" by using three branches theory. By taking advantage of factor analysis, three factors entitled "problem statement and research method", "weakness of titles and analysis" and "innovativeness and applicability" could explain 57.68 percent of changes in publication quality of scientific articles. Finally, according to research findings, the status of agricultural education has been explained to improve the quality of the publication of scientific articles.

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Despite the broad applications of nanotechnologies in the present age, there are concerns about its ecological consequences. In this regard, the purpose of this study was to analyze ecological consequences of nanotechnology in the field of agriculture. The research method was descriptive, which was carried out by a survey technique for gathering data. The statistical population of the study included all researchers, experts, and faculty members of national agricultural research institutes and centers across Iran (N=190); out of them, 123 individuals were selected by using Krejcie and Morgan sample size Table along with stratified random sampling method with proportional assignment (n=123). The research instrument was a questionnaire whose face and content validity was confirmed by a number of faculty members of agricultural extension and education and experts in the field of nanotechnology. The reliability of ecological consequences of nanotechnology items was also obtained by a pilot study using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (α= 0.78). To identify the ecological consequences of nanotechnology by taking advantage of factor analysis, five factors entitled “social consequences”, “health-care consequences”, “economic consequences”, “cultural consequences”, and “biological consequences” were extracted. As a whole, these factors explained 58.40 percent of the total variance of ecological consequences of nanotechnology in the field of agriculture.

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Nowadays, a paradigm shift can be observed from economic and technical investments to social-behavioral dimensions in order to increase efficiency of exploiting water resources. The purpose of the present study was to identify and analyze factors affecting Farmers Active Participation in Water Conservation (FAPWC). In this regard, a theoretical framework was developed for analyzing farmers participatory behavior. This study was a descriptive-correlational and causal relationship research which was conducted through a survey technique. The statistical population of the study included irrigated farmers in southern regions of West Azerbaijan Province in Iran. A sample of 378 irrigated farmers was selected using proportional stratified random sampling method. Data were collected using eight 5-point Likert-type scales. Validity of the scales was confirmed by a panel of experts, and their reliability was demonstrated by Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients which ranged between 0.60-0.89, indicating internal consistency of the study scales. Parametric tests were used to analyze the data. The results of this study showed that the variables of moral norms of water conservation, social pressures, place attachment, social responsibility towards consequences of activities, quality of agricultural extension services, and satisfaction of water resources management had significant impacts on FAPWC. Moreover, the independent variables could predict 43.6% of variance changes in FAPWC. An attempt was made to examine the factors affecting FAPWC beyond the psychological individual-based (micro) analyses in order to develop the research framework and consider factors such as the effect of farmers’ social environments and, consequently, present policy implications at micro- and macro-levels separately.
 

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The natural environmental beauty preservation has become one of the most important human concerns in the present century, so that visual pollution is considered as a major obstacle to achievement of peace of mind and optimal perfection. In this respect, rural people have a major role in preserving the beauty of the natural environment. The purpose of this study was to analyze factors affecting the aesthetic behavior of Iranian villagers towards the natural environment. This study was descriptive-correlational and causal-relational and was conducted through a survey technique. Statistical population of this study consisted of all villagers in Kermanshah Province (as an indicator example of Iran) (N= 517,786). By using Krejcie and Morgan’s sample size table and stratified random sampling method, 385 people were selected as a sample. Research instrument included a questionnaire with approved validity by a panel of experts in the field of agricultural extension and education; and reliability of its items was obtained by a pilot study and calculation of Cronbach's alpha (0.64≥ α ≥0.82). Based on the findings, the causal model of factors affecting the aesthetic behavior of villagers was drawn. Results of this causal analysis indicated that ‘place attachment’ (β= 0.275) and ‘environmental aesthetic attitudes’ (β= 0.260) had highest effects on villagers' environmental aesthetic behavior, respectively. Therefore, by focusing on these two variables, the villagers' aesthetic behavior can be enhanced.
 

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Iran is considered as a vulnerable country in terms of erosion and degradation of soil resources. One of the solutions that have been proposed in recent years to solve this crisis is to pay special attention to the behavioral, cognitive, and social dimensions of soil conservation behavior in agricultural development programs in addition to the technical aspects. In this regard, a study with a descriptive-correlational and causal-relational method was conducted to identify the most important factors influencing the soil conservation behavior among the Iranian farmers and agricultural community. To this end, a sample of 120 farmers in Mazandaran Province was selected using stratified random sampling with appropriate assignment. The results showed that environmental consciousness, environmental values, and social pressures have significant impacts on soil conservation behavior of farmers. Finally, using the results and insights gained from this study, six practical suggestions have been proposed to managers and policy-makers towards the better management of agricultural soil resources. Application of each of these suggestions can act as a turning point in the improvement of the status of Iran's agricultural sector in general and soil resources in particular.
 

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The purpose of this descriptive-analytical research was to analyze the advantages and limitations of agricultural land consolidation in the villages of Dehgolan Township, Iran. The statistical population of this study included 190 farmers in the villages of Dehrashid (where the adaptive consolidation plan was implemented between beneficiaries) and Telvar (in which the plan has not yet been implemented among farmers). The samples were selected from 140 people by using the Krejcie and Morgan sample size table and stratified random sampling method. The data gathering instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire, which was presented to the faculty members of the Department of Rural Geography at Kharazmi University to confirm the face and content validity. Further, the reliability of the tested items was confirmed by using the Cronbach's alpha (α= 0.81). To analyze the data obtained from the farmers' opinions, multi-criteria decision making FTOPSIS (Fuzzy TOPSIS) analysis methods and linear regression in SPSS₂₄ were used. The results of regression analysis indicated that the main obstacles of implementing consolidation in the studied area were "economic" (β= 0.416) and "technical" (β= 0.304). Also, there was a significant difference between the two periods before and after consolidation of agricultural lands in terms of crop production and reduction of operating costs. In general, the effects of consolidation indicated a higher level of crops production per unit area, yield per unit area, income from agriculture and its sustainability, job diversification, and a decrease in immigration in the studied villages.
 

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The purpose of this study was to identify Professional Competencies (PCs), including General and Specific Competencies (GSCs), of Agricultural Teachers (ATs) working with Students with Special Needs (SSNs), known as exceptional students (1,013 people), in Vocational High School Education System (VHSES) in Iran, within two phases. Accordingly, the main objective of the first phase was to identify General Competencies (GCs) of these teachers. Therefore, in the first phase, the components of teachers’ GCs were taken from theoretical literature and research documents via content analysis and the findings revealed that the GCs encompassed 6 components of Instruction Design (ID), Professional Development (PD), Professional Ethics (PEs), cooperation, Perceived Student Diversity (PSD), and technology. The objective of the second phase of this study was also to find Specific Competencies (SCs) of ATs working with SSNs. This phase of the study was conducted using the classical 3-step Delphi technique. In this respect, the specialized Delphi team consisted of 22 ATs working at Iran’s Exceptional Schools (ESs), selected through purposive sampling method. Finally, the findings reduced to the identification of 24 SCs for ATs working with SSNs, which were then grouped into two categories of Agricultural Competencies (ACs) and Exceptional Competencies (ECs).

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Participation in collective actions refers to an individual's behavioral, mental, and emotional engagement in group-situations that motivates him or her to achieve group goals, including environmental protection. The present study aimed at analyzing the intention of members of environmental NGOs to participate in collective pro-environmental activities. To do this, the psychological Dual-pathway Model of Collective Action (DMCA) was used. The research method was descriptive-correlational and was done using survey technique. The statistical population included members of the pro-environmental NGOs in Tehran Province, Iran (N= 680). Out of the population, 248 cases were selected as a sample using stratified random sampling method with proportional assignment. The research instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire and its validity was verified using a panel of case experts and AVE index. Besides, the reliability was confirmed using Cronbach's alpha coefficients, principal component analysis, and composite reliability indices. According to the DMCA, the effects of Perceived Behavioral Control variables about Collective Pro-Environmental Activities (PBCCPEA), Attitude towards Participation in Collective Pro-Environmental Activities (APCPEA), Subjective Norms about Participation in Collective Pro-Environmental Activities (SNPCPEA), Social Identity about Participation in Collective Pro-Environmental Activities (SIPCPEA) were tested on Intention towards Participation in Collective Pro-Environmental Activities (IPCPEA). The results show that this model is able to explain 66% of the variance of IPCPEA changes. The results of this study indicate the need for special attention from the perspective of collective action to make significant changes in the creation of IPCPEA.

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This study was designed to analyze the sustainability trend of the apicultural industry. The present investigation was conducted with a focus on quantitative aspects and employed the methodology of quantitative-qualitative trend analysis. The statistical population consisted of all beekeepers in Iran. Using multi-stage random sampling method, 453 beekeepers were selected and studied as a sample. The primary instrument employed to gather data is a questionnaire developed by the researcher. The sustainability of Iran's apiculture industry was evaluated based on four environmental, economic, social, and institutional dimensions. The evaluation of the beekeeping industry's sustainability in terms of the environmental aspect involved the assessment of eleven criteria across two categories, both of which exhibited a declining trend. Sustainability was evaluated in the form of 24 criteria and 5 categories in the economic aspect, of which two categories had a negative trend and three categories had a positive trend. The assessment of the social aspect's sustainability was conducted through examination of 19 criteria organized into three distinct categories. These categories represented different trends: one with a negative trend category, another with a stable trend category, and the third with a positive trend category. Finally, sustainability of the institutional dimension was evaluated by 16 criteria in the form of 3 categories, and all three categories had a negative trend. Therefore, reforming the process of environmental and institutional criteria shall be of priority for the planners and policy makers of Iran's apiculture industry. The results of this study can be used as basic information in the foresight of the beekeeping industry, the preparation of the vision document, as well as the strategic planning of the development of this industry.

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Drastically concerned about no longer continuation of instructors to use the computerized Learning Management System (CLMS) in the post COVID-19, the ministerial and academic authorities in Iran are inclined to figure out about the determinants of instructors’ continuation of making use of the CLMS and how to incorporate the CLMS into the face-to-face education. Therefore, this research aimed to analyze drivers of agricultural instructors’ continuation of using CLMS. The instructors’ learning patterns as a knowledge gap, the present causal study surveyed 102 faculty members of two universities in Northwest Iran. To establish a theoretical framework, Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and the Vermunt’s Theory of Learning Model (VTLM) were used, and the items of the questionnaire were designed accordingly. The results revealed that the model had a good fit with the data set, the Perceived Usefulness (PU) of the CLMS had an impact on the attitude towards the CLMS and intention to continue using the CLMS (Behavioral Intention: BI). The Application-Oriented Learning Pattern (AOLP) affects the Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC) positively. Other predictor variables that directly impinge upon instructors’ BI to continue applying the CLMS include attitude, Perceived Usefulness (PU), AOLP, and Perceived Student Readiness (PSR). The estimated multiple correlation coefficients for the PBC, attitude, and BI were 0.17, 0.51, and 0.46, respectively. The results of the research can be useful and effective for agricultural higher education decision makers in using and replacing CLMS in specific situations instead of face-to-face education.