Assessment The Agricultural Student's Attitudes Towards Organic Farming (Case of Iran)

A surveying research was conducted to study and recognize the knowledge and attitude of students toward organic farming at three universities of Iran in 2010. Our consumption patterns and environmental behaviors are rooted in long lived practices and habits. Social norms and values are among the factors that determine what we buy or what we think about organic products. As they are largely unconscious it is difficult to change them. Students are the agriculturist of tomorrow; therefore policies aimed at developing organic farming should address the needs of this group. To discover agriculturist's knowledge organic farming, a survey among 100 agricultural students was conducted. Questionnaire was used to examine students’ knowledge regarding organic farming. Finding is shown that agriculturist's awareness towards organic farming are low, especially in Pests management and Organic product standards aspect. The result of factor analysis showed that nine factors named as concepts, Nutrient safety and security, Organic farming economic, Organic farming extension, Social issue, fertility, Pests management, Environment safety, Organic product standard explained 73.71% of total variance that the first factor accounts for 11.98% of the variance, the second 10.954%, the third 9.191%, the fourth 8.505%, the fifth 8.426%, the sixth 7.536%, the seventh 7.015%, the eighth 5.746% and the ninth 4.364%. In conclusion, to enhance student knowledge about organic farming, it is important that curriculum develops for familiar student with organic farming practices and concepts such as: ecological equilibrium, agro ecosystem sustainability, new technology and indigenous knowledge, nutrition value, human safety, favorite yield production, soil structure improvement, erosion reduces and etc

A Third Location and the Territory of Pedestrians in Thirty-Three Bridge Urban Plaza Design with an Emphasis on the Importance of Pedestrians

A third location is a context that civil life is currently in it, events, incidents take place, events and incidents that led to the formation of memories, and space lasts in people's minds. Third place can be called "pedestrians' territory" for this reason. These places must be created in today's cities and must be flourished. The urban should invite people to these places to strengthen the sense of belonging to place in their own citizens. Increased presence of pedestrians depends on user diversity, participation, recognition and interaction with others in the attractive and varied environment. However, without security, traffic safety, accessibility, comfort and creating facilities for pedestrians, streets and third locations turn into a place for necessary, quickly and without feeling passage and pedestrian are willing to stay and gather in those places. The study was based on analytical methods and procedure of documentation, library and field are used. By using analytical Hierarchy Process techniques, and Super Decisions software, problems are identified, actions and strategies are prioritized and according to the most important criteria, a square on Isfahan framework, Chahar Bagh Street intersection and thirty-three bridge was designed, that the square is the most important square of tourism-leisure in Isfahan city and it is a third place for pedestrians' interaction with each other. The most important result of this research is the role of pedestrians in the formation of vibrant and dynamic urban spaces; including the current presence of pedestrians in this space is the most important need for establishment of thirty-three bridge municipal square

The Role of Livelihood-based Housing in Stabilization the Rural Population

Livelihood-based housing helps diversify livelihoods by creating the conditions for home-based businesses in rural areas, thereby increasing rural incomes and employment.This factor along with a set of factors and variables inside and outside the system can help to stabilize the population and reduce migration in rural areas. In this intertwined complex, the extent and role of factors in stabilizing the population and reducing rural migration is unclear. The purpose of this article is to determine the impact and role of each factor, especially livelihood-based housing on the stabilization of rural population. For this purpose, the provinces were divided into three groups based on the share of rural Livelihood units and two provinces were selected from each category and a total of 6 provinces. In each province, one city and two to three villages and in total 13 villages and 332 households were selected as a sample and data were collected using a questionnaire. Findings showed that among the various factors that directly and indirectly play a role in stabilizing the rural population, livelihood-based housing with a higher impact factor explains the dependent variable. While statistics and information show a decrease in this type of housing in rural areas. Therefore, it is suggested that by modifying the existing processes and procedures and creating coordination and support for such housing, action be taken to develop livelihood-based housing in rural areas

Ecolodge Entrepreneurship in Emerging Markets:A New Typology of Entrepreneurs; The Case of IRAN

This study aims to clarify how ecolodge entrepreneurship evolves from idea formation to ecolodge establishment in emerging markets. The related process affects authentic ecolodge development. The research employed grounded theory to explore this process and its implications to examine for the first time how individuals enter the ecolodge industry in an emerging market. The interaction of four constructs (namely drivers, motives, context, and idea sources) explains the costs and benefits that ecolodge entrepreneurs perceive in entering this industry. Moreover, we develop a new typology of tourism entrepreneurs in an ecolodge context based on the combined approach. Entrepreneurs are classified into three segments, including ecolodge lovers, cool job seekers, and young detached entrepreneurs. Although the ecolodge lovers were most in line with the principles of sustainable tourism and most likely to set up authentic ecolodges, most of the entrepreneurs belonged to the other two clusters. The explored process and typology highlight coordinated action in the development of ecolodges

Investigating the development components of small-scale agricultural processing industries in Dorud county

The development of small-scale agricultural processing industries (SAI) can play an effective role in reducing waste and returning the added value of agricultural products to the local community and pave the way for poverty alleviation and agricultural development and, consequently, rural development. This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the development of SAI in Dorud county using survey method. The main tool of data collection was a questionnaire. Data collection method was documentary study and interview and the main population studied was gardeners. To analyze data, in addition to dispersion and centrality statistics, coefficient of variation and confirmatory factor analysis were used. The results of this study showed that the components of the development of SAI can be divided into five main factors. These components include: legal-supportive factors, such as informing users of existing support policies and programs, as well as informing them about legal regulations and requirements. Technical-infrastructural factors, such as improving access to roads and infrastructure and means of transportation. Individual-motivational factors, such as the motivation and interest of the beneficiaries to set up SAIs and the desire of family members to participate. Social factors such as the possibility of attracting women and girls to participate in SAIs, and economic factors such as existing demand for products of SAIs. These factors have a great impact on the development of SAIs in Dorud county

Analyzing the Water, Energy and Food Nexus Mechanisms in Small-Scale Farming Exploitation Units of Hamedan Province

The occurrence of natural hazards is always associated with severe damage in the agricultural sector, especially in small-scale farming exploitation units. One of the approaches to deal with these damages is to use the approach of water-energy-food (WEF) nexus in the management decisions of these units. Therefore, the present research was carried out with the aim of analyzing the mechanisms of linking water, energy and food in small-scale farming exploitation units in Hamadan province. The statistical sample of the research was 300 active farmers in small-scale farming exploitation units (below 10 hectares) which were determined by the rule of Cochran formula and sampling was done by cluster method. The main research tool was a researcher-made questionnaire, the content validity of which was confirmed by a panel of agricultural experts and faculty members of the Department of Agricultural Development and Management at the University of Tehran. In addition, the reliability of research’s tool was confirmed through internal consistency procedure calculating Cronbach's alpha and CR (Cumulative Reliability) coefficients (Both above 0.7). Data analysis was carried out using SPSSwin25 and SMART PLS 3 software. The results showed that the overall nexus of water-energy and food from the six dual mechanisms of WEF the Energy or Food has received a more significant effect. According to the findings of the research, in order to strengthen the nexus approach of these vital resources, measures such as providing and introducing coherent and multilateral investment packages; providing training to farmers regarding synergy and unbreakable link of three sources in farm management and paying attention to this approach at different levels of the management system, from policy making and planning are suggested for field-level farm management decisions.

PPAR-γ Ligands Repress TGFβ-Induced Myofibroblast Differentiation by Targeting the PI3K/Akt Pathway: Implications for Therapy of Fibrosis

Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) induced differentiation of human lung fibroblasts to myofibroblasts is a key event in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. Although the typical TGFβ signaling pathway involves the Smad family of transcription factors, we have previously reported that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) ligands inhibit TGFβ-mediated differentiation of human lung fibroblasts to myofibroblasts via a Smad-independent pathway. TGFβ also activates the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathway leading to phosphorylation of AktS473. Here, we report that PPAR-γ ligands, 2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9-dien-28-oic acid (CDDO) and 15-deoxy-(12,14)-15d-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2), inhibit human myofibroblast differentiation of normal and idiopathic pulmonary fibrotic (IPF) fibroblasts, by blocking Akt phosphorylation at Ser473 by a PPAR-γ-independent mechanism. The PI3K inhibitor LY294002 and a dominant-negative inactive kinase-domain mutant of Akt both inhibited TGFβ-stimulated myofibroblast differentiation, as determined by Western blotting for α-smooth muscle actin and calponin. Prostaglandin A1 (PGA1), a structural analogue of 15d-PGJ2 with an electrophilic center, also reduced TGFβ-driven phosphorylation of Akt, while CAY10410, another analogue that lacks an electrophilic center, did not; implying that the activity of 15d-PGJ2 and CDDO is dependent on their electrophilic properties. PPAR-γ ligands inhibited TGFβ-induced Akt phosphorylation via both post-translational and post-transcriptional mechanisms. This inhibition is independent of MAPK-p38 and PTEN but is dependent on TGFβ-induced phosphorylation of FAK, a kinase that acts upstream of Akt. Thus, PPAR-γ ligands inhibit TGFβ signaling by affecting two pro-survival pathways that culminate in myofibroblast differentiation. Further studies of PPAR-γ ligands and small electrophilic molecules may lead to a new generation of anti-fibrotic therapeutics

Analysis of Spatial Effects of Urban Tourism Attractions on Mashhad Tourism Services

In recent decades, urban tourism has led to various spatial evolutions in the holy city of Mashhad. Excessive concentration of key actors of Mashhad urban tourism on the potential of religious tourism caused to the lack of optimal attention to the potential of other types of urban tourism. It is tried in this research with a descriptive approach, to study spatial effects of urban tourism attractions on Mashhad tourism services. For this purpose, the spatial data of the Mashhad urban database has been used. The results of this study indicate the significant spatial effects of Razavi Shrine on the spatial distribution of tourism services studied in this study. Compared to the Razavi Shrine, other tourist attractions have had a different effect on the spatial distribution of urban tourism services in Mashhad