We conducted this study in the Agogo Traditional Area of the Ashanti region of Ghana where there are numerous cases of conflicts between crop and animal farmers as a result of insufficient pasture for livestock, especially during the dry seasons. This has drawn the attention of various stakeholders in agriculture to the need for supplement feed through pasture establishment. The study examines farmers’ perception and the financial viability of pasture establishment for small ruminant production. The specific objectives of the study are as follow: to identify the cost and returns for the establishment of an acre of pasture, to assess the financial viability of pasture establishment on ‘cut and sell’ basis, to investigate farmers’ perception of pasture establishment for cattle production, to conduct a SWOT analysis of the establishment of pasture in Agogo. The study purports to analyze in detail, farmers' perceptions about the nature of the proposed 'Fodder Bank' policy and its likely effect on crop and livestock production, and whether the proposed policy could generate adequate monetary returns to induce its adoption at the farm level. The study seeks to provide evidence in support of SDG goals 2 (Zero hunger) and 12 (Responsible consumption and production) of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. To the authors' best of knowledge, this is envisage to provide valuable information to support policy initiatives intended to tackle the root cause of farmer-herder conflicts. The Asante Akim North Municipal is one of the 27 administrative Districts in the Ashanti Region. Its capital is Konongo- Odumasi. The population for this study comprises livestock and crop farmers in Agogo. Asante Akim North Municipal was purposively selected for the study because it is noted for its agrarian abilities and massive production of food in the Ashanti region. The multi stage sampling was employed in this study. At the first stage, Asante Agogo traditional area was selected purposively due to the fact that majority of the inhabitants engage in agricultural activities (GSS 2010). At the second stage, three communities in Agogo namely, Hwidiem, Ananekrom and Bebuso were selected purposively. At the third stage, quota sampling was used to obtain a specific number of farmers from each of the three communities to sum up to 150 respondents as shown in table. Simple random sampling technique was then used to engage the selected farmers in these communities. A sample size of 150 respondents were obtained using the Slovin’s formulae which is a scientific method of obtaining the sample size for a given population. Structured questionnaires consisting of open and close ended questions were used to gather primary data from respondents through face-to-face interviews. Interviews were conducted using the local dialect mostly to enhance communication and to clear all language barriers but English was used where the respondents could give accurate answers in English Language. Data per the questionnaires from respondents were concerning their perception of pasture establishment and the assessment of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of pasture establishment. Secondary data was sought from books, journals, dissertations and the internet. Useful and relevant information on the appropriate materials and their costs for establishing pasture was also obtained from the Agogo MoFA office, and the KNUST Department of Animal Science. Descriptive statistics such as percentages, tables and means were used to analyze the socio-economic characteristics of respondents. It was revealed in the study that majority of crop farmers have had their crops destroyed by ruminants especially cattle at least once. Additionally, the study showed that pasture establishment is one way through which crop farms destruction by livestock can be prevented as about 99% of farmers responded in the affirmative. The results for the financial viability of the venture under the assumptions used gave relevant results with BCR of 1.18 and NPV of GHC 3,160. The Internal Rate Return of the venture is estimated at 40.1% and a Pay Back period of 2.61 years. Therefore, it will be economically prudent for investors to commit resources towards establishing pasture. The perception index for commercial, economic and financial concerns of pasture establishment was 3.7 which is skewed toward agree. The statement that had the highest positive perception index was about the fact that pasture establishment will increase the quality of meat. This implies that respondents perceive that the commercial, economic and financial results of pasture establishment will be positive. The perception index for the social category was 3.66. The statement with the highest positive assertion by respondents is the fact that pasture establishment will help control the movement of animals. The perception index of 3.66 which is skewed towards agree means that pasture establishment will attract the support from the community and also bring more benefits to the society. In the category of technical concerns of pasture establishment, the overall perception index for this category is 3.15, which means that the respondents perceive they have a fair technical know- how concerning pasture establishment even though the venture requires technical know-how. In the category of institutional concerns, support and involvement in pasture establishment, the statement with the highest perception index is that MoFA will support farmers with the necessary resources in its capacity. With reference to the chi-square test, the study can conclude that there is a significant relationship between the type of farmer and the perception that support can be drawn from farmer-based associations, and the perception that pasture establishment will increase livestock production as well as the general sales of farmers. Lastly, the study revealed that there is a significant relationship between the educational background of the farmer and the perception that it is not difficult to select planting materials for pasture establishment. Farmers in Asante Akim Agogo should adopt the establishment of pasture since it is financially viable. The establishment of pasture in Asante Akim Agogo should be encouraged since it has the potency to reduce the farmer - herder conflicts and ensure food security. For successful pasture establishment, technical know-how is essential.

Lack of cultivation of some Apiaceae family plants caused damage and uncontrolled exploitation of pastures and severe fluctuations in these plant markets. Therefore, efforts are essential to study the domestication of these species. For germination enhancement of three species including Dorema aucheri Boiss., Echinophora cinerea (Boiss. ) Hedge & Lamond and Ferulag oangulata (Schlescht. ) Boiss., six experiments in laboratory and greenhouse conditions were designed and performed during 2017-2018. At first, a completely randomized design factorial experiment with two factors (the first factor including 13 treatments consisted of stratification, soaking in GA3 or KNO3 and the second factor including stratification temperature consisted of 5, 10 and 15°, C) was executed. In the second experiment, seedlings establishment was investigated in the different substrates. The results indicated that different treatments such as chilling, GA3, KNO3, and their integration had a low effect on Dorema aucheri seed germination. The effect of stratification at 4°, C for 45 days on Echinophora cinerea (97. 8%) and at 15°, C for 45 days on Ferulago angulata (97. 8%) was so clear on germination factors. The use of different growth media showed that studied species require relatively light medium and moisture during and after germination. Accordingly, mixed soil and cocopeat with 1: 1 was the best substrate. It should be noted that the suitable medium for the primary growth of seeds was very similar to their natural habitats.

The aim of the study was to examine the effect of one-year old olive seedlings (O. europaea L.) grown in pots under compacted soil and water deficiency conditions, on its subsequent survival and growth at field and rainfed circumstances. Compacted soil usually restricts seedlings root development, particularly in pots. The hypothesis was that the restricted and stressed roots might penetrate the soil layers deeply and widely after plantation at field condition. This means more availability of water and nutrition to olive seedlings and successful plantation at rainfed circumstances. The trial was conducted at two stages, including invivo and in situ in the Iranian National Botanical Garden at Tehran in 2002. Overall, 36 polyethylene sewerage pipes were used as pots (65 and 10 cm height and diameter, respectively) in the in vivo stage. The stress treatments were two levels of soil compaction (bulk densities of 1.3 [low] and 1.6 [high] g/cm3) and two irrigation period intervals (three [wet] and six [dry] days). The pots were grouped to two level sections and each section was filled with one of the levels of the compacted soil (sandy clay loam) up to 50 cm height. The seed propagated seedlings were transferred into the 36 pots and the two irrigation treatments were applied to the pots at each compaction level, separately under glasshouse condition.Before transplanting the seedlings into the designed site in March 2003, the soil was tilled deeply at two directions by tractor. The planting holes were dug at 3 by 3 m. spacing system, using a tractor drill. The site soil type was sandy with more than 50% gravel content. The experimental design was Factorial under completely randomized blocks with two factors (compaction and irrigation preplanting treatments), two levels and three replicates. There were three seedlings in each plot. The effects of the treatments on seven shoot and root parameters were measured. The seedlings were harvested on January 2004. Except after transplanting, the seedlings have not been irrigated during the trial. The results show that the seedlings survived successfully (100%) during the growth period, particularly under high drought stress, but without significant differences between the preplanting treatments. Irrigation and compaction did not have significant effects on shoot and root growth parameters, whereas their interactions had significant effects (p<0.05) on only four seedling growth parameters, including shoot height and dry weight, leaf dry weight and root/shoot ratio. The greatest mean of shoot height and leaf dry weight belonged to seedlings pretreated with high levels of compaction and water stress. The highest mean of shoot dry weight achieved in seedlings pretreated with high level of water stress and low level of compaction or high level of compaction and low level of water stress (20.7 and 19.76 g, respectively). The greatest mean of root/shoot ratio belonged to seedlings pretreated with high level of water stress and soil compaction (0.84). It could be concluded that although both the compaction and drought preplanting stresses did not significantly influence survival, but they significantly affected shoot and root growth parameters. Therefore, the results can be applied for most of the semi-arid zones, using preplanting deep tillage method at two directions and after planting mulch cover for soil surface.

Background: Human fibroblasts are the part of the dermis that secrete extracellular matrix for the purpose of tissue repair. Culturing fibroblasts, which leads to formation of a monolayer of these cells, is used for treating various conditions including thermal burns and other skin defects such as diabetic and varicose vein leg ulcers. Therefore, we aimed at developing a fibroblast bank to accomplish multiple goals including skin repair in defects such as burns and ulcers and also performing various research projects on these cells in order to further study of the mechanisms involved in wound healing, rejuvenation and medication effects.Method: We initially developed primary cultures of skin fibroblasts in a DMEM medium. These primary cultures were formed by washing and trypsinizing foreskin specimens followed by separation of epidermis from dermis and cutting the dermis into small pieces. In about 10 days, a monolayer of fibroblasts was formed. Result: We were able to develop the fibroblast bank successfully and to initiate other projects utilizing this bank.Conclusions: With these cultured cells, we would be able to perform different research projects including studying the mechanisms of wound healing, rejuvenation, drug affects, inflammatory mediators, growth factors, etc. Moreover, further progress in this field will result in our independence from requesting these cells from external sources.

Since the use of insect cell lines for producing bio-pesticides and recombinant proteins is increasing, the establishment of new cell lines will help to enrich this industry. Therefore, several primary cultures were initiated from embryonic tissues of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. using both enzymatic and mechanical methods. The cultures were incubated in TC-100 medium supplemented with 10 and 20% concentrations of fetal bovine serum (FBS) at 27ºC. Among the methods used, homogenizing the embryonic tissue represented the best culture, which reached the confluence state sooner. Six different morphologies were distinguished in the embryonic primary cultures of silkworm including fibroblast-like cells with three sub-forms of A to C, spindle shaped cells, spherical cells and epithelial-like cells. Also, developing primary cultures from B. mori using enzymatic method is not recommended because of its low efficiency.

Introduction: Improving the rate of germination and crop growth at the early growing stagescan reduce weed damage via increasing crop competitiveness. Trifluralin is a pre emergence herbicide that is incorporated with soil to prevent weed emergence and seedling growth. It inhibit microtubule assembly in cells. Seed priming cause to initiate the repairing system for membrane and the metabolic preparation for germination through controlling water absorption rate of seed. As a result, the germination capability and resistance to unfavorable conditions of seed can be promoted obviously using seed priming. Ultrasound is defined as acoustic waves at frequencies greater than 20 kHz that can be an effective method to improve germination and growth characteristics of plants. There is no knowledge about the effect of ultrasonic waves and seed priming on the emergence and growth of cowpea (Vigna sinensis) under soil application of trifluralin. So the objective of this research was to study the effect of ultrasonic waves and seed priming on the emergence and growth of cowpea under soil application of trifluralin.Materials and methods: Field experiment was conducted at the research field of Shahrood University (latitude of 36° 25 ' N and longitude of 54° 57' E with an elevation of 1345 m) as randomized complete block design with four replications in during the growing season of 2014-2015. The field soil was silty clay loam in texture, having pH 7.8, EC 3.9 ds m-1, 0.75% of organic carbon, 0.04% N 6.4 and 320 ppm of available P and K.Nine treatments were 1- control, 2- recommended herbicide dose (trifluralin 2 L ha-1), 3- reduced herbicide dose (trifluralin 1 L ha-1), 4- ultrasonic waves (ultrasound), 5- ultrasonic waves+reduced herbicide dose, 6- ultrasonic waves+recommended herbicide dose, 7- hydro-priming, 8- hydro-priming+reduced herbicide dose and 9-hydro-priming+recommended herbicide dose. For hydro-priming treatment, the seeds were treated with water before sowing for 7 h. About ultrasonic treatment, the seeds before sonication (for 6 minutes) treated with water for 7 h. Trifluralin (Treflan, EC48%) applied in recommended dose (2 L ha-1) and reduced herbicide dose (1 L ha-1) as immediate mixed with soil before planting. The plots were 24 m2 with 4 sowing rows and 6 m long.Seeds were placed at 3 to 5 cm depth in each row at during the second week of June in 2014. Number of emerged seedlings in two middle rows of were daily counted until seedling establishment became stable.Emergence percentage and rate of cowpea were calculated. Sampling was done at 55 days after planting. All samples were transferred to the laboratory, leaves and stem were separated, dried into oven at 70 oC for 72 h and weighted. Chlorophyll content, relative water content, leaf and shoot dry weight and plant height of cowpea were measured for all treatment The second experiment was conducted at the greenhouse as randomized complete block design with four replications in 2014. The treatments were exactly similar to the field experiment. Germinated seeds were recorded every 24 h for 16 days. Then, the plants were removed from each pot and transferred to the laboratory.Root, leaves and stem were separated and afterwards all samples were dried into oven at 70 ºC for 48 h and weighted. Seedling vigor index, chlorophyll content, shoot and root length, weight of root, leaf and shoot, number of leaf and leaf area index were measured for all treatment. Chlorophyll content was estimated using chlorophyll meter (SPAD-502, Konika-Minolta Co). Statistical analyses of data were performed with statistical software MSTATC. Significant differences between means refer to the probability level of 0.05 by LSD test.Results and discussion: The results showed that the ultrasonic treatment increased the dry weight of stem and leaves by 25.27 and 29.58 % as compared with the control treatment respectively. Mirshekari et al. (34) reported that when seeds were primed with ultrasonic irradiation for 5 min, seedling dry weight and leaf chlorophyll content of yarrow increased by 70% and 33.6% than control respectively. Marghaeizadeh et al. (33) reported that application ultrasonic waves increased the chlorophyll content ofCarum copticum (L.) C. B. Clarke in comparison to control. Our results suggested that at both experiments the combined use of ultrasonic waves+ reduced herbicide dose decreased the percentage and rate of emergence significantly in comparison to herbicideapplication alone. The application of ultrasonic waves+reduced herbicide dose led to a reduction in the percentage and rate of emergence by 64.83 and 68.13% in comparison to reduced herbicide application alone, respectively. Also the combined use of priming+reduced herbicide dose decreased the percentage and rate of emergence by 50.4 and 53.8 % in comparison to reduced herbicide application alone respectively. The major effects of dinitroanaline herbicides are on plant root growth, which they stop by interfering with mitosis and preventing normal cell division and cell wall formation (38, 35). It seems that hydro priming technique and ultrasonic irradiation with improving seed germination and seedling early growth under soil-incorporated trifluralin herbicide can led to more and faster absorption of herbicide by seedling and more damage to them than control.Conclusion: Our results showed the ultrasonic waves and priming accelerates the seed germination and root length and ultimately resulted in improving biomass and growth of cowpea seedling. Also data presented in this research suggested that pre-treated of cowpea seeds with ultrasonic waves and hydro priming can reduce some plant parameters like percentage and emergence rate of seeds, shoots dry weight, leaf area index and etc. in soil treated with trifluralin herbicide.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of provenance of Persian oak species on its acorn morphological traits and growth and survival parameters in different latitudes of Zagros region. Mother trees of three sites from northern (Baneh), central (Khoram-Abad) and southern (Yasuj) Zagros region were selected and their acorns planted as a completely randomized design in common garden in Yasuj. Acorn morphological traits and growth parameters of seedlings like height, collar diameter, number of leaves and volume in June and September and survival of seedlings were measured. Analyse of variance showed that all acorn morphological traits except acorn diameter at first one of 0.1 height and number of acorn per kg had difference significant. High latitudes provenance had highest value of width, navel diameter and acorn volume and lowest value of length, length to width ratio. Growth and survival traits of seedlings from three provenances were significantly different so that seedlings originated from Baneh were showed highest value growth and survival traits. Results of correlation showed that width, navel diameter and acorn volume were positively and length, length to width ratio and number of acorn per kg were negatively correlated with latitude and growth traits of seedlings. The highest amount of vitality was belongs to seedlings of southern Zagros. Results of cluster analysis also showed that seedlings germinated from mother trees of Baneh and wide navel diameter of acorn had better primary establishment in Yasuj.

Distributed leadership moves beyond the philosophy that leadership is generated solely by the role and position of the principal and instead frames leadership as a practice that involves an array of individuals whose dynamic interactions mobilize and guide teachers in the process of instructional change. Spillane (2001, 2005, 2007) developed a distributed perspective on leadership that shifted the focus from the gallant actions of the school principal to the results of the combined interactions of school leaders, followers, and their use of artifacts in various situations. The purpose of this study was to examine the distributed leadership practices of principals in primary schools from the viewpoint of their teachers and to identify the conditions for the establishment of distributed leadership in these schools in Mashhad, Iran. The survey method was conducted on all the primary school teachers in the third districts of Mashhad and Tabadkan. In total, 335 teachers were selected as the sample population using Morgan's table. Data were collected using Spillane 's scale and interview. In the conceptual framework proposed by Spillane (2002), the four dimensions of distributed leadership include mission, culture, shared responsibility, and leadership experiences. In terms of mission, vision, and goals, special emphasis is placed on the knowledge of all school members about the school's goals, which examines the current status of distributed leadership in schools indicating the above-average average of this variable in our schools. Based on the results of this study, the mean of distributed leadership was 3. 683. it seems distributed leadership is a complex phenomenon with teachers engaged in all four dimensions in the primary schools. Accordingly, distributive leadership status in the primary schools was above the average level. As a result of comparing the current and desirable status, there was a significant difference between the current situation and the desirable status of distributed leadership in the schools studied. The main gap between the status quo and the desirable component of participatory decision making seems to be that in the schools studied to track students' educational needs, there is usually no regular meeting with counselors or educational professionals and no attention is paid to students with needs. moreover, it seems that teacher evaluation results are used less to evaluate school curricula and teacher's useless feedback and evaluation results and manager observations to improve classroom instruction. Based on the findings of this study, it seems that the approach of the studied schools has been inclined towards distributive leadership, especially in the last five years, also the school principals, have tried to recognize the goals particularly in the field of mission, attitude, and goals of the school. However, as it was stated earlier to inform all members about the goals and to involve the members in the implementation of the goals and also to align the goals of the school with the educational goals, more work is needed, which shows the gap between the current situation and the desired one. According to the interview data, the establishment of distributed leadership in primary schools requires the incorporation of concepts such as vision and goal setting, organization, optimism culture, enabler structure, and student-centered. Studies in Iran so far have not looked at school prospects and organizations as components of distributed leadership, but there has been some research into the culture of optimism and its underlying components such as self-efficacy and academic achievement as well as professional empowerment. In sum, this study revealed the acceptable attention to organizing people in appropriate situations to share school responsibilities and complete tasks by individuals, also to expand and develop leadership capabilities and publish leadership tasks among individuals in the school social network and the spread of school culture. As a growing body of research on distributed leadership has begun to influence of this leadership style on school performance and student learning. For example, the results of Abbasian et al. (2012), Gholami et al. (2014), Mohammadi (2011), Nasiri et al. (1395), Arianfar et al. (9013) studies, in line with the results of this study, confirmed that the distributed leadership status in primary schools especially in Iran. It is slightly above average in schools. However, Spielan (2005), Groen (2002), Bennett (203), and Ilzofeng (2001) emphasized on the school landscape component. In the school organization component, the status of the schools under study was reported to be above average. In the school organization, the focus is on knowledge, education, and learning in the context of school culture. The results of this study showed a moderate focus on organizing people in the right situations to share school responsibilities and completing tasks by individuals and expanding and developing. Leadership capabilities and dissemination of leadership tasks among individuals in the school social network and the prevalence of school culture. Consideration of the component of individual organization based on leadership tasks has also been emphasized in the studies of Harris (2008); Lewis et al. (2009); Woodsograwen (2009); Woods et al. (2004); Bennett et al. (2003). Participatory decision making also had a higher-than-average mean in this research, a point that scholars such as Lewis, Mayrowitz, Smiley, and Murphy, Van Amijd, Bilesbury, and Van Morsi, (2009); Timberley, 2008; Mayrowitz et al., (2007), They have emphasized it. In this study, leadership behaviors were above average, a topic that has been mentioned in Spillane’ s theory of leadership experiences that includes leadership tools, thoughts, and intentions. These results were consistent with the findings of scholars (e. g., Lewis; Leitz Wood & Growan 2000; Storm, Wall, 2004; Bush; Gluner, 2003). This study supports the creation of conditionss for principals and teacher teams to attend professional development that allows them to work alongside one another to improve the leadership practices in their schools. Traditional approaches to professional development are designed so that principals and teachers attend professional development school performance. opportunities separately and often unrelated to one another. Thus, principal preparation programs must create courses that incorporate complex and multidimensional activities to develop their capacity to identify the strengths of their teachers, provide opportunities for teachers to take on leadership roles in their areas of interest or expertise, and guide and direct the teachers to utilize material and cultural artifacts in order to improve.