---

Different layers of acorn (Quercus infectoria), hull, seed coat and seed kernel were analyzed for determination of chemical composition. The results of the preliminary analysis showed that acorn contained more than 65% carbohydrates, 8% lipid and 10% tannin among other constituents. The fatty acid composition of the seed oil was determined using thin layer chromatography and comparing with standards. The results showed the presence of both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Saturated fatty acid: are C14:0, C16:0, C18:0, and C20:0. Unsaturated fatty acid: C18: 1 and C18: 2. Total saturated fatty acids represented 20% and unsaturated fatty acids contributed 80% to acorn fat content.

---

---

An undesirable failure mode of a reinforced concrete beam is shear mode. Low tensile strength of conventional concrete and brittle crushing due to shear failure in reinforced concrete beams can be improved by adding adequate percentage of steel fibers. The combination of high and low elasticity fibers is capable of arresting macro- and micro-cracks. In fact, the bridging action of fibers on crack faces causes a strong limitation on opening of the crack. This phenomenon improves the aggregate interlock on the crack faces which results in increasing the shear strength of the cracked section. In order to accurately study the pull-out characteristics of crimped-steel fibers with end hook and to compare the results with the behavior of hooked steel fibers and crimped steel fibers alone, an experimental study was conducted. Pull-out load versus slip was thoroughly investigated in 25 specimens and parameters such as maximum pull-out force and its associated slip were taken into account for comparison purposes. The results indicated that the crimped-steel fibers with end hook have better performance in pull out test. In fact, the post-peak behavior of this type of fiber shows a slight drop in carried load. This increases the area under the load-displacement curve in comparison with the others. It can be predicted that cementitious composites reinforced with crimped-steel fibers with end hook would be more ductile than those reinforced with other fibers. In addition, the effect of modified polymer fibers along with different amounts of crimped end hook steel fibers on the mechanical properties of conventional concrete such as compressive strength and indirect tensile strength was studied. The modified polymer fibers were added into the mixes for arresting micro-cracks. 45 specimens were made in 5 groups and the volume fraction of polypropylene fiber was kept constant (0.25%). The volume fraction of steel fibers were selected in three ranges of 0.5%, 0.75%, 1.0%. Also a mix was cast without any fibers to be used for comparison purposes. The results of this study showed that by adding 0.25% polypropylene fibers and 1.00% crimped end hook steel fibers, 27.5% and 66.7% increase in compressive strength and indirect tensile strength are observed compared to conventional concrete. In all cases, by adding steel fibers with polypropylene fiber in the mentioned percentages, the fibers can show desirable performance in post-cracking behavior. Finally, the criteria of ACI 318-2011 for using this fiber reinforced concrete (without shear reinforcement) as the minimum shear reinforcement was investigated. The test is based on ASTM C1609 and it is applicable to the sections of a beam when the applied shear is less than the concrete strength from one hand but, on the other hand, it is greater than the half of that. It was found that this requirements is met in all proposed fiber reinforced concretes. It can be concluded that in such sections the cementitious composites studied in this paper can be utilized without accompanying any stirrups. In fact, the ductility required by ACI 318-2011 in this area can be provided with steel fibers, rather than stirrups.

---

The main purpose of this study was to identify strategies for adapting agricultural cooperatives to learning organization. Agricultural cooperatives are business organizations that fully examine all the economic, democratic and social dimensions of poverty reduction in rural areas simultaneously. This research is an exploratory research that was conducted in two parts: qualitative and quantitative. In the qualitative section, by holding several meetings with experts and through the method of brainstorming, the opportunities, threats, strengths and weaknesses for the adapting of the agricultural cooperative organization to learning organization were identified. Then, using the SWOT model, strategies and action plan were identified for adapting the cooperative organization to the learning organization. Also, in the quantitative part of the research that was conducted among the members of the cooperatives, through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the role of the identified strategies was evaluated and the designed model was approved. Based on the results, the predictive positive effect of identified strategies include: SO₁ (β= 0.73, t-Value= 4.23, P< 0.001), SO₂ (β= 0.79, t-Value=4.71, P< 0.001), SO₃ (β= 0.81, t-Value=5.08, P< 0.001) and SO₄ (β= 0.82, t-Value= 4.97, P< 0.001) on Adapting Cooperatives to the Learning Organization (ACLO). The findings showed that (R²= 0.69) the identified strategies determined 69% of the variance in the ACLO.

---

The purpose of this study was to identify determinants of Eco-Innovations (EI) in agricultural production cooperatives in Iran. Qualitative and quantitative methods were applied to the research. The qualitative section included semi-structured interviews, face-to-face interviews, and brainstorming sessions, and the quantitative section included descriptive statistical and spatial and Bayesian probit models to estimate the model of research. SPSS and MATLAB software was used in this study. SPSS software was used to describe the variables, explain the types of EIs and their effects and comparison of adopters and non- adopters, and MATLAB software was used for the estimation of the model. The data of 300 members of agricultural production cooperatives in Khouzestan Province, Iran, were collected based on random sampling, in 2020 summer. The research examined the different types of EIs. For comparison of adopter and non-adopter characteristics, a t-test and Mann-Whitney test (MW) were used. The results of the t-test showed that there was a significant difference between age, income, crop yield, and farm size for adopters and non-adopters of EI. The Mann Whitney U test (MW) showed significant difference between farmers’ education level, EI awareness, attitude toward EI, EI knowledge, willingness to creativity, being risk oriented, and access to information of adopters and non-adopters of EI. Based on the results obtained from the spatial models, with a probability of 99%, both models were significant. Based on the results of the estimation of spatial models, the independent variables and the spatial autoregressive coefficient had significant role on adoption of EI. For practical implications, it can be said that cooperative members, when adopting the EIs, can use the proposed model that is appropriate to their field of work. This study conducted a critical review before specifically recommending how cooperatives become eco-innovators.