---

Today, the extraction and use of biologically active compounds from agricultural and food wastes has received much attention. In the present research, the effect of enzyme treatment, ultrasound and the combined effect of enzyme treatment and ultrasound on the extraction of phenolic compounds of sour grape wastes was done so that 2 pectinase enzymes (Pectinex Ultracolor and Pectinex Yildamesh) at levels of 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg and ultrasound (times 10, 25 and 40 minutes) and (sound intensity 30, 60 and 90%) were used. The effect of enzyme treatment, ultrasound and the combined effect of enzyme treatment and ultrasound were investigated. According to the obtained results, the highest extraction efficiency belonged to Yaldemesh enzyme and with increasing sound intensity, the extraction efficiency increased significantly. On the other hand, increasing the extraction time led to an increase in extraction efficiency (p≤0.01). So that the highest extraction efficiency was observed in the sample extracted by Yaldemesh enzyme and under ultrasound at 90% sound intensity for 40 minutes (p≤0.01). According to the obtained results, the highest flavonoid, total phenol and antioxidant activity (DPPH, FRAP, ABTS) belonged to Yaldemesh enzyme, and with increasing sound intensity, antioxidant activity increased significantly (p≤0.01). On the other hand, increasing the extraction time led to a significant increase in antioxidant activity (p≤0.01). The highest antioxidant activity belonged to the sample extracted by Yaldemesh enzyme and subjected to ultrasound at a ultrasound intensity of 90% for 40 minutes and was introduced as the best treatment.

 

---

Native starches have limited use in the food industry owing to their insolubility in cold water and lack of reactivity. Native starches are susceptible to chemical, physical, and enzymatic modification. This article examines cold plasma as one of the physical mechanisms of starch modification. The structure of each system is analyzed, and the effects of cold plasma at atmospheric pressure on the functional, thermal, molecular, morphological, and physicochemical aspects of various starches researched by different researchers are described. Changes in the characteristics of DBD plasma-modified starch are primarily caused by the depolymerization and cross-linking of amylose and amylopectin side chains. The molecular weight, viscosity, and gelatinization temperature decrease after DBD plasma treatment. The plasma etching of starch granules improves their surface energy and hydrophilicity. Cold plasma is an alternate approach for changing starch characteristics; it may be inferred.

---

Fig and grape have a high position in job creation and foreign exchange earnings for Iran. Moreover, these two products also have the same international position in terms of production and exports. This study has examined and compared price discrimination in the two markets of fig and grape exports using Exchange Rate Pass-Through and Pricing To Market (PTM) behavior approaches. The econometric analysis using the Panel-Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE) model showed that fig exporters had the ability to discriminate prices in the Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Sweden, and Russia. Furthermore, fig and grape have an equal position in terms of production and exports, but the power of exporters are more in the fig export market and have better conditions for applying price discrimination. Therefore, it is recommended that the principled export of agricultural products be adopted according to global consumer demand by identifying target markets. The results of the analysis of the asymmetric effects of exchange rates on fig's exports illustrate that these effects are symmetrical in the market of all countries; however, it is asymmetrical in exporting grapes to Singapore, Sweden, and Saudi Arabia.
 

---

Dairy factories produce high volume of sludge from bactofuge and separator. Meantime, global demand for the proteases is increasing. Recently, utilization and conversion of the waste materials into value added product is a sustainable process. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of bactofuge and separator sludge to produce alkaline protease enzymes. Total viable aerobic and anaerobic counts were determined on Plate Count Agar at 37 and 50^ºC for both types of sludge. Lactobacillus count in MRS Agar plates corresponded to 3.12±0.25 log CFU mL^-1 for sludge of bactofuge and 3.085±0.2 log CFU mL^-1 for sludge of separator. Mold and yeast had population levels of 2.3±0.1 log CFU mL^-1 for bactofuge and 2.08±0.1 log CFU mL^-1 for separator. Proteolytic bacteria were isolated from dairy sludge using Skim Milk Agar media. A clear zone of Skim Milk hydrolysis indicated protease-producing organisms. Different cultural parameters (temperature, pH, thermal shock, and kind of sludge) were optimized for maximal enzyme production. Maximum proteolytic activity was observed at 37^◦C (P< 0.05). Isolated alkaline protease producing Bacilli were identified by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The species were identified as Bacillus cereus strain zk2, Bacillus sp. cp-h71, Bacillus thuringiensis strain ILBB224, and Bacillus sp. Bac6D₂.
 

---

Electronic commerce (E-commerce) is a contemporary concept with huge potential that is fundamentally changing how business is done. This paper describes robust E-commerce strategies for trading agricultural goods and services. The purpose of this study was to enhance the efficiency of E-commerce in the export of agricultural commodities. Since the SWOT method is a key tool used by businesses to formulate strategic plans, this study conducted a SWOT analysis of E‐commerce to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats faced by E‐commerce in current scenarios. A random sampling method was used to select the statistical population, which was composed of 96 experts from the Ministry of Agriculture. Seventy-five questionnaires were distributed to the experts (N= 75) using Morgan and Krejsi's table, of which 59 questionnaires were filled (n= 59). The questionnaire consisted of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to E-commerce development and it was prepared using the Delphi technique. The important results of SWOT analysis constituted a framework to help planners and managers realize their goals and enhance the export of agricultural commodities. The resulting SWOT matrix analysis was located in the area of WO (conservative strategy). Accordingly, it is recommended that for proper exploitation of environmental opportunities, organizational weaknesses should be taken into account. Some important strategies suggested based on this study are enforcing laws and providing effective incentives to reduce production costs relative to global prices as well as creating innovation in the export process using E-commerce.
 

---

Cheap compounds and wastes of various industries have a set of nutritious compounds that can be used as a culture medium for different strains to produce metabolites with high nutritional value and expensive. Pigment production from microbial source is of interest because it is safe for human health. In this study, with the aim of producing red pigment from the mold Monascus purpureus, firstly, the effect of culture medium factors, potato dextrose broth, yeast extract-sucrose, dairy sludge, soybean meal, sugar cane molasses, whey, temperature, glucose, monosodium glutamate and ammonium sulfate on production biomass (a measure of pigment production) was evaluated through Plackett-Burman design. Then the factors were optimized based on the central square design. Based on the obtained results, dairy sludge base culture medium, glucose, monosodium glutamate and temperature had a positive effect on growth and biomass production (pigment production). With optimization, biomass production in 10% dairy sludge, 0.999% monosodium glutamate, 27°C temperature and 9.83% glucose were obtained with the production of 26.15 g/l of biomass as the optimal state. The results show the capability of dairy sludge waste in the growth of microbial strains and production of significant products.
 

---

The self-sufficiency policy for wheat production in Iran has increased external costs for the country besides causing the destruction of water and land resources. Nevertheless, due to various political, economic, and socio-economic reasons, self-sufficiency in wheat production in Iran is a binding policy. According to statistics, an average of about 67 percent of wheat production across the different regions of Iran is irrigated wheat. Thus, in this study, the effect of a guaranteed price policy on the distribution of irrigated wheat land-use in Iran during the period 2001–2016 was evaluated with an emphasis on the role of the regional differences using the pooled mean group approach. The results indicated that, in the long run, the increase in the irrigated wheat land use in the country would be sensitive toward the increase in the guaranteed price of wheat and the yield per hectare. However, with the rise in the price of barley, in the long run, the irrigated wheat land use would decrease further. In addition, in the short run, the increase in the irrigated wheat land use in most of the western provinces is sensitive to the increase in the yield per hectare, and in most of the central provinces, it is sensitive to the changes in the barley prices. Finally, in order to have adequate land for irrigated wheat in the country, both in the short and long run, it is proposed that the farmers' expectations regarding the guaranteed price policy and improvement in the yield per hectare of this product be satisfied.
 

---

Paenibacillus polymyxa is one of the microorganisms that has the ability to produce extracellular exopolysaccharides and antibiotics. Several factors, including culture medium content, carbon and nitrogen sources, pH, temperature, air velocity, and culture conditions, have an effect on the growth and production of higher cell mass, as well as the production of microbial metabolites. The purpose of this study was to investigate the growth rate of P. polymyxa in a culture medium containing molasses and to screen five components of the culture medium along with four factors of the fermentation conditions using the Plackett -Burman method to maximize cell mass production. The results showed that among the investigated variables, molasses brix, time, percentage of inoculation, amount of ammonium sulfate, stirring speed, and the amount of glucose and urea, as a first-order equatino, had a significant positive effect on bacterial growth and biomass production. Molasses brix medium was found to be more effective than other variables; however, pH and the amount of low-use elements had a negative effect on cell growth. The findings of this study indicated that molasses-based culture medium can be used as a cost-effective and suitable option for the growth of P. polymyxa.

 

---

Entrepreneurial learning as one of the most important learning skills among students of different academic disciplines needs a more detailed study in online-learning environment. Since online platforms can provide online entrepreneurial learning opportunities. This study examines the effects of online social resources on knowledge acquisition and improving the entrepreneurial learning process among e-university students. The study in terms of purpose is applied research and descriptive-correlational in terms of data collection. Data are collected using a researcher-made questionnaire by simple random sampling method and were by structural an equation modeling approach. Cronbach's alpha for all structures is higher than 0/7 and the value of mean variance extracted is higher than 0/5, so validity and reliability of the structures are confirmed. The findings indicate a positive and significant relationship between online social resources and knowledge acquisition as well as between knowledge acquisition and entrepreneurial learning. Using the advent of web-based technologies, this study can be valuable in explaining how different aspects of online social resources can enhance the effectiveness of entrepreneurial learning for students in multiple social environments.