Barriers of the development of web-based training in agricultural higher education system in Iran: A case study of Hamadan Bu Ali Sina University,Iran

Recently, higher education systems seek to use network-based and Internet-based information technologies in education, teaching and learning. E-learning in Iran higher education system has been started since 2003, however, its development has been very slow. The present study is a survey research. The participants of the study are faculty members, graduates and PhD students in Agriculture in Bu Ali Sina University. Total number of participants were analyzed (n?=?500). The accuracy of indicators and items in the questionnaire (face validity) has been confirmed by specialists. A questionnaire was used to collect data. Reliability was calculated by using Cronbach Alpha. In this study, Factor analysis is used to achieve the key factors. The results show that deficiency of executives, lack of learners’ motivation, infrastructural barriers, restriction of credit, and software and hardware limitations are the main problems in the development of web-based training. At the end of the article, some recommendations are presented aiming to accelerate electronic training in Iran’s higher education system.     

Implementing vertical and horizontal engineering students’ integration and assessment of consequence academic achievement

Recent scholarship references indicate that integration of the student body can result in an enhanced learning experience for students and also greater satisfaction. This paper reports the results of a case study whereby mechanical engineering students studying at a newly established branch campus in Dubai of a British university were exposed to vertical and horizontal integration. Different activities have been embedded to ensure that students integrated and worked together with their peers and colleagues at different levels. The implemented processes and practices led to improved academic achievements, which were better than those of a similar cohort of students where no effort had been made to integrate. The analysis revealed that cooperative learning and the degree of academic support provided by teachers are positively and directly correlated with academic as well as the students’ own sense of personal achievement. The results are discussed in light of previous research and with reference to the cultural context of the study.     

Production and Purification of Rabbit’s Polyclonal Antibody Against Factor VIII

The attempt is made to produce recombinant factor VIII but the first step in producing such product is production and purification of rabbit’s polyclonal antibody against factor VIII. The second and third steps involve monoclonal antibody and recombinant factor VIII production. Factor VIII is one of the most important coagulating factor where its deficiency leads to diseases like hemophilia type A or classic. It is an inherited disease. Previously, it was obtained through fractionation of blood plasma of blood donors. After processing, factor VIII could be used to manage such patients. Due to transfer of viral disease like hepatitis and HIV through factor VIII obtained by fractionation, high cost of production, insufficiency of the donors and the process of virus removal, thus production of factor VIII through recombinant technology can be useful and helpful. The reaction between antibody and antigen is one the most specific reaction; therefore, such reaction can be employed to identify factor VIII. Thereby, rabbits were injected several times with adjuvant-linked antigen to produce antibody. The antibody was separated from the blood sample, purified and used to identify factor VIII in the research.