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Sour cherry is a tetraploid species, and gametophytic self-incompatibility (SI) operates in this species in the same way as in other stone fruit trees. However, while self-compatibility is most common in sour cherry and self-compatibility (SC) genotypes are rarely found, both SI and self-compatible (SC) types are selected in sour cherry. In this work, S-alleles have been identified for 70 sour cherry accessions and cultivars from the Shabestar regions of Iran, with S-genotypes of 68 cultivars identified for the first time. To identify the S-alleles, PCR-based methods were used. The amplification of the different alleles using combinations of the four forward primers (PaConsI-F, PruC2, PaConsII-F, EM-PC2consFD) and the five reverse primers (PruC4R, PCE-R, PaConsI-Rnew, PaConsII-R, EM-PC5consRD) revealed that they were the most useful for the identification of the sour cherry alleles. Nine known S-haplotypes (S6, S4, S9, S6m, S6m2, S24, S26, S35, S36a) were identified. In our study, alleles S6, S9, and S6m2 had a high frequency. It was shown that the consensus primers can be used to detect incompatibility alleles in sour cherry accessions. Our study has proved that the diversity of S alleles between the studied accessions was low, indicating low genetic diversity, which could also be due to the selection of superior genotypes by farmers.

Background: Among the various assessment tools for learning, self- evaluation is an efficient method that enables students to reflect on their learning. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the effectiveness of self-evaluation by checklist in learning the principles of drug injection and the satisfaction of nursing students in the pharmacology internship in 2022 at Zanjan College of Nursing and Midwifery. Method: The present study was a quasi - experimental study that was conducted as a case-control study in the pharmacology internship unit on 36 students. In the case group (18 participants), each student completed the checklist 3 times in the presence of the instructor, after administering the drug, in three consecutive days. But in the control group, only the instructor, like the case group, completed the drug administration checklist. At the end of the internship, the satisfaction level of the students of both groups was measured by a satisfaction questionnaire Results: 55.56% of the students in the case group were male and 55.56% of the students in the control group were female. The mean and standard deviation of learning on the second and third day were respectively 11.44±1.68 and 14.78±0.548 in the case group and 8.78±1.26 and 8.00±1.45 in the control group, which was statistically significant (p=0.000). There was no significant difference in the level of satisfaction in the two groups. Conclusion: The use of self-evaluation method had a significant effect in training drug administration skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead as a potent environmental and occupational pollutant, exerts its toxic effect mainly through oxidative stress induction. Currently, chelation therapy is the only medical management of metal intoxications in clinic, but its administration is associated with various side effects as well. In this study the protective effect of synthetized Piroxicam derivative was evaluated against lead toxicity in vitro. First the chelating activity of Piroxicam derivative was studied through Jobs method and 13C{1H} NMR spectroscopy. Then the cytoprotective effect of Piroxicam derivative (10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 μg/mL) was evaluated and compared with that of EDTA (30 μg/mL) in the presence of lead nitrate (30 μg/mL). The EC50 value of Piroxicam derivative was calculated as well. Finally, the chelation efficacy and antioxidant effects of Piroxicam derivative in EC50 and 2EC50 values was assessed and compared with that of EDTA. Results showed that Piroxicam derivative chelates lead ion as much as EDTA. Moreover, Piroxicam derivative prevented lead-induced cells death more effectively than EDTA which is may due to its potent innate antioxidant activity. In conclusion, the synthetized Piroxicam derivative with possessing potent chelating activity as well as potent antioxidant activity, could be considered as potential drug target in management of toxic metals poisoning.

The need for healthy and pollution-free water is vital given the world's industrialization and population explosion. The removal of chemical pollutants, especially phenol and phenolic compounds, from urban and industrial wastewaters is of particular importance due to their high water solubility and toxicity. Previous physicochemical techniques for phenol removal are no longer cost-effective. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) using various oxidizing agents have been recently recognized as an effective method for removing organic compounds through mineralization. The present work evaluated the phenol (100 ppm) removal from aqueous solutions through photooxidation systems of UV exposure, UV/TiO2, O3, O3/TiO2, H2O2, H2O2/UV, H2O2/TiO2, H2O2/TiO2/O3 and H2O2/TiO2/O3/UV. The results showed a decrease in the phenol concentration by almost half using UV, UV/TiO2, O3, O3/TiO2, H2O2, H2O2/UV and H2O2/TiO2 within 50 min. The phenol concentration reached 50 and 71 ppm using H2O2/TiO2/O3 system within 50 and 70 min, respectively. The UV/H2O2/O3/TiO2 system reduced the phenol concentration to zero after 40 min. The findings revealed that the AOP enabled by the UV/H2O2/O3/TiO2 combined system caused the complete removal of phenol, highlighting the capacity of the proposed system to remove toxic aromatic compounds such as phenol released during the wastewater treatment process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction:Evaluation is an essential phase in the management cycle that can ensure the proper implementation of activities. So, this study was conducted to develop an assessment tool for the educational and research performance of PhD students in schools of health management and medical informatics. Methods: First, the researchers extracted the primary criteria related to the performance of PhD students from literature review and interviews with experts. Experts then reviewed five aspects of the criteria: relevance, clarity, simplicity, necessity and feasibility, and the content and face validity of each tool were assessed. In addition, the value and the coefficient for each criteria and indicator were reviewed based upon their impact on academic performance and success in the future careers of students, and the framework of the scoring tool was determined. Results: The researchers identified 22 and 19 items related to assessment of research and education performance respectively. After carrying out the necessary analysis, the CVR and CVI were calculated to be 92 and 95 percent, respectively, and were approved. Then, 12 experts placed values on the chosen items out of a total of 100 points. They considered 70 points for the research and 30 for the education aspects, distributing the scores between the areas and related aspects with regard to their importance. The experts determined the minimum required score for each area or aspect as well. Conclusion: Given the comprehensiveness of this tool, the researchers believe that this tool can lead to the improvement of student performance and success in their future careers.