Introduction Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many higher education and health centers have faced challenges. Educational leaders have tried to manage the new situation, but the human infrastructure was not ready for such an event. This study aims to explain the challenges and opportunities of the COVID-19 pandemic for medical education. Method This qualitative study used conventional content analysis to collect data from face-to-face and semi-structured interviews. The interviews continued until data saturation was reached. The participants were 12 students and 14 faculty members at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. To ensure data rigor, we used member checks, peer checks and an external observer. Results Three main categories and 15 subcategories were extracted. The findings showed that four subcategories, e.g. perception on feasibility of e-learning, standardizing of e-learning, dedicated teaching, and networking and interdisciplinary collaborations, affected the development of medical e-learning. The main opportunities from the COVID-19 pandemic for medical education were classified into five subcategories: attitudes to e-learning and adaptability, preventing students’ separation from the educational environment, documentation and monitoring education, take control of own learning, and increasing perceived usefulness. The main challenges were divided into four subcategories, e.g. noncompliance with virtual classroom etiquette, inadequate interactions, time limitations, and infrastructure defects and problems. Finally, participants believed that methods of evaluation in e-learning were more suitable for diagnosis and formative evaluations. Generally, two subcategories were extracted, e.g. formative and summative. Conclusion Medical schools have necessarily moved towards e-learning to compensate for the interruption in classroom education, such that traditional classes have been replaced with e-learning. These rapid, extensive changes in teaching and learning approaches have consequences for medical schools.

Effects of the super absorbent polymer (SAP) were tested on both the soil attributes and growth properties of Seidlitzia rosmarinus in the arid Emrani region of Iran in a reclamation study. A SAP concentration gradient (SAP 0 ¼ SAP 0 g dm À3 , SAP 1 ¼ SAP 1 g dm À3 , and SAP 3 ¼ SAP 3 g dm À3 of soil) was coupled with 30-and 60-day irrigation intervals, and results were evaluated after two growing seasons. Results indicate that application of SAP 1 increased available water content up to 68.5% and decreased soil bulk density by 25.5% and soil infiltration rate by 21.5%. SAP enhanced growth indices and seedling establishment rates of S. rosmarinus under drought stress. In addition, the application of SAP 3 can significantly increased soil cation exchange capacity up to 31% compared to the control. This study demonstrated the increased water retention properties of SAP that leads to higher soil water storage capacity for S. rosmarinus seedlings during the first months of out-planting in arid regions. Overall, the used SAP enhanced soil and plant properties, but most assessed parameters did not differ between SAPs 1 and 3. Therefore, the 1 g application rate is recommended based on technical as well as economic considerations.

For improving seed germination of Prosopis koelziana andProsopis juliflora, different treatments of seeds were conducted, including scarification with sulfuric acid 98% for 10 and 15 min, sandy paper, hot water for 5 and 10 min, potasium nitrate 0.1%, gibberellic acid at 250 mg⋅L -1 and 500 mg⋅L -1 and combinational treatment of scarification with gibberellic acid of 250 mg⋅L -1 and 500 mg⋅L -1 . The results show that scarifications with sandy paper and sulfuric acids 98% were the most effective treatments on breaking seed dormancy and seed germination induction. Scarification with sulfuric acid 98% for 15 min was the best treatment. According to the positive effect of scarification and lack of reaction of seeds against KNO 3 and gibberellic acid, the kind of seed dormancy was determined as exogenous.

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Seed priming is known as a seed treatment which improves seed performance under environmental conditions. Objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different priming treatments on seed germination behaviour of two genotypes of Bromus under laboratory conditions to find out the most effective priming treatment. Seeds were treated with the following seed-soaking media: (i) unsoaked seed (control); (ii) hydropriming with distilled water for 4, 8, 12 and 16 hours, (iii) osmopriming treatments with PEG 6000 for Bromus tomentellus were -0.6, -0.8, -1.0 and -1.2 MPa osmotic potentials with duration of 12, 24 and 36 hours and for Bromus inermis osmoticpotentials were the same as B. tomentellus but duration of priming treatments was soaking seeds for 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours. Seeds of both genotypes were placed in liquid priming media at 25ºC. Priming treatments significantly affected germination vigour of both genotypes. The response of both genotypes to different priming techniques approximately was similar. Osmopriming treatment (-0.6 MPa and 12 h) increased final germination percentage of B. tomentellus. Priming treatments increased coleoptile length significantly comparing to control but hydropriming for 4 h exhibited longer coleoptile than others. Higher vigour index was observed in hydropriming for 12 h but this difference was not significant with osmoprime treatment (12 h-0.6 Mpa). B. inermis produced more germinated seeds and vigourous seedlings than B. tomentellus but germination rate was higher in B. tomentellus.