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Background: Educational development can be achieved through various means, including the analysis of academic engagement among gifted students. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of achievement motivation in the association between academic engagement and academic self-concept, as well as academic support, in gifted students. Methods: This descriptive-correlational study employed path analysis to determine the relationships among the research variables. The statistical population comprised male and female gifted students in junior and senior high schools in Tehran, Iran during 2022-23 academic year. The cluster sampling method was used to select 406 gifted high school students. The participants completed several research measurement tools, namely the Academic Engagement Inventory, Academic Self-Concept Questionnaire, Academic Support Scale, and Achievement Motivation Questionnaire. The proposed model was evaluated using path analysis, and the indirect associations were examined through bootstrapping. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 and AMOS version 25, with a significance level set at 0.05. Results: The mean (±SD) scores for academic engagement, self-concept, academic support, and achievement motivation were 27.24±6.03, 37.22±5.62, 56.44±18.71, and 72.00±9.90, respectively. Positive correlations were found between academic engagement and academic self-concept (r=0.21), academic support (r=0.35), and achievement motivation (r=0.42) among the students. The results revealed significant associations between all direct paths P<0.001), except for the path from academic self-concept to academic engagement. Moreover, significant associations were observed between the indirect paths from academic achievement to academic engagement (P<0.001). The proposed model exhibited a good fit according to the results (CFI=0.99, RMSEA=0.001). Conclusion: Achievement motivation played a mediating role in the associations between academic engagement and academic self-concept, as well as academic support, in gifted students. These findings can serve as a suitable model for designing and developing specific programs aimed at improving academic engagement and enhancing the academic motivation of students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: After a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), diabetic patients deal with various hemodynamic disorders. This study aimed to compare the effect of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on the functional capacity of diabetic and nondiabetic patients following CABG. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 40 diabetic and nondiabetic patients attending a similar CR program following CABG. The subjects were selected by convenience sampling and were divided into two diabetes and nondiabetes groups. All patients attended 24 exercise sessions held 3 days a week. The functional capacity of patients was measured and recorded with the metabolic equivalent of Task criterion before and after the CR program. In addition, data analysis was performed in SPSS version 19. Results: In this study, the mean age of the diabetic and nondiabetic patients was 54.45 ± 5.82 and 56.85 ± 5.36 years, respectively. There was no significant difference between the research groups regarding the systolic and diastolic blood pressure (P > 0.05). The mean functional capacity in the diabetes and nondiabetes groups was 4.5 ± 0.79 and 5.2 ± 1.7 before the rehabilitation, respectively. However, the results of Mann-Whitney U-test were indicative of a lack of a significant difference in this respect (P > 0.05). After the CR program, the mean functional capacity in the diabetes and nondiabetes groups was 5.7 ± 1.31 and 6.3 ± 1.7, respectively, demonstrating an insignificant difference in this regard (P > 0.05). Conclusions: According to the results of the study, there was no significant difference between the diabetic and nondiabetic patients, who underwent CABG, after a CR program. However, replication of the study is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Burn injury is still the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in burn patients. We comapred healing effect of Hypericum perforatum , silver sulfadiazine and alpha ointments on burn injuries in rat model., Methods: Sixty female Sprague-Dawley rats in an animal experimental study were randomly divided to 5 equal groups as H. perforatum , silver sulfadiazine and (SSD), alpha, gel base and the burn injury left untreated. Wounds were assessed macroscopically and histologic after burn injury and on days 7 th , 14 th and 21 st after treatments., Results: Burn wounds decreased in size on day 7 th in H. perforatum group ( P <0.01). Regarding scoring the inflammation, re-epithelialization, angiogenesis, formation of granulation tissue and number of macrophage, the best scores were visible in H. perforatum group, and the worst in the gel base and the burn injury left untreated ( P <0.01)., Conclusions: H. perforatum was shown to significantly induce re-epithelialization, angiogenesis and granulation tissue and decrease the inflammation resulting into a healing process in burn wounds. As H. perforatum is inexpensive and an easily available herbal medicine, it can be considered as a therapeutic of choice to ameliorate burn injuries., Competing Interests: The authors of the current manuscript certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Background: In recent years, there is an increasing tendency to use diced cartilage grafts in rhinoplasty surgery for improving dorsum contour irregularities. This study was designed to compare graft resorption between three techniques of diced cartilage using surgical blade, electrical grinder and grater in rabbit model., Methods: Thirteen New Zealand rabbits were divided into three groups. Three 2×2 cm cartilage specimens were harvested from one of their ears. In group one, the cartilage was diced by use of No:11 surgical blade to o.5 to 1 mm cube pieces. In group two, an electrical grinder was used and in group three, a grater was applied. The grafts were placed in three subcutaneous pockets in the back of rabbits and after 12 weeks, the implants were removed and their weight and volume were recorded and were evaluated by histological techniques., Results: There was no difference between the three methods in the 3 groups for graft resorption. There was no change in the volume, but the weight showed a decrease in the control group., Conclusions: As the histological results had no statistically difference between groups, we may recommend use of these two techniques in reconstructive and in aesthetic cases.