Elastic, Optical, Transport, and Structural Properties of GaAs

One of the major objectives of physics is to understand the physical properties of compound metals. Based on this very objective, in this chapter, we intend to review the physical as well as chemical properties of Gallium Arsenide material

Association between Serum Vitamin B12 Concentration and Obesity Among Adults in The Ksa

Objective: To investigate the relationship between serum vitamin B12 levels and weight among the adult population in KSA. Methods: This research will employ a cross-sectional study design to investigate the association between serum vitamin B12 concentration and obesity among adults in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Cross-sectional studies are suitable for examining relationships between variables within a specific population at a single point in time. The target population for this study includes all adult residents of the KSA aged 18 years and older. Results: The study included 869 participants. The most frequent weight among them was 51-65 kg (n= 255, 29.3%), followed by 66 -75 kg (n= 214, 24.6%). The most frequent height among study participants was 161-170 cm (n= 324, 37.3%) followed by 151-160 cm (n= 266, 30.6%). The most frequent body mass index (BMI) value among study participants was Normal 18.5-24.9 kg/m2 (n= 344, 39.6%), followed by overweight 25-29.9 kg/m2 (n= 281, 32.3%).  Vitamin B12 varied among study participants, with most of them having a normal range (n= 319, 36.7%) followed by a low range (n= 117, 13.5%) and the least common high range (n= 23, 2.6%). On the other hand, among 410 participants, 47.2% did not know their vitamin B12 value. Wech may indicate a lack of knowledge about the topic. Figure 4 shows the vitamin B12 levels among study participants. Conclusion: Study results showed that most of the study participants do not know their vitamin B12 level and need to increase awareness, followed by those who have a normal vitamin B12 level. The most common BMI was the normal level. There was a relationship between vitamin B12 levels and obesity.

Practice patterns and clinical outcomes in acute appendicitis differ in the elderly patient

Background: Appendicitis is the most frequent global abdominal surgical emergency. An ageing population, who often exhibit atypical symptoms and delayed presentations, challenge conventional diagnostic and treatment paradigms. Objectives: This study aims to delineate disparities in presentation, management, and outcomes between elderly patients and younger adults suffering from acute appendicitis. Methods: This subgroup analysis forms part of ESTES SnapAppy, a time-bound multi-center prospective, observational cohort study. It includes patients aged 15 years and above who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy during a defined 90-day observational period across multiple centers. Statistical comparisons were performed using appropriate tests with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The study cohort comprised 521 elderly patients (≥65 years) and 4,092 younger adults (18–64 years). Elderly patients presented later (mean duration of symptoms: 7.88 vs. 3.56 days; p < 0.001) and frequently required computed tomography (CT) scans for diagnosis (86.1% vs. 54.0%; p < 0.001). The incidence of complicated appendicitis was higher in the elderly (46.7% vs. 20.7%; p < 0.001). Delays in surgical intervention were notable in the elderly (85.0% operated within 24 h vs. 88.7%; p = 0.018), with longer operative times (71.1 vs. 60.3 min; p < 0.001). Postoperative complications were significantly higher in the elderly (27.9% vs. 12.9%; p < 0.001), including severe complications (6.9% vs. 2.4%; p < 0.001) and prolonged hospital stays (7.9 vs. 3.6 days; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our findings highlight significant differences in the clinical course and outcomes of acute appendicitis in the elderly compared to younger patients, suggesting a need for age-adapted diagnostic pathways and treatment strategies to improve outcomes in this vulnerable population

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Assessment of the Correlation between the Levels of Physical Activity and technology usage among Children with Down Syndrome in Riyadh Region

Abstract Background: Children with Down Syndrome (C-DS) have language, cognitive and communication difficulties, apart from consistent physical inactivity that contribute to poor health and higher disability adjusted life years. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between use of electronic technology and levels of physical activity in C-DS in Saudi Arabia.Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted with 49 mothers, who had a child (6-12 years in age) with DS, were recruited using purposive sampling, from three DS centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Children’s Physical Activity Questionnaire and Research Questionnaire on the Impact of Technology on Children were used. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the demographics. Pearson’s correlation, student t-test and Chi-square test were used to find association between technology use, physical activity level and socio-demographic variables.Results: There is no significant correlation between physical activity and use of technology by C-DS. However, there is a negative correlation between high level of physical activity and technology use (R=-0.037). No significant correlation between the mother’s characteristics and technology use was found; but, for the education level of mothers and technology use by C-DS, there is a significant positive correlation (p= 0.05). However, there is no association between the physical activity level and gender of the child with DS.Conclusion: The presented study found that no significant relationship exists between the use of electronic gadgets and the level of physical activity in C-DS.</jats:p

Assessment of the Correlation between the Levels of Physical Activity and Technology Usage among Children with Down Syndrome in the Riyadh Region

Background: Children with Down Syndrome (C-DS) have language, cognitive and communication difficulties, in addition to consistent physical inactivity that contributes to poor health and higher-disability-adjusted life years. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between the use of electronic technology and levels of physical activity in C-DS in the Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 49 mothers, where each had a child (6&ndash;12 years of age) with Down Syndrome (DS), and who were recruited using purposive sampling from three DS centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Children&rsquo;s Physical Activity Questionnaire and Research Questionnaire on the Impact of Technology on Children were used. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the demographics. Pearson&rsquo;s correlation, Student&rsquo;s t-test and the Chi-square test were used to assess the association between technology use, physical activity levels and socio-demographic variables. Results: There was no significant correlation between physical activity and the use of technology by C-DS. However, there was a negative correlation between a high level of physical activity and technology use (R = &minus;0.037). Although, no significant correlation between the mother&rsquo;s characteristics and technology use was found; there was a significantly positive correlation (p = 0.05) between the education level of mothers and the technology use by C-DS. Nonetheless, there was no association between the physical activity level and the gender of the child with DS. Conclusions: This study found that no significant relationship exists between the use of electronic gadgets and the level of physical activity in C-DS