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Beyond the concerns associated with marginalised groups' underrepresentation, we posited that socio-demographic aspects and associated stigma provoke gendered social exclusion among older adults. Although these linkages have been frequently acknowledged, concrete evidence remains complicated. In a sample of 384 older adults from various administrative zones of the Lahore metropolitan, we examined that gendered social exclusion is typically connected with socio-demographic stereotypes. Statistics revealed that 72.3% of older adults reported social exclusion. Homemakers and non-workers were more prone to experience social exclusion than employed respondents. Findings further discovered that the social exclusion rates were more significant among older women (93.1%) than older men (47.5%). Among older women, those involved in some employment, having a personal income, living in higher-income households and joint families with their children or peers, and having access to a private car were less possibly socially excluded. The substantial gender aspect of social exclusion appears to be provoked by a gender-based socio-cultural context, limiting older women's participation in daily socio-economic pursuits. Finally, possible consequences of increased social exclusion among older women and strategies to cater to this emerging issue are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The population is increasing rapidly globally, and urban expansion of the cities has become an extensive trend in developing nations. Urban expansion patterns, such as transportation structure and road networks, affect transportation planning. This research was conducted on a mega project in Lahore city of Pakistan, i.e., the Lahore Ring Road (LRR) project. Limited research focused on the beneficiary assessment of the road project, and this research was carried out to fill this research gap. This research aims to evaluate the beneficiary assessment of DHA Phase 8 and Halloki Settlement along the Lahore Ring Road. The simple Random Sampling technique was used to conduct the household survey in the study area. This study concluded that most of the residents did not modify their houses nor increase the built-up area and height after the introduction of the project. This study inferred that the rental potential was high at some locations and low at old existing settlements. This research further concluded that community participation was ignored, and public facilities were not improved in the study area. But a project of LRR was very much beneficial and alive for the residents of Lahore city. Community participation should be enhanced in such types of megaprojects, and allied facilities in the nearby community should be upgraded. This research will be helpful for policymakers, urban planners, transportation planners, development authorities, and other stakeholders in planning future road projects in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to analyze the phytochemical profile of Euphorbia prostrata Aiton through GC-MS and identification of possible antifungal, antibacterial and other pesticidal compounds through literature survey. Whole plant material of the weed was collected from Lahore, Pakistan and shade dried followed by two-week extraction in ethyl acetate. The filtrates were analyzed by GC-MS that showed the presence of 19 compounds. The major compound in the extract was 9,19-cyclolanost-24-en-3-ol, (3β)- (24.62%) followed by 9,19-cyclolanostan-3-ol, 24-methylene-, (3β)- (19.51%) and γ-sitosterol (12.51%). Other compounds were phytol (8.11%), n-hexadecanoic acid (6.15%), 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid, (Z,Z,Z)- (4.90%), neophytadiene (4.88%), cyclohexane, 1,3,5-triphenyl- (3.71%), hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester (3.04%), phenol, 2,2'-methylenebis[6-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methyl- (2.42%), octadecanoic acid, ethyl ester (2.24%), octacosane (2.11%), 1-heptacosanol (1.71%), stigmasta-5,24(28)-dien-3-ol, (3β,24Z)- (1.71%), 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid, ethyl ester, (Z,Z,Z)- (1.29%), oxirane, hexadecyl- (1.21), 9,12- octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)- (1.05%), Z-8-methyl-9-tetradecenoic acid (1.01%), and 9-octadecyne (0.76%). Literature survey revealed that eight compounds possess antibacterial, antifungal, nematicidal and/or insecticidal properties. Most of the pesticidal compounds were antibacterial in nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objective of the study is to measure the efficacy of ionic-iodine polymer complex [1] for clinical and radiological improvement in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.Trial Design: The trial will be closed label, randomized and placebo-controlled with a 1:1:1:1 allocation ratio and superiority framework.Participants: All PCR confirmed COVID-19 adult patients including non-pregnant females, with mild to moderate disease, will be enrolled from Shaikh Zayed Post-Graduate Medical Complex, Ali Clinic and Doctors Lounge in Lahore (Pakistan). Patients with any pre-existing chronic illness will be excluded from the study.Intervention and Comparator: In this multi-armed study ionic-iodine polymer complex with 200 mg of elemental iodine will be given using three formulations to evaluate efficacy. Patients will be receiving either encapsulated iodine complex of 200 mg (arm A), iodine complex syrup form 40 ml (arm B), iodine complex throat spray of 2 puffs (arm C) or empty capsule (arm D) as placebo; all three times a day. All the 4 arms will be receiving standard care as per version 3.0 of the clinical management guidelines for COVID-19 established by the Ministry of National Health Services of Pakistan.Main Outcomes: Primary outcomes will be viral clearance with radiological and clinical improvement. SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR and HRCT chest scans will be done on the admission day and then after every fourth day for 12 days or till the symptoms are resolved. RT-PCR will only be shown as positive or negative while HRCT chest scoring will be done depending on the area and severity of lung involvement [2]. Time taken for the alleviation of symptoms will be calculated by the number of days the patient remained symptomatic. 30-day mortality will be considered as a secondary outcome.Randomisation: Stratification for initial COVID-19 status (or days from initial symptoms as a proxy), age groups, gender, baseline severity of symptoms and co-morbidities will be used to ensure that the study arms remain balanced in size for the 1:1:1:1 allocation ratio. Randomization will be done using the lottery method. As patients are being admitted at different times, they will be recruited after obtaining their voluntary written informed consent following all standard protocols of the infection, control and disinfection.Blinding (masking): This is a quadruple (participants, care providers, investigators and outcomes assessors) blinded study where only the study's Primary Investigator will have information about the arms and their interventions.Numbers To Be Randomised (sample Size): 200 patients will be randomized into four groups with three experimental and one placebo arm.Trial Status: Protocol Version Number is 2.3 and it is approved from IRB Shaikh Zayed Hospital with ID SZMC/IRB/Internal0056/2020 on July 14th, 2020. The recruitment is in progress. It was started on July 30, 2020, and the estimated end date for the trial is August 15, 2021.Trial Registration: Clinical Trial has been retrospectively registered on www.clinicaltrials.gov with registration ID NCT04473261 dated July 16, 2020.Full Protocol: The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional file 1). With the intention of expediting dissemination of this trial, the conventional formatting has been eliminated; this Letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol. The study protocol has been reported in accordance with the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Clinical Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]