Urban forests and their contribution to sustainable urban development in a global context: a case study of Multan, Pakistan

Currently, cities and towns are home to over half of the global population, and this percentage will rise over the coming decades. Cities can be wonderful homes to live in if planned and maintained properly, but most urban developments have noticeably caused environmental destruction, which in turn results in issues like urban heat islands, flooding, and air pollution. Cities require forests as their breathing organs. The study refers to the case of Multan City, where the climate is deteriorating at an alarming rate due to rapid urbanization and the lack of vegetation. The study aims to provide an urban green infrastructure (UGI), which abides by the key proactive resilience principles of effectiveness, diversity, dependence, durability, versatility, autonomy, planning, and adaptability. A strategic literature review has been done to study the effects of urban forests, and various studies were reviewed as per the methodology adopted worldwide. The policy frameworks of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda (NUA) were considered while selecting sites for implementing urban forests. A five-point Likert scale questionnaire was developed for the participation of the community nearby. Ten different sites were selected in the city based on ownership and feasibility, irrespective of SDG, NUA, and community opinions. The study concludes with the design suggestion of one site as a prototype in the given context

A randomised controlled trial of compression therapies for the treatment of venous leg ulcers (VenUS 6) : study protocol for a pragmatic, multicentre, parallel group, three arm randomised controlled trial

Background Venous leg ulcer(s), are common, recurring, open wounds on the lower leg, resulting from diseased or damaged leg veins impairing blood flow. Wound healing is the primary treatment aim for venous leg ulceration, alongside management of pain, wound exudate and infection. Full (high) compression therapy delivering 40mmHg of pressure at the ankle is the recommended first line treatment for venous leg ulcers. There are several different forms of compression therapy available including wraps, two-layer hosiery, and two-layer or four-layer bandages. There is good evidence for the clinical and cost effectiveness of four-layer bandage and two-layer hosiery but more limited evidence for other treatments (two-layer bandage and compression wraps). Robust evidence is required to compare clinical and cost effectiveness of these and to investigate which is the best compression treatment for reducing time to healing of venous leg ulcers whilst offering value for money. VenUS 6 will therefore investigate the clinical and cost effectiveness of evidence-based compression, two-layer bandage and compression wraps for time to healing of venous leg ulcers. Methods VenUS 6 is a pragmatic, multi-centre, three arm, parallel group, randomised controlled trial. Adult patients with a venous leg ulcer will be randomised to receive 1) compression wraps, 2) two-layer bandage or 3) evidence-based compression (two-layer hosiery or four-layer bandage). Participants will followed up for between 4 and 12 months. The primary outcome will be time to healing (full epithelial cover in absence of a scab) in days since randomisation. Secondary outcomes will include key clinical events (e.g., healing of the reference leg; ulcer recurrence; ulcer/skin deterioration, amputation, admission/discharge, surgery to close/remove incompetent superficial veins, infection, or death), treatment changes, adherence and ease of use, ulcer related pain, health-related quality of life and resource use. Discussion VenUS 6 will provide robust evidence on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of the different forms of compression therapies for venous leg ulceration. VenUS 6 opened to recruitment in January 2021 and is currently recruiting across 30 participating centres. Clinical Trial Registry: ISRCTN 67321719 (https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN67321719). Prospectively Registered: 14.09.202

Physioeconomic Poverty Analysis of Grade 1 Employees of Rawalpindi City, Pakistan

Poverty though a universal phenomenon, is the worst challenge in the modern era, which is termed as the age of information and technology. The present study was designed to estimate the incidence of poverty for the grade I employees of Rawalpindi city. Determinants of poverty were explored by using Probit model, which was significant in the determination of the poverty status of the household. Following variables were used in the model; household size, education, experience, working individual, extra income and migration are the variables. For that objective, data from 150 household were collected through questionnaires. The results of the poverty indices showed that about twenty percent households were poor among grade 1 employees of Rawalpindi city. The result of probit models indicated that having large household size, with no extra income and migrants were increasing the probability of being poor while educational attainment and experiences did not had significant effect. On the other hand working individuals and migration were decreasing the probability of being poor

VenUS 6 – a randomised controlled trial of compression therapies for the treatment of venous leg ulcers : study design and update

Background: Venous leg ulcers (VLU) are common wounds mainly in gaiter region of the leg. Compression therapy is an effective treatment for reducing the time to healing of venous leg ulcers. The four-layer bandage and two-layer hosiery are supported by good evidence for clinical and cost effectiveness. There is more limited evidence for other treatments such as the two-layer bandage and compression wraps. Robust evidence is required to compare clinical and cost effectiveness of these and to investigate which is the best compression treatment for reducing time to healing of VLU whilst offering value for money. Aim: VenUS 6 aims to investigate the clinical and cost effectiveness of evidence-based compression, two-layer bandage and compression wraps for time to healing of venous leg ulcers. Method: This multicentre, pragmatic, three-arm parallel group study aims to recruit 675 eligible participants aged ≥18 years with at least one venous leg ulcer, and who can tolerate full compression and give written consent. Participants are allocated 1:1:1 to receive evidence-based compression, two-layer bandage or compression wrap. Participants are followed up weekly assessments until participant reference leg is ulcer free and no further nursing assessments are required to treat this leg. Reference ulcer healing is confirmed by a healthcare professional/treating nurse. Participant reported outcomes are collected at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. The primary outcome is time to healing of reference ulcer. Secondary outcomes include clinical events and participant reported ulcer related pain, quality of life, treatment adherence and resource use

Multiferroic and ferroelectric phases revealed in 2D Ti3C2Tx MXene film for high performance resistive data storage devices

Abstract Multiferroic materials, showing simultaneous ferroelectric and ferromagnetic orders, are considered to be promising candidates for future data storage technology however, the multiferroic phenomenon in two-dimensional (2D) materials is rarely observed. We report a simple approach to observe frequency-dependent ferroelectricity and multiferroicity in 2D Ti3C2T x MXene film at room-temperature. To study the frequency and poling effect on ferroelectricity, we performed electric polarization vs. electric field (P-E) measurement at different frequencies, measured under zero and non-zero static magnetic fields. The results not only indicate a clear frequency dependence of electric domains owing to varying time relaxation during reversal dynamic but also showed magnetic field control of electric polarization thus, confirmed the presence of strong magneto-electric (ME) coupling at room-temperature. The existence of ME coupling was attributed to the coupling between disordered electric dipoles with local spin moments as well reduced dielectric loss after heat-treatment. Moreover, the ferroelectric Ti3C2T x MXene film was employed as an active layer within the resistive data storage device that showed a stable switching behavior along with improved on/off ratio in comparison to non-ferroelectric Ti3C2T x active layer. The unique multiferroic behavior along with ferroelectric-tuned data storage devices reported here, will help understand the intrinsic nature of 2D materials and will advance the 2D ferroelectric data storage industry

Table_1_Urban forests and their contribution to sustainable urban development in a global context: a case study of Multan, Pakistan.pdf

Currently, cities and towns are home to over half of the global population, and this percentage will rise over the coming decades. Cities can be wonderful homes to live in if planned and maintained properly, but most urban developments have noticeably caused environmental destruction, which in turn results in issues like urban heat islands, flooding, and air pollution. Cities require forests as their breathing organs. The study refers to the case of Multan City, where the climate is deteriorating at an alarming rate due to rapid urbanization and the lack of vegetation. The study aims to provide an urban green infrastructure (UGI), which abides by the key proactive resilience principles of effectiveness, diversity, dependence, durability, versatility, autonomy, planning, and adaptability. A strategic literature review has been done to study the effects of urban forests, and various studies were reviewed as per the methodology adopted worldwide. The policy frameworks of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda (NUA) were considered while selecting sites for implementing urban forests. A five-point Likert scale questionnaire was developed for the participation of the community nearby. Ten different sites were selected in the city based on ownership and feasibility, irrespective of SDG, NUA, and community opinions. The study concludes with the design suggestion of one site as a prototype in the given context.</p