Zariski Closures and Subgroup Separability

The main result of this article is a refinement of the well-known subgroup separability results of Hall and Scott for free and surface groups. We show that for any finitely generated subgroup, there is a finite dimensional representation of the free or surface group that separates the subgroup in the induced Zariski topology. As a corollary, we establish a polynomial upper bound on the size of the quotients used to separate a finitely generated subgroup in a free or surface group.Comment: Final version. To appear in Selecta Mat

Charged analogue of Finch-Skea stars

We present solutions to the Einstein-Maxwell system of equations in spherically symmetric gravitational fields for static interior spacetimes with a specified form of the electric field intensity. The condition of pressure isotropy yields three category of solutions. The first category is expressible in terms of elementary functions and does not have an uncharged limit. The second category is given in terms of Bessel functions of half-integer order. These charged solutions satisfy a barotropic equation of state and contain Finch-Skea uncharged stars. The third category is obtained in terms of modified Bessel functions of half-integer order and does not have an uncharged limit. The physical features of the charged analogue of the Finch-Skea stars are studied in detail. In particular the condition of causality is satisfied and the speed of sound does not exceed the speed of light. The physical analysis indicates that this analogue is a realistic model for static charged relativistic perfect fluid spheres.Comment: 17 pages, To appear in Int. J. Mod. Phys.

Urban heritage conservation and rapid urbanization : insights from Surat, India

Currently, heritage is challenged in the Indian city of Surat due to diverse pressures,  including rapid urbanization, increasing housing demand, and socio‐cultural and climate changes.  Where rapid demographic growth of urban areas is happening, heritage is disappearing at an  alarming rate. Despite some efforts from the local government, urban cultural heritage is being  neglected and historic buildings keep being replaced by ordinary concrete buildings at a worryingly  rapid pace. Discussions of challenges and issues of Surat’s urban area is supported by a qualitative  dataset, including in‐depth semi‐structured interviews and focus groups with local policy makers,  planners, and heritage experts, triangulated by observation and a photo‐survey of two historic  areas. Findings from this study reveal a myriad of challenges such as: inadequacy of urban  conservation management policies and processes focused on heritage, absence of skills, training,  and resources amongst decision makers and persistent conflict and competition between heritage  conservation needs and developers’ interests. Furthermore, the values and significance of Surat’s  tangible and intangible heritage is not fully recognized by its citizens and heritage stakeholders. A  crucial opportunity exists for Surat to maximize the potential of heritage and reinforce urban  identity for its present and future generations. Surat’s context is representative of general trends  and conservation challenges and therefore recommendations developed in this study hold the  potential to offer interesting insights to the wider planners and conservationists’ international  community.  This  paper  recommends  thoughtful  integration  of  sustainable  heritage  urban  conservation into local urban development frameworks and the establishment of approaches that  recognize the plurality of heritage values

Characteristics of Fatal Cases of Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) from September 2009 to January 2010 in Saurashtra Region, India

Background: India reported first case of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in May, 2009 and Saurashtra region in August, 2009. We describe the characteristics of fatal cases of 2009 influenza A (H1N1) infection reported in Saurashtra region. Methods: From September, 2009 to January, 2010, we observed 71 fatal cases that were infected with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus and admitted in different hospitals in Rajkot city. Real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) testing was used to confirm infection; the clinico-epidemiological features were observed and documented. Results: Median age of the deceased (71) was 29 years, and 57.7% were females. Median time observed was 5 days from onset of illness to diagnosis of influenza A (H1N1), and 57.7% were referred from general practitioner (OR=0.42, CI=0.24-0.74). Median hospital stay reported was 3 days. All admitted patients received oseltamivir, but only 16.9% received it within 2 days of onset of illness. The most common symptoms were cough (97.2%), fever (93%), sore throat and shortness of breath. Co-morbid conditions were present in almost half of the patients who ultimately died, the most common of which was pregnancy (OR=0.15, CI=0.04-0.52). Radiological pneumonia was reported in 98% patients. Conclusion: Residing in urban area, delayed referral from general practitioner, presence of co-existing condition, especially pregnancy was responsible for mortality among influenza A (H1N1) infected positive

An observational study of abnormal findings in fetus during 11-13+6 weeks and targeted imaging for fetal anomalies ultrasonography

Background: Congenital anomalies are responsible for a of 14.2% of perinatal mortality in India. This study focuses on incidence of structural fetal abnormalities detected during 1st and 2nd trimester sonography. Aim of this study was to evaluate the need for targeted fetal scans.Methods: This study is an observational study conducted at Gujarat fetal medicine Centre, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, super specialty antenatal radiology centre where exclusively antenatal USGs and prenatal procedures are performed. All pregnant female coming for 1st and 2nd trimester USG were included. All fetal abnormalities in form of soft markers and structural abnormality were included.Results: Out of 2122 total ANC scans, 183 cases (8.6%) had structural abnormality and 235 cases (11%) had significant soft markers. 1185 cases (55.84%) came in late 2nd trimester for TIFFA scan and 468 (22%) were seen in 1st trimester scan. The incidence of fetal anomaly in this study was higher than general population as it is an exclusively fetal medicine centre and majority of patients were diagnosed with anomaly in late 2nd trimester.Conclusions: There is immense need for early diagnosis and timely intervention before 20 weeks in case of prenatal detection of fetal abnormality

Implementation of barycentric resampling for continuous wave searches in gravitational wave data

We describe an efficient implementation of a coherent statistic for continuous gravitational wave searches from neutron stars. The algorithm works by transforming the data taken by a gravitational wave detector from a moving Earth bound frame to one that sits at the Solar System barycenter. Many practical difficulties arise in the implementation of this algorithm, some of which have not been discussed previously. These difficulties include constraints of small computer memory, discreteness of the data, losses due to interpolation and gaps in real data. This implementation is considerably more efficient than previous implementations of these kinds of searches on Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave (LIGO) detector data.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure

Projecting prevalence by stage of care for prostate cancer and estimating future health service needs: protocol for a modelling study

Introduction Current strategies for the management of prostate cancer are inadequate in Australia. We will, in this study, estimate current service needs and project the future needs for prostate cancer patients in Australia. Methods and analysis First, we will project the future prevalence of prostate cancer for 2010-2018 using data for 1972-2008 from the New South Wales (NSW) Central Cancer Registry. These projections, based on modelled incidence and survival estimates, will be estimated using PIAMOD (Prevalence, Incidence, Analysis MODel) software. Then the total prevalence will be decomposed into five stages of care: initial care, continued monitoring, recurrence, last year of life and long-term survivor. Finally, data from the NSW Prostate Cancer Care and Outcomes Study, including data on patterns of treatment and associated quality of life, will be used to estimate the type and amount of services that will be needed by prostate cancer patients in each stage of care. In addition, Central Cancer Registry episode data will be used to estimate transition rates from localised or locally advanced prostate cancer to metastatic disease. Medicare and Pharmaceutical Benefits data, linked with Prostate Cancer Care and Outcomes Study data, will be used to complement the Cancer Registry episode data. The methods developed will be applied Australia-wide to obtain national estimates of the future prevalence of prostate cancer for different stages of clinical care. Ethics and dissemination This study was approved by the NSW Population and Health Services Research Ethics Committee. Results of the study will be disseminated widely to different interest groups and organisations through a report, conference presentations and peer-reviewed articles.This work is supported by the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (grant number: PCFA – YI 0410). Both David Smith and Xue Qin Yu are supported by an Australian NHMRC Training Fellowship (Ref 1016598, 550002). Mark Clements is supported by an Australian NHMRC Career Development Award (Ref 471491)

Comparison of infraclavicular brachial plexus block with supraclavicular brachial plexus block in upper limb surgeries using peripheral nerve stimulator

Background: The supraclavicular approach to brachialplexus block (SCB) is indicated for operations of upper extremity distal to the shoulder; the infraclavicular block (ICB) is indicated for operations of distal arm, elbow, wrist, and hand. Objective of the study was to compare the infraclavicular brachial plexus block with supraclavicular brachial plexus block in upper limb surgeries using peripheral nerve stimulator.Methods: This prospective study was conducted among 78 patients, 39 in each group in infraclavicular block and supraclavicular block, posted for various upper limb surgeries on elective or emergency basis and compare both the groups for block performance time, onset of block, quality of block, duration of block, pulse rate, mean arterial pressure post-operative complication.Results: Duration of surgery, quality of block and success rate was almost similar in both the groups. The block performance time for infraclavicular block was more as compared to supraclavicular block. The duration of block is more in infraclavicular group as compared to supraclavicular group. The onset of sensory blockade, as well as motor blockade, was slightly earlier in supraclavicular group. Hemodynemic parameters were also almost similar in both groups. Our study encounters higher number of complications among supraclavicular group.Conclusions: Supraclavicular route require less time to perform the block and have a rapid onset of sensory and motor block, but the duration of sensory and motor blockage is less as compared to infraclavicular route. Both the groups have a similar quality of block and success rate, but the supraclavicular route is associated with various complications compared to infraclavicular route

SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC METHOD FOR THE ESTIMATION OF TOTAL ALKALOIDS IN THE TINOSPORA CORDIFOLIA M. AND ITS HERBAL FORMULATIONS

Objective: A simple spectrophotometric method was developed for the estimation of total alkaloids in Tinospora cordifolia M. and its formulations.Methods: The method based on the formation of yellow colored complex by reaction between bromocresol green (BCG) and alkaloids in medicinal plants. A yellow colored complex forms is easily extractable by chloroform at pH 4.7.Results: The method was linear in concentration range of 2-10 μg/ml with λmax at 415 nm. The LOD and LOQ were found to be 0.215 and 0.652 respectively. The intra-day and inter-day precision and accuracy were within the acceptable criteria (relative standard deviation<2.0% and accuracy within 100±2%). Conclusion: The developed method is simple, precise and accurate and can be adopted for the routine quality control and standardization of plant materials containing alkaloids and its pharmaceutical products.Â