Freiheitss\"{a}tze for one-relator quotients of surface groups and of limit groups

Three versions of the Freiheitssatz are proved in the context of one-relator quotients of limit groups, where the latter are equipped with 1-acylindrical splittings over cyclic subgroups. These are natural extensions of previously published corresponding statements for one-relator quotients of orientable surface groups. Two of the proofs are new even in that restricted context.Comment: 17 page

Returns to Education and Earning Inequality Nexus: A Micro-Econometric Analysis for Pakistan

This study investigates nexus between returns to education and earning inequality in Pakistan. The study utilizes quantile regression method to demonstrate how effect of different levels of education varies across conditional earning distribution. The results show that education plays a significant role in determination of within group earning inequality at all levels of education. Within group earning inequality is higher within the individuals having tertiary education as compared to the individuals having secondary and primary education. The earning inequality does not remain constant within the education groups during 2005-07. Moreover, education also causes earning inequality between educational groups. The findings of the study reveal that education has a positive effect on within as well as between groups earning inequality

Empirical Assessment of Business Competitiveness and Income Distribution: A Case of Selected Lower-Middle-Income Economies

The present study attempts to quantify the quadratic nexus between income distribution and business competitiveness. The study also adds interaction term of development expenditure with business competitiveness to examine impact of both on income inequality. The present study uses yearly panel data from 2008 to 2018 for 27 lower-middle-income economies. The results of the study are based on Quantile Regression for Panel Data (QRPD). The findings of the study reveal a U-shaped pattern between business competitiveness and income inequality. Further, an insignificant negative impact of development expenditure on income inequality is observed. However, if lower-middle-income economies take into account development expenditure with business competitiveness then the impact on income inequality gets significant with the same sign. The variable urban population is significant and decreases income inequality while broad money (proxy of financial development), trade, and rule of law have a significant role in increasing income inequality. The study suggests that development expenditure and business competitiveness may increase simultaneously for more equal distribution of income. Moreover, standardization of rule of law in lower-middle-income economies is also very important for equal distribution of income.&nbsp

Clinical characteristics, management and outcome of major pulmonary embolism: an experience from a tertiary care center in Pakistan.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical characteristics, risk factors, management and outcome of major pulmonary embolism (PE) in a tertiary care center of Karachi. Methods: Medical records of all patients who underwent a spiral CT scan of the chest for suspected pulmonary embolism were reviewed between January 2000 and June 2007 at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. Patients having evidence of major pulmonary embolism on spiral CT scan were selected. Results: A total of 30 patients (10 males, 20 females) with mean age 52 ± 14.59 years were identified who fulfilled our predefined criteria for major pulmonary embolism. Risk factors for thromboembolism were identified in 22 (73%) patients, prolonged immobilization in 8 (27%) and recent surgery in 8 (27%) patients being the commonest. All patients were symptomatic on presentation. Tachypnea and tachycardia were present in 27 (90%) patients. Refractory hypoxia was present in 18 (60%) patients and 3 (10%) were hypotensive on presentation. On spiral CT scan, 8 (27%) patients had embolus in the main pulmonary trunk, 26 (87%) patients in main right pulmonary artery and 20 (67%) patients had left main pulmonary artery embolus. Echocardiography was done in 22 (73%) patients with the findings of right ventricular dysfunction in all of them. All patients except one were treated with anticoagulation with either heparin infusion or low molecular weight heparin. In addition, thrombolytics were given in 7 (23%) patients and five (17%) underwent surgical embolectomy. Four (13%) patients died during hospitalization with a total of 26 (87%) surviving till hospital discharge. Conclusion: Major pulmonary embolism is an uncommon but potentially life threatening entity. Early diagnosis and aggressive therapy improves the clinical outcome

Evaluating Causes of Delay in Construction Projects of Pakistan

A project takes extra time for completion is called delay. Schedule delay in construction industry is a global phenomenon. Schedule delay is the time overrun either beyond completion date specified in the contract, or beyond the date that the parties agreed upon for the delivery of the project. There are some hurdles causes project delay are called delay causes or factors. The study examines the fifty four delay causes in forty two first class construction firms of Pakistan. Study categorizes these fifty four delay causes in seven groups: (1) Owner related (2) Consultant related (3) Contractor related (4) Material related (5) Labor and equipment related (6) project related and (7) External related. Study use questionnaire for collection of feedback of different professionals. In total sixty questionnaires were sent to forty-two first class firms, out of which forty one responded with sixty nine percent of response rate. Severity index, frequency index, relative importance index and weighted median tools of descriptive statistics uses for analyzing data. From weighted median study conclude that owner related and external related delay groups have maximum impact over project schedule delay. Top five delay causes using severity index were (1) Poor site management and Supervision (2) improper project feasibility study (3) Delay in finance and payments by owner (4) Inadequate experience of consultant and Rework due to errors during construction (5) Difficulties in financing project by contractor, Unqualified workforce and effects of subsurface conditions. Using frequency index top five delay causes were 1) Delay in finance and payments by owner (2) Delay in getting work permit (3) Bureaucracy (4)  Slow decision making and Unrealistic inspection and testing methods proposed in contract (5) Slow permit by government. While according to RII top delay causes were (1) Delay in Finance and Payments by owner (2) poor site management and supervision (3) Delay in getting work permit from local govt authorities (4) Unqualified workforce (5) Slow decision making. Keywords: Construction delays, types of delays, Disputes, Statistical analysis

Clinical characteristics, management and outcome of major pulmonary embolism: an experience from a tertiary care center in Pakistan

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical characteristics, risk factors, management and outcome of major pulmonary embolism (PE) in a tertiary care center of Karachi. METHODS: Medical records of all patients who underwent a spiral CT scan of the chest for suspected pulmonary embolism were reviewed between January 2000 and June 2007 at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. Patients having evidence of major pulmonary embolism on spiral CT scan were selected. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients (10 males, 20 females) with mean age 52 +/- 14.59 years were identified who fulfilled our predefined criteria for major pulmonary embolism. Risk factors for thromboembolism were identified in 22 (73%) patients, prolonged immobilization in 8 (27%) and recent surgery in 8 (27%) patients being the commonest. All patients were symptomatic on presentation. Tachypnea and tachycardia were present in 27 (90%) patients. Refractory hypoxia was present in 18 (60%) patients and 3 (10%) were hypotensive on presentation. On spiral CT scan, 8 (27%) patients had embolus in the main pulmonary trunk, 26 (87%) patients in main right pulmonary artery and 20 (67%) patients had left main pulmonary artery embolus. Echocardiography was done in 22 (73%) patients with the findings of right ventricular dysfunction in all of them. All patients except one were treated with anticoagulation with either heparin infusion or low molecular weight heparin. In addition, thrombolytics were given in 7 (23%) patients and five (17%) underwent surgical embolectomy. Four (13%) patients died during hospitalization with a total of 26 (87%) surviving till hospital discharge. CONCLUSION: Major pulmonary embolism is an uncommon but potentially life threatening entity. Early diagnosis and aggressive therapy improves the clinical outcome

Magnus subgroups of one-relator surface groups

A one-relator surface group is the quotient of an orientable surface group by the normal closure of a single relator. A Magnus subgroup is the fundamental group of a suitable incompressible sub-surface. A number of results are proved about the intersections of such subgroups and their conjugates, analogous to results of Bagherzadeh, Brodskii, and Collins in classical one-relator group theory.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figure

Pulmonary Dysfunction Augmenting Bacterial Aerosols in Leather Tanneries of Punjab, Pakistan

Peer reviewe

Comparative immunocompetence and interspecies transmission of avian orthoavulavirus-1 in feral birds originating from rural and urban settings

Feral birds residing close to urban settings exhibit higher immunocompetence against environmental pathogens than their counterparts in rural areas. In this study, we comprehensively evaluated the immunocompetence of five specific feral bird species and investigated the potential for interspecies transmission and pathogenicity of Avian orthoavulavirus-1 (AOAV-1) originating from the Anseriformes order. The immunocompetence assessment involved administering the phytohemagglutinin (PHA) test to individual groups of birds from rural and urban settings, measuring patagium thickness at specific time intervals (12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 h) following the administration of 0.1 mL (1 mg/mL) of PHA. Urban birds displayed significantly enhanced mean swelling responses, particularly urban pigeons, which exhibited a significant difference in patagium thickness at all-time intervals except for 24 h (p = 0.000, p = 0.12). Similarly, rural and urban quails and crows showed substantial differences in patagium thickness at all-time intervals except for 12 h (p = 0.542, p = 0.29). For the assessment of interspecies transmission potential and pathogenicity, each feral bird group was separately housed with naive broiler birds (n = 10 each) and challenged with a velogenic strain of AOAV-1 isolate (Mallard-II/UVAS/Pak/2016) at a dose of 1 mL (10 EID /mL). Urban birds demonstrated higher resistance to the virus compared to their rural counterparts. These findings highlight the specific immunocompetence of feral bird species and their potential contributions to AOAV-1 transmission and pathogenicity. Continuous monitoring, surveillance, and strict implementation of biosafety and biosecurity measures are crucial for effectively controlling AOAV-1 spillover to the environment and wild bird populations in resource-limited settings, particularly Pakistan

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV2 Antibodies among Patients and Healthy Individuals of Lahore

Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV2 antibodies in patients and healthy individuals presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Lahore. Study Design: Cross-sectional study Place and Duration of Study: Pathology Department of Surayya Azeem Hospital, Lahore Pakistan, from May to Jul 2020. Methodology: The study included clinically suspected patients of COVID-19 referred by clinicians and healthy individuals presenting to the hospital for the SARS-CoV-2 antibody test, irrespective of age and gender. Results: The SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity was 704(59.4%) in our study. Out of 1184 individuals tested, 690 patients had a positive clinical history of COVID-19 infection, and 517(74.9%) were positive for COVID-19 antibodies. Out of 494 asymptomatic healthy individuals, positivity for COVID-19 antibodies was 187(37.8%). It was observed that positivity was significantly higher 169(44.0%) in contacts of COVID-19 infection patients compared to asymptomatic healthy individuals 18(16.3%). Conclusion: Our study shows that the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the general public in Pakistan has greatly increased