We present some constructions of limits and colimits in pro-categories. These are critical tools in several applications. In particular, certain technical arguments concerning strict pro-maps are essential for a theorem about étale homotopy types. We also correct some mistakes in the literature on this topic.

We show that the natural morphism $\varphi :{\pi }_1(X_{\eta },x_{\eta })\to {\pi }_1{(X,x)}_{\eta }$ between the fundamental group scheme of the generic fiber $X_{\eta }$ of a scheme $X$ over a connected Dedekind scheme and the generic fiber of the fundamental group scheme of $X$ is always faithfully flat. As an application we give a necessary and sufficient condition for a finite, dominated pointed $G$-torsor over $X_{\eta }$ to be extended over $X$. We finally provide examples where $\varphi :{\pi }_1(X_{\eta },x_{\eta })\to {\pi }_1{(X,x)}_{\eta }$ is an isomorphism.

For a finitely generated group, we study the relations between its rank, the maximal rank of its free quotient, called co-rank (inner rank, cut number), and the maximal rank of its free abelian quotient, called the Betti number. We show that any combination of the group's rank, co-rank, and Betti number within obvious constraints is realized for some finitely presented group (for Betti number equal to rank, the group can be chosen torsion-free). In addition, we show that the Betti number is additive...