Derived length and nilpotency class of zero entropy groups acting on compact Kahler manifolds

Let X be a compact Kahler manifold of dimension n and of Kodaira dimension kappa(X). Let G be a group of zero entropy automorphisms of X and G_0 the set of elements in G which are isotopic to the identity. We prove that replacing G by a suitable finite-index subgroup, G/G_0 is a unipotent group of derived length at most n-max(kappa(X),1) and the derived length of G is at most n-kappa(X). Up to taking a finite-index subgroup, we conjecture that the nilpotency class c(G/G_0) of G/G_0 is at most n-1. The conjecture is proved to be true for all complex tori. Assuming this conjecture for all compact Kahler manifolds, we show that c(G) is at most n-kappa(X). The algebro-geometric structure of X is studied when c(G)=n or c(G/G_0)=n-1. We also give an optimal upper bound of the size of the Jordan blocks of the unipotent automorphisms of H^2(X,C) induced by automorphisms of X.Comment: New version joined with Hsueh-Yung LIN. 38 pages. New results have been added and a mistake was fixe

Antioxidation activity and total phenolic contents of various Toona sinensis extracts

Products Processing Division, LRI, COA, Tainan, Taiwan. Accepted 1 August, 2012 The purpose of this study was to analyze the antioxidation activities and total phenolic contents of Toona sinensis. An extractive method of the antioxidant activities of local T. sinensis leaf extracts and various antioxidation models were analyzed. The effects of various solvent concentrations to extract the T. sinensis leaf on the antioxidation activity were compared. The results showed that the T. sinensis leaf extracts of various solvent concentrations had good antioxidant activities. The chelating abilities of ferrous ion in the T. sinensis leaf extracts obtained from various solvent concentrations were above 80%. It is concluded that T. sinensis leaf extracts could be used as biopreservatives of food products. The total antioxidant activities, chelating abilities of ferrous ions and reducing capacities of the T. sinensis leaf extracts might provide a substitute for a natural antioxidant.Keywords: Antioxidative activity, bio-preservatives, extracts, Toona sinensi

Integrin-mediated membrane blebbing is dependent on the NHE1 and NCX1 activities.

Integrin-mediated signal transduction and membrane blebbing have been well studied to modulate cell adhesion, spreading and migration^1-6^. However, the relationship between membrane blebbing and integrin signaling has not been explored. Here we show that integrin-ligand interaction induces membrane blebbing and membrane permeability change. We found that sodium-proton exchanger 1 (NHE1) and sodium-calcium exchanger 1 (NCX1) are located in the membrane blebbing sites and inhibition of NHE1 disrupts membrane blebbing and decreases membrane permeability change. However, inhibition of NCX1 enhances cell blebbing to cause cell swelling which is correlated with an intracellular sodium accumulation induced by NHE17. These data suggest that sodium influx induced by NHE1 is a driving force for membrane blebbing growth, while sodium efflux induced by NCX1 in a reverse mode causes membrane blebbing retraction. Together, these data reveal a novel function of NHE1 and NCX1 in membrane permeability change and blebbing and provide the link for integrin signaling and membrane blebbing

Smooth projective surfaces with infinitely many real forms

First of all, we confirm a few basic criteria of the finiteness of real forms of a given smooth complex projective variety, in terms of the Galois cohomology set of the discrete part of the automorphism group, the cone conjecture and the topological entropy. We then apply them to show that a smooth complex projective surface has at most finitely many mutually non-isomorphic real forms unless it is either rational or a non-minimal surface birational to either a K3 surface or an Enriques surface. We finally construct an Enriques surface whose blow-up at one point admits infinitely many mutually non-isomorphic real forms, which answers a question of Kondo to us and also shows the three exceptional cases really occur

Effect of Free-range Rearing on Meat Composition, Physical Properties and Sensory Evaluation in Taiwan Game Hens

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of an outdoor-grazed raising model on meat composition, physical properties and sensory attributes of Taiwan game hens. Six hundred 1-d old female chicks were raised on a floor for 8 weeks. On day 57, 600 healthy birds, with similar body weight, were selected and randomly assigned to three treatment groups (cage, floor-pen and free-range). The results showed that different feeding models had no effect on drip loss, cooking loss, moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude ash, zinc and calorie contents in breast meat and moisture content in thigh meat. The free-range group had the lowest fat content in both breast and thigh meat, and the lowest calorie content in thigh meat. The firmness and toughness in both thigh and breast of the free-range group were the highest values (p<0.05). The crude protein, total collagen, zinc and iron contents in thigh meat and total collagen content in breast meat of the free-range group were significantly higher than those of the cage-feeding group (p<0.05). The meat sensory scores of flavor, chewiness and overall acceptability of both thigh and breast meat of the free-range group were significantly (p<0.05) better than those of the other two groups. Moreover, the current findings also indicate that the Taiwan game hens of the free-range feeding model displayed well-received carcass traits and meat quality, with higher scores for flavor, chewiness and overall acceptability for greater sensory satisfaction in both breast and thigh meat. In addition, the thigh meat contained high protein and total collage but low fat, offering a healthier diet choice

Tet oncogene family member 2 gene alterations in childhood acute myeloid leukemia

Background/PurposeMutations in the tet oncogene family member 2 gene (TET2) are frequently found in adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Reports of TET2 mutations in children are limited. We assessed the prevalence of TET2 mutations in Taiwanese children with AML and analyzed their prognosis.MethodsBetween 1997 and 2010, a total of 69 consecutive children with AML were enrolled at the National Taiwan University Hospital. The analysis for TET2 mutations was performed using direct sequencing. Clinical characteristics and overall survival (OS) were compared between patients with and without TET2 alterations.ResultsIntronic and missense mutations were identified. No nonsense or frameshift mutations were observed. Two putative disease-causing missense mutations (S609C and A1865G) were identified in one patient. We estimated the prevalence of TET2 mutations in the current patient population to be 1.4%. The most common polymorphism was I1762V (45%), followed by V218M (12%), P29R (6%), and F868L (6%). Patients with polymorphism I1762V had an increased 10-year survival rate compared with patients without I1762V (48.4% vs. 25.7%, p = 0.049) by Chi-square test; OS was not different when examined using the Kaplan–Meier method (p = 0.104).ConclusionThe prevalence of TET2 mutations in children with AML compared with adults with AML was lower and less complex. Patient prognosis associated with TET2 mutations in children requires further investigation