Lagrangian subvarieties of Abelian fourfolds
Let (W, ω) be a smooth projective algebraic variety of dimension 2n over C together with a holomorphic (2, 0)-form of maximal rank 2n. A subvariety X ⊂ W is called weakly lagrangian if dim X ≤ n and if the restriction of ω to X is trivial (notice that X can be singular). An n-dimensional subvariety X ⊂ W with this property is called lagrangian. For example, any curve C contained in a K3 or abelian surface S is lagrangian. Further examples of lagrangian subvarieties are obtained by taking a curve C ⊂ S and by considering the corresponding symmetric products. Alternatively, one could look at a product of different curves (of genus > 1) inside a product of abelian varieties. We will say that a variety X ⊂ W is fibered if it admits a dominant map onto a curve of genus > 1. In this note we construct examples of nonfibered lagrangian surfaces in abelian varieties. Our motivation comes from the following Problem 1.1. — Find examples of projective surfaces with a nontrivial fundamental group. In particular, find examples where the fundamental group has a nontrivial nilpotent tower. If X is fibered over a curve C of genus > 1 then the fundamental group π 1 (X) surjects onto a subgroup of finite index in π 1 (C) and consequently both π 1 (X) and its nilpotent tower are big. Therefore, we are interested in examples of surfaces where the nontriviality of π 1 (X) is not induced from curves. Consider the map to the Albanese variety alb : X → Alb(X). One is interested in situations where the natural map H 2 (Alb(X), C) → H 2 (X, C) has a nontrivial kernel – the triviality of the kernel implies the triviality of the nilpotent tower (tensor Q). Such examples were given by Campana ([3], Cor. 1.2) and Sommese-Van de Ven ([7]). However, there the kernel LAGRANGIAN SUBVARIETIES OF ABELIAN FOURFOLDS 3 was found in the map Pic(Alb(X)) → Pic(X). In their construction the fundamental group of the variety is a central extension of an abelian group (and the lower central series has only two steps). The lagrangian property of alb(X) ⊂ Alb(X) implies that there is a nontrivial kernel in H 2,0 (rather than on the level of the Picard groups). We produce an infinite series of surfaces X of different topological types which are …
On the topological index of irregular surfaces
We study the topological index of some irregular surfaces that we 
call generalized Lagrangian. We show that under certain hypotheses 
on the base locus of the Lagrangian system the topological index is 
non-negative. For the minimal surfaces of general type with q = 4 and 
pg = 5 we prove the same statement without any hypothesis.
Parboiled rice effluent: A wastewater niche for microalgae and cyanobacteria with growth coupled to comprehensive remediation and phosphorus biofertilization
Abstract The potential of microalgae and cyanobacteria for bioremediation of wastewater by nutrient uptake combined with simultaneous biomass production is a well recognized perception of today's world. The present study illustrates the treatment of a highly polluted wastewater generated during parboiling of paddy in rice mill industries, widely operational in developing countries where rice is the staple food crop, with the help of microalgal and cyanobacterial isolates capable of growing at high rates in parboiled rice mill effluent (RME). This endeavor leads to comprehensive bioremediation of the said effluent and subsequent use of the harvested biomass as slow release phosphorus biofertilizers and the treated effluent for crop irrigation. The RME-acclimatized algal consortium demonstrated highest growth in terms of fresh weight and greatest remediation efficiency at the end of 36 days' treatment of RME, with 93.9% phosphorus and 100% ammonia-nitrogen removal, 98.7%, 91.6% and 93.5% reduction in biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand and total dissolved solid, respectively, and an increment of 186 ± 0.3 mg L − 1 dissolved oxygen, bringing down the pollutants level well below the discharge limits suggested by Central Pollution Control Board, India. Additionally, microalgae in the consortium aggregated in clumps spontaneously in presence of the filaments of Phormidium sp. facilitating easy harvest. The RME-acclimatized algal consortium demonstrated highest accumulation of polyphosphate (poly-P) (0.76 ± 0.01% of dry weight) as well as highest release of phosphorus in non-sterile soil emphasizing the essential role of soil phosphorus solubilizing organisms to leach soluble phosphorus from the insoluble poly-P present in the biomass. The rice seedlings watered with treated RME also showed improved growth effect on shoot height and leaf width. The study results establish the suitability of RME as an excellent growth media for microalgae and cyanobacteria.