On the birational section conjecture with local conditions

A birationally liftable Galois section s of a hyperbolic curve X/k over a number field k yields an adelic point x(s) in the smooth completion of X. We show that x(s) is X-integral outside a set of places of Dirichlet density 0, or s is cuspidal. The proof relies on $GL_2(F_\ell)$-quotients of $\pi_1(U)$ for some open U of X. If k is totally real or imaginary quadratic, we prove that all birationally adelic, non-cuspidal Galois sections come from rational points as predicted by the section conjecture of anabelian geometry. As an aside we also obtain a strong approximation result for rational points on hyperbolic curves over Q or imaginary quadratic fields.Comment: Theorem C (and Section 7) of the original version have been deleted due to a gap in the proof. This is the journal versio

Negative frequency tuning of a carbon nanotube nano-electromechanical resonator

A suspended, doubly clamped single wall carbon nanotube is characterized as driven nano-electromechanical resonator at cryogenic temperatures. Electronically, the carbon nanotube displays small bandgap behaviour with Coulomb blockade oscillations in electron conduction and transparent contacts in hole conduction. We observe the driven mechanical resonance in dc-transport, including multiple higher harmonic responses. The data shows a distinct negative frequency tuning at finite applied gate voltage, enabling us to electrostatically decrease the resonance frequency to 75% of its maximum value. This is consistently explained via electrostatic softening of the mechanical mode.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures; submitted for the IWEPNM 2013 conference proceeding

Embolized conduits of rice (Oryza sativa, poaceae) refill despite negative xylem pressure

Journal ArticleEmbolism reversal in rice plants was studied by testing the plant's ability to refill embolized conduits while xylem pressures were substantially negative. Intact, potted plants were water-stressed to a xylem pressure of -1.88 + 0.1 MPa and a 66.3 + 3.8% loss of xylem conductivity (PLC) by cavitation. Stressed plants were carefully rewatered, allowing xylem pressure to rise, but not above the theoretical threshold of c. -0.15 MPa for embolism collapse

Xylem hydraulics and the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum: opportunities and unresolved issues

Journal ArticleReceived for publication July 23, 2002. Soil and xylem are similar hydraulically. An unsaturated conductivity curve for soil is called a vulnerability curve for xylem?but the underlying physical basis is the same. Thus, any transport model that treats unsaturated soil conductivity would benefit by also incorporating the analogous xylem vulnerability curves. The full-text PDF of this article is freely available at http://agron.scijournals.org/cgi/reprint/95/6/136

Functional Unit of the RNA Polymerase II C-Terminal Domain Lies within Heptapeptide PairsÂÂ

Unlike all other RNA polymerases, the largest subunit (RPB1) of eukaryotic DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) has a C-terminal domain (CTD) comprising tandemly repeated heptapeptides with the consensus sequence Y-S-P-T-S-P-S. The tandem structure, heptad consensus, and most key functions of the CTD are conserved between yeast and mammals. In fact, all metazoans, fungi, and green plants examined to date, as well as the nearest protistan relatives of these multicellular groups, contain a tandemly repeated CTD. In contrast, the RNAP II largest subunits from many other eukaryotic organisms have a highly degenerate C terminus or show no semblance of the CTD whatsoever. The reasons for intense stabilizing selection on CTD structure in certain eukaryotes, and its apparent absence in others, are unknown. Here we demonstrate, through in vivo genetic complementation, that the essential functional unit of the yeast CTD is contained within pairs of heptapeptides. Insertion of a single alanine residue between diheptads has little phenotypic effect, while increasing the distance between diheptads produces a mostly quantitative effect on yeast cell growth. We further explore structural constraints on the CTD within an evolutionary context and propose selective mechanisms that could maintain a global tandem structure across hundreds of millions of years of eukaryotic evolution. Originally published Eukaryotic Cell, Vol. 3, No. 3, June 200