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The recent discovery of superconductivity in doped infinite-layer nickelates has stimulated intensive interest, especially for similarities and differences compared to that in cuprate superconductors. In contrast to cuprates, although earlier magnetization measurement reveals a Curie-Weiss-like behavior in undoped infinite-layer nickelates, there is no magnetic ordering observed by elastic neutron scattering down to liquid helium temperature. Until now, the nature of the magnetic ground state in undoped infinite-layer nickelates was still elusive. Here, we perform a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiment through 139La nuclei to study the intrinsic spin susceptibility of infinite-layer LaNiO2. First, the signature for magnetic ordering or freezing is absent in the 139La NMR spectrum down to 0.24 K, which unambiguously confirms a paramagnetic ground state in LaNiO2. Second, a pseudogap-like behavior instead of Curie-Weiss-like behavior is observed in both the temperature-dependent Knight shift and nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate (1/T1), which is widely observed in both underdoped cuprates and iron-based superconductors. Furthermore, the scaling behavior between the Knight shift and 1/T1T has also been discussed. Finally, the present results imply a considerable exchange interaction in infinite-layer nickelates, which sets a strong constraint for the proposed theoretical models., 14 pages, 4 figures, accepted by Physical Review Letters

This paper proposes a fast response high voltage generator for plasma sterilization applications. The proposed high voltage generator adopts a boost/flyback hybrid converter, which is formed by switch integration technique. In addition, the proposed converter can use an active clamp circuit to recover the energies trapped in the leakage inductors of coupled inductor and transformer. With this approach, the proposed one can use a less component count to achieve a higher efficiency. In order to speed up output response, secondary winding of transformer in flyback converter adopts a multiwinding method in secondary winding. Moreover, to meet plasma sterilization, the proposed generator uses a voltage regulation to limit the maximum output voltage and a current regulation to protect the proposed one when it is operation within the sterilization interval. Finally, a prototype under maximum output voltage of 30kV and maximum output current of 5mA has been implemented to verify the feasibility of the plasma sterilization applications using the proposed high voltage generator.

In drylands, wind, sand burial and grazing are three important factors affecting growth and mechanical properties of plants, but their interactive effects have not yet been investigated. Plants of the semi-shrub Cynanchum komarovii, common in semi-arid parts of NE Asia, were subjected to brushing, burial and defoliation. We measured biomass allocation and relative increment rates of dry mass (RGR(m)), height (RGR(h)) and basal diameter (RGR(d)). We also measured the stem mechanical properties, Young's modulus (E), second moment of area (I), flexural stiffness (EI) and breaking stress (σ(b)), and scaled these traits to the whole-plant level to determine the maximum lateral force (F(lateral)) and the buckling safety factor (BSF). Brushing increased RGR(m); neither burial nor defoliation independently affected RGR(m), but together they reduced it. Among buried plants, brushing positively affected stem rigidity and strength through increasing RGR(d), E, I and EI, and at whole plant level this resulted in a larger BSF and F(lateral). However, among unburied plants this pattern was not observed. Our results thus show that effects of mechanical stress and grazing on plants can be strongly modified by burial, and these interactions should be taken into account when considering adaptive significance of plant mechanical traits in drylands.

The NHE2 isoform of the Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) displays two proline-rich sequences in its C-terminal region that resemble SH3 (Src homology 3)-binding domains. We investigated whether these regions (743PPSVTPAP750, termed Pro-1, and 786VPPKPPP792, termed Pro-2) can bind to SH3 domains and whether they are essential for NHE2 function and targeting. A fusion protein containing the Pro-1 region showed promiscuous binding to SH3 domains of several proteins in vitro, whereas a Pro-2 fusion bound preferentially to domains derived from kinases. In contrast, cytoplasmic regions of NHE1, NHE3, or NHE4 failed to interact. When expressed in antiporter-deficient cells, truncated NHE2 lacking both Pro-rich regions catalyzed Na+/H+ exchange, retained sensitivity to intracellular ATP, and was activated by hyperosmolarity, resembling full-length NHE2. The role of the Pro-rich regions in subcellular targeting was examined by transfection of epitope-tagged forms of NHE2 in porcine renal epithelial LLC-PK1 cells. Both full-length and Pro-2-truncated NHE2 localized almost exclusively to the apical membrane. By contrast, a mutant devoid of both Pro-1 and Pro-2 was preferentially sorted to the basolateral surface but also accumulated intracellularly. These observations indicate that the region encompassing Pro-1 is essential for appropriate subcellular targeting of NHE2.

We recently identified a region within the cytoplasmic C-terminal tail of the Na+/H+ exchanger NHE3 isoform (residues 579 to 684) which is essential for inhibition of transport activity by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) (Cabado, A. G., Yu, F. H., Kapus, A., Gergely, L., Grinstein, S., and Orlowski, J. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 3590-3599). To further define determinants of PKA regulation, six serine residues located in potential recognition sequences for PKA within, or adjacent to, this region (positions 552, 605, 634, 661, 690, and 691) were altered either independently or in various combinations using site-directed mutagenesis. Wild type and mutant NHE3s tagged with the influenza virus hemagglutinin epitope were stably expressed in exchanger-deficient Chinese hamster ovary cells (AP-1) for functional studies. Of the individual mutations examined, only substitutions at Ser605 or Ser634 affected sensitivity to forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase, although partial inhibition of NHE3 activity by forskolin remained. By contrast, simultaneous mutation of both these serines completely abolished cAMP-mediated inhibition of NHE3 without greatly affecting basal transport activity. Two-dimensional analysis of tryptic digests of immunoprecipitated NHE3 labeled in vivo with [32P]orthophosphate revealed several phosphopeptides under basal conditions. Phosphorylation was increased approximately 3-fold in one of these peptides following forskolin treatment, and this change was eliminated by mutation of residue Ser605. Thus, phosphorylation of Ser605 is essential for cAMP-mediated inhibition of NHE3. In addition, Ser634 is also required for the effect of cAMP, even though this residue does not become phosphorylated upon activation of PKA.