Single-sided sensor for high-resolution NMR spectroscopy

The unavoidable spatial inhomogeneity of the static magnetic field generated by open sensors has precluded their use for high-resolution NMR spectroscopy. In fact, this application was deemed impossible because these field variations are usually orders of magnitude larger than those created by the microscopic structure of the molecules to be detected. Recently, chemical shift resolved NMR spectra were observed for the first time outside a portable single-sided magnet by implementing a method that exploits inhomogeneities in the rf field designed to reproduce variations of the static magnetic field. In this communication, we describe in detail the magnet system built from permanent magnets as well as the rf coil geometry used to compensate the static field variations.     

Direct Determination of Motional Correlation Times by 1D MAS and 2D Exchange NMR Techniques

One- and two-dimensional static and magic-angle spinning (MAS) exchange NMR experiments for quantifying slow (τ_c> 1 ms) molecular reorientation dynamics are analyzed, emphasizing the extent to which motional correlation times can be extracteddirectlyfrom the experimental data. The static two-dimensional (2D) exchange NMR experiment provides geometric information, as well as exchange time scales via straightforward and model-free application of Legendre-type orientational autocorrelation functions, particularly for axially symmetric interaction tensors, as often encountered in solid-state²H and¹³C NMR. Under conditions of MAS, increased sensitivity yields higher signal-to-noise spectra, with concomitant improvement in the precision and speed of correlation time measurements, although at the expense of reduced angular (geometric) resolution. For random jump motions, one-dimensional (1D)exchange-inducedsidebands (EIS)¹³C NMR and the recently developed ODESSA and time-reverse ODESSA experiments complement the static and MAS two-dimensional exchange NMR experiments by providing faster means of obtaining motional correlation times. For each of these experiments, the correlation time of a dynamic process may be obtained from a simple exponential fit to the integrated peak intensities measured as a function of mixing time. This is demonstrated on polycrystalline dimethylsulfone, where the reorientation rates from EIS, ODESSA, time-reverse ODESSA, and 2D exchange are shown to be equivalent and consistent with literature values. In the analysis, the advantages and limitations of the different methods are compared and discussed.     

Potential hazards of NMR imaging. No evidence of the possible effects of static and changing magnetic fields on cardiac function of the rat and guinea pig

Clinical proton NMR imaging uses magnetic field strengths in the range 0.1 to 0.5 T. In addition to the large static magnetic field, patients are exposed to magnetic field gradients during imaging and under extreme conditions, such as power failure or quenching, the field may collapse precipitously. A potential source of hazard to patients under these conditions is the induction of thoracic currents which may trigger ventricular fibrillation. In the present experiments, a 0.16 T resistive magnet with a time constant of 60 ms, powered by a programmable power supply, was used to examine any possible effects of static and changing magnetic field on the ECG and arterial blood pressure of anesthetized rats and guinea pigs. Animals were exposed to the following field conditions: static fields of 0.16 T; sine, triangular, and square wave modulated fields from 0.1 to 2 Hz; rapid field switches in excess of 2.0 T/s for 25 ms timed to occur at different stages of the cardiac cycle, including the vulnerable period during ventricular repolarization; and AC fields of 50 Hz. No change was observed in the blood pressure, heart rate, or ECG under any of the field conditions examined.     

Variable temperature system using vortex tube cooling and fiber optic temperature measurement for low temperature magic angle spinning NMR

We describe the construction and operation of a variable temperature (VT) system for a high field fast magic angle spinning (MAS) probe. The probe is used in NMR investigations of biological macromolecules, where stable setting and continuous measurement of the temperature over periods of several days are required in order to prevent sample overheating and degradation. The VT system described is used at and below room temperature. A vortex tube is used to provide cooling in the temperature range of -20 to 20 degrees C, while a liquid nitrogen-cooled heat exchanger is used below -20 degrees C. Using this arrangement, the lowest temperature that is practically achievable is -140 degrees C. Measurement of the air temperature near the spinning rotor is accomplished using a fiber optic thermometer that utilizes the temperature dependence of the absorption edge of GaAs. The absorption edge of GaAs also has a magnetic field dependence that we have measured and corrected for. This dependence was calibrated at several field strengths using the well-known temperature dependence of the (1)H chemical shift difference of the protons in methanol.     

NMR永磁体精密温度控制器的设计与实现

低场核磁共振（low-field NMR）谱仪常采用钕铁硼（NdFeB）永磁体提供静磁场.NdFeB对温度非常敏感,磁体温度变化会引起磁场漂移,影响NMR实验的可靠性.为提高低场磁共振谱仪的稳定性,本文提出了一种基于双回路控制算法的磁共振永磁体精密温度控制方案,并在0.06 T磁共振谱仪上进行验证.结果表明：24 h内控温精度达到±0.005℃;相比无温控时,质子共振频率0.5 h内漂移量由255 Hz减小至15 Hz,24 h内漂移量由4 950 Hz减小至145 Hz,有效提高了低场磁共振谱仪永磁体的稳定性.     

在线近红外光谱在我国中药研究和生产中应用现状与展望

中药生产过程具有多单元复杂性特点,制剂生产的各个环节均会影响中药产品的最终质量,在线近红外光谱技术具有快速、无损和不污染环境等优势,能够作为一种快速评价中药生产过程中关键质量属性的分析技术。以院校相关研究为切入点,系统阐述了在线近红外光谱技术在中药生产过程分析与控制方面的应用,并结合院校中药生产在线近红外光谱分析平台搭建为例,以此为依据阐明中药在线近红外光谱分析技术应用的可行性。进而,从企业应用角度出发,较为全面的综述了目前国内大多数应用在线近红外光谱技术的中药生产企业的研究成果及其中药产品。按照中药产品的两大剂型(液体制剂与固体制剂)进行分类,以液体制剂不同生产环节(提取、浓缩及醇沉等)为区分点,以固体制剂不同成品剂型(片剂、胶囊剂及膏剂等)为区分点,分别对近10年来中药生产过程中在线近红外应用进行系统综述,阐明中药生产全过程在线近红外技术应用的可靠性,为中药生产现代化提供有效的技术支撑。     

Design and application of robust rf pulses for toroid cavity NMR spectroscopy

We present robust radio frequency (rf) pulses that tolerate a factor of six inhomogeneity in the B? field, significantly enhancing the potential of toroid cavity resonators for NMR spectroscopic applications. Both point-to-point (PP) and unitary rotation (UR) pulses were optimized for excitation, inversion, and refocusing using the gradient ascent pulse engineering (GRAPE) algorithm based on optimal control theory. In addition, the optimized parameterization (OP) algorithm applied to the adiabatic BIR-4 UR pulse scheme enabled ultra-short (50 μs) pulses with acceptable performance compared to standard implementations. OP also discovered a new class of non-adiabatic pulse shapes with improved performance within the BIR-4 framework. However, none of the OP-BIR4 pulses are competitive with the more generally optimized UR pulses. The advantages of the new pulses are demonstrated in simulations and experiments. In particular, the DQF COSY result presented here represents the first implementation of 2D NMR spectroscopy using a toroid probe.