Single point measurements of magnetic field gradient waveform

Pulsed magnetic field gradients are fundamental to spatial encoding and diffusion weighting in magnetic resonance. The ideal pulsed magnetic field gradient should have negligible rise and fall times, however, there are physical limits to how fast the magnetic field gradient may change with time. Finite gradient switching times, and transient, secondary, induced magnetic field gradients (eddy currents) alter the ideal gradient waveform and may introduce a variety of undesirable image artifacts. We have developed a new method to measure the complete magnetic field gradient waveform. The measurement employs a heavily doped test sample with short MR relaxation times (T(1), T(2), and T(2)(*)<100 micros) and a series of closely spaced broadband radiofrequency excitations, combined with single point data acquisition. This technique, a measure of evolving signal phase, directly determines the magnetic field gradient waveform experienced by the test sample. The measurement is sensitive to low level transient magnetic fields produced by eddy currents and other short and long time constant non-ideal gradient waveform behaviors. Data analysis is particularly facile permitting a very ready experimental check of gradient performance.     

Electronic effects on the rates of coupled two-electron/halide self-exchange reactions of substituted ruthenocenes

The complexes (MemCp)(MenCp)Ru (m,n = 1,1; 0.4; 0.5; 1.5) have been synthesized along with the corresponding halometalloceniums [(MemCp)(MenCp)RuX]+ (X = Cl, Br, I). The two-electron/halide transfer self-exchange kinetics have been determined and compared to those of the Cp2Ru/[Cp2RuX]+ parent system. Methylation decreases the rate of exchange monotonically, and plots of ln(kex) vs number of methyl groups are linear for constant X. It is concluded that steric effects do not contribute significantly to the observed kinetics. Thermodynamic studies of halide substitution equilibria support the conclusion that the electronic effects of methylation are essentially additive.     

Electrical transport in rings of single-wall nanotubes: one-dimensional localization

We report low-temperature magnetoresistance (MR) measurements on rings of single-wall carbon nanotubes. Negative MR characteristic of weak one-dimensional localization is clearly observed from 3.0 to 60 K, and the coherence length L(varphi) is obtained as a function of temperature. The dominant dephasing mechanism is identified as electron-electron scattering. Below 1 K, we observe a transition from weak to strong localization, and below 0.7 K a weak antilocalization is induced by spin-orbit scattering.     

Thermal rearrangement of dienolesters. Sequential [1.3] sigmatropic rearrangement and intramolecular diels-alder cycloaddition of 1-methylene-2-methyl-2-propenyl hex-5-enoate

The high temperature thermal rearrangement of the title dienol ester is reported. Its reactions entail a [1.3] acyl shift followed by intramolecular Diels-Alder cyclo-addition of the resulting β-diketone.     

The refined lecture hall theorem via abacus diagrams

Bousquet-Mélou & Eriksson’s lecture hall theorem generalizes Euler’s celebrated distinct-odd partition theorem. We present an elementary and transparent proof of a refined version of the lecture hall theorem using a simple bijection involving abacus diagrams.     

Simple and Sensitive Electrochemical DNA Detection of Primer Generation‐Rolling Circle Amplification

A new electrochemical sequence‐specific DNA detection platform based on primer generation‐rolling circle amplification (PG‐RCA), methylene blue (MB) redox indicator, and indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode is reported. In the presence of a specific target sequence, PG‐RCA, an isothermal DNA amplification technique, produced large amounts of amplicons in an exponential manner. In addition to the standard components, the reaction mixture contained MB, which bound with the PG‐RCA amplicons. End‐point electrochemical measurement by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was performed using ITO electrode. The amplicon‐bound MB resulted in a lower DPV signal than free MB due to a smaller diffusion coefficient as well as electrostatic repulsion between the negatively charged amplicon‐bound MB and ITO electrode. With simple assay design (recognition probe) and instrumentation (operating temperature at 37 °C and ITO electrode without the need for probe immobilization), this detection platform is well suited for point‐of‐care and on‐site testing. Real‐time measurement was also achieved by pretreating the ITO electrode with bovine serum albumin.     

Phase transfer catalysts anchored to polystyrene

Quarternary phosphonium and ammonium salts attached to polystyrene resins by short (2 - 3 atom) carbon chains are highly active phase transfer catalysts for a variety of nucleophilic substitution reactions.