Efficient analysis of 51V solid-state MAS NMR spectra using genetic algorithms

A program for iterative fitting procedures to determine the NMR parameters from ⁵¹V solid-state MAS NMR spectra was developed. It contains options to use genetic algorithms and downhill-simplex optimizing procedures to extract the optimal parameter sets, which describe our spectra. As computational kernel the SIMPSON program is employed. Other kernels like SPINEVOLUTION are easily incorporable. The algorithms are checked for their suitability for the present optimization problem and optimal simulation conditions are determined, with the focus on minimal processing time. The procedure leads to a very good agreement between experimental and simulated spectra in a passable period of time. First results for spectra of model compounds for the active site of vanadium haloperoxidases are presented.     

The virtual NMR spectrometer: a computer program for efficient simulation of NMR experiments involving pulsed field gradients

This paper presents a software program, the Virtual NMR Spectrometer, for computer simulation of multichannel, multidimensional NMR experiments on user-defined spin systems. The program is capable of reproducing most features of the modern NMR experiment, including homo- and heteronuclear pulse sequences, phase cycling, pulsed field gradients, and shaped pulses. Two different approaches are implemented to simulate the effect of pulsed field gradients on coherence selection, an explicit calculation of all coherence transfer pathways, and an effective approximate method using integration over multiple positions in the sample. The applications of the Virtual NMR Spectrometer are illustrated using homonuclear COSY and DQF COSY experiments with gradient selection, heteronuclear HSQC, and TROSY. The program uses an intuitive graphical user interface, which resembles the appearance and operation of a real spectrometer. A translator is used to allow the user to design pulse sequences with the same programming language used in the actual experiment on a real spectrometer. The Virtual NMR Spectrometer is designed as a useful tool for developing new NMR experiments and for tuning and adjusting the experimental setup for existing ones prior to running costly NMR experiments, in order to reduce the setup time on a real spectrometer. It will also be a useful aid for learning the general principles of magnetic resonance and contemporary innovations in NMR pulse sequence design.     

Quantum Logic Gates and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Pulse Sequences

There has recently been considerable interest in the use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) as a technology for the implementation of small quantum computers. These computers operate by the laws of quantum mechanics, rather than classical mechanics and can be used to implement new quantum algorithms. Here we describe how NMR in principle can be used to implement all the elements required to build quantum computers, and draw comparisons between the pulse sequences involved and those of more conventional NMR experiments.     

A generalized approach to automated NMR peak list editing: application to reduced dimensionality triple resonance spectra

We present an algorithm and program called Pattern Picker that performs editing of raw peak lists derived from multidimensional NMR experiments with characteristic peak patterns. Pattern Picker detects groups of correlated peaks within peak lists from reduced dimensionality triple resonance (RD-TR) NMR spectra, with high fidelity and high yield. With typical quality RD-TR NMR data sets, Pattern Picker performs almost as well as human analysis, and is very robust in discriminating real peak sets from noise and other artifacts in unedited peak lists. The program uses a depth-first search algorithm with short-circuiting to efficiently explore a search tree representing every possible combination of peaks forming a group. The Pattern Picker program is particularly valuable for creating an automated peak picking/editing process. The Pattern Picker algorithm can be applied to a broad range of experiments with distinct peak patterns including RD, G-matrix Fourier transformation (GFT) NMR spectra, and experiments to measure scalar and residual dipolar coupling, thus promoting the use of experiments that are typically harder for a human to analyze. Since the complexity of peak patterns becomes a benefit rather than a drawback, Pattern Picker opens new opportunities in NMR experiment design.     

Numerical simulation of NQR/NMR: Applications in quantum computing

A numerical simulation program able to simulate nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) as well as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments is presented, written using the Mathematica package, aiming especially applications in quantum computing. The program makes use of the interaction picture to compute the effect of the relevant nuclear spin interactions, without any assumption about the relative size of each interaction. This makes the program flexible and versatile, being useful in a wide range of experimental situations, going from NQR (at zero or under small applied magnetic field) to high-field NMR experiments. Some conditions specifically required for quantum computing applications are implemented in the program, such as the possibility of use of elliptically polarized radiofrequency and the inclusion of first- and second-order terms in the average Hamiltonian expansion. A number of examples dealing with simple NQR and quadrupole-perturbed NMR experiments are presented, along with the proposal of experiments to create quantum pseudopure states and logic gates using NQR. The program and the various application examples are freely available through the link http://www.profanderson.net/files/nmr_nqr.php.     

液体多脉冲及二维FT-NMR实验的乘积算符描述的计算机模拟

本文报道了利用乘积算符方法分析多脉冲及二维FT-NMR实验的模拟程序PROPER-MT.该程序对分析弱耦合I_mS_n(I=1/2;S=(1)/2;1 ≤ m十n<4)自旋体系实验脉冲序列是普遍适用的;它可给出实验过程中体系任何时刻算符的解析表达式.用PROPER-MT程序对一些典型的多脉冲及二维FT-NMR实验进行了模拟,特别对多量子滤波及多自旋滤波脉冲序列进行了分析计算,得到了预期的结果.     

基于WATERGATE的双溶剂峰抑制方法

WATERGATE（W3/W5）是NMR实验中使用较为广泛的溶剂峰抑制方法,但该方法通常仅能对一个溶剂信号进行有效抑制. 本文对WATERGATE的脉冲序列进行修饰、优化,发展了两种新的双溶剂峰抑制方法. 实验结果表明,经过修饰、优化后的WATERGATE,实验的设立非常简单,不需要复杂的优化过程就能够对双（多）溶剂峰进行有效抑制, 可用于常规1D & 2D NMR 实验、HPLC NMR实验,以及天然产物粗提取物的分析中.     

四维NMR谱

尽管３ＤＮＭＲ谱的分辨率有所提高，但解释较大的三维异核ＮＭＲ谱时，仍存在含糊性。因此，人们希望通过增加维数进一步提高分辨率，在最近几年中出现了４ＤＮＭＲ谱，４ＤＮＭＲ谱常常是说明２ＤＮＭＲ谱的方法，４ＤＮＭＲ实验可简单地看作是由三个２ＤＮＭＲ实验所组成，新的４ＤＮＭＲ技术仍在不断地发展，已有许多将４ＤＮＭＲ谱应用于蛋白质及核酸研究的报道。     

A low-field, low-cost Halbach magnet array for open-access NMR

A working prototype of a novel low-cost Halbach-array-based NMR system is described. The new design provides open access to the sample relative to conventional NMR magnet designs and this facilitates the simultaneous use of multi-sensor techniques on the same sample, in which NMR/MRI can potentially be combined with other spectroscopies such as impedance spectroscopy, laser scattering and rheological experiments.     

Compressed sensing and the reconstruction of ultrafast 2D NMR data: Principles and biomolecular applications

A topic of active investigation in 2D NMR relates to the minimum number of scans required for acquiring this kind of spectra, particularly when these are dictated by sampling rather than by sensitivity considerations. Reductions in this minimum number of scans have been achieved by departing from the regular sampling used to monitor the indirect domain, and relying instead on non-uniform sampling and iterative reconstruction algorithms. Alternatively, so-called "ultrafast" methods can compress the minimum number of scans involved in 2D NMR all the way to a minimum number of one, by spatially encoding the indirect domain information and subsequently recovering it via oscillating field gradients. Given ultrafast NMR's simultaneous recording of the indirect- and direct-domain data, this experiment couples the spectral constraints of these orthogonal domains - often calling for the use of strong acquisition gradients and large filter widths to fulfill the desired bandwidth and resolution demands along all spectral dimensions. This study discusses a way to alleviate these demands, and thereby enhance the method's performance and applicability, by combining spatial encoding with iterative reconstruction approaches. Examples of these new principles are given based on the compressed-sensed reconstruction of biomolecular 2D HSQC ultrafast NMR data, an approach that we show enables a decrease of the gradient strengths demanded in this type of experiments by up to 80%.     

Four complementary theoretical approaches for the analysis of NMR paramagnetic relaxation

Four theoretical and computational approaches used at the University of Michigan to analyze NMR paramagnetic relaxation enhancement (NMR-PRE) are described. The primary objective of the theory is to describe the relationship of the NMR-PRE phenomenon to the electron spin hamiltonian and the spin energy level structure when zero field splitting interactions are significant. Four formulations of theory are discussed: (1) spin dynamics simulation; (2) the laboratory frame "constant H(S)" formulation; (3) the Molecular Frame "constant H(S)" formulation; and (4) the zfs-limit "constant H(S)" formulation. No single theoretical approach describes all important aspects of the relaxation mechanism in a fully satisfactory way. We use the four formulations in a complementary manner to provide as complete a picture of the relaxation mechanism as possible. We also discuss the integration of NMR-PRE theory and recently developed theory of electron spin relaxation which accounts for effects of the permanent zfs hamiltonian.     

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.     

High-Temperature Pulsed-Field-Gradient Multidimensional NMR of Polymers

The application of pulsed-field-gradient (PFG) techniques has been particularly important in providing the ability to detect 2D and 3D NMR cross peaks from minor structural components in synthetic organic polymers. The lack of mobility in a large percentage of polymers leads to rapid T2 relaxation which prevents the use of pulse sequences, such as the HMBC experiment, that operate based on coherence transfer via small, long-range J couplings. High-temperature NMR increases molecular motion with corresponding line narrowing (e.g., polyethylenes are typically analyzed at 120 degrees C). However, until now, the requirement for high temperature has precluded the use of PFG methods. Here we present data from a new probe which is capable of performing high-temperature PFG coherence selection experiments at temperatures typical of those used in many polymer analyses. We illustrate the performance of this probe with PFG-HMBC spectra of a copolymer from ethylene/1-hexene/1-butene at 120 degrees C.     

Internet Technology in Magnetic Resonance: A Common Gateway Interface Program for the World-Wide Web NMR Spectrometer

A custom-written Common Gateway Interface (CGI) program for remote control of an NMR spectrometer using a World Wide Web browser has been described. The program, running on a UNIX workstation, uses multiple processes to handle concurrent tasks of interacting with the user and with the spectrometer. The program's parent process communicates with the browser and sends out commands to the spectrometer; the child process is mainly responsible for data acquisition. Communication between the processes is via the shared memory mechanism. The WWW pages that have been developed for the system make use of the frames feature of web browsers. The CGI program provides an intuitive user interface to the NMR spectrometer, making, in effect, a complex system an easy-to-use Web appliance.     

利用NMR谱仪及模拟机实现量子算法

报道了利用NMR谱仪和NMR模拟机实现量子算法.以天然苯为样品,我们分别用500 M谱仪和NMR模拟机实现了量子D-J算法,Grover搜寻算法及受控非门(C NOT).通过比较实验谱和模拟谱发现二者能很好符合.利用NMR模拟机实现量子算法比用NMR谱仪更为方便、清晰.     

Capillary scale NMR flow mapping

Stopped-flow NMR at capillary scale has many advantages over traditional methods of introducing the sample into the probe, particularly when large numbers of samples must be examined. This work describes application of a simple method for direct visualization of a sample inside the flow cell of flow NMR systems to capillary scale analysis. We describe the details of the method and show how it can be used to measure the optimum flow rate for a capillary NMR system and how to determine the optimum sampling efficiency for small samples.     

Modeling of NMR processing, toward efficient unattended processing of NMR experiments

Many alternative processing techniques have recently been proposed in the literature. Most of these techniques rely on specific acquisition protocols as well as on specific data processing techniques, the need for an efficient versatile and expandable NMR processing tool would be a particularly timely addition to the modern NMR spectroscopy laboratory. The work presented here consists in a modeling of the various possible NMR data processing approaches. This modeling presents a common working frame for most of the modern acquisition/processing protocols. Two different data modeling approaches are presented, strong modeling and weak modeling, depending whether the system under study or the measurement is modeled. The emphasis is placed on the weak modeling approach. This modeling is implemented in a computer program developed in python and called NPK standing (standing for NMR Processing Kernel), organized in four logical layers (i) mathematical kernel; (ii) elementary actions; (iii) processing phases; (iv) processing strategies. This organisation, along with default values for most processing parameters allows the use of the program in an unattended manner, producing close to optimal spectra. Examples are shown for 1D and 2D processing, and liquid and solid NMR spectroscopy. NPK is available from the site: http://abcis.cbs.cnrs.fr/NPK.     

Single-scan 2D DOSY NMR spectroscopy

Spatial encoding is a particular kind of spin manipulation that enables the acquisition of multidimensional NMR spectra within a single scan. This encoding has been shown to possess a general applicability and to enable the completion of arbitrary nD NMR acquisitions within a single transient. The present study explores its potential towards the acquisition of 2D DOSY spectra, where the indirect dimension is meant to encode molecular displacements rather than a coherent spin evolution. We find that in its simplest form this extension shows similarities with methods that have been recently discussed for the single-scan acquisition of this kind of traces; still, a number of advantageous features are also evidenced by the “ultrafast” modality hereby introduced. The principles underlying the operation of this new single-scan 2D DOSY approach are discussed, its use is illustrated with a variety of sequences and of samples, the limitations of this new experiment are noted, and potential extensions of the methodology are mentioned.     

通过HSQC和1H,13C-COSY叠合增强二维谱分辨率的方法

通常二维谱F₁维分辨率较差,F₂维分辨率较好. 即HSQC实验¹³C维度分辨率较差,¹H维度分辨率较好. 而¹H, ¹³C-COSY实验¹³C维度分辨率较好,¹H维度分辨率较差. 提出一种通过HSQC和¹H, ¹³C-COSY叠合,取较弱的值储存并显示的方法增强分辨率,采用Bruker Topspin软件AU程序实现. 该方法在不明显增加采样时间的情况下,可显著增强分辨率,信噪比也没有降低. 同时抑制了F₁噪声. 处理后,谱图美观清晰.     

Validity of NMR pore-size analysis of cultural heritage ancient building materials containing magnetic impurities

NMR relaxation time distributions, obtained with laboratory and portable devices, are utilized to characterize the pore-size distributions of building materials coming from the Roman remains of the Greek-Roman Theatre of Taormina. To validate the interpretation of relaxation data in terms of pore-size distribution, comparison of results from standard and in situ NMR experiments with results of the mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) has been made. Although the pore-size distributions can be obtained by NMR in terms of either longitudinal (T₁) or transverse (T₂) relaxation times distributions, the shorter duration of the T₂ measurement makes it, in principle, preferable, although the determination of T₂ distributions is not necessarily an easy alternative to finding T₁ distributions. Among other things, the T₁ distribution is almost independent of the inhomogeneity of the magnetic field, while the T₂ distribution is strongly influenced by it. This paper was aimed at answering two questions: what are the validity limits to interpret NMR data in terms of pore-size distributions and whether the portable device can successfully be applied as a non-destructive and non-invasive tool for in situ NMR analysis of building materials, particularly those of Cultural Heritage interest.