Assessing signal enhancement in distant dipolar field-based sequences

The possibility of improving the signal-to-noise efficiency of NMR signal refocused by long-range dipolar interactions has been discussed recently [R.T. Branca, G. Galiana, W.S. Warren, Signal enhancement in CRAZED experiments, J. Magn. Reson. 187 (2007) 38-43]. For systems where T(1)>T(2), by including an extra radio-frequency pulse in a standard CRAZED sequence, it is possible to increase the available signal by exploiting its sensitivity to T(1) relaxation. Here, we use analytical calculations to investigate the source of this improved signal and determine the maximum enhancement provided by the method.     

Characterization and adsorption capacity of Brazilian kaolin

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - This study has evaluated chemical, radiological composition and determined the cation exchange capacity (CEC) for three commercially available...     

Bioactive Properties and Phenolic Compound Profiles of Turnip-Rooted,Plain-Leafed and Curly-Leafed Parsley Cultivars

Petroselinum crispum Mill., Fuss., is a culinary vegetable used as an aromatic herb that garnishes and flavours a great variety of dishes. In the present study, the chemical profiles and bioactivities of leaf samples from 25 cultivars (three types: plain- and curly-leafed and turnip-rooted) from this species were assessed. Seven phenolic compounds were identified in all the varieties, including apigenin and kaempherol derivates. Apigenin-O-pentoside-O-hexoside was the major compound in all the tested parsley types (20, 22 and 13 mg/g of extract, respectively) and responsible for its excellent antioxidant activity, also investigated in this study. Antimicrobial activities were also explored, and the results revealed a good bioactivity against specific tested pathogens, such as bacteria and fungi. In conclusion, the leaves of all the types of P. crispum are a good source of natural bioactive compounds that confer health benefits, and thus, they should be part of a balanced and diversified diet.     

Flow-through amperometric methods for detection of the bioactive compound quercetin: performance of glassy carbon and screen-printed carbon electrodes

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Rapid methods using batch injection analysis (BIA) with amperometric detection were developed for the determination of quercetin extracted from the...     

Metal complexes of 6-chloropurine

Summary Five Cu(II), Pd(II), Cd(II), Pt(IV), and Au(III) complexes of 6-chloropurine have been obtained. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR,¹H-NMR and¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. On the basis of these data the structure of the complexes and the coordination of the ligand have been proposed. Thus, the physical and chemical methods supported evidence that in acidic medium, with exception of the Cu(II) complex, 6-chloropurine acts in the monoprotonated form neutralizing the charge of [PdCl₄]^2–, [CdCl₄]^2–, [AuCl₄]^– and [PtCl₆]^2– anions. The thermal behaviour of the complexes has also been studied.

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Metallkomplexe von 6-Chlorpurin

Zusammenfassung Es wurden fünf Komplexe von 6-Chlorpurin mit Cu(II), Pd(II), Cd(II), Pt(IV) und Au(III) erhalten. Die Komplexe wurden mittels Elementaranalysen, IR,¹H-NMR und¹³C-NMR charakterisiert. Auf der Basis dieser Daten wurde eine Komplexstruktur und eine bestimmte Koordination der Liganden vorgeschlagen. Physikalische und chemische Methoden beweisen, daß im sauren Bereich [mit der Ausnahme von Cu(II)] das 6-Chlorpurin in der monoprotonierten Form koordiniert, wobei die Ladung von [PdCl₄]^2–, [CdCl₄]^2–, [AuCl₄]^– und [PtCl₆]^2– jeweils neutralisiert wird. Das thermische Verhalten der Komplexe wurde ebenfalls untersucht.

     

Mechanical Behavior of Polymer Gels for RDCs and RCSAs Collection: NMR Imaging Study of Buckling Phenomena

Anisotropic NMR parameters, such as residual dipolar couplings (RDCs), residual chemical shift anisotropies (RCSAs) and residual quadrupolar couplings (RQCs or Δν_Q), appear in solution‐state NMR when the molecules under study are subjected to a degree of order. The tunable alignment by reversible compression/relaxation of gels (PMMA and p‐HEMA) is an easy, user‐friendly, and very affordable method to measure them. When using this method, a fraction of isotropic NMR signals is observed in the NMR spectra, even at a maximum degree of compression. To explain the origin of these isotropic signals we decided to investigate their physical location inside the NMR tube using deuterium 1D imaging and MRI micro‐imaging experiments. It was observed that after a certain degree of compression the gels start to buckle and they generate pockets of isotropic solvent, which are never eliminated. The amount of buckling depends on the amount of cross‐linker and the length of the gel.     

A semi-empirical approach to determine gamma activities in environmental cylindrical samples

A semi-empirical method to determine radionuclide concentrations in large environmental samples without the use of reference material and avoiding the typical complexity of Monte-Carlo codes is proposed. The calculation of full-energy peak efficiencies was carried out from a relative efficiency curve (obtained from the gamma spectra data), and the geometric (simulated by Monte-Carlo), absorption, sample and intrinsic efficiencies for energies between 130 and 3000 keV. The absorption and sample efficiencies were determined from the mass absorption coefficients, whereas the intrinsic efficiency was approximated by an empirical function. The deviations between calculated and experimental efficiencies for a reference material in most cases are less than 10%. Radionuclide activities in marine sediment samples calculated by the proposed method and by the experimental comparative method were not significantly different. This new method can be used for routine environmental monitoring when uncertainties up to 10% are acceptable.     

Mössbauer spectroscopy on the double substituted lithium ferrite Li[Fe0.9(AlxGa1−x)0.1]5O8

Room temperature Mössbauer spectra of Ga and Al substituted lithium ferrite Li[Fe_0.9(Al_xGa_1?x)_0.1]₅O₈ with x = 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 are reported. It is shown that the varying covalence of bonds caused by gallium and aluminium ions can explain the observed values of hyperfine fields and isomer-shifts.     

Luminescence of Fe3+ in single crystals of LiAl5O8

We have measured the luminescent properties of single crystals of LiAl₅O₈:Fe³⁺. In addition to a zero-phonon line due to Fe³⁺ in A-sites, we have observed another sharp fluorescent line at 699.2 nm which we assign to Fe³⁺ occupying B-sites. The excitation spectrum of the B-site Fe³⁺ shows characteristics similar to those of the A-site Fe³⁺ but are also shifted towards longer wavelengths. The spectra of the single crystals are compared with those of ordered and disordered powder samples.