Howard M. Foster , Runchao Li , Yushi Wang , Laura Castañar , Mathias Nilsson , Ralph W. Adams , Gareth A. Morris
{"title":"Rationalising spin relaxation during slice-selective refocusing pulses","authors":"Howard M. Foster , Runchao Li , Yushi Wang , Laura Castañar , Mathias Nilsson , Ralph W. Adams , Gareth A. Morris","doi":"10.1016/j.jmr.2024.107789","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jmr.2024.107789","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Slice-selective refocusing pulses are powerful building blocks in contemporary magnetic resonance experiments, but their use in quantitative applications is complicated by the site-dependent signal loss they introduce. One source of this attenuation is the spin relaxation that occurs during such pulses, which causes losses that depend on the specific longitudinal and transverse relaxation time constants for a given resonance. This dependence is complicated both by any amplitude shaping of the radiofrequency pulse, and by the presence of the spatial encoding pulsed field gradient. The latter causes the net signal measured to be the weighted sum of signal contributions from a continuous range of offsets from resonance. In general, each offset will make a different contribution to the overall signal, and will be attenuated by a different mixture of longitudinal and transverse relaxation that is dictated by the different trajectories that the nuclear magnetisations take during experiments. Despite this complex behaviour, we present evidence from experiments and numerical simulations showing that in practical experimental applications a relatively simple empirical function can be used to accurately predict relaxational attenuation during slice-selective refocusing pulses. This approach may be of practical use in correcting for relaxational losses in quantitative applications of slice-selective pulse methods such as Zangger–Sterk pure shift NMR.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16267,"journal":{"name":"Journal of magnetic resonance","volume":"368 ","pages":"Article 107789"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142515402","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Adam R. Altenhof , Qing Yang , Michal Kern , Shaun G. Newman , Jens Anders , Michael W. Malone
{"title":"A high-volume resonator for L-band DNP-NMR","authors":"Adam R. Altenhof , Qing Yang , Michal Kern , Shaun G. Newman , Jens Anders , Michael W. Malone","doi":"10.1016/j.jmr.2024.107788","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jmr.2024.107788","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>DNP-NMR and EPR experiments that operate at or greater than L-band (<em>i.e.,</em> ν<sub>0</sub>(e<sup>−</sup>) = 1–2 GHz) are typically limited to maximum sample volumes of several hundred µL. These experiments rely on well-known resonator designs for DNP/EPR irradiation such as the loop-gap resonator and Alderman-Grant coil, where their maximum volumes limit further application to imaging experiments and high-throughput screening beyond L-band. Herein, we demonstrate a birdcage (BC) resonator design that can accommodate several mL of sample while operating around 1.5 GHz. The sample volume is maximized by using two identical BC resonators in a stacked configuration. Simulations are used to optimize the BC design and the performance is validated experimentally with liquid-state Overhauser-DNP-NMR experiments. This BC design exploits just the parasitic capacitance of conductive rings and features no fixed tuning capacitors. An enhancement of −77 is achieved on a 10 mM 4-Amino-TEMPO in H<sub>2</sub>O sample for a 5 mL sample volume. The associated sample heating is minimal due to the low-<em>E</em>-fields generated and the large sample mass with +3.4 K when driving 100 W for several seconds.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16267,"journal":{"name":"Journal of magnetic resonance","volume":"368 ","pages":"Article 107788"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142515400","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Frequency-independent dual-tuned cable traps for multi-nuclear MRI and MRS","authors":"Yijin Yang , Ming Lu , Xinqiang Yan","doi":"10.1016/j.jmr.2024.107786","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jmr.2024.107786","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) of non-proton nuclei (X-nuclei) typically require additional proton imaging for anatomical reference and B<sub>0</sub> shimming. Therefore, two RF systems exist, necessitating cable traps to block the unwanted common-mode current at both Larmor frequencies of <sup>1</sup>H and X-nuclei. This study introduces a frequency-independent dual-tuned cable trap that combines a standard solenoid cable trap with a float solenoid trap to independently tune high and low frequencies without compromising performance. The methods involved theoretical analysis, electromagnetic simulations, and bench tests. Two design approaches were evaluated: a float cable trap for <sup>1</sup>H, a non-float cable trap for X-nuclei, and vice versa. Results showed that the design with the float trap for X-nuclei and non-float for <sup>1</sup>H had superior performance, with high common-mode current suppression ability at both frequencies. Bench tests confirmed these findings, demonstrating effectiveness across various static fields and X-nuclei. The proposed frequency-independent dual-tuned cable trap provides a compact and efficient solution for multinuclear MRI and MRS, enhancing safety, image quality, and flexibility.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16267,"journal":{"name":"Journal of magnetic resonance","volume":"368 ","pages":"Article 107786"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142432878","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Edward P. Saliba , Ravi Shankar Palani, Robert G. Griffin
{"title":"Homonuclear J-couplings and heteronuclear structural constraints","authors":"Edward P. Saliba , Ravi Shankar Palani, Robert G. Griffin","doi":"10.1016/j.jmr.2024.107785","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jmr.2024.107785","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In magic angle spinning (MAS) experiments involving uniformly <sup>13</sup>C/<sup>15</sup>N labeled proteins, <sup>13</sup>C–<sup>13</sup>C and <sup>13</sup>C–<sup>15</sup>N dipolar recoupling experiments are now routinely used to measure direct dipole–dipole couplings that constrain distances and torsion angles and determine molecular structures. When the distances are short (<4 Å), the direct couplings dominate the evolution of the spin system, and the <sup>13</sup>C–<sup>13</sup>C and <sup>13</sup>C–<sup>15</sup>N J-couplings (scalar couplings) are ignored. However, for structurally interesting >4 Å distances, the dipolar and J-couplings are generally of comparable magnitude, and the variation in J must be included in order to optimize the precision of the experiment. This problem is circumvented in cases with well resolved spectra by using frequency-selective dipolar recoupling methods where the effects of J-couplings are refocused. However, for larger molecules with more spectral crowding, the requisite pulse length to achieve selectivity becomes long and leads to unacceptable sensitivity losses during the pulse or the spectral overlap precludes selective excitation. In this paper, we address this problem with two approaches aimed at facilitating higher precision internuclear distance measurements in systems that are not fully resolved. Namely, (1) we describe an approach for high precision measurements of specific J-couplings using the in-phase anti-phase (IPAP) sequence which is integrated into a non-selective dipolar recoupling technique and (2) we utilize the measured J-couplings to implement a double quantum filter experiment capable of providing the resolution necessary for frequency selective dipolar recoupling techniques without resorting to multidimensional spectroscopy. We illustrate these methods using a 7-peptide segment from the amyloidogenic Sup-35p protein, U-<sup>13</sup>C/<sup>15</sup>N-GNNQQNY, where we have measured 25 of the 27 possible one bond <sup>13</sup>C–<sup>13</sup>C J-couplings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16267,"journal":{"name":"Journal of magnetic resonance","volume":"368 ","pages":"Article 107785"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142515401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mohammad Rasool Vaezi K., Jan G. Korvink, Mazin Jouda
{"title":"Simultaneous multinuclear MRI via a single RF channel","authors":"Mohammad Rasool Vaezi K., Jan G. Korvink, Mazin Jouda","doi":"10.1016/j.jmr.2024.107782","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jmr.2024.107782","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) stands as one of the most powerful noninvasive and non-destructive imaging techniques, finding extensive utility in medical and industrial applications. Its ability to acquire signals from multiple nuclei grants it additional levels of strength by providing multi-dimensional datasets of the object under test. However, this typically requires dedicated hardware to detect each nucleus. In this paper, we report on the use of a digital lock-in amplifier to perform simultaneous multi-nuclear MRI with a single physical radio frequency (RF) channel. While we showcase this concept by demonstrating the results of fully parallel (TX and RX) <sup>1</sup>H and <sup>19</sup>F MRI images, we emphasize that it is not limited to two nuclei but can accommodate more nuclei with no extra cost on the hardware or scan time. The scalability is virtually unlimited, constrained only by the processing speed of the digital unit. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the quality of parallel imaging with SNR of 54 is comparable to the commercial single channel with SNR of 43. Thus with no reduction in imaging quality, the proposed concept promises a tremendous reduction in scan time, system complexity, and hardware costs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16267,"journal":{"name":"Journal of magnetic resonance","volume":"368 ","pages":"Article 107782"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142442903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Optimization of 15N–13C double-resonance NMR experiments under low temperature magic angle spinning dynamic nuclear polarization conditions","authors":"C. Blake Wilson, Robert Tycko","doi":"10.1016/j.jmr.2024.107783","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jmr.2024.107783","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) enhanced magic angle spinning (MAS) solid-state NMR carried out at 25 K enables rapid acquisition of multi-dimensional <sup>13</sup>C–<sup>15</sup>N correlation spectra for protein structure studies and resonance assignment. Under commonly used DNP conditions, solvent deuteration reduces <sup>1</sup>H–<sup>15</sup>N cross polarization (CP) efficiencies, necessitates more careful optimization, and requires longer high-power <sup>15</sup>N radio-frequency pulses. The sensitivity of 2D heteronuclear correlation experiments is potentially impaired. Here we show that 2D <sup>15</sup>N-<sup>13</sup>C experiments based on <sup>13</sup>C-<sup>15</sup>N transferred echo double resonance (TEDOR) methods outperform 2D experiments based on CP transfers in a fully deuterated solvent, and are competitive with CP-based experiments when the solvent is only partially deuterated. Additionally, we show that optimization of TEDOR-based 2D experiments is simpler than optimization of CP-based experiments under 25 K MAS conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16267,"journal":{"name":"Journal of magnetic resonance","volume":"368 ","pages":"Article 107783"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142396349","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"In Memoriam: Professor Vladimír Sklenář (April 16, 1951 – April 13, 2024)","authors":"Ad Bax , Juli Feigon","doi":"10.1016/j.jmr.2024.107784","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jmr.2024.107784","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16267,"journal":{"name":"Journal of magnetic resonance","volume":"368 ","pages":"Article 107784"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142402510","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Antonio Barbon , Grigory A. Rusetsky , Sveva Linarello , Roman Strzelczyk , Ryhor Fedaruk
{"title":"Peculiarities in Rabi oscillations for fast-relaxing electron spins","authors":"Antonio Barbon , Grigory A. Rusetsky , Sveva Linarello , Roman Strzelczyk , Ryhor Fedaruk","doi":"10.1016/j.jmr.2024.107781","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jmr.2024.107781","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rabi oscillations (transient nutations) are a phenomenon that has proven itself well in EPR for identifying electron spin quantum numbers and electron-spin transitions. They are successfully applied when the Rabi frequency significantly exceeds the spin relaxation rates and therefore does not depend on these rates. However, the short transverse relaxation time, being comparable to or even shorter than the dead time of EPR spectrometers, makes it difficult to observe Rabi oscillations and their frequency depends not only on the intensity of the short microwave pulse, but also on its shape and relaxation rates. Two techniques are considered that are suitable for this case, in which Rabi oscillations are detected by monitoring the FID amplitude as a function of pulse duration or microwave field amplitude. We describe the FID-detected Rabi oscillations analytically or numerically for rectangular or shaped pulses, respectively. The description is confirmed by EPR experiments using DPPH as a model sample.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16267,"journal":{"name":"Journal of magnetic resonance","volume":"368 ","pages":"Article 107781"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142368052","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The matrix pencil as a tunable filter","authors":"S.N. Fricke , B.J. Balcom , D.C. Kaseman , M.P. Augustine","doi":"10.1016/j.jmr.2024.107780","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jmr.2024.107780","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite inherent sensitivity constraints, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) plays an indispensable role in probing molecular structures and dynamics across scientific disciplines. Remarkably, while extensive efforts have targeted instrumental and experimental sensitivity improvements, comparatively little focus has been dedicated to sensitivity enhancement through signal analysis. Amidst this present gap, the matrix pencil method (MPM) has emerged as a versatile algorithm that offers tunable filtering and phasing capabilities. Extensive prior research has established the MPM as an adept fitting tool in signal analysis. Here, the efficacy of the MPM is investigated by precisely modeling noisy data to separate information-bearing signals from noise, thereby expanding its utility in various magnetic resonance applications. Simulated data is used to confirm the ability of the MPM to discern and separate signals from noise. Comparative analyses against standard Fourier-based filtering methods highlight the superior performance of the matrix pencil filter (MPF) in preserving signal fidelity without introducing aliasing artifacts. A variety of experimental data is then explored to demonstrate the proficiency of the MPF in characterizing signal components and correcting phase distortions. Collectively, these case studies underscore the filtering capacity of the MPM, portending its use for analytical sensitivity improvements in a wide range of NMR applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16267,"journal":{"name":"Journal of magnetic resonance","volume":"368 ","pages":"Article 107780"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142326692","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
H. Nguyen, E.N. Bassey, E.E. Foley, D.A. Kitchaev, R. Giovine, R.J. Clément
{"title":"Operando electron spin probes for the study of battery processes","authors":"H. Nguyen, E.N. Bassey, E.E. Foley, D.A. Kitchaev, R. Giovine, R.J. Clément","doi":"10.1016/j.jmr.2024.107772","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jmr.2024.107772","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><em>Operando</em> electron spin probes, namely magnetometry and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), provide real-time insights into the electrochemical processes occurring in battery materials and devices. In this work, we describe the design criteria and outline the development of <em>operando</em> magnetometry and EPR electrochemical cells. Notably, we show that a clamping mechanism, or springs, are needed to achieve sufficient compression of the battery stack and an electrochemical performance on par with that of a standard Swagelok-type cell. The tandem use of <em>operando</em> EPR and magnetometry allows us to identify five distinct and reversible redox processes taking place on charge and discharge of the intercalation-type LiNi<sub>0.5</sub>Mn<sub>0.5</sub>O<sub>2</sub> Li-ion cathode. While redox processes in conversion-type electrodes are notoriously difficult to investigate using standard characterization methods (e.g. X-ray based) and/or <em>post mortem</em> analysis, due to the formation of poorly crystalline and metastable reaction intermediates and products during cycling, we show that <em>operando</em> magnetometry provides unique insight into the kinetics and reversibility of Fe nanoparticle formation in the Na<sub>3</sub>FeF<sub>6</sub> electrode for Na-based batteries. Step increases in the cell magnetization upon extended cycling indicate the build-up of Fe nanoparticles in the system, hinting at only partially reversible charge–discharge processes. The broad applicability of the tools developed herein to a range of electrode chemistries and structures, from intercalation to conversion electrodes, and from crystalline to amorphous systems, makes them particularly promising for the development of electrochemical energy storage technologies and beyond.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":16267,"journal":{"name":"Journal of magnetic resonance","volume":"368 ","pages":"Article 107772"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090780724001563/pdfft?md5=9fe9fcb759db21e365298307ee6aa606&pid=1-s2.0-S1090780724001563-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142272323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}