A compact X-Band ODNP spectrometer towards hyperpolarized H spectroscopy.

The demand for compact benchtop NMR systems that can resolve chemical shift differences in the ppm to sub-ppm range is growing. However due to material and size restrictions these magnets are limited in field strength and thus in signal intensity and quality. The implementation of standard hyperpolarization techniques is a next step in an effort to boost the signal.

Variable magnet arrays to passively shim compact permanent-yoke magnets.

C-shaped permanent magnets offer a compromise between sample accessability and field strength as well as homogeneity compared to single-sided devices or Halbach arrays. A new approach to passively shim C-shaped dipole magnets is presented. It relies on the magnet poles being constructed from a set of adjustable magnet elements.

Effect of nitroxide spin probes on the transport properties of Nafion membranes.

Nafion is the most common material used as a proton exchange membrane in fuel cells. Yet, details of the transport pathways for protons and water in the inner membrane are still under debate. Overhauser Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (ODNP) has proven to be a useful tool for probing hydration dynamics and interactions within 5-8 Å of protein and soft material surfaces.

Visualizing the detection area of a unilateral NMR sensor using deconvolution and back-projection.

Understanding the detection volume of a unilateral NMR sensor is crucial to interpret acquired data appropriately. Whereas this is easily done in the sensor's axial dimension by running a depth profile on a well-defined sample, the lateral dimension is commonly characterized with very small samples, where each position along a regular grid is scanned individually, typically resulting in measurement times of several days and a resolution that is limited to the dimensions of the sample. Here we apply two mathematical procedures known from image processing that employ samples larger than the pixel size to characterize the lateral detection area.

Noninvasive Quantification of Cell Density in Three-Dimensional Gels by MRI.

Objective: For tissue engineering, there is a need for quantitative methods to map cell density inside three-dimensional (3-D) bioreactors to assess tissue growth over time. The current cell mapping methods in 2-D cultures are based on optical microscopy. However, optical methods fail in 3-D due to increased opacity of the tissue.