43rd Southeastern Magnetic Resonance Conference

SEMRC logoThe 43rd Southeastern Magnetic Resonance Conference (SEMRC) 2014 will be held October 24-26, 2014 at The University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Over a hundred faculty, postdocs, graduate and undergraduate students from the southeast region will participate in an exciting program in all areas of magnetic resonance including NMR, EPR, and MRI. The conference will begin at 5pm Friday evening and end with lunch on Sunday.

This year’s SEMRC has an emphasis on Biomedical Applications, Energy Conversion, Dynamic Nuclear Polarization and Magnetism in addition to contributed talks and posters from the full range of attendees. There will be awards for outstanding presentations by graduate and undergraduate students. Student travel awards and a low student registration fee encourage full participation by the future of magnetic resonance.

The 43rd Southeastern Magnetic Resonance Conference will be held at Shelby Hall on the University of Alabama campus.

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The SEMRC has been hosted by Southeastern Universities and Research Labs for more than 45 years.  Recent host institutions include Vanderbilt University, Florida State University, University of Florida, Emory University, Georgia State University, University of South Carolina, University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.

  • 2002: North Carolina State University
  • 2003: Florida State University and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
  • 2005: Emory University
  • 2006: University of Florida
  • 2007: University of Alabama
  • 2008: Florida State University and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
  • 2009: Vanderbilt University 
  • 2010: University of Florida
  • 2011: Georgia State University
  • 2012: North Carolina State University
  • 2013: Florida State University and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory

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[ua_collapse title=”Keynote Speakers” id=”keynote” bg_color=”light”]

Prof. Wolfgang Lubitz

Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany

Metalloproteins and bioinorganic model complexes are investigated that are related to energy conserving systems. In focus are the water oxidizing enzyme of oxygenic photosynthesis and hydrogenases. We use a variety of different physical techniques to study them, including electrochemistry, X-ray crystallography, magnetic resonance, Mößbauer as well as time resolved optical and vibrational spectroscopy. Particular emphasis is placed on paramagnetic molecules studied by advanced EPR techniques.

Howard J. Halpern, MD, PhD

Center for EPR Imaging In Vivo Physiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

Development of new imaging technologies sensitive to the functioning of the normal and diseased tissues of living animals for accurate and efficient imaging of molecular oxygen concentration in tissues. The Center’s imaging technology exploits the unique, quantitative sensitivity of the EPR spectrum of soluble, injectable spin probes to crucial aspects of the fluids in which life processes evolve. Low-frequency EPR technology is used to maximize the depth in animal tissue to which the technique is sensitive.

Prof. Michael A. Kennedy

Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio

NMR- and MS- Based Metabonomics measurement of changes in an organism’s metabolic profile in response to external stimuli, genetic modifications, or as a consequence of presence or severity of disease. NMR-Based Structural Genomics is being used to determine the 3D structures of functionally uncharacterized proteins whose sequences are not similar to the sequence of any protein whose structure is known. With the structure of an uncharacterized protein, one can begin to understand its function according to structure-function principles.

Professor Arther Roberts

Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia

Utilizes advanced NMR techniques in studying the interaction of drugs with multiple-drug resistance transporters and drug-metabolizing UDP-glucuronosyltransferases. These proteins play major roles in cancer resistance, in neurological diseases (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s) and in mitigating the effects of environmental pollutants. Using human proteins isolated from genetically engineered yeast or bacteria, one goal is to develop structural biology tools to rapidly and accurately predict the effects of drugs and toxins before they end up in people.

Robert D. McMichael, PhD

Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD

Research touches on a broad spectrum of phenomena in magnetic thin films and nanomaterials but remains centered on micromagnetics and magnetization dynamics.

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[ua_collapse title=”Schedule” id=”schedule” bg_color=”light”]

Southeastern Magnetic Resonance Conference
October 24 – 26, 2014
Shelby Hall, The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0336

Friday, October 24

5:00 – 10:00 P.M. Registration Shelby Hall Rotunda

5:00 – 6:30 Poster Set Up and Viewing

6:30 – 6:40 Welcome Dr. Joe Benson
The Univ. of Alabama
Interim Provost

6:40 – 7:20 Keynote Talk Michael A. Kennedy
Metabolic Profiling of Human Diseases Using NMR
Miami University
Oxford, OH Spectroscopy

7:20 – 8:00 Keynote Talk Robert D. McMichael
Ferromagnetic Resonance Force Microscopy of Film Edges 
National Institute of Standards & Technology
Gaithersburg, MD

8:00 – 10:00 Poster Set Up and Viewing

8:00 – 10:00 Welcome Reception

Saturday, October 25

Reactions and Transport
Chair – Naresh Dalal

8:00 – 8:10 A. M. Welcome Shelby 1004

8:10 – 8:50 Keynote Talk Wolfgang Lubitz
The Spin as Functional Probe in Biological Energy Conversion and Storage
Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy
Germany

8:50 – 9:10 Elizabeth Papish
Proximal Hydroxy Groups Offer Advantages in Water Oxidation With Copper: The Role of Dihydroxybipyridine Ligands as Elucidated by EPR 
The University of Alabama

9:10 – 9:25 Meghan Kohne
Coupling of Radical Rearrangement Reaction and Protein Dynamics in B12-Dependent Ethanolamine Ammonia-Lyase
Emory University

9:25 – 9:40 Jin Jung Kweon
900 MHz MAS-NMR of the Superprotonic Conductor LiH2P04: New Conduction Mechanism
National High Magnetic Field Lab

9:40 – 10:00 A. Ligia Focsan
Chemistry of Carotenoid Neutral Radicals Explained by Pulsed ENDOR and DFT
Valdosta State University

10:00–10:30 Coffee Break

Biomedical Application
Chair – John Vincent

10:30 – 11:10 Keynote Talk Howard Halpern
Biomedical Insight and Potential From Quantitative Images of Tissue p02, pH and Sulfhydryl-Disulfide Balance with EPR Imaging
Center for Imaging in Vivo Physiology
Univ. of Chicago

11:10 – 11:30 Irina V. Nesmelova
Folding and DNA-Binding of the Sleeping beauty Transposase
University of North Carolina – Charlotte

11:30 – 11:45 Alex A. Cruce A High Resolution 3D Model of Ligation in CYP450 and nNOS from EPR
The University of Alabama

11:45 – 12:15 Invited Talk Arthur Roberts
Use of NMR to Probe Drug Protein Interaction
University of Georgia

12:15 – 2:15 P.M. Lunch
Tour of Central Analytical Facility Bevill Building

Materials and Magnetism Shelby 1004
Chair – Mary Ellen Zvanut

2:15 – 2:35 Leah B. Casabianca
Effect of Curvature on Chemical Shift
Clemson University

2:35 – 2:50 Soumalya Paul
Magnetization Reversal and Ferromagnetic Resonance Study of Epitaxial CoxFe3-xSi Thin Films
University of Alabama

2:50 – 3:05 Lance W. Gill
Ceria Nano-Shaped Particles Characterized by Fast-MAS 1H NMR: Water or Hydroxyl Groups?
Oak Ridge National Lab

3:05 – 3:20 Behrouz Khodadadi
Studying Temperature Dependent Relaxation in Ni8OFe2O/Gd Thin Films Using Ferromagnetic Resonance Technique
The University of Alabama

3:20 – 3:35 Nandita Abhyankar
Mn2+ EPR of the Paraelectric/Transition in the Metal-Organic Framework (CH3)2NH2)Zn(HCOO)3: Forbidden Transitions As a New Probe
Florida State University

3:35 – 3:55 Jurek Krzystek
EPR of “EPR-Silent” Transition Metal Ions: Filling The Remaining Gaps
Florida State University -National High Mangetic Field Lab

3:55 – 4:15 Coffee Break

Structure
Chair – Margaret Johnson

4:15 – 4:35 Sebastian A. Stoian
A Spectroscopic and Theoretical Investigation of a Trinuclear, Oxobridged Ferric Cluster
Florida State University -National High Mangetic Field Lab

4:35 – 4:50 Ge Deng
Binding of Trivalent Chromium to Serum Transferrin is Sufficiently Rapid to be Physiologically Relevant
The University of Alabama

4:50 – 5:05 Kari Pederson
Assignment of Alanine Methyl Resonance in Selectively Labeled HSP90 Proteins Using Residual Dipolar Couplings (RDCS), Paramagnetic Tagging, and NOEs
University of Georgia

5:05 – 5:30 Ralph Weber
The Next Generation – EPR Lab Experiments in the Curriculum
Bruker

5:30 – 7:00 Poster Session Posters must be removed by 1:30 P.M. Sunday

7:00 – 10:00 Conference Banquet at Shelby Rotunda

Sunday, October 26, 2014

DNP and Other Enhancements
Chair – Kurt Warnke

8:00 – 8:20 A.M. Bimala Lama
Hyperpolarization Techniques for Small Metabolites at 5 T and <1.2 K
University of Florida

8:20 – 8:35 A.M. Thierry Dubroca
Solid and Solution Dynamic Nuclear Polarization at 600 MHz – 395 GHz
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory

8:35 – 8:55 Yuping Bao
The Development of Positive MRI Contrast Agents Using Iron Oxide Nanowires
The University of Alabama

8:55 – 9:10 Deanna M. Tesch
Using Free Radicals for Signal Enhancement and Qualitative, Residue Specific, Positional Information in Oriented-Sample NMR of Biological Samples
North Carolina State University

9:10 – 9:25 Hanjiao Chen
Spin-Lattice Relaxation of Trityl Radicals at Low Temperature
The University of Alabama

9:25 – 9:40 Pamlea N. Brady
Protein Complex Structure Determination by Paramagnetic Resonance Enhancement (PRE) NMR
Louisiana State University

9:40 – 10:00 Coffee Break

DNP and Other Enhancements
Chair – Stephen Hill

10:00 – 10:20 F. David Doty
A Millimeter-Wave Tunable Cavity for Ultra- Sensitive Solids and Liquids DNP- NMR at Low Budget
Doty Scientific, Inc.

10:20 – 10:35 Sophie N. Koroloff
Two-Fold Signal Enhancement Obtained by Repetitive Cross-Polarization in Uniaxially Rotating Membrane Proteins
North Carolina State University

10:35 – 10:50 Evan W. Zhao
Shape-Dependent Parahydrogen Induced Polarization on CeO2 Nanoparticles
University of Florida

10:50 – 11:10 Boris Epel
EPR in vivo Imaging Using Sinusoidal Rapid Scan
University of Chicago

11:15 – 11:45 Business Meeting

11:30 Boxed Lunch

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[ua_collapse title=”Conference Contacts” id=”contacts” bg_color=”light”]

Prof. Lowell D. Kispert

Emeritus/Retired/Research Professor Emeritus
Department of Chemistry
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL
lkispert@ua.edu

Research Interests
The role of carotenoids in photosynthesis, free radicals studied by electron spin resonance and electron-nuclear double resonance.

Prof. Michael K. Bowman

Professor, Department of Chemistry
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL
mkbowman@ua.edu

Research Interests
Free radical reactions in proteins and other ordered but non-crystalline environments and on the application of pulsed EPR spectroscopy to determine the structure and function of enzymes, free radicals and materials.

Prof. Tim Mewes

Assistant Professor, Department of Physics & Astronomy
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL
tmewes@mint.ua.edu

Research Interests
Investigation of the dynamic properties of magnetic materials. Developing the new experimental technique of magnetic resonance force microscopy to characterize the properties of individual magnetic structures with sub-micron dimensions.

Website Director

Adam Magyar
Graduate Student, Department of Chemistry
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL

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[ua_collapse title=”Presentation Guidelines” id=”guidelines” bg_color=”light”]

Except for the keynote speaker talks, all talks should be 20 minutes in length (15 minutes with 5 minutes for questions). Keynote speaker talks are 40 minutes in length (35 minutes with 5 minutes for questions).

All posters should be no larger than 4 feet wide by 3 feet tall, and will be affixed to provided poster boards. Each board will be marked with an ID number. Please check the program for the ID number of your poster, after the program is finalized. Push pins will be available for affixing the posters.

Poster Size Specifications

Posters should be 4′ wide and 3′ tall. All posters need to be mounted on the designated poster board.
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[ua_collapse title=”Student Awards” id=”awards” bg_color=”light”]

Congratulations to the recipients of this years Student Travel Awards:

Pamlea Brady
Louisiana State University

Selamawit Ghebreamlak
Auburn University

Meghan Kohne
Emory University

Dorsa Komijani
Florida State University and National High Magnetic Field Laboratory

Sophie Koroloff
North Carolina State University

Benjamen Nforneh
Emory University

Olive Njuma
Auburn University

Deanna Tesch
North Carolina State University

Evan Zhao
University of Florida

Congratulations to Umar Twahir and Dorsa Komijani for winning the Student Poster Awards.

SEMRC 2014 awards
Professor Lowell Kispert presenting Umar and Dorsa with their Student Poster Awards at the business meeting.


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[ua_collapse title=”Sponsors” id=”sponsors” bg_color=”light”]
Please contact Lowell Kispert via email (lkispert@ua.edu) or call 205-348-7134 if you have any questions.

  • Avanti Polar Lipids, Inc.
  • New Era: The New Standard in NMR Sampling
  • Siemens
  • Techmag: Technology for Magnetic Resonance
  • Doty Scientific
  • The University of Alabama Graduate School
  • National MagLab
  • Cryogenic Limited
  • Philips
  • Bruker
  • Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Inc.
  • UA College of Arts & Sciences
  • Sigma-Aldrich
  • EMR

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[ua_collapse title=”Registration & Important Dates” id=”registration” bg_color=”light”]

Registration

Payment of registration fees are handled through a secure website at The University of Alabama College of Continuing Studies. Choose your participation status (Full Participant, Student/Postdoc, or Guest) and click Add to Cart to continue. Registration will require you to create an account linked to your email address. Please ignore the “Select Personal Interests” section.

Registration fees do not include accommodation, any meals not mentioned in the conference agenda, airport transportation, or any extra activities outside the specified conference agenda. Registration must be received by the conference on the dates specified below in order to receive the corresponding rates.

Early registration from 8/1/2014 until 9/26/2014
Full participant $150.00
Postdoc/Student $80.00*

Late Registration from 9/27/2014 until 10/16/2014
Full participant $250.00
Postdoc/Student $80.00*

On-Site Registration beginning 10/24/2014
Full participant $300.00
Postdoc/Student $100.00*
*Rate requires an advisor letter to be submitted verifying participation status.

Early registration is open until 9/26/2014. Late registration will begin on 9/27/2014 and will end on 10/16/2014. Registrations after 10/16/2014 will be on a space available basis. All on-site registrations must be pre-approved prior to arrival by contacting the Conference Coordinator at semrc2014@ua.edu.

Students may apply for a student award when submitting their abstract. The abstract MUST be submitted along with a letter of recommendation from their advisor. The deadline for student award applications is 9/24/2014. Notification of student awards will be made by no later than 9/29/2014. Student awards are limited and do not cover lodging fees.

Cancellations

Cancellations must be requested via e-mail to semrc2014@ua.edu. If you are unable to attend, a substitute delegate is welcome, provided that written authorization is presented at the registration desk

Registration cancellations made or received on or after 10/10/2014, will receive a full refund.

Registration cancellations made or received on 10/13/2014, will receive a 50% refund.

There will be no refunds for cancellations made or received on or after 10/14/2014. Non-attendance does not imply cancellation.

Important Dates

8/1/2014 Registration Open
9/12/2014 Abstract Submission Deadline for Oral Presentation
9/24/2014 Discounted Hotel Reservation Rate Ends
9/24/2014 Student Award Applications Deadline
9/26/2014 Early Registration deadline
9/26/2014 Abstract Submission Deadline for Poster Presentation
9/29/2014 Student Award Notifications
10/10/2014 Cancellation deadline for full refund
10/13/2014 Cancellation deadline for 50% refund
10/16/2014 Registration closed; see on-site registration
10/24/2014 Welcome, Reception and Technical Meeting

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[ua_collapse title=”Lodging & Transportation” id=”lodging” bg_color=”light”]

Lodging

Lodging accommodations have been secured at the Hotel Capstone under group code: SMJ24A 20141024

The Hotel Capstone is located on the University of Alabama’s campus allowing attendees to visit the campus on the way to Shelby Hall. The special rate is $115/day (+15% tax) for one King or two Queen size mattresses. Transportation has been arranged for attendees who reserve rooms at the Hotel Capstone.

Other accommodations have been secured at the Hampton Inn Tuscaloosa – University under group code “SEM”. The special rate is $105/day (+15% tax) for one King or two Queen mattresses.

The rates at both these hotels are valid if secured before September 24th, 2014.

Hotel Capstone
320 Paul W. Bryant Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
(205) 752-3200
Located on the University of Alabama campus

Hampton Inn Tuscaloosa – University
600 Harper Lee Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
(205) 722-0360
Located 2.8 miles from the University of Alabama campus

Transportation

by Car
Tuscaloosa is located approximately 60 miles southwest of Birmingham, Alabama. The Hotel Capstone, which is located on campus, is at 320 Paul W. Bryant Drive Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. The conference will be hosted at Shelby Hall on the University of Alabama Campus. Driving directions to campus are found on the University’s visitors website.

by Plane
The most convenient airport is the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM), located 60 miles northeast of Tuscaloosa in Birmingham, Alabama. Transportation to and from the airport to the Hotel Capstone will be provided by the Conference Hosts. Transportation requests along with arrival/departure schedules should be emailed to semrc2014transportation@ua.edu.

by Train
Tuscaloosa is a stop on AmTrak’s Crescent line; for more information, visit the AmTrak website. The city’s train station is located one mile south of downtown. Transportation to and from the train station to the Hotel Capstone will be provided by the Conference Hosts. Transportation requests along with arrival/departure schedules should be emailed to semrc2014transportation@ua.edu.

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