A method for obtaining an index for non-invasively identifying NASH is provided. A NASH determination method comprising a method for acquiring free radical consumption speed information by non-invasively detecting a redox reaction in a liver of a test animal in real time, comprises a step (1) of obtaining free radical concentration data by applying a magnetic resonance method to the liver as a measurement target after administering a probe into a body; a step (2) of obtaining imaging information by processing the obtained free radical concentration data; and a step (3) of obtaining a free radical consumption speed by kinetically measuring the imaging information over time, and comprises a step of determining whether or not the test animal has NASH, based on the free radical consumption speed information obtained through application to the test animal.

The present invention relates to novel organic dinitroxide biradical compounds and their use as polarizing agents, in particular, in the techniques of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) of solids or liquid samples and medical imaging.

Disclosed are methods for performing dynamic nuclear polarization using the polarizing agents described herein. In general, the methods involve (a) providing a frozen sample in a magnetic field, wherein the frozen sample includes a polarizing agent described herein and an analyte with at least one spin half nucleus; (b) polarizing the at least one spin half nucleus of the analyte by irradiating the frozen sample with radiation having a frequency that excites electron spin transitions in the polarizing agent; (c) optionally melting the sample to produce a molten sample; and (d) detecting nuclear spin transitions in the at least one spin half nucleus of the analyte in the frozen or molten sample. In certain embodiments, the polarizing agents can be peptide-based. In these embodiments, the polarizing agents can be readily prepared by solid-phase peptide synthesis.

Disclosed are methods for performing dynamic nuclear polarization using the polarizing agents described herein. In general, the methods involve (a) providing a frozen sample in a magnetic field, wherein the frozen sample includes a polarizing agent described herein and an analyte with at least one spin half nucleus; (b) polarizing the at least one spin half nucleus of the analyte by irradiating the frozen sample with radiation having a frequency that excites electron spin transitions in the polarizing agent; (c) optionally melting the sample to produce a molten sample; and (d) detecting nuclear spin transitions in the at least one spin half nucleus of the analyte in the frozen or molten sample. In certain embodiments, the polarizing agents can be peptide-based. In these embodiments, the polarizing agents can be readily prepared by solid-phase peptide synthesis.

A method for measuring oil-water distribution using DNP-MRI, comprising adding a free radical for DNP enhanced NMR signal of a water phase or an oil phase in a sample containing oil and water; performing an MRI experiment on the sample, and collecting an MRI image of the sample without DNP enhancement; applying microwave excitation for DNP-MRI experiment under the same MRI experiment condition as step 2, and collecting an MRI image of the sample after DNP enhancement; and comparing the MRI image after DNP enhancement with the MRI image without DNP enhancement. In the MRI image with DNP enhancement, an area with enhanced MRI signal intensity is a selectively enhanced fluid phase distribution area, and an area without obviously changed MRI signal intensity is a non-selectively enhanced fluid phase distribution area. The method is simple, convenient to operate, short in measurement time, and high in measurement efficiency.

A method for separating oil-water two-phase NMR signals by using dynamic nuclear polarization comprising: using a combination of a non-selective free radical and a selective relaxation reagent to selectively enhance an NMR signal of an oil phase or a water phase, the relaxation reagent being capable of selectively suppressing dynamic polarization enhancement of the water phase or oil phase, thus achieving the polarization enhancement of a single fluid phase in the mixed fluid phases and realizing separation of the two-phase signals; or using a selective free radical to selectively enhance the NMR signal of the oil phase or the water phase, thus achieving the polarization enhancement of a single fluid phase in the mixed fluid phases and realizing separation of the oil-water two-phase NMR signals. The method is simple and easy to operate, has a short test time, and can efficiently separate NMR signals of oil and water phases.

The polarization of nuclear spins of a material may be enhanced by encapsulating the material within a reverse micelle.

The polarization of nuclear spins of a material may be enhanced by encapsulating the material within a reverse micelle.

The present application discloses a sensor system that includes a sensor having a sensor surface, a sample cartridge including one or more flexible membranes and a membrane frame, the membrane frame including one or more openings covered by the one or more flexible membranes defining one or more wells for holding one or more samples, the flexible membrane having a sample side supporting the sample and an opposite sensor side, the sample cartridge being removably insertable in the sensor system such that the sensor side of the flexible membrane is positioned above and faces the sensor surface, a displacement mechanism that can be actuated to displace the flexible membrane toward the sensor surface such that the sample is moved to a position closer to the sensor surface, and an optical imaging system that detects light emitted from the sensor. Disclosed also are a cartridge cassette and a method of use.

An apparatus for NMR properties of subsurface formations includes a magnet, a transmitter antenna and at least one of a receiver section of the transmit antenna or a separate receiver antenna having a length along the longitudinal dimension of the apparatus which is shorter than a length of the transmitter antenna along the longitudinal dimension. The apparatus includes circuitry for applying radio frequency current pulses to the entire transmitter antenna and for receiving signals by the at least one of the receiver section of the transmitter antenna and the separate receiver antenna.