Quantitative MRI post-processing algorithm and visualization research based on moisture status detection of winter jujube

Abstract

Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (qMRI) offers precise measurements of the relaxation characteristics of microstructures, representing a cutting-edge method in non-destructive fruit analysis. This study aims to visualize information on changes in moisture status and distribution at the subcellular level of winter jujube. The 0.5 T nuclear magnetic imaging equipment was utilized to rapidly, non-invasively, and accurately capture the internal relaxation status of the sample with multiple-echo-imaging. By examining the signal and noise data, a simulated dataset was developed to tackle the optimization challenge of estimating parameters for the discrete relaxation model from the multiple-echo-imaging data, especially under conditions of low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and in the context of heteroscedastic noise. An optimal weighting factor and the T2NR truncation model have been identified to establish an effective experimental inversion strategy. Subsequently, multiple-echo-imaging can rapidly and stably yielded voxel-level maps under conditions of low signal-to-noise ratio. Utilizing this experimental approach, data from winter jujube was collected and analyzed, facilitating an exploration of water activity (T2 mapping) and associated water content (A2 mapping). Through analyzing winter jujube fruits across two maturity stages, this study elucidates the role of precise quantification and voxel-wise visualization in moisture status detection. The methodology presents an innovative approach for assessing internal moisture distribution in fruits.

Keywords

• Quantitative MRI
• Winter jujube
• Moisture status
• T2NR
• T2-mapping