13,038 research outputs found
High resolution in-vivo MR-STAT using a matrix-free and parallelized reconstruction algorithm
MR-STAT is a recently proposed framework that allows the reconstruction of
multiple quantitative parameter maps from a single short scan by performing
spatial localisation and parameter estimation on the time domain data
simultaneously, without relying on the FFT. To do this at high-resolution,
specialized algorithms are required to solve the underlying large-scale
non-linear optimisation problem. We propose a matrix-free and parallelized
inexact Gauss-Newton based reconstruction algorithm for this purpose. The
proposed algorithm is implemented on a high performance computing cluster and
is demonstrated to be able to generate high-resolution (
in-plane resolution) quantitative parameter maps in simulation, phantom and
in-vivo brain experiments. Reconstructed and values for the gel
phantoms are in agreement with results from gold standard measurements and for
the in-vivo experiments the quantitative values show good agreement with
literature values. In all experiments short pulse sequences with robust
Cartesian sampling are used for which conventional MR Fingerprinting
reconstructions are shown to fail.Comment: Accepted by NMR in Biomedicine on 2019-12-0
A Bayesian Variable Selection Approach Yields Improved Detection of Brain Activation From Complex-Valued fMRI
Voxel functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) time courses are complex-valued signals giving rise to magnitude and phase data. Nevertheless, most studies use only the magnitude signals and thus discard half of the data that could potentially contain important information. Methods that make use of complex-valued fMRI (CV-fMRI) data have been shown to lead to superior power in detecting active voxels when compared to magnitude-only methods, particularly for small signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). We present a new Bayesian variable selection approach for detecting brain activation at the voxel level from CV-fMRI data. We develop models with complex-valued spike-and-slab priors on the activation parameters that are able to combine the magnitude and phase information. We present a complex-valued EM variable selection algorithm that leads to fast detection at the voxel level in CV-fMRI slices and also consider full posterior inference via Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC). Model performance is illustrated through extensive simulation studies, including the analysis of physically based simulated CV-fMRI slices. Finally, we use the complex-valued Bayesian approach to detect active voxels in human CV-fMRI from a healthy individual who performed unilateral finger tapping in a designed experiment. The proposed approach leads to improved detection of activation in the expected motor-related brain regions and produces fewer false positive results than other methods for CV-fMRI. Supplementary materials for this article are available online
Towards in vivo g-ratio mapping using MRI: unifying myelin and diffusion imaging
The g-ratio, quantifying the comparative thickness of the myelin sheath
encasing an axon, is a geometrical invariant that has high functional relevance
because of its importance in determining neuronal conduction velocity. Advances
in MRI data acquisition and signal modelling have put in vivo mapping of the
g-ratio, across the entire white matter, within our reach. This capacity would
greatly increase our knowledge of the nervous system: how it functions, and how
it is impacted by disease. This is the second review on the topic of g-ratio
mapping using MRI. As such, it summarizes the most recent developments in the
field, while also providing methodological background pertinent to aggregate
g-ratio weighted mapping, and discussing pitfalls associated with these
approaches. Using simulations based on recently published data, this review
demonstrates the relevance of the calibration step for three myelin-markers
(macromolecular tissue volume, myelin water fraction, and bound pool fraction).
It highlights the need to estimate both the slope and offset of the
relationship between these MRI-based markers and the true myelin volume
fraction if we are really to achieve the goal of precise, high sensitivity
g-ratio mapping in vivo. Other challenges discussed in this review further
evidence the need for gold standard measurements of human brain tissue from ex
vivo histology. We conclude that the quest to find the most appropriate MRI
biomarkers to enable in vivo g-ratio mapping is ongoing, with the potential of
many novel techniques yet to be investigated.Comment: Will be published as a review article in Journal of Neuroscience
Methods as parf of the Special Issue with Hu Cheng and Vince Calhoun as Guest
Editor
Fast T2 Mapping with Improved Accuracy Using Undersampled Spin-echo MRI and Model-based Reconstructions with a Generating Function
A model-based reconstruction technique for accelerated T2 mapping with
improved accuracy is proposed using undersampled Cartesian spin-echo MRI data.
The technique employs an advanced signal model for T2 relaxation that accounts
for contributions from indirect echoes in a train of multiple spin echoes. An
iterative solution of the nonlinear inverse reconstruction problem directly
estimates spin-density and T2 maps from undersampled raw data. The algorithm is
validated for simulated data as well as phantom and human brain MRI at 3 T. The
performance of the advanced model is compared to conventional pixel-based
fitting of echo-time images from fully sampled data. The proposed method yields
more accurate T2 values than the mono-exponential model and allows for
undersampling factors of at least 6. Although limitations are observed for very
long T2 relaxation times, respective reconstruction problems may be overcome by
a gradient dampening approach. The analytical gradient of the utilized cost
function is included as Appendix.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure
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