Demystifying CNN with Mathematical Insights: A Prelude with Application to an AI-based Sustainable Solution for Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis
Bibliographic record
Abstract
Abstract Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), as a computational framework for deep learning, have gained preference over traditional machine learning techniques and simple, fully- connected neural networks due to their remarkable performance for AI applications related to images and videos, in general, computer vision. Recent advancements in CNN architectures pave the way for significant contributions across various application domains, including disease diagnosis, object detection, and image classification systems. This article elaborates on the fundamental process of CNN with mathematical insights. It provides a brief overview of the mathematical and computational intricacies that underpin CNNs. It presents streamlined derivations of key components, focusing on the pivotal mechanism of the backpropagation. A pseudo-code of the generic algorithm for CNN is presented both in component form and vectorized form, alongside an exhaustive explanation of the relevant data structures to foster comprehensive understanding. The article includes an application of classifying retinal images for diagnosing diabetic retinopathy (DR). Having started the discussion about implementation from scratch, the article sheds light on transfer learning using pre-trained models for sustained efficiency. For this, performance gains are demonstrated using state-of-the-art CNN architecture for the DR classification. This way, the article aims to equip learners, researchers, and practitioners with mathematical insights into the working of CNN for proper comprehension and stepping towards efficient model development for sustainable advancements, especially for disease diagnosis. The understanding and expertise related to CNN would add to the development of large-scale and sustainable solutions based on AI in the health sector, supporting the United Nations’ agenda 2030 for sustainability. ACM Classification Codes (ccs98): I.2.6, I.5.1, K.3.2. MSC Codes (2020): 68T07, 68T45, 92B20
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How this classification was reachedexpand
Full frame machine prediction
Teacher imitationNot calibrated prevalence, not ground truth. Human validation pending. The Gemma side is a direct model label for every work in the frame, read from the title-only record. The Codex side is a classifier learned from the 10,348 direct Codex labels and calibrated to design-weighted sample rates; fields without enough sample support carry no Codex call. Candidate is the union of the two sides; consensus is their intersection. These outputs are machine_predicted_unvalidated and are not human labels.
Distilled classifier scores by category (both heads)
| Category | Codex | Gemma |
|---|---|---|
| Metaresearch | 0.001 | 0.005 |
| Meta-epidemiology (narrow) | 0.001 | 0.000 |
| Meta-epidemiology (broad) | 0.000 | 0.001 |
| Bibliometrics | 0.001 | 0.001 |
| Science and technology studies | 0.000 | 0.002 |
| Scholarly communication | 0.002 | 0.003 |
| Open science | 0.001 | 0.001 |
| Research integrity | 0.001 | 0.003 |
| Insufficient payload (model declined to judge) | 0.003 | 0.001 |
Machine scores (provisional)
The two teacher heads of the student model, read on this work. A score orders the frame for review; it never asserts a category, and the validation status ships verbatim with every row.
Baseline scores from an immature model (maturity gate not passed, 7 training rounds). Scores rank; they never assert a category.
score_only:v0-immature-baseline · verbatim from the scoring run: score_only means the number may rank works, and no category label ships from itClassification
machine, unvalidatedMachine predicted; a candidate call from one source (direct Gemma or distilled Codex), not a consensus.
How this classification was reached, model by model and score by score, is at the end of the page under "How this classification was reached".