296 research outputs found
Continual Learning for LiDAR Semantic Segmentation: Class-Incremental and Coarse-to-Fine strategies on Sparse Data
During the last few years, continual learning (CL) strategies for image
classification and segmentation have been widely investigated designing
innovative solutions to tackle catastrophic forgetting, like knowledge
distillation and self-inpainting. However, the application of continual
learning paradigms to point clouds is still unexplored and investigation is
required, especially using architectures that capture the sparsity and uneven
distribution of LiDAR data. The current paper analyzes the problem of class
incremental learning applied to point cloud semantic segmentation, comparing
approaches and state-of-the-art architectures. To the best of our knowledge,
this is the first example of class-incremental continual learning for LiDAR
point cloud semantic segmentation. Different CL strategies were adapted to
LiDAR point clouds and tested, tackling both classic fine-tuning scenarios and
the Coarse-to-Fine learning paradigm. The framework has been evaluated through
two different architectures on SemanticKITTI, obtaining results in line with
state-of-the-art CL strategies and standard offline learning
Challenges in dental statistics: survey methodology topics
This paper gathers some contributions concerning survey methodology in dental research, as discussed during the first Workshop of the SISMEC STATDENT working group on statistical methods and applications in dentistry, held in Ancona on the 28th September 2011.
The first contribution deals with the European Global Oral Health Indicators Development (EGOHID) Project which proposed a comprehensive and standardized system of epidemiological tools (questionnaires and clinical forms) for national data collection on oral health in Europe. The second contribution regards the design and conduct of trials to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of toothbrushes and mouthrinses. Finally, a flexible and effective tool used to trace dental age reference charts tailored to Italian children is presented
RĂ©gisâ Interpretation of the Nature of God and his Refutation de lâopinion de Spinoza
Lâusage de la raison et de la foy ou lâaccord de la foy et de la raison (1704) by Pierre-Sylvain RĂ©gis can be considered his last attempt to defend the ânew philosophyâ of RenĂ© Descartes by vindicating its agreement with faith and protecting it from censorship. This contribution offers an analysis of the theories expounded by RĂ©gis in this treatise, showing how these evolved from those of his earlier SystĂšme de philosophie (1690), and arguing that both are characterized by a reinterpretation of the Cartesian metaphysics on an empirical basis. In particular, RĂ©gis offered an empirical interpretation of the relations between substances, attributes and modes, by which he criticized Spinozaâs metaphysics and attempted to solve the riddle of Descartesâ dualism
Vaccine movements on social media: A visual and network analysis
Vaccines are considered one of the most effective public health interventions, but they have been subject to opposition since they were first proposed. Anti-vaccine activists disseminate and sensationalise objections to vaccinations through various channels, including the internet and social media outlets, such as Twitter. These means allow them to reach the public directly and potentially influence their intention to vaccinate. Twitter allows users to share short textual messages and images. Although, images have strong communicative power, there is a lack of research on the networks and actors sharing vaccine images. Moreover, there are no studies on the meaning and messages of these images. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the dissemination, content, and meaning of anti- and pro-vaccine images in relation to their respective Twitter networks. A mixed methods approach was used to address the research aims, comprising social network analysis, visual content analysis, semiotics and visual social semiotics analyses. Anti-vaccine users re-shared images with each other; they provided support and strengthened their anti-vaccination beliefs. Some key actors, primarily activists and parents, influenced the information flow within the community. Anti-vaccine images claimed that vaccines are not safe, advocated against mandatory vaccinations and promoted vaccine conspiracy theories. They also provided alternative sources of information or pseudoscientific evidence supporting their messages while increasing distrust in traditional experts. The pro-vaccine users form loose connections that favour the dissemination of new vaccine information and networking. In this network, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and public health organisations influenced the dissemination of images, and the images mostly featured NGO campaigns and achievements in developing countries or promoted the flu vaccine in Western countries. In conclusion, anti- and pro-vaccine networks are insular and share different images in different ways; they use different visual communication strategies to reach their audiences. This resulted in a lack of a middle ground in visual communication of vaccines on Twitter. Addressing this gap could be an opportunity for future immunisation campaigns
Motion and God in XVIIth Century Cartesian manuals: Rohault, RĂ©gis and Gadroys
This work takes into account three Cartesian manuals diffused in 17th century France ; Jacques Rohault, Traité de physique ; Pierre-Sylvain Régis, Cours entier de philosophie, ou systÚme general selon les principes de M. Descartes contenant la logique, la metaphysique, la physique et la morale ) in order to question if the development of an empirical attitude in the scientific research influenced their approaches to the study of motion. The article intends to deepen the role that these authors give to God in the physical structure of the universe with the purpose of investigating whether their analysis of motion is untainted by the metaphysical component or on what terms it remains linked to it
The Empirical Interpretation of French Cartesianism: the Académie des Sciences, the Journal des Sçavans and the Relationship with the Royal Society
The SysteÌme de philosophie by Pierre Sylvain RĂ©gis can be considered as the achievement both of the scientific liveliness of the AcadĂ©mie des Sciences in the 17th century and of its fruitful relationship with the Royal Society. Since it aims to shape the new conception of the universe in terms of a system, the SysteÌme represents one of the most mature achievements of Cartesian philosophy and it is characterized by an empirical interpretation of Descartesâ thought. The SystĂšme therefore reflects two important phenomena occurring in the Europe of the 17th century: the scientific revolution and the proliferation of Academies. In fact, this ambitious work could be undertaken with the support of the AcadĂ©mie des Sciences and the Journal des Sçavants. My paper will analyse the French context by focusing to outline the role which the AcadĂ©mie de France had both in France, as the medium of dissemination of the new philosophy despite censorship, and abroad, in particular through the relationship with the Royal Society in England. I aim to analyse the role of the Journal des Sçavants as a means to share ideas other than by correspondence and as a trait dâunion between ârationalist Franceâ and âempiricist Englandâ. I intend to question whether it is possible to establish a connection between the empirical interpretation of French Cartesianism, the consolidation of the AcadĂ©mie de France and the employment of new means of academic communication. The paper will show that the second half of 17th century France represents a remarkable exception to the conventional picture, which states that in 17th century Europe, following the success of a mechanistic interpretation of reality, two philosophical school clashed: rationalism, predominating on the continent, and empiricism, in England
LâArt de penser nella logica del SystĂšme di RĂ©gis: quadro sinottico
One of the most mature achievements of the Cartesian philosophy is the aim to diffuse Descartesâ thought among a wider audience by presenting his philosophy in an encyclopedic way. A relevant contribution in this field is Pierre Sylvain RĂ©gisâs SystĂšme. RĂ©gisâs contribution consists both in reconciling the new scientific discoveries with les principes de Monsieur Descartes by combining them into a scholarly manual whose aim is to stimulate the ars inveniendi and in recognizing the relevance of Arnauldâs and Nicoleâs Lâart de penser as manual of Cartesian logic. In an article published on the «Annali della Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa», pp. 517-55: Lâ«Art de penser» nella logica del «SystĂšme» di RĂ©gis) I analysed RĂ©gisâs logic in order to point out that, even if Lâart de penser represents its only source, La logique of the SystĂšme has not to be considered as a mere compendium of the Port-Royal Logique, but as a revision of the latter according to a specific philosophical system, characterized by the empirical interpretation of Descartesâs philosophy. In this paper I provide a synopsis of the comparison between the logic of the SystĂšme and the Logique of Port-Royal, in order to resume in a schematic way the results of my research
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