Semi-Supervised Ensemble Classifier with Improved Sparrow Search Algorithm and Its Application in Pulmonary Nodule Detection

The Adaptive Boosting (AdaBoost) classifier is a widely used ensemble learning framework, and it can get good classification results on general datasets. However, it is challenging to apply the AdaBoost classifier directly to pulmonary nodule detection of labeled and unlabeled lung CT images since there are still some drawbacks to ensemble learning method. Therefore, to solve the labeled and unlabeled data classification problem, the semi-supervised AdaBoost classifier using an improved sparrow search algorithm (AdaBoost-ISSA-S4VM) was established. Firstly, AdaBoost classifier is used to construct a strong semi-supervised classifier using several weak classifiers S4VM (AdaBoost-S4VM). Next, in order to solve the accuracy problem of AdaBoost-S4VM, sparrow search algorithm (SSA) is introduced in the AdaBoost classifier and S4VM. Then, sine cosine algorithm and new labor cooperation structure are adopted to increase the global optimal solution and convergence performance of sparrow search algorithm, respectively. Furthermore, based on the improved sparrow search algorithm and adaptive boosting classifier, the AdaBoost-S4VM classifier is improved. Finally, the effective improved AdaBoost-ISSA-S4VM classification model was developed for actual pulmonary nodule detection based on the publicly available LIDC-IDRI database. The experimental results have proved that the established AdaBoost-ISSA-S4VM classification model has good performance on labeled and unlabeled lung CT images.