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1 – 10 of over 1000Naga Swetha R, Vimal K. Shrivastava and K. Parvathi
The mortality rate due to skin cancers has been increasing over the past decades. Early detection and treatment of skin cancers can save lives. However, due to visual resemblance…
Abstract
Purpose
The mortality rate due to skin cancers has been increasing over the past decades. Early detection and treatment of skin cancers can save lives. However, due to visual resemblance of normal skin and lesion and blurred lesion borders, skin cancer diagnosis has become a challenging task even for skilled dermatologists. Hence, the purpose of this study is to present an image-based automatic approach for multiclass skin lesion classification and compare the performance of various models.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the authors have presented a multiclass skin lesion classification approach based on transfer learning of deep convolutional neural network. The following pre-trained models have been used: VGG16, VGG19, ResNet50, ResNet101, ResNet152, Xception, MobileNet and compared their performances on skin cancer classification.
Findings
The experiments have been performed on HAM10000 dataset, which contains 10,015 dermoscopic images of seven skin lesion classes. The categorical accuracy of 83.69%, Top2 accuracy of 91.48% and Top3 accuracy of 96.19% has been obtained.
Originality/value
Early detection and treatment of skin cancer can save millions of lives. This work demonstrates that the transfer learning can be an effective way to classify skin cancer images, providing adequate performance with less computational complexity.
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Douglas Eadie and Susan MacAskill
The primary aim of the research reported here is to provide strategic guidance for the development of a national communication strategy to improve sun protection practice amongst…
Abstract
Purpose
The primary aim of the research reported here is to provide strategic guidance for the development of a national communication strategy to improve sun protection practice amongst young people.
Design/methodology/approach
The research adopted an exploratory approach, employing qualitative focus groups to represent three population groups, mothers, teenagers and young adults living independently of the family home. A total of 12 focus groups were conducted (with six to eight participants per group) in the UK. Participants were recruited door‐to‐door using quota sampling methods.
Findings
Consistent with other studies, awareness of sun protection measures was high compared with actual practice. A number of factors were identified which help to explain this behaviour deficit. These include environment and exposure context, financial cost, understanding of protection process, behavioural influence and control, experiential learning and benefits attached to tanning.
Originality/value
While the findings highlight the importance of supporting parents through the provision of information and guidance, they also identified a need to develop initiatives specifically tailored to meet the needs of young people as they achieve independence.
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Brian T. McClendon, Steven Prentice‐Dunn, Rachel Blake and Ben McMath
This study examined the relation between appearance concern (i.e. a dispositional focus on one’s looks) and responses to an intervention targeting suntanning and sunscreen use…
Abstract
This study examined the relation between appearance concern (i.e. a dispositional focus on one’s looks) and responses to an intervention targeting suntanning and sunscreen use among young adults. The intervention produced increases in sun safe attitudes, intentions, and behavior. Appearance concern was correlated at posttest with perceived vulnerability to the damaging effects of the sun, perceived severity of the damaging effects, and perceived rewards of a tan. One month later, only the association with perceived rewards was significant. Appearance concern was not significantly correlated with intentions or change in skin tone. More powerful interventions may be needed to have a lasting impact on attitudes and behavior regarding sun exposure. However, such interventions must not provoke defensive reactions in individuals who are high in appearance concern.
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Gillian Bendelow, Simon J. Williams and Ann Oakley
Reports results from a study concerning children’s knowledge of and attitudes towards cancer, and their understanding of health and health‐related behaviours, with the specific…
Abstract
Reports results from a study concerning children’s knowledge of and attitudes towards cancer, and their understanding of health and health‐related behaviours, with the specific aim of informing future health promotion work. Using “draw and write” techniques, the findings indicate that these children possessed considerable health‐related knowledge. Exercise and healthy eating were seen as the most important factors in keeping healthy, whereas smoking and bad diet were cited most often as representing unhealthy behaviour. However, both categories also included more general items, embracing both environmental and “individualistic” factors. Similarly, children appeared to possess considerable knowledge about cancer, particularly about lung cancer, but there was also some understanding of other cancers such as breast and skin cancer and leukaemia. Concerning sources of information, most of the children’s knowledge about cancer appeared to derive from television and other media; in particular, soap operas appeared to exert a considerable influence on these young children. Considers the implications of these findings for traditional approaches to health education and the methodological issues involved in researching children’s health.
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Observes that a major risk factor for developing malignant melanoma is severe exposure to the sun in childhood and adolescence. Summarises the epidemiology of skin cancers…
Abstract
Observes that a major risk factor for developing malignant melanoma is severe exposure to the sun in childhood and adolescence. Summarises the epidemiology of skin cancers, including the alarming rate of increase in new cases of malignant melanoma. Describes the Government target of halting the rise each year in newly diagnosed cases of skin cancers by 2005. Given the dearth of suitable resources available to assist health educators in teaching young people about the harmful effects of the sun, describes the development of a user‐friendly teaching pack suitable for Key Stage 2 children (7 to 11 years), which aims to promote positive behaviours. Suggests that educating children at this crucial stage may lead to a decrease in new cases of skin cancer in future years. Shows that early evaluation of the teaching course has so far been encouraging.
Asfandyar Khan, Ahsan Nazir, Abdur Rehman, Maryam Naveed, Munir Ashraf, Kashif Iqbal, Abdul Basit and Hafiz Shahzad Maqsood
This review deals with the pros and cons of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on human beings and the role of textile clothing and the chemicals used for textiles to protect from their…
Abstract
Purpose
This review deals with the pros and cons of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on human beings and the role of textile clothing and the chemicals used for textiles to protect from their harmful effects.
Design/methodology/approach
UV radiation (UVR) which has further divided into UVA, UVB, and UVC. Almost 100% of UVC and major portion of UVB are bounced back to stratosphere by ozone layer while UVA enters the earth atmosphere. Excessive exposure of solar or artificial UVR exhibit potential risks to human health. UVR is a major carcinogen and excessive exposure of solar radiation in sunlight can cause cancer in the lip, skin squamous cell, basal cell and cutaneous melanoma, particularly in people with the fair skin.
Findings
This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the harmful effects of UVR on human skin, factors affecting UV irradiance and factors affecting UV protection offered by textile clothing.
Originality/value
Effect of fiber properties, yarn properties, fabric construction, fabric treatments and laundering has been reviewed along with the identification of gaps in the reported research. A comparison of inorganic and organic UV absorbers has also been given along with different testing and evaluation methods for UV protective clothing.
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Gillian Bendelow, Simon J. Williams and Ann Oakley
Reports the findings from a study of young people’s knowledge of and attitudes towards cancer, and their understanding of health and health‐related behaviours, the aim of which is…
Abstract
Reports the findings from a study of young people’s knowledge of and attitudes towards cancer, and their understanding of health and health‐related behaviours, the aim of which is to inform future health promotion work in this area. Finds, from the study of three inner city, suburban and rural schools involving 226 young people aged 15‐16, that young people know most about lung cancer, but there is also some understanding of other cancers, particularly breast and skin cancer and leukaemia. Reveals that smoking, pollution and other environmental factors are seen as the dominant causes of cancer, and the latter are more often mentioned by the inner city samples. Shows that young people appear to be more worried about unemployment than ill health, and that happiness comes before health as a priority in their lives. Finds television and the media to be the most important sources of information. Considers the implications of these findings for traditional approaches to health education and health promotion.
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The aim of this paper is to distinguish pedagogies supporting critical health literacy development in adolescent populations. Specifically, for sun safety education in schools.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to distinguish pedagogies supporting critical health literacy development in adolescent populations. Specifically, for sun safety education in schools.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper draws on an exploratory intrinsic case study design to qualitatively examine the learning conditions that Pre-Service Teachers' (PsTs) mobilise to advance Health Literary (HL) in learning activities.
Findings
This paper presents data that shows the different ways thirty Pre-Service Teachers (PsTs) in Western Australia conceptualise HL in sun safety education for Year 7 students (12–13 years old). Examination of three consecutive lesson plans categorised learning activities (n = 444) according to HL competencies. Data shows that the PsTs pedagogically advance HL but are constrained when conceptualising learning to support critical HL. Further examination of the lesson plans of the 11 PsTs who pedagogically advanced learning to support a critical level of health literacy, distinguished the learning conditions and pedagogies supporting critically health literate adolescents.
Originality/value
By distinguishing pedagogies to situate individual and social health within broader societal goals, the paper identifies teacher education institutions as key players enabling young people to socially advocate healthier living, particularly, regarding melanoma and non-melanoma incidence.
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Katie Kerstetter and John J. Green
This study tests the first two tenets of the fundamental causes theory – that socioeconomic status influences a variety of risk factors for poor health and that it affects…
Abstract
Purpose
This study tests the first two tenets of the fundamental causes theory – that socioeconomic status influences a variety of risk factors for poor health and that it affects multiple health outcomes – by examining the associations between adverse socioeconomic circumstances and five measures of health.
Methodology/approach
We employ bivariate and logistic regression analyses of data from the Centers Disease Control and Prevention 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) to test the individual and cumulative associations between three measures of socioeconomic position and five measures of health risk factors and outcomes.
Findings
The analysis demonstrates support for the fundamental causes theory, indicating that measures of adverse socioeconomic conditions have independent and cumulative associations with multiple health outcomes and risk factors among U.S. adults aged 18–64.
Research limitations/implications
The findings of this chapter are generalizable to adults aged 18–64 living in the United States and may not apply to individuals living outside the United States, older Americans, and children.
Originality/value of chapter
Adverse socioeconomic circumstances are not only associated with self-rated health but are also associated with the two leading causes of death in the United States (cancer and heart disease) and risk factors that contribute to these causes of death (smoking and high blood pressure). Improving access to socioeconomic resources is critical to reducing health disparities in leading causes of death and health risk factors in the United States.
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Padmapriya Nammalwar, Ovidiu Ghita and Paul F. Whelan
The purpose of this paper is to propose a generic framework based on the colour and the texture features for colour‐textured image segmentation. The framework can be applied to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a generic framework based on the colour and the texture features for colour‐textured image segmentation. The framework can be applied to any real‐world applications for appropriate interpretation.
Design/methodology/approach
The framework derives the contributions of colour and texture in image segmentation. Local binary pattern and an unsupervised k‐means clustering are used to cluster pixels in the chrominance plane. An unsupervised segmentation method is adopted. A quantitative estimation of colour and texture performance in segmentation is presented. The proposed method is tested using different mosaic and natural images and other image database used in computer vision. The framework is applied to three different applications namely, Irish script on screen images, skin cancer images and sediment profile imagery to demonstrate the robustness of the framework.
Findings
The inclusion of colour and texture as distributions of regions provided a good discrimination of the colour and the texture. The results indicate that the incorporation of colour information enhanced the texture analysis techniques and the methodology proved effective and efficient.
Originality/value
The novelty lies in the development of a generic framework using both colour and texture features for image segmentation and the different applications from various fields.
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