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1 – 10 of over 17000Ankan Mukherjee Das, Kumar Dron Shrivastav, Neha Taneja, Aanchal Anant Awasthi, Shazia Rashid, Ajay Gogia and Rajiv Janardhanan
Breast cancer (BC) presents a major public health challenge world-over including India. While several risk-factors, early signs and symptoms of BC are known, the knowledge and…
Abstract
Purpose
Breast cancer (BC) presents a major public health challenge world-over including India. While several risk-factors, early signs and symptoms of BC are known, the knowledge and awareness of this disease remains poor among the population. The present study aimed to determine the extent of knowledge and awareness of BC, its risk factors, early signs and symptoms and breast self-examination (BSE) practice as an early detection method among Indian college-going female students.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted a cross-sectional survey at a University in Delhi-NCR. Data on socio-demographic, knowledge and awareness of BC including BSE was collected using a pretested questionnaire. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis was performed. All tests were two-sided and significance was set at p < 0.05.
Findings
A total of 866 female students participated in the study with mean age of 22.32 (±0.146) years having mean body mass index (BMI) of 21.22 (±3.52). As high as 82.1% of the participants had heard of BC but while 74.8% thought early detection is possible, 70.7% believed BC cannot be prevented. Gene mutations (60.2%) were identified as a significant risk factor, while breast pain (61.4%) was commonly recognized as a sign of BC. Only 29.8% of students ever performed BSE. Increased odds of performing BSE (OR = 3.4) was found among students who recognized gene mutations as an important BC risk factor.
Research limitations/implications
Knowledge and awareness of BC including BSE among female college students were found to be below average. It is suggested that there is an urgent need for increasing BC awareness among young girls through workshops and mobile-health interventions.
Practical implications
This study provides new information on the level of knowledge and awareness of BC risk factors, sign and symptoms and self-examination practice among young college girls. Moreover, this study advocates the need for design and implementation of a sustainable digital health model for active population BC screening, which is not being done currently.
Social implications
BC is a highly aggressive disease, which is now one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in India and world over. Although the knowledge of BC risk factors and its signs and symptoms have increased, the awareness of these elements among the general population at large is low and/or missing, especially in India. Furthermore, as a consequence of unorganized screening programs in the country, majority of women are presenting young with locally advanced disease. Understanding the existing level of knowledge and educating school, college and University students of the pertinent factors and screening practices such as BSE could drastically help in improving the self-screening and/or clinical examination rates. This could potentially lead to early detection and improved prognosis, thus ameliorating disease burden.
Originality/value
This study is one of the few studies conducted in India among young female college students belonging to non-medical backgrounds, delineating the level of knowledge and awareness of BC risk factors and signs and symptoms along with practice of early detection method such as BSE. The study has a considerable sample size and provides valuable evidence for a need to implement programs incorporating digital health models for accelerating awareness and screening of young girls in both rural and urban settings.
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Douglas Eadie and Susan MacAskill
Secondary prevention programmes have traditionally employed mass screening approaches to assess for asymptomatic signs of cancer. It has been suggested that early detection…
Abstract
Purpose
Secondary prevention programmes have traditionally employed mass screening approaches to assess for asymptomatic signs of cancer. It has been suggested that early detection strategies involving public education and self‐referral may prove more cost‐effective with low risk populations for cancers with symptomatic presentation. This study, which was commissioned to inform the development of a cancer awareness campaign, aims to examine public perceptions of the early detection of cancer, the psycho‐social barriers to self‐referral amongst a key at‐risk population and the implications for patient education.
Design/methodology/approach
An exploratory study using qualitative focus groups with an at‐risk population of older people living in deprived communities in west‐central Scotland.
Findings
The findings reveal broad support for initiatives designed to raise symptom awareness. However, fear of cancer can lead to apparently irrational responses to symptoms and subsequent delay, particularly amongst men who are less likely to seek support from lay networks.
Originality/value
Early detection messages need to take account tone and symptom description to allay fears and ensure appropriate presentation. Consideration also needs to be given to the role played by lay and professional opinion formers to informing and supporting patients' decision to present with suspicious symptoms, particularly when targeting harder to reach patients of men, older people, and people living in deprived communities.
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Ping Ma, Hongli Zhang, Wenhui Fan and Cong Wang
Early fault detection of bearing plays an increasingly important role in the operation of rotating machinery. Based on the properties of early fault signal of bearing, this paper…
Abstract
Purpose
Early fault detection of bearing plays an increasingly important role in the operation of rotating machinery. Based on the properties of early fault signal of bearing, this paper aims to describe a novel hybrid early fault detection method of bearings.
Design/methodology/approach
In adaptive variational mode decomposition (AVMD), an adaptive strategy is proposed to select the optimal decomposition level K of variational mode decomposition. Then, a criterion based on envelope entropy is applied to select the optimal intrinsic mode functions (OIMF), which contains most useful fault information. Afterwards, local tangent space alignment (LTSA) is used to denoising of OIMF. The envelope spectrum of the OIMF is used to analyze the fault frequency, thereby detecting the fault. Experiments are conducted in a simulated signal and two experimental vibration signals of bearings to verify the effect of the new method.
Findings
The results show that the proposed method yields a good capability of detecting bearing fault at an early stage. The new method can extract more useful information and can reduce noise, which can provide better detection accuracy compared with the other two methods.
Originality/value
An adaptive strategy based on center frequency is proposed to select the optimal decomposition level of variational mode decomposition. Envelope entropy is used to fault feature selection. Combining the advantage of the AVMD-envelope entropy and LTSA, which suits the nature of the early fault signal. So, the proposed method has better detection accuracy, which provides a good alternative for early fault detection of bearings.
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K. Sivasubramanian and P.K. Umesha
Damages occur in all structures due to several reasons. Research in the area of damage detection has been of interest to the researchers for several years. Damage detection…
Abstract
Damages occur in all structures due to several reasons. Research in the area of damage detection has been of interest to the researchers for several years. Damage detection methods help in early detection and hence early repair and rehabilitation of structures. In this paper, a graphical method has been implemented to detect and quantify the damage. Further, in this work, the method has been generalised to solve the damage detection in all beam structures, independent of variations in geometric or material characteristics of the structural system. The frequencies are non‐dimensioned as frequency ratios and are used in the studies. Detailed studies have been performed to arrive at the generalised method. The abilities of the method have been highlighted using the numerical simulation results.
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Athanasios C. Chasalevris and Chris A. Papadopoulos
The purpose of this paper is to present a method for early crack detection in rotating shafts. A rotor-bearing system, consisting of an elastic rotor mounted on fluid film…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a method for early crack detection in rotating shafts. A rotor-bearing system, consisting of an elastic rotor mounted on fluid film bearings, is used to detect the presence of the crack at a depth of around 5 percent of shaft radius. The fluid film bearings, the shaft and the crack introduce coupled bending vibrations both in the horizontal and vertical plane. Experimental time series of the rotor composite response under normal steady-state operation are uncoupled, to develop a signal processing procedure able to reveal the presence of the crack.
Design/methodology/approach
The variation of the coupling property that a crack (breathing or not) or a cut (always open) introduces into the system and the localization of the coupling in the time domain is a concept proposed as a means to detect transverse surface cracks in rotating shafts. This consideration is combined with the concept of external excitation for the development of an additional crack-sensitive response during system normal operation. Using an external excitation of an active magnetic bearing of specific duration, frequency and amplitude, the method uses this coupling variation during rotation.
Findings
The method is simple, quick and effective for early crack detection, being able to detect cracks as shallow as 5 percent of the shaft radius while the system is under normal operation, and can even be applied real-time. Experimental verification uses a simple elastic rotor with a cut mounted on fluid film bearings, with the cut producing similar coupling phenomena as an opened crack. Experimental results are encouraging.
Originality/value
The method used is simple, quick and effective for early crack detection, being able to detect cracks as shallow as 5 percent of the shaft radius while the system is under normal operation, and can even be applied real-time.
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Chun-Chi Peng, Kuei-Shu Hsu, Ming-Guo Her, Yen-Chia Peng, Jinn-Feng Jiang and Yi-Jie Chen
The purpose of this paper is to develop an early fire-alarm raising system based on video processing, and combine it with the omnidirectional projecting system. It not only gives…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop an early fire-alarm raising system based on video processing, and combine it with the omnidirectional projecting system. It not only gives alarm immediately in early fire so that people can be able to strive for more time to escape from the spot, but also solves problem of discontinued screen which was presented fire scene.
Design/methodology/approach
The smoke detection system is made by image processing. The flowchart of smoke detection is improved, which the method of background updating can filter out the moving objects that only stay for a short time in the image; and avoids these objects being determined to be the background. Moreover, the authors extract the flickering area to separate the non-smoke and smoke from the candidate of smoke regions. Finally, the image processing is applied in omnidirectional projecting system, then presented the 360-degree fire scene.
Findings
The results show that the smoke detection system can accurately detect the smoke and mark its location, then combining it with the omnidirectional projecting system, although the resolution of omnidirectional projecting system is not enough, it can present a continued screen and location of smoke on the 360-degree cylindrical screen.
Originality/value
This paper develops the smoke detection based on a improved method of image processing, and the control center staff can see the 360-degree fire scene via omnidirectional projecting system, so shorten the time to find the source of smoke.
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In a modern gas turbine‐powered aircraft, engine material cost is the major single contributor to direct maintenance and overhaul cost. Due to the large expenditures involved…
Abstract
In a modern gas turbine‐powered aircraft, engine material cost is the major single contributor to direct maintenance and overhaul cost. Due to the large expenditures involved, even a small percentage improvement in this field will result in the achievement of large savings. By concentrating on the reduction of both scheduled and unscheduled removals, this cost can be minimized. An analysis of the experience gained with the application (o gas turbine engines, of traditional overhaul life development programmes shows that these are of no benefit in determining the limitations of the engine. Experience and control of the total time or take‐off cycles of components, rather than time between overhaul, is the most important factor in the operational development of gas turbine engines. Overhaul life development can be divided into two phases: the initial programme applied to new engines with little operational background, and the developed programme applied to engines with substantial operating experience. In the initial programme, the sampling of two engines every 100 hours from a declared plateau can provide the required information and produces the required stagger in total time of components. In the developed programme large steps in overhaul life can be declared without further sampling. Life development of critical engine components cannot be done in service and requires manufacturer's cyclic testing ahead of airline experience until fail‐safe designs are achieved. Early failure detection of gas turbine engines is a Held of great potential return which to date has been only barely explored. Both engine manufacturers and operators need to develop tools and techniques for effective early failure detection quickly, to gain the large benefits which this field offers. Examples of the application of some early failure detection designs and techniques in Trans‐Canada Air Lines (T.C.A.) are given. These are in the field of visual examination with increased access to the engine, X‐ray examination of flame tubes with the engine installed in the aircraft, more effective use of the oil system to give warning of failure, engine vibration monitoring and automatic flight performance recording.
Richard T. Marcy and Ottilia Berze
This study investigates the complex interaction between properties of some emergent crises and the expertise of particular public sector leaders, who themselves are embedded in…
Abstract
This study investigates the complex interaction between properties of some emergent crises and the expertise of particular public sector leaders, who themselves are embedded in particular institutional processes that further constrain identification of these emergent crises. It is suggested that discrepancy in the ability of leaders to detect crises is due not only to their own proficiency in some cognitive skills, but also to their interaction with, and differences in, particular properties of some emergent crises, which render some emergent crises more detectable than others in some institutional environments.
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Sara Haji‐Kazemi and Bjørn Andersen
The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the concept of early warning signs in projects and explain how a performance measurement system can be utilized as a source…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the concept of early warning signs in projects and explain how a performance measurement system can be utilized as a source of data for an early warning approach signaling that a project is about to experience problems at some stage in the future.
Design/methodology/approach
Combination of action research and semi‐structured interviews and document analysis supplemented by a post‐mortem analysis after project close‐out.
Findings
Detection of early warning signals in projects can be better enabled through the application of a performance measurement system with properly defined key performance indicators. Utilization of this tool can positively affect the overall success of the project.
Research limitations/implications
The case study involved only one project from the oil and gas industry.
Practical implications
The empirical case study was developed to illustrate the usefulness of exploiting a performance measurement system in a project. A procedure was demonstrated for developing and implementing an early warning system based on performance measurement, and specific performance indicators have been described for other projects to copy.
Originality/value
This paper highlights the gap in the literature concerning the link between early warning and project management and the link between early warning and performance measurement. It offers a new idea on how performance measurement can be used as an effective early warning system and is intended to be primarily of use to project management practitioners and practically‐oriented academics who are interested in developing fresh insights into new approaches for better management of projects.
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Gang Li, Yongqiang Chen, Jian Zhou, Xuan Zheng and Xue Li
Periodic inspection and maintenance are essential for effective pavement preservation. Cracks not only affect the appearance of the road and reduce the levelness, but also shorten…
Abstract
Purpose
Periodic inspection and maintenance are essential for effective pavement preservation. Cracks not only affect the appearance of the road and reduce the levelness, but also shorten the life of road. However, traditional road crack detection methods based on manual investigations and image processing are costly, inefficiency and unreliable. The research aims to replace the traditional road crack detection method and further improve the detection effect.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, a crack detection method based on matrix network fusing corner-based detection and segmentation network is proposed to effectively identify cracks. The method combines ResNet 152 with matrix network as the backbone network to achieve feature reuse of the crack. The crack region is identified by corners, and segmentation network is constructed to extract the crack. Finally, parameters such as the length and width of the cracks were calculated from the geometric characteristics of the cracks and the relative errors with the actual values were 4.23 and 6.98% respectively.
Findings
To improve the accuracy of crack detection, the model was optimized with the Adam algorithm and mixed with two publicly available datasets for model training and testing and compared with various methods. The results show that the detection performance of our method is better than many excellent algorithms, and the anti-interference ability is strong.
Originality/value
This paper proposed a new type of road crack detection method. The detection effect is better than a variety of detection algorithms and has strong anti-interference ability, which can completely replace traditional crack detection methods and meet engineering needs.
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