High Level Of Fidelity Research Articles

The Effects of Practice-Based Coaching on the Implementation of Shared Book Reading Strategies for Speech-Language Pathology Assistants and Paraeducators Working With Children With Language Delays

This study examined the effects of practice-based coaching with scripted supports designed to support paraeducators and speech-language pathology assistants (SLP-As) as they implement evidence-based shared book reading strategies with preschoolers with language delays. A single-case, multiple baseline across behaviors was employed. Five U.S. educators (three SLP-As and two paraeducators) participated in the study. The primary dependent variable was percentage of strategies correctly implemented; the secondary dependent variable was expressive and receptive vocabulary. Results demonstrate that all five educators were able to successfully implement the strategies with high and consistent levels of fidelity during the intervention and maintained similar levels of fidelity even after coaching and scripted supports were faded or removed. All five preschool participants showed gains in both expressive and receptive vocabulary. Social validity results support the feasibility and usefulness of the intervention. Implications for research and practice are provided.

Simulation-based operations testing in new neonatal healthcare environments

In situ simulations, those conducted in the actual clinical environment, confer a high level of contextual fidelity and have been applied to the operations testing of new healthcare environments (HCE) to identify potential threats to patient, family and staff safety. By conducting simulation-based operations testing, these latent safety threats (LSTs) – which are weaknesses in communications, human factors, system process and technologies, and the way they are linked together – can be identified and corrected prior to moving patients into the new HCE. Simulation-based operations testing has extended to the neonatal HCE, as neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) transition from open-bay to single-family room design. In this section, we define LSTs, review simulation-based operations testing in new neonatal and perinatal HCEs, review challenges associated with conducting simulation-based operations testing, and briefly review pre-construction simulation-based user-centered design of new HCEs.

Neonatal airway management training using simulation-based educational methods and technology

Airway management is a fundamental component of neonatal critical care and requires a high level of skill. Neonatal endotracheal intubation (ETI), bag-mask ventilation, and supraglottic airway management are complex technical skills to acquire and continually maintain. Simulation training has emerged as a leading educational modality to accelerate the acquisition of airway management skills and train interprofessional teams. However, current simulation-based training does not always replicate neonatal airway management needed for patient care with a high level of fidelity. Educators still rely on clinical training on live patients. In this article, we will a) review the importance of simulation-based neonatal airway training for learners and clinicians, b) evaluate the available training modalities, instructional design, and challenges for airway procedural skill acquisition, especially neonatal ETI, and c) describe the human factors affecting the transfer of airway training skills into the clinical environment.

Ethnomedicinal study of plants utilized in pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum healthcare in Kashmir Himalaya

IntroductionWomen residing in the remote villages are entirely dependent on medicinal plant resources against a variety of disorders due to the unavailability of modern health resources. The study aimed (i) to explore the indigenous knowledge regarding the utilization of medicinal plants during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum healthcare (ii) and to carry out the preliminary phytochemical analysis of selected important plants species. Till date none of the previous studies have investigated this topic in the study region. MethodsThe ethnomedicinal information was gathered using semi-structured interviews and group discussions by standard questionnaires. All the collected data was analyzed by Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) and Fidelity Level (FL), and on this basis 16 medicinal plants were subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening. ResultsThe current research reported 134 medicinal plants of 55 families being utilized in pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum healthcare. Asteraceae was reported to be the dominant family with 9.7% species contribution. The ICF value was reported in the range of 0.62 and 0.82, with the highest of 0.82 for complications predominantly related to the puerperium. The highest FL (86%) was reported for Dipsacus inermis. On the other hand, various secondary metabolites (carbohydrates, flavonoids, alkaloids, phytosterols, glycosides, tannins, phenols, proteins, diterpenes and aminoacids), were also reported. ConclusionThese findings specify that indigenous utilization of traditional herbal medicine is a well-established practice in Kashmir valley. However, plants were reported to be used unsustainably. Keeping in view the toxicity, pharmacological mechanisms of action and efficacy, we recommend more research on these medicinal plants to expand and enhance regional maternity and delivery care.

The SOFIA pilot study: assessing feasibility and fidelity of coordinated care to reduce excess mortality and increase quality of life in patients with severe mental illness in a general practice setting; a cluster-randomised pilot trial

ObjectiveTo evaluate the feasibility and fidelity of implementing and assessing the SOFIA coordinated care program aimed at lowering mortality and increasing quality of life in patients with severe mental illness by improving somatic health care in general practice.DesignA cluster-randomised, non-blinded controlled pilot trial.SettingGeneral Practice in Denmark.InterventionThe SOFIA coordinated care program comprised extended structured consultations carried out by the GP, group-based training of GPs and staff, and a handbook with information on signposting patients to relevant municipal, health, and social initiatives.PatientsPersons aged 18 years or older with a diagnosis of psychotic, bipolar, or severe depressive disorder.Main outcome measuresWe collected quantitative data on the delivery, recruitment and retention rates of practices and patients, and response rates of questionnaires MMQ and EQ-5D-5 L.ResultsFrom November 2020 to March 2021, nine practices were enrolled and assigned in a 2:1 ratio to the intervention group (n = 6) or control group (n = 3). Intervention group practices included 64 patients and Control practices included 23. The extended consultations were delivered with a high level of fidelity in the general practices; however, thresholds for collecting outcome measures, and recruitment of practices and patients were not reached.ConclusionOur findings suggest that delivering the coordinated care program in a fully powered trial in primary care is likely feasible. However, the recruitment methodology requires improvement to ensure sufficient recruitment and minimize selective inclusion.Trial registrationThe date of pilot trial protocol registration was 05/11/2020, and the registration number is NCT04618250.

Comparison of visitor experiences of virtual reality exhibitions by spatial environment

The growing interest in the metaverse has led to a corresponding increase in attention towards virtual reality (VR) exhibitions. Furthermore, with the potential and possibility of a virtual environment without physical and economic constraints, expectations for user experiences based on diverse exhibition environments are increasing. Accordingly, this study investigated the characteristics of visitor experience in relation to the spatial environment of VR exhibitions, particularly focusing on the representational fidelity of the real-physical world. We experimented with comparing the user experience in reality-based (realistically representing the physical world, high representational fidelity level) and virtuality-based (surreal, low representational fidelity level) VR exhibition settings to explore design implementation. User experience data were collected through surveys, behavioral observation by video recording, and interviews. In terms of surveys, there was no significant difference in presence and enjoyment by environment, but the reality-based environment was scored significantly higher for communication. The behavioral analysis found that more active movements were captured in the virtuality-based environment. Qualitative analysis of the interview found differences in perception, emotions, and behavior by spatial environment, such that the newness and openness of the virtuality-based environment induced active movement of participants, and the familiarity of the reality-based environment provided comfortable feelings and supported participants’ concentration on exhibition contents. The results of the study suggest how the spatial environment of VR exhibitions can contribute to user experiences.

Ethnobotany of Hmong ethnic groups in Bolikhamxay province, central Laos PDR

Results from an ethnobotany study of Hmong ethnic groups in Bolikhamxay Province, Laos PDR between 2021 and 2023 identifies plant uses for 133 species, 104 genera, and 50 families. The research focusses on specific plant uses. Quantitative analyses are applied with Use Value (UV), Fidelity Level (FL), and Informant Agreement Ratio (IAR). Cluster analysis based on the Jaccard’s Similarity Index (JI) are calculated for the similarity of edible plant used in three areas as follows: cultivated, from the forest, and in the market. The most important plant species are Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeusch. with a UV of 3.45 followed by Calamus viminalis Willd. (2.85) and Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe (2.83). The highest FL value for 23 plant species with 100% FL. The highest consensus within ailment categories is for urinary system symptoms, neurological symptoms and oral syndrome (IAR=1.00). The JI varies between 0.1013 and 0.2981; the highest JI is for pairs of cultivated and in the market. UPGMA cluster analysis indicates that the plants are collected from isolated forests with low similarity to other areas. Considering the numerous useful plants that have been documented, along with the identification of culturally and historically significant species, as well as their distribution and conservation status, it becomes evident that forest conservation is crucial for preserving the livelihoods and associated ethnobotanical knowledge of the local and indigenous people in Bolikhamxay Province.

Ethnobotanical study of nutraceutical plants used to manage opportunistic infections associated with HIV/AIDS in Acholi sub-region, Northern Uganda

BackgroundNutraceutical plants play a potential role as supportive treatment with antiretroviral drugs in the management of opportunistic infections associated with HIV/AIDS. There is limited documentation of nutraceutical plants in Northern Uganda and limited literature addressing processes to be adopted for quality assurance of herbal formulations in Uganda. This study aimed to document plant species with nutritional and medicinal properties used for managing opportunistic infections associated with HIV/AIDS by traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs), who included professional herbalists, herbal farmers and herbal sellers in Acholi sub region, Northern Uganda.MethodsAn ethnobotanical study was carried out in Amuru, Gulu and Pader districts, Northern Uganda. Cross-sectional data were collected using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. A total of four hundred (378 women and 22 men) informants were selected. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, focus group discussions and direct observation. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, familiarity index (FI), fidelity level (FL) and informant consensus factor (ICF).ResultsThis study recorded a total of 84 nutraceutical plant species, which are used to manage opportunistic infections associated with HIV/AIDS. Most abundant families were Leguminoceae, Asteraceae and Solanaceae. Six nutraceutical plants that had higher fidelity level and familiarity index values included Momordica foetida Schumach, Erigeron floribundus (Kunth) Sch. Bip, Mangifera indica L, Cajanus cajan L. Millsp, Eucalyptus globulus Labill and Cucurbita pepo L. Respondents’ knowledge on nutraceutical plants had a positive significant correlation with age (R2 = 0.0524, p ≤ 0.01). The popular mode of preparation are decoctions/boiling in water (70%), while the most used route of administration is oral (76%). TMPs tried to ensure that during collection and processing, plant materials were free from contamination. TMPs reported limited knowledge on preservation techniques.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the availability and diversity of nutraceutical plants in Uganda and reports methods of processing and administration used by TMPs. Both men and women used nutraceutical plants to manage opportunistic infections associated with HIV/AIDS and showed great extent of their traditional knowledge. Most of the nutraceutical plants in study area are wild and abundant; however, high percentage use of plant roots and bark threatens the sustainable use from the wild.

Efficacy of a Parent-Implemented Pivotal Response Treatment for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Pivotal response treatment (PRT) is a well-established intervention addressing core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with parent involvement as a key component. The current study aimed to examine the effects of PRT parent training on parent fidelity and provide descriptive analyses of parent-child interactions before and after parent training. It also probed parental acceptance and satisfaction with the program. A concurrent multiple baseline design across participants was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the parent training program. Four parents (range 32-47 years old) and their children with ASD participated in the study. The intervention comprised 12 one-on-one parent training sessions over six consecutive weeks. The visual analysis and effect size calculation (Tau-U) were used to evaluate functional relationship between independent and dependent variables. The descriptive analysis was used to analyze parent-child interaction data. The findings reveal that all parents learned and maintained PRT with a high level of fidelity, they also enhanced awareness to create more opportunities for interactions during free play, and the parents were very satisfied with the program. The results also indicate that the six-week parent training program is effective in teaching parents to implement PRT with their children. These results suggest that the parent training program may be a promising treatment model that is effective, efficient, and cost-effective. Implications for future research and practice are then discussed.

Supporting college student self-determination through motivational interviewing

PurposeThis study was intended to investigate a small-scale School-based Motivational Interviewing (SBMI) pilot with first-year college students. This approach honors student autonomy, supports self-determination and has the potential to impact educational outcomes in higher education. Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence based conversational skill set, defined as “a collaborative conversational style for strengthening a person's own motivation and commitment to change” (Miller and Rollnick, 2013, p. 12). Student perceptions of satisfaction with the faculty-student mentoring intervention were sought. Relational aspects of MI (partnership, empathy and alliance) were also explored.Design/methodology/approachA mixed-method approach was used for the SBMI study, focused on college students with recent academic setbacks (N = 19).FindingsThe intervention was deployed with high levels of MI technical fidelity and relational quality. Participants reported high satisfaction with the intervention. The relational aspects and participant perceived alliance with their faculty were highly correlated across the intervention, adding to the discussion of the mechanisms of MI that contribute to its effectiveness.Research limitations/implicationsThis work is formative, yet at this point is not generalizable given the scope of the study.Practical implicationsFindings are encouraging for further development of this innovative pedagogical approach. Possible future applications of research are provided.Social implicationsDiscussed herein, SBMI has the potential to meet the needs of traditionally underrepresented student groups.Originality/valueThe reported study is the initial portion of a larger intervention development project.

Designing virtual reality exposure scenarios to treat anxiety in people with epilepsy: Phase 2 of the AnxEpiVR clinical trial

Introduction: Anxiety in people with epilepsy (PwE) is characterized by distinct features related to having the condition and thus requires tailored treatment. Although virtual reality (VR) exposure therapy is widely-used to treat a number of anxiety disorders, its use has not yet been explored in people with epilepsy. The AnxEpiVR study is a three-phase pilot trial that represents the first effort to design and evaluate the feasibility of VR exposure therapy to treat epilepsy-specific interictal anxiety. This paper describes the results of the design phase (Phase 2) where we created a minimum viable product of VR exposure scenarios to be tested with PwE in Phase 3.Methods: Phase 2 employed participatory design methods and hybrid (online and in-person) focus groups involving people with lived experience (n = 5) to design the VR exposure therapy program. 360-degree video was chosen as the medium and scenes were filmed using the Ricoh Theta Z1 360-degree camera.Results: Our minimum viable product includes three exposure scenarios: (A) Social Scene—Dinner Party, (B) Public Setting—Subway, and (C) Public Setting—Shopping Mall. Each scenario contains seven 5-minute scenes of varying intensity, from which a subset may be chosen and ordered to create a customized hierarchy based on appropriateness to the individual’s specific fears. Our collaborators with lived experience who tested the product considered the exposure therapy program to 1) be safe for PwE, 2) have a high level of fidelity and 3) be appropriate for treating a broad range of fears related to epilepsy/seizures.Discussion: We were able to show that 360-degree videos are capable of achieving a realistic, immersive experience for the user without requiring extensive technical training for the designer. Strengths and limitations using 360-degree video for designing exposure scenarios for PwE are described, along with future directions for testing and refining the product.

Recognition, explanation, action, learning: Teaching and delivery of a consultation model for persistent physical symptoms

ObjectiveTo describe the teaching and delivery of an extended consultation model designed for clinicians to use with patients with persistent physical symptoms and functional disorders. The model is underpinned by current scientific knowledge about persistent physical symptoms and the communication problems that arise in dealing with them. MethodsProcess evaluation of training and delivery of the Recognition, Explanation, Action, Learning (REAL) model within the Multiple Symptoms Study 3: a randomised controlled trial of an extended-role GP “Symptoms Clinic”. Evaluation used clinician and patient interviews and consultation transcripts. Results7 GPs were trained in the intervention and 6 of them went on to deliver the REAL model in Symptoms Clinics either face-to-face or online. The Symptoms Clinic provided a set of 4 extended consultations to approximately 170 patients. Evaluation of training indicated that there was a considerable load in terms of new knowledge and skills. Evaluation of delivery found clinicians could adapt the model to individual patients while maintaining a high level of fidelity to its core components. ConclusionREAL is a teachable consultation model addressing specific clinical communication issues for people with persistent physical symptoms. Practice ImplicationsREAL enables clinicians to explain persistent physical symptoms in a beneficial way.

A Single-Fidelity Surrogate Modeling Method Based on Nonlinearity Integrated Multi-Fidelity Surrogate

Abstract Surrogate model provides a promising way to reasonably approximate complex underlying relationships between system parameters. However, the expensive modeling cost, especially in large problem sizes, hinders its applications in practical problems. To overcome this issue, with the advantages of the multi-fidelity surrogate (MFS) model, this paper proposes a single-fidelity surrogate model with a hierarchical structure, named nonlinearity integrated correlation mapping surrogate (NI-CMS) model. The NI-CMS model first establishes the low-fidelity model to capture the underlying landscape of the true function, and then, based on the idea of MFS model, the established low-fidelity model is corrected by minimizing the mean square error to ensure prediction accuracy. Especially, a novel MFS model (named NI-MFS), is constructed to enhance the stability of the proposed NI-CMS model. More specifically, a nonlinear scaling term, which assumes the linear combination of the projected low-fidelity predictions in a high-dimensional space can reach the high-fidelity level, is introduced to assist the traditional scaling term. The performances of the proposed model are evaluated through a series of numerical test functions. In addition, a surrogate-based digital twin of an XY compliant parallel manipulator is used to validate the practical performance of the proposed model. The results show that compared with the existing models, the NI-CMS model provides a higher performance under the condition of a small sample set, illustrating the promising potential of this surrogate modeling technique.

A comparative macromorphological and ethnomedicinal analysis of five Kalanchoe Adans. Taxa from Bangladesh

The best-known species of the succulents family Crassulaceae in Bangladesh are Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, Kalanchoe daigremonitnum, Kalanchoe heterophylla, Kalanchoe laciniata and Kalanchoe pinnata during the period January, 2019 to March, 2020. But this is the first time that two new species named K. delagoensis and K. gastonis-bonnieri were reported from Bangladesh in this study.Viviparous plantlets formation along the leaf margin is the remarkable feature of these new two species along with formerly reported species K. pinnata. The abundance of K. pinnata among the five species of this genus was the highest (53%), while K. gastonis-bonnieri was the lowest (3%). The experimented five species were used to treat 9 human ailments named cough and cold, cuts and wounds, stomach disorder, kidney and gall bladder stones, jaundice, high blood pressure, skin burning, headache, and eye pain. The citation frequency of all the species except K. laciniata ranged from 2% to 100% in contrast to any ailment, while K. blossfeldiana and K. pinnata were frequently cited. Alike citation frequency the species K. blossfeldiana and K. pinnata along K. gastonis-bonnieri had the highest fidelity level, but K. delagoensis had the lowest fidelity level among the five species analyzed. Leaf juice and baked leaf are the common modes of administration. The most cited and high-fidelity species K. blossfeldiana and K. pinnata were top-ranked in DMR analysis. These two top-ranked species are under threat for several factors and need conservation strategies. Bangladesh J. Agri. 2023, 48(1): 51-66

RENAL6: Movement Abnormality Quantitation: Comparison of On-Body vs. Around-Body Systems for Assessment of Movement Abnormalities in Chronic Kidney Disease

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) causes a range of derangements including movement abnormalities. Presently, motion disorders are largely described qualitatively. Our group developed quantitative measurement devices: 1. wearable digital patch (Biostamp) (stretchable electronics) measuring motion with 6 degrees of freedom – an “on body” (contact) method, and 2. video telemedicine system using external markers (MOCA 2.0) – an “around-body” (non-contact) method, measuring body element movement, e.g. arms, fingers. We compared the relative performance of each system assessing a series of defined movements. We studied normal volunteers – free of CKD, to be utilized as controls for a next step patient CKD study. Methods: Six subjects (3:3 male:female) had both wearable digital sensor patches (on-body method) and small color paper markers (around-body method) applied. Subjects performed 6 defined movements, categorized as either small (<1 sq ft), medium (1-5 sq ft), or large (>5 sq ft). Each movement was performed for 30 seconds at both slow and fast pace, (n=3), for a total of 36 movement sessions. Digital signals for the on-body method were streamed and recorded contemporaneous with around-body video recording of subject movement. Analyzed data for each system was also compared to physical measurement of movements and distance traveled. Results: Simultaneous recording and quantitation of movements with both systems allowed for comparison of the two systems. The on-body digital patch system was able to detect all movements through positional acceleration and angular velocity which was processed into positional and angular data vs. time (Fig A, B.). The around-body system generated positional data vs. time, along with angles of movements for all movements performed (Fig C.). A limitation of the around-body system became apparent with small fast movements. For fast movement, camera lag frequently lost track of markers and did not accurately track movements, compared to the high level of fidelity and sensitivity seen with the digital patch system. Discussion: Both on-body and around body systems offer readily deployable means for capturing nuances of human motion useful for movement disorder diagnosis and monitoring. The on-body system reports data in angular velocities and accelerations which is converted into positional data. However, due to interpretation of forces registered by incorporated sensors, instead of true positional data, small errors may be introduced. In contrast the around-body video capture system utilizes video processing to directly yield positional data with respect to time. As actual positional data is measured this method is free of introduced sensor error, though has the limitation of inefficacy with movements too small or fast for camera capture. Understanding system constraints will allow future patient studies to advance with greater accuracy based on system choice.

Assessment of Delivery and Receipt of a Complex School-Based Smoking Intervention: A Systematic Quantitative Process Evaluation

Comprehensive school tobacco policies have the potential to reduce smoking in vocational education where smoking is widespread. Assessment of the implementation process is important to understand whether and how complex interventions work, yet many studies do not measure receipt among the target group. We conducted a quantitative process evaluation of a newly developed smoking intervention in Danish vocational education to (1) operationalize measures of delivery and receipt, (2) investigate the extent to which the intervention was delivered and received, and (3) analyze whether this differed across school settings. We used questionnaire data collected 4–5 months after baseline among students (N = 644), teachers (N = 54), and principals (N = 11) from 8 intervention schools to operationalize implementation at the school level (delivery; content, quality, and fidelity) and student level (receipt; participation, responsiveness, exposure, and individual-level implementation). We calculated means and compared levels across school settings using stratified analysis and mixed models. The total intervention was delivered by a mean of 76% according to how it was intended and received by a mean of 36% across all students. Relatively low means of participation and responsiveness indicated challenges to reach the students with the intervention components, and delivery and receipt varied between school settings. This study highlights the challenge of reaching the intended target group in complex health behavior interventions even when reaching relatively high levels of fidelity. Further studies using the operationalized measures can give insight into the ‘black box’ of the intervention and strengthen future programs targeting smoking in vocational education.

Co-creation and Evaluation of an Adapted Physical Activity Toolkit: Guidelines To Support Practice Among Rehabilitation Professionals in Community Organizations

Background: Limited knowledge and skills of health professionals is a common barrier when adapting physical activity for people with disabilities. A community organization (Adaptavie) identified the need for improved training and resources to facilitate APA prescription by their employees. The objectives of this research were to co-create an APA toolkit and evaluate implementation. Methods: A multi-method participatory research approach was used with kinesiologists who worked at Adaptavie. The project consisted of two phases: P1) co-creation of the toolkit; P2) implementation evaluation. Sociodemographic information (P1; P2), the Work self-efficacy Inventory Survey (P1; P2), the Indicators of Success Questionnaire (P2) and focus groups (P1 n = 3; P2 n = 1) were conducted with kinesiologists. Summary statistics were described (sociodemographic and questionnaires) and analysed thematically (focus groups). Results: The co-creation of an evidence-based training toolkit contained information about 45 types of disabilities. Five to eight kinesiologists (depending on the phase) reported improvements in workplace self-efficacy, skills and knowledge after using the APA toolkit for one year. Following implementation, the APA toolkit was reported to have a high level of usability and fidelity. Conclusion: A co-created APA toolkit supported kinesiologists to prescribe evidence-based APA programs by increasing their knowledge, skills and self-efficacy.

Ethnobotanical applications of Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv. (Bignoniaceae) (African tulip tree) in Ghana

Background: Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv. (Bignoniaceae) is documented to have ethnobotanical potential worldwide, but knowledge about this useful tree to local communities is limited in Ghana. This study was aimed at evaluation of ethnobotanical knowledge of the utilization of S. campanulata among the local population in Ghana. Methods: Data was collected through a semi-structured interviews with 193 participants in the Adaklu District of the Volta Region of Ghana. Ethnobotanical indices were used to quantitatively determine the most culturally important S. campanulata plant parts using the ethnobotanyR package. Results: A total of 25 applications grouped into six use categories from seven S. campanulata parts were observed in this study. The primary use category was material, followed by fuel, medicine, environmental, food additive, and food. Anemia had the highest frequency of mentions, followed by firewood and dyeing of cloth, construction, furniture, and charcoal. The wood had the highest use reports (UR) and cultural importance (CI), while stem bark had the highest number of uses (NU) and cultural value index (CVe). Conclusion: The study showed that the applications and use categories were influenced by the rural nature of communities and lack of availability of services. This study revealed a high-fidelity level for the S. campanulata stem bark to treat anemia, a common ailment in the study region. The study suggests increasing awareness for better promotion and valorization of S. campanulata in Ghana as a source of fuel wood and medicinal purposes. Keywords: ethnobotany, Volta region, anemia, dyeing, construction, furniture, cultural importance

Vernacular Taxonomy, Cultural and Ethnopharmacological Applications of Avian and Mammalian Species in the Vicinity of Ayubia National Park, Himalayan Region.

Numerous investigations on plant ethnomedicinal applications have been conducted; however, knowledge about the medicinal use of wild animals is still limited. This present study is the second on the medicinal and cultural meaning of avian and mammalian species used by the population in the surrounding area of the Ayubia National Park, KPK, Pakistan. Interviews and meetings were compiled from the participants (N = 182) of the study area. The relative frequency of citation, fidelity level, relative popularity level, and rank order priority indices were applied to analyze the information. Overall, 137 species of wild avian and mammalian species were documented. Of these, 18 avian and 14 mammalian species were utilized to treat different diseases. The present research showed noteworthy ethno-ornithological and ethno-mammalogical knowledge of local people and their connection with fauna, which might be useful in the sustainable utilization of the biological diversity of the Ayubia National Park, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Furthermore, in vivo and/or in vitro examination of the pharmacological activities of species with the highest fidelity level (FL%) as well as frequency of mention (FM) might be important for investigations on faunal-based new drugs.

Kajian Pemanfaatan Tumbuhan Obat Oleh Suku Dayak Belangin di Desa Dange Aji Kecamatan Air Besar Kabupaten Landak

The Dayak tribe has a close relationship with nature. They are used to using natural resources such as plants for various needs, including as an ingredient in traditional medication. The Dayak Belangin, one of the Kanayatn Dayak sub-tribes in Dange Aji Village, Landak District, is still using medicinal plants to treat illnesses in their community. This research was conducted to document the knowledge of the dayak Belangin people in Dange Aji Village in utilizing plants as traditional medicine. A total of 163 households of the dayak Belangin community in Dange Aji Village were selected by purposive sampling and in-depth interviews to obtain information about the community's knowledge of using plants as medicine. The data obtained were then analyzed using ethnobotanical indices such as use value (UV), family importance value (FIV), informant consensus factor (ICF), and fidelity level (FL). All respondents interviewed used medicinal plants, with in total there are 53 species belonging to 34 plant families. Asteraceae is a plant family with the highest FIV (11.76). Jambu tokal or guava (P. guajava), mabo (Blumea balsamifera), and engkodok (Melastoma candidum) had the highest UV values (0.76; 0.71, and 0.71, respectively). The highest ICF score (1) includes cancer, wounds, urinary stones, rheumatism, gout, allergies, malaria, hypertension, bloody bowel movements, colds, sore eyes, colds, cholesterol, and broken bones. There are 43 plants with the highest FL value (100%). The local knowledge of the dayak Belangin tribe is prized and must be maintained, especially for the benefit of science and the development of new modern medicines.