High Level Of Fidelity Research Articles

A Novel Encoder Decoder Architecture with Vision Transformer for Medical Image Segmentation

Brain tumor image segmentation is one of the most critical tasks in medical imaging for diagnosis, treatment planning, and prognosis. Traditional methods for brain tumor image segmentation are mostly based on Convolution Neural Network (CNN), which have been proved very powerful but still have limitations to effectively capture long-range dependencies and complex spatial hierarchies in MRI images. Variability in the shape, size, and location of tumors may affect the performance and may get stuck into suboptimal outcomes. In these regards, new encoder-decoder architecture with the VisionTranscoder(ViT) is proposed, to enhance brain tumor detection and classification. The proposed VisionTranscoder exploits a transformer's ability in modeling global context through self-attention mechanisms, providing more inclusive interpretation of the intricate patterns in medical images and classification by capturing both local and global features. The proposed VisionTranscoder maintains the Vision Transformer in its encoder for processing images as sequences of patches to capture global dependencies often outside the view of traditional CNNs. Then the segmentation map is rebuilt at a high level of fidelity with the decoder through upsampling and skips connections to maintain detailed spatial information. The risk of overfitting is hugely reduced by design and advanced regularization techniques with extensive data augmentation. The dataset contains 7,023 human brain MRI images, all of which are in four different classes: glioma, meningioma, no tumor, and pituitary. Images from the 'no tumor' class, indicating an MRI scan without any detectable tumor, were taken from the Br35H dataset . The results show the efficiency of VisionTranscoder over a wide set of brain MRI scans, producing an accuracy of 98.5% with a loss of 0.05. This performance underlines the ability of it to accurately segment and classify a brain tumor without overfitting.

Commentary on “The benefits of precision teaching for educational psychologists”

Purpose This commentary aims to reflect on the paper by Kubina et al. (2024). Design/methodology/approach It offers an overview of the existing evidence base for precision teaching to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and some of the wider considerations around training for educational psychologists. Findings Precision teaching approaches can yield positive outcomes when delivered to high levels of fidelity. Originality/value This paper advocates for training opportunities for educational psychologists so that they can use precision teaching strategies with their learners and work effectively with teachers.

Medicinal plants used to treat human ailments in Wadla District, Northern Ethiopia: An ethnobotanical approach

IntroductionThe global population started using traditional medicine before the advent of allopathic or modern medicine to manage several diseases. Nearly 887 plant species have been documented to heal different health problems. Documenting the traditional use of medicinal plants is a vital step in obtaining information on bioactive chemicals, preserving indigenous knowledge and ultimately interesting, medicinal plant species. This study aimed to document medicinal plants and the associated indigenous knowledge used to treat human ailments. MethodsThe data were collected using a combination of sampling techniques, including strict random sampling, stratified random sampling, (for general informants) and snowball sampling, purposive and random sampling (for key informants). Semistructured interviews, group discussions, guided field walks, and field observations were used to collect the data. We analysed the data using descriptive statistics, including direct matrix rankings, preference rankings, informant consensus factors, and fidelity levels. ResultsA total of 200 informants (68 % males and 32 % females) living in 10 kebeles were selected. A total of 107 plant species belonging to 51 families and 71 genera were identified by local people to address human ailments. The Solanaceae family represented the greatest number of species (7 species). Leaves were the most dominant plant parts used for remedy preparation (47 %). The most common routes of administration were oral (47 %). The categories with the highest ICF values were diseases of the nervous system (0.96). Datura stramonium was the most preferred species for treating wounds. The highest fidelity level (93.3 %) was recorded for Guizotia abyssinica. Eucalyptus globulus was ranked first in a direct matrix ranking exercise of multipurpose medicinal plants. ConclusionThis study revealed that the study area has a considerable number of traditional medicinal plants that are used to address a wide range of health problems. Although community members rely on medicinal plant species to manage various health problems, they threaten medicinal plants in the country, and indigenous knowledge is rapidly vanishing from communities; thus, conservation measures should be taken to protect these plants in their natural sites, agricultural areas and villages.

Simulation of spatially varying non-stationary seismic waves using random frequencies and non-uniform fast fourier transform

The simulation of spatially varying non-stationary seismic waves is a crucial consideration for the seismic analysis of engineering structures. The traditional approach often incurs substantial computational expenses and suffers from low efficiency due to the extensive implementation of large-scale matrix factorizations at numerous sampling points in both time and frequency domains. In this study, an enhanced approach is developed for the efficient simulation of non-stationary seismic waves. The core of this approach lies in the utilization of random frequency sampling coupled with time-domain interpolation to reduce matrix factorizations, and non-uniform fast Fourier transform for expediting the summation of trigonometric functions. A parametric analysis is conducted to investigate the effect of vital parameters, including the decoupling strategy of time-frequency spectrum, the number of random frequencies, and the number of interpolation knots over time, on both the efficiency and accuracy of the enhanced approach. Consequently, the preferred values for these parameters are determined. By considering the simulation of seismic waves acting on a group of bridges, the enhanced approach is validated in the view of correlation functions. The results demonstrate a high level of fidelity of the simulated seismic waves and proves the effectiveness of the enhanced approach in the efficient simulation of spatially varying non-stationary earthquake ground motions. The developed approach can be used for the simulation of non-stationary seismic waves for a wide range of engineering structures.

An in-air synthetic aperture sonar dataset of target scattering in environments of varying complexity

This paper describes a synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) dataset collected in-air consisting of four types of targets in four environments of different complexity. The in-air laboratory based experiments produced data with a level of fidelity and ground truth accuracy that is not easily attainable in data collected underwater. The range of complexity, high level of data fidelity, and accurate ground truth provides a rich dataset with acoustic features on multiple scales. It can be used to develop new signal-processing and image reconstruction algorithms, as well as machine learning models for object detection and classification. It may also find application in model verification and validation for acoustic simulators. The dataset consists of raw acoustic time series returns, associated environmental conditions, hardware configuration, array motion, as well as the reconstructed imagery.

The Role of Indigenous Plants in Sustaining Food Sources in Lesten Village, Gayo Lues Regency, Indonesia

The Gayo tribe in Lesten Village has historically relied on plants to fulfill their nutritional needs. Expanding knowledge about diverse plant-based food sources offers a promising strategy for addressing future food insecurity. A dependence on conventional plant species has often resulted in inadequate food supplies, highlighting the need for alternative approaches that incorporate a broader range of plant resources to mitigate food scarcity. Located within the Leuser mountain buffer landscape, Lesten Village in Gayo Lues Regency, Aceh Province, represents a key agricultural area with significant potential to benefit the local community. This study aimed to document and analyze the plant species used as food sources by the Lesten Village community. Data collection combined qualitative and quantitative methods, including exploration, direct observation, and semi-structured interviews. The results revealed that female respondents had a higher level of knowledge about plant use as food sources. Notably, 52.9% and 55.7% of these respondents were aged 50 years or older. The community in Lesten utilized a total of 51 plant species from 26 families as food ingredients. Vegetables constituted the largest category (34%), followed by spices (30%), fruits (21%), and carbohydrates (15%). Fruits were the most frequently used plant part for food (61%). The species with the highest use value was Cacica papaya (1.07). Additionally, the traditional food with the highest fidelity level was serbet (62.82%). These findings emphasize the importance of integrating a diverse range of plant resources into food systems to enhance food security and stimulate economic development in the region.

Boosting Engineering Optimization With a Novel Recursive Transfer Bifidelity Surrogate Modeling

Abstract In the engineering optimization, there often exist the multiple sources of information with different fidelity levels. In general, low-fidelity (LF) information is usually more accessible than high-fidelity (HF) information, while the latter is usually more accurate than the former. Thus, to capitalize on the advantages of this information, this study proposes a novel recursive transfer bifidelity surrogate modeling to fuse information from HF and LF levels. First, the selection method of optimal scale factor is proposed for constructing bifidelity surrogate model. Then, a recursive method is developed to further improve its performance. The efficacy of the proposed model is comprehensively evaluated using numerical problems and an engineering example. Comparative analysis with some surrogate models (five multifidelity and a single-fidelity surrogate models) demonstrates the superior prediction accuracy and robustness of the proposed model. Additionally, the impact of varying cost ratios and combinations of HF and LF samples on the performance of the proposed model is also investigated, yielding consistent results. Overall, the proposed model has superior performance and holds potential for practical applications in engineering design optimization problems.

Making Every Contact Count: health professionals’ experiences of integrating conversations about Snacktivity to promote physical activity within routine consultations – a qualitative study

ObjectiveHelping people to change their health behaviours is becoming a greater feature within the role of health professionals, including through whole system initiatives such as Making Every Contact Count. Health...

Exploratory modeling of social‐ecological systems

AbstractNavigating social‐ecological systems toward sustainable trajectories is an important challenge of the Anthropocene. Models of social‐ecological systems can increase our understanding of how social and ecological subsystems interact, their response to environmental changes, and how their dynamics may be altered by management interventions. However, the level of representational detail required for models to describe a particular social‐ecological system with high fidelity (i.e., accurately quantifying system dynamics) may hamper both the interpretability of model results and our ability to identify key processes and feedbacks within the system. In contrast, stylized models describe simplified interactions between a small subset of social‐ecological system elements. Stylized models are a useful tool to identify potential consequences of specific key processes and feedbacks on system functioning. However, the relatively low level of representational detail in these models limits their ability to deliver concrete management options for a particular social‐ecological system. Here, we describe how an exploratory modeling approach can utilize the strengths of stylized models before the construction of social‐ecological system models with high fidelity and representational detail. This exploratory modeling approach is an iterative strategy, with the initial steps comprising the development of stylized models informed by empirical observations. We illustrate this with two examples of stylized modeling of isolated and connected social‐ecological systems. Through repeated confrontation of alternative models with empirical data, exploratory modeling provides useful stepping stones toward the development of models that describe social‐ecological systems in increasingly specific settings with increasing levels of representational detail. When these latter types of models reach a high level of fidelity, they could be used for scenario‐based analyses and participatory decision‐making processes. At this stage, the conceptual insights previously obtained during the exploratory modeling phase may aid in the interpretation and communication of the outcomes of scenario‐based analyses. Hence, exploratory modeling aims to create a synergy between the insights obtained from stylized models and system‐specific, high‐fidelity models in order to generate a deep understanding of the drivers of social‐ecological system dynamics, and how to leverage these drivers to initiate desired changes.

A Specialised Antenatal Music Therapy (SAMT) programme for pregnant women with mental health conditions: A mixed-methods proof-of-concept study in Ireland

ABSTRACT Introduction Perinatal mental health has a long-term impact on maternal and infant well-being. Non-pharmacological treatment options are needed for pregnant women and emerging evidence has shown the potential of music therapy to improve perinatal mental health and antenatal attachment. However, research is lacking on individual music therapy for pregnant women with mental health conditions and formal music therapy services are currently absent within perinatal mental health care in Ireland. This mixed-methods, proof-of-concept study aimed to assess the feasibility and preliminary evidence on the effectiveness of a specialised antenatal music therapy (SAMT) programme for pregnant women attending the Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service (SPMHS). Method Pregnant women between 25 and 33 weeks gestation with various mental health conditions were recruited through the SPMHS to receive six in-person or online sessions of SAMT. Feasibility outcomes included retention, adherence, and fidelity.\\ Assessment of participants’ wellbeing, anxiety, and antenatal attachment were conducted before and after SAMT and each session. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using thematic analysis. Results Twelve pregnant women were included and nine completed SAMT and assessments, demonstrating a 75% retention rate. High levels of adherence and fidelity were reported. Significant improvements were observed in participants’ wellbeing, anxiety levels, and antenatal attachment. Qualitative findings highlighted the therapeutic benefits, the accessibility and challenges of the online setting, distinctive therapeutic experiences, and participants’ recommendations. Discussion The findings suggest implementing SAMT within the Irish SPMHS is feasible and beneficial. The study offers insights into the therapeutic mechanisms of SAMT and supports the progression to a larger trial.

The Challenges and Opportunities of Implementing Montessori Education in the Public Sector

Over the past two decades, Montessori education in the United States has rapidly expanded from the private to the public sector. This expansion has created important questions about whether or not the Montessori approach can thrive alongside the education standards and accountability movement in the public sector. Questions also exist as to precisely who is benefiting from this expansion of and investment in public Montessori. To examine these topics, this study focused on South Carolina, the state with the highest number of public programs in the United States. We used implementation surveys, classroom observations, and teacher interview data collected by the research team and student record data collected by the state of South Carolina to conduct the analysis, which consisted of three parts. First, we investigated to what extent public programs in South Carolina are able to implement Montessori education with fidelity to the model. Second, we considered what program characteristics were related to higher levels of Montessori implementation fidelity. Third, we analyzed which children had access to higher-fidelity Montessori programs. Generally, findings indicated that, despite challenges created by the education standards and accountability movement and concerns expressed by educators about authenticity, most programs in South Carolina were implementing Montessori with fidelity. Several characteristics were associated with higher levels of fidelity, including the age of the program. Findings also indicated that Black, Hispanic, and students from low-income families were disproportionately participating in lower fidelity programs. Our study provides an in-depth analysis of the challenges and opportunities associated with government trying to implement successful private-sector education models in the public sector.

Ethnobotanical survey of five wild medicinal plants used by local population in Taza province (Northeastern Morocco)

Since ancient times, Moroccan people have used medicinal and aromatic plants as traditional medicine to treat various ailments. However, few studies have been made to document and promote traditional knowledge. The present study aims to collect information about folk knowledge on the medicinal use of five plants, namely Globularia alypum, Inula viscosa, Chenopodium ambrosioides, Ajuga iva, and Urtica dioca in Taza province (northeastern Morocco). We used semi-structured and unstructured interviews with herbalists, traditional healers, and the local population in Taza province. Indeed, 240 questionnaires were collected to gather information about each plant (parts used, methods of preparation and administration, treatable diseases, etc.). The collected data were analyzed using quantitative indices such as the use value (UV), fidelity level (FL), and informant agreement ratio factor (IAR). Most of the interviewees were 60 years old (58.33%), and 70% of them were women. Nearly 60 % of the interviewees were illiterate, and heritage related to traditional medicine, was the main source of knowledge (50%). Ten indications were reported for the studied species in traditional medicine where dermatological and gastrointestinal disorders had the highest use reports, and two species had the highest FL (100%). The highest UV was found for C. ambrosioides (0.44) and A. iva (0.31). The main preparation forms were infusion (40%) and decoction (22%). The most frequently used plant parts were leaves (55.83%). The wide traditional uses of the studied species are largely supported. Future experimental research should be focused on their pharmacological properties and mechanisms of action.

FSO2N3-Mediated On-DNA Diazo-Transfer Chemistry.

DNA-encoded library (DEL) is a powerful hit selection technique in both basic science and innovative drug discovery. In this study, we report a robust and straightforward DNA-compatible diazo-transfer reaction utilizing FSO2N3 as the diazo-transfer reagent in solution. This reaction demonstrates high conversions and facile operation while being metal-free and maintaining high levels of DNA fidelity. It is also compatible with a wide range of substrates, allowing for convenient access to both aliphatic and aromatic amines. Consequently, it will further enrich the DEL chemistry toolbox.

Expanding Access to 3D Technology in Plastic Surgery of the Breast: Validation of the iPhone Against the Vectra H2.

The iPhone contains a high-fidelity 3-dimensional (3D) scanner and is widely distributed in the United States. Presently, 3D analysis of the breast necessitates ownership of cost-prohibitive cameras and software packages such as the Vectra (Canfield Scientific Inc., Parsippany, NJ) system. We compared the accuracy of 3D photographs of the breast obtained with the iPhone X 3D scanner (Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA) with the Canfield Vectra H2 in an effort to expand access to 3D technology in plastic surgery. Twenty breasts (n = 20) were 3D photographed with the iPhone X and the Vectra H2 and compared by colormap analysis and by measuring distances across the models between key anatomical landmarks. These distances included sternal notch to nipple (SN-N), midchest to nipple (M-N), nipple to midinframammary fold (N-IMF), and inframammary fold width (IMF). Statistical tests included the Bland-Altman plot analysis. When comparing absolute differences in distances between key anatomical landmarks, the average discrepancy in measurements between the iPhone and Vectra image pairs were the following: SN-N: 0.94 mm, M-N: 0.81 mm, N-IMF 0.91 mm, and IMF 0.98 mm. Colormap analysis demonstrated an average error of 1.53 mm, mean of 0.53 mm, and standard deviation of ±1.81 mm. Bland-Altman plot revealed a mean difference of 0.13 mm and an agreement interval between -1.90 and 2.17 mm. The iPhone is capable of capturing 3D photographs with a high level of fidelity when compared with the Vectra. Three-dimensional scans obtained with the iPhone may be helpful for planning nipple position, measuring the breast footprint, choosing implants, and performing other functions with 3D technology that are typically performed with the more expensive systems.

Initial promise of child-parent psychotherapy in reducing stress and postpartum depression among mothers experiencing homelessness: a feasibility and pilot study.

Mothers experiencing homelessness undergo significant stressors in addition to parenting stress, yet the rate and treatment of postpartum depression (PPD) within this population has yet to be explored. We assessed the risk for PPD and examined the changes in PDD and parenting stress following engagement in treatment. Participants included 182 mothers with infants 7 months of age or younger in a shelter setting. After initial assessment of PPD and parenting stress, families participated in Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP). Post assessment was then conducted after 16 weeks. CPP was successfully implemented with high levels of procedural and content fidelity (M = 0.99, SD = 0.04; M = 0.95, SD = 0.09, respectively), treatment satisfaction (94%; M = 4.83, SD = 0.52), and relatively moderate levels of intervention completion (53.8%). Following participation in CPP, mothers reported decreases in parenting stress (d = 0.51) and continuous PPD symptom severity (d = 0.43). The proportion of mothers with clinically elevated self-report PPD symptoms also decreased from 15.3 to 6.7% (p = .013). Lastly, improvements in total parenting stress predicted improvements in PPD symptom severity (B = 0.12, p < .001). The findings highlight the relevance of screening for PPD among mothers experiencing homelessness. Most importantly, relationship-based interventions like CPP demonstrate promise in indirectly treating PPD for at-risk populations and within a shelter setting.

Ethnozoological study of medicinal animals used by the inhabitants of the Kucha District, Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia

BackgroundAn ethnozoological study of medicinal animals in the Kucha district, Gamo zone, Southern Ethiopia, was conducted to investigate and document the use of traditional medicinal animals and the associated indigenous knowledge. Tribal people still make abundant use of animals and their parts to manage diseases in humans and even livestock.MethodA cross sectional study design and purposively sampling techniques were used. Data were collected from 132 respondents based on semi structured questionnaires. Focus group discussions (FGD) and Key informant interviews (KII) were conducted; Fidelity level (FL), Relative frequency of citation (RFC) and Informants’ consensus factor (ICF) were used to analyze species preference and importance.ResultsA total of 24 medicinal animals were identified with 13 species (54.2%) being mammals of which 5 species (20.8%) dominated. They were followed by arthropods, reptiles and fishes. Seven out of the total were domestic species (29%) and 17 (70%) were wild animals. The majority of these animals, i.e. 22 (91.7%), were used to treat human ailments; whereas 2 (8.3%) were used to treat livestock ailments. The ICF values varied from 0.8 to 1.The highest FL value (98%) was linked to the cow (cattle), the lowest (1.5%) to the scorpion. The RFC value (1.0) was highest for the cow and lowest (0.02) for the scorpion. Honey, milk, and butter were the most commonly used therapeutic animal products, but regarding direct uses, fresh/raw meat dominated. Out of ten ailment categories, headaches had the lowest ICF value (0.8). All others scored at least 0.9.ConclusionsIn rural areas, sick people often do not only have limited access to modern medical facilities, they actually prefer traditional treatments considering them to be more reliable and effective. It is therefore important to focus on documenting, conserving, and safeguarding the indigenous knowledge so that strategies to manage the traditional wisdom can be implemented in the future. To achieve these goals, it is important to make sure that medicinal animal species are available in sufficient numbers and neither threatened by habitat changes or overexploitation.

Ultra-low frequency noise external cavity diode laser systems for quantum applications.

We present two distinct ultra-low frequency noise lasers at 729 nm with a fast frequency noise of 30 Hz2/Hz, corresponding to a Lorentzian linewidth of 0.1 kHz. The characteristics of both lasers, which are based on different types of laser diodes, are investigated using experimental and theoretical analysis with a focus on identifying the advantages and disadvantages of each type of system. Specifically, we study the differences and similarities in mode behavior while tuning frequency noise and linewidth reduction. Furthermore, we demonstrate the locking capability of these systems on medium-finesse cavities. The results provide insights into the unique operational characteristics of these ultra-low noise lasers and their potential applications in quantum technology that require high levels of control fidelity.

Ethnobotanical study on traditional cosmetics practiced by the Dayak Kayong of West Kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract. Sari LCS, Lovadi I, Wardoyo ERP, Randi A. 2024. Ethnobotanical study on traditional cosmetics practiced by the Dayak Kayong of West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 2937-2944. Various ethnic groups across the globe have practiced traditional cosmetics and many studies on cosmetic plants and their uses in Indonesia have been conducted. However, there is no ethnobotanical information on cosmetic plants and their uses, particularly in Dayak Kayong of Ketapang District, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. This study reports on cosmetic plants and their traditional uses by the Dayak Kayong community. We conducted semi-structured interviews from April to June 2022 with 30 respondents living in Nanga Tayap Sub-district in Ketapang District. Non-probability sampling was employed to select respondents based on their knowledge and practice of traditional cosmetics. Three indices, namely Frequency of Citation (FC), Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), and Fidelity Level (FL), were employed to analyze the ethnobotanical data. The Dayak Kayong community utilizes 26 plant species from 20 families for traditional cosmetics. The most frequently used plant part are leaves (34.62%), followed by fruits (19.23%), sap (15.38%), rhizomes (11.54%), flowers (11.5%), roots (3.85%), and seeds (3.85%). Important cosmetic plants based on FL include Aquilaria malaccensis, Areca catechu, Dendrobium sp., Gluta renghas, Lansium domesticum, and Sindora sp. The high FL documented for cosmetic plants in this study needs further investigation into potential plants for use in the cosmetics industry.

Value of abstraction in performance assessment – When is a higher level of detail necessary?

In this study, different approaches in performance assessment (PA) of the long-term safety of a repository for radioactive waste were examined. This investigation was carried out as part of the DECOVALEX-2023 project, an international collaborative effort for research and model comparison. One specific task of the DECOVALEX-2023 project was the Salt Performance Assessment Modelling task (Salt PA), which aimed at comparing various models and methods employed in the performance assessment of deep geological repositories in salt. In the context of the Salt PA task, three distinct teams from SNL (United States), Quintessa Ltd (United Kingdom), and GRS (Germany) examined the consequences of employing different levels of abstractions when modelling the repository's geometry and implementing various features and processes, using the example of a simple hypothetical repository structure in domal salt. Each team applied their own tools: PFLOTRAN (SNL), QPAC (Quintessa) and LOPOS (GRS). These differ essentially regarding numerical concept and degree of detail in the representation of the underlying physical processes. The discussion focused on when simplifications can be appropriately applied and what consequences result from them. Furthermore, it was explored when and if a higher level of fidelity in geometry or physical processes is required.

Designer cellular spheroids with DNA origami for drug screening.

Current in vitro models struggle to balance the complexity of human diseases with suitability for large-scale drug tests. While 3D cultures simulate human tissues, they lack cellular intricacy, and integrating these models with high-throughput drug screening remains a challenge. Here, we introduce a method that uses self-assembling nucleic acid nanostructures decorated living cells, termed NACs, to create spheroids with a customizable 3D layout. To demonstrate its uniqueness, our method effectively creates designer 3D spheroids by combining parenchymal cells, stromal cells, and immune cells, leading to heightened physiological relevance and detailed modeling of complex chronic diseases and immune-stromal interactions. Our approach achieves a high level of biological fidelity while being standardized and straightforward to construct with the potential for large-scale drug discovery applications. By merging the precision of DNA nanotechnology with advanced cell culture techniques, we are streamlining human-centric models, striking a balance between complexity and standardization, to boost drug screening efficiency.