Bell (Canada)

This article examines the temporal processes of information transmission by response times (RTs) in visual search. Information (hazard) rate functions of RTs were evaluated for a large dataset provided by Wolfe and colleagues. Set size accounted for a minor portion of the variance of these RTs, and the present analysis examined temporal processes involved in the larger variance within each stimulus and task condition. Momentary information rates were measured by (a) response probabilities sequentially dependent on the proportion of longer RTs, (b) with continuously varying visual influence, and (c) evaluated in bits/s. Results include the following: (1) Rates of information transmission from visual input to behavioral output varied systematically with the RTs in each search condition. (2) Information rate functions for “feature” and “conjunction” tasks were highly nonlinear, with distinct phases of accelerating and decelerating visual influence. Roughly constant information rates occurred in only a few conditions in the “spatial configuration” task. (3) Faster and slower observers responded to qualitatively different visual organizations of target-absent displays in all three tasks. (4) Perceptual organization and response control were synchronized parallel processes.

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of a Lynda D. Woodruff Lecture on Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students' perceptions revealed in their written reflections. Health care inequities lead to poorer health outcomes in people from a racially or ethnically minoritized group. A lack of diversity in the physical therapy profession may contribute to these inequities. Key strategies to reduce disparities include increased representation of marginalized groups in the health professions and improving cultural and structural competence. Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) concepts should be incorporated into entry-level health professions education programs to increase awareness of health inequities and to offer potential solutions. Using convenience sampling, 134 students from 3 cohorts in a DPT program participated in this study. This qualitative study included thematic analysis of written responses to an assignment in a first-semester course. In a learning activity, students viewed a Woodruff Lecture and then participated in an online reflection assignment. Five key themes emerged from the analysis: (1) education; (2) importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion, addressing racism, and workplace diversification; (3) taking action; (4) recognizing health care inequities and the role of physical therapists; and (5) personal or life experiences. This study showed that the Woodruff Lectures offer physical therapy education programs a simple way to increase awareness about JEDI-related issues. Reflections showed that students perceived the assignment as impactful on their educational process and future professional journey. Physical therapy educators should consider using existing resources, such as the Woodruff Lecture series, to stimulate student reflection and increase their awareness of important issues, including the health care inequities experienced by minoritized groups.

Abstract We are used to living in worlds that value justice and reason. We are discovering that Atropos cuts our thread at her whim. My goal is to remind that what sets us apart from the present cruelties is our commitment to serve the communities we cherish by helping them preserve their traditions amidst and despite the false rhetoric and mindless fury of the moment.

Transit service reliability is important for transit planning and operations as well as passenger experience. Large travel time variations increase operating costs and negatively affect passenger satisfaction. Existing literature focuses on specific aspects of transit travel times but less on how these aspects interact with each other. This paper proposes to combine previous research efforts by further decomposing observed trip travel times into four elements using 3 months of archived vehicle location and fare transaction data. Departure times and inter-stop travel times are obtained from vehicle locations. Dwell times at stops are estimated from fare transaction data using a dwell time model. Red-light waiting times are calculated using the vehicle locations and estimated signal timing plans. Then, using these as inputs, we identify important trip elements affecting the overall travel time variation, as well as how much variation can be attributed to each trip element using variance-based and one-at-a-time sensitivity analyses. The overall travel times and red-light waiting times are more affected by interaction effects between trip elements, whereas the overall inter-stop times and dwell times are mainly affected by large individual variations. The results suggest that planners must consider potential chain reactions where small variations in one trip element can lead to significant changes in the overall trip times as a result of interaction effects with varying cycle lengths in fixed signal timing plans. These findings will help planners better integrate available data sets, carry out comprehensive analyses, and pinpoint the determinants affecting travel time variation on each route.

Societal Impact Statement This study underscores the vital role of Alpine botanical gardens (ABGs) in safeguarding Europe's alpine biodiversity amid climate change and habitat loss. By acting as living laboratories and reservoirs of plant genetic resources, ABGs bridge ex situ and in situ conservation, supporting ecosystem resilience and informing restoration strategies. Our findings reveal significant opportunities for ABGs to collaborate with germplasm banks, enhance genetic diversity in collections, and refine propagation protocols. Strengthening these integrative networks not only preserves unique alpine flora but also provides adaptive tools for conservation policies and sustainable land management in mountain regions facing rapid environmental change. Summary The Alps are one of Europe's most diverse ecosystems, but their biodiversity is threatened by climate change, habitat loss, and land‐use changes. Alpine botanical gardens (ABGs) play a crucial role in preserving plant diversity in this region. This study evaluates 14 ABGs across the Alps to assess their effectiveness in preserving the region's flora, with a particular aim to investigate how ABGs can integrate with and strengthen the conservation mission of germplasm banks. We assess representation of alpine flora in the living collections of these 14 ABGs relative to the 5797 taxa of the flora of the Alps, noting cases cultivated at the infraspecific level and examining the overlap of these collections with global germplasm banks. Our findings show that 32% of the 5797 taxa of the flora of the Alps are represented in ABGs, with some species cultivated at the infraspecific level, reflecting both ecological specializations and the expertise of ABG curators. Notably, ABGs contribute significantly to ex situ conservation, although gaps exist in certain taxonomic families and species, especially endemic and policy taxa. Many species in the living collections of ABGs are still missing from global germplasm banks. These findings highlight an opportunity for these gardens to strengthen conservation by contributing seeds and helping to grow species that are difficult to propagate, including narrow endemics. Collaboration with germplasm banks could address existing gaps in genetic diversity, with ABGs acting as field‐based experimental stations to refine propagation techniques. Overall, the importance of ABGs in both ex situ and in situ conservation strategies is underscored, urging stronger collaborations with research facilities and improved propagation protocols to optimize the conservation of alpine plants.

Quantum biosensors offer a promising route to overcome the sensitivity and specificity limitations of conventional biosensing technologies. Their ability to detect biochemical signals at extremely low concentrations makes them strong candidates for next-generation sensing systems. This paper reviews the current state of quantum biosensors and discusses their future implementation in chip-scale platforms that combine microelectronic and photonic technologies. It covers key quantum biosensing approaches including quantum dots (QDs), and nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers. This paper also considers their potential compatibility with electronic integrated circuits (EICs), photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and integrated quantum photonic (IQP) systems for future biosensing applications. To our knowledge, this is the first review to systematically connect quantum biosensing technologies with the development of microelectronic and photonic chip-based devices. The goal is to clarify the technological trajectory toward compact, scalable, and high-performance quantum biosensing systems.

A paradigm known as multi-agent systems (MAS) combines several independent agents to accomplish intricate tasks. The creation of such systems presents difficulties with control flow, specialization, and modularity. With an emphasis on Lang-Graphbased implementation, this study examines various MAS topologies, such as network-based, supervisor-led, and hierarchical models. According to the results, MAS enhances performance and modularity while requiring careful inter-agent communication strategy design. This paper provides a thorough analysis of the architecture of Multi-Agent Systems (MAS), emphasizing its fundamental ideas, constituent parts, and uses. In the advanced distributed computing paradigm known as MAS, autonomous agents work together to resolve challenging issues. In “order to shed light on the possibilities of MAS in a number of fields, including as robotics, e-commerce, transportation, and healthcare, this study examines agent definitions, system architecture, communication protocols, decision-making methods, and practical applications. Autonomous agents are integrated in Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) to address complex issues, although control flow, specialization, and modularity present difficulties. This paper examines three topologies-network-based, supervisorled, and hierarchical-detailing inter-agent communication protocols and coordination mechanisms with an emphasis on Lang-Graph-based implementations. Each architecture is demonstrated with sample code, and the findings demonstrate that, with well-thought-out communication mechanisms, MAS improves performance and modularity. Applications include e-commerce, healthcare, transportation, and robots.