Lowry Kline (starbucket8)

In the domain of cognitive arithmetic, the size effect corresponds to an increase in solution times as a function of the size of the operands involved in the problems. In this study, we tracked the evolution of size effects associated with tie and non-tie addition problems across development. We scrutinized the progression of solution times for very small problems involving operands from 2 to 4, larger problems, and 1-problems (problems involving 1 as one of the operands) in children from Grade 1 to Grade 5 and adults. For the first time, we document the presence of a size effect for tie problems with a sum up to 8 in Grade 1 children. In contrast, from Grade 3 until adulthood, this size effect could not be evidenced. Crucially, for non-tie problems, whereas a general size effect is observed when contrasting small one-digit additions with large additions, we show that, from Grade 1 until adulthood, a continuous size effect as a function of the sum of the problems is not observed. In fact, for all age groups, medium problems with sums of 8, 9, and 10 do not present a size effect at all. Given that the problem size effect is sometimes referred to as one of the most robust and reliable effects in the numerical cognition literature, our results necessarily challenge its theoretical interpretation. To evaluate the possible role of occupational low dose ionizing radiation exposure in increasing the healthcare workers' risk of thyroid functional alterations. 120 healthcare workers exposed to ionizing radiation (60 belonging to category A with a potential exposure to an annual dose between 6 and 20 mSv and 60 to category B potentially exposed to an annual dose between 1 and 6 mSv) were compared with a control group consisting of 60 unexposed healthcare subjects assessing serum levels of different thyroid function parameters as free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, thyroid stimulating hormone and thyroid autoantibodies. Age, gender, history of thyroid diseases, job task, dosimetric values were analysed as possible influencing factors using linear and multiple logistic regression analysis. Exposed workers showed significantly higher average levels of thyroid stimulating hormone, and lower average levels of free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine than non-exposed workers, although nonsignificant diffep could be determined with exposure category. However, further studies are necessary to confirm such association on greater number of workers in order also to define a possible dose-response relationship.Environment-friendly and cost-effective disposal and reutilization of sludge wastes are essential in wastewater treatment processes (WWTPs). Converting activated sludge into biochar via thermochemical treatment is a promising technology for waste management in WWTPs. This review summarizes the compositions of sludge, the dewatering methods, and the thermochemical methods whichinfluence the structures, chemistry, and catalytic performances of the derived biochar. Moreover, the physiochemical characteristics and chemical stability of sludge biochar are discussed. Catalytic applications of biochar are highlighted, including the reaction mechanisms and feasibility for catalytic removal of organic contaminants. High-temperature carbonized sludge biochar exhibits excellent performance for persulfate activation in advanced oxidation processes due to the graphitic carbon structure, newly-created active sites, and fine-tuned metal species. Therefore, the sludge biochar can be produced via cost-effective and eco-friendly approaches to immobilize harmful components from sludge and remediate organic pollution in wastewater, offering a sustainable route toward sludge reutilization into value-added products for water purification.Sponges are critical components of marine reefs due to their high filtering capacity, wide abundance, and alteration of biogeochemical cycling. Here, we characterized dissolved organic matter (DO