Willingness to Communicate and Collaborate: The Key Role of Educational Leadership in Primary Education

<p style="text-align:justify">This article aims to explore the views of primary school teachers regarding the educational leadership exercised by leader teachers at the human resource management level, and how this can affect their willingness to communicate and collaborate. The theoretical framework analyzes the dimensions of human resource management by a leader teacher, as a communication channel, team empowerer, and creator of a climate of trust. The research was carried out using quantitative method, with a closed digital questionnaire which was completed by 693 primary school teachers from whole Greece. Initially, the analysis was carried out through descriptive statistics and then selected questions were analyzed by statistical inference test. The findings show a shift towards the model of a transformational leader, despite the country’s education system remaining highly centralized. In addition, the findings show a correlation between democratic and cooperative staff management, with the axes of inspiration and responsibility on the teachers’ side. This article highlights whether the communication skills of a leader teacher affect the functioning of the school. The research was carried out during a pandemic and thus it was not possible to collect qualitative data using interviews with leader teachers so that we can have a comparative approach to the issue.</p>

THE EFFECTS OF USING BAR MODEL TOWARDS ALGEBRAIC THINKING SKILL IN ALGEBRAIC PROBLEM SOLVING AMONG STUDENTS

Algebraic thinking skills are one of the elements emphasized in the benchmarking of PISA (Program for International Student Assessment). However, the algebraic thinking skills among students were found to be still at a very weak level. The purpose of this study was to look at the effect of the bar model method on students’ algebraic thinking skills. Pre-test and post -test were used as research instruments. The study was an experimental study conducted on 90 Form One students from a school in Tuaran District, Sabah. This study used a quasi-experimental design of pre-and post-test. The sample was divided into 3 groups, namely the group of learning methods i) Bar Model (MB, n = 30), ii) Bar Model and Cooperative Learning (MBPK, n = 30), and conventional (TR, n = 30). Statistical inference test, One-way Analysis of Variances Test (ANOVA) was used to analyze the findings of this study. The results of one-way ANOVA analysis showed that there was a significant difference in the mean score of the post-test between the MB group, MBPK group, and TR group (F (2, 87) = 9.316, p <.05). Significant differences in mean scores for post-test could only be seen between TR group with MB group (P = 0.019) and between TR group with MBPK group (P = 0.000) while insignificant differences were shown between MB and MBPK group (P = 0.304). Therefore, it is suggested that mathematics teachers use the Bar Model as a teaching aid to improve students' algebraic thinking skills.

Sensory gating, neurocognition, social cognition and real-life functioning: a 2-year follow-up of early psychosis

Background Diminished sensory gating (SG) is a robust finding in psychotic disorders, but studies of early psychosis (EP) are rare. It is unknown whether SG deficit leads to poor neurocognitive, social, and/or real-world functioning. This study aimed to explore the longitudinal relationships between SG and these variables. Methods Seventy-nine EP patients and 88 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited at baseline. Thirty-three and 20 EP patients completed 12-month and 24-month follow-up, respectively. SG was measured using the auditory dual-click (S1 & S2) paradigm and quantified as P50 ratio (S2/S1) and difference (S1-S2). Cognition, real-life functioning, and symptoms were assessed using the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery, Global Functioning: Social (GFS) and Role (GFR), Multnomah Community Ability Scale (MCAS), Awareness of Social Inference Test (TASIT), and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-square, mixed model, correlation and regression analyses were used for group comparisons and relationships among variables controlling for potential confounding variables. Results In EP patients, P50 ratio (p < 0.05) and difference (p < 0.001) at 24-month showed significant differences compared with that at baseline. At baseline, P50 indices (ratio, S1-S2 difference, S1) were independently associated with GFR in HCs (all p < 0.05); in EP patients, S2 amplitude was independently associated with GFS (p = 0.037). At 12-month and 24-month, P50 indices (ratio, S1, S2) was independently associated with MCAS (all p < 0.05). S1-S2 difference was a trending predictor of future function (GFS or MCAS). Conclusions SG showed progressive reduction in EP patients. P50 indices were related to real-life functioning.

Biocompatible artificial synapses based on a zein active layer obtained from maize for neuromorphic computing

Artificial synaptic devices based on natural organic materials are becoming the most desirable for extending their fields of applications to include wearable and implantable devices due to their biocompatibility, flexibility, lightweight, and scalability. Herein, we proposed a zein material, extracted from natural maize, as an active layer in an artificial synapse. The synaptic device exhibited notable digital-data storage and analog data processing capabilities. Remarkably, the zein-based synaptic device achieved recognition accuracy of up to 87% and exhibited clear digit-classification results on the learning and inference test. Moreover, the recognition accuracy of the zein-based artificial synapse was maintained within a difference of less than 2%, regardless of mechanically stressed conditions. We believe that this work will be an important asset toward the realization of wearable and implantable devices utilizing artificial synapses.

The association between self-reported traumatic brain injury, neuropsychological function, and compliance among people serving community sentences

Background: Traumatic brain injury is overrepresented in incarcerated samples and has been linked to a number of poor correctional outcomes. Despite this, no research has explored the impact of a recent TBI on compliance outcomes for individuals serving community-based. Method: We screened for a history of TBI in 106 adults on community sentences and collected compliance (arrests, sentence violations) and related variables (e.g., risk scores, substance use) over 6 months. Sixty-four participants also completed the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), the Comprehensive Trail Making Test and Color-Word Inference Test. Results: A TBI in the last year predicted a significantly higher likelihood of arrest, even when controlling for risk of reconviction and current substance use, but was not associated with non-compliance with sentence conditions nor with performance on the neuropsychological tests. In addition, no significant associations were found between performance on neuropsychological tests and measures of non-compliance. Conclusions: TBI in the last year was an independent predictor of arrest. This result suggests that those with a recent TBI on a community sentence may need additional monitoring or support to reduce the risk of reoffending.

Regulacyjna funkcja intuicji językowej w rozwijaniu podsystemu leksykalno-semantycznego: test wnioskowania znaczeń w limitowanym czasie

The paper emphasizes the role of linguistic intuition in current L2 processing. Intuition, as a mental disposition operating in implicit systems, is in close correlation with working memory. It infers quick, almost immediate meaning of un unknown word which appears in a context. Linguistic intuition has a regulatory function, i.e. it allows to continue language activities and overcome linguistic deficits. In the second part, Timed inference test as a tool for developing and testing vocabulary is proposed as well as the results of the empirical study on intuitive behaviour in L2. The results of the study show that inference of word’s meaning under time constraint is lower that the results of inference without time pressure. The study involves a group of 102 students of French as a foreign language at B1 level.

On the information leakage quantification of camera fingerprint estimates

Camera fingerprints based on sensor PhotoResponse Non-Uniformity (PRNU) have gained broad popularity in forensic applications due to their ability to univocally identify the camera that captured a certain image. The fingerprint of a given sensor is extracted through some estimation method that requires a few images known to be taken with such sensor. In this paper, we show that the fingerprints extracted in this way leak a considerable amount of information from those images used in the estimation, thus constituting a potential threat to privacy. We propose to quantify the leakage via two measures: one based on the Mutual Information, and another based on the output of a membership inference test. Experiments with practical fingerprint estimators on a real-world image dataset confirm the validity of our measures and highlight the seriousness of the leakage and the importance of implementing techniques to mitigate it. Some of these techniques are presented and briefly discussed.

Is there Consumer Risk-Pooling in the Open Economy? The Evidence Reconsidered

We revisit the evidence on consumer risk-pooling and uncovered interest parity. Widely used single-equation tests are strongly biased against both. Using the full-model, Indirect Inference test, which is unbiased and has Goldilocks power according to Monte Carlo experiments, we find that both the risk-pooling hypothesis and its weaker UIP version are generally accepted as part of a full world DSGE model. The fact that the risk-pooling hypothesis, with its implication of strong cross-border consumer linkage, has passed this test with generally the highest p-value, suggests that it deserves serious attention from policy-makers looking for a relevant model with which to discuss international monetary and other business cycle policies.