Hyper‐Heuristics and Metaheuristics for Selected Bio‐Inspired Combinatorial Optimization Problems

Many decision and optimization problems arising in bioinformatics field are time demanding, and several algorithms are designed to solve these problems or to improve their current best solution approach. Modeling and implementing a new heuristic algorithm may be time‐consuming but has strong motivations: on the one hand, even a small improvement of the new solution may be worth the long time spent on the construction of a new method; on the other hand, there are problems for which good‐enough solutions are acceptable which could be achieved at a much lower computational cost. In the first case, specially designed heuristics or metaheuristics are needed, while the latter hyper‐heuristics can be proposed. The paper will describe both approaches in different domain problems

Comparison of the assessment of teaching components during distance and traditional learning – perspective of academic teachers and students. Questionnaire survey

The Covid-19 pandemic forced students and academic teachers to start distance learning. Although both sides participated in the same process, its assessment from both sides may differ. In our study, using a structured survey, academic teachers and students assessed on a 5-point Likert's scale (where 1 = greater in traditional education, 5 =definitely greater in remote education) the effectiveness of 6 key elements of learning such as: student's involvement (1), student's activity (2), contact with the lecturer (3), consistent manner of work (4), timeliness of tasks performed (5), quality of tasks performed (6) and adequacy of grades awarded (7) . Most of the elements in both groups were assessed as more effective in traditional learning. The average score in the group of teachers in each of the elements was shifted towards greater effectiveness of traditional teaching. The greatest difference in grades between the two groups occurred in the scope of a student's involvement and activity. Students and teachers did not differ in the assessment of contact with the lecturer, although both groups indicated that it was greater in the case of traditional learning. Lecturers and students differed in assessing the effectiveness of key features of learning during distance and traditional education. It is necessary to continuously adapt curricula in order to improve the overall assessment of the examined elements and to ensure that there are no differences between the two groups

Students of the Medical College against the background of three other faculties of the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce

The need to limit people-to-people contacts during the COVID-19 pandemic introduced the need for distance learning at universities. After two years of pandemic restrictions, we decided to check the opinion of medical students and three other faculties on the conducted classes and compare groups with each other. We conducted a survey research based on standardized questionnaire which included 306 students from four faculties of the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce – Faculty of Law and Social Sciences (1), Medical College (2), Faculty of Exact and Life Sciences (3), Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology (4). Students did not differ in the assessment of most types of classes conducted in a virtual form. The exceptions were virtual meetings in a group of students, which were better assessed at the faculty no. 1 compared to 2 and 4. Students of Medical College faculty differed in terms of assessing level of distance learning and their own involvement. Their ratings on these two issues were the lowest among the four groups. The students of individual faculties did not differ in terms of assessing the effectiveness of the elements of education in the traditional and remote modes of operation.   The subjective assessment of distance learning by students from various faculties shows subtle differences. The transition to distance education resulted in a decline in the involvement of medical students in their education and a subjective decrease in quality of teaching comparing to other faculties. This opinion may be taken into account when adapting curricula and selecting the type of classes to be conducted in the course of distance or hybrid learning

Remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in the opinion of academic teachers. Survey research

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the academic community had to drop out of the full-time on-site education and switch to distance learning. After two years of this state of affairs and the current return to the traditional form, we would like to explore the opinions of academic teachers on this form of teaching.  The study was a questionnaire-based survey, including 86 teaching staff members of the Jan Kochanowski University of Kielce, working at four faculties. The teachers assessed the level of distance learning as average, no different from the traditional approach.  However, they pointed out that the involvement, activity of students, regularity of work, quality of the assignments completed, and the adequacy of the grades received is greater in the traditional approach. In the case of remote learning, in the group's assessment, the timeliness of performing the assignments had not deteriorated. The most frequently indicated advantage of remote learning was time saving, while the most common disadvantage was reduced contact with students. In the teachers' opinion, the traditional mode of learning still has an advantage over distance learning. Studies assessing effectiveness in achieving educational goals are needed in order to objectify the results. &nbsp

Personal Data Collection via the Internet: The Role of Privacy Sensitivity and Technology Trust

Policy makers and researchers from a wide range of perspectives have expressed concern about the interplay between privacy rights and information exchanges via the Internet. Of particular interest has been the challenge of protecting sensitive personal information. In this paper, we assert that user willingness to share sensitive data is an area of critical concern and requires additional investigation. In an effort to enrich the dialogue on the question of voluntary sharing of sensitive personal data via the Internet, we present a model showcasing the relationship between personal data sharing, privacy sensitivity, and technology trust and discuss how organizations can apply these insights

DIFFERENTIAL ANALYSIS OF VOLUMETRIC STRAINS IN POROUS MATERIALS IN TERMS OF WATER FREEZING

The paper presents the differential analysis of volumetric strain (DAVS). The method allows measurements of volumetric deformations of capillary-porous materials caused by water-ice phase change. The VSE indicator (volumetric strain effect), which under certain conditions can be interpreted as the minimum degree of phase change of water contained in the material pores, is proposed. The test results (DAVS) for three materials with diversified microstructure: clinker brick, calcium-silicate brick and Portland cement mortar were compared with the test results for pore characteristics obtained with the mercury intrusion porosimetry

Human resource oriented antecedents to post-adoption technology performance

This study investigated the influence of human resource oriented antecedents to user perceptions toward the performance capabilities of a new logistics information tracking technology. Willingness to take risks, job relevance, trialability and technology trust were evaluated as antecedents to technology performance. The research examined the effect of these constructs on technology acceptance as a function of post-adoption perceptions of technology performance. A research model was developed and tested based in Rogers’ (2003) Innovation Diffusion Theory. Data from a mail survey were collected from 224 first-tier supply chain users of the technology. Structural equation modelling was used to test six hypothesized relationships for significance, direction, and intensity. The findings indicate that: (a) willingness to take risks and job relevance affect technology trust and technology performance; and, (b) trialability affects perceptions of technology performance. The results of this study advance our understanding of post-adoption perceptions of supply chain affiliates and offer suggestions for enhancing user perceptions of technology performance. Implications from this study along with suggestions for future research are provided