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The Jaya algorithm is a recently developed novel population-based algorithm. The proposed work presents the modifications in the existing many-objective Jaya (MaOJaya) algorithm by integrating the chaotic sequence to improve the performance to optimize many-objective benchmark optimization problems. The MaOJaya algorithm has exploitation more dominating, due to which it traps in local optima. The proposed work aims to reduce these limitations by modifying the solution update equation of the MaOJaya algorithm. The purpose of the modification is to balance the exploration and exploitation, improve the divergence and avoid premature convergence. The well-known chaotic sequence - a logistic map integrated into the solution update equation. This modification keeps the MaOJaya algorithm simple as well as, preserves its parameterless feature. The other component of the existing MaOJaya algorithm, such as non-dominated sorting, reference vector and tournament selection scheme of NSGA-II is preserved. The decomposition approach used in the proposed approach simplifies the complex many-objective optimization problems. The performance of the proposed chaotic based many-objective Jaya (C-MaOJaya) algorithm is tested on DTLZ benchmark functions for three to ten objectives. The IGD and Hypervolume performance metrics evaluate the performance of the proposed C-MaOJaya algorithm. The statistical tests are used to compare the performance of the proposed C-MaOJaya algorithm with the MaOJaya algorithm and other algorithms from the literature. The C-MaOJaya algorithm improved the balance between exploration and exploitation and avoids premature convergence significantly. The comparison shows that the proposed C-MaOJaya algorithm is a promising approach to solve many-objective optimization problems.

On the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in India that was implemented suddenly since 24th March 2020, the educational institutes faced the challenge of course delivery and academic engagement of the students. Many institutes responded through online teaching-learning mode. However, the transition from physical classes to virtual mode course delivery was all of a sudden for both; student as well as faculty community. Hence, it is important to develop an understanding of perception of students and faculty members to this experience of online teaching. This work reports preliminary findings on an online course delivery initiative at an autonomous institute during the lockdown period and efficacy of the virtual model in order to validate the hypothesis that virtual course delivery is well received by the students and proves beneficial. Also, an effort is made to investigate whether the students' acceptance to online teaching is influenced by the stream they belong to and if there is any correlation between the academic achievements of students and their acceptance to online mode. In view of growing trend towards online learning post COVID-19 scenario, the findings offer valuable insights. From the view point of overall experience and benefits from online teaching-learning, a clear division is found among the students' opinions. Nearly half of the students (48.08%) have found to be benefitted through online classes while the remaining don't seem to have satisfied and thus benefitted from the initiative. The authors propose a hybrid approach combining physical and virtual experiences for future purposes, owing to inherent limitations of online teaching being reflected through the students' responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: The teaching-learning based optimization (TLBO) algorithm is a recently developed algorithm. The proposed work presents a design of a master-slave TLBO algorithm. OBJECTIVES: This research aims to design a master-slave TLBO algorithm to improve its performance and system utilization for CEC2006 single-objective benchmark functions. METHODS: The proposed approach implemented using OpenMP and CUDA C, a hybrid programming approach to enhance the utilization of the system's computational resources. The device utilization and performance of the proposed approach evaluated using CEC2006 benchmark functions. RESULTS: The proposed approach obtains best results in significantly reduced time for CEC2006 benchmark functions. The maximum speed-up achieved is 30.14X. The average GPGPU utilization is 90% and the average utilization of logical processors is more than 90%. CONCLUSION: The master-slave TLBO algorithm improves the utilization of computational resources significantly and obtains the best results for CEC2006 benchmark functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: The artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm is a nature-inspired technique used for solving different optimization problems. This paper presents a multi-hive ABC algorithm for solving constrained benchmark functions of CEC2006. The CEC2006 data set contains the global benchmark functions with different design variables, number and type of constraints. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the proposed work is to design and apply the GPGPU based multi-hive ABC algorithm to solve constrained optimization problems. METHODS: The proposed approach is a multi-population coarse-grained system implemented using General Purpose Graphics Processing Unit (GPGPU). The performance of the proposed approach is compared with the serial ABC algorithm for eleven benchmark functions and results in the literature. The multi-hive ABC algorithm has multiple hives, each running separate ABC algorithm on different cores of GPGPU. RESULTS: The proposed approach provides global best solutions in significantly reduced time for all benchmark functions. The speed-up obtained is approximately 7X to 9X. The GPGPU device utilization is approximately 57% to 91%. CONCLUSION: The GPGPU based multi-hive ABC algorithm is a found good with respect to best results, speed up factor and GPU utilization to solve constrained optimization problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]