Two weeks after competition

It is more then two weeks after I participate in second stage of Olympics in informatics. I had got ill two days before it, but luckily I recovered enough to write it. The contest is divided into two days. After I wrote it, I thought that I haven’t done my best. I changed my mind as soon as official results were published. I’m in 20th place from more then 300 students. This place is pretty good and, what is more important, it qualify my into final stage.

Now I’m busy, because I miss a lot of things in school. Anyway last Saturday I took MOCK exam for CAE. I scored 64% percent, but I needed at least 65% to get school recommendation. Again I had a luck, our teacher gave also recommendations to people that have 60% and more. Of course we had to fulfil a few conditions, but they didn’t sound for me bad. Recommendations gave 50% refund of exam fee in case of fail.

Second week of winter holidays

Some time ago, I returned from ICM. I have been learning there various interesting things ;-). To list them out:

1. Bio-informatics: (by Witold Rudnicki)
We have learned about algorithms that search and compare proteins in biological databases. Smith-Waterman, BLAST, and PSI-BLAST – that sort of things. To summarize, Amino acid is represent as a letter, so protein is represent as a string. Then using one of algorithms (ex. Smith-Waterman) find score (how much protein A is similar to protein B). Then scale this value to more objective. After it you will probably found a large number of ‘quite similarly’ proteins (protein databases are huge). Then use PSI part … bla bla bla

It look like that, but it is a bit more complicated.

2. Image analysis: (by Krzysztof Nowi?ski)
Last year Krzysztof Nowi?ski teach me how to reconstruct 3D model from 2D photos (it is possible, but with many hassles). This year Mr Nowi?ski has showed me how we could analyse image. For example we want to select brain from MRI image of head.

To achieve this result, my algorithm take only tolerant value and one start point. This algorithm work similarly to gimp’s magic wand.

3. General about models and simulations: (by Marek Niezgódka, director of ICM )
Mr Niezgódka has a short lecture, but interesting one. He explain precisely what is the aim of models. Do we want to get what we expect? Does complex mathematics is adequate to simple problems? (and vice-versa)

To sum up, Einstein quote:

“Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.”

After lecture Mr Nowi?ski gave as a problem to solve. How we could simulate flow of water. I’ve written algorithm that make a short animation of it.

———

Now I’m preparing for second stage of OI. There is only a few days left. I’m learning not as fast, as I would like. Anyone have a recipe how to learn 12h+ a day effective?

A Month

Yesterday, I checked my mails (traditional, not e-). I notice one from KFnrD. Luckily, it inform that I succeeded in qualification for a IT course at ICM. This course is mainly about modelling biological processes on computers. So I will be learning algorithms and implementing them for a week, instead of going to school. All costs, including transport and accommodation fees, will be refunded by KFnrD.

After that, I’ll have two weeks of winter holidays. Then I’m going for another week to Gliwice, where I’ll be writing second stage of Olympiad in Informatics.

In the other hand, I’ll spend more time on learning and less on resting during these weeks. However, I’ll be studying that, what I like.

What should I write here?

I ask this question once again over few days. One thing is sure, It wouldn’t be about my feelings ;-). Maybe it’s good idea to show some of my drafts.

Linux as a desktop system?
Some people claim that linux based distributions are ready for desktops. My thoughts are a bit different. I’ve been using SUSE for a year and found that in many points OSS (open source software) isn’t good enough. Sometimes it crashes and you need to repair it. In the other hand, OSS is more powerful and let you to use in the way you want. To keep it short, linux desktop distros perform well, but require your knowledge and attention.

Behind consumer line: Bielsko Business Center
Bielsko Business Center company that build and maintain shopping gallery “Sfera” in the centre of Bielsko-Bia?a. I live in this city and like to know some date about this company. However firm doesn’t provide any useful information about itself. Moreover it starts building another shopping gallery on the other side of same street. Who/What stand behind it?

The State of Poland
How does typical day look in Poland? What are our attitudes to market/politic? What are I and my peers doing in free time? How about economy? To summarize, series of posts describing Polish reality to foreigners.

If you like to see one of those posts, give me your opinion.