• Journal of Construction Engineering and Project Management
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2015

This paper presents optimized artificial neural networks (ANNs) claims prediction and decision awareness framework that guides owner organizations in their pre-bid construction project decisions to minimize claims. The framework is composed of two genetic optimization ANNs models: a Claims Impact Prediction Model (CIPM), and a Decision Awareness Model (DAM). The CIPM is composed of three separate ANNs that predict the cost and time impacts of the possible claims that may arise in a project. The models also predict the expected types of relationship between the owner and the contractor based on their behavioral and technical decisions during the bidding phase of the project. The framework is implemented using actual data from international projects in the Middle East and Egypt (projects owned by either public or private local organizations who hired international prime contractors to deliver the projects). Literature review, interviews with pertinent experts in the Middle East, and lessons learned from several international construction projects in Egypt determined the input decision variables of the CIPM. The ANNs training, which has been implemented in a spreadsheet environment, was optimized using genetic algorithm (GA). Different weights were assigned as variables to the different layers of each ANN and the total square error was used as the objective function to be minimized. Data was collected from thirty-two international construction projects in order to train and test the ANNs of the CIPM, which predicted cost overruns, schedule delays, and relationships between contracting parties. A genetic optimization backward analysis technique was then applied to develop the Decision Awareness Model (DAM). The DAM combined the three artificial neural networks of the CIPM to assist project owners in setting optimum values for their behavioral and technical decision variables. It implements an intelligent user-friendly input interface which helps project owners in visualizing the impact of their decisions on the project's total cost, original duration, and expected owner-contractor relationship. The framework presents a unique and transparent hybrid genetic algorithm-ANNs training and testing method. It has been implemented in a spreadsheet environment using MS Excel$^{(R)}$ and EVOLVERTM V.5.5. It provides projects' owners of a decision-support tool that raises their awareness regarding their pre-bid decisions for a construction project.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.306-311
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• 2020

This paper deals with how to improve the performance of Python language with various libraries when developing a model using big data. The Python language uses the Pandas library for processing spreadsheet-format data such as Excel. In processing data, Python operates on an in-memory basis. There is no performance issue when processing small scale of data. However, performance issues occur when processing large scale of data. Therefore, this paper introduces a method for distributed processing of execution tasks in a single cluster and multiple clusters by using a Dask library that can be used with Pandas when processing data. The experiment compares the speed of processing a simple exponential model using only Pandas on the same specification hardware and the speed of processing using a dask together. This paper presents a method to develop a model by distributing a large scale of data by CPU cores in terms of performance while maintaining that python's advantage of using various libraries is easy.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 2009

Ready-to-eats fresh cut-vegetables that may be consumed without further cooking or reheating can be grouped as potentially high risk foods. The foodborne disease outbreaks associated with consumption of the fresh cut-vegetables have been related with the contamination of Listeria monocytogenes. The food survey and consumption data sets for fresh cut-vegetables and also the published dose-response models for L. monocytogenes, was used to estimate the risk of L. monocytogenes for fresh cut-vegetables in Korea. Also, the simulation model and formulas with Microsoft@ Excel spreadsheet program using these data sets and chose dose-response model was developed. The mean case of listeriosis by consumption of the fresh cut-vegetables per 10 million per year was estimated as $3.23{\times}10^{-6}$. Results suggest that additional studies were needed to allow for a more realistic and accurate microbial risk assessment (MRA) in the future.