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Air Force Institute of Technology

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Articles 151 - 180 of 233

Full-Text Articles in Other Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering

An Analysis Of The Knowledge And Skill Levels Required To Effectively Support Analytical Cost Decisions In Source Selections, Anthony L. Smith Mar 2002

An Analysis Of The Knowledge And Skill Levels Required To Effectively Support Analytical Cost Decisions In Source Selections, Anthony L. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

We analyze these three factors (education, experience, and training) in an effort to identify the knowledge and skills necessary for cost analysts to possess to be effective members of cost panel evaluation teams during source selections. This research effort assesses whether the cost panel members and senior Air Force acquisition military and civilian personnel associate the levels of education, experience, and training as being key factors in fulfilling cost analysts duties while supporting the selection of a source in the government procurement process. To accomplish this objective, a literature review, personal interviews, and questionnaires were utilized. Descriptive statistics and hypothesis …

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An Empirical Investigation Of Critical Factors Affecting The Ability Of Public Entities To Compete In Public Private Competitions, Timothy J. Gilbride Mar 2002

An Empirical Investigation Of Critical Factors Affecting The Ability Of Public Entities To Compete In Public Private Competitions, Timothy J. Gilbride

Theses and Dissertations

In 1996, the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard initiated the largest ever service acquisition program to re-capitalize Coast Guard assets. Called the Integrated Deepwater System or IDS, this acquisition effort seeks to renovate, modernize, and or replace the Coast Guard s entire portfolio of ships, aircraft, and support facilities. The IDS contractor will be responsible for designing and constructing the system, as well as, sharing responsibility for supporting and disposing of it. This poses a significant threat to the USCG Aircraft Repair and Supply Center (AR&SC), the Coast Guard s aircraft depot located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The …

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Analysis Of Air Force Contingency Contracting Training Needs, Peter S. Lasch Mar 2002

Analysis Of Air Force Contingency Contracting Training Needs, Peter S. Lasch

Theses and Dissertations

This research examines the Air Force training needs of contingency contracting officers (CCOs). The study utilized the deductive approach to research. A survey instrument captured the data for the study. The survey captured input from CCOs with deployment experience and each of the Air Force components and MAJCOMs. Series 1 of the survey polls CCOs with deployment experience to determine the training CCOs require based on their personal experiences. Series 2 surveys the component and MAJCOM level supervisors to determine their perception of the training that should be required for CCOs. Comparing the two series will identify any differences in …

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Beyond A-76: How To Achieve The Goals Without The Pain, Kurt A. Chelf Mar 2002

Beyond A-76: How To Achieve The Goals Without The Pain, Kurt A. Chelf

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense has determined that Outsourcing and Privatization is key to reducing operating costs and subsequently providing the fiscal dollars necessary to modernize the U.S. Armed Forces. In an effort to achieve this goal, the DoD has mandated that the Air Force study at least 5% of its manning positions for possible conversion to contract. This mandate effects over 200,000 positions throughout the department. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular, Number A-76, Performance Of Commercial Activities dictates the process used to study the appropriateness of these conversions. This thesis explores the usefulness and applicability of this process, …

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The Management Of Energy Savings Performance Contracts (Espcs), Ericka M. Dailey Mar 2002

The Management Of Energy Savings Performance Contracts (Espcs), Ericka M. Dailey

Theses and Dissertations

Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) originated to accomplish several objectives: (1) to meet energy efficiency goals mandated by executive orders and energy policies; (2) to improve federal government facilities using funds allocated for utility bills; and (3) to receive repayment of expenditures through energy savings reflected in reduced utility bills. In ESPC's, the contractor guarantees savings to the federal government agency. 10 CFR 436 limits the time necessary for payback. However, this regulation and others were written prior to the deregulation of utility companies. This theory is based on the underlying premise that the contractor payback is a direct result …

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Task Load And Automation Use In An Uncertain Environment, Mark A. Daly Mar 2002

Task Load And Automation Use In An Uncertain Environment, Mark A. Daly

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects that user task load level has on the relationship between an individual's trust in and subsequent use of a system's automation. Automation research has demonstrated a positive correlation between an individual's trust in and subsequent use of the automation. Military decision-makers trust and use information system automation to make many tactical judgments and decisions. In situations of information uncertainty (information warfare environments), decision-makers must remain aware of information reliability issues and temperate their use of system automation if necessary. An individual's task load may have an effect on his use …

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A System Dynamics Approach To Modeling Aircraft System Production Break Costs, John J. Dubelko Mar 2002

A System Dynamics Approach To Modeling Aircraft System Production Break Costs, John J. Dubelko

Theses and Dissertations

This research effort employs a System Dynamics methodology to model Air Force aircraft production break costs. The Air Force currently used the Anderlohr, Modified Anderlohr, and Retrograde methods for the estimation of aircraft production breaks. These methods offer little insight into the dynamic behavior of an aircraft production break. System Dynamics offers a unique way of capturing expert opinions in this area and dynamically presenting behaviors of an Air Force aircraft production line during a production break. Development of this model followed a four-step process of conceptualization, formulation, testing, and implementation. Five Air Force aircraft production break experts in were …

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Decision Analysis With Value Focused Thinking As A Methodology To Select Force Protection Initiatives For Evaluation, David M. Jurk Mar 2002

Decision Analysis With Value Focused Thinking As A Methodology To Select Force Protection Initiatives For Evaluation, David M. Jurk

Theses and Dissertations

Current emphasis on homeland security/defense is high. Decision makers responsible for enhancing the protection of both military and civilian personnel require additional insight when selecting ideas, concepts, or technologies to pursue with constrained resources. They are faced with multiple criteria and multiple objectives; yet they have no defensible, objective, and repeatable selection process to assist them in making their decisions. This thesis explores whether the value-focused thinking (VFT) process is appropriate for providing the necessary insight to those decision makers. To prove the VFT process is appropriate and viable; this thesis focuses on constructing a value model, scoring alternatives, and …

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The Effect Of External Safeguards On Human-Information System Trust In An Information Warfare Environment, Gregory S. Fields Mar 2001

The Effect Of External Safeguards On Human-Information System Trust In An Information Warfare Environment, Gregory S. Fields

Theses and Dissertations

This research looks at how human trust in an information system is influenced by external safeguards in an Information Warfare (1W) domain. Information systems are relied upon in command and control environments to provide fast and reliable information to the decision-makers. The degree of reliance placed in these systems by the decision-makers suggests a significant level of trust. Understanding this trust relationship and what effects it is the focus of this study. A model is proposed that predicts behavior associated with human trust in information systems. It is hypothesized that a decision-maker's belief in the effectiveness of external safeguards will …

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An Analysis Of The Acquisition Process For Simplified Acquisition Of Base Engineering Requirements (Saber) Contracts And Its Potential Impact On Contractor Performance, Brian J. Heaps Mar 2001

An Analysis Of The Acquisition Process For Simplified Acquisition Of Base Engineering Requirements (Saber) Contracts And Its Potential Impact On Contractor Performance, Brian J. Heaps

Theses and Dissertations

The Simplified Acquisition of Base Engineering Requirements (SABER) contract's main purpose is to expedite contract award of civil engineer requirements through the issuance of individual delivery orders. The contract contains a collection of detailed task specifications that include most types of real property maintenance, repair, and construction work. The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition's Operational Contracting Division (SAF/AQCO) identified a number of failed SABER contracts. The problem statement designed for this research effort was: There are a large number of SABER contractors that are failing during the performance period on their SABER contracts. SAF/AQCO is trying to …

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Award Term Incentive Contracting: An Investigation Of United States Air Force Strategic Purchasing, Rachael A. Harris Mar 2001

Award Term Incentive Contracting: An Investigation Of United States Air Force Strategic Purchasing, Rachael A. Harris

Theses and Dissertations

This research explored implementing a best commercial practice of establishing strategic purchasing relationships within the Department of Defense (DOD) procurement environment. The research was sparked by Air Force Material Command's (AFMC) instituting a commercial style acquisition strategy using an award term incentive on several programs. The award term incentive provides for extensions or reductions to the term of the contract based on contractors' level of performance. Forthcoming implementation of Air Force FAR supplement 5317.7X Incentive Term Extension, will likely increase the number of acquisitions using an award term incentive. Research findings indicate that management should consider expanding the AFMC award …

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A Delphi Assessment Of The Digital Rosetta Stone Model, Don M. Kelley Mar 2001

A Delphi Assessment Of The Digital Rosetta Stone Model, Don M. Kelley

Theses and Dissertations

Information that is stored digitally can only be used if it can be retrieved and interpreted. if the methods to retrieve the information are lost, it may be difficult, if not impossible, to recreate them. The knowledge to interpret the bitstream is also at risk. The Digital Rosetta Stone (DRS) Model was developed as a framework for capturing and maintaining the methods necessary to retrieve and display digital information stored on obsolete media or using obsolete software. However, this conceptual model had not yet been assessed by the community of professionals for its practical efficacy. This thesis began the assessment …

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Gss Technology As A Moderator Of Influence And Perceived Expertise, Kevin V. Thompson Mar 2001

Gss Technology As A Moderator Of Influence And Perceived Expertise, Kevin V. Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

Group Support System (355) research has found this content and process anonymity influence problem solving groups. However, previous studies report mixed results on how OSS technology changes social influence processes and recognition of expertise which affect group performance. This thesis explored content and process anonymity's affect on influence and perceived expertise using three treatments to derive possible explanations for the mixed results found in previous GSS research. The study developed a theoretical model of influence, perceived expertise, and performance. Using structural equation modeling the study tested the relationships between expertise and participation rates, and overall group performance. An experiment was …

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Relating Initial Budget To Program Growth With Rayleigh And Weibull Models, Eric J. Unger Mar 2001

Relating Initial Budget To Program Growth With Rayleigh And Weibull Models, Eric J. Unger

Theses and Dissertations

Previous research on completed defense R&D shows that contract expenditures can be fit well with a Rayleigh model. With fixed outlay rates, as prescribed by the OSD comptroller, the budget profile must have most of the funds in the early years to produce Rayleigh-distributed expenditures. R&D programs with more delayed funding profiles may also produce expenditures that a Rayleigh model fits through schedule slips and cost overruns. This research tests how well the initial funding profile produces Rayleigh-distributed expenditures that can be related to the program's final cost overrun and schedule slips. Based only on the initial budget profile, we …

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A Case Study Analysis Of The Overhead Rate Impact Model Used During The C-5 Maintenance Source Selection, William N. Ward Mar 2001

A Case Study Analysis Of The Overhead Rate Impact Model Used During The C-5 Maintenance Source Selection, William N. Ward

Theses and Dissertations

The Overhead Rate Impact (ORI) model was used during the C-5 Maintenance source selection to evaluate the impact the new workload would have on the existing overhead rates. The objectives of this research study were to evaluate the ORI model and to identify the lessons learned from this source selection. To accomplish these objectives, interviews were conducted with members of the source selection team who were on the Cost Integrated Product Team (IPT). The experts were asked to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the ORI model and to make recommendation on how to improve the model. This study identified …

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The Effects Of Budgetary Constraints, Multiple Strategy Selection, And Rationality On Equilibrium Attainment In An Information Warfare Simulation, Steven W. Tait Mar 2001

The Effects Of Budgetary Constraints, Multiple Strategy Selection, And Rationality On Equilibrium Attainment In An Information Warfare Simulation, Steven W. Tait

Theses and Dissertations

Information warfare (IW) has developed into a significant threat to the national security of the United States. Our critical infrastructures, linked together by information systems, are increasingly vulnerable to information attack. This study seeks to understand some of those factors which affect the ability of an individual to make accurate decisions in an IW environment. The study used game theory to analyze the behavior of decision-makers within an IW simulation. The IW game model is based on a set of games known as infinitely repeated games of incomplete information. It uses the Bayesian Nash equilibrium concept to determine the strategy …

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Covalidation Of Dissimilarly Structured Models, Samuel A. Wright Dec 2000

Covalidation Of Dissimilarly Structured Models, Samuel A. Wright

Theses and Dissertations

A methodology is presented which allows comparison between models constructed under different modeling paradigms. Consider the following situation: Two models are constructed to study different aspects of the same system. One model simulates a fleet of aircraft moving a given combination of cargo and passengers from an onload point to an offload point. A second model is a linear programming model that optimizes the aircraft and route selection required for the same scenario. We develop a methodology to structure the comparison between large-scale models such as these. Models that compare favorably using this methodology are deemed covalid. Models that perform …

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Locating Search And Rescue Stations In The Aegean And Western Mediterranean Regions Of Turkey, Melih M. Basdemir Mar 2000

Locating Search And Rescue Stations In The Aegean And Western Mediterranean Regions Of Turkey, Melih M. Basdemir

Theses and Dissertations

The service of present Search and Rescue (SAR) stations in the Aegean and the Western Mediterranean regions of Turkey are not sufficient to meet the demands of the Turkish Air Force. This research seeks to find the optimum location of new SAR stations. The number of SAR stations required to cover all areas of operation becomes a very decisive element in finding the optimal coverage of the operation area by these stations. The problem of finding the optimum SAR locations can he modeled as a maximal covering location problem (MCLP). Additional constraints are added to set standards on various issues …

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Multi-Objective Evaluation Of Target Sets In A Logistics Network, Paul D. Emslie Mar 2000

Multi-Objective Evaluation Of Target Sets In A Logistics Network, Paul D. Emslie

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis addresses the selection of target sets to disrupt an adversary's logistics network in a wartime environment. In the presence of many objectives--such as reducing maximum flow, lengthening routes, avoiding collateral damage, all at minimal risk to our pilots--the problem of determining the best target set is complex. Previous efforts have not adequately considered the value of the remaining network functionality after target destruction. In addition, current network targeting procedures optimize target sets with respect to only a single metric. This thesis uses a multi-objective decision analysis framework capturing actual targeting decision-maker values and preferences to evaluate and analyze …

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Global Positioning System (Gps) Error Source Prediction, Marcus G. Ferguson Mar 2000

Global Positioning System (Gps) Error Source Prediction, Marcus G. Ferguson

Theses and Dissertations

With the initiation of the navigation accuracy prediction algorithm used to estimate the amount of GPS solution (location and time) error for receivers, the capability to accurately predict solution errors due to the major GPS error sources is growing. Although some sources of error within the GPS solution have been previously analyzed, modeled, and/or accounted for within various modeling efforts, a formal evaluation of the seven major error sources that distort GPS activity has not been officially conducted up until this point. This research offers a logical assessment of all the major GPS error sources and their definitive impact on …

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A Group Theoretic Tabu Search Approach To The Traveling Salesman Problem, Shane N. Hall Mar 2000

A Group Theoretic Tabu Search Approach To The Traveling Salesman Problem, Shane N. Hall

Theses and Dissertations

The traveling salesman problem (TSP) is a combinatorial optimization problem that is mathematically modeled as a binary integer program. The TSP is a very important problem for the operations research academician and practitioner. This research demonstrates a Group Theoretic Tabu Search (GTTS) Java algorithm for the TSP. The tabu search metaheuristic continuously finds near-optimal solutions to the TSP under various different implementations. Algebraic group theory offers a more formal mathematical setting to study the TSP providing a theoretical foundation for describing tabu search. Specifically, this thesis uses the Symmetric Group on n letters, S(n), which is the set of all …

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Modelling Information Assurance: A Value Focused Thinking Approach, Jonathan Todd Hamill Mar 2000

Modelling Information Assurance: A Value Focused Thinking Approach, Jonathan Todd Hamill

Theses and Dissertations

The information revolution has brought forth new and improved capabilities to rapidly disseminate and employ information in decision-making. These capabilities are critical to the civilian and military infrastructures of the United States, and act as force enhancers and enablers for the Armed Forces. These capabilities, however, often rely upon systems interconnected throughout the world, resulting in potentially increased vulnerability to attack. To add to this problem, elusive, threatening forces (national and transnational) originating from anywhere on the globe are likely to offer opponents less reliant on information technology an asymmetric advantage over information-reliant nations like the United States. To date, …

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Professional Contracting Certification: An Examination And Model Development, Robert D. Lorton, Daniel I. Dunn Sep 1999

Professional Contracting Certification: An Examination And Model Development, Robert D. Lorton, Daniel I. Dunn

Theses and Dissertations

This study compared the elements of existing contracting certification programs to an ideal contracting certification model developed by experts. The expert panel responded to an open-ended electronic interview to convey their ideas regarding the individual elements for the model. Input received from the initial interviews was used to develop a survey for the panel members. The surveys were completed and results were recorded and conveyed back to the panel members. This process was repeated until a majority was reached on each individual element of the model, resulting in the ideal certification model. The final model contained elements of both the …

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Multi-Discipline Network Vulnerability Assessment, Karilynne Wallace Mar 1999

Multi-Discipline Network Vulnerability Assessment, Karilynne Wallace

Theses and Dissertations

Air Force Space Command has a mission to provide real-time, survivable, and enduring communications, surveillance, environmental monitoring, navigation, and warning....according to Air Force Space Handbook - A War Fighters Guide to Space. In order to prevent disruption of the critical networks in Space Command, a vulnerability assessment must be performed. The set of components called a vulnerability set, which could cause network disruption, must be identified and prioritized. In order to move beyond subjective prioritization, implementation of a quantitative methodology that measures the value of each vulnerability set is needed. This thesis proposes a technique for vulnerability assessment of a …

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How To Develop An Interactive Electronic Technical Manual: An Industry Perspective, Ali N. Karabulut, Hilmi Oz Dec 1998

How To Develop An Interactive Electronic Technical Manual: An Industry Perspective, Ali N. Karabulut, Hilmi Oz

Theses and Dissertations

Improvements in technology, especially in computer science, in the last two decades have made it possible, and preferable to develop digital technical manuals. A digital manual, which is called an Interactive Electronic Technical Manual (IETM), is a package of information required for the diagnosis and maintenance of a weapon systems, optimally arranged and formatted for interactive screen presentation to the end-user. Being the largest organization in the U.S., the Department of Defense has pioneered in the development of IETM concept as well as in the establishment of its standards. There have been many researches done about different IETM applications and …

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Data Storage Devices For Air Force Space Command: A Comparative Analysis, Darryl E. Mosley Sep 1998

Data Storage Devices For Air Force Space Command: A Comparative Analysis, Darryl E. Mosley

Theses and Dissertations

Two of Air Force Space Command's primary missions are ballistic missile warning and global navigation, accomplished by commanding and controlling Defense Support Program and Global Positioning System satellites respectively. The computerized ground control system, called the satellite command and control system (CCS) used to perform command and control of the satellites currently uses antiquated peripheral storage devices. These storage devices are critical components, but are often prone to failure, possibly resulting in adverse mission impact. The Air Force must choose an alternative storage device for use in conjunction with CCS in order to accommodate planned operations tempo increases. This thesis …

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An Integer Program Decomposition Approach To Combat Planning, John C. Van Hove Sep 1998

An Integer Program Decomposition Approach To Combat Planning, John C. Van Hove

Theses and Dissertations

Over the last two decades, our military forces have been working to incorporate the latest computer technology into the combat planning process. The earliest efforts use word processors, spreadsheets, and databases to organize planning data and to display high level summaries for commanders. Later efforts perform feasibility checks as missions are planned to insure that the necessary resources are available and that the assets requested are capable of meeting the assigned scheduling requirements. Some of the most recent computer planning tools have included the capability to automatically plan individual missions or groups of missions. These automated efforts have been heuristic …

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Feasibility Study On The Use Of The Internet For Traffic Of Unclassified Data, Alexandre L. Guerra, Luiz Gustavo F. P. Silva Sep 1998

Feasibility Study On The Use Of The Internet For Traffic Of Unclassified Data, Alexandre L. Guerra, Luiz Gustavo F. P. Silva

Theses and Dissertations

This research compares two possible networking methods for connecting all Brazilian Air Force Materiel Command units responsible for support and operation of Brazilian Air Force's weapons systems. The network includes the use of dedicated X.25 links, and the use of a virtual Private Network using the Internet (TCP/IP) as the medium of transmission. The Brazilian Air Force Materiel Command, responsible to support operating units over a very large sparse territory, lacks an efficient media of computer communications, which makes it difficult to control the supply chain channels of materiel present in each unit, depots, and warehouses. We studied the network …

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Analysis Of Usaf Medium And Heavylift Space Launch Mission Reliability Requirements, Arthur R. Dawkins Sep 1998

Analysis Of Usaf Medium And Heavylift Space Launch Mission Reliability Requirements, Arthur R. Dawkins

Theses and Dissertations

The launch services that the USAF procures to carry DOD payloads into orbit are characterized by high risks and high costs. If a launch vehicle experiences a catastrophic failure, the cost of the entire launch vehicle, the launch processing, and the payload are completely lost (often in excess of 1,5 billion dollars.) Despite this enormous risk for the payload customer, and indeed the launch provider, launch success rates around the world are not much above 90 percent. The current USAF medium and heavylift launch systems are often based on technology that is 20 years old and older. Furthermore, little historical …

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Parallel Implementation Of An Artificial Neural Network Integrated Feature And Architecture Selection Algorithm, Craig W. Rizzo Mar 1998

Parallel Implementation Of An Artificial Neural Network Integrated Feature And Architecture Selection Algorithm, Craig W. Rizzo

Theses and Dissertations

The selection of salient features and an appropriate hidden layer architecture contributes significantly to the performance of a neural network. A number of metrics and methodologies exist for estimating these parameters. This research builds on recent efforts to integrate feature and architecture selection for the multilayer perceptron. In the first stage of work a current algorithm is developed in a parallel environment, significantly improving its efficiency and utility. In the second stage, improvements to the algorithm are proposed. With regards to feature selection, a common random number (CRN) addition is proposed. Two new methods of architecture selection are examined, to …

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