NEC Automates Large-Scale Data Prediction for Business Systems

Wazzup Pilipinas!

NEC Corporation announced the development of a “Predictive Analytics Automation Technology” that completely automates the process for large-scale data predictive analytics performed by relational databases that are widely used for business systems.

Currently, when analyzing relational databases composed of multiple databases, a great deal of work is required for processes that include the discovery and association of complex relationships between databases by skilled scientists, as well as the adjustment of prediction models by machine learning. Moreover, there is a shortage of well-trained data scientists capable of handling the rapidly growing need for advanced data analysis. As a result, there is heavy demand for highly accurate analysis methods that quickly perform large-scale data analysis and are user friendly for non-experts.

NEC’s Predictive Analytics Automation Technology, developed as part of its cutting-edge portfolio of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, NEC the WISE (*1), automates the series of processes for predictive analysis, from the extraction and design of a data item (feature that is effective for analysis, to the creation of the most suitable predictive model. As a result, even if an individual lacks advanced data analysis skill, it is possible to perform predictive analysis in a short time that is equal to or better than the accuracy of a well-trained data scientist.

Joint trials carried out by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and NEC (*2) confirmed that this technology successfully maintained accuracy and reduced predictive analysis to just one day, in comparison to conventional methods that require 2-3 months of work by a professional analyst.

“This new technology can contribute to the acceleration of business decisions, including strategic planning, hypothesis verification and policy implementation, based on the discovery of new potential needs,” said Akio Yamada, general manager, Data Science Research Laboratories, NEC Corporation. “We aim to provide this technology as a service within the 2017 fiscal year for companies seeking to independently perform effective big data analysis.”


Key features of this technology include the following:

1) Strengthens NEC’s “Automatic Feature Design Technology” and automatically discovers feature quantities for relational data bases

This technology strengthens the “Automatic Feature Design Technology” that NEC announced in 2015 and automatically designs the feature for the relational databases that are widely used for business systems.

Based on the relationship of multiple databases, AI searches for and discovers hypotheses at high speed for combinations of data items (feature quantities) that are effective for prediction. Moreover, the system automatically creates the large number of queries to generate features from the databases.

As a result, the time and labor for analysis is significantly shortened since neither large amounts of work are necessary for feature hypothesis planning, which is dependent on analysis experience and knowledge about data, nor are database operations required for creating feature quantities. Furthermore, in comparison to manual analysis, a great deal more hypothesis searching can be executed in a short time, more accurate analysis results can be achieved, and new findings that may not have been noticed by manual processes may be discovered.


2) The “Automatic Prediction Model Design Technology” enables the automatic design of the most suitable model for the data.

Based on feature data, a wide range of prediction models are created using various machine learning methods, such as NEC’s “Heterogeneous Mixed Learning,” logistic regression and decision trees. The prediction model that provides the most suitable analysis results for a user’s goals is selected. Reasons for the predicted value calculated by the prediction model are also provided.

Since users are able to understand the basis of the prediction, they are also able to make the most suitable judgement and implement the most appropriate plan in response to a situation.

NEC also developed a Graphic User Interface (GUI) for intuitive operation, where a display provides users with easy to understand instructions to search for feature quantities and create predictive models.

Power Restored to More Than 1 Million Households in Typhoon Nina-Affected Areas

Wazzup Pilipinas!

With its 24/7 power restoration efforts, the energy family, spearheaded by the Department of Energy (DOE) together with its private institution partners, has resumed electricity supply to 1,003,519 households or about 57% re-energization of Typhoon Nina-affected areas as of 4 January 2017.

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said, “After restoring power in town centers and nearby communities, our ground personnel are working round the clock, even double time to bring back the power supply to all affected households in Southern Luzon and Bicol regions.”

Specifically, Cusi relayed, “We, through the National Electrification Administration (NEA), already deployed 982 personnel from 52 participating energy companies and distribution utilities through Task Force Kapatid to help restore power supply in the affected 99 municipalities and 7 cities.”

On transmission facilities, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines reported that it deployed close to 600 personnel working 24/7 to attain 100% restoration of transmission lines by today. NGCP is focusing on the last three transmission service connected to NGCP customers that are still undergoing rehabilitation as of yesterday (3 January), which include Tabaco 20 Megavolt Ampere (MVA) Load-End Substation (LES) serving Albay Power & Energy Corp. (APEC); Malinao 5 MVA LES serving APEC; and Albay Agro-Industrial Development Corp. (ALINDECO) LES serving AboitizPower Renewable Incorporated’s Tiwi Geothermal Plant.

The following is the status of restoration in the affected provinces as of 4 January 2017:

A) On-Grid Areas:

For Sorsogon, the NEA reported that 46,366 households have been restored under the franchise area of Sorsogon II Electric Cooperative (SORECO II), while SORECO I is currently undergoing clearing and restoration of their distribution facilities.

Albay province, through the report of Albay Power and Energy Corporation (APEC), has restored 31% of all affected areas or a total of 68,668 households.

In Camarines Norte, all power facilities are up and running supplying electricity to its locals, while in Camarines Sur, there are still 296,219 households to be energized spread over the franchise areas of four (4) electric cooperatives in the province.

As reported by NEA, Quezon Province has reached 50% restoration status for all typhoon-affected areas, especially under the Quezon I Electric Cooperative.

For Batangas, NEA reported that Batangas II Electric Cooperative (BATELEC II) has attained 100% restoration, while BATELEC I stood at 90% or around 16,000 remaining households to be energized.


B) Off-Grid Areas:

In the hard-hit province of Catanduanes, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) reported that the First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative, Inc. (FICELCO) has counted 48,000 affected households undergoing restoration. Moreover, the National Power Corporation (NPC) reported that all affected government-owned power plants in the province are already in operation with a dependable capacity of 7.8 megawatts (MW), while among the privately-owned generation facilities totaling to 8.5 MW, only the 2.8 MW Sun West Corporation Hydroelectric Power is still non-operational due to flood water.

For Mindoro Island, NEA reported that 99% of households in Occidental Mindoro have been restored, while Oriental Mindoro stood at 68% re-energization or 120,682 households have experienced resumption of power supply.

While Marinduque’s generation and transmission facilities have been restored by NPC, there are still 43,200 affected households that are yet to be restored by Marinduque Electric Cooperative (MARELCO) as NEA reported.

All other off-grid areas (Masbate, Batangas, Camarines Sur and Marinduque Mini-Grids) under the supervision of NPC are back in operation awaiting restoration of distribution facilities.

“We’ve already added personnel and augmented assets through private institutions and we are continuously monitoring the progress of power restoration,” said Cusi.

Cusi concluded "We are exhausting all possible remedies to bring back the power in the affected areas the soonest possible. We cannot leave our kababayans until we have lighted each and every household affected by Typhoon Nina.”

Paws' Official Statement Regarding the Dog Killed in the MMFF Movie "Oro"

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In the investigative meeting with the MMFF Executive Committe (the ORO team and the PAWS representatives were met by the MMFF ExeCom separately), several things were established:

1. The ORO filmmakers lied to the MMFF Screening Committee. When the filmmakers were asked repeatedly during the initial screening of the film if the dog was harmed in the scene, they said “No.”

But during the inquiry yesterday, the filmmakers eventually admitted that the live dog shown at the start of the controversial scene and the dead dog being gutted is one and the same.

2. The filmmakers maintained that they (director, producer, actors & crew) did not kill the dog. They just happened upon the killing as this was a regular occurrence in the location where they were filming.

Note: PAWS Board Member Rich Ilustre, a director himself, made the observation that using actual footage of dog killing and editing it seamlessly into a scene with actors is extremely difficult. A copy of the ORO script that PAWS was able to secure yesterday showed that the graphic dog-killing segment was indeed part of the scene. And based on the final edited film, the production obviously planned how to properly stage the scene (the actors were blocked, the set was lit and the cameras and mics were positioned) to obtain the needed shots.

3. The killing of dogs is a crime as per RA8485 and the filmmakers did not report the illegal act after they filmed it. They also did not declare to the MMFF ExeCom that they filmed an actual crime up until they were asked again as a result of PAWS’ official request for an investigation.

4. Director Alvin Yapan texted an MMFF ExeCom member that the production crew bought the dog.

The dog was allegedly being sold by its owner for slaughter. This statement implies that while the filmmakers may not have had a direct hand in killing the animal, they gave the animal to dog killers knowing full well that the animal will be slaughtered.

Killing an animal for dramatic purposes or entertainment is ethically reprehensible.

The director, producer, crew, and (possibly) the actors and extras, violated the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) by procuring a dog for slaughter, and actually having it killed - whether by them directly or by some other people - for the movie.

The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) or RA 8485, as amended by RA 10631 imposes a penalty of 2 years and 1 day to 3 years imprisonment, and/or a fine not exceeding P250,000 if the offense is committed by an person who makes business out of cruelty to an animal.

This is no different from illegal "crush" videos where animals are procured to be "crushed" and tortured on video. In “crush” videos, animal cruelty is purposely committed and documented to be sold to willing viewers.

The only difference between the people behind “crush” videos and the people behind ORO is that the “crush” video producers sold videos of real acts of animal cruelty to people who were informed about what they were watching.

Moviegoers in the MMFF as well as the MMFF ExeCom and screening committee did NOT know that when they watched ORO, what they were seeing was an actual crime being committed.

For this, PAWS asked the MMFF ExeCom to pull out the film in cinemas, revoke all awards given and impose administrative sanctions on the director and producers of ORO.

PAWS is preparing to file criminal case against those who killed the dog and against the people who watched/filmed the crime as it was happening and did nothing to stop it.

Our investigation has not yet determined whether the former and the latter are one and the same.

We call upon the actors and crew members who may have personal knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the killing of the dog. The non-disclosure contract that you signed is null and void as there was an immoral and criminal act that was committed.

Please help us seek justice for the death of this dog and uphold humane standards for the use of animals in the entertainment industry.

PAWS calls upon the MMFF ExeCom to require the ORO filmmakers to submit the raw footages of the dog killing and help us complete our investigation.

We implore members of the entertainment industry to call out their colleagues when they commit acts of atrocities towards animals in the making of films and TV shows.

Animals should never be harmed, killed or reduced as mere props to be discarded after the shooting of a movie.

The Philippine entertainment industry must take an active role in the recognition of animals as sentient creatures capable of feeling fatigue, hunger and pain.

The use of animals must be avoided as much as possible if scenes can be depicted using inanimate substitutes and computer generated imagery or CGI.

If ever the use of live animals in a scene cannot be avoided, the animals should be treated humanely and always given the respect that should be accorded to living creatures.

We must all collectively stand up against what the director of ORO wants us to do -- to turn a blind eye against animal cruelty.

The end does not justify the means, Mr. Alvin Yapan, and you must answer for the crime that has been committed against the dog that was killed for your movie.