Soft Computing Based Modeling in Intelligent Systems

Making decisions about the management and conservation of nature is necessarily complex, with many competing pressures on natural systems, opportunities and benefits for different groups of people and a varying, uncertain social and ecological environment. An approach which is narrowly focused on either human development or environmental protection cannot deliver sustainable solutions. This volume provides frameworks for improving the integration of natural resource management with conservation and supporting stronger collaboration between researchers and practitioners in developed and developing countries. Novel approaches are required when ecological and social dynamics are highly interdependent. A structured, participatory, model-based approach to decision-making for biodiversity conservation has been proven to produce real-world change. There are surprisingly few successful case studies, however; some of the best are presented here, from fisheries, pest management and conservation.

Making decisions about the management and conservation of nature is necessarily complex, with many competing pressures on natural systems, opportunities and benefits for different groups of people and a varying, uncertain social and ecological environment. An approach which is narrowly focused on either human development or environmental protection cannot deliver sustainable solutions. This volume provides frameworks for improving the integration of natural resource management with conservation and supporting stronger collaboration between researchers and practitioners in developed and developing countries. Novel approaches are required when ecological and social dynamics are highly interdependent. A structured, participatory, model-based approach to decision-making for biodiversity conservation has been proven to produce real-world change. There are surprisingly few successful case studies, however; some of the best are presented here, from fisheries, pest management and conservation.

Performance analysis of bispectrum-based signal processing systems largely depends on the performance of the bispectrum estimator operating in an adverse noise environment. This study combines bispect

This book was first published in 1992. For decades Yugoslavia had been developing its own model of socialism based on workers' self-management and the increasing use of the market mechanism. As a result, many scholars view the Yugoslav economy differently from other socialist systems. In this book, Dr Milica Uvalic demonstrates how some of the fundamental features of the Yugoslav economy have remained similar to those characterising other socialist economies. Dr Uvalic focuses on theoretical and empirical issues related to investment in Yugoslavia since 1965. She examines investment policies, sources of finance, macroeconomic performance, enterprise incentives, and current property reforms in relation to Western theory on investment behaviour in the labour-managed firm and Kornai's theory on socialist economies. In line with Kornai's theory, the author argues that investment reforms have not led to substantially changed enterprise behaviour, which illustrates the limited results to be

This 1997 book describes the spread of new agricultural practice in the half millennium after 1350, and reconstructs a neglected part of Europe's agricultural past: the introduction of fodder crops, and the continuous reorganisation of traditional botanical inputs within a new system of farming. New agricultural systems, based on convertible husbandry, clovers, turnips and roots, were introduced to some areas of Europe from the 1750s, and gave new impetus to productivity. However this so-called 'agricultural revolution' had demanded a learning process in which recourse to ancient and medieval botany helped farmers and scholars to overcome a situation of stalemate in early modern technology. The book breaks entirely new ground by showing the distant historical origins of a major transformation in land potential and farm productivity. A vast range of evidence is cited from Italy, France, England and elsewhere to provide a history of the 'agricultural revolution' in Europe.

This book provides a detailed treatment of an important topic that has received no scholarly attention: the surprising transformation of indigenous peoples' movements into viable political parties in the 1990s in four Latin American countries (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela) and their failure to succeed in two others (Argentina, Peru). The parties studied are crucial components of major trends in the region. By providing to voters clear programs for governing, and reaching out in particular to under-represented social groups, they have enhanced the quality of democracy and representative government. Based on extensive original research and detailed historical case studies, the book links historical institutional analysis and social movement theory to a study of the political systems in which the new ethnic cleavages emerged. The book concludes with a discussion of the implications for democracy of the emergence of this phenomenon in the context of declining public support for pa

This book was first published in 1992. For decades Yugoslavia had been developing its own model of socialism based on workers' self-management and the increasing use of the market mechanism. As a result, many scholars view the Yugoslav economy differently from other socialist systems. In this book, Dr Milica Uvalic demonstrates how some of the fundamental features of the Yugoslav economy have remained similar to those characterising other socialist economies. Dr Uvalic focuses on theoretical and empirical issues related to investment in Yugoslavia since 1965. She examines investment policies, sources of finance, macroeconomic performance, enterprise incentives, and current property reforms in relation to Western theory on investment behaviour in the labour-managed firm and Kornai's theory on socialist economies. In line with Kornai's theory, the author argues that investment reforms have not led to substantially changed enterprise behaviour, which illustrates the limited results to be

Film censorship has always been a controversial matter, particularly in jurisdictions with restrictive state-based censorship systems. This book reviews the film censorship system in the Asia-Pacific

Film censorship has always been a controversial matter, particularly in jurisdictions with restrictive state-based censorship systems. This book reviews the film censorship system in the Asia-Pacific

Simulation is a widely used mechanism for validating the theoretical models of networking and communication systems. Although the claims made based on simulations are considered to be reliable, how re

This book, based on extensive original research, considers the transformation of public health systems in major East, South and Southeast Asian countries in the period following the Second World War.

How do legal systems actually operate outside of Western European or North American liberal democracies? To understand law and legal institutions globally, we must go beyond asking if countries comply with idealized, yet under-theorized, rule of law principles to determine how they work in practice. Examining legal regimes across different areas of criminal and civil law in both urban and rural China and Indonesia during distinct periods from 1949 to the present, William Hurst offers a new way of understanding how cases are adjudicated (and with what implications) across authoritarian, developing, post-colonial, and newly democratizing settings. This is the first systematic comparative study of the world's largest Communist and majority-Muslim nations, and the most comprehensive scholarly work in many years on the micro-level workings of either the Chinese or Indonesian legal system at the grassroots, based on a decade of research and extensive fieldwork in multiple Indonesian and Chin

This new volume of Methods in Cell Biology looks at methods for analyzing of golgi complex function. Chapters cover such topics as in vitro reconstitution systems, fluorescence-based analysis of traff

Good behavior is a skill that can be taught – and developed through practice. It just requires a shift in our perspective.If you have tried behavior folders, clip systems, or other interventions based

This research addresses how to balance the private land rights and the public powers involved in the farmland transfer (in China) from a newly-defined governance perspective. Based on the systems appr

Molecular simulation is an emerging technology for determining the properties of many systems that are of interest to the oil and gas industry, and more generally to the chemical industry. Based on a

In the United States, convenience food and soft drink—based diets, increasingly sedentary lifestyles, and obesity have become common in youth culture. The importance of health education merits integr

This 1972 book takes Western Pacific island territories as a case study in the behavioural understanding of colonialism. It is argued that colonialism has many forms, and is not ended with the lowering of the metropolitan flag. It represents a conflict of systems, as worldwide forces impinge on local systems and seek to bring them into an essentially dependent relationship with metropolitan centres. The drive for independence is seen as the opposition to these forces, beginning with resistance to invasion, continuing through efforts to adapt the innovations and manage their impact, and going on to modern forms of political and economic nationalism. The book is based on field work and documentary research extending more than ten years; the emphasis on field evidence is unusual in a book of this nature.

Social security institutions have been among the most stable post-war social programs around the world. Increasingly, however, these institutions have undergone profound transformation from public risk-pooling systems to individual market-based designs. Why has this 'privatization' occurred? Why do some governments enact more radical pension privatizations than others? This book provides a theoretical and empirical account of when and to what degree governments privatize national old-age pension systems. Quantitative cross-national analysis simulates the degree of pension privatization around the world and tests competing hypotheses to explain reform outcomes. In addition, comparative analysis of pension reforms in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Uruguay evaluate a causal theory of institutional change. The central argument is that pension privatization emerges from political conflict, rather than from exogenous pressures. The argument is developed around three dimensions: the double b

Social security institutions have been among the most stable post-war social programs around the world. Increasingly, however, these institutions have undergone profound transformation from public risk-pooling systems to individual market-based designs. Why has this 'privatization' occurred? Why do some governments enact more radical pension privatizations than others? This book provides a theoretical and empirical account of when and to what degree governments privatize national old-age pension systems. Quantitative cross-national analysis simulates the degree of pension privatization around the world and tests competing hypotheses to explain reform outcomes. In addition, comparative analysis of pension reforms in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Uruguay evaluate a causal theory of institutional change. The central argument is that pension privatization emerges from political conflict, rather than from exogenous pressures. The argument is developed around three dimensions: the double b

Future of Internet of Bio-nano Things in Personalized Healthcare: Applications and Challenges explores the core principles of nanomaterials and the sensing paradigms essential for medical devices based on nano-sensors technology, examining the latest theoretical and practical developments in Internet of Bio-nano Things (IoBNT) for health applications. This book explores how IoBNT facilitates the detection and treatment of diseases within the human body through communication between an in-body network of nanodevices and an external control unit. Readers will discover the transformative benefits of IoBNT, which integrates information and communication technologies with medical and nano-bio sensor devices to enhance patient care. The book highlights advances in telemedicine, including highly functional electronic medical devices like implantable and wearable devices engineered through nanotechnology. It details real-time case studies on smart drug delivery, edge computing, and personalize

This reference work describes new models and systems that conduct efficient evaluations of student activity in Internet-based education programs. Contents include research from international experts a

This adorable Zog soft toy is based on the wonderfully funny self-titled story from the creators of The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. At 25cm in height, this orange Zog dragon makes the perfect cuddle buddy for storytime.

A brand new title in the Pip and Posy felt flap series for babies and toddlers. This bright, cheerful book with soft felt flaps and charming illustrations is the perfect gift for a little one celebrating a special birthday. Based on the bestselling picture books illustrated by Axel Scheffler, each spread includes rich artwork and a soft felt flap that is sturdy enough to be pulled open again (and again) to find what's hiding underneath.Pip and Posy are playing hide-and-seek at the party, but Posy can't find Pip anywhere. Can you help her find her friend?This sturdy board book is the perfect birthday gift for little hands that will love exploring (and tugging on the soft felt flaps!) while they look for Pip and Posy on every page. Other titles in the series include: In the Garden, At the Seaside, At Christmas and At the Park.

Help Stick Man run and wriggle his way back to his family in this super soft and fabulously interactive finger puppet book. One day he wakes early and goes for a jogStick Man, oh Stick Man,Beware of the dog!Help Stick Man run and wriggle his way back to his family in this super soft and fabulously interactive finger puppet book.One day he wakes early and goes for a jog.Stick Man, oh Stick Man,Beware of the dog!Story based on the bestselling Stick Man by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.With Julia's classic rhyme and a fun finger puppet based on Axel's fabulous illustrations, children will love helping Stick Man make his way back home.The perfect introduction to Julia and Axel's gorgeous storytelling world, this edition is great for little readersIf you liked this, check out the Zog and Superworm finger puppet books!

In this open access book, Carlos Montemayor illuminates the development of artificial intelligence (AI) by examining our drive to live a dignified life. He uses the notions of agency and attention to consider our pursuit of what is important. His method shows how the best way to guarantee value alignment between humans and potentially intelligent machines is through attention routines that satisfy similar needs.Setting out a theoretical framework for AI Montemayor acknowledges its legal, moral, and political implications and takes into account how epistemic agency differs from moral agency. Through his insightful comparisons between human and animal intelligence, Montemayor makes it clear why adopting a need-based attention approach justifies a humanitarian framework. This is an urgent, timely argument for developing AI technologies based on international human rights agreements.The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycolle

Confessions of an AI Brain, Second Edition invites readers to not only to understand how AI works, but to imagine, question, and actively shape the kind of AI-enabled future they want to build. By framing AI as a narrator, the book ventures inside the mind of MIRANDA, a fictional yet technically grounded AI brain that narrates its own coming-of-age in a world saturated with algorithms, data, and digital infrastructure. Blending clear explanations with an engaging first-person voice, the book demystifies how modern AI systems are built, trained, deployed, and governed--without assuming any mathematical or programming background. Along the way, MIRANDA reflects on topics such as learning from data, bias and fairness, neurosymbolic reasoning, agentic AI, foundation models, digital twins, and the infrastructure that makes intelligent services possible.Rather than treating AI as a black box or distant threat, the narrative frames it as a partner in a shared human-machine ecosystem, explorin

Introduce your kindergartner to 60 new words and support early reading with fun stories, games, and word activities such as Bingo, drawing, word mazes, and more! A picture dictionary, mini books, and removable word cards provide additional learning fun.The whole language learning activities develop vocabulary, word recognition and writing skills, and support your child in early reading skills. Engaging stories with an audio read-aloud option help children learn new words independently and support language learners.My First Big Book of Words workbook for kindergarten includes: An audio read-aloud option that reads the directions and stories to your child, modeling correct intonation, expression, and pronunciationFun stories, activities, and games to help children learn new wordsTracing and writing activities that reinforce spelling and fine motor skillsPlus, removable word cards, mini books, a picture dictionary, and stickersSample words are in theme-based units and include: My Family:

"I’ve always said that education without execution is just entertainment – and Lior illustrates this beautifully in his book. It is important to learn HOW to implement a successful Customer focus strategy and you need knowledge and process to do it well. Read this book and learn."--Tim Sanders, Author of "Love is The Killer App" "Lior brings original thought to the world of business, ideas drawn from reality, based on solid observations with the clear objective of helping people make money. Read this and profit."--Jerry Vass, Author of "Soft Selling in A Hard World" and President Vass Consulting "You might not like this book. It's not filled with easy shortcuts and feel-good platitudes. BUT, when you're ready to walk the walk and not just talk the talk) about treating your customers right and growing your business, Lior's book is a fine place to start down that rarely-followed, very profitable path."--Seth Godin Author, Purple Cow & Free Prize Inside "Lior Arussy is a true customer

Based upon the work of thought leaders in systems biology, Introduction to Network Thermodynamics and Relational Systems Theory discusses the use of a single general network approach to all the dynami

This book presents a new, pragmatic approach for understanding the problem domain and in utilizing stable analysis patterns for engineering and modeling stable software systems, components and framewo

A reference guide for applications of SEM using MplusStructural Equation Modeling: Applications Using Mplus is intended as both a teaching resource and a reference guide. Written in non-mathematical terms, this book focuses on the conceptual and practical aspects of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Basic concepts and examples of various SEM models are demonstrated along with recently developed advanced methods, such as mixture modeling and model-based power analysis and sample size estimate for SEM. The statistical modeling program, Mplus, is also featured and provides researchers with a flexible tool to analyze their data with an easy-to-use interface and graphical displays of data and analysis results.Key features:Presents a useful reference guide for applications of SEM whilst systematically demonstrating various advanced SEM models, such as multi-group and mixture models using Mplus.Discusses and demonstrates various SEM models using both cross-sectional and longitudinal data wi

Based on the author’s graduate-level course, this classroom-tested text covers the networks, operating systems, and services involved in digital communications. It helps students learn how to build a

This book provides a framework for evaluating big data and cloud computing based on how they evolve to fit users’ needs in developing countries in key areas, such as agriculture and education. The aut

This book provides a framework for evaluating big data and cloud computing based on how they evolve to fit users’ needs in developing countries in key areas, such as agriculture and education. The aut

This book highlights the most important aspects of mathematical modeling, computer simulation, and control of medium-scale power systems. It discusses a number of practical examples based on Sri Lanka

This book focuses on modelling issues and their implications for the correct design of reactive absorption–desorption systems. In addition, it addresses the case of carbon dioxide (CO2) post-combustio

This book addresses up-to-date urban health issues from a systems perspective and provides an appealing integrated urban development strategy based on a 10-year global interdisciplinary research progr

The objective of this book is to ascertain whether extending arms control to cover ASW weapons systems would measurably improve the calculated confidence that defense analysts place in the long-term v

This book reviews the Software Development and Engineering Principles involved in the Design of Embedded Computer Systems.A LAMP (Linux Apache MySQL PHP) design for a Web-Based Home Control / Security