Nature provides inspiration and guidance in the creation of techniques, applications and new technologies in the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Soft Computing. Soft Computing Methods for Practical Environment Solutions: Techniques and Studies presents various practical applications of Soft Computing techniques in real-world situations and problems, aiming to show the enormous potential of such techniques in solving all kinds of problems, and thus, providing the latest advances in these techniques in an extensive state-of-the-art and a vast theoretical study. Ideal for students studying AI and researchers familiarizing themselves with such techniques, so to offer recent and novel applications, helping expand and explore new areas of research.

SQL Clearly Explained, Third Edition, provides an in-depth introduction to using SQL (Structured Query Language). Readers will learn not only SQL syntax, but also how SQL works. Although the core of the SQL language remains relatively unchanged, the most recent release of the SQL standard (SQL:2008) includes two sets of extensions: 1) support for object-relational databases and 2) support for XML. As a result, the set of standard SQL commands has been greatly extended and this new edition takes that into account. This new edition includes updated tips and tricks to reflect the current concepts of SQL and XML standards; several new chapters covering object-relational and XML extensions; and an ancillary package that includes case studies, a syllabus, exams and more. This book is intended for working SQL programmers, database administrators, database designers, database analysts, and application system developers as well as those who are developing new features for database management systems who want to know about user needs. This would include anyone working with electronic content in the relational database context but also XML. Web services, etc.

DSP is utilized in just about every electronic system or device. DSP is taking one piece of information be it data, image, video, or audio, most likely compressing, sending, and filtering it to another location within your application to appear in the form of a document, picture or video.

Like Smith before it, this book is different to most on the market by following a popular applied approach to this tricky subject, and will be the perfect starting point for engineers who need to get into DSP from the ground floor. This book starts with the absolute basics of this integral process.

No experience is expected and with no prior knowledge taken for granted, a refresher chapter on complex numbers and trigonometry can be found at the very beginning of the material. Real-world worked examples, reference designs, and tools - including online applets that enable readers to visualize key principles - complete a package that will help engineers who that needs to learn anew or refresh their memory on this essential technology as they move to projects that require DSP familiarity.
Dismayed when presented with a mass of equations as an explanation of DSP? This is the book for you

Clear examples and a non-mathematical approach gets you up to speed with DSP

Includes an overview of the DSP functions and implementation used in typical DSP-intensive applications, including error correction, CDMA mobile communication, and radar systems

Affective Computing and Interaction: Psychological, Cognitive and Neuroscientific Perspectives examines the current state and the future prospects of affect in computing within the context of interactions. Uniting several aspects of affective interactions and topics in affective computing, this reference reviews basic foundations of emotions, furthers an understanding of the contribution of affect to our lives and concludes by revealing current trends and promising technologies for reducing the emotional gap between humans and machines, all within the context of interactions.

These proceedings presents the state-of-the-art in spoken dialog systems with applications in robotics, knowledge access and communication. It addresses specifically: 1. Dialog for interacting with smartphones; 2. Dialog for Open Domain knowledge access; 3. Dialog for robot interaction; 4. Mediated dialog (including crosslingual dialog involving Speech Translation); and,5. Dialog quality evaluation. These articles were presented at the IWSDS 2012 workshop.

"Light and Skin Interactions" immerses you in one of the most fascinating application areas of computer graphics: appearance simulation. The book first illuminates the fundamental biophysical processes that affect skin appearance, and reviews seminal related works aimed at applications in life and health sciences. It then examines four exemplary modeling approaches as well as definitive algorithms that can be used to generate realistic images depicting skin appearance. An accompanying companion site also includes complete code and data sources for the BioSpec model, which is considered to be the most comprehensive first principles model in the field. Despite its wide scope of simulation approaches, the book s content is presented in a concise manner, focusing on relevant practical aspects. What s more, these approaches can be successfully applied to a wide range of additional materials, such as eye tissue, hair, and water.

Allows you to understand and predict the qualitative and quantitative behavior of complex natural systems.A general background on tissue optics clarifies several confusing conceptual issues, saving you valuable time in the early stages of researchIncludes complete code and data sources for the BioSpec model
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The amount of new information is constantly increasing, faster than our ability to fully interpret and utilize it to improve human experiences. Addressing this asymmetry requires novel and revolutionary scientific methods and effective human and artificial intelligence interfaces. By lifting the concept of time from a positive real number to a 2D complex time (kime), this book uncovers a connection between artificial intelligence (AI), data science, and quantum mechanics. It proposes a new mathematical foundation for data science based on raising the 4D spacetime to a higher dimension where longitudinal data (e.g., time-series) are represented as manifolds (e.g., kime-surfaces). This new framework enables the development of innovative data science analytical methods for model-based and model-free scientific inference, derived computed phenotyping, and statistical forecasting. The book provides a transdisciplinary bridge and a pragmatic mechanism to translate quantum mechanical principles, such as particles and wavefunctions, into data science concepts, such as datum and inference-functions. It includes many open mathematical problems that still need to be solved, technological challenges that need to be tackled, and computational statistics algorithms that have to be fully developed and validated. Spacekime analytics provide mechanisms to effectively handle, process, and interpret large, heterogeneous, and continuously-tracked digital information from multiple sources. The authors propose computational methods, probability model-based techniques, and analytical strategies to estimate, approximate, or simulate the complex time phases (kime directions). This allows transforming time-varying data, such as time-series observations, into higher-dimensional manifolds representing complex-valued and kime-indexed surfaces (kime-surfaces). The book includes many illustrations of model-based and model-free spacekime analytic techniques applied to economic forecasting, identification of functional brain activation, and high-dimensional cohort phenotyping. Specific case-study examples include unsupervised clustering using the Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index (MCSI), model-based inference using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data, and model-free inference using the UK Biobank data archive. The material includes mathematical, inferential, computational, and philosophical topics such as Heisenberg uncertainty principle and alternative approaches to large sample theory, where a few spacetime observations can be amplified by a series of derived, estimated, or simulated kime-phases. The authors extend Newton-Leibniz calculus of integration and differentiation to the spacekime manifold and discuss possible solutions to some of the "problems of time". The coverage also includes 5D spacekime formulations of classical 4D spacetime mathematical equations describing natural laws of physics, as well as, statistical articulation of spacekime analytics in a Bayesian inference framework. The steady increase of the volume and complexity of observed and recorded digital information drives the urgent need to develop novel data analytical strategies. Spacekime analytics represents one new data-analytic approach, which provides a mechanism to understand compound phenomena that are observed as multiplex longitudinal processes and computationally tracked by proxy measures. This book may be of interest to academic scholars, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, artificial intelligence and machine learning engineers, biostatisticians, econometricians, and data analysts. Some of the material may also resonate with philosophers, futurists, astrophysicists, space industry technicians, biomedical researchers, health practitioners, and the general public.

This unique compendium discusses some core ideas for the development and implementation of machine learning from three different perspectives - the statistical perspective, the artificial neural network perspective and the deep learning methodology.The useful reference text represents a solid foundation in machine learning and should prepare readers to apply and understand machine learning algorithms as well as to invent new machine learning methods. It tells a story outgoing from a perceptron to deep learning highlighted with concrete examples, including exercises and answers for the students.Related Link(s)

The long-standing debate on public vs. private healthcare systems has forced an examination of these organisations, in particular whether these approaches play corresponding or conflicting roles in service to global citizens. Healthcare Management and Economics: Perspectives on Public and Private Administration discusses public and private healthcare organisations by gathering perspectives on the differences in service, management, delivery, and efficiency. Highlighting the impact of citizens and information technology in these healthcare processes, this book is a vital collection of research for practitioners, academics, and scholars in the healthcare management field.

Technologies for Supporting Reasoning Communities and Collaborative Decision Making: Cooperative Approaches includes chapters from diverse fields of enquiry including decision science, political science, argumentation, knowledge management, cognitive psychology and business intelligence. Each chapter illustrates a perspective on group reasoning that ultimately aims to lead to a greater understanding of reasoning communities and inform technological developments.

Education and research in the field of database technology can prove problematic without the proper resources and tools on the most relevant issues, trends, and advancements. Selected Readings on Database Technologies and Applications supplements course instruction and student research with quality chapters focused on key issues concerning the development, design, and analysis of databases. Containing over 30 chapters from authors across the globe, these selected readings in areas such as data warehousing, information retrieval, and knowledge discovery depict the most relevant and important areas of classroom discussion within the categories of Fundamental Concepts and Theories; Development and Design Methodologies; Tools and Technologies; Application and Utilization; Critical Issues; and Emerging Trends.

Computer science especially pattern recognition, signal processing and mathematical algorithms can offer important information about archaeological finds, information that is otherwise undetectable by the human senses and traditional archaeological approaches. Pattern Recognition and Signal Processing in Archaeometry: Mathematical and Computational Solutions for Archaeology offers state of the art research in computational pattern recognition and digital archaeometry. Computer science researchers in pattern recognition and machine intelligence will find innovative research methodologies combined to create novel and efficient computational systems, offering robust, exact, and reliable performance and results. Archaeologists, conservators, and historians will discover reliable automated methods for quickly reconstructing archaeological materials and benefit from the application of non-destructive, automated processing of archaeological finds.

A compilation of key chapters from the top MK computer animation books available today - in the areas of motion capture, facial features, solid spaces, fluids, gases, biology, point-based graphics, and Maya. The chapters provide CG Animators with an excellent sampling of essential techniques that every 3D artist needs to create stunning and versatile images. Animators will be able to master myriad modeling, rendering, and texturing procedures with advice from MK's best and brightest authors.

Divided into five parts (Introduction to Computer Animation and Technical Background, Motion Capture Techniques, Animating Substances, Alternate Methods, and Animating with MEL for MAYA), each one focusing on specific substances, tools, topics, and languages, this is a MUST-HAVE book for artists interested in proficiency with the top technology available today Whether you're a programmer developing new animation functionality or an animator trying to get the most out of your current animation software, Computer Animation Complete: will help you work more efficiently and achieve better results. For programmers, this book provides a solid theoretical orientation and extensive practical instruction information you can put to work in any development or customization project. For animators, it provides crystal-clear guidance on determining which of your concepts can be realized using commercially available products, which demand custom programming, and what development strategies are likely to bring you the greatest success.
Expert instruction from a variety of pace-setting computer graphics researchers.Provides in-depth coverage of established and emerging animation algorithms.For readers who lack a strong scientific background, introduces the necessary concepts from mathematics, biology, and physics.A variety of individual languages and substances are addressed, but addressed separately - enhancing your grasp of the field as a whole while providing you with the ability to identify and implement solutions by category.

The science of simulation and modeling (SM) is multifaceted and complex due to the numerous applications involved, particularly since SM applications range from nuclear reaction to supermarket queuing. Simulation and Modeling: Current Technologies and Applications offers insight into the computer science aspect of simulation and modeling while integrating the business practices of SM.Simulation and Modeling: Current Technologies and Applications includes current issues related to simulation, such as: Web-based simulation, virtual reality, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence. This book depicts different methods, views, theories, and applications of simulations in one volume.

Big data consists of data sets that are too large and complex for traditional data processing and data management applications. Therefore, to obtain the valuable information within the data, one must use a variety of innovative analytical methods, such as web analytics, machine learning, and network analytics. As the study of big data becomes more popular, there is an urgent demand for studies on high-level computational intelligence and computing services for analyzing this significant area of information science. Big Data Analytics for Sustainable Computing is a collection of innovative research that focuses on new computing and system development issues in emerging sustainable applications. Featuring coverage on a wide range of topics such as data filtering, knowledge engineering, and cognitive analytics, this publication is ideally designed for data scientists, IT specialists, computer science practitioners, computer engineers, academicians, professionals, and students seeking current research on emerging analytical techniques and data processing software.

As data mining is one of the most rapidly changing disciplines with new technologies and concepts continually under development, academicians, researchers, and professionals of the discipline need access to the most current information about the concepts, issues, trends, and technologies in this emerging field.""Social Implications of Data Mining and Information Privacy: Interdisciplinary Frameworks and Solutions"" serves as a critical source of information related to emerging issues and solutions in data mining and the influence of political and socioeconomic factors. An immense breakthrough, this essential reference provides concise coverage of emerging issues and technological solutions in data mining, and covers problems with applicable laws governing such issues.

Understanding Artificial Intelligence Provides students across majors with a clear and accessible overview of new artificial intelligence technologies and applications Artificial intelligence (AI) is broadly defined as computers programmed to simulate the cognitive functions of the human mind. In combination with the Neural Network (NN), Big Data (BD), and the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence has transformed everyday life: self-driving cars, delivery drones, digital assistants, facial recognition devices, autonomous vacuum cleaners, and mobile navigation apps all rely on AI to perform tasks. With the rise of artificial intelligence, the job market of the near future will be radically different many jobs will disappear, yet new jobs and opportunities will emerge. Understanding Artificial Intelligence: Fundamentals and Applications covers the fundamental concepts and key technologies of AI while exploring its impact on the future of work. Requiring no previous background in artificial intelligence, this easy-to-understand textbook addresses AI challenges in healthcare, finance, retail, manufacturing, agriculture, government, and smart city development. Each chapter includes simple computer laboratories to teach students how to develop artificial intelligence applications and integrate software and hardware for robotic development. In addition, this text: Focuses on artificial intelligence applications in different industries and sectors Traces the history of neural networks and explains popular neural network architectures Covers AI technologies, such as Machine Vision (MV), Natural Language Processing (NLP), and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Describes various artificial intelligence computational platforms, including Google Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) and Kneron Neural Processing Unit (NPU) Highlights the development of new artificial intelligence hardware and architectures Understanding Artificial Intelligence: Fundamentals and Applications is an excellent textbook for undergraduates in business, humanities, the arts, science, healthcare, engineering, and many other disciplines. It is also an invaluable guide for working professionals wanting to learn about the ways AI is changing their particular field.

We live in an increasingly interconnected and highly sophisticated society, where the Internet has led to tremendous improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of public services. The Handbook of Research on E-Services in the Public Sector: E-Government Strategies and Advancements illustrates how technology in e-government saves individuals significant amounts of time and money, while adding value to citizens' experiences with government, thus better serving their needs. This handbook provides comprehensive coverage of the issues facing managers, consultants, and practitioners in e-government and assists them in formulating ICT strategies for use within their field. These new strategies will enable them to implement collaborative policy initiatives within the private, public, and non-profit sectors to ultimately eliminate the global digital divide.

Video and image analysis of the human face provides a wealth of information about the individual, including age, behavior, health and profession. With research continually being conducted into multiple applications of this field, a comprehensive and detailed volume of the new advancements of face image analysis is in demand. ""Advances in Face Image Analysis: Techniques and Technologies"" fulfills this need, reviewing and surveying new forward-thinking research and development in face image analysis technologies. With more than 30 leading experts from around the world providing comprehensive coverage of various branches of face image analysis, this book is a valuable asset for students, researchers and practitioners engaged in the study, research and development of face image analysis techniques.