This book integrates current advances in biology, economics of information and linguistics research through applications using agent-based modeling and social network analysis to develop scenarios of communication and language emergence in the social aspects of biological communications. The book presents a model of communication emergence that can be applied both to human and non-human living organism networks. The model is based on economic concepts and individual behavior fundamental for the study of trust and reputation networks in social science, particularly in economics; it is also based on the theory of the emergence of norms and historical path dependence that has been influential in institutional economics. Also included are mathematical models and code for agent-based models to explore various scenarios of language evolution, as well as a computer application that explores language and communication in biological versus social organisms, and the emergence of various meanings and grammars in human networks. Emergence of Communication in Socio-Biological Networks offers both a completely novel approach to communication emergence and language evolution and provides a path for the reader to explore various scenarios of language and communication that are not constrained to the human networks alone. By illustrating how computational social science and the complex systems approach can incorporate multiple disciplines and offer an integrated theory-model approach to the evolution of language, the book will be of interest to researchers working with computational linguistics, mathematical linguistics, and complex systems.

The papers in this volume represent the most timely and advanced contributions to the 2014 Joint Applied Statistics Symposium of the International Chinese Statistical Association (ICSA) and the Korean International Statistical Society (KISS), held in Portland, Oregon. The contributions cover new developments in statistical modeling and clinical research: including model development, model checking, and innovative clinical trial design and analysis. Each paper was peer-reviewed by at least two referees and also by an editor. The conference was attended by over 400 participants from academia, industry, and government agencies around the world, including from North America, Asia, and Europe. It offered 3 keynote speeches, 7 short courses, 76 parallel scientific sessions, student paper sessions, and social events.

This book provides the state of the art in the simulation and gaming study field by systematically collecting excellent papers presented at the 46th International Simulation and Gaming Association annual conference held in Kyoto 17-25 July 2015. Simulation and gaming has been used in a wide variety of areas ranging from early childhood education and school-age children, universities, and professional education, to policy exploration and social problem solving. Moreover, it now been drastically changing its features in the Internet Of Things (IOT) society while taking over a wide variety of aliases, such as serious games and gamification. Most of the papers on which this book's chapters are based were written by academic researchers, both up-and-coming and well known. In addition, simulation and gaming is a translational system science going from theory to clinical cross-disciplinary topics. With this book, therefore, graduate students and higher-level researchers, educators, and practitioners can become familiar with the state-of-the-art academic research on simulation and gaming in the network society of the twenty-first century.

Increasing performance demands in integrated circuits, together with limited energy budgets, force IC designers to find new ways of saving power. One innovative way is the presented adaptive voltage scaling scheme, which tunes the supply voltage according to the present process, voltage and temperature variations as well as aging. The voltage is adapted "on the fly" by means of in-situ delay monitors to exploit unused timing margin, produced by state-of-the-art worst-case designs. This book discusses the design of the enhanced in-situ delay monitors and the implementation of the complete control-loop comprising the monitors, a control-logic and an on-chip voltage regulator. An analytical Markov-based model of the control-loop is derived to analyze its robustness and stability. Variation-Aware Adaptive Voltage Scaling for Digital CMOS Circuits provides an in-depth assessment of the proposed voltage scaling scheme when applied to an arithmetic and an image processing circuit. This book is written for engineers interested in adaptive techniques for low-power CMOS circuits.

The "Handbook of Simulation Optimization" presents an overview of the state of the art of simulation optimization, providing a survey of the most well-established approaches for optimizing stochastic simulation models and a sampling of recent research advances in theory and methodology. Leading contributors cover such topics as discrete optimization via simulation, ranking and selection, efficient simulation budget allocation, random search methods, response surface methodology, stochastic gradient estimation, stochastic approximation, sample average approximation, stochastic constraints, variance reduction techniques, model-based stochastic search methods and Markov decision processes.

This single volume should serve as a reference for those already in the field and as a means for those new to the field for understanding and applying the main approaches. The intended audience includes researchers, practitioners and graduate students in the business/engineering fields of operations research, management science, operations management and stochastic control, as well as in economics/finance and computer science.

This book constitutes the refereed post-proceedings of the 7th IFIP WG 5.5 International Precision Assembly Seminar, IPAS 2014, held in Chamonix, France, in February 2014. The 20 revised full papers were carefully reviewed and selected from numerous submissions. The papers cover the following topics: micro-assembly processes and systems ranging from desktop factory automation and packaging of MEMS to self-assembly processes and platforms; handling and manipulation, including flexible gripper systems, fixturing and high precision actuators; tolerance management and error-compensation techniques applied at different scales of precision assembly; metrology and quality control; intelligent assembly control; process selection, modelling and planning.

The book presents a snapshot of the state-of-art in the field of turbulence modeling and covers the latest developments concerning direct numerical simulations, large eddy simulations, compressible turbulence, coherent structures, two-phase flow simulation and other related topics. It provides readers with a comprehensive review of both theory and applications, describing in detail the authors own experimental results. The book is based on the proceedings of the third Turbulence and Interactions Conference (TI 2012), which was held on June 11-14 in La Saline-les-Bains, La Reunion, France and includes both keynote lectures and outstanding contributed papers presented at the conference. This multifaceted collection, which reflects the conferences emphasis on the interplay of theory, experiments and computing in the process of understanding and predicting the physics of complex flows and solving related engineering problems, offers a practice-oriented guide for students, researchers and professionals in the field of computational fluid dynamics, turbulence modeling and related areas.

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This thesis provides a systematic and integral answer to an open problem concerning the universality of dynamic fuzzy controllers. It presents a number of novel ideas and approaches to various issues including universal function approximation, universal fuzzy models, universal fuzzy stabilization controllers, and universal fuzzy integral sliding mode controllers. The proposed control design criteria can be conveniently verified using the MATLAB toolbox. Moreover, the thesis provides a new, easy-to-use form of fuzzy variable structure control. Emphasis is given to the point that, in the context of deterministic/stochastic systems in general, the authors are in fact discussing non-affine nonlinear systems using a class of generalized T-S fuzzy models, which offer considerable potential in a wide range of applications.

This book presents comprehensive experimental, numerical, and theoretical research on projectile impact analysis, such as the rigid projectile penetration/perforation of concrete and metallic targets, and shaped-charge-formed projectile and jet penetrations. Concrete and metal materials are widely used in protective structures in both civil engineering and armored vehicles, such as military fortifications, underground shelters, infantry fighting vehicles, and tanks, which are designed to withstand intentional or accidental impact loadings caused by projectiles and fragments, and the responses of these targets under projectile impact have been a topic of discussion for several decades. Written for researchers and engineers working in the fields of protective structures and high-speed penetration mechanics, the book is also a valuable reference for senior undergraduate and postgraduate students majoring in defense engineering, terminal ballistics and other related fields.

The "active image" refers to the operative nature of images, thus capturing the vast array of "actions" that images perform. This volume features essays that present a new approach to image theory. It explores the many ways images become active in architecture and engineering design processes and how, in the age of computer-based modeling, images play an indispensable role. The contributors examine different types of images, be they pictures, sketches, renderings, maps, plans, and photographs; be they analog or digital, planar or three-dimensional, ephemeral, realistic or imaginary. Their essays investigate how images serve as means of representing, as tools for thinking and reasoning, as ways of imagining the inexistent, as means of communicating and conveying information and how images may also perform functions and have an agency in their own. The essays discuss the role of images from the perspective of philosophy, theory and history of architecture, history of science, media theory, cognitive sciences, design studies, and visual studies, offering a multidisciplinary approach to imagery and showing the various methodologies and interpretations in current research. In addition, they offer valuable insight to better understand how images operate and function in the arts and sciences in general.

The first volume of the proceedings of the 7th conference on "Finite Volumes for Complex Applications" (Berlin, June 2014) covers topics that include convergence and stability analysis, as well as investigations of these methods from the point of view of compatibility with physical principles. It collects together the focused invited papers, as well as the reviewed contributions from internationally leading researchers in the field of analysis of finite volume and related methods. Altogether, a rather comprehensive overview is given of the state of the art in the field.

The finite volume method in its various forms is a space discretization technique for partial differential equations based on the fundamental physical principle of conservation. Recent decades have brought significant success in the theoretical understanding of the method. Many finite volume methods preserve further qualitative or asymptotic properties, including maximum principles, dissipativity, monotone decay of free energy, and asymptotic stability. Due to these properties, finite volume methods belong to the wider class of compatible discretization methods, which preserve qualitative properties of continuous problems at the discrete level. This structural approach to the discretization of partial differential equations becomes particularly important for multiphysics and multiscale applications.

Researchers, PhD and masters level students in numerical analysis, scientific computing and related fields such as partial differential equations will find this volume useful, as will engineers working in numerical modeling and simulations."

Computer programs that simulate complex processes in the real world can provide a quantitative tool for determining how much debt can be added safely to a company's capital structure. The increasing number of bankruptcies and defaults in today's international business arena result from debt overload and point to major shortcomings in the conventional financial evaluation process. In this book, Roy L. Nersesian describes why current methods of risk management fail and how computer simulation can be employed to determine the safe level of debt more accurately. Because the decision to add debt to an organization requires favorable, and essentially independent, decisions from both the borrower and lender, it is necessary to quantify both perspectives. Through actual examples readers will learn how to do this and to translate an actual business situation into a simulation model or program.

Current evaluation systems, according to Nersesian, fail to incorporate the cyclical nature of business activity. They result all too often in an overly optimistic projection of cash flow. Simulation techniques are better able to incorporate the transience of good times and put quantitative analysis of risk on par with quantitative analysis of reward. Simulation techniques also reduce the role of speculative, and highly subjective, judgment. For example, decisionmakers who are not familiar personally with a particular business area, assign more risk to that area than those who are. A quantified risk management system enables executives to rank projects by the degree of risk much as they currently rank them by degree of profitability. The book presents the concept of simulation in terms that can be understood by generalists in corporations and financial institutions. At the same time, it provides computer programmers with an understanding of risk management principles. It will provide a valuable resource for: financial executives, planners and strategists in corporate and governmental organizations; bank lending officers; and computer programmers working with these organizations.

This book demonstrates the power of neural networks in learning complex behavior from the underlying financial time series data. The results presented also show how neural networks can successfully be applied to volatility modeling, option pricing, and value-at-risk modeling. These features mean that they can be applied to market-risk problems to overcome classic problems associated with statistical models.

Exploring complex and intelligent analytical and mathematical methods, this book examines how different approaches can be used to optimize program management in the construction industry. It presents an in-depth study of the different program management methods, ranging from simple decision-making techniques and statistics analysis to the more complex linear programming and demonstrates how knowledge-base systems and genetic algorithms can be used to optimize resources and meet time, budget and quality criteria. It addresses topics including decision-making principles, planning and scheduling, mathematical forecasting models, optimization techniques programming and artificial intelligence techniques. Providing a valuable resource for anyone managing multiple projects in the construction industry, this book is intended for civil and construction engineering students, project managers, construction managers and senior engineers.

This book offers a comprehensive introduction to intelligent control system design, using MATLAB simulation to verify typical intelligent controller designs. It also uses real-world case studies that present the results of intelligent controller implementations to illustrate the successful application of the theory. Addressing the need for systematic design approaches to intelligent control system design using neural network and fuzzy-based techniques, the book introduces the concrete design method and MATLAB simulation of intelligent control strategies; offers a catalog of implementable intelligent control design methods for engineering applications; provides advanced intelligent controller design methods and their stability analysis methods; and presents a sample simulation and Matlab program for each intelligent control algorithm. The main topics addressed are expert control, fuzzy logic control, adaptive fuzzy control, neural network control, adaptive neural control and intelligent optimization algorithms, providing several engineering application examples for each method.

Developments in metaheuristics continue to advance computation beyond its traditional methods. With groundwork built on multidisciplinary research findings; metaheuristics, algorithms, and optimization approaches uses memory manipulations in order to take full advantage of strategic level problem solving.Trends in Developing Metaheuristics, Algorithms, and Optimization Approaches provides insight on the latest advances and analysis of technologies in metaheuristics computing. Offering widespread coverage on topics such as genetic algorithms, differential evolution, and ant colony optimization, this book aims to be a forum researchers, practitioners, and students who wish to learn and apply metaheuristic computing.

This book brings together a rich selection of studies in mathematical modeling and computational intelligence, with application in several fields of engineering, like automation, biomedical, chemical, civil, electrical, electronic, geophysical and mechanical engineering, on a multidisciplinary approach. Authors from five countries and 16 different research centers contribute with their expertise in both the fundamentals and real problems applications based upon their strong background on modeling and computational intelligence. The reader will find a wide variety of applications, mathematical and computational tools and original results, all presented with rigorous mathematical procedures. This work is intended for use in graduate courses of engineering, applied mathematics and applied computation where tools as mathematical and computational modeling, numerical methods and computational intelligence are applied to the solution of real problems.

This book is a practical, step-by-step introduction to microsimulation in demography. It shows how to use Modgen, a powerful and free microsimulation platform built by Statistics Canada. The authors' hands-on explanation of model development will help readers make their own. The book teaches how to create and run a simple cohort model with a single fixed-rate event, and builds upon this concept. It introduces how to develop both a single state life table as well as a multiple increment-decrement life table using the tools provided by Modgen. The authors illustrate how to easily upgrade an existing model by adding new modules and new dimensions as determinants of a risk already modeled. The integration of a fertility module and a base population allows the user to bring new actors into the simulation and transform a cohort-based model into a population-based one. The final addition of an international migration module allows the user to accomplish fully open, multi-regional projections. This accessible introduction will be of interest to researchers and students in population studies and other social sciences. It will also appeal to anyone interested in the computational modeling of population dynamics.

Stokes discusses--and illustrates with output from actual problems--a number of applied econometric techniques, including OLS specification tests, recursive residual analysis, limited dependent variable models, error component models, and others. His book is clearly written and copiously illustrated with equations, with follow-up analysis to show how models are built and some of their limitations. His B34S DEGREESDTM software is available and allows readers to do further research with a large number of datasets distributed with the program. A necessary resource for applied econometrics researchers in economics, finance, and in health, energy, and labor economics.

This work illustrates the use of model specification and diagnostic tests applied to a variety of econometric modeling techniques. For each technique discussed the basic mathematical models are outlined. A sample problem is discussed and estimated using the B34S DEGREESDTM Data Analysis System. The output of the program is displayed in the text and discussed. Where appropriate, output from the RATS DEGREESDTM software is displayed. Follow-up models are estimated and discussed. The examples selected are taken from a variety of sources and reflect actual applied research. Complete data are given in the text to enable the reader to use these problems with other programs and techniques. It is the author's experience that applied econometric techniques are best learned by running actual problems. Since most users experiment with a limited number of techniques, their experience is limited. This book discusses a broad range of techniques and shows how they are interrelated. DEGREESL DEGREESL The techniques discussed include the following: simple, one-equation OLS and GLS models with continuous variables on the left-hand side, which are tested with recursive residual and BLUS residual techniques. Another class of models includes restrictions on the left-hand side variables. Models studied and illustrated with data include probit, logit, multinomial logit, and ordered probit models. Other techniques discussed and illustrated include two-stage least squares, limited information maximum likelihood, three-stage least squares, iterative three-stage least squares, error component models and Markov probability models, which are illustrated with a model of OPEC production dynamics.

ARIMA and transfer function models are shown to be generalizations of the single-equation model, while VAR and VARMA models are shown to be a time series generalization of three-stage least squares and full information maximum likelihood models. VAR models are viewed in the frequency domain for added insight, and extensive nonlinearity tests are developed and applied. More specialized techniques include state space models, optimal control analysis, nonlinear analysis, and the QR approach to computation. An important feature of the book is the emphasis on nonlinear model building. The Hinich nonlinear testing approach is discussed and integrated into the OLS, times series, and nonlinear estimation procedures. The MARS and PISPLINE methods of analysis are illustrated with models that failed linearity tests when estimated with linear methods. The purpose of the monograph is to illustrate the above techniques, using actual research data. To facilitate the calculations, the B34S DEGREESDTM Data Analysis System was developed. Sample output for all procedures discussed in the text has been provided so that the availability of the B34S DEGREESDTM program is DEGREESInot DEGREESR required in order to benefit from this book. While the book is self-contained, interested readers can obtain the B34S DEGREESDTM Data Analysis program and do further research with the datasets discussed in the book which are supplied with the software.

This book focuses on the development of 3D design and implementation methodologies for Tree-based FPGA architecture. It also stresses the needs for new and augmented 3D CAD tools to support designs such as, the design for 3D, to manufacture high performance 3D integrated circuits and reconfigurable FPGA-based systems. This book was written as a text that covers the foundations of 3D integrated system design and FPGA architecture design. It was written for the use in an elective or core course at the graduate level in field of Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Doctoral Research programs. No previous background on 3D integration is required, nevertheless fundamental understanding of 2D CMOS VLSI design is required. It is assumed that reader has taken the core curriculum in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering, with courses like CMOS VLSI design, Digital System Design and Microelectronics Circuits being the most important. It is accessible for self-study by both senior students and professionals alike.

This book addresses recent technological progress that has led to an increased complexity in many natural and artificial systems. The resulting complexity research due to the emergence of new properties and spatio-temporal interactions among a large number of system elements - and between the system and its environment - is the primary focus of this text. This volume is divided into three parts: Part one focuses on societal and ecological systems, Part two deals with approaches for understanding, modeling, predicting and mastering socio-technical systems, and Part three includes real-life examples. Each chapter has its own special features; it is a self-contained contribution of distinguished experts working on different fields of science and technology relevant to the study of complex systems. Advances in Complex Systems of Contemporary Reality: Societal, Environmental and Engineered Systems will provide postgraduate students, researchers and managers with qualitative and quantitative methods for handling the many features of complex contemporary reality.

Session 1 includes 109 papers selected from 2011 3rd International Asia Conference on Informatics in Control, Automation and Robotics (CAR 2011), held on December 24-25, 2011, Shenzhen, China. This session will act as an international forum for researchers and practitioners interested in the advances in and applications of Intelligent Control Systems. It is an opportunity to present and observe the latest research, results, and ideas in these areas. Intelligent control is a rapidly developing, complex, and challenging field of increasing practical importance and still greater potential. Its applications have a solid core in robotics and mechatronics but branch out into areas as diverse as process control, automotive industry, medical equipment, renewable energy and air conditioning. So, this session will aim to strengthen relationships between industry, research laboratories and universities. All papers published in session 1 will be peer evaluated by at least two conference reviewers. Acceptance will be based primarily on originality and contribution.

The contributions gathered here provide an overview of current research projects and selected software products of the Fraunhofer Institute for Algorithms and Scientific Computing SCAI. They show the wide range of challenges that scientific computing currently faces, the solutions it offers, and its important role in developing applications for industry. Given the exciting field of applied collaborative research and development it discusses, the book will appeal to scientists, practitioners, and students alike. The Fraunhofer Institute for Algorithms and Scientific Computing SCAI combines excellent research and application-oriented development to provide added value for our partners. SCAI develops numerical techniques, parallel algorithms and specialized software tools to support and optimize industrial simulations. Moreover, it implements custom software solutions for production and logistics, and offers calculations on high-performance computers. Its services and products are based on state-of-the-art methods from applied mathematics and information technology.

The book describes recent research results in the areas of modelling, creation, management and presentation of interactive 3D multimedia content. The book describes the current state of the art in the field and identifies the most important research and design issues. Consecutive chapters address these issues. These are: database modelling of 3D content, security in 3D environments, describing interactivity of content, searching content, visualization of search results, modelling mixed reality content, and efficient creation of interactive 3D content. Each chapter is illustrated with example applications based on the proposed approach. The final chapter discusses some important ethical issues related to the widespread use of virtual environments in everyday life. The book provides ready to use solutions for many important problems related to the creation of interactive 3D multimedia applications and will be a primary reading for researchers and developers working in this domain.

Value Chain Marketing (VCM) is a promising strategy to overcome immediate customers' innovation resistance. By pursuing VCM, material suppliers enlarge their target group beyond their immediate customers and address their downstream customers as well. Treading on relatively unexplored grounds, this book explores the relevance of VCM and comprehends its process; identifies the critical factors for suppliers' marketing success, and compares the performance of VCM trials, using a multi-method design linking case study research and computational modeling.