Save the Magaambya! The heroes return to the Magaambya magic academy to find the villain they’d vanquished on a distant planet had set another scheme in motion long ago. Students and teachers have been twisted by evil magic, and the heroes must engage in legendary tests to gain the means to free them. While a monstrous foe thrashes through the Magaambya, it’s up to the heroes to save the school from utter destruction! “Shadows of the Ancients” is a Pathfinder adventure for four 18th-level characters by Saif Ansari. This adventure concludes the Strength of Thousands Adventure Path, a six-part, monthly campaign in which the heroes rise from humble students to influential teachers, and ultimately decide the fate of the Magaambya. This adventure provides guidance to tell stories that are like fables or set in truly unusual adventure locations, and concludes with a look at powerful monsters, magic, and abilities that only the mightiest Magaambyan heroes can claim! Each monthly full-color softcover Pathfinder Adventure Path volume contains an in-depth adventure scenario, stats for several new monsters, and support articles meant to give Game Masters additional material to expand their campaign. Pathfinder Adventure Path volumes use the Open Game License and work with both the Pathfinder RPG and the world’s oldest fantasy RPG.

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.

Mobile user experience is a new frontier. Untethered from a keyboard and mouse, this rich design space is lush with opportunity to invent new and more human ways for people to interact with information. Invention requires casting off many anchors and conventions inherited from the last 50 years of computer science and traditional design and jumping head first into a new and unfamiliar design space.

Most books on linear systems for undergraduates cover discrete and continuous systems material together in a single volume. Such books also include topics in discrete and continuous filter design, and discrete and continuous state-space representations. However, with this magnitude of coverage, the student typically gets a little of both discrete and continuous linear systems but not enough of either. Minimal coverage of discrete linear systems material is acceptable provided that there is ample coverage of continuous linear systems. On the other hand, minimal coverage of continuous linear systems does no justice to either of the two areas. Under the best of circumstances, a student needs a solid background in both these subjects. Continuous linear systems and discrete linear systems are broad topics and each merit a single book devoted to the respective subject matter. The objective of this set of two volumes is to present the needed material for each at the undergraduate level, and present the required material using MATLAB (R) (The MathWorks Inc.).

Game design is a sibling discipline to software and Web design, but they're siblings that grew up in different houses. They have much more in common than their perceived distinction typically suggests, and user experience practitioners can realize enormous benefit by exploiting the solutions that games have found to the real problems of design. This book will show you how.

Feast on all of the delicious offerings found in the world of Skyrim in this beautifully crafted cookbook based on the award-winning game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Immerse yourself in the diverse cuisine of Skyrim with these recipes inspired by food found in the Old Kingdom and across Tamriel. With over seventy delicious recipes for fan-favorite recipes including Apple Cabbage Stew Sunlight Souffle, Sweetrolls, and more, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: The Official Cookbook will delight every hungry Dragonborn.

Volume 37 is concerned with the use and role of modelling in chemical kinetics and seeks to show the interplay of theory or simulation with experiment in a diversity of physico-chemical areas in which kinetics measurements provide significant physical insight. Areas of application covered within the volume include electro- and interfacial chemistry, physiology, biochemistry, solid state chemistry and chemical engineering.
A leading contributor to this general area has been Professor W. John Albery, FRS, to whom the contributors and editors dedicate this book.

This text reviews the issues involved in handling and processing digital documents. Examining the full range of a document s lifetime, the book covers acquisition, representation, security, pre-processing, layout analysis, understanding, analysis of single components, information extraction, filing, indexing and retrieval. Features: provides a list of acronyms and a glossary of technical terms; contains appendices covering key concepts in machine learning, and providing a case study on building an intelligent system for digital document and library management; discusses issues of security, and legal aspects of digital documents; examines core issues of document image analysis, and image processing techniques of particular relevance to digitized documents; reviews the resources available for natural language processing, in addition to techniques of linguistic analysis for content handling; investigates methods for extracting and retrieving data/information from a document."

'Rough Computing' explores the application of rough set theory, which has attracted attention because of the ability to enhance databases by allowing for the management of uncertainty, a comparative analysis between rough sets, and other intelligent data analysis.

Expert systems--problem-solving computer programs that contain the encoded knowledge of experts in a specific application area such as financial planning--represent a crucial turning point in how the typical organization utilizes its computer environment. This volume, written for practitioners in finance and accounting as well as MIS managers who wish to broaden their expertise, offers a comprehensive look at the use of expert systems in the everyday operations of finance and accounting. The author presents selected areas that are viable candidates for expert systems, demonstrating the ways in which organizations can successfully augment their present management information systems with expert systems. Actual programs using a typical PC expert system shell (EXSYS) further illustrate the relative ease with which expert systems for finance and accounting can be developed, implemented, and maintained.

Divided into four parts, the book begins by offering a framework for developing expert systems in finance and accounting. In the second part, Thierauf reviews the current state of development for programming languages in expert systems, the computer hardware necessary to run expert systems, and expert system shells useful in developing business expert systems. Part three presents an in-depth examination of the procedures used in developing expert systems, while the final part focuses on typical applications of expert systems in finance and accounting. Following a chapter on general business and nonbusiness applications, Thierauf addresses finance applications of expert systems and then uses the EXSYS program to develop demonstration and field prototypes and operational expert systems for standard finance applications. The final two chapters take the same approach to accounting applications. An appendix lists vendors of artificial intelligence/expert systems hardware and software.

Session 2 includes 110 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. As we all know, the ever growing technology in robotics and automation will help build a better human society. This session will provide a unique opportunity for the academic and industrial communities to address new challenges, share solutions, and discuss research directions for the future. Robotics research emphasizes intelligence and adaptability to cope with unstructured environments. Automation research emphasizes efficiency, productivity, quality, and reliability, focusing on systems that operate autonomously. The main focus of this session is on the autonomous acquisition of semantic information in intelligent robots and systems, as well as the use of semantic knowledge to guide further acquisition of information.

Over the last several years there has been a growing interest in developing computational methodologies for modeling and analyzing movements and behaviors of 'crowds' of people. This interest spans several scientific areas that includes Computer Vision, Computer Graphics, and Pedestrian Evacuation Dynamics. Despite the fact that these different scientific fields are trying to model the same physical entity (i.e. a crowd of people), research ideas have evolved independently. As a result each discipline has developed techniques and perspectives that are characteristically their own. The goal of this book is to provide the readers a comprehensive map towards the common goal of better analyzing and synthesizing the pedestrian movement in dense, heterogeneous crowds. The book is organized into different parts that consolidate various aspects of research towards this common goal, namely the modeling, simulation, and visual analysis of crowds. Through this book, readers will see the common ideas and vision as well as the different challenges and techniques, that will stimulate novel approaches to fully grasping "crowds."

This book examines modern artificial intelligence to display how it may be applied to computer games. It spans the divide that exists between the academic research community working with advanced artificial intelligence and the games programming community which must create and release new and interesting games.

This book features papers presented at IIH-MSP 2018, the 14th International Conference on Intelligent Information Hiding and Multimedia Signal Processing. The scope of IIH-MSP included information hiding and security, multimedia signal processing and networking, and bio-inspired multimedia technologies and systems. The book discusses subjects related to massive image/video compression and transmission for emerging networks, advances in speech and language processing, recent advances in information hiding and signal processing for audio and speech signals, intelligent distribution systems and applications, recent advances in security and privacy for multimodal network environments, multimedia signal processing, and machine learning. Presenting the latest research outcomes and findings, it is suitable for researchers and students who are interested in the corresponding fields. IIH-MSP 2018 was held in Sendai, Japan on 26-28 November 2018. It was hosted by Tohoku University and was co-sponsored by the Fujian University of Technology in China, the Taiwan Association for Web Intelligence Consortium in Taiwan, and the Swinburne University of Technology in Australia, as well as the Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Big Data Mining and Applications (Fujian University of Technology) and the Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen Graduate School in China.

This volume includes papers presented at IIH-MSP 2017, the 13th International Conference on Intelligent Information Hiding and Multimedia Signal Processing, held from 12 to 15 August 2017 in Matsue, Shimane, Japan. The conference addresses topics ranging from information hiding and security, and multimedia signal processing and networking, to bio-inspired multimedia technologies and systems. This volume of Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies focuses on subjects related to massive image/video compression and transmission for emerging networks, advances in speech and language processing, information hiding and signal processing for audio and speech signals, intelligent distribution systems and applications, recent advances in security and privacy for multimodal network environments, multimedia signal processing, and machine learning. Updated with the latest research outcomes and findings, the papers presented appeal to researchers and students who are interested in the corresponding fields.

Images support connections between biology, engineering, and material sciences resulting in a growing partnership among academia, laboratories, and industry. Scientists focus on biology-inspired research to understand how biological systems work, and then create systems and materials that would have efficiency and precision of living structures. The Art Science connection has become one of prominent trends exemplified by themes presented in journals, conferences, and books. Biologically-Inspired Computing for the Arts: Scientific Data through Graphics comprises a collection of authors individual approaches to the relationship between nature, science, and art created with the use of computers. Themes discussed in the book relate to the use of visual language in communication about biologically-inspired scientific data, visual literacy in science, and application of practitioner s approach. This comprehensive reference will assist programmers, scientists, engineers, computer science and science-oriented students in creating and effectively communicating their projects using science-related knowledge.

In today s world, most global companies face enormous challenges in dealing with an inflexible budget climate when complex changes are required. "Secrets to a Successful Commercial Software Implementation" will help guide business leaders to gain understanding of how commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS) software like SAP, Seibel, and PeopleSoft should be applied in order to ultimately achieve significant cost savings.

Project management professional Nick Berg utilizes his strong background in domestic and international Systems Applications and Products to teach others the potential benefits of implementing COTS products such as faster deployment time, enhanced quality and reliability, reduced development risk, provided periodic upgrades and improvements, and an already established support system. He introduces a unique process for COTS development, presents best-practice processes for COTS projects, and defines the architecture procedures within the COTS environment. Finally, he walks through each project phase of a COTS-based project by introducing the objectives, road map, roles, activities, artifacts, and milestone of the phase.

The cultural impact on an organization facing this decision is profound, but if implemented with forethought, planning, and dedicated guidance and execution, the benefits to an organization will be long reaching and significant.

Amid the restless evil of Sanctuary, only the Horadrim-an ancient order of heroes and scholars-wield the knowledge needed to light the way for humanity. In the Book of Lorath, join Lorath Nahr, one of the last of the dwindling Horadrim, on a journey through Sanctuary's most powerful relics and the stories behind them. It is Lorath's hope that this volume will preserve his knowledge for all time . . . and pass it down to those who will inherit the fight against the Prime Evils. Direct from the Diablo (R) development team and award-winning author Matthew J. Kirby, this immersive, must-have compendium with all-new illustrations showcases the artifacts that have often been-and might yet be-the key to tipping the fate of the world.

The human capacity to abstract complex systems and phenomena into simplified models has played a critical role in the rapid evolution of our modern industrial processes and scienti c research. As a science and an art, Modelling and Simulation have been one of the core enablers of this remarkable human trace, and have become a topic of great importance for researchers and practitioners.

This book was created to compile some of the most recent concepts, advances, challenges and ideas associated with Intelligent Modelling and Simulation frameworks, tools and applications. The rst chapter discusses the important aspects of a human interaction and the correct interpretation of results during simulations. The second chapter gets to the heart of the analysis of entrepreneurship by means of agent-based modelling and simulations.

The following three chapters bring together the central theme of simulation frameworks, rst describing an agent-based simulation framework, then a simulator for electrical machines, and nally an airborne network emulation environment. The two subsequent chapters discuss power distribution networks from different points of view-anticipation and optimization of multi-echelon inventory policy. After that, the book includes also a group of chapters discussing the mathematical modelling supported by veri cation simulations, and a set of chapters with models synthesised by means of arti cial intelligence tools and complex automata framework. Lastly, the book includes a chapter introducing the use of graph-grammar model for generation of threedimensional computational meshes and a chapter focused on the experimental and computational results regarding simulation of aero engine vortexes. Authors believe, that this book is a valuable reference to researchers and practitioners in the eld, as well as an inspiration to those interested in the area of Intelligent Modelling and Simulation.

This volume includes papers presented at IIH-MSP 2017, the 13th International Conference on Intelligent Information Hiding and Multimedia Signal Processing, held on 12-15 August 2017 in Matsue, Shimane, Japan. The conference covered topics ranging from information hiding and security, and multimedia signal processing and networking, to bio-inspired multimedia technologies and systems. This volume focuses on subjects related to multimedia security and applications, wearable computing, Internet of Things (IoT) privacy and information security, biomedical system design and applications, emerging techniques and applications, soft computing and applications, applications of image encoding and rendering, and information hiding and its criteria. Updated with the latest research outcomes and findings, the papers presented appeal to researchers and students in the corresponding fields.

KES International (KES) is a worldwide organisation that provides a professional community and association for researchers, originally in the discipline of Knowledge Based and Intelligent Engineering Systems, but now extending into other related areas. Through this, KES provides its members with opportunities for publication and beneficial interaction. The focus of KES is research and technology transfer in the area of Intelligent S- tems, i.e. computer-based software systems that operate in a manner analogous to the human brain, in order to perform advanced tasks. Recently KES has started to extend its area of interest to encompass the contribution that intelligent systems can make to sustainability and renewable energy, and also the knowledge transfer, innovation and enterprise agenda. Involving several thousand researchers, managers and engineers drawn from u- versities and companies world-wide, KES is in an excellent position to facilitate - ternational research co-operation and generate synergy in the area of artificial intel- gence applied to real-world 'Smart' systems and the underlying related theory. The KES annual conference covers a broad spectrum of intelligent systems topics and attracts several hundred delegates from a range of countries round the world. KES also organises symposia on specific technical topics, for example, Agent and Multi Agent Systems, Intelligent Decision Technologies, Intelligent Interactive M- timedia Systems and Services, Sustainability in Energy and Buildings and Innovations through Knowledge Transfer. KES is responsible for two peer-reviewed journals, the International Journal of Knowledge based and Intelligent Engineering Systems, and Intelligent Decision Technologies: an International Journal.

Organisationen im Wandel der Markte: A.-W. Scheer, R. Borowsky, U. Markus: Neue Markte, neue Medien, neue Methoden - Roadmap zur agilen Organisation; B. Anderer, K. Knue: Sichere Transaktionen in Electronic Banking und Electronic Commerce; D. Budaus: Public Private Partnership als innovative Organisationsform; U. Dalkmann, F. Karbenn: Energieabrechnug im Wandel - Der Weg zum Kunden uber leistungsfahigen 'Customer Service'; E. Frese: Von der Planwirtschaft zur Marktwirtschaft - auch in der Unternehmung?; P. Neef, M. Moeller: Erfolg im Netz; E. Rauch: Bankenfusionen.- Methoden der Organisationsentwicklung: P. Hintermann, W. Hoffmann, C.-P. Koch: Prozessorientiertes Informationssystem als Voraussetzung fur eine erfolgreiche Unternehmensintegration; M. Lapp: Intranet - Internes Internet; R. Minz: IT als Managementaufgabe begreifen; A. Muller: Vom Geschaftsprozessdesign zum prozessorientierten Managementsystem; S. Neumann, G. Fenk, B. Fluegge, J.T. Finerty: Knowledge Management Systems - optimaler Einsatz des 'Produktionsfaktors Wissen'; M. Pastowsky, F. Hausen-Mabilon: Gestaltung von Kommunikationsprozessen im Entwicklungsbereich: Rahmenbedingungen, Vorgehen und Beispiele; A. Poscay: Mit neuen Medien zu einem effizienten Beratungsnetzwerk.- M. Reiss Wandel im Management des Wandels; J. Hagemeyer, R. Rolles, Y. Schmidt, J. Bachmann, A. Haas: Dynamische Prozesse durch workflow-zentrierte Geschaftsprozessoptimierung: Herausforderungen in der Praxis; J. Schweitzer, H. Baltes, K. Merschjahn, G. Schneider: Professionelle Telekooperation fur das Teammanagement in virtuellen Unternehmen; H.-G. Servatius: Vom Reengineering zum Wissensmanagement.- Anforderungen an das Controlling: J. Fiedler, G. Barzel, K. Vernau: Kosten- und Leistungsrechnung als Steuerungsinstrument - flachendeckende und zugige Einfuhrung in einer deutschen Grossstadt; H. Frei: Mit Qualitatscontrolling auf dem Weg zum European Quality Award (EQA); O. Froehling: Controlling goes Multimedia; P. Hirschmann: Prozesskostenrechnerische Bewertung von Dienstleistungen zur Verbesserung der innerbetrieblichen Leistungsverrechnung; P. Horvath: Mit Balanced Scorecard Strategien erfolgreich umsetzen; R. Mahnkopf: Neues Kommunales Rechnungswesen - eine neue Methode fur ein anspruchsvolles Verwaltungsinformationssystem; R. Moser: Neue Perspektiven durch die Istkostenrechnung; H. Neukam: Neues Controlling durch integrierte Standardsoftware; K. Vikas: Trends und neue Entwicklungen im Controlling; A. Hoffmann, K. Wolf: Wertorientiertes Management auch fur Informatik Investitionen?; J. Zinkernagel: Prozesscontrolling im Entwicklungsprozess eines Automobilzulieferers; W. Kraemer, F. Milius, V. Zimmermann: Elektronische Bildungsmarkte fur ein integriertes Wissens- und Qualitatsmanagement.