The aim of this book is to present fundamentals of algebraic specifications with respect to the following three aspects: fundamentals in the sense of a carefully motivated introduction to algebraic specifications, which is easy to understand for computer scientists and mathematicians; fundamentals in the sense of mathematical theories which are the basis for precise definitions, constructions, results, and correctness proofs; and fundamentals in the sense of concepts, which are introduced on a conceptual level and formalized in mathematical terms. The book is equally suitableas a text book for graduate courses and as a reference for researchers and system developers.

Since the early seventies concepts of specification have become central in the whole area of computer science. Especially algebraic specification techniques for abstract data types and software systems have gained considerable importance in recent years. They have not only played a central role in the theory of data type specification, but meanwhile have had a remarkable influence on programming language design, system architectures, arid software tools and environments. The fundamentals of algebraic specification lay a basis for teaching, research, and development in all those fields of computer science where algebraic techniques are the subject or are used with advantage on a conceptual level. Such a basis, however, we do not regard to be a synopsis of all the different approaches and achievements but rather a consistently developed theory. Such a theory should mainly emphasize elaboration of basic concepts from one point of view and, in a rigorous way, reach the state of the art in the field. We understand fundamentals in this context as: 1. Fundamentals in the sense of a carefully motivated introduction to algebraic specification, which is understandable for computer scientists and mathematicians. 2. Fundamentals in the sense of mathematical theories which are the basis for precise definitions, constructions, results, and correctness proofs. 3. Fundamentals in the sense of concepts from computer science, which are introduced on a conceptual level and formalized in mathematical terms.

The 2008 TUB-SJTU joint workshop on Autonomous Systems Self-Organization, Management, and Control was held on October 6, 2008 at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. The workshop, sponsored by Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Technical University of Berlin brought together scientists and researchers from both universities to present and discuss the latest progress on autonomous systems and its applications in diverse areas. Autonomous systems are designed to integrate machines, computing, sensing, and software to create intelligent systems capable of interacting with the complexities of the real world. Autonomous systems represent the physical embodiment of machine intelligence.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to theory and modeling for autonomous systems; organization of autonomous systems; learning and perception; complex systems; multi-agent systems; robotics and control; applications of autonomous systems.

The 2008 TUB-SJTU joint workshop on Autonomous Systems Self-Organization, Management, and Control was held on October 6, 2008 at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. The workshop, sponsored by Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Technical University of Berlin brought together scientists and researchers from both universities to present and discuss the latest progress on autonomous systems and its applications in diverse areas. Autonomous systems are designed to integrate machines, computing, sensing, and software to create intelligent systems capable of interacting with the complexities of the real world. Autonomous systems represent the physical embodiment of machine intelligence.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to theory and modeling for autonomous systems; organization of autonomous systems; learning and perception; complex systems; multi-agent systems; robotics and control; applications of autonomous systems.

Since the early seventies concepts of specification have become central in the whole area of computer science. Especially algebraic specification techniques for abstract data types and software systems have gained considerable importance in recent years. They have not only played a central role in the theory of data type specification, but meanwhile have had a remarkable influence on programming language design, system architectures, arid software tools and environments. The fundamentals of algebraic specification lay a basis for teaching, research, and development in all those fields of computer science where algebraic techniques are the subject or are used with advantage on a conceptual level. Such a basis, however, we do not regard to be a synopsis of all the different approaches and achievements but rather a consistently developed theory. Such a theory should mainly emphasize elaboration of basic concepts from one point of view and, in a rigorous way, reach the state of the art in the field. We understand fundamentals in this context as: 1. Fundamentals in the sense of a carefully motivated introduction to algebraic specification, which is understandable for computer scientists and mathematicians. 2. Fundamentals in the sense of mathematical theories which are the basis for precise definitions, constructions, results, and correctness proofs. 3. Fundamentals in the sense of concepts from computer science, which are introduced on a conceptual level and formalized in mathematical terms.

In funf sorgfaltig aufeinander abgestimmten Teilen behandelt das Buch die wesentlichen mathematischen Elemente der formalen Spezifikation von Systemen und der Aussagen- und Pradikatenlogik, die fur das Verstandnis des formalisierten Problemlosens entscheidend und damit fur Informatiker unerlasslich sind. Eine Einfuhrung in die intuitive Mengentheorie vermittelt zunachst notwendige mathematische Grundlagen. Motiviert durch das Konzept von Datenstrukturen und abstrakten Datentypen werden dann algebraische Strukturen in der Informatik behandelt. Danach werden Aussagen- und Pradikatenlogik aus der Sicht der Mathematik und Informatik dargestellt. Schliesslich fuhrt die Kategorientheorie fur Informatiker in die Welt der abstrakten Behandlung mathematischer Strukturen ein.
Die Neuauflage wurde erweitert um Darstellungen zur Modellalgebra und zur Implementierung. Ubungsaufgaben wurden erganzt."

This book documents the creation of the computer science faculty in Herat, Afghanistan. This included the reconstruction of the building, the setup of a highly modern PC lab, construction of seminar and common rooms, the education of network administrators, as well as the development of tuition contents and concepts customized for the specific characteristics of the Afghan society. After a project period of almost two years, the Afghan partners will manage the faculty by themselves.

"Bernd Mahr" is head of the department Formal Logic and Programming at the faculty for Electrical Engineering and Informatics at the Technical University of Berlin (Germany). Along with his co-editor, Nazir Peroz, they manage the Centre for International and Intercultural Communications (ZiiK).