The research presented in this book shows how combining deep neural networks with a special class of fuzzy logical rules and multi-criteria decision tools can make deep neural networks more interpretable - and even, in many cases, more efficient. Fuzzy logic together with multi-criteria decision-making tools provides very powerful tools for modeling human thinking. Based on their common theoretical basis, we propose a consistent framework for modeling human thinking by using the tools of all three fields: fuzzy logic, multi-criteria decision-making, and deep learning to help reduce the black-box nature of neural models; a challenge that is of vital importance to the whole research community.

This book focuses on the advanced soft computational and probabilistic methods that the authors have published over the past few years. It describes theoretical results and applications, and discusses how various uncertainty measures - probability, plausibility and belief measures - can be treated in a unified way. It also examines approximations of four notable probability distributions (Weibull, exponential, logistic and normal) using a unified probability distribution function, and presents a fuzzy arithmetic-based time series model that provides an easy-to-use forecasting technique. Lastly, it proposes flexible fuzzy numbers for Likert scale-based evaluations. Featuring methods that can be successfully applied in a variety of areas, including engineering, economics, biology and the medical sciences, the book offers useful guidelines for practitioners and researchers.

This book focuses on the advanced soft computational and probabilistic methods that the authors have published over the past few years. It describes theoretical results and applications, and discusses how various uncertainty measures - probability, plausibility and belief measures - can be treated in a unified way. It also examines approximations of four notable probability distributions (Weibull, exponential, logistic and normal) using a unified probability distribution function, and presents a fuzzy arithmetic-based time series model that provides an easy-to-use forecasting technique. Lastly, it proposes flexible fuzzy numbers for Likert scale-based evaluations. Featuring methods that can be successfully applied in a variety of areas, including engineering, economics, biology and the medical sciences, the book offers useful guidelines for practitioners and researchers.

The research presented in this book shows how combining deep neural networks with a special class of fuzzy logical rules and multi-criteria decision tools can make deep neural networks more interpretable - and even, in many cases, more efficient. Fuzzy logic together with multi-criteria decision-making tools provides very powerful tools for modeling human thinking. Based on their common theoretical basis, we propose a consistent framework for modeling human thinking by using the tools of all three fields: fuzzy logic, multi-criteria decision-making, and deep learning to help reduce the black-box nature of neural models; a challenge that is of vital importance to the whole research community.

This volume contains the Proceedings of the 5thInternational Workshop on Soft Computing Applications (SOFA 2012). The book covers a broad spectrum of soft computing techniques, theoretical and practical applications employing knowledge and intelligence to find solutions for world industrial, economic and medical problems. The combination of such intelligent systems tools and a large number of applications introduce a need for a synergy of scientific and technological disciplines in order to show the great potential of Soft Computing in all domains. The conference papers included in these proceedings, published post conference, were grouped into the following area of research: * Soft Computing and Fusion Algorithms in Biometrics, * Fuzzy Theory, Control andApplications, * Modelling and Control Applications, * Steps towards Intelligent Circuits, * Knowledge-Based Technologies for Web Applications, Cloud Computing and Security Algorithms, * Computational Intelligence for Biomedical Applications, * Neural Networks and Applications, * Intelligent Systems for Image Processing, * Knowledge Management for Business Process and Enterprise Modelling. The combination of intelligent systems tools and a large number of applications introduce a need for a synergy of scientific and technological disciplines in order to show the great potential of Soft Computing in all domains.