This book constitutes the proceedings of the 8th International Workshop on Programming Multi-Agent Systems held in Toronto, Canada, in May 2010 in conjunction with AAMAS 2010, the 9th International Joint Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems. The 7 revised full papers presented together with 1 invited paper were carefully reviewed and selected for inclusion in the book. The papers cover a broad range of mostly practical topics like decision component of agent systems; practical examples of programming languages; interaction with the environment, and are thus organized in topical sections on reasoning, programming languages, and environments.

Drawing on mythology, psychology, religion and science, as well as past-life regression and near-death experiences, Peter Novak explores the nuances of what really happens to the soul after death. Eastern and Western philosophies have disagreed on this point for centuries. After ten years of intensive investigation, his conclusions are a ground-breaking blend of east and west, explaining how this division may have arisen and how it is likely to be resolved.

A health policy for the future is the topic of discussion in this book. International scientists discuss central questions corresponding to the targets set by the World Health Organization (WHO). In a unique meeting, social political proposals and recommendations are presented for a regional health care system that includes public involvement. Separate sections of the book treat the primary health care system in relation to public involvement, family medicine, epidemiology, health economics, and institutional requirements.

Die Autoren beschreiben in diesem Buch die wesentlichen Merkmale eines therapeutischen Sozialsystems. Dabei zeigen sie, wie charakteristische Kontextmerkmale eine Behandlung zu Veranderungen von Symptomen, Verhaltensformen und Werthaltungen schizophrener Patienten fuhren. Innovative Formen der therapeutischen Arbeit vermitteln dem Patienten die Fahigkeit zu vertrauen, soziale Kompetenzen zu erwerben, sich anderen aktiv zuzuwenden sowie sich Informationen zu beschaffen und sich ihrer zu bedienen. Die Architektin Suzanne Crowhurst Lennard entwickelt in einem besonderen Kapitel Richtlinien fur die Analyse und Planung einer raumlichen Umgebung des Patienten, die einer besseren Nutzung der therapeutischen Moglichkeiten entspricht. Dargestellt werden insbesondere die Bedeutung individueller Territorien und asthetischer Qualitaten des Raums. Es wird gezeigt, wie Wertprioritaten, Wertkonflikte und Wertwandel Verstandnis, Betreuung und Behandlung schizophrener Menschen zentral beeinflussen. Schliesslich legen die Autoren eine Theorie der therapeutischen Veranderung vor, fur welche der Begriff der therapeutischen Dosierung um Gregory Bateson's Begriff des "Lernens zu lernen" grundlegend ist."