This book brings together past insights, current research and promising future trends associated with distributed computing, artificial intelligence and their application in order to provide efficient solutions to real-world problems. The book is based on the International Conference on Distributed Computing and Artificial Intelligence 2020 (DCAI 2020), which provided a forum to present applications of innovative techniques for studying and solving complex problems in artificial intelligence and computing areas. It includes contributions on well-established and evolving areas of research, by authors from 26 countries, representing a truly "wide area network" of research activity

Ugliness or unsightliness is much more than a quality or property of an individual's appearance-it has long functioned as a social category that demarcates access to social, cultural, and political spaces and capital. The editors of and authors in this collection harness intersectional and interdisciplinary approaches in order to examine ugliness as a political category that is deployed to uphold established notions of worth and entitlement. On the Politics of Ugliness identifies and challenges the harmful effects that labels and feelings of ugliness have on individuals and the socio-political order. It explores ugliness in relation to the intersectional processes of racialization, colonization and settler colonialism, gender-making, ableism, heteronormativity, and fatphobia. On the Politics of Ugliness asks that we fight against visual injustice and imagine new ways of seeing.

This book reviews water treatment technologies for the removal of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs). It provides the reader with an overview of state-of-the-art techniques and recent efforts to develop more sustainable approaches. After nearly two decades of research into the presence and impact of PhACs in the environment, they remain one of the hottest topics in the fields of environmental chemistry, toxicology and engineering. Accordingly, intensive research efforts are currently being devoted to water treatment technologies that can reduce the presence of these emerging contaminants in water bodies. This book examines various types of contaminated water from industry, hospitals and urban wastewater. It provides the reader with a range of potential solutions for water treatment and reuse, and addresses the advancement of analytical tools for evaluating the performance and efficiency of treatment technologies.

This book reviews water treatment technologies for the removal of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs). It provides the reader with an overview of state-of-the-art techniques and recent efforts to develop more sustainable approaches. After nearly two decades of research into the presence and impact of PhACs in the environment, they remain one of the hottest topics in the fields of environmental chemistry, toxicology and engineering. Accordingly, intensive research efforts are currently being devoted to water treatment technologies that can reduce the presence of these emerging contaminants in water bodies. This book examines various types of contaminated water from industry, hospitals and urban wastewater. It provides the reader with a range of potential solutions for water treatment and reuse, and addresses the advancement of analytical tools for evaluating the performance and efficiency of treatment technologies.

This book brings together past experience, current work and promising future trends associated with distributed computing, artificial intelligence and their application in order to provide efficient solutions to real problems. DCAI 2020 is a forum to present applications of innovative techniques for studying and solving complex problems in artificial intelligence and computing areas. This year's technical program will present both high quality and diversity, with contributions in well-established and evolving areas of research. Specifically, 83 papers were submitted to main track and special sessions, by authors from 26 different countries representing a truly "wide area network" of research activity. The DCAI'20 technical program has selected 35 papers and, as in past editions, it will be special issues in ranked journals. This symposium is organized by the University of L'Aquila (Italy). We would like to thank all the contributing authors, the members of the Program Committee and the sponsors (IBM, Armundia Group, EurAI, AEPIA, APPIA, CINI, OIT, UGR, HU, SCU, USAL, AIR Institute and UNIVAQ).

This book features the outcomes of the 16th International Conference on Distributed Computing and Artificial Intelligence 2019 (DCAI 2019), which is a forum to present applications of innovative techniques for studying and solving complex problems in artificial intelligence and computing. The exchange of ideas between scientists and technicians from both the academic and industrial sectors is essential to facilitate the development of systems that can meet the ever-increasing demands of today's society. This book brings together lessons learned, current work and promising future trends associated with distributed computing, artificial intelligence and their application to provide efficient solutions to real-world problems. The book includes 29 high-quality and diverse contributions in established and emerging areas of research presented at the symposium organized by the Osaka Institute of Technology, Hiroshima University, University of Granada and University of Salamanca, which was held in Avila, Spain, from 26th-28th June 2019

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 8th International Workshop on Learning Technology for Education Challenges, LTEC 2019, held in Zamora, Spain, in July 2019. The 41 revised full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 83 submissions. The papers are organized in the following topical sections: learning technolgies; learning tools and environment; e-learning and MOOCs; learning practices; social media learning tools; machine learning and evaluation support programs. LTEC 2019 examines how these technologies and pedagogical advances can be used to change the way teachers teach and students learn, while giving special emphasis to the pedagogically effective ways we can harness these new technologies in education.

Ugliness or unsightliness is much more than a quality or property of an individual's appearance-it has long functioned as a social category that demarcates access to social, cultural, and political spaces and capital. The editors of and authors in this collection harness intersectional and interdisciplinary approaches in order to examine ugliness as a political category that is deployed to uphold established notions of worth and entitlement. On the Politics of Ugliness identifies and challenges the harmful effects that labels and feelings of ugliness have on individuals and the socio-political order. It explores ugliness in relation to the intersectional processes of racialization, colonization and settler colonialism, gender-making, ableism, heteronormativity, and fatphobia. On the Politics of Ugliness asks that we fight against visual injustice and imagine new ways of seeing.

This book presents the outcomes of the 15th International Conference on Distributed Computing and Artificial Intelligence, held in Toledo (Spain) from 20th to 22nd June 2018 and hosted by the UCLM, and which brought together researchers and developers from industry, education and the academic world to report on the latest scientific research, technical advances and methodologies. Highlighting multi-disciplinary and transversal aspects, the book focuses on the conferences Special Sessions, including Advances in Demand Response and Renewable Energy Sources in Smart Grids (ADRESS); AI- Driven Methods for Multimodal Networks and Processes Modeling (AIMPM); Social Modelling of Ambient Intelligence in Large Facilities (SMAILF); Communications, Electronics and Signal Processing (CESP); Complexity in Natural and Formal Languages (CNFL); and Web and Social Media Mining (WASMM).

This book presents the outcomes of the 8th International Conference in Methodologies and Intelligent Systems for Technology Enhanced Learning held in Toledo (Spain) hosted by the University of Castilla-La Mancha from 20 th to 22nd June 2018. Further expanding the topics of the previous editions, the conference provided an open forum for discussing intelligent systems for technology enhanced learning (TEL) and their roots in novel learning theories, empirical methodologies for their design or evaluation, stand-alone and web-based solutions and maker spaces, and also fostering entrepreneurship and increasing business startup ideas. It brought together researchers and developers from industry, the education field and the academic world to report on the latest scientific research, technical advances and methodologies.

The 14th International Symposium on Distributed Computing and Artificial Intelligence 2017 (DCAI 2017) provided a forum for presenting the application of innovative techniques to study and solve complex problems. The exchange of ideas between scientists and technicians from both the academic and industrial sector is essential to advancing the development of systems that can meet the ever-growing demands of today's society. The book brings together past experience, current work and promising future trends in distributed computing, artificial intelligence and their applications to efficiently solve real-world problems. It combines contributions in well-established and evolving areas of research, including the content of the DCAI 17 Special Sessions, which focused on multi-disciplinary and transversal aspects, such as AI-driven methods for multimodal networks and processes modeling, and secure management towards smart buildings and smart grids. The symposium was jointly organized by the Polytechnic of Porto, the Osaka Institute of Technology and the University of Salamanca. The latest event was held in Porto, Portugal, from 21st to 23rd June 2017.

This book presents the outcomes of the 7th International Conference in Methodologies and Intelligent Systems for Technology Enhanced Learning (MIS4TEL'17), hosted by the Polytechnic of Porto, Portugal from 21 to 23 June 2017. Expanding on the topics of the previous conferences, it provided an open forum for discussing intelligent systems for technology enhanced learning (TEL) and their roots in novel learning theories, empirical methodologies for their design or evaluation, stand-alone and web-based solutions, and makerspaces. It also fostered entrepreneurship and business startup ideas, bringing together researchers and developers from industry, education and the academic world to report on the latest scientific research, technical advances and methodologies.

The special session Decision Economics (DECON) 2016 is a scientific forum by which to share ideas, projects, researches results, models and experiences associated with the complexity of behavioral decision processes aiming at explaining socio-economic phenomena. DECON 2016 held in the University of Seville, Spain, as part of the 13th International Conference on Distributed Computing and Artificial Intelligence (DCAI) 2016. In the tradition of Herbert A. Simon's interdisciplinary legacy, this book dedicates itself to the interdisciplinary study of decision-making in the recognition that relevant decision-making takes place in a range of critical subject areas and research fields, including economics, finance, information systems, small and international business, management, operations, and production. Decision-making issues are of crucial importance in economics. Not surprisingly, the study of decision-making has received a growing empirical research efforts in the applied economic literature over the last sixty years. The recognition of the oversimplification and limitations of subjective expected utility theory has produced an extraordinary volume of empirical research aimed at discovering how economic agents cope with complexity. In the centenary of his birth, the international scientific community acknowledges Herbert A. Simon's research endeavors aimed to understand the processes involved in economic decision-making and their implications for the advancement of economic studies. Within the field of decision-making, Simon's rejection of standard decision-making models of neoclassical economics inspired social scientists worldwide to develop research programs in order to study decision-making empirically. The main achievements regarded decision-making for individual, firms, markets, governments and institution. There are many scholars in the world that claim that Herbert A. Simon has precipitated something like a revolution in microeconomics focused on the concept of decision-making. Among these scholars are the Editors of this book who believe that very few scientists produce seminal work in more than one field: Herbert A. Simon was one of them, that caliber of genius.

The 12th International Symposium on Distributed Computing and Artificial Intelligence 2015 (DCAI 2015) is a forum to present applications of innovative techniques for studying and solving complex problems. The exchange of ideas between scientists and technicians from both the academic and industrial sector is essential to facilitate the development of systems that can meet the ever-increasing demands of today's society. The present edition brings together past experience, current work and promising future trends associated with distributed computing, artificial intelligence and their application in order to provide efficient solutions to real problems. This symposium is organized by the Osaka Institute of Technology, Qatar University and the University of Salamanca.

The 11th International Symposium on Distributed Computing and Artificial Intelligence 2014 (DCAI 2014) is a forum to present applications of innovative techniques for studying and solving complex problems. The exchange of ideas between scientists and technicians from both the academic and industrial sector is essential to facilitate the development of systems that can meet the ever-increasing demands of today s society. The present edition brings together past experience, current work and promising future trends associated with distributed computing, artificial intelligence and their application in order to provide efficient solutions to real problems.

This year s technical program presents both high quality and diversity, with contributions in well-established and evolving areas of research (Algeria, Brazil, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom), representing a truly wide area network of research activity. DCAI'14 Special Sessions have been a very useful tool in order to complement the regular program with new or emerging topics of particular interest to the participating community. Special Sessions that emphasize on multi-disciplinary and transversal aspects, such as AI-driven methods for Multimodal Networks and Processes Modeling and Multi-Agents Macroeconomics have been especially encouraged and welcome.

This symposium is organized by the Bioinformatics, Intelligent System and Educational Technology Research Group (http: //bisite.usal.es/) of the University of Salamanca. The present edition was held in Salamanca, Spain, from 4th to 6th June 2014."

The International Symposium on Distributed Computing and Artificial Intelligence 2013 (DCAI 2013) is a forum in which applications of innovative techniques for solving complex problems are presented. Artificial intelligence is changing our society. Its application in distributed environments, such as the internet, electronic commerce, environment monitoring, mobile communications, wireless devices, distributed computing, to mention only a few, is continuously increasing, becoming an element of high added value with social and economic potential, in industry, quality of life, and research. This conference is a stimulating and productive forum where the scientific community can work towards future cooperation in Distributed Computing and Artificial Intelligence areas. These technologies are changing constantly as a result of the large research and technical effort being undertaken in both universities and businesses. The exchange of ideas between scientists and technicians from both the academic and industry sector is essential to facilitate the development of systems that can meet the ever increasing demands of today's society. This edition of DCAI brings together past experience, current work, and promising future trends associated with distributed computing, artificial intelligence and their application in order to provide efficient solutions to real problems. This symposium is organized by the Bioinformatics, Intelligent System and Educational Technology Research Group (http://bisite.usal.es/) of the University of Salamanca. The present edition was held in Salamanca, Spain, from 22nd to 24th May 2013.

The International Symposium on Distributed Computing and Artificial Intelligence is an annual forum that brings together ideas, projects, lessons, etc. associated with distr- uted computing, artificial intelligence and its applications in different themes. This meeting has been held at the University of Salamanca from the 22th to the 24th of October 2008. This symposium has be organized by the Biomedicine, Intelligent S- tem and Educational Technology Research Group (http: //bisite. usal. es/) of the Univ- sity of Salamanca. The technology transfer in this field is still a challenge and for that reason this type of contributions has been specially considered in this edition. This c- ference is the forum in which to present application of innovative techniques to complex problems. The artificial intelligence is changing our society. Its application in distr- uted environments, such as the Internet, electronic commerce, mobile communications, wireless devices, distributed computing, and so on is increasing and is becoming an element of high added value and economic potential, both industrial and research. These technologies are changing constantly as a result of the large research and technical effort being undertaken in both universities and businesses. The exchange of ideas between scientists and technicians from both academic and business areas is essential to facilitate the development of systems that meet the demands of today's society.

DCAI 2022 is a forum to present applications of innovative techniques for studying and solving complex problems in artificial intelligence and computing areas. The present edition brings together past experience, current work and promising future trends associated with distributed computing, artificial intelligence and their application in order to provide efficient solutions to real problems. This year's technical program will present both high quality and diversity, with contributions in well-established and evolving areas of research. Specifically, 61 papers were submitted, by authors from 28 different countries representing a truly "wide area network" of research activity. The DCAI'22 technical program has selected 32 full papers and, as in past editions, it will be special issues in ranked journals. This symposium is organized by the University of L'Aquila (Italy). We would like to thank all the contributing authors, the members of the Program Committee and the sponsors (IBM, Indra, Dipartimento di Ingegneria e Scienze dell'Informazione e Matematica dell'Universita degli Studi dell'Aquila, Armundia Group, Whitehall Reply, T.C. Technologies And Comunication S.R.L., LCL Industria Grafica, AIR Institute, AEPIA, APPIA).

This book highlights the latest research on distributed computing and artificial intelligence. DCAI 2021 is a forum to present applications of innovative techniques for studying and solving complex problems in artificial intelligence and computing areas. The present edition brings together past experience, current work and promising future trends associated with distributed computing, artificial intelligence and their application in order to provide efficient solutions to real problems. This year's technical program will present both high quality and diversity, with contributions in well-established and evolving areas of research. Specifically, 55 papers were submitted to main track and special sessions, by authors from 24 different countries representing a truly "wide area network" of research activity. Moreover, DCAI 2021 Special Sessions have been a very useful tool in order to complement the regular program with new or emerging topics of particular interest to the participating community. The technical program of the Special Sessions of DCAI 2021 has selected 23 papers. We would like to thank all the contributing authors, the members of the Program Committees, the sponsors (IBM, Armundia Group, EurAI, AEPIA, APPIA, CINI, OIT, UGR, HU, SCU, USAL, AIR Institute and UNIVAQ) and the Organizing Committee of the University of Salamanca for their hard and highly valuable work.

This book offers the exchange of ideas between scientists and technicians from both the academic and industrial sector which is essential to facilitate the development of systems that can meet the ever-increasing demands of today's society. The 18th International Symposium on Distributed Computing and Artificial Intelligence 2021 (DCAI 2021) is a forum to present the applications of innovative techniques for studying and solving complex problems in artificial intelligence and computing areas. The present edition brings together past experience, current work, and promising future trends associated with distributed computing, artificial intelligence, and their application in order to provide efficient solutions to real problems. This year's technical program presents both high quality and diversity, with contributions in well-established and evolving areas of research. Specifically, 55 papers were submitted to main track and special sessions, by authors from 24 different countries, representing a truly "wide area network" of research activity. The DCAI'21 technical program has selected 21 papers, and, as in past editions, it will be special issues in ranked journals such as Electronics, Sensors, Systems, Robotics, Mathematical Biosciences and ADCAIJ. These special issues cover extended versions of the most highly regarded works. Moreover, DCAI'21 special sessions have been a very useful tool to complement the regular program with new or emerging topics of particular interest to the participating community.

The International Symposium on Distributed Computing and Artificial Intelligence 2011 (DCAI 2011) is a stimulating and productive forum where the scientific community can work towards future cooperation on Distributed Computing and Artificial Intelligence areas. This conference is the forum in which to present application of innovative techniques to complex problems. Artificial intelligence is changing our society. Its application in distributed environments, such as internet, electronic commerce, environment monitoring, mobile communications, wireless devices, distributed computing, to cite some, is continuously increasing, becoming an element of high added value with social and economic potential, both industry, life quality and research. These technologies are changing constantly as a result of the large research and technical effort being undertaken in universities, companies. The exchange of ideas between scientists and technicians from both academic and industry is essential to facilitate the development of systems that meet the demands of today's society. This edition of DCAI brings together past experience, current work and promising future trends associated with distributed computing, artificial intelligence and their application to provide efficient solutions to real problems. This symposium is organized by the Bioinformatics, Intelligent System and Educational Technology Research Group (http: //bisite.usal.es/) of the University of Salamanca. The present edition has been held in Salamanca, Spain, from 6 to 8 April 2011.

The International Symposium on Distributed Computing and Artificial Intelligence 2012 (DCAI 2012) is a stimulating and productive forum where the scientific community can work towards future cooperation in Distributed Computing and Artificial Intelligence areas. This conference is a forum in which applications of innovative techniques for solving complex problems will be presented. Artificial intelligence is changing our society. Its application in distributed environments, such as the internet, electronic commerce, environment monitoring, mobile communications, wireless devices, distributed computing, to mention only a few, is continuously increasing, becoming an element of high added value with social and economic potential, in industry, quality of life, and research. These technologies are changing constantly as a result of the large research and technical effort being undertaken in both universities and businesses. The exchange of ideas between scientists and technicians from both the academic and industry sector is essential to facilitate the development of systems that can meet the ever increasing demands of today's society. This edition of DCAI brings together past experience, current work, and promising future trends associated with distributed computing, artificial intelligence and their application in order to provide efficient solutions to real problems. This symposium is organized by the Bioinformatics, Intelligent System and Educational Technology Research Group (http://bisite.usal.es/) of the University of Salamanca. The present edition will be held in Salamanca, Spain, from 28th to 30th March 2012.

The International Symposium on Distributed Computing and Artificial Intel- gence (DCAI10) is an annual forum that brings together past experience, current work and promising future trends associated with distributed computing, artificial intelligence and their application to provide efficient solutions to real problems. This symposium is organized by the Biomedicine, Intelligent System and Edu- tional Technology Research Group (http: //bisite. usal. es/) of the University of - lamanca. The present edition has been held at the Polytechnic University of - lencia, from 7 to 10 September 2010, within the Congreso Espanol de Informatica (CEDI 2010). Technology transfer in this field is still a challenge, with a large gap between academic research and industrial products. This edition of DCAI aims at contributing to reduce this gap, with a stimulating and productive forum where these communities can work towards future cooperation with social and econo- cal benefits. This conference is the forum in which to present application of in- vative techniques to complex problems. Artificial intelligence is changing our - ciety. Its application in distributed environments, such as internet, electronic commerce, environment monitoring, mobile communications, wireless devices, distributed computing, to cite some, is continuously increasing, becoming an e- ment of high added value with social and economic potential, both industry, life quality and research. These technologies are changing constantly as a result of the large research and technical effort being undertaken in universities, companies."