Skip to main content

North Holland

  • Artificial Intelligence V

    Methodology, Systems, Applications
    • 1st Edition
    • B. du Boulay + 1 more
    • English
    Recent results and ongoing research in Artificial Intelligence are described in this book, with emphasis on fundamental questions in several key areas: machine learning, neural networks, automated reasoning, natural language processing, and logic methods in AI. There are also more applied papers in the fields of vision, architectures for KBS, expert systems and intelligent tutoring systems. One of the changes since AIMSA'90 has been the increased numbers of papers submitted in the fields of machine learning, neural networks and hybrid systems.One of the special features of the AIMSA series of conferences is their coverage of work across both Eastern and Western Europe and the former Soviet Union as well as papers from North America. AIMSA'92 is no exception and this volume provides a unique multi-cultural view of AI.
  • Pattern Recognition in Practice IV: Multiple Paradigms, Comparative Studies and Hybrid Systems

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 16
    • E.S. Gelsema + 1 more
    • English
    The era of detailed comparisons of the merits of techniques of pattern recognition and artificial intelligence and of the integration of such techniques into flexible and powerful systems has begun.So confirm the editors of this fourth volume of Pattern Recognition in Practice, in their preface to the book.The 42 quality papers are sourced from a broad range of international specialists involved in developing pattern recognition methodologies and those using pattern recognition techniques in their professional work. The publication is divided into six sections: Pattern Recognition, Signal and Image Processing, Probabilistic Reasoning, Neural Networks, Comparative Studies, and Hybrid Systems, giving prospective users a feeling for the applicability of the various methods in their particular field of specialization.
  • Topoi

    The Categorial Analysis of Logic
    • 2nd Edition
    • Volume 98
    • R. Goldblatt
    • English
    The first of its kind, this book presents a widely accessible exposition of topos theory, aimed at the philosopher-logician as well as the mathematician. It is suitable for individual study or use in class at the graduate level (it includes 500 exercises). It begins with a fully motivated introduction to category theory itself, moving always from the particular example to the abstract concept. It then introduces the notion of elementary topos, with a wide range of examples and goes on to develop its theory in depth, and to elicit in detail its relationship to Kripke's intuitionistic semantics, models of classical set theory and the conceptual framework of sheaf theory (``localization'' of truth). Of particular interest is a Dedekind-cuts style construction of number systems in topoi, leading to a model of the intuitionistic continuum in which a ``Dedekind-real'' becomes represented as a ``continuously-varia... classical real number''.The second edition contains a new chapter, entitled Logical Geometry, which introduces the reader to the theory of geometric morphisms of Grothendieck topoi, and its model-theoretic rendering by Makkai and Reyes. The aim of this chapter is to explain why Deligne's theorem about the existence of points of coherent topoi is equivalent to the classical Completeness theorem for ``geometric'' first-order formulae.
  • Comparisons of Prices and Real Products in Latin America

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 194
    • J. Salazar-Carrillo + 1 more
    • English
    Contained in this book are studies related to the computation of purchasing power parities for comparing real income and product among Latin American countries. The principal components of income and product comparisons are discussed: from designing and executing benchmark studies, to extrapolating results for non-benchmark years. Different comparative methods and measurement techniques, including index number formulations, are considered. Comparisons of Latin countries with other countries are also undertaken.This volume aims to illuminate the thorny theoretical and methodological issues involved in regional comparisons, and to facilitate the practical application of the comparative approach to the many sided policy problems generated by a rapidly integrating international economy.
  • Parallel Processing for Artificial Intelligence 1

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 14
    • L.N. Kanal + 3 more
    • English
    Parallel processing for AI problems is of great current interest because of its potential for alleviating the computational demands of AI procedures. The articles in this book consider parallel processing for problems in several areas of artificial intelligence: image processing, knowledge representation in semantic networks, production rules, mechanization of logic, constraint satisfaction, parsing of natural language, data filtering and data mining. The publication is divided into six sections. The first addresses parallel computing for processing and understanding images. The second discusses parallel processing for semantic networks, which are widely used means for representing knowledge - methods which enable efficient and flexible processing of semantic networks are expected to have high utility for building large-scale knowledge-based systems. The third section explores the automatic parallel execution of production systems, which are used extensively in building rule-based expert systems - systems containing large numbers of rules are slow to execute and can significantly benefit from automatic parallel execution. The exploitation of parallelism for the mechanization of logic is dealt with in the fourth section. While sequential control aspects pose problems for the parallelization of production systems, logic has a purely declarative interpretation which does not demand a particular evaluation strategy. In this area, therefore, very large search spaces provide significant potential for parallelism. In particular, this is true for automated theorem proving. The fifth section considers the problem of constraint satisfaction, which is a useful abstraction of a number of important problems in AI and other fields of computer science. It also discusses the technique of consistent labeling as a preprocessing step in the constraint satisfaction problem. Section VI consists of two articles, each on a different, important topic. The first discusses parallel formulation for the Tree Adjoining Grammar (TAG), which is a powerful formalism for describing natural languages. The second examines the suitability of a parallel programming paradigm called Linda, for solving problems in artificial intelligence.Each of the areas discussed in the book holds many open problems, but it is believed that parallel processing will form a key ingredient in achieving at least partial solutions. It is hoped that the contributions, sourced from experts around the world, will inspire readers to take on these challenging areas of inquiry.
  • A Discipline of Software Engineering

    • 1st Edition
    • B. Walraet
    • English
    This comprehensive approach to the creation of software systems charts a road through system modelling techniques, allowing software engineers to create software meeting two very basic requirements:• that the software system represent a narrow emulation of the organization system that served as its model; • and that the software system display life attributes identical to those of the organization system that it automatizes.The result is a quantum leap increase in software application quality. Such benefit is achieved by the introduction of a fundamental paradigm: the office-floor metaphor which incorporates such well-balanced basic ideas as the functional normalization of tasks and information (in sharp contrast to the classic data normalization) and the principle of tenant-ownership.
  • The Econometric Analysis of Non-Uniqueness in Rational Expectations Models

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 201
    • L. Broze + 1 more
    • English
    This book is devoted to the econometric analysis of linear multivariate rational expectation models. It shows that the interpretation of multiplicity in terms of "new degrees of freedom" is consistent with a rigorous econometric reasoning. Non-uniqueness is the central theme of this book. Each chapter is concerned with a specific econometric aspect of rational expectations equilibria. The most constructive result lies in the possibility of an empirical determination of the equilibrium followed by the economy.
  • Local Effects in the Analysis of Structures

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 12
    • P. Ladeveze
    • English
    The question of inclusion of local effects in the analysis of structures is currently one of prime importance for engineering design. The classical computational approaches are not readily adapted to take local effects into account and appropriate treatments are therefore necessary. Providing an introduction to and survey of the specific computational methods, this book contains 16 papers, most of which were presented at the EUROMECH Colloquium `Inclusion of Local Effects in the Analysis of Structures', held in France in 1984. The book begins with the various theories which allow the separation and determination of local and global effects. The next group of papers discuss edge effects for composite structures. The third part comprises two papers concerning dynamic problems and points the way towards non-conventional local effects in structural mechanics. The last part deals with general numerical methods, especially for effects due to large local variations of geometry.
  • National Trade Policies

    • 1st Edition
    • D. Salvatore
    • English
    The aim of this volume is to examine and compare the trade policies followed by the most important trading nations of the world. Today there are few, if any, large scale studies of comparative trade such as this one. Moreover trade policies and controversies are expected to become even more important in the future.The volume offers an easily accessible overview of trade policies in each of the world's major trading countries. Thus, this handbook can be of great use to students of comparative economic systems in general and to economists, policymakers, and the general informed public, serving as a comprehensive source of reference and comparison. The references at the end of each chapter and the selected bibliography at the end of the volume identify the most important sources of additional information on the trade policies of the world's most important trading countries.
  • Economics of Arms Reduction and the Peace Process

    Contributions from Peace Economics and Peace Science
    • 1st Edition
    • W. Isard + 1 more
    • English
    The subject of peace economics and its ramifications are comprehensively and deeply attacked in this book. First of all the book presents a compact survey of significant contributions already made, and then it provides a broad theoretical background for examining the subject by evaluating four different approaches, those of 1) neoclassical welfare theory, 2) Keynesian and modern versions of macroeconomics, 3) modern growth theory and 4) political choice theory.A number of contributions deal with major questions on issues such as the impact of military cutbacks in the Eastern European economies upon their growth; trade between nations; arms trade; nuclear defense; and the benefits and costs of war as highlighted by the recent Gulf War. Issues of a more general nature but equally significant are also discussed, including the age-old negotiations problem of two mature political leaders of major powers in conflict; the determinants of military expenditures; and the problems of developing countries. In the last chapter the findings of the studies reported in the book are summarized and key directions for further research are identified.This book is indispensable for any economist or analyst conducting research on peace economics and the peace process or concerned with the impacts of recent arms reduction and conversion by the major powers and the escalation of military expenditures elsewhere.