Computational Intelligence in Engineering Science
This four-volume set constitutes the refereed proceedings of the First International Conference on on Computational Intelligence in Engineering Science, ICCIES 2025, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, during July 23-25, 2025. The 115 full papers presented in these proceedings were carefully reviewed and selected from 210 submissions. The papers are organized in the following topical sections: Part I: Machine Learning; Wireless Networks (6G) Part II: Computer Vision; Natural Language Processing Part III: Intelligent Systems; Internet of Things Part IV: Machine Learning; Control Systems
South African Computer Science and Information Systems Research Trends
This book contains a selection of the best papers of the 46th Annual Conference of the South AfricanInstitute of Computer Scientists and Information Technologists, SAICSIT 2025, held in Durban, South Africa, during July 17-18, 2025. The 19 full papers included in this book were carefully reviewed and selected from 85 submissions.They were focused on following topical sections: Information Systems and Computer Science.
SAP HANA 2.0 Installation and Administration A Practical Guide
Are you thinking of becoming an SAP HANA Administrator with strong foundational knowledge? Would you like to learn the basics or get your basics right? Then look no further. This expertly written guide walks readers through the fundamentals required to perform day-to-day operations, database sizing, installation, upgrades, and restore and recover activities as a HANA database administrator. Take a closer look at the architecture of the HANA database and explore the various deployment options. Learn how to install and upgrade HANA databases. Discover the tools available for administration and monitoring activities, including HANA Studio, HANA command line and the HANA Cockpit. Learn about essential database administration tasks such as system views, monitoring, and table partitioning. Examine security considerations and walk step by step through different types of backup and restore processes, including handling of encrypted backups, HANA System Replication and tenant copy. Learn how to efficiently troubleshoot HANA database issues, with expert guidance and practical advice.HANA database architecture and deployment optionsInstallation and upgrade stepsAdministration and monitoring toolsBackup and restore processes
Unity 6 Shaders and Effects Cookbook - Fifth Edition
Overcome challenges head-on in Unity 6 shader creation with the help of expert tips, practical solutions, and cutting-edge techniques from best-selling author John DoranKey Features: - Explore Shader Graph to develop expertise in post-processing and advanced shading- Unlock shortcuts to achieve AAA shader quality without complex algorithms- Become proficient in Unity's latest tools, including VFX Graph and Unity Muse- Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBookBook Description: Shaders enable game developers to craft visually stunning experiences, but their complexity and mathematical and technical challenges make it hard to achieve the desired level of realism. Written by a top-selling author with extensive hands-on expertise in game development, this latest edition is your indispensable guide to mastering the art of shaders within this evolving landscape.Through meticulously curated recipes, this book takes a practical approach to equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to elevate your game visuals to unmatched sophistication. In this updated edition, you'll gain invaluable insights into leveraging Unity's latest tools, including Unity Muse for advanced AI-powered texture creation. From fully grasping Shader Graph to harnessing the power of vectors and textures, this Unity cookbook covers all the aspects of shader development without the need for elaborate mathematical calculations. You'll also discover practical techniques for achieving stunning visual effects with ease when creating 2D or 3D elements.What You Will Learn: - Understand the principles of shaders, along with how to work in Shader Graph- Harness URP and HDRP packages for efficient shader creation- Enhance game visuals with modern shader techniques- Optimize shaders for performance and aesthetics- Master the math and algorithms behind the commonly used lighting models- Transform your game's atmosphere with the Post Processing Stack- Develop sophisticated shader effects by leveraging fragment shaders and grab-pass techniquesWho this book is for: This book is for game developers looking to elevate their shader expertise and enhance game visuals using Unity 6. Game programmers, technical artists, and aspiring game developers eager to master shader creation with Shader Graph will find this book very useful. A solid understanding of Unity is required to get the most out of this book.Table of Contents- Using Post-Processing with URP- Creating Your First Shader with Shader Graph- Working with Surfaces- Working with Texture Mapping- Enhancing Realism: Unity Muse and Physically Based Rendering- Using Vertex Functions- Using Grab Passes - Optimizing Shaders- Creating Screen Effects with Fullscreen Shaders- Gameplay and Screen Effects- Understanding Lighting Models- Developing Advanced Shading Techniques- Utilizing the HDRP
Fast and Slow
Fast and Slow - Methods for Timely HCI and Interaction Design Research explores the dynamic interplay between rapid and reflective research in human-computer interaction (HCI) and interaction design research. In an era where fast approaches to technical research is foregrounded, this book provides a critical examination of the temporalities at play in various research approaches - from long-term studies to rapid prototyping.Drawing inspiration from fast and slow thinking, design thinking and our everchanging world, this book contrasts "fast" approaches--such as "quick-and-dirty ethnography, prototyping, and AI-driven automation--with "slow" methodologies that emphasize ethnographic studies, longitudinal research, and participatory design. By working across the fast and slow approaches to research the book helps researchers and practitioners navigate the trade-offs between efficiency and depth, rapid results and reflection. Ultimately, the focus of the book is on timely research contributions.With a focus on research approaches, this book presents cases, methodological insights, and theoretical discussions that foreground the temporalities at play in HCI and interaction design research. It questions whether the rush to iterate and deploy can sometimes obscure critical insights about human behavior, ethical considerations, and long-term impact.Whether you are an HCI researcher, UX practitioner, or technology strategist, Fast and Slow - Methods for Timely HCI and Interaction Design Research offers a fresh perspective on how to plan and carry out design research - no matter if the research process is fast, or slow.
Make Games with Python
Learning to code your own shoot-'em-up is infinitely more satisfying than beating any end-of-level bossWhile countless millions of us like nothing more than spending hours racking up high scores on our favourite games, too few of us are exposed to an even more gratifying way to spend the evening - making them. It's far from easy. Master essential game-making skills: Creating shapes and pathsMovement and animationUsing the keyboard and mouseAdding sound and musicSimulating physics and forcesBuilding classes for actorsCreating your own shoot-em 'upEach chapter will add to your knowledge of Python game development, allowing you both to understand the games you play, and to create almost anything your imagination can come up with.This book is designed to help you learn many of the essential skills you'll need to make games with Python and Pygame, and you'll learn valuable coding skills along the way.This book isn't for absolute programming beginners, but it's not far from it. If you've written some simple Python (or similar) programs in the past, and are able to do things like creating files and get around your computer's filesystem without too much difficulty, then you're ready to get started.
Mastering Pac-Man
Mastering Pac-Man(TM)Since his creation in 1980, Pac-Man(TM)has taken the world by storm. This little yellow fellow launched a new genre of video games that appealed to boys, girls, men, and women. Over thirty years later, Pac-Man(TM) is easily found in arcades, restaurants, bars, casinos, living rooms, and mobile devices everywhere. Whether you're playing on a vintage machine or a modern gaming system, Mastering Pac-Man(TM) is the key to boosting your scores and conquering the game. In this fully illustrated and comprehensive guide, master gamer Ken Uston reveals his secrets to this timeless game. Learn the strategies behind the game's main patterns and secrets to becoming a true Pac-Master: Basic patterns for battling monstersStrategies for slow & fast gamesPlaying PUC-ONE(TM)Improvising your own patternsHustlingPortable Pac-Man(TM)Head-To-Head(TM) Pac-Man(TM)Eat-And-Run(TM)Mazeman(TM)Ms Pac-Man(TM)Developing Patterns for Changing ChipsFrom its initial publication, Mastering Pac-Man(TM) set the standard for video game guides. Now, back by popular demand, this detailed manual is available for a new generation and remains an essential addition to the library of every serious gamer and game collector.
Security and Privacy in Cyber-Physical Systems and Smart Vehicles
This book LNICST 622 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the Second EAI International Conference on Security and Privacy in Cyber-Physical Systems and Smart Vehicles, SmartSP 2024, held in New Orleans, LA, USA, during November 7-8, 2024. The 18 full papers were carefully reviewed an selected from 47 submissions. The proceedings focus on Emerging Applications, Hardware and Firmware Security, Adversarial Attacks in Autonomous Systems, Ethics, Privacy, Human-Centric Considerations and Security Techniques for Cyber-Physical Systems.
Designing Virtual Worlds
Designing Virtual Worlds, authored by a true pioneer, stands as the most comprehensive examination of virtual-world design ever written. This seminal work is a tour de force, remarkable for its intellectual breadth, encompassing the literary, economic, sociological, psychological, physical, technological, and ethical foundations of virtual worlds. It provides readers with a profound, well-grounded understanding of essential design principles.This first volume presents a rich, well-developed exploration of the foundational concepts underpinning virtual worlds. Tracing the evolution of such games from their inception, it draws upon examples ranging from the earliest MUDs to today's expansive MMORPGs. It elucidates fundamental design precepts often forgotten in the development of new games.No other book on online games or virtual worlds matches the level of detail, historical context, and conceptual depth found in Designing Virtual Worlds.
Designing Virtual Worlds
Designing Virtual Worlds, authored by a true pioneer, stands as the most comprehensive examination of virtual-world design ever written. This seminal work is a tour de force, remarkable for its intellectual breadth, encompassing the literary, economic, sociological, psychological, physical, technological, and ethical foundations of virtual worlds. It provides readers with a profound, well-grounded understanding of essential design principles.This first volume presents a rich, well-developed exploration of the foundational concepts underpinning virtual worlds. Tracing the evolution of such games from their inception, it draws upon examples ranging from the earliest MUDs to today's expansive MMORPGs. It elucidates fundamental design precepts often forgotten in the development of new games.No other book on online games or virtual worlds matches the level of detail, historical context, and conceptual depth found in Designing Virtual Worlds.
Collaboration in Knowledge Discovery and Decision Making
This book CCIS 2369 constitutes the proceedings of the Third International Workshop on Collaboration in Knowledge Discovery and Decision Making, DECISIONING 2024, held in Pereira, Colombia, during June 4-6, 2024. The 18 full papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 54 submissions. These papers explore recent advances in collaborative decision making and knowledge discovery, addressing topics including data analysis, artificial intelligence, decision models and industrial applications.
Future Industrial Internet
This book constitutes the proceedings of the Second Future Industrial Internet Symposium, FII 2024, held in Shenzhen, China, on August 23, 2024. The 12 full papers and 4 short papers presented in this book were carefully reviewed and selected from 75 submissions.They focus on verious aspects of the latest research, applications and development trends related to the industrial internet and associated fields.
Cinematic Worldbuilding
Everybody has a story in them. Some people lack the language and the tools to tell that story effectively. As an avid tabletop role-playing game player, I'm amazed at people's ability to tell stories on the spot. Both the players and the game masters are creating worlds in their minds and playing out the events, using improv, in real-time. Being an author and screenwriter, I know how difficult it is to create consistent and well-constructed characters, themes, and conflicts. I believe that storytellers looking to level up in the classroom, their hobby, or career could learn a lot from games like Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and others. This book seeks to give people the tools and language to create and master their worlds and characters, using TTRPG mechanics and rulesets as foundational elements. This book will contain insights and interviews from some of today's most respected game masters, players, actual play actors, and we'll also hear from some of the people behind the scenes responsible for creating these games, and how they view worldbuilding and storytelling for their audiences.
Advanced Information Systems Engineering
The two-volume set LNCS 15701 + 15702 constitutes the proceedings of the 37th International Conference on Advanced Information Systems Engineering, CAiSE 2025, which was held in Vienna, Austria, during June 16-17, 2025. The 35 papers included in the proceedings were carefully reviewed and selected from 229 submissions. They were organized in topical sections as follows: Part I: Modelling with LLM; Security; Sustainability; Chatbots and social networks; process monitoring; IS-development and usage; pre-processing and forecasting; Part II: Comprehension, explanation and recommendation; process discovery; system architecture and privacy; conformance-checking; cloud systems; extending process modelling; ontologies and knowledge graphs.
Advanced Information Systems Engineering Workshops
This book constitutes the thoroughly refereed proceedings of the international workshops associated with the 37th International Conference on Advanced Information Systems Engineering, CAiSE 2025, which was held in Vienna, Austria, during June 16-20, 2025. The total of 24 full papers and 5 short papers included in these proceedings were carefully reviewed and selected from 59 submissions. They stem from the following workshops: - 3rd Workshop on Knowledge Graphs for Semantics-driven Systems Engineering (KG4SDSE)- 3rd International Workshop on Hybrid Artificial Intelligence and Enterprise- Modelling for Intelligent Information Systems (HybridAIMS)- Joint Workshop on Blockchain for Information Systems Engineering (B4ISE) and Workshop on Information Systems and AI for Life Sciences (iSAILS)- 3rd Workshop on Modelling and Implementation of Digital Twins for Complex Systems (MIDas4CS)- Joint Process Mining with Unstructured Data workshop (PMUD) and International Workshop on Multimodal Process Mining (MMPM)- Joint Workshop on Large Language Models in Service-Oriented Architectures Design: Innovations and Applications (LLM-SOA) and Generation of Synthetic Datasets for Information Systems (GENSYN)- 1st Workshop on Compliance in the Era of Artificial Intelligence (CAI).
Enterprise, Business-Process and Information Systems Modeling
This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of two long-running events held along with the CAiSE conference and related to the areas of enterprise, business-process and information systems modeling: - the 26th International Conference on Business Process Modeling, Development and Support, BPMDS 2025 and - the 30th International Conference on Exploring Modeling Methods for Systems Analysis and Development, EMMSAD 2025. The conferences were taking place in Vienna, Austria, during June 16-17, 2025. For BPMDS 12 full papers were carefully reviewed and selected for publication from a total of 39 submissions. The BPMDS papers deal with a broad range of theoretical and applications-based research in business process modeling, development and support. For EMMSAD 13 full papers and 3 short papers were accepted from a total of 37 submissions after thorough reviews. EMMSAD focusses on modeling methods for systems analysis and development.
Effect of Additives/Admixtures on the Properties of Concretes and Cementitious Composites
In today's cement and concrete industry, chemical admixtures have become one of the essential components of cement-based materials. The addition of a certain amount of chemical admixture to cement concrete can improve the defects of the cementitious material itself or improve the performance of the cementitious material. There is a wide range of chemical admixtures in cement concrete, such as water-reducing agents, retarders, early strength agents, accelerators, quick setting agents, air-entraining agents, etc. However, regardless of the admixture added to achieve a particular effect, the addition of admixture will affect the cement hydration process. With the high performance of cement and concrete and the wide application of various chemical admixtures and mineral admixtures, the systematic study of the effect of various admixtures on cement hydration is of great theoretical and engineering significance in terms of understanding the interaction between different chemical admixtures and cement and regulating the hydration process of cement.This Special Issue brings together the latest developments in the field of concrete admixtures. Articles in this Special Issue cover a variety of topics including but not limited to the preparation of new concrete admixtures, alkali-activated material admixtures, and high-performance composite admixtures.
AutoCAD 2026 For Beginners (COLORED)
Learn AutoCAD 2026 fundamentals with this practical guide for students, hobbyists, and professionals new to CAD software.Why AutoCAD 2026AutoCAD remains the industry standard across architecture, engineering, and manufacturing. This manual transforms beginners into confident users through project-based learning that mirrors workplace applications.Skills You'll MasterFoundation: Navigate the interface, create geometric shapes, and complete technical drawings.Intermediate: Use editing tools, dimensioning, and annotations for multi-view mechanical drawings and floor plans.Advanced: Design staircases, roof structures, building layouts using blocks, templates, and parametric tools.Professional: Create 3D models, section views, prepare drawing sets for plotting.Learning Structure14 progressive chapters with hands-on exercises and industry projects. Complete 25+ real-world drawings covering drawing templates, architectural elements, and professional presentation techniques.Target AudienceCareer changers seeking CAD certification, engineering and architecture students, professionals updating skills, and hobbyists designing personal projects.MethodStep-by-step instructions, accompanied by visual examples, ensure success regardless of your background. Create portfolio-worthy work while building AutoCAD expertise for career advancement.
Statistical Analysis with R for Dummies
Simplify stats and learn how to graph, analyze, and interpret data the easy way Statistical Analysis with R For Dummies makes stats approachable by combining clear explanations with practical applications. You'll learn how to download and use R and RStudio--two free, open-source tools--to learn statistics concepts, create graphs, test hypotheses, and draw meaningful conclusions. Get started by learning the basics of statistics and R, calculate descriptive statistics, and use inferential statistics to test hypotheses. Then, visualize it all with graphs and charts. This Dummies guide is your well-marked path to sailing through statistics. Get clear explanations of the basics of statistics and data analysis Learn how to analyze and visualize data with R, step by step Create charts, graphs, and summaries to interpret results Explore hypothesis testing, and prediction techniques This is the perfect introduction to R for students, professionals, and the stat-curious.
FreeCAD 1.0 Learn by Doing (COLORED)
FreeCAD 1.0 Learn By Doing: Your Comprehensive Guide to 3D Design is the ideal hands-on resource for anyone looking to build real skills in 3D modeling and engineering using FreeCAD. Whether you're just getting started or already have experience, this book offers clear, step-by-step tutorials that guide you from basic sketches to complete assemblies. You'll gain confidence in sketching, mastering key tools like constraints and dimensions, and applying professional modeling techniques such as pads, revolves, and patterns. It also covers how to create technical drawings and multi-part assemblies-skills essential for real-world design work. Plus, readers get access to a free downloadable bonus chapter on the Assembly Workbench, making this guide a practical and valuable tool for students, engineers, designers, and hobbyists alike.
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Designed as a reference text. Presents the latest developments in bioinformatics, highlighting the importance of bioinformatics in genomics, transcriptomics, metabolism, and cheminformatics analysis, as well as in drug discovery and development.
Computational Data and Social Networks
This book constitutes the refereed conference proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Computational Data and Social Networks, CSoNet 2024, held in Bangkok, Thailand, during December 16-18, 2024. The 18 full papers and 17 short papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 50 submissions. These papers deal with various aspects of computational data and social networks, focusing on large-scale network computing, data network analysis, mining, security and privacy, optimization, and learning.
Chinese Animated Film and Ideology
This book presents a contextualized overview of the history of Chinese animated film, pointing out the most influential self-definitions of Chinese culture employed in animation art of Mao Zedong's rule (1949-1976).
The Complete Guide to Videogame Performance Directing
This book teaches the complex, sometimes confounding, and often beautiful art of directing live performance for videogames. Starting from a clear and comprehensive introduction to the nuts and bolts of directing on the motion capture floor and in the voiceover booth, this book dives deeper with concrete examples from the author's 25-year career directing seminal games from the early years to today's blockbusters.Identifying the Place (What is the physical environment?), Time (What just happened?), and Action (What do the characters want?) of every scene empowers directors with essential tools to dive straight into the subtext, the life below the words. Through step-by-step instructions, this book shows how to make scenes and lines come alive. It offers real-world advice on everything from casting to table reads, rehearsal, and production days. In addition, readers can find valuable advice about self-care and sustaining a long-term career as a performance director.This book is sure to be an essential resource for directors, actors, voiceover artists, and game developers who want to master videogame performance.
Medical Oncology Compendium
Medical Oncology Compendium discusses several important topics in oncology with the help of leading experts worldwide who incorporate not only knowledge on recent developments in the field, but contextualize them within diverse socioeconomic environments to guarantee the applicability of the content in challenging scenarios. The book comprehensively discusses topics such as surgery, radiology, carcinogenesis, screening, assessment tools, evidence-based medicine, and precision oncology as applicable to different cancer types as non-small and small cell lung cancer, mesothelioma, breast cancer, gastric-rectal cancer, female specific cancers, prostate, skin and bone sarcomas. In addition, it discusses options to minimize oncology pain and palliative care. It is a valuable resource for oncologists, clinicians, researchers, healthcare workers and members of biomedical field who needs to understand more about diagnosis, treatment options and support for cancer patients.
Hate Excel? Workbook. Learn to love the software that can tranform your confidence and career
This is the companion workbook to "Hate Excel? Learn to love the software that can transform your confidence and career". In the book, our heroine Spreadsheet Sheila has a notebook (like all good detectives) in which she records her learnings and insights. This is what she used.Use this workbook as your embark on your Excel journey. It's beautiful and has lots of inspirational quotes to keep you going. You can use it as a way to document your Excel journey and to remind yourself of how far you have come when you are having the inevitable tough days. As you grow in confidence and competence in Excel (and you will), this will be a record of your triumphs and learnings.
Game Design Deep Dive
Game Design Critic and expert Joshua Bycer is back with another entry in the Game Design Deep Dive series for a look at one of the most popular, and confusing, genres out there. Metroidvania is a genre of high-highs and low-lows, and Josh is taking up the task to explain what a metroidvania is, the very long history and variety of it, and what you need to do to create one yourself.- A look at the history of metroidvania design- A primer on 2D platforming UI/UX- Explaining the design and specific elements that make a metroidvania orcould be applied to other genres- Perfect for designers and students alike
Event-Database Architecture for Computer Games
Event-Database Architecture for Computer Games proposes the first explicit software architecture for game development, answering the problem of building modern Computer Games with little or no game design. An archetypal software production process, based on this architecture, is also introduced.This volume begins by describing the formal definition of software production processes in general and the production process of Computer Games in particular. It introduces the two basic principles behind the software architecture that addresses the communication and productivity problems of a degenerative production process. It goes on to describe the archetypal software production process and outlines the role that the Game Designers, Game Programmers, Game Artists, Sound Designers and Game Testers play in that process.This book will be of great interest to professional game developers involved in programming roles, such as Tools Programmers, UI Programmers, Gameplay Programmers and Engineers, as well as students studying game development and programming.Rodney Quaye is Senior Software Development Engineer in Test at Build A Rocket Boy. He has worked in the Computer Games industry for over 16 years. He has worked at several Games Studios including Sumo Digital, nDreams, Supermassive Games, Traveller's Tales, Hotgen, Oysterworld, Second Impact, Flaming Pumpkin, Goldhawk Interactive, Jagex, Gusto Games, Criterion, Asylum Entertainment, Codemasters and Deibus Studios. The famous titles he has worked on include Burnout 2 and 3 for Criterion, LMA Manager for Codemasters, Runescape for Jagex, Lego Worlds for Traveller's Tales, and Everywhere for Build A Rocket Boy.
Algorithms and Complexity
The two-volume set LNCS 15679 and 15680 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Algorithms and Complexity, CIAC 2025, held in Rome, Italy, during June 10-12, 2025.The 44 full papers included in these proceedings were carefully reviewed and selected from 110 submissions. They focus on all aspects of important venue for researchers working on computational complexity and the design, analysis, experimentation, and application of efficient algorithms and data structures.
Algorithms and Complexity
The two-volume set LNCS 15679 and 15680 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Algorithms and Complexity, CIAC 2025, held in Rome, Italy, during June 10-12, 2025.The 44 full papers included in these proceedings were carefully reviewed and selected from 110 submissions. They focus on all aspects of important venue for researchers working on computational complexity and the design, analysis, experimentation, and application of efficient algorithms and data structures.
Ubiquitous Security
This book constitutes the proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Ubiquitous Security, UbiSec 2024, held in Changsha, China, during December 29-31, 2024. The 27 full papers and 5 short papers included in this book were carefully reviewed and selected from 73 submissions. These papers were organized in the followingsections: Cyberspace Security, and Cyberspace Privacy.
Research Challenges in Information Science
The two-volume set LNBIP 547 and LNBIP 548 constitutes the proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Research Challenges in Information Sciences, RCIS 2025, which took place in Seville, Spain, in May 2025. It focused on the special theme: Advancing Information Science and Information Systems Quality in the Era of Complexity. The scope of RCIS is summarized by the thematic areas of information systems and their engineering; user-oriented approaches; data and information management; business process management; domain-specific information systems engineering; data science; information infrastructures, and reflective research and practice. The 33 full papers and 13 short papers included in the proceedings were carefully reviewed and selected from 103 submissions. They were organized in topical sections as follows: Part I: Information systems quality; security, risk and strategy; conceptual modeling and ontologies; modeling methods and requiremments engineering; databases informaiton management; human factors in information systems; business process engineering and management; Part II: Machine-learning and generative AI applications; RCIS Forum; and RCIS Doctoral Consortium.
