This book presents a solution to the challenging issue of optimizing expensive-to-evaluate industrial problems such as the hyperparameter tuning of machine learning models. The approach combines two well-established concepts, Surrogate-Based Optimization (SBO) and parallelization, to efficiently search for optimal parameter setups with as few function evaluations as possible. Through in-depth analysis, the need for parallel SBO solvers is emphasized, and it is demonstrated that they outperform model-free algorithms in scenarios with a low evaluation budget. The SBO approach helps practitioners save significant amounts of time and resources in hyperparameter tuning as well as other optimization projects. As a highlight, a novel framework for objectively comparing the efficiency of parallel SBO algorithms is introduced, enabling practitioners to evaluate and select the most effective approach for their specific use case. Based on practical examples, decision support is delivered, detailing which parts of industrial optimization projects can be parallelized and how to prioritize which parts to parallelize first. By following the framework, practitioners can make informed decisions about how to allocate resources and optimize their models efficiently.

This two-volume set LNCS 12269 and LNCS 12270 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Parallel Problem Solving from Nature, PPSN 2020, held in Leiden, The Netherlands, in September 2020. The 99 revised full papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 268 submissions. The topics cover classical subjects such as automated algorithm selection and configuration; Bayesian- and surrogate-assisted optimization; benchmarking and performance measures; combinatorial optimization; connection between nature-inspired optimization and artificial intelligence; genetic and evolutionary algorithms; genetic programming; landscape analysis; multiobjective optimization; real-world applications; reinforcement learning; and theoretical aspects of nature-inspired optimization.

This book constitutes the refereed post-proceedings of the First International Workshop on Eternal Systems, EternalS 2011, held in Budapest, Hungary, in May 2011. The workshop aimed at creating the conditions for mutual awareness and cross-fertilization among broad ICT areas such as learning systems for knowledge management and representation, software systems, networked systems and secure systems, by focusing on their shared objectives such as adaptation, evolvability and flexibility for the development of long living and versatile systems. The 6 revised full papers and 4 short papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 15 submissions. They are organized in topical sections on software and secure systems, machine learning for software systems, and ontology and knowledge representations.

Complex systems and their phenomena are ubiquitous as they can be found in biology, finance, the humanities, management sciences, medicine, physics and similar fields. For many problems in these fields, there are no conventional ways to mathematically or analytically solve them completely at low cost. On the other hand, nature already solved many optimization problems efficiently. Computational intelligence attempts to mimic nature-inspired problem-solving strategies and methods. These strategies can be used to study, model and analyze complex systems such that it becomes feasible to handle them. Key areas of computational intelligence are artificial neural networks, evolutionary computation and fuzzy systems. As only a few researchers in that field, Rudolf Kruse has contributed in many important ways to the understanding, modeling and application of computational intelligence methods. On occasion of his 60th birthday, a collection of original papers of leading researchers in the field of computational intelligence has been collected in this volume.

In recent years there has been a growing interest to extend classical methods for data analysis. The aim is to allow a more flexible modeling of phenomena such as uncertainty, imprecision or ignorance. Such extensions of classical probability theory and statistics are useful in many real-life situations, since uncertainties in data are not only present in the form of randomness --- various types of incomplete or subjective information have to be handled. About twelve years ago the idea of strengthening the dialogue between the various research communities in the field of data analysis was born and resulted in the International Conference Series on Soft Methods in Probability and Statistics (SMPS). This book gathers contributions presented at the SMPS'2012 held in Konstanz, Germany. Its aim is to present recent results illustrating new trends in intelligent data analysis. It gives a comprehensive overview of current research into the fusion of soft computing methods with probability and statistics. Synergies of both fields might improve intelligent data analysis methods in terms of robustness to noise and applicability to larger datasets, while being able to efficiently obtain understandable solutions of real-world problems.

This second edition of a well-received text, with 20 new chapters, presents a coherent and unified repository of recommender systems’ major concepts, theories, methodologies, trends, and challenges. A variety of real-world applications and detailed case studies are included. In addition to wholesale revision of the existing chapters, this edition includes new topics including: decision making and recommender systems, reciprocal recommender systems, recommender systems in social networks, mobile recommender systems, explanations for recommender systems, music recommender systems, cross-domain recommendations, privacy in recommender systems, and semantic-based recommender systems. This multi-disciplinary handbook involves world-wide experts from diverse fields such as artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, information retrieval, data mining, mathematics, statistics, adaptive user interfaces, decision support systems, psychology, marketing, and consumer behavior. Theoreticians and practitioners from these fields will find this reference to be an invaluable source of ideas, methods and techniques for developing more efficient, cost-effective and accurate recommender systems.

Security and privacy are paramount concerns in information processing systems, which are vital to business, government and military operations and, indeed, society itself. Meanwhile, the expansion of the Internet and its convergence with telecommunication networks are providing incredible connectivity, myriad applications and, of course, new threats. Data and Applications Security XVII: Status and Prospects describes original research results, practical experiences and innovative ideas, all focused on maintaining security and privacy in information processing systems and applications that pervade cyberspace. The areas of coverage include: -Information Warfare, -Information Assurance, -Security and Privacy, -Authorization and Access Control in Distributed Systems, -Security Technologies for the Internet, -Access Control Models and Technologies, -Digital Forensics. This book is the seventeenth volume in the series produced by the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) Working Group 11.3 on Data and Applications Security. It presents a selection of twenty-six updated and edited papers from the Seventeenth Annual IFIP TC11 / WG11.3 Working Conference on Data and Applications Security held at Estes Park, Colorado, USA in August 2003, together with a report on the conference keynote speech and a summary of the conference panel. The contents demonstrate the richness and vitality of the discipline, and other directions for future research in data and applications security. Data and Applications Security XVII: Status and Prospects is an invaluable resource for information assurance researchers, faculty members and graduate students, as well as for individuals engaged in research and development in the information technology sector.

The first complete overview of evolutionary computing, the collective name for a range of problem-solving techniques based on principles of biological evolution, such as natural selection and genetic inheritance. The text is aimed directly at lecturers and graduate and undergraduate students. It is also meant for those who wish to apply evolutionary computing to a particular problem or within a given application area. The book contains quick-reference information on the current state-of-the-art in a wide range of related topics, so it is of interest not just to evolutionary computing specialists but to researchers working in other fields.