The papers in this volume present theoretical aspects and applications of artificial neural networks and genetic algorithms. Also included are papers on fuzzy logic, soft computing, and artificial intelligence.Fundamental issues are addressed, such as the nonlinear approximation capabilities of neural networks and formal methods of data representation with topological properties. New elements in genetic algorithms are presented, for example, crossover methods and gene representation.Papers on applications of neural networks show how successful these methods are in a wide range of fields like meteorological and atmospheric pollution forecasts, furnace control, and system identification. Genetic algorithms are used to solve optimization problems related to shipping and computer vision. Fuzzy-logic-based techniques are applied to sociodynamic models and hybrid neuro-fuzzy models.

Table of Contents:
I - Neural Network Theory.- Validation of a RBFN Model by Sensitivity Analysis.- Generalized Recurrent Neural Networks and Continuous Dynamic Systems.- A Learning Probabilistic Neural Network with Fuzzy Inference.- Boosting Recurrent Neural Networks for Time Series Prediction.- Bounds on Rates of Approximation by Neural Networks in Lp-spaces.- On Input Discretisation Processes for Tapped Delay Neural Architecture.- An Extended Architecture of Recurrent Neural Networks That Latches Input Information.- Recurrent Neural Network with Integrated Wavelet Based Denoising Unit.- Reinforced Search in Stochastic Neural Network.- A Hybrid Algorithm for Weight and Connectivity Optimization in Feedforward Neural Networks.- Neural Network Learning as Approximate Optimization.- Binary Factorization in Hopfield-Like Neural Autoassociator: A Promising Tool for Data Compression.- ?_SVM: A New Support Vector Machine Kernel.- Optimal Neighbourhood and Model Quality Indicators.- II - Neural Network Applications.- Manufacturing Process Quality Control by Means of a Fuzzy ART Neural Network Algorithm.- Hybrid Models for Forecasting Air Pollution Episodes.- Influence of Language Parameters Selection on the Coarticulation of the Phonemes for Prosody Training in TTS by Neural Networks.- Vertical Vector Fields and Neural Networks: An Application in Atmospheric Pollution Forecasting.- A Systematic Method to Neural Network Modeling with Application to Sintermaking.- A Framework for Neural Quality Control Systems Design.- Prediction of Natural Gas Consumption with Feed-forward and Fuzzy Neural Networks.- Systems Identification with the GMDH Neural Networks: A Multi-dimensional Case.- Neural Network Control Approach for an Industrial Furnace.- An Inductive Inference Approach to Large Scale TextCategorisation.- The Accurate Estimation of Meteorological Profiles Employing ANNs.- Use of Neural Network for Modelling and Fault Detection for the Intake Manifold of an SI Engine.- RBFG Neural Networks for Insulation Thermal Ageing Prediction.- Meteorological Data Mining Employing Self-Organising Maps.- Artificial Intelligence Methods for Large Microsensor Arrays: Feasibility and Design.- A New Approach for On-line Visual Encoding and Recognition of Handwriting Script by Using Neural Network System.- III - Genetic Algorithm and Evolutionary Computation Theory.- An Immune System-Based Genetic Algorithm To Deal with Dynamic Environments: Diversity and Memory.- Improving the Genetic Algorithm’s Performance when Using Transformation.- An Ant Colony Algorithm for Multiple Sequence Alignment in Bioinformatics.- The RBF-Gene Model.- Evolving Spiking Neurons Nets To Control an Animat.- Synapsing Variable Length Crossover: Biologically Inspired Crossover for Variable Length Genomes.- A Comparative Study Using Genetic Algorithms To Deal with Dynamic Environments.- Towards Building Computational Agent Schemes.- The Design of Beta Basis Function Neural Network Using Hierarchical Genetic Algorithm.- IV - Genetic Algorithm and Evolutionary Computation Applications.- Population Learning Algorithm for Resource-Constrained Project Scheduling.- Genetic Snakes: Application on Lipreading.- Applying Genetic Algorithms to Container Transhipment.- Finding Routeways in Airframe Design Using Genetic Algorithms.- V - Fuzzy and Soft Computing Theory.- A Universal Knowledge Module and Its Applications.- Handling Categorical Data in Rule Induction.- VI - Fuzzy and Soft Computing Applications.- Social Agents in Dynamic Equilibrium.- Energy Management for Hybrid Electric Vehicles Based on FuzzyClustering and Genetic Algorithms.