The two volume-set, LNCS 7930 and LNCS 7931, constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 5th International Work-Conference on the Interplay between Natural and Artificial Computation, IWINAC 2013, held in Mallorca, Spain, in June 2013. The 92 revised full papers presented in LNCS 7930 and LNCS 7931 were carefully reviewed and selected from numerous submissions. The first part, LNCS 7930, entitled "Natural and Artificial Models in Computation and Biology”, includes all the contributions mainly related to the methodological, conceptual, formal, and experimental developments in the fields of neurophysiology and cognitive science. The second part, LNCS 7931, entitled “Natural and Artificial Computation in Engineering and Medical Applications”, contains the papers related to bioinspired programming strategies and all the contributions related to the computational solutions to engineering problems in different application domains, specially Health applications, including the CYTED “Artificial and Natural Computation for Health” (CANS) research network papers. In addition, this two volume-set reflects six interesting areas: cognitive robotics; natural computing; wetware computation; quality of life technologies; biomedical and industrial perception applications; and Web intelligence and neuroscience.

Genetic algorithms are playing an increasingly important role in studies of complex adaptive systems, ranging from adaptive agents in economic theory to the use of machine learning techniques in the design of complex devices such as aircraft turbines and integrated circuits. Adaptation in Natural and Artificial Systems is the book that initiated this field of study, presenting the theoretical foundations and exploring applications. In its most familiar form, adaptation is a biological process, whereby organisms evolve by rearranging genetic material to survive in environments confronting them. In this now classic work, Holland presents a mathematical model that allows for the nonlinearity of such complex interactions. He demonstrates the model's universality by applying it to economics, physiological psychology, game theory, and artificial intelligence and then outlines the way in which this approach modifies the traditional views of mathematical genetics. Initially applying his concepts to simply defined artificial systems with limited numbers of parameters, Holland goes on to explore their use in the study of a wide range of complex, naturally occuring processes, concentrating on systems having multiple factors that interact in nonlinear ways. Along the way he accounts for major effects of coadaptation and coevolution: the emergence of building blocks, or schemata, that are recombined and passed on to succeeding generations to provide, innovations and improvements.

The two-volume set LNCS 5601 and LNCS 5602 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the Third International Work-Conference on the Interplay between Natural and Artificial Computation, IWINAC 2009, held in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, in June 2009. The 108 revised papers presented are thematically divided into two volumes. The first volume includes papers relating the most recent collaborations with Professor Mira and contributions mainly related with theoretical, conceptual and methodological aspects linking AI and knowledge engineering with neurophysiology, clinics and cognition. The second volume contains all the contributions connected with biologically inspired methods and techniques for solving AI and knowledge engineering problems in different application domains.

The field of biologically inspired computation has coexisted with mainstream computing since the 1930s, and the pioneers in this area include Warren McCulloch, Walter Pitts, Robert Rosen, Otto Schmitt, Alan Turing, John von Neumann and Norbert Wiener. Ideas arising out of studies of biology have permeated algorithmics, automata theory, artificial intelligence, graphics, information systems and software design. Within this context, the biomolecular, cellular and tissue levels of biological organisation have had a considerable inspirational impact on the development of computational ideas. Such innovations include neural computing, systolic arrays, genetic and immune algorithms, cellular automata, artificial tissues, DNA computing and protein memories. With the rapid growth in biological knowledge there remains a vast source of ideas yet to be tapped. This includes developments associated with biomolecular, genomic, enzymic, metabolic, signalling and developmental systems and the various impacts on distributed, adaptive, hybrid and emergent computation. This multidisciplinary book brings together a collection of chapters by biologists, computer scientists, engineers and mathematicians who were drawn together to examine the ways in which the interdisciplinary displacement of concepts and ideas could develop new insights into emerging computing paradigms. Funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the CytoCom Network formally met on five occasions to examine and discuss common issues in biology and computing that could be exploited to develop emerging models of computation.

This book provides simultaneously a design blueprint, user guide, research agenda, and communication platform for current and future developments in artificial intelligence (AI) approaches to systems biology. It places an emphasis on the molecular dimension of life phenomena and in one chapter on anatomical and functional modeling of the brain. As design blueprint, the book is intended for scientists and other professionals tasked with developing and using AI technologies in the context of life sciences research. As a user guide, this volume addresses the requirements of researchers to gain a basic understanding of key AI methodologies for life sciences research. Its emphasis is not on an intricate mathematical treatment of the presented AI methodologies. Instead, it aims at providing the users with a clear understanding and practical know-how of the methods. As a research agenda, the book is intended for computer and life science students, teachers, researchers, and managers who want to understand the state of the art of the presented methodologies and the areas in which gaps in our knowledge demand further research and development. Our aim was to maintain the readability and accessibility of a textbook throughout the chapters, rather than compiling a mere reference manual. The book is also intended as a communication platform seeking to bride the cultural and technological gap among key systems biology disciplines. To support this function, contributors have adopted a terminology and approach that appeal to audiences from different backgrounds.

The two volume-set, LNCS 7930 and LNCS 7931, constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 5th International Work-Conference on the Interplay between Natural and Artificial Computation, IWINAC 2013, held in Mallorca, Spain, in June 2013. The 92 revised full papers presented in LNCS 7930 and LNCS 7931 were carefully reviewed and selected from numerous submissions. The first part, LNCS 7930, entitled "Natural and Artificial Models in Computation and Biology”, includes all the contributions mainly related to the methodological, conceptual, formal, and experimental developments in the fields of neurophysiology and cognitive science. The second part, LNCS 7931, entitled “Natural and Artificial Computation in Engineering and Medical Applications”, contains the papers related to bioinspired programming strategies and all the contributions related to the computational solutions to engineering problems in different application domains, specially Health applications, including the CYTED “Artificial and Natural Computation for Health” (CANS) research network papers. In addition, this two volume-set reflects six interesting areas: cognitive robotics; natural computing; wetware computation; quality of life technologies; biomedical and industrial perception applications; and Web intelligence and neuroscience.

The two-volume set LNCS 5601 and LNCS 5602 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the Third International Work-Conference on the Interplay between Natural and Artificial Computation, IWINAC 2009, held in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, in June 2009. The 108 revised papers presented are thematically divided into two volumes. The first volume includes papers relating the most recent collaborations with Professor Mira and contributions mainly related with theoretical, conceptual and methodological aspects linking AI and knowledge engineering with neurophysiology, clinics and cognition. The second volume contains all the contributions connected with biologically inspired methods and techniques for solving AI and knowledge engineering problems in different application domains.