Intense media coverage of the public pension funding crisis continues to fuel heightened awareness in and debate over public pension benefits. With over $3 trillion in assets currently under management, the ramifications of poor oversight are severe. It is important that practitioners, researchers, and taxpayers be well-advised regarding any concer

Since 1978, when China started remaking its economy, it has also embarked on an unparalleled effort at remaking its pension system to accommodate its hybrid economic model. This book tells the story of how China has managed to build a national pension system that now covers most of its population and what this system holds for its future.This book covers the following topics: evolution of Chinese pension system to its current form; benefit design, financing, and governance of curre...

This book explores how visualization provides an effective way of improving not only the interpretability but also the generalization capabilities of machine learning models. It shows how visualization can bridge the gap between complex models or algorithms and human understanding while also facilitating data curation and model refinement. Therefore, visualization for artificial intelligence (VIS4AI) has become an emerging area that combines interactive visualization with machine learning ...

This is an authoritative book that acts as a guide to understanding maize kernel development. Written by a team of experts, it covers topics spanning pre- and post-fertilization events, embryo and endosperm development, grain filling and maturation, and factors influencing crop yield. It explores the significance of maize and other cereal grains, existing hypotheses and research, and important gaps in our knowledge and how we might fill them. This is a valuable resource for researchers of ...

This book chiefly presents a novel approach referred to as backward fuzzy rule interpolation and extrapolation (BFRI). BFRI allows observations that directly relate to the conclusion to be inferred or interpolated from other antecedents and conclusions. Based on the scale and move transformation interpolation, this approach supports both interpolation and extrapolation, which involve multiple hierarchical intertwined fuzzy rules, each with multiple antecedents. As such, it offers a means o...

Bayesian Modeling and Computation in Python aims to help beginner Bayesian practitioners to become intermediate modelers. It uses a hands on approach with PyMC3, Tensorflow Probability, ArviZ and other libraries focusing on the practice of applied statistics with references to the underlying mathematical theory.The book starts with a refresher of the Bayesian Inference concepts. The second chapter introduces modern methods for Exploratory Analysis of Bayesian Models. With ...

This book serves as an introduction of the off-diagonal Bethe Ansatz method, an analytic theory for the eigenvalue problem of quantum integrable models. It also presents some fundamental knowledge about quantum integrability and the algebraic Bethe Ansatz method. Based on the intrinsic properties of R-matrix and K-matrices, the book introduces a systematic method to construct operator identities of transfer matrix. These identities allow one to establish the inhomogeneous T-Q relation form...

Computational Intelligence in Protein-Ligand Interaction Analysis presents computational techniques for predicting protein-ligand interactions, recognizing protein interaction sites, and identifying protein drug targets. The book emphasizes novel approaches to protein-ligand interactions, including machine learning and deep learning, presenting a state-of-the-art suite of skills for researchers. The volume represents a resource for scientists, detailing the fundamentals of computational me...

Membrane computing is a class of distributed and parallel computing models inspired by living cells. Spiking neural P systems are neural-like membrane computing models, representing an interdisciplinary field between membrane computing and artificial neural networks, and are considered one of the third-generation neural networks. Models and applications constitute two major research topics in spiking neural P systems. The entire book comprises two parts: models and applications.In ...

As the main trend and key enabling technology for next-generation wireless networks (i.e., 6G), integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) can effectively improve spectrum efficiency, hardware efficiency, and information processing efficiency. However, it faces several deficiencies, including limited coverage due to high-frequency signals and limited communication-sensing performance due to uncontrollable wireless environments. Reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) provides novel dimen...

This book highlights the latest advances in advanced insulating materials. Energy crisis and environmental pollution are two major themes currently faced by the human society. It is of unprecedented strategic importance to construct a strong smart grid with super/ultra-high voltage network as the backbone and clean energy transmission as the leading force. However, the performance of electrical equipment and devices is greatly determined by the properties of their insulating materials, esp...

Based on the design theory and development experience of Beidou navigation satellite system (BDS), this book highlights the space segment and the related satellite technologies as well as satellite-ground integration design from the perspective of engineering. The satellite navigation technology in this book is divided into uplink and reception technology, broadcasting link technology, inter-satellite link technology, time-frequency system technology, navigation signal generation and asses...