This volume deals with recent advances in and applications of computational intelligence and advanced machine learning methods in power systems, heating and cooling systems, and gas transportation systems. The optimal coordinated dispatch of the multi-energy microgrids with renewable generation and storage control using advanced numerical methods is discussed. Forecasting models are designed for electrical insulator faults, the health of the battery, electrical insulator faults, wind speed and power, PV output power and transformer oil test parameters. The loads balance algorithm for an offshore wind farm is proposed. The information security problems in the energy internet are analyzed and attacked using information transmission contemporary models, based on blockchain technology. This book will be of interest, not only to electrical engineers, but also to applied mathematicians who are looking for novel challenging problems to focus on.

The 7th International Conference on Embedded and Multimedia Computing (EMC-12), will be held in Gwangju, Korea on September 6 - 8, 2012. EMC-12 will be the most comprehensive conference focused on the various aspects of advances in Embedded and Multimedia (EM) Computing. EMC-12 will provide an opportunity for academic and industry professionals to discuss the latest issues and progress in the area of EM. In addition, the conference will publish high quality papers which are closely related to the various theories and practical applications in EM. Furthermore, we expect that the conference and its publications will be a trigger for further related research and technology improvements in this important subject. The EMC-12 is the next event, in a series of highly successful International Conference on Embedded and Multimedia Computing, previously held as EMC 2011 (China, Aug. 2011), EMC 2010 (Philippines, Aug. 2010), EM-Com 2009 (Korea, Dec. 2009), UMC-08 (Australia, Oct. 2008), ESO-08(China, Dec. 2008), UMS-08 (Korea, April, 2008), UMS-07(Singapore, Jan. 2007), ESO-07(Taiwan, Dec. 2007), ESO-06(Korea, Aug. 2006).

Human activities such as agriculture and mining have led to serious negative effects on biodiversity and important ecosystem services including biodiversity loss and climate change. Thus, it is important to quantify the key determinants of biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and ecological restoration of degraded plant communities in climate change sensitive ecosystems (i.e. subalpine and alpine meadow communities in Qinghai, tropical rainforests and tropical mountains). In this way, effective management, policy and methods can be developed to reduce the influence of climate change on these climate change sensitive ecosystems. The aforementioned human activities continue to destroy and degrade plant communities and ecosystem functioning. Climatic changes further exacerbate negative impacts and may trigger rapid loss of species, precipitate decline and changes in the flows of ecosystem goods and services. As the collective anthropogenic influence intensifies, some ecosystems may be more sensitive than others to these changes. Ecosystems that contribute greatly to human well-being through the delivery of biodiversity and ecosystem benefits should be the focus of particular concern. There are key knowledge gaps on the specific nature of anthropogenic impacts, species and ecosystem responses, and possible management and mitigation measures. Comprehensive documentation of these aspects from highly sensitive regions and ecosystems is urgently needed, particularly at fine scales, which is relevant for developing management and mitigation measures. Pathways such as ecological restoration can offset some of the impacts, but even quantifying the impacts of observed and anticipated changes is far from adequate and other mitigation measures must be considered.

The various forms of internet use, including social networking, online shopping, gambling, and gaming are a product of the time in which we live and represent an integral part of how we conduct and engage in social interaction. Internet platforms are used daily providing people with the ability to connect, and efficiently exchange important information, as well as provide educational functions and raise awareness/support of problems faced by individuals and societies globally. However, excessive use of internet-related content has shown a significant association with addictive behavior which could have serious repercussions on an individual’s mental health. Where it is generally accepted that a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors contributes to the pathophysiology of addiction, the ongoing debate remains as to whether certain excessive behaviors should be classified as addictions, including social networking addiction. Although any internet-related addiction is not specifically identified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) or International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), it shares a common underlying etiological framework with other (substance or behavioral) addictions.