Ernesto Damiani Livres

This book constitutes the thoroughly refereed proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Evaluation of Novel Approaches to Software Engineering, ENASE 2017, held in Porto, Portugal, in April 2017. The 12 full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 102 submissions. The mission of ENASE is to be a prime international forum to discuss and publish research findings and IT industry experiences with relation to the evaluation of novel approaches to software engineering. The conference acknowledges necessary changes in systems and software thinking due to contemporary shifts of computing paradigm to e-services, cloud computing, mobile connectivity, business processes, and societal participation.

For 20 years, the IFIP WG 11.3 Working Conference on Data and Applications Security (DBSEC) has served as a significant platform for original research, practical experiences, and innovative ideas in data and application security. Reflecting on this period, it is evident how much the field has evolved. Data protection, privacy, and trust, once seen as secondary considerations in system design, have emerged as primary concerns. This shift underscores the heightened responsibilities faced by both practitioners and researchers, who must navigate the growing scale and complexity of security challenges within the global information infrastructure. The 20th DBSEC has successfully addressed this challenge, receiving 56 submissions, from which the program committee selected 22 high-quality papers covering diverse topics such as access control, privacy, and identity management. The final program showcases a balanced mix of theoretical insights and practical prototype systems that often intersect and build upon one another. Additionally, it features papers on new and emerging aspects of security research. Organizing a premier conference like DBSEC is always a collaborative effort, highlighting the dedication of the team involved.

Soft computing is increasingly significant in studying complex systems across various domains, including aerospace, communication, consumer appliances, electric power systems, process engineering, transportation, and robotics. This book explores the application of soft computing within the software engineering environment, addressing core topics that inherently involve soft elements, such as component selection, software design, software reuse, cost estimation, and processes. Unlike conventional computing, soft computing embraces imprecision, uncertainty, partial truth, and approximation, which enhances tractability, robustness, and cost-effectiveness. The guiding principle is to leverage this tolerance to improve outcomes. The human mind serves as the role model for soft computing, aligning well with software engineering—a discipline rooted in human creativity and sound engineering principles. A recent survey indicates that software engineering research often remains insular, not drawing on insights from other fields. This book aims to bridge that gap, providing a comprehensive look at how soft computing can transform software engineering practices and enhance the development of complex systems. It offers valuable insights for researchers and practitioners looking to integrate soft computing methodologies into their work.