This book discusses how to build optimization tools able to generate better future studies. It aims at showing how these tools can be used to develop an adaptive learning environment that can be used for decision making in the presence of uncertainties. The book starts with existing fuzzy techniques and multicriteria decision making approaches and shows how to combine them in more effective tools to model future events and take therefore better decisions. The first part of the book is dedicated to the theories behind fuzzy optimization and fuzzy cognitive map, while the second part presents new approaches developed by the authors with their practical application to trend impact analysis, scenario planning and strategic formulation. The book is aimed at two groups of readers, interested in linking the future studies with artificial intelligence. The first group includes social scientists seeking for improved methods for strategic prospective. The second group includes computer scientists and engineers seeking for new applications and current developments of Soft Computing methods for forecasting in social science, but not limited to this.

L'ouvrage traite de prospective stratégique, démarche destinée à éclairer l'action présente à la lumière des futurs possibles et souhaitables. Il présente les fondements, les principaux concepts, les méthodes et les outils de la prospective stratégique, en faisant la distinction entre les problèmes traités en entreprise et ceux traités dans les territoires. Il est enrichi d'un nouveau chapitre sur les outils de la stratégie et du management.

Il y a maintenant 35 ans que survenait la tragique épidémie de Philadelphie qui permit à Joseph McDade de désigner en janvier 1977 Legionella pneumophila comme responsable d'une nouvelle infection bactérienne, la légionellose. Depuis cette date, la bactérie n'a jamais cessé d'occuper le devant de la scène. Certaines épidémies comme celle qui a frappé Harnes dans le Pas-de-Calais lors de l'hiver 2003 a fortement marqué les esprits. Legionella, coordonné par Sophie Jarraud et Jean Freney, a été rédigé par des spécialistes de chacun des domaines abordés et propose un tour d'horizon complet du sujet depuis la description de l'épidémie de 1976 jusqu'à la prévention et le contrôle de la légionellose en passant par les moyens modernes de sa surveillance épidémiologique. Dans cette nouvelle édition, les différents éléments de la première édition (taxonomie, diagnostic, épidémiologie, relations avec l'environnement, traitement, prévention…) ont été repris et entièrement actualisés. De nouveaux chapitres ont été ajoutés ou largement augmentés en particulier ceux concernant la génomique, l'immunité, la multiplication intracellulaire des légionelles ainsi que les stratégies de mise en évidence de la sensibilité aux antibiotiques. Cet ouvrage s'adresse aux médecins, biologistes, hygiénistes, pharmaciens, épidémiologistes et, de façon plus large, à tous les acteurs concernés par la légionellose dans de nombreux domaines industriels. Il sera enfin d'une aide précieuse à tous les étudiants qui souhaitent approfondir leurs connaissances sur Legionella et les légionelloses.

Aging populations are a major consideration for socio-economic development in the early 21st century. This demographic change is mainly seen as a threat rather than as an opportunity to improve the quality of human life. Aging population is taking place in every continent of the world with Europe in the least favourable situation due to its aging population and reduction in economic competitiveness. Economic Foundations for Creative Aging Policy offers public policy ideas to construct positive answers for ageing populations. This exciting new volume searches for economic solutions that can enable effective social policy concerning the elderly. Klimczuk covers theoretical analysis and case study descriptions of good practices, to suggest strategies that could be internationally popularised.

As German troops entered Paris following their victory in June 1940, the American journalist William L. Shirer observed that they carried cameras and behaved as "naïve tourists." One of the first things Hitler did after his victory was to tour occupied Paris, where he was famously photographed in front of the Eiffel Tower. Focusing on tourism by German personnel, military and civil, and French civilians during the war, as well as war-related memory tourism since, War Tourism addresses the fundamental linkages between the two. As Bertram M. Gordon shows, Germans toured occupied France by the thousands in groups organized by their army and guided by suggestions in magazines such as Der Deutsche Wegleiter fr Paris [The German Guide for Paris]. Despite the hardships imposed by war and occupation, many French civilians continued to take holidays. Facilitated by the Popular Front legislation of 1936, this solidified the practice of workers' vacations, leading to a postwar surge in tourism. After the end of the war, the phenomenon of memory tourism transformed sites such as the Maginot Line fortresses. The influx of tourists with links either directly or indirectly to the war took hold and continues to play a significant economic role in Normandy and elsewhere. As France moved from wartime to a postwar era of reconciliation and European Union, memory tourism has held strong and exerts significant influence across the country.