This book highlights the recent research on soft computing, pattern recognition, nature-inspired computing, and their various practical applications. It presents 69 selected papers from the 14th International Conference on Soft Computing and Pattern Recognition (SoCPaR 2022) and 19 papers from the 14th World Congress on Nature and Biologically Inspired Computing (NaBIC 2022), which was held online, from December 14 to 16, 2022. A premier conference in the field of soft computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning applications, SoCPaR-NaBIC 2022 brought together researchers, engineers, and practitioners whose work involves intelligent systems, network security, and their applications in industry. Including contributions by authors from over 25 countries, the book offers a valuable reference guide for all researchers, students, and practitioners in the fields of computer science and engineering.

The present work is a continuation of the work initiated in Autumn 1991, which resulted in the book, published by Birkhauser Verlag in 1994, entitled: Methods for Risk Assessment of Transgenic Plants. I. Competition, Establishment and Ecosystem Effects. Already when the work on volume 1 started, it was obvious to the authors, that not only the physical establishment of a transgenic plant outside the cultivated area was important for risk assessment, but also the possible gene-transfer from transgenic plants to other plants had to be considered. It was then decided to write a second volume on test methods, as a complement to the first, covering the main topics: Pollination, gene-transfer and population impacts. The main user groups for this volume are scientists and students working with plant population genetics and risk assessment and administrators with responsibility for legislation of transgenic plants. In order to cover such a broad range of topics, specialist knowledge was required. Therefore, colleagues in Denmark and Switzerland, working in these fields in relation to the concerns of using transgenic plants, were asked to participate. The result was a Danish-Swiss cooperation. A list of contributors to the book and their addresses is shown on p. VII. Financial support, which made the work possible, was given by: The National Environmental Research Institute, Denmark, the Federal Office of Environment, Forest and Landscape, Switzerland, the National Forest and Nature Agency, Denmark, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency and the European Commission, DC XI.

Describes how bees live together in colonies, how they make honey, find food, and communicate, and explains why bees are important to flowers and humans.