Contributions to Artificial Intelligence Techniques Applied

ACNOWLEDGMENTS Through these lines, I would like to express my gratitude to those who, during all this time, contributed in one way or the other so that this thesis comes to reality. To Professor Severin Bumbaru, the supervisor of this work, an example not only of abnegation and passion for research and teaching, but also an example of living. To Professor José Sá da Costa, the supervisor of my work in Lisbon, for his special understanding, patience, and tact towards me, for his constant support and trust. To Professor Viorel Mânzu, for his remarkable kindness to participate constantly in the examination committees. To all Colleagues from the Galaþi Department, who managed to create inside the Department such a proper environment for anyone to develop his/her skills. To Dr. Vasile Palade, the one that motivated me to start walking on this way and who constantly supported me. To Dr. George Puºcaºu. To the Colleagues from DAMADICS team in Lisbon. To Rui Louro and Arunas Lipnickas go special thanks. To my parents, for their appreciation for education and their special effort they made so that I may have unrestricted access to it. To Liviu and Cãtãlina, my brother and respectively my sister, for their trust and encouragements. Finally, but not in the least the last, I would like to thank my wife Simonela and my daughter Naomi, for their peculiar effort throughout all these years to encourage and to support me, and to bear patiently my stress and my long absences from home.