FLINS, originally an acronym for Fuzzy Logic and Intelligent Technologies in Nuclear Science, is now extended to Applied Artificial Intelligence for Applied Research. The contributions to the seventh in the series of FLINS conferences contained in this volume cover state-of-the-art research and development in applied artificial intelligence for applied research in general and for power/nuclear engineering in particular.

In little more than a decade, the availability of nuclear power plants in the United States and most European and Pacific Rim countries has increased dramatically- from around 60% to about 90%. Such improvement is equivalent to adding approximately 30,000 MW e of new generating capacity in this period in the United States and perhaps an equal amount elsewhere. Some of this improvement has been due to longer fuel cycles-increases from 12 months to 18 or 24 months, but the major gains have been due to on-line maintenance and improved operation and planning by the utilities, accomplished...