A Practical Introduction to Enterprise Network and Security Management, Second Edition, provides a balanced understanding of introductory and advanced subjects in both computer networking and cybersecurity. Although much of the focus is on technical concepts, managerial issues related to enterprise network and security planning and design are explained from a practitioner's perspective. Because of the critical importance of cybersecurity in today's enterprise networks, security-related issues are explained throughout the book, and four chapters are dedicated to fundamental knowledge. Challenging concepts are explained so readers can follow through with careful reading. This book is written for those who are self-studying or studying information systems or computer science in a classroom setting. If used for a course, it has enough material for a semester or a quarter. FEATURES Provides both theoretical and practical hands-on knowledge and learning experiences for computer networking and cybersecurity Offers a solid knowledge base for those preparing for certificate tests, such as CompTIA and CISSP Takes advantage of actual cases, examples, industry products, and services so students can relate concepts and theories to practice Explains subjects in a systematic and practical manner to facilitate understanding Includes practical exercise questions that can be individual or group assignments within or without a classroom Contains several information-rich screenshots, figures, and tables carefully constructed to solidify concepts and enhance visual learning The text is designed for students studying information systems or computer science for the first time. As a textbook, this book includes hands-on assignments based on the Packet Tracer program, an excellent network design and simulation tool from Cisco. Instructor materials also are provided, including PowerPoint slides, solutions for exercise questions, and additional chapter questions from which to build tests.

This textbook was written from the perspective of someone who began his software security career in 2005, long before the industry began focusing on it. This is an excellent perspective for students who want to learn about securing application development. After having made all the rookie mistakes, the author realized that software security is a human factors issue rather than a technical or process issue alone. Throwing technology into an environment that expects people to deal with it but failing to prepare them technically and psychologically with the knowledge and skills needed is a certain recipe for bad results. Practical Security for Agile and DevOps is a collection of best practices and effective implementation recommendations that are proven to work. The text leaves the boring details of software security theory out of the discussion as much as possible to concentrate on practical applied software security that is useful to professionals. It is as much a book for students' own benefit as it is for the benefit of their academic careers and organizations. Professionals who are skilled in secure and resilient software development and related tasks are in tremendous demand. This demand will increase exponentially for the foreseeable future. As students integrate the text's best practices into their daily duties, their value increases to their companies, management, community, and industry. The textbook was written for the following readers: Students in higher education programs in business or engineering disciplines AppSec architects and program managers in information security organizations Enterprise architecture teams with a focus on application development Scrum Teams including: Scrum Masters Engineers/developers Analysts Architects Testers DevOps teams Product owners and their management Project managers Application security auditors Agile coaches and trainers Instructors and trainers in academia and private organizations

This textbook was written from the perspective of someone who began his software security career in 2005, long before the industry began focusing on it. This is an excellent perspective for students who want to learn about securing application development. After having made all the rookie mistakes, the author realized that software security is a human factors issue rather than a technical or process issue alone. Throwing technology into an environment that expects people to deal with it but failing to prepare them technically and psychologically with the knowledge and skills needed is a certain recipe for bad results. Practical Security for Agile and DevOps is a collection of best practices and effective implementation recommendations that are proven to work. The text leaves the boring details of software security theory out of the discussion as much as possible to concentrate on practical applied software security that is useful to professionals. It is as much a book for students' own benefit as it is for the benefit of their academic careers and organizations. Professionals who are skilled in secure and resilient software development and related tasks are in tremendous demand. This demand will increase exponentially for the foreseeable future. As students integrate the text's best practices into their daily duties, their value increases to their companies, management, community, and industry. The textbook was written for the following readers: Students in higher education programs in business or engineering disciplines AppSec architects and program managers in information security organizations Enterprise architecture teams with a focus on application development Scrum Teams including: Scrum Masters Engineers/developers Analysts Architects Testers DevOps teams Product owners and their management Project managers Application security auditors Agile coaches and trainers Instructors and trainers in academia and private organizations

Digital transformation (DT) has become a buzzword. Every industry segment across the globe is consciously jumping toward digital innovation and disruption to get ahead of their competitors. In other words, every aspect of running a business is being digitally empowered to reap all the benefits of the digital paradigm. All kinds of digitally enabled businesses across the globe are intrinsically capable of achieving bigger and better things for their constituents. Their consumers, clients, and customers will realize immense benefits with real digital transformation initiatives and implementations. The much-awaited business transformation can be easily and elegantly accomplished with a workable and winnable digital transformation strategy, plan, and execution. There are several enablers and accelerators for realizing the much-discussed digital transformation. There are a lot of digitization and digitalization technologies available to streamline and speed up the process of the required transformation. Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies in close association with decisive advancements in the artificial intelligence (AI) space can bring forth the desired transitions. The other prominent and dominant technologies toward forming digital organizations include cloud IT, edge/fog computing, real-time data analytics platforms, blockchain technology, digital twin paradigm, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) techniques, enterprise mobility, and 5G communication. These technological innovations are intrinsically competent and versatile enough to fulfill the varying requirements for establishing and sustaining digital enterprises. Enterprise Digital Transformation: Technology, Tools, and Use Cases features chapters on the evolving aspects of digital transformation and intelligence. It covers the unique competencies of digitally transformed enterprises, IIoT use cases, and applications. It explains promising technological solutions widely associated with digital innovation and disruption. The book focuses on setting up and sustaining smart factories that are fulfilling the Industry 4.0 vision that is realized through the IIoT and allied technologies.

"The most interesting book ever written about Google" (The Washington Post) delivers the inside story behind the most successful and admired technology company of our time, now updated with a new Afterword. Google is arguably the most important company in the world today, with such pervasive influence that its name is a verb. The company founded by two Stanford graduate students-Larry Page and Sergey Brin-has become a tech giant known the world over. Since starting with its search engine, Google has moved into mobile phones, computer operating systems, power utilities, self-driving cars, all while remaining the most powerful company in the advertising business. Granted unprecedented access to the company, Levy disclosed that the key to Google's success in all these businesses lay in its engineering mindset and adoption of certain internet values such as speed, openness, experimentation, and risk-taking. Levy discloses details behind Google's relationship with China, including how Brin disagreed with his colleagues on the China strategy-and why its social networking initiative failed; the first time Google tried chasing a successful competitor. He examines Google's rocky relationship with government regulators, particularly in the EU, and how it has responded when employees left the company for smaller, nimbler start-ups. In the Plex is the "most authoritative...and in many ways the most entertaining" (James Gleick, The New York Book Review) account of Google to date and offers "an instructive primer on how the minds behind the world's most influential internet company function" (Richard Waters, The Wall Street Journal).

Cloud computing is the most significant technology transformation since the introduction of the Internet in the early 1990s. As more and more companies and educational institutions plan to adopt a cloud-based IT infrastructure, today's job market requires IT professionals who understand cloud computing and have hands-on experience developing cloud-based networks. Cloud Computing Networking: Theory, Practice, and Development covers the key networking and system administration concepts as well as the vital hands-on skills you need to master cloud technology. This book is designed to help you quickly get started in deploying cloud services for a real-world business. It provides detailed step-by-step instructions for creating a fully functioning cloud-based IT infrastructure using the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. In this environment, you can develop cloud services collaboratively or individually. The book enhances your hands-on skills through numerous lab activities. In these lab activities, you will learn to Implement the following services in a cloud environment: Active Directory, DHCP, DNS, and Certificate Services Configure Windows Server so it can route IP traffic Implement IP Security Policy and Windows Firewall with Advanced Security tools Create a point-to-site connection between Microsoft Azure and a local computer Create a site-to-site connection between Microsoft Azure and an on-premises network Develop a hybrid cloud that integrates Microsoft Azure with a private cloud created on a local network Cloud Computing Networking: Theory, Practice, and Development includes numerous examples, figures, and screen shots to help you understand the information. Each chapter concludes with a summary of the major topics and a set of review questions. With this book, you will soon have the critical knowledge and skills to develop and manage cloud-based networks.

Learn Windows 11 quickly, easily, and with expert help from a tech education master Windows 11 Simplified is your from-scratch beginner's guide to the ins and outs of the latest version of Windows. It's fully updated to include all the coolest new features of Windows 11 and offers a highly visual roadmap - complete with tons of screenshots and illustrations - to Windows 11 mastery. You'll get up to speed on the basic, and not-so-basic, features of Windows 11 with plain-English instructions and step-by-step screenshots that walk you through every technique you need to know to make Windows 11 do what you want it to do. You'll learn to navigate the user interface, work with and manage files, create user accounts, and practice using the tools that make Windows 11 the most user-friendly and powerful version of the famous operating system yet. You'll also discover how to: Master the basics, as well as a bunch of power-user tools, with easy-to-follow instructions Learn your way around the interface, File Explorer, the Settings app, and more Navigate the web, send emails, access online media, and chat with friends and family Customize windows to look and feel exactly the way you want it to With the right help, learning a new operating system can be fun, straightforward, and exciting. This book is perfect for everyone from those with no Windows experience at all to users of previous versions who just need a heads-up on the latest features. If you're ready to become a Windows 11 master, Windows 11 Simplified is the easiest and fastest way to do it.

High Performance Parallelism Pearls Volume 2 offers another set of examples that demonstrate how to leverage parallelism. Similar to Volume 1, the techniques included here explain how to use processors and coprocessors with the same programming - illustrating the most effective ways to combine Xeon Phi coprocessors with Xeon and other multicore processors. The book includes examples of successful programming efforts, drawn from across industries and domains such as biomed, genetics, finance, manufacturing, imaging, and more. Each chapter in this edited work includes detailed explanations of the programming techniques used, while showing high performance results on both Intel Xeon Phi coprocessors and multicore processors. Learn from dozens of new examples and case studies illustrating "success stories" demonstrating not just the features of Xeon-powered systems, but also how to leverage parallelism across these heterogeneous systems.

Industry 4.0 is the latest technological innovation in manufacturing with the goal to increase productivity in a flexible and efficient manner. Changing the way in which manufacturers operate, this revolutionary transformation is powered by various technology advances including Big Data analytics, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and cloud computing. Big Data analytics has been identified as one of the significant components of Industry 4.0, as it provides valuable insights for smart factory management. Big Data and Industry 4.0 have the potential to reduce resource consumption and optimize processes, thereby playing a key role in achieving sustainable development. Big Data Applications in Industry 4.0 covers the recent advancements that have emerged in the field of Big Data and its applications. The book introduces the concepts and advanced tools and technologies for representing and processing Big Data. It also covers applications of Big Data in such domains as financial services, education, healthcare, biomedical research, logistics, and warehouse management. Researchers, students, scientists, engineers, and statisticians can turn to this book to learn about concepts, technologies, and applications that solve real-world problems. Features An introduction to data science and the types of data analytics methods accessible today An overview of data integration concepts, methodologies, and solutions A general framework of forecasting principles and applications, as well as basic forecasting models including naive, moving average, and exponential smoothing models A detailed roadmap of the Big Data evolution and its related technological transformation in computing, along with a brief description of related terminologies The application of Industry 4.0 and Big Data in the field of education The features, prospects, and significant role of Big Data in the banking industry, as well as various use cases of Big Data in banking, finance services, and insurance Implementing a Data Lake (DL) in the cloud and the significance of a data lake in decision making

Industry 4.0 is a challenge for today's businesses. It's a concept that encompasses the technological innovations of automation, control, and information technology, as it's applied to manufacturing processes. It's a new topic that recently emerged in academia and industry, with few books that target both management and engineering. This book will cover the new advances and the way to manage competitive organizations. The chapters will include terms of theory, evidence, and/or methodology, and significantly advance social scientific research. This book: Focuses on the latest and most recent research findings occurring on the topic of Industry 4.0 Presents the ways companies around the world are facing today's technological challenges Assists researchers and practitioners in selecting the correct options and strategies to manage competitive organizations Provides recent advances in international studies Encompasses the main technological innovations in the fields of automation, control, and information technology applied to the manufacturing processes Industry 4.0: Challenges, Trends, and Solutions in Manangment and Engineering is designed to increase the knowledge and effectiveness of all managers and engineers in all organizations and activity sectors Carolina Machado has been teaching in the Human Resources Management subjects since 1989 at University of Minho, Portugal. She has been an associate professor since 2004, with experience and research interest areas in the field of Human Resource Management, International Human Resource Management, Human Resource Management in SMEs, Training and Development, Emotional Intelligence, Management Change, Knowledge Management, and Management/HRM in the Digital Age. She is head of the Department of Management and head of the Human Resources Management Work Group at University of Minho, as well as chief editor of the International Journal of Applied Management Sciences and Engineering (IJAMSE). J. Paulo Davim is a professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Aveiro, Portugal. He has more than 30 years of teaching and research experience in Manufacturing, Materials, Mechanical, and Industrial Engineering, with special emphasis in Machining & Tribology. He has also interest in Management, Engineering Education, and Higher Education for Sustainability. He has worked as evaluator of projects for ERC (European Research Council) and other international research agencies.

Wireless Sensor Networks and the Internet of Things: Future Directions and Applications explores a wide range of important and real-time issues and applications in this ever-advancing field. Different types of WSN and IoT technologies are discussed in order to provide a strong framework of reference, and the volume places an emphasis on solutions to the challenges of protection, conservation, evaluation, and implementation of WSN and IoT that lead to low-cost products, energy savings, low carbon usage, higher quality, and global competitiveness. The volume is divided into four sections that cover: Wireless sensor networks and their relevant applications Smart monitoring and control systems with the Internet of Things Attacks, threats, vulnerabilities, and defensive measures for smart systems Research challenges and opportunities This collection of chapters on an important and diverse range of issues presents case studies and applications of cutting-edge technologies of WSN and IoT that will be valuable for academic communities in computer science, information technology, and electronics, including cyber security, monitoring, and data collection. The informative material presented here can be applied to many sectors, including agriculture, energy and power, resource management, biomedical and health care, business management, and others.

The healthcare industry is on the cutting edge of voice-user interface (VUI) design and making great progress to improve patient care through developing technologies, literally transforming the voice of the industry. The advantages of VUI extend far beyond simple conveniences for patients or a healthcare employee's saved phone call. VUI has a profound impact on care improvement. Just like a person, a well-designed VUI can use tone of voice, inflection and other elements in conversation to shape behaviors or calm nerves. With VUI, physicians and patients become empowered to make informed decisions about healthcare. The use of voice technology across smart speakers, IoT, clinical and home devices, and wearables for improving the patient experience and clinical outcomes was recently identified as one of most significant emerging technologies in healthcare. Smart speakers are the #1 selling consumer item in the world and major competition is heating up between Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, Microsoft Cortana, Google Voice Assistant, and a host of other specialty platforms specific to healthcare. From Orbita and Macadamia to voice-enabled robotics from Pillo, Intuitive, Vivify, and RealView Imaging, voice technology is pervasive across the gamut of levels of devices. Voice technology is not just pervasive in smart speakers and smart phones - it is finding its way into wearables, vehicles, homes, and even consumer and clinical medical devices. We even have smart jewelry emerging with health, wellness, and safety features built in. Best of all, this trend spans intergenerational health and wellness that goes beyond clinical care into long term health and wellbeing and the potential for increased patient engagement. In this book, the editors review information from the top thought-leaders in this space and examine real-world case studies of the outcomes and potential of voice technology in healthcare. Topics include a market survey, clinical use cases, home health use cases, health and wellness topics - fitness, nutrition, and wellbeing; next generation fitness facilities; voice and wearables in smart, connected communities; voice technology in social companions/robots; voice technology in the future surgical suites; a roadmap for the future from top technology; standards in voice technology; and the future of voice technology and artificial intelligence.

The U.S. healthcare system is in "complete chaos-disarray." Medical costs have increased significantly over the past 6 years with 70% increase for deductibles and 24% or more for health insurance premiums. All the while, workers earnings have either not increased or if they did, the pay raises were for less than the increase in the cost of medical care. The situation is unsustainable and the public wants the system fixed. This book offers ways of fixing the problems in healthcare. HEALTHCARE's OUT SICK - PREDICTING A CURE - Solutions that WORK !!!! first defines the "healthcare in crisis" problem. Through real patient experiences, the book describes the difficulties of getting through the maze of complexity among the plethora of "silo providers" which make up the industry. The heart of the book provides readers with a comprehensive solution that can work, a disruption that is necessary to provide Americans the medical care they need without the US public and healthcare providers and payors going into bankruptcy, insolvency or closure. This book delves into digitized medicine, payor and provider reimbursement models, and value-based healthcare delivery. It also includes a philosophy or mode of thinking and operation for the solutions that are needed for diagnosis-effective, cost-effective, and time-efficient healthcare delivery, of which digitized medicine, value-based care, and payor reimbursement modes are just some of the factors. The authors propose that the real solution involves having the patient at the center of the issues and changing from an archaic gold standard way of thinking to a "Predictive Analytic thinking" where one gets at the real truth by doing "real science" that in the end becomes effective not only for the population but for the individual person. This all leads to real person-centered and person-directed medicine and healthcare delivery.

This book gives examples from healthcare institutions that are using IT automation and innovation to drive change and provides guidance on the strategic direction of HIT over the next five years. Improving the delivery of healthcare through HIT is vital for both the economic success of healthcare organizations and the care of the patient, but most EMR systems do not have an integrated and architected approach. This book provides a detailed approach on how to leverage IT for transformation. It also shows how to build upon the experiences of other industries and helps foster innovation by providing a vision of where technology can be an enabler.

The insertion of communication networks in feedback control loops complicates analysis and synthesis of cyber-physical systems (CPSs), and network-induced uncertainties may degrade system control performance. Thus, this book researches networked delay compensation and event-triggered control approaches for a series of CPSs subject to network-induced uncertainties. The authors begin with an introduction to the concepts and challenges of CPSs, followed by an overview of networked control approaches and event-triggered control strategies in CPSs. Then, networked delay compensation and event-triggered control approaches are proposed for CPSs with network communication delay, data dropout, signal quantization, and event-triggered communication. More specifically, networked delay compensation approaches are proposed for linear/nonlinear networked controlled plants with time-varying and random network communication delays and data dropouts. To reduce computational burden and network communication loads in CPSs, event-triggered control, self-triggered control, co-design of event-triggered control and quantized control techniques, and event-triggered disturbance rejection control approaches are also presented. This book is an essential text for researchers and engineers interested in cybersecurity, networked control, and CPSs. It would also prove useful for graduate students in the fields of science, engineering, and computer science.

Data is an intrinsic part of our daily lives. Everything we do is a data point. Many of these data points are recorded with the intent to help us lead more efficient lives. We have apps that track our workouts, sleep, food intake, and personal finance. We use the data to make changes to our lives based on goals we have set for ourselves. Businesses use vast collections of data to determine strategy and marketing. Data scientists take data, analyze it, and create models to help solve problems. You may have heard of companies having data management teams or chief information officers (CIOs) or chief data officers (CDOs), etc. They are all people who work with data, but their function is more related to vetting data and preparing it for use by data scientists. The jump from personal data usage for self-betterment to mass data analysis for business process improvement often feels bigger to us than it is. In turn, we often think big data analysis requires tools held only by advanced degree holders. Although advanced degrees are certainly valuable, this book illustrates how it is not a requirement to adequately run a data science project. Because we are all already data users, with some simple strategies and exposure to basic analytical software programs, anyone who has the proper tools and determination can solve data science problems. The process presented in this book will help empower individuals to work on and solve data-related challenges. The goal of this book is to provide a step-by-step guide to the data science process so that you can feel confident in leading your own data science project. To aid with clarity and understanding, the author presents a fictional restaurant chain to use as a case study, illustrating how the various topics discussed can be applied. Essentially, this book helps traditional businesspeople solve data-related problems on their own without any hesitation or fear. The powerful methods are presented in the form of conversations, examples, and case studies. The conversational style is engaging and provides clarity.

A database management system (DBMS) is a collection of programs that enable users to create and maintain a database; it also consists of a collection of interrelated data and a set of programs to access that data. Hence, a DBMS is a general-purpose software system that facilitates the processes of defining, constructing, and manipulating databases for various applications. The primary goal of a DBMS is to provide an environment that is both convenient and efficient to use in retrieving and storing database information. It is an interface between the user of application programs, on the one hand, and the database, on the other. The objective of Database Management System: An Evolutionary Approach, is to enable the learner to grasp a basic understanding of a DBMS, its need, and its terminologies discern the difference between the traditional file-based systems and a DBMS code while learning to grasp theory in a practical way study provided examples and case studies for better comprehension This book is intended to give under- and postgraduate students a fundamental background in DBMSs. The book follows an evolutionary learning approach that emphasizes the basic concepts and builds a strong foundation to learn more advanced topics including normalizations, normal forms, PL/SQL, transactions, concurrency control, etc. This book also gives detailed knowledge with a focus on entity-relationship (ER) diagrams and their reductions into tables, with sufficient SQL codes for a more practical understanding.

The past few years have seen a major change in computing systems, as growing data volumes and stalling processor speeds require more and more applications to scale out to clusters. Today, a myriad data sources, from the Internet to business operations to scientific instruments, produce large and valuable data streams. However, the processing capabilities of single machines have not kept up with the size of data. As a result, organizations increasingly need to scale out their computations over clusters. At the same time, the speed and sophistication required of data processing have grown. In addition to simple queries, complex algorithms like machine learning and graph analysis are becoming common. And in addition to batch processing, streaming analysis of real-time data is required to let organizations take timely action. Future computing platforms will need to not only scale out traditional workloads, but support these new applications too. This book, a revised version of the 2014 ACM Dissertation Award winning dissertation, proposes an architecture for cluster computing systems that can tackle emerging data processing workloads at scale. Whereas early cluster computing systems, like MapReduce, handled batch processing, our architecture also enables streaming and interactive queries, while keeping MapReduce's scalability and fault tolerance. And whereas most deployed systems only support simple one-pass computations (e.g., SQL queries), ours also extends to the multi-pass algorithms required for complex analytics like machine learning. Finally, unlike the specialized systems proposed for some of these workloads, our architecture allows these computations to be combined, enabling rich new applications that intermix, for example, streaming and batch processing. We achieve these results through a simple extension to MapReduce that adds primitives for data sharing, called Resilient Distributed Datasets (RDDs). We show that this is enough to capture a wide range of workloads. We implement RDDs in the open source Spark system, which we evaluate using synthetic and real workloads. Spark matches or exceeds the performance of specialized systems in many domains, while offering stronger fault tolerance properties and allowing these workloads to be combined. Finally, we examine the generality of RDDs from both a theoretical modeling perspective and a systems perspective. This version of the dissertation makes corrections throughout the text and adds a new section on the evolution of Apache Spark in industry since 2014. In addition, editing, formatting, and links for the references have been added.

Digital transformation (DT) has become a buzzword. Every industry segment across the globe is consciously jumping toward digital innovation and disruption to get ahead of their competitors. In other words, every aspect of running a business is being digitally empowered to reap all the benefits of the digital paradigm. All kinds of digitally enabled businesses across the globe are intrinsically capable of achieving bigger and better things for their constituents. Their consumers, clients, and customers will realize immense benefits with real digital transformation initiatives and implementations. The much-awaited business transformation can be easily and elegantly accomplished with a workable and winnable digital transformation strategy, plan, and execution. There are several enablers and accelerators for realizing the much-discussed digital transformation. There are a lot of digitization and digitalization technologies available to streamline and speed up the process of the required transformation. Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies in close association with decisive advancements in the artificial intelligence (AI) space can bring forth the desired transitions. The other prominent and dominant technologies toward forming digital organizations include cloud IT, edge/fog computing, real-time data analytics platforms, blockchain technology, digital twin paradigm, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) techniques, enterprise mobility, and 5G communication. These technological innovations are intrinsically competent and versatile enough to fulfill the varying requirements for establishing and sustaining digital enterprises. Enterprise Digital Transformation: Technology, Tools, and Use Cases features chapters on the evolving aspects of digital transformation and intelligence. It covers the unique competencies of digitally transformed enterprises, IIoT use cases, and applications. It explains promising technological solutions widely associated with digital innovation and disruption. The book focuses on setting up and sustaining smart factories that are fulfilling the Industry 4.0 vision that is realized through the IIoT and allied technologies.

Expert insight for modern Python (3.6+) coding from the author of Python Essential Reference Python educator Dave Beazley's concise handbook focuses on the essential core of the Python programming language, with code examples to illuminate how Python works and how to structure programs that can be more easily explained, tested, and debugged. Rather than trying to cover every possible feature and quirk of a 30-year-old language, this pragmatic guide provides a concise narrative related to fundamental programming topics that form the foundation for Python projects of any size including Data abstraction Control flow Program structure Functions: master functions and functional programming idioms Objects: control objects and master the "protocols" that define their behavior Modules: plan for project growth by understanding modules and packages Generators Classes: understand classes from both high-level and technical perspectives I/O handling: proper techniques and abstractions Dicts "This is a pragmatic book that presents some of the most important topics about the Python programming language in a concise form, designed to make it easier to find out the most relevant information bits in a context where resources abound and frequently are just too overwhelming." -Victor Domingos, Software Developer, Slim Business Solutions, The No Title (R) Tech Blog

A comprehensive overview of the current evolution of research in algorithms, architectures and compilation for parallel systems is provided by this publication.

The contributions focus specifically on domains where embedded systems are required, either oriented to application-specific or to programmable realisations. These are crucial in domains such as audio, telecom, instrumentation, speech, robotics, medical and automotive processing, image and video processing, TV, multimedia, radar and sonar.

The book will be of particular interest to the academic community because of the detailed descriptions of research results presented. In addition, many contributions feature the "real-life" applications that are responsible for driving research and the impact of their specific characteristics on the methodologies is assessed.

The publication will also be of considerable value to senior design engineers and CAD managers in the industrial arena, who wish either to anticipate the evolution of commercially available design tools or to utilize the presented concepts in their own R&D programmes.

Thanks to rapid technological developments in terms of Computational Intelligence, smart tools have been playing active roles in daily life. It is clear that the 21st century has brought about many advantages in using high-level computation and communication solutions to deal with real-world problems; however, more technologies bring more changes to society. In this sense, the concept of smart cities has been a widely discussed topic in terms of society and Artificial Intelligence-oriented research efforts. The rise of smart cities is a transformation of both community and technology use habits, and there are many different research orientations to shape a better future. The objective of this book is to focus on Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) in smart city development. As recently designed, advanced smart systems require intense use of complex computational solutions (i.e., Deep Learning, Big Data, IoT architectures), the mechanisms of these systems become 'black-box' to users. As this means that there is no clear clue about what is going on within these systems, anxieties regarding ensuring trustworthy tools also rise. In recent years, attempts have been made to solve this issue with the additional use of XAI methods to improve transparency levels. This book provides a timely, global reference source about cutting-edge research efforts to ensure the XAI factor in smart city-oriented developments. The book includes both positive and negative outcomes, as well as future insights and the societal and technical aspects of XAI-based smart city research efforts. This book contains nineteen contributions beginning with a presentation of the background of XAI techniques and sustainable smart-city applications. It then continues with chapters discussing XAI for Smart Healthcare, Smart Education, Smart Transportation, Smart Environment, Smart Urbanization and Governance, and Cyber Security for Smart Cities.

Teams working in a crisis are operating in a high turbulence environment. Blue Shark Teams thrive in a crisis. They swim through turbulence and glide to project success. This book reveals the concepts and practical insight on how to create and lead Blue Shark Teams. The Blue Shark Model of Leading High-Performance Teams is based on Daniel Goleman's emotional intelligence model and Bruce Tuckman's team-building model (forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning). This book shows how to apply these models to large companies, small-to-medium size businesses, and projects during a crisis. It explains how managers can develop their leadership style and lead high-performance teams. A real-life case study, which was a success story during the COVID-19 pandemic, is discussed to elaborate the team-building and emotional intelligence models. The lessons learned from this case study can be applied to any crisis in any industry across the spectrum, including healthcare, IT, telecom, construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, airlines, financial services, retail, public sector, and consulting. The book arms executives and managers with the concepts and techniques to lead and manage projects, teams, and companies during turbulent and volatile times. If you are a CEO, CIO, CTO, or CXO of a Fortune 500 company, a mid-to-small size Business Owner, a Project Manager, or a Senior Executive facing a crisis, then this book is for you. It describes real-life case studies and projects that shows how the theoretical frameworks and models developed by leading researchers can be applied successfully to companies and projects, especially during a crisis and pandemic such as COVID-19.

Blockchain is the popular name given to the exciting, evolving world of distributed ledger technology (DLT). Blockchains offer equitable and secure access to data, as well as transparency and immutability. Organisations can decide to use blockchain to upgrade whatever ledgers they are currently deploying (for example, relational databases, spreadsheets and cumbersome operating models) for their data and technology stack in terms of books and records, transactions, storage, production services and in many other areas. This book describes the applied use of blockchain technology in the enterprise world. Written by two expert practitioners in the field, the book is in two main parts: (1) an introduction to the history of, and a critical context explainer about, the emergence of blockchain written in natural language and providing a tour of the features, functionality and challenges of blockchain and DLT; and (2) a series of six applied organisational use cases in (i) trade finance, (ii) healthcare, (iii) retail savings & investments, (iv) real estate, (v) central bank digital currencies (CBDC) and (vi) fund management that offer the reader a straightforward, easy-to-read comparison between 'old world' technology (such as platforms, people and processes) versus what blockchain ledgers offer to enterprises and organisations in terms of improved efficiency, performance, security and access to business data. Blockchain is sometimes tainted by association to Bitcoin, Onecoin and others. But as cryptocurrencies and stock markets continue to rise and fall with volatility and the world economy emerges changed by coronavirus, working from home and the threat of inflation, many enterprises, organisations and governments are looking again at the powerful features of blockchain and wondering how DLT may help them adapt. This book is an ideal introduction to the practical and applied nature of blockchain and DLT solutions for business executives, business students, managers, C-suite senior leaders, software architects and policy makers and sets out, clearly and professionally, the benefits and challenges of the actual business applications of blockchain.

Blockchain is the popular name given to the exciting, evolving world of distributed ledger technology (DLT). Blockchains offer equitable and secure access to data, as well as transparency and immutability. Organisations can decide to use blockchain to upgrade whatever ledgers they are currently deploying (for example, relational databases, spreadsheets and cumbersome operating models) for their data and technology stack in terms of books and records, transactions, storage, production services and in many other areas. This book describes the applied use of blockchain technology in the enterprise world. Written by two expert practitioners in the field, the book is in two main parts: (1) an introduction to the history of, and a critical context explainer about, the emergence of blockchain written in natural language and providing a tour of the features, functionality and challenges of blockchain and DLT; and (2) a series of six applied organisational use cases in (i) trade finance, (ii) healthcare, (iii) retail savings & investments, (iv) real estate, (v) central bank digital currencies (CBDC) and (vi) fund management that offer the reader a straightforward, easy-to-read comparison between 'old world' technology (such as platforms, people and processes) versus what blockchain ledgers offer to enterprises and organisations in terms of improved efficiency, performance, security and access to business data. Blockchain is sometimes tainted by association to Bitcoin, Onecoin and others. But as cryptocurrencies and stock markets continue to rise and fall with volatility and the world economy emerges changed by coronavirus, working from home and the threat of inflation, many enterprises, organisations and governments are looking again at the powerful features of blockchain and wondering how DLT may help them adapt. This book is an ideal introduction to the practical and applied nature of blockchain and DLT solutions for business executives, business students, managers, C-suite senior leaders, software architects and policy makers and sets out, clearly and professionally, the benefits and challenges of the actual business applications of blockchain.