Technology and the Internet have brought about numerous changes in the field of politics. Understanding the effects of social media, blogs, and evolving new sites in politics is becoming a crucial aspect in this field for researchers and practitioners. Political Activism in the Information Age offers a better understanding of methods for political activism in the information age, the effectiveness of these methods, and tools for analysing them. This book presents an array of real-world political issues and how they relate to the ever-expanding realm of information. The publication will benefit researchers, politicians, public policy analysts, political scientists, students, and anyone involved in the field of politics.

Models and simulations are an important first step in developing computer applications to solve real-world problems. However, in order to be truly effective, computer programmers must use formal modeling languages to evaluate these simulations. Formal Languages for Computer Simulation: Transdisciplinary Models and Applications investigates a variety of programming languages used in validating and verifying models in order to assist in their eventual implementation. This book will explore different methods of evaluating and formalizing simulation models, enabling computer and industrial engineers, mathematicians, and students working with computer simulations to thoroughly understand the progression from simulation to product, improving the overall effectiveness of modeling systems.

This book describes recent innovations in 3D media and technologies, with coverage of 3D media capturing, processing, encoding, and adaptation, networking aspects for 3D Media, and quality of user experience (QoE). The main contributions are based on the results of the FP7 European Projects ROMEO, which focus on new methods for the compression and delivery of 3D multi-view video and spatial audio, as well as the optimization of networking and compression jointly across the Future Internet (www.ict-romeo.eu).

The delivery of 3D media to individual users remains a highly challenging problem due to the large amount of data involved, diverse network characteristics and user terminal requirements, as well as the user s context such as their preferences and location. As the number of visual views increases, current systems will struggle to meet the demanding requirements in terms of delivery of constant video quality to both fixed and mobile users.

ROMEO will design and develop hybrid-networking solutions that combine the DVB-T2 and DVB-NGH broadcast access network technologies together with a QoE aware Peer-to-Peer (P2P) distribution system that operates over wired and wireless links. Live streaming 3D media needs to be received by collaborating users at the same time or with imperceptible delay to enable them to watch together while exchanging comments as if they were all in the same location.

The volume provides state-of-the-art information on 3D multi-view video, spatial audio networking protocols for 3D media, P2P 3D media streaming, and 3D Media delivery across heterogeneous wireless networks among other topics. Graduate students and professionals in electrical engineering and computer science with an interest in 3D Future Internet Media will find this volume to be essential reading."

The digital age is ripe with emerging advances and applications in technological innovations. Mimicking the structure of complex systems in nature can provide new ideas on how to organize mechanical and personal systems. The Handbook of Research on Modeling, Analysis, and Application of Nature-Inspired Metaheuristic Algorithms is an essential scholarly resource on current algorithms that have been inspired by the natural world. Featuring coverage on diverse topics such as cellular automata, simulated annealing, genetic programming, and differential evolution, this reference publication is ideal for scientists, biological engineers, academics, students, and researchers that are interested in discovering what models from nature influence the current technology-centric world.

In an embedded system, firmware is the software that directly interfaces with the microcontroller, controlling the system s function. The major forces driving the embedded firmware development process today are reduced development times, increased complexity, and the need to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. These forces translate into strenuous design requirements for embedded engineers and programmers. Many low-level embedded microcontroller designs have insufficient memory and/or architectural limitations that make the use of a real-time operating system impractical. The techniques presented in this book allow the design of robust multitasking firmware through the use of interleaved state machines. This book presents a complete overview of multitasking terminology and basic concepts. Practical criteria for task selection and state machine design are also discussed.
Designing multitasking firmware is arduous, complex and fraught with potential for errors, and there is no one, standard way to do it. This book will present a complete and well-organized design approach with examples and sample source code that designers can follow.
* Covers every aspect of design from the system level to the component level, including system timing, communicating with the hardware, integration and testing.
* Accompanying companion website contains the source code for the text examples and other useful design tools."

Build and deploy intelligent applications for natural language processing with Python by using industry standard tools and recently popular methods in deep learning Key Features A no-math, code-driven programmer's guide to text processing and NLP Get state of the art results with modern tooling across linguistics, text vectors and machine learning Fundamentals of NLP methods from spaCy, gensim, scikit-learn and PyTorch Book DescriptionNLP in Python is among the most sought after skills among data scientists. With code and relevant case studies, this book will show how you can use industry-grade tools to implement NLP programs capable of learning from relevant data. We will explore many modern methods ranging from spaCy to word vectors that have reinvented NLP. The book takes you from the basics of NLP to building text processing applications. We start with an introduction to the basic vocabulary along with a workflow for building NLP applications. We use industry-grade NLP tools for cleaning and pre-processing text, automatic question and answer generation using linguistics, text embedding, text classifier, and building a chatbot. With each project, you will learn a new concept of NLP. You will learn about entity recognition, part of speech tagging and dependency parsing for Q and A. We use text embedding for both clustering documents and making chatbots, and then build classifiers using scikit-learn. We conclude by deploying these models as REST APIs with Flask. By the end, you will be confident building NLP applications, and know exactly what to look for when approaching new challenges. What you will learn Understand classical linguistics in using English grammar for automatically generating questions and answers from a free text corpus Work with text embedding models for dense number representations of words, subwords and characters in the English language for exploring document clustering Deep Learning in NLP using PyTorch with a code-driven introduction to PyTorch Using an NLP project management Framework for estimating timelines and organizing your project into stages Hack and build a simple chatbot application in 30 minutes Deploy an NLP or machine learning application using Flask as RESTFUL APIs Who this book is forProgrammers who wish to build systems that can interpret language. Exposure to Python programming is required. Familiarity with NLP or machine learning vocabulary will be helpful, but not mandatory.

This book is about software piracy--what it is and how it's done. Stealing software is not to be condoned, and theft of intellectual property and copyright infringement are serious matters, but it's totally unrealistic to pretend that it doesn't happen. Software piracy has reached epidemic proportions. Many computer users know this, the software companies know this, and once you've read the Introduction to this book, you'll understand why. Seeing how widespread software piracy is, learning how it's accomplished, and particularly how incredibly easy it is to do might surprise you. This book describes how software piracy is actually being carried out.
* This book is about software piracy--what it is and how it's done
* This is the first book ever to describe how software is actually stolen and traded over the internet
* Discusses security implications resulting from over 1/2 of the internet's computers running illegal, unpatched, pirated software

Free/libre open source software (FLOSS) ecosystems such as Linux have had a tremendous impact on computing and society and have captured the attention of businesses, researchers, and policy makers. Research on FLOSS has been ongoing for almost two decades. From an economic perspective, the most common topics involve motivation and organization. As commercial participation in FLOSS has become common, the question of how to combine FLOSS practice with commercial practice has been the subject of research, particularly with a view to understanding how to ensure sustainability of the ecosystem. This book is based on a Shonan meeting on FLOSS ecosystem sustainability held in June 2017. The meeting brought together a blend of established and young researchers who were actively studying the FLOSS phenomenon. These researchers were drawn from a variety of disciplines including software engineering, human computer interaction, information systems, computer-supported cooperative work, data mining, cognitive science, psychology, operations research, and management. Industry practitioners who were active in the FLOSS space also participated. This book presents the results of discussion on fundamental questions related to the impact and sustainability of FLOSS ecosystems, including: * How does an ecosystem form? How do different stakeholders work together to form a community that develops and maintains valuable and freely available software, and how does an ecosystem with millions of repositories and developers operate given the lack of centralized planning? * How does an ecosystem evolve in response to the environment as technology and needs evolve over time? * How do newcomers learn the protocols and practices of an ecosystem? How would they sustain the ecosystem? What is the relationship between people and ecosystem sustainability?

A groundbreaking, flexible approach to computer science anddata science The Deitels' Introduction to Python for ComputerScience and Data Science: Learning to Program with AI, Big Data and the Cloudoffers a unique approach to teaching introductory Python programming,appropriate for both computer-science and data-science audiences. Providing themost current coverage of topics and applications, the book is paired withextensive traditional supplements as well as Jupyter Notebooks supplements.Real-world datasets and artificial-intelligence technologies allow students towork on projects making a difference in business, industry, government andacademia. Hundreds of examples, exercises, projects (EEPs) and implementationcase studies give students an engaging, challenging and entertainingintroduction to Python programming and hands-on data science. The book's modular architecture enables instructors toconveniently adapt the text to a wide range of computer-science anddata-science courses offered to audiences drawn from many majors.Computer-science instructors can integrate as much or as little data-scienceand artificial-intelligence topics as they'd like, and data-science instructorscan integrate as much or as little Python as they'd like. The book aligns withthe latest ACM/IEEE CS-and-related computing curriculum initiatives and withthe Data Science Undergraduate Curriculum Proposal sponsored by the NationalScience Foundation.

Advances in web technology and the proliferation of sensors and mobile devices connected to the internet have resulted in the generation of immense data sets available on the web that need to be represented, saved, and exchanged. Massive data can be managed effectively and efficiently to support various problem-solving and decision-making techniques. Emerging Technologies and Applications in Data Modeling and Processing is a critical scholarly publication that examines the importance of data management strategies that coincide with advancements in web technologies. Highlighting topics such as geospatial coverages, data analysis, and keyword query, this book is ideal for professionals, researchers, academicians, data analysts, web developers, and web engineers.

XML has become the lingua franca for representing business data, for exchanging information between business partners and applications, and for adding structure
and sometimes meaning to text-based documents. XML offers some special challenges and opportunities in the area of search: querying XML can produce very precise, fine-grained results, if you know how to express and execute those queries.
For software developers and systems architects: this book teaches the most useful approaches to querying XML documents and repositories. This book will also help managers and project leaders grasp how querying XML fits into the larger context of querying and XML. Querying XML provides a comprehensive background from fundamental concepts (What is XML?) to data models (the Infoset, PSVI, XQuery Data Model), to APIs (querying XML from SQL or Java) and more.
* Presents the concepts clearly, and demonstrates them with illustrations and examples; offers a thorough mastery of the subject area in a single book.
* Provides comprehensive coverage of XML query languages, and the concepts needed to understand them completely (such as the XQuery Data Model).
* Shows how to query XML documents and data using: XPath (the XML Path Language); XQuery, soon to be the new W3C Recommendation for querying XML; XQuery's companion XQueryX; and SQL, featuring the SQL/XML
* Includes an extensive set of XQuery, XPath, SQL, Java, and other examples, with links to downloadable code and data samples."

The observation of nature has been the inspiration for many materials, laws, and theories, as well as computational methods. Nature-Inspired computing Design, Development, and Applications covers all the main areas of natural computing, from methods to computationally synthesized natural phenomena, to computing paradigms based on natural materials. This volume is comprised of ideas and research from nature to develop computational systems or materials to perform computation. Researchers, academic educators, and professionals will find a comprehensive view of all aspects of natural computing with emphasis on its main branches.

Agile is a relatively recent methodology used in the development process of a project. Therefore, it is important to share new emerging knowledge with researchers and professionals interested in adopting an agile mindset. Emerging Innovations in Agile Software Development focuses on the use of agile methodologies to manage, design, develop, test and maintain software projects. Emphasizing research-based solutions for contemporary software development, this publication is designed for use by software developers, researchers, and graduate-level students in software engineering and project management programs.

Since its invention in 1993, Inform has been used to design hundreds of interactive novels and short stories in eight languages. This text includes a critical history of interactive writings and the university games of the 1970s. (Computer Books--Languages/Programming)

SQA (software quality assurance) is a critical factor that all software engineers and developers need to master, and this thoroughly revised fourth edition of the popular book, "Handbook of Software Quality Assurance", serves as a one-stop resource for complete and current SQA knowledge. Emphasizing the importance of CMMI[registered] and key ISO requirements, this unique book discusses a wide spectrum of real-world experiences and key issues presented in papers from leading experts in the field. The fourth edition is a significant update to past editions, providing the very latest details on current best practices and explaining how SQA can be implemented in organizations large and small. Practitioners find an updated discussion on the American Society for Quality (ASQ) SQA certification program, covering the benefits of becoming an ASQ certified software quality engineer. The book also helps readers better understand the requirements of the ASQ's CSQE examination.

"Contemporary Issues in Database Design and Information" presents the latest research ideas and topics on databases and software development. The chapters in this innovative publication provide a representation of topnotch research in all areas of the database and information systems development.

The massive volume of data that some medical and biological applications generate require special processing resources that guarantee privacy and security, creating a crucial need for cluster and grid computing. Biomedical Diagnostics and Clinical Technologies: Applying High-Performance Cluster and Grid Computing disseminates knowledge regarding high performance computing for medical applications and bioinformatics. Containing a defining body of research on the subject, this critical reference source includes a valuable collection of cutting-edge research chapters for those working in the broad field of medical informatics and bioinformatics.

In April of 2000, seventh-grader Kevin Triplett learns he has osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Kevin fights a courageous battle, and his father, Wayne, does everything within his power to help his son win the greatest fight of his young life.

Kevin battles his disease valiantly, submitting himself to many cutting-edge, newly discovered therapies. He keeps his spirits high during his treatments, learns to play the guitar, and even forms a Christian rock band. Most importantly, his faith in Jesus Christ carries him through his journey, which ends in 2006.

Kevin touches many lives, and the positive influence he has on people, young and old, endears him to everyone. "This Little Light Of Mine" is the story of his courageous battle against cancer and is peppered with many personal recollections. Grounded in an uncompromising faith in Jesus Christ, Kevin knows that whatever happens during this battle, he will be fine.

An inspiring, true story of a son's perseverance and a father's dogged determination to keep him alive, this must read book offers encouragement to all cancer patients and their families.

This book systematically presents the operating principles and technical characteristics of the main radio navigating systems (RNSs) that make it possible to adequately evaluate the corresponding scratch indexes and levels of air safety for air vehicles, the chief concern of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The book discusses how RNS systems substantially determine navigation accuracy and reliability, and therefore air safety; in addition, it presents practical solutions to problems arising in the operation and development of RNS systems.

Most Perl programmers were originally trained as C and Unix programmers, so the Perl programs that they write bear a strong resemblance to C programs. However, Perl incorporates many features that have their roots in other languages such as Lisp. These advanced features are not well understood and are rarely used by most Perl programmers, but they are very powerful. They can automate tasks in everyday programming that are difficult to solve in any other way. One of the most powerful of these techniques is writing functions that manufacture or modify other functions. For example, instead of writing ten similar functions, a programmer can write a general pattern or framework that can then create the functions as needed according to the pattern. For several years Mark Jason Dominus has worked to apply functional programming techniques to Perl. Now Mark brings these flexible programming methods that he has successfully taught in numerous tutorials and training sessions to a wider audience.
* Introduces powerful programming methods--new to most Perl programmers--that were previously the domain of computer scientists
* Gradually builds up confidence by describing techniques of progressive sophistication
* Shows how to improve everyday programs and includes numerous engaging code examples to illustrate the methods