An intellectual property discussion is central to qualitative research projects, and ethical guidelines are essential to the safe accomplishment of research projects. Undertaking research studies without adhering to ethics may be dangerous to researchers and research subjects. Therefore, it is important to understand and develop practical techniques for handling ethics with a specific focus on qualitative projects so that researchers conducting this type of research may continue to use ethical practices at every step of the project. Data Analysis and Methods of Qualitative Research: Emerging Research and Opportunities discusses in detail the methods related to the social constructionist paradigm that is popular with qualitative research projects. These methods help researchers undertake ideal qualitative projects that are free from quantitative research techniques/concepts all while acquiring practical skills in handling ethics and ethical issues in qualitative projects. The chapters each contain case studies, learning outcomes, question and answer sections, and discuss critical research philosophies in detail along with topics such as ethics, research design, data gathering and sampling methods, research outputs, data analysis, and report writing. Featuring a wide range of topics such as epistemology, probability sampling, and big data, this book is ideal for researchers, practitioners, computer scientists, academicians, analysts, coders, and students looking to become competent qualitative research specialists.

The theory of computation is used to address challenges arising in many computer science areas such as artificial intelligence, language processors, compiler writing, information and coding systems, programming language design, computer architecture and more. To grasp topics concerning this theory readers need to familiarize themselves with its computational and language models, based on concepts of discrete mathematics including sets, relations, functions, graphs and logic. This handbook introduces with rigor the important concepts of this kind and uses them to cover the most important mathematical models for languages and computation, such as various classical as well as modern automata and grammars. It explains their use in such crucially significant topics of computation theory as computability, decidability, and computational complexity. The authors pay special attention to the implementation of all these mathematical concepts and models and explains clearly how to encode them in computational practice. All computer programs are written in C#.

As governments worldwide are entering the digital age, there are increasing expectations from citizens and stakeholders for a more responsive, efficient, and open government. Innovations in information technology and web technologies can facilitate these changes. Innovative Perspectives on Public Administration in the Digital Age is a critical scholarly resource that examines the prevalence of e-government and the advancements of information systems to facilitate a government that is more open and accessible to citizens and businesses. Highlighting coverage on a broad range of topics such as online civic engagement, e-petition, and privacy and security, this publication is geared toward academicians, practitioners, and government officials seeking current and relevant research on the use of online and technological systems for the advancement of government and public policy.

Information communication technologies (ICT) have long been important in supporting doctoral study. Though ICTs have been integrated into educational practices at all levels, there is little understanding of how effective these technologies are in supporting resource development for students and researchers in academic institutions. Enhancing the Role of ICT in Doctoral Research Processes is a collection of innovative research that identifies the ways that doctoral supervisors and students perceive the role of ICTs within the doctoral research process and supports the development of guidelines to enhance ICT skills within these programs. While highlighting topics including professional development, online learning, and ICT management, this book is ideally designed for academicians, researchers, and professionals seeking current research on ICT use for doctoral research.

For the past decade or more, much of cell biology research has been focused on determining the key molecules involved in different cellular processes, an analytical problem that has been amenable to biochemical and genetic approaches. Now, we face an integrative problem of understanding how all of these molecules work together to produce living cells, a challenge that requires using quantitative approaches to model the complex interactions within a cell, and testing those models with careful quantitative measurements. This book is an introductory overview of the various approaches, methods, techniques, and models employed in quantitative cell biology, which are reviewed in greater detail in the other volumes in this e-book series. Particular emphasis is placed on the goals and purpose of quantitative analysis and modeling, and the special challenges that cell biology holds for understanding life at the physical level.

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.

To date, a plethora of companies and organizations are investing vast amounts of money on the latest technologies. Information technology can be used to improve market share, profits, sales, competitive advantage, and customer/employee satisfaction. Unfortunately, the individuals meant to use these technologies are not well equipped on how to effectively and efficiently use these tools for competitive advantage and decision making. The Handbook of Research on IT Applications for Strategic Competitive Advantage and Decision Making is a collection of innovative research relevant to the methodologies, theoretical frameworks, and latest empirical research findings in information technology applications, strategic competitive advantage, and decision making. While highlighting topics including agility, knowledge management, and business intelligence, this book is ideally designed for information technology professionals, academics, researchers, managers, executives, and government officials interested in using information technology for strategic competitive advantage and better decision making.

The evolution of soft computing applications have offered a multitude of methodologies and techniques that are useful in facilitating new ways to address practical and real scenarios in a variety of fields. Exploring Innovative and Successful Applications of Soft Computing highlights the applications and conclusions associated with soft computing in different technological environments. Providing potential results based on new trends in the development of these services, this book aims to be a reference source for researchers, practitioners, and students interested in the most successful soft computing methods applied to recent problems.

The book will benefit a reader with a background in physical sciences and applied mathematics interested in the mathematical models of genetic evolution. In the first chapter, we analyze several thought experiments based on a basic model of stochastic evolution of a single genomic site in the presence of the factors of random mutation, directional natural selection, and random genetic drift. In the second chapter, we present a more advanced theory for a large number of linked loci. In the third chapter, we include the effect of genetic recombination into account and find out the advantage of sexual reproduction for adaptation. These models are useful for the evolution of a broad range of asexual and sexual populations, including virus evolution in a host and a host population.

Multi-Agent Applications with Evolutionary Computation and Biologically Inspired Technologies: Intelligent Techniques for Ubiquity and Optimization compiles numerous ongoing projects and research efforts in the design of agents in light of recent development in neurocognitive science and quantum physics. This innovative collection provides readers with interdisciplinary applications of multi-agents systems, ranging from economics to engineering.

Recently, the event-based paradigm, a burgeoning technology receiving attention in research as well as industry, has gained momentum in the commercial world causing a need for further research in the field. Principles and Applications of Distributed Event-Based Systems showcases event-based systems in real-world applications, providing an overview of relevant terminology and content approachable for readers from a variety of backgrounds. Containing expert international contributions, this advanced publication provides professionals, researchers, and students in systems design with a rich compendium of latest applications in the field.

The digital divide, caused by several factors such as poverty and slow communication technologies, has offset the progression of many developing countries. However, with rapid changes in technology, a better collaboration among communities and governance based on the latest research in ICT and technology has begun to emerge. Employing Recent Technologies for Improved Digital Governance is an essential reference source that provides research on recent advances in the development, application, and impact of technologies for the initiative of digital governance. The book has a dual objective with the first objective being to encourage more research in deploying recent trends in the internet for deploying a collaborative digital governance. The second objective is to explore new possibilities using internet of things (IoT) and cloud/fog-based solutions for creating a collaboration between the governance and IT infrastructure. Featuring research on topics such as intelligent systems, social engineering, and cybersecurity, this book is ideally designed for policymakers, government officials, ICT specialists, researchers, academicians, industry professionals, and students.

As adult learners and educators pioneer the use of technology in the new century, attention has been focused on developing strategic approaches to effectively integrate adult learning and technology in different learning environments. Integrating Adult Learning and Technologies for Effective Education: Strategic Approaches provides innovative instructional approaches as well as relevant theoretical frameworks and the latest empirical research findings in the area of adult learning and technology. This compelling body of research aids professionals in improving instructional training strategies to educate traditional and non-traditional students in today's information age.

Focused on the latest mobile technologies, this book addresses specific features (such as IoT) and their adoptions that aim to enable excellence in business in Industry 4.0. Furthermore, this book explores how the adoption of these technologies is related to rising concerns about privacy and trusted communication issues that concern management and leaders of business organizations. Managing IoT and Mobile Technologies with Innovation, Trust, and Sustainable Computing not only targets IT experts and drills down on the technical issues but also provides readers from various groups with a well-linked concept about how the latest trends of mobile technologies are closely related to daily living and the workplace at managerial and even individual levels.

The Handbook of Multimodal-Multisensor Interfaces provides the first authoritative resource on what has become the dominant paradigm for new computer interfaces- user input involving new media (speech, multi-touch, gestures, writing) embedded in multimodal-multisensor interfaces. These interfaces support smart phones, wearables, in-vehicle and robotic applications, and many other areas that are now highly competitive commercially. This edited collection is written by international experts and pioneers in the field. It provides a textbook, reference, and technology roadmap for professionals working in this and related areas. This first volume of the handbook presents relevant theory and neuroscience foundations for guiding the development of high-performance systems. Additional chapters discuss approaches to user modeling and interface designs that support user choice, that synergistically combine modalities with sensors, and that blend multimodal input and output. This volume also highlights an in-depth look at the most common multimodal-multisensor combinations-for example, touch and pen input, haptic and non-speech audio output, and speech-centric systems that co-process either gestures, pen input, gaze, or visible lip movements. A common theme throughout these chapters is supporting mobility and individual differences among users. These handbook chapters provide walk-through examples of system design and processing, information on tools and practical resources for developing and evaluating new systems, and terminology and tutorial support for mastering this emerging field. In the final section of this volume, experts exchange views on a timely and controversial challenge topic, and how they believe multimodal-multisensor interfaces should be designed in the future to most effectively advance human performance.