For any organization, analysis of performance and effectiveness through available data allows for informed decision making. Data envelopment analysis, or DEA, is a popular, effective method that can be used to measure productive efficiency in operations management assessment. Data Envelopment Analysis and Effective Performance Assessment addresses the myriad of practical uses and innovative developments of DEA. Emphasizing the importance of analyzing productivity by measuring inputs, goals, economic growth, and performance, this book covers a wide breadth of innovative knowledge. This book is essential reading for managers, business professionals, students of business and ICT, and computer engineers.

This is a rigorous and complete textbook for a first course on information retrieval from the computer science perspective. It provides an up-to-date student oriented treatment of information retrieval including extensive coverage of new topics such as web retrieval, web crawling, open source search engines and user interfaces.

From parsing to indexing, clustering to classification, retrieval to ranking, and user feedback to retrieval evaluation, all of the most important concepts are carefully introduced and exemplified. The contents and structure of the book have been carefully designed by the two main authors, with individual contributions coming from leading international authorities in the field, including Yoelle Maarek, Senior Director of Yahoo Research Israel; Dulce Ponceleon IBM Research; and Malcolm Slaney, Yahoo Research USA.

This completely reorganized, revised and enlarged second edition of "Modern Information Retrieval" contains many new chapters and double the number of pages and bibliographic references of the first edition, and a companion website www.mir2ed.org with teaching material. It will prove invaluable to students, professors, researchers, practitioners, and scholars of this fascinating field of information retrieval.

a) Provides basic concepts of Natural Language Processing for getting started from scratch. b) Introduces advanced concepts for scaling, deep learning and real-world issues seen in the industry. c) Provides applications of Natural Language Processing over a diverse set of 15 industry verticals. d) Shares practical implementation including Python code, tools and techniques for a variety of Natural Language Processing applications and industrial products for a hands-on experience. e) Gives readers a sense of all there is to build successful Natural Language Processing projects: the concepts, applications, opportunities and hands-on material.

Digital libraries have been established worldwide to make information more readily available, and this innovation has changed the way information seekers interact with the data they are collecting. Faced with decentralized, heterogeneous sources, these users must be familiarized with high-level search activities in order to sift through large amounts of data. Information Seeking Behavior and Challenges in Digital Libraries addresses the problems of usability and search optimization in digital libraries. With topics addressing all aspects of information seeking activity, the research found in this book provides insight into library user experiences and human-computer interaction when searching online databases of all types. This book addresses the challenges faced by professionals in information management, librarians, developers, students of library science, and policy makers.

Relational databases have been predominant for many years and are used throughout various industries. The current system faces challenges related to size and variety of data thus the NoSQL databases emerged. By joining these two database models, there is room for crucial developments in the field of computer science. Bridging Relational and NoSQL Databases is an innovative source of academic content on the convergence process between databases and describes key features of the next database generation. Featuring coverage on a wide variety of topics and perspectives such as BASE approach, CAP theorem, and hybrid and native solutions, this publication is ideally designed for professionals and researchers interested in the features and collaboration of relational and NoSQL databases.

The world is witnessing the growth of a global movement facilitated by technology and social media. Fueled by information, this movement contains enormous potential to create more accountable, efficient, responsive, and effective governments and businesses, as well as spurring economic growth. Big Data Governance and Perspectives in Knowledge Management is a collection of innovative research on the methods and applications of applying robust processes around data, and aligning organizations and skillsets around those processes. Highlighting a range of topics including data analytics, prediction analysis, and software development, this book is ideally designed for academicians, researchers, information science professionals, software developers, computer engineers, graduate-level computer science students, policymakers, and managers seeking current research on the convergence of big data and information governance as two major trends in information management.

In recent decades, the industrial revolution has increased economic growth despite its immersion in global environmental issues such as climate change. Researchers emphasize the adoption of circular economy practices in global supply chains and businesses for better socio-environmental sustainability without compromising economic growth. Integrating blockchain technology into business practices could promote the circular economy as well as global environmental sustainability. Integrating Blockchain Technology Into the Circular Economy discusses the technological advancements in circular economy practices, which provide better results for both economic growth and environmental sustainability. It provides relevant theoretical frameworks and the latest empirical research findings in the applications of blockchain technology. Covering topics such as big data analytics, financial market infrastructure, and sustainable performance, this book is an essential resource for managers, operations managers, executives, manufacturers, environmentalists, researchers, industry practitioners, students and educators of higher education, and academicians.

Advances in Computers carries on a tradition of excellence, presenting detailed coverage of innovations in computer hardware, software, theory, design, and applications. The book provides contributors with a medium in which they can explore their subjects in greater depth and breadth than journal articles typically allow. The articles included in this book will become standard references, with lasting value in this rapidly expanding field.

Data mapping in a data warehouse is the process of creating a link between two distinct data models' (source and target) tables/attributes. Data mapping is required at many stages of DW life-cycle to help save processor overhead; every stage has its own unique requirements and challenges. Therefore, many data warehouse professionals want to learn data mapping in order to move from an ETL (extract, transform, and load data between databases) developer to a data modeler role. Data Mapping for Data Warehouse Design provides basic and advanced knowledge about business intelligence and data warehouse concepts including real life scenarios that apply the standard techniques to projects across various domains. After reading this book, readers will understand the importance of data mapping across the data warehouse life cycle.

High-performance computing (HPC) describes the use of connected computing units to perform complex tasks. It relies on parallelization techniques and algorithms to synchronize these disparate units in order to perform faster than a single processor could, alone. Used in industries from medicine and research to military and higher education, this method of computing allows for users to complete complex data-intensive tasks. This field has undergone many changes over the past decade, and will continue to grow in popularity in the coming years. Innovative Research Applications in Next-Generation High Performance Computing aims to address the future challenges, advances, and applications of HPC and related technologies. As the need for such processors increases, so does the importance of developing new ways to optimize the performance of these supercomputers. This timely publication provides comprehensive information for researchers, students in ICT, program developers, military and government organizations, and business professionals.

"What information do these data reveal?" "Is the information correct?" "How can I make the best use of the information?" The widespread use of computers and our reliance on the data generated by them have made these questions increasingly common and important. Computerized data may be in either digital or analog form and may be relevant to a wide range of applications that include medical monitoring and diagnosis, scientific research, engineering, quality control, seismology, meteorology, political and economic analysis and business and personal financial applications. The sources of the data may be databases that have been developed for specific purposes or may be of more general interest and include those that are accessible on the Internet. In addition, the data may represent either single or multiple parameters. Examining data in its initial form is often very laborious and also makes it possible to "miss the forest for the trees" by failing to notice patterns in the data that are not readily apparent. To address these problems, this monograph describes several accurate and efficient methods for displaying, reviewing and analyzing digital and analog data. The methods may be used either singly or in various combinations to maximize the value of the data to those for whom it is relevant. None of the methods requires special devices and each can be used on common platforms such as personal computers, tablets and smart phones. Also, each of the methods can be easily employed utilizing widely available off-the-shelf software. Using the methods does not require special expertise in computer science or technology, graphical design or statistical analysis. The usefulness and accuracy of all the described methods of data display, review and interpretation have been confirmed in multiple carefully performed studies using independent, objective endpoints. These studies and their results are described in the monograph. Because of their ease of use, accuracy and efficiency, the methods for displaying, reviewing and analyzing data described in this monograph can be highly useful to all who must work with computerized information and make decisions based upon it.

The WWW era made billions of people dramatically dependent on the progress of data technologies, out of which Internet search and Big Data are arguably the most notable. Structured Search paradigm connects them via a fundamental concept of key-objects evolving out of keywords as the units of search. The key-object data model and KeySQL revamp the data independence principle making it applicable for Big Data and complement NoSQL with full-blown structured querying functionality. The ultimate goal is extracting Big Information from the Big Data. As a Big Data Consultant, Mikhail Gilula combines academic background with 20 years of industry experience in the database and data warehousing technologies working as a Sr. Data Architect for Teradata, Alcatel-Lucent, and PayPal, among others. He has authored three books, including The Set Model for Database and Information Systems and holds four US Patents in Structured Search and Data Integration.

Blockchain technology presents numerous advantages that include increased transparency, reduced transaction costs, faster transaction settlement, automation of information, increased traceability, improved customer experience, improved digital identity, better cyber security, and user-controlled networks. These potential applications are widespread and diverse including funds transfer, smart contracts, e-voting, efficient supply chain, and more in nearly every sector of society including finance, healthcare, law, trade, real estate, and other important areas. However, there are challenges and limitations that exist such as high energy consumption, limited scalability, complexity, security, network size, lack of regulations, and other critical issues. Nevertheless, blockchain is an attractive technology and has much to offer to the modern-day industry. Industry Use Cases on Blockchain Technology Applications in IoT and the Financial Sector investigates blockchain technology's adoption and effectiveness in multiple industries and for the internet of things (IoT)-based applications, presents use cases from industrial and financial sectors as well as from other transaction-based services, and fills a gap in this respect by extending the existing body of knowledge in the suggested field. While highlighting topics such as cybersecurity, use cases, and models for blockchain implementation, this book is ideal for business managers, financial accountants, practitioners, researchers, academicians, and students interested in blockchain technology's role and implementation in IoT and the financial sector.

This book paves the road for researchers from various areas of engineering working in the realm of smart cities to discuss the intersections in these areas when it comes to infrastructure and its flexibility. The authors lay out models, algorithms and frameworks related to the 'smartness' in the future smart cities. In particular, manufacturing firms, electric generation, transmission and distribution utilities, hardware and software computer companies, automation and control manufacturing firms, and other industries will be able to use this book to enhance their energy operations, improve their comfort and privacy, as well as to increase the benefit from the electrical system. The book pertains to researchers, professionals, and R&D in an array of industries.

Method engineering is a very young field. Generally, method engineering can be considered from engineering of an entire methodology for information systems development to engineering of modeling techniques according to project requirements. Computer aided method engineering is about generation and use of information systems design techniques according to user needs. Some times such environments are called generic tools or MetaCASE. Computer-Aided Method Engineering: Designing Case Repositories for the 21st Century presents a contribution on a methodology and architecture of a CASE repository, forwarding a theory that will bring about the component based development into CASE tool design and development covering a repository construction principle for the 21st century.

Each Student Book and ActiveBook have has clearly laid out pages with a range of supportive features to aid learning and teaching: Getting to know your unit sections ensure learners understand the grading criteria and unit requirements. Getting ready for Assessment sections focus on preparation for external assessment with guidance for learners on what to expect. Hints and tips will help them prepare for assessment and sample answers are provided for a range of question types including, short and long answer questions, all with a supporting commentary. Learners can also prepare for internal assessment using this feature. A case study of a learner completing the internal assessment for that unit covering 'How I got started', 'How I brought it all together' and 'What I got from the experience'. Pause Point feature provide opportunities for learners to self-evaluate their learning at regular intervals. Each Pause Point point feature gives learners a Hint or Extend option to either revisit and reinforce the topic or to encourage independent research or study skills. Case Study and Theory into Practice features enable development of problem-solving skills and place the theory into real life situations learners could encounter. Assessment Activity/Practice provide scaffolded assessment practice activities that help prepare learners for assessment. Within each assessment practice activity, a Plan, Do and Review section supports learners' formative assessment by making sure they fully understand what they are being asked to do, what their goals are and how to evaluate the task and consider how they could improve. Dedicated Think Future pages provide case studies from the industry, with a focus on aspects of skills development that can be put into practice in a real work environment and further study.

This book discusses the various open issues of blockchain technology, such as the efficiency of blockchain in different domains of digital cryptocurrency, smart contracts, smart education system, smart cities, cloud identity and access, safeguard to cybersecurity and health care. For the first time in human history, people across the world can trust each other and transact over a large peer-to-peer networks without any central authority. This proves that, trust can be built not only by centralized institution but also by protocols and cryptographic mechanisms. The potential and collaboration between organizations and individuals within peer networks make it possible to potentially move to a global collaborative network without centralization. Blockchain is a complex social, economic and technological phenomenon. This questions what the established terminologies of the modern world like currency, trust, economics and exchange would mean. To make any sense, one needs to realize how much insightful and potential it is in the context and the way it is technically developed. Due to rapid changes in accessing the documents through online transactions and transferring the currency online, many previously used methods are proving insufficient and not secure to solve the problem which arises in the safe and hassle-free transaction. Nowadays, the world changes rapidly, and a transition flow is also seen in Business Process Management (BPM). The traditional Business Process Management holds good establishment last one to two decades, but, the internal workflow confined in a single organization. They do not manage the workflow process and information across organizations. If they do so, again fall in the same trap as the control transfers to the third party that is centralized server and it leads to tampering the data, and single point of failure. To address these issues, this book highlights a number of unique problems and effective solutions that reflects the state-of-the art in blockchain Technology. This book explores new experiments and yields promising solutions to the current challenges of blockchain technology. This book is intended for the researchers, academicians, faculties, scientists, blockchain specialists, business management and software industry professionals who will find it beneficial for their research work and set new ideas in the field of blockchain. This book caters research work in many fields of blockchain engineering, and it provides an in-depth knowledge of the fields covered.

This book provides practical information about web archives, offers inspiring examples for web archivists, raises new challenges, and shares recent research results about access methods to explore information from the past preserved by web archives. The book is structured in six parts. Part 1 advocates for the importance of web archives to preserve our collective memory in the digital era, demonstrates the problem of web ephemera and shows how web archiving activities have been trying to address this challenge. Part 2 then focuses on different strategies for selecting web content to be preserved and on the media types that different web archives host. It provides an overview of efforts to address the preservation of web content as well as smaller-scale but high-quality collections of social media or audiovisual content. Next, Part 3 presents examples of initiatives to improve access to archived web information and provides an overview of access mechanisms for web archives designed to be used by humans or automatically accessed by machines. Part 4 presents research use cases for web archives. It also discusses how to engage more researchers in exploiting web archives and provides inspiring research studies performed using the exploration of web archives. Subsequently, Part 5 demonstrates that web archives should become crucial infrastructures for modern connected societies. It makes the case for developing web archives as research infrastructures and presents several inspiring examples of added-value services built on web archives. Lastly, Part 6 reflects on the evolution of the web and the sustainability of web archiving activities. It debates the requirements and challenges for web archives if they are to assume the responsibility of being societal infrastructures that enable the preservation of memory. This book targets academics and advanced professionals in a broad range of research areas such as digital humanities, social sciences, history, media studies and information or computer science. It also aims to fill the need for a scholarly overview to support lecturers who would like to introduce web archiving into their courses by offering an initial reference for students.

This book is devoted to the leading research in applying learning automaton (LA) and heuristics for solving benchmark and real-world optimization problems. The ever-increasing application of the LA as a promising reinforcement learning technique in artificial intelligence makes it necessary to provide scholars, scientists, and engineers with a practical discussion on LA solutions for optimization. The book starts with a brief introduction to LA models for optimization. Afterward, the research areas related to LA and optimization are addressed as bibliometric network analysis. Then, LA's application in behavior control in evolutionary computation, and memetic models of object migration automata and cellular learning automata for solving NP hard problems are considered. Next, an overview of multi-population methods for DOPs, LA's application in dynamic optimization problems (DOPs), and the function evaluation management in evolutionary multi-population for DOPs are discussed. Highlighted benefits * Presents the latest advances in learning automata-based optimization approaches. * Addresses the memetic models of learning automata for solving NP-hard problems. * Discusses the application of learning automata for behavior control in evolutionary computation in detail. * Gives the fundamental principles and analyses of the different concepts associated with multi-population methods for dynamic optimization problems.

This book projects a futuristic scenario that is more existent than they have been at any time earlier. To be conscious of the bursting prospective of IoT, it has to be amalgamated with AI technologies. Predictive and advanced analysis can be made based on the data collected, discovered and analyzed. To achieve all these compatibility, complexity, legal and ethical issues arise due to automation of connected components and gadgets of widespread companies across the globe. While these are a few examples of issues, the authors' intention in editing this book is to offer concepts of integrating AI with IoT in a precise and clear manner to the research community. In editing this book, the authors' attempt is to provide novel advances and applications to address the challenge of continually discovering patterns for IoT by covering various aspects of implementing AI techniques to make IoT solutions smarter. The only way to remain pace with this data generated by the IoT and acquire the concealed acquaintance it encloses is to employ AI as the eventual catalyst for IoT. IoT together with AI is more than an inclination or existence; it will develop into a paradigm. It helps those researchers who have an interest in this field to keep insight into different concepts and their importance for applications in real life. This has been done to make the edited book more flexible and to stimulate further interest in topics. All these motivated the authors toward integrating AI in achieving smarter IoT. The authors believe that their effort can make this collection interesting and highly attract the student pursuing pre-research, research and even master in multidisciplinary domain.

Collaborative working has been increasingly viewed as a good practice for organizations to achieve efficiency. Organizations that work well in collaboration may have access to new sources of funding, deliver new, improved, and more integrated services, make savings on shared costs, and exchange knowledge, information and expertise. Collaboration and the Semantic Web: Social Networks, Knowledge Networks and Knowledge Resources showcases cutting-edge research on the intersections of Semantic Web, collaborative work, and social media research, exploring how the resources of so-called social networking applications, which bring people together to interact and encourage sharing of personal information and ideas, can be tapped by Semantic Web techniques, making shared Web contents readable and processable for machine and intelligent applications, as well as humans. Semantic technologies have shown their potential for integrating valuable knowledge, and they are being applied to the composition of digital learning and working platforms. Integrated semantic applications, linked data, social networks, and networked digital solutions can now be used in collaborative environments and present participants with the context-aware information that they need.