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Extending OpenStack: Leverage extended OpenStack projects to implement containerization, deployment, and architecting robust cloud solutions
by Omar KhedherDiscover new opportunities to empower your private cloud by making the most of the OpenStack universe Key Features This practical guide teaches you how to extend the core functionalities of OpenStack Discover OpenStack's flexibility by writing custom applications and network plugins Deploy a containerized environment in OpenStack through a hands-on and example-driven approach Book Description OpenStack is a very popular cloud computing platform that has enabled several organizations during the last few years to successfully implement their Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) platforms. This book will guide you through new features of the latest OpenStack releases and how to bring them into production straightaway in an agile way. It starts by showing you how to expand your current OpenStack setup and how to approach your next OpenStack Data Center generation deployment. You will discover how to extend your storage and network capacity and also take advantage of containerization technology such as Docker and Kubernetes in OpenStack. Additionally, you'll explore the power of big data as a Service terminology implemented in OpenStack by integrating the Sahara project. This book will teach you how to build Hadoop clusters and launch jobs in a very simple way. Then you'll automate and deploy applications on top of OpenStack. You will discover how to write your own plugin in the Murano project. The final part of the book will go through best practices for security such as identity, access management, and authentication exposed by Keystone in OpenStack. By the end of this book, you will be ready to extend and customize your private cloud based on your requirements. What you will learn Explore new incubated projects in the OpenStack ecosystem and see how they work Architect your OpenStack private cloud with extended features of the latest versions Consolidate OpenStack authentication in your large infrastructure to avoid complexity Find out how to expand your computing power in OpenStack on a large scale Reduce your OpenStack storage cost management by taking advantage of external tools Provide easy, on-demand, cloud-ready applications to developers using OpenStack in no time Enter the big data world and find out how to launch elastic jobs easily in OpenStack Boost your extended OpenStack private cloud performance through real-world scenarios Who this book is for This book is for system administrators, cloud architects, and developers who have experience working with OpenStack and are ready to step up and extend its functionalities. A good knowledge of basic OpenStack components is required. In addition, familiarity with Linux boxes and a good understanding of network and virtualization jargon is required.
Extending Oracle Application Express with Oracle Cloud Features: A Guide to Enhancing APEX Web Applications with Cloud-Native and Machine Learning Technologies
by Adrian Png Heli HelskyahoThis book shows Oracle Application Express (APEX) developers how to take advantage of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) features for APEX that might otherwise go missed. You will learn how to use OCI features for data science tasks such as detecting anomalies in your data, training machine learning models, and much more. The book provides an in-depth look at Oracle Cloud features and demonstrates how they can be easily integrated into an APEX application. While the book focuses on developing for APEX, the approaches covered in the book are also applicable to any other modern web developer framework for applications running on the OCI platform.For many organizations, the database is the heart of operations. Those who opt to invest in the Oracle Database can learn from this book how to maximize their return on investment. The book begins with an introduction to OCI and help on setting up your OCI developer environment. From there you’ll begin with security by learning to provide single sign-on via the Oracle Identity Cloud Service. Subsequent chapters take you through cloud-focused features such as Object Storage, Oracle Function, Oracle Machine Learning REST Services, and Oracle Cloud Anomaly Detection. You’ll even learn to troubleshoot email delivery services.What You Will LearnBe aware of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure features for developersIntegrate with cloud native services such as cloud-based object storage and serverless functionsEnhance APEX applications with machine learning featuresImplement Natural Language Processing and Anomaly Detection AlgorithmsTroubleshoot email delivery services when sending emails using the APEX_MAIL packageDesign and implement an APEX environment that is secureWho This Book Is ForAPEX developers who are looking to extend their application’s capabilities using features and resources available through the Oracle Cloud, and cloud solutions architects who support development teams and help design and implement architectures that benefit business operations
Extending Power BI with Python and R: Perform advanced analysis using the power of analytical languages
by Luca ZavarellaIngest, transform, manipulate, and visualize your data beyond Power BI's capabilities. Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free eBook in PDF format.Key FeaturesDiscover best practices for using Python and R in Power BI by implementing non-trivial codeEnrich your Power BI dashboards using external APIs and machine learning modelsCreate any visualization, as complex as you want, using Python and R scriptsBook DescriptionThe latest edition of this book delves deep into advanced analytics, focusing on enhancing Python and R proficiency within Power BI. New chapters cover optimizing Python and R settings, utilizing Intel's Math Kernel Library (MKL) for performance boosts, and addressing integration challenges. Techniques for managing large datasets beyond available RAM, employing the Parquet data format, and advanced fuzzy matching algorithms are explored. Additionally, it discusses leveraging SQL Server Language Extensions to overcome traditional Python and R limitations in Power BI. It also helps in crafting sophisticated visualizations using the Grammar of Graphics in both R and Python. This Power BI book will help you master data validation with regular expressions, import data from diverse sources, and apply advanced algorithms for transformation. You'll learn how to safeguard personal data in Power BI with techniques like pseudonymization, anonymization, and data masking. You'll also get to grips with the key statistical features of datasets by plotting multiple visual graphs in the process of building a machine learning model. The book will guide you on utilizing external APIs for enrichment, enhancing I/O performance, and leveraging Python and R for analysis. You'll reinforce your learning with questions at the end of each chapter.What you will learnConfigure optimal integration of Python and R with Power BIPerform complex data manipulations not possible by default in Power BIBoost Power BI logging and loading large datasetsExtract insights from your data using algorithms like linear optimizationCalculate string distances and learn how to use them for probabilistic fuzzy matchingHandle outliers and missing values for multivariate and time-series dataApply Exploratory Data Analysis in Power BI with RLearn to use Grammar of Graphics in PythonWho this book is forThis book is for business analysts, business intelligence professionals, and data scientists who already use Microsoft Power BI and want to add more value to their analysis using Python and R. Working knowledge of Power BI is required to make the most of this book. Basic knowledge of Python and R will also be helpful.
Extending Power BI with Python and R: Ingest, transform, enrich, and visualize data using the power of analytical languages
by Luca Zavarella Francesca LazzeriPerform more advanced analysis and manipulation of your data beyond what Power BI can do to unlock valuable insights using Python and RKey FeaturesGet the most out of Python and R with Power BI by implementing non-trivial codeLeverage the toolset of Python and R chunks to inject scripts into your Power BI dashboardsImplement new techniques for ingesting, enriching, and visualizing data with Python and R in Power BIBook DescriptionPython and R allow you to extend Power BI capabilities to simplify ingestion and transformation activities, enhance dashboards, and highlight insights. With this book, you'll be able to make your artifacts far more interesting and rich in insights using analytical languages.You'll start by learning how to configure your Power BI environment to use your Python and R scripts. The book then explores data ingestion and data transformation extensions, and advances to focus on data augmentation and data visualization. You'll understand how to import data from external sources and transform them using complex algorithms. The book helps you implement personal data de-identification methods such as pseudonymization, anonymization, and masking in Power BI. You'll be able to call external APIs to enrich your data much more quickly using Python programming and R programming. Later, you'll learn advanced Python and R techniques to perform in-depth analysis and extract valuable information using statistics and machine learning. You'll also understand the main statistical features of datasets by plotting multiple visual graphs in the process of creating a machine learning model.By the end of this book, you'll be able to enrich your Power BI data models and visualizations using complex algorithms in Python and R.What you will learnDiscover best practices for using Python and R in Power BI productsUse Python and R to perform complex data manipulations in Power BIApply data anonymization and data pseudonymization in Power BILog data and load large datasets in Power BI using Python and REnrich your Power BI dashboards using external APIs and machine learning modelsExtract insights from your data using linear optimization and other algorithmsHandle outliers and missing values for multivariate and time-series dataCreate any visualization, as complex as you want, using R scriptsWho this book is forThis book is for business analysts, business intelligence professionals, and data scientists who already use Microsoft Power BI and want to add more value to their analysis using Python and R. Working knowledge of Power BI is required to make the most of this book. Basic knowledge of Python and R will also be helpful.
Extending Puppet
by Alessandro FranceschiThis book is a clear, detailed and practical guide to learn about designing and deploying you puppet architecture, with informative examples to highlight and explain concepts in a focused manner. This book is designed for users who already have good experience with Puppet, and will surprise experienced users with innovative topics that explore how to design, implement, adapt, and deploy a Puppet architecture. The key to extending Puppet is the development of types and providers, for which you must be familiar with Ruby.
Extending Puppet - Second Edition
by Jaime Soriano Pastor Alessandro FranceschiStart pulling the strings of your infrastructure with Puppet - learn how to configure, customize, and manage your systems more intelligently About This Book * Explore the wider Puppet ecosystem of useful tools * Design and manage your Puppet architecture for optimum performance * Write more efficient code that keeps your infrastructure more robust Who This Book Is For If you are a Puppet user, this book will help you on different levels. If you a beginner, we summarize the key Puppet components and give you the elements to have a broader vision. For more experienced users, you will be surprised by with topics on designing, implementing, adapting, and deploying Puppet architectures. If you are expert, you will find topics and information that is rarely exposed in other books, giving you an insight into Puppet's future and its usage on alternative devices. What You Will Learn * Learn the principles of Puppet language and ecosystem * Extract the features of Hiera and PuppetDB's power usage * Explore the different approaches to Puppet architecture design * Use Puppet to manage network, cloud, and virtualization devices * Manage and test the Puppet code workflow * Tweak, hack, and adapt the Puppet extension points * Get a run through of the strategies and patterns to introduce Puppet automation * Master the art of writing reusable modules In Detail Puppet has changed the way we manage our systems, but Puppet itself is changing and evolving, and so are the ways we are using it. To tackle our IT infrastructure challenges and avoid common errors when designing our architectures, an up-to-date, practical, and focused view of the current and future Puppet evolution is what we need. With Puppet, you define the state of your IT infrastructure, and it automatically enforces the desired state. This book will be your guide to designing and deploying your Puppet architecture. It will help you utilize Puppet to manage your IT infrastructure. Get to grips with Hiera and learn how to install and configure it, before learning best practices for writing reusable and maintainable code. You will also be able to explore the latest features of Puppet 4, before executing, testing, and deploying Puppet across your systems. As you progress, Extending Puppet takes you through higher abstraction modules, along with tips for effective code workflow management. Finally, you will learn how to develop plugins for Puppet - as well as some useful techniques that can help you to avoid common errors and overcome everyday challenges. Style and approach This is a collection of specific information about multiple topics related to Puppet and its ecosystem. Starting from a review of the very basics to more advanced topics, mixing practical advice with important theory and broader perspective, along with implementation details.
Extending SaltStack
by Joseph HallExtend the power of your infrastructure and applications with Salt modules About This Book * Get the most up-to-date practical resource on writing new Salt modules and extending Salt * Learn through use cases and encounter both commonly-used modules as well as advanced ones * Effectively troubleshoot problems and hiccups encountered while building and putting modules to work Who This Book Is For This book is for both new and existing Salt developers who are looking to build and write new Salt modules. Some prior Python development experience is expected. What You Will Learn * Understand the working of Salt's Loader system * Write several of the most common types of Salt modules * Interact between different kinds of modules and build new ones * Submit open source modules upstream to the Salt project * Make Salt interact with third-party services and applications In Detail Salt already ships with a very powerful set of tools, but that doesn't mean that they all suit your needs perfectly. By adding your own modules and enhancing existing ones, you can bring the functionality that you need to increase your productivity. Extending SaltStack follows a tutorial-based approach to explain different types of modules, from fundamentals to complete and full-functioning modules. Starting with the Loader system that drives Salt, this book will guide you through the most common types of modules. First you will learn how to write execution modules. Then you will extend the configuration using the grain, pillar, and SDB modules. Next up will be state modules and then the renderers that can be used with them. This will be followed with returner and output modules, which increase your options to manage return data. After that, there will be modules for external file servers, clouds, beacons, and finally external authentication and wheel modules to manage the master. With this guide in hand, you will be prepared to create, troubleshoot, and manage the most common types of Salt modules and take your infrastructure to new heights! Style and approach This book follows a step-by-step tutorial-based approach explaining the different types of modules, from fundamentals to complete and full-functioning modules.
Extending SSIS with .NET Scripting
by Joost Rossum Régis BaccaroExtending SSIS with . NET Scripting is a timeless and comprehensive scripting toolkit for SQL Server Integration Services to solve a wide array of everyday problems that SSIS developers encounter. The detailed explanation of the Script Task and Script Component foundations helps you develop your own scripting solutions, but this book also shows a broad arsenal of readymade and well-documented scripting solutions for common problems. All examples are in both C# and VB. NET, and work for all current versions of SSIS. SSIS is one of the leading ETL, Data Consolidation, and Data Transformation tools in today's market. SSIS is used by ETL Developers, DBAs and Data Analysts to transform data as required for different ETL processes. There are many built-in components and tasks to help developers to perform actions. For example, there are tasks for sending and receiving files through FTP, sending an email, and for accessing a wide range of database management systems. Yet there are times when developers require a task or component that does not exist and it would make their life much easier if they could create that task or component, and that is what this book it is about. It shows how to write . NET scripts and use the powerful Microsoft . NET library to implement new functionality as needed. Provides a timeless scripting toolkit for all current SSIS versions Gives a comprehensive explanation of scripting in SSIS Offers a wide array of readymade examples for everyday problems What you'll learn Build solutions around the Script Task and Script Component Apply readymade scripting examples from the book to your own projects Create own scripting solutions that are written in Microsoft . NET Implement custom tasks, enumerators, connection managers, and transformations Automate execution of SSIS packages through scripting Understand tradeoffs to properly apply different customization options Who this book is for Scripting SSIS with . NET is aimed at developers with at least some experience in creating SSIS packages. It is especially targeted at those who have encountered limitations using out-of-the-box tasks and transformations. A secondary audience are those with . NET programming experience who are now heavily involved in database, and especially in ETL work. Table of Contents Introduction Part I: Getting Started Chapter 1: Getting Started with SSIS and Scripting Chapter 2: Script Tasks vs Script Components Chapter 3: . NET Fundamentals Part II: Script Tasks Chapter 4: Script Task Foundations Chapter 5: File Properties Chapter 6: Working Through Internet And Web Chapter 7: Working with Web Services and XML Chapter 8:Advanced Solutions with Script Task Part III: Script Component Chapter 9: Script Component Foundations Chapter 10: Script Components as a Source Chapter 11: Script Components as a Transformation Chapter 12: Script Components as a Destination Chapter 13: Regular Expressions Chapter 14: Reflection Chapter 15: Web Services Part IV: Custom Tasks and Components Chapter 16: Create Custom Tasks Chapter 17: Create Custom Data Flow Components Part V: Scripting from . NET Applications Chapter 18: Package Creation Chapter 19: Execution and Deployment Chapter 20: Best Practices
Extending Symfony2 Web Application Framework
by Sébastien ArmandWith lots of practical, hands-on, step-by-step examples, this book will lead you through how to extend and optimize your Symfony2 framework. If you have a good understanding of how Symfony works and are now trying to integrate complex tasks in your application, or want to better organize your application by keeping each piece of code where it belongs so it can be decoupled and easily used elsewhere, then this book is for you.
Extending the Boundaries of Design Science Theory and Practice: 14th International Conference on Design Science Research in Information Systems and Technology, DESRIST 2019, Worcester, MA, USA, June 4–6, 2019, Proceedings (Lecture Notes in Computer Science #11491)
by Bengisu Tulu Soussan Djamasbi Gondy LeroyThis book constitutes the thoroughly refereed proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Designing for a Digital and Globalized World, DESRIST 2019, held Worcester, MA, USA, June 2019. The 20 revised full papers included in the volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 54 submissions. They are organized in the following topical sections: Design Science Research Theory and Methodology; Design Science Research Applications in Healthcare; Design Science Research Applications in Data Science; and Design Science Research Applications in Emerging Topics.
Extending Unity with Editor Scripting
by Angelo TadresPut Unity to use for your video games by creating your own custom tools with editor scripting About This Book * Acquire a good understanding of extending Unity's editor capabilities for a platformer game by using Gizmos, custom inspectors, editor windows, scriptable objects, and more * Learn to configure and get control over your asset import pipeline using asset preprocessors * A step-by-step, comprehensible guide to creating and customizing a build pipeline that fits the necessities of your video game development team Who This Book Is For This book is for anyone who has a basic knowledge of Unity programming using C# and wants to learn how to extend and create custom tools using Unity editor scripting to improve the development workflow and make video game development easier. What You Will Learn * Use Gizmos to create visual aids for debugging * Extend the editor capabilities using custom inspectors, property and decorator drawers, editor windows, and handles * Save your video game data in a persistent way using scriptable objects * Improve the look and feel of your custom tools using GUIStyles and GUISkins * Configure and control the asset import pipeline * Improve the build creation pipeline * Distribute the custom tools in your team or publish them in the Asset Store In Detail One of Unity's most powerful features is the extensible editor it has. With editor scripting, it is possible to extend or create functionalities to make video game development easier. For a Unity developer, this is an important topic to know and understand because adapting Unity editor scripting to video games saves a great deal of time and resources. This book is designed to cover all the basic concepts of Unity editor scripting using a functional platformer video game that requires workflow improvement. You will commence with the basics of editor scripting, exploring its implementation with the help of an example project, a level editor, before moving on to the usage of visual cues for debugging with Gizmos in the scene view. Next, you will learn how to create custom inspectors and editor windows and implement custom GUI. Furthermore, you will discover how to change the look and feel of the editor using editor GUIStyles and editor GUISkins. You will then explore the usage of editor scripting in order to improve the development pipeline of a video game in Unity by designing ad hoc editor tools, customizing the way the editor imports assets, and getting control over the build creation process. Step by step, you will use and learn all the key concepts while creating and developing a pipeline for a simple platform video game. As a bonus, the final chapter will help you to understand how to share content in the Asset Store that shows the creation of custom tools as a possible new business. By the end of the book, you will easily be able to extend all the concepts to other projects. Style and approach This book uses a step-by-step approach that will help you finish with a level editor tool, a custom configuration for the asset import pipeline, and a build pipeline totally adjusted to the video game.
Extending Virtual Worlds: Advanced Design for Virtual Environments
by Ann Latham CudworthWritten as the successor to Virtual World Design: Creating Immersive Virtual Environments, this book carries the ideas brought forward in its predecessor to new levels of virtual world design exploration and experimentation. Written by an Emmy award-winning designer with 22 years of experience creating virtual environments for television and online communities, Extending Virtual Worlds: Advanced Design for Virtual Environments explores advanced topics such as multi-regional design, game-based sims, and narrative structure for environments.The book provides bedrock knowledge and practical examples of how to leverage design concepts within the intertwined structures of physics engines, level of detail (LOD) systems, and advanced material editors. It also shows designers new ways to influence the experience of virtual world visitors through immersive narrative and storytelling. With over 150 illustrations and 10 step-by-step projects that include the necessary 3D models and modular components, it delivers hours of stimulating creative challenges for people working in public virtual worlds or on private grids.By using this book, novices and advanced users will deepen their understanding of game design and how it can be applied to creating game-based virtual environments. It also serves as a foundational text for class work in distance learning, simulation, and other learning technologies that use virtual environments.
Extenics and Innovation Methods (Communications in Cybernetics, Systems Science and Engineering – Proceedings)
by Wen Cai & Chunyan Yang Florentin Smarandache Luigi Vladareanu Qiaoxing Li Guangtian Zou Yanwei ZhaoSociety forges ahead in the process of solving various contradictory problems and it is ceaselessly innovating. It is the desire of mankind to use computers and computing networks to help deal with contradictory problems and to conduct innovative activities. Using formal models to discuss object extension and the possibility of change, as well as t
Extension of Data Envelopment Analysis with Preference Information
by Tarja Joro Pekka J. KorhonenThis book provides an introduction to incorporating preference information in Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) with a special emphasis in Value Efficiency Analysis. In addition to theoretical considerations, numerous illustrative examples are included. Hence, the book can be used as a teaching text as well. Only a modest mathematical background is needed to understand the main principles. The only prerequisites are a) familiarity with linear algebra, especially matrix calculus; b) knowledge of the simplex method; and c) familiarity with the use of computer software. The book is organized as follows. Chapter 1 provides motivation and introduces the basic concepts. Chapter 2 provides the basic ideas and models of Data Envelopment Analysis. The efficient frontier and production possibility set concepts play an important role in all considerations. That's why these concepts are considered more closely in Chapter 3. Since the approaches introduced in this study are inspired by Multiple Objective Linear Programming, the basic concepts of this field are reviewed in Chapter 4. Chapter 5 also compares and contrasts Data Envelopment Analysis and Multiple Objective Linear Programming, providing some cornerstones for approaches presented later in the book. Chapter 6 discusses the traditional approaches to take into account preference information in DEA. In Chapter 7, Value Efficiency is introduced, and Chapter 8 discusses practical aspects. Some extensions are presented in Chapter 9, and in Chapter 10 Value Efficiency is extended to cover the case when a production possibility set is not convex. Three implemented applications are reviewed in Chapter 11.
Extension of the Fuzzy Sugeno Integral Based on Generalized Type-2 Fuzzy Logic (SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology)
by Patricia Melin Gabriela E. MartinezThis book presents an extension of the aggregation operator of the generalized interval type-2 Sugeno integral using generalized type-2 fuzzy logic. This extension enables it to handle higher levels of uncertainty when adding any number of sources and types of information in a wide variety of decision-making applications. The authors also demonstrate that the extended aggregation operator offers better performance than other traditional or extended operators. The book is a valuables reference resource for students and researchers working on theory and applications of fuzzy logic in various areas of application where decision making is performed under high levels of uncertainty, such as pattern recognition, time series prediction, intelligent control and manufacturing.
Extensions of Dynamic Programming for Combinatorial Optimization and Data Mining (Intelligent Systems Reference Library #146)
by Mikhail Moshkov Shahid Hussain Igor Chikalov Talha Amin Hassan AbouEishaDynamic programming is an efficient technique for solving optimization problems. It is based on breaking the initial problem down into simpler ones and solving these sub-problems, beginning with the simplest ones. A conventional dynamic programming algorithm returns an optimal object from a given set of objects. This book develops extensions of dynamic programming, enabling us to (i) describe the set of objects under consideration; (ii) perform a multi-stage optimization of objects relative to different criteria; (iii) count the number of optimal objects; (iv) find the set of Pareto optimal points for bi-criteria optimization problems; and (v) to study relationships between two criteria. It considers various applications, including optimization of decision trees and decision rule systems as algorithms for problem solving, as ways for knowledge representation, and as classifiers; optimization of element partition trees for rectangular meshes, which are used in finite element methods for solving PDEs; and multi-stage optimization for such classic combinatorial optimization problems as matrix chain multiplication, binary search trees, global sequence alignment, and shortest paths. The results presented are useful for researchers in combinatorial optimization, data mining, knowledge discovery, machine learning, and finite element methods, especially those working in rough set theory, test theory, logical analysis of data, and PDE solvers. This book can be used as the basis for graduate courses.
ExtGWT Rich Internet Application Cookbook
by Odili Charles OputeThis is a fast paced and concise tutorial guide for ExtGWT with lucid and ready-to-use recipes. The screenshots and the code examples really make the book very comprehensive and interesting. This book is intended for the beginner/intermediate Java developer who wants to build really cool and powerful web apps using cutting edge Java technology and web standards. Knowledge of basic web technologies and a working GWT setup is needed. Basic knowledge of ExtGWT will be an advantage.
Extraction and Representation of Prosody for Speaker, Speech and Language Recognition
by Leena MaryExtraction and Representation of Prosodic Features for Speech Processing Applications deals with prosody from speech processing point of view with topics including: The significance of prosody for speech processing applicationsWhy prosody need to be incorporated in speech processing applicationsDifferent methods for extraction and representation of prosody for applications such as speech synthesis, speaker recognition, language recognition and speech recognitionThis book is for researchers and students at the graduate level.
Extraction of Prosody for Automatic Speaker, Language, Emotion and Speech Recognition (SpringerBriefs in Speech Technology)
by Leena MaryThis updated book expands upon prosody for recognition applications of speech processing. It includes importance of prosody for speech processing applications; builds on why prosody needs to be incorporated in speech processing applications; and presents methods for extraction and representation of prosody for applications such as speaker recognition, language recognition and speech recognition. The updated book also includes information on the significance of prosody for emotion recognition and various prosody-based approaches for automatic emotion recognition from speech.
An Extraordinary Year Of Ordinary Days
by Susan Wittig AlbertFrom Eudora Welty's memoir of childhood to May Sarton's reflections on her seventieth year, writers' journals offer an irresistible opportunity to join a creative thinker in musing on the events-whether in daily life or on a global scale-that shape our lives. In An Extraordinary Year of Ordinary Days, best-selling mystery novelist Susan Wittig Albert invites us to revisit one of the most tumultuous years in recent memory, 2008, through the lens of 365 ordinary days in which her reading, writing, and thinking about issues in the wider world-from wars and economic recession to climate change-caused her to reconsider and reshape daily practices in her personal life. Albert's journal provides an engaging account of how the business of being a successful working writer blends with her rural life in the Texas Hill Country and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico. As her eclectic daily reading ranges across topics from economics, food production, and oil and energy policy to poetry, place, and the writing life, Albert becomes increasingly concerned about the natural world and the threats facing it, especially climate change and resource depletion. Asking herself, "What does it mean? And what ought I do about it?", she determines practical steps to take, such as growing more food in her garden, and also helps us as readers make sense of these issues and consider what our own responses might be.
Extraterrestrische Maschinen: Auf der Suche nach außerirdischer Intelligenz
by Wilfried DomainkoIn diesem Buch wird die Suche nach extraterrestrischen Strukturen diskutiert, die möglicherweise künstlichen Ursprungs sind. Die Fahndung nach künstlichen, extraterrestrischen Objekten wird jedoch durch die extrem vielfältigen Erscheinungsformen von natürlichen Himmelkörpern erschwert. Trotzdem ist die gezielte Suche nach außerirdischen Maschinen von riesigen Ausmaßen eine Möglichkeit, extraterrestrische Intelligenz zu entdecken. Tatsächlich besteht die Möglichkeit, einige Beobachtungen von außergewöhnlichen Himmelsobjekten entweder im Zusammenhang mit exotischen natürlichen Phänomenen oder aber als solche Technologiesignaturen zu deuten. Extraterrestrische Maschinen könnten technologisch viel fortschrittlicher sein als ihre irdischen Gegenstücke. Im Rahmen des zweiten Erklärungsansatzes könnten modifizierte Sterne als stellare Maschinen dienen, ganze Planeten nach den Bedürfnissen ihrer Bewohner umgestaltet werden oder gigantische Megastrukturen ihre Heimatsterne verdunkeln. Auch in unserem Sonnensystem wären Signaturen von extraterrestrischen Maschinen denkbar. Entsprechend könnten Beobachtungen von einigen sich bewegenden Himmelsobjekten mitunter im Zusammenhang mit interstellaren Raumsonden oder extraterrestrischem Weltraumschrott interpretiert werden. Neben der Vorstellung von möglichen beobachteten Technologiesignaturen und deren natürlichen und künstlichen Erklärungsmodellen, werden in diesem Buch auch verwandte irdische Technikvorhaben mit den entsprechenden Beobachtungen verglichen. In diesem Zusammenhang könnte das Auffinden von extraterrestrischen Maschinen sogar die menschliche Technologieentwicklung verändern.
Extremal Optimization: Fundamentals, Algorithms, and Applications
by Yong-Zai Lu Yu-Wang Chen Min-Rong Chen Peng Chen Guo-Qiang ZengExtremal Optimization: Fundamentals, Algorithms, and Applications introduces state-of-the-art extremal optimization (EO) and modified EO (MEO) solutions from fundamentals, methodologies, and algorithms to applications based on numerous classic publications and the authors’ recent original research results. It promotes the movement of EO from academic study to practical applications. The book covers four aspects, beginning with a general review of real-world optimization problems and popular solutions with a focus on computational complexity, such as "NP-hard" and the "phase transitions" occurring on the search landscape. Next, it introduces computational extremal dynamics and its applications in EO from principles, mechanisms, and algorithms to the experiments on some benchmark problems such as TSP, spin glass, Max-SAT (maximum satisfiability), and graph partition. It then presents studies on the fundamental features of search dynamics and mechanisms in EO with a focus on self-organized optimization, evolutionary probability distribution, and structure features (e.g., backbones), which are based on the authors’ recent research results. Finally, it discusses applications of EO and MEO in multiobjective optimization, systems modeling, intelligent control, and production scheduling. The authors present the advanced features of EO in solving NP-hard problems through problem formulation, algorithms, and simulation studies on popular benchmarks and industrial applications. They also focus on the development of MEO and its applications. This book can be used as a reference for graduate students, research developers, and practical engineers who work on developing optimization solutions for those complex systems with hardness that cannot be solved with mathematical optimization or other computational intelligence, such as evolutionary computations.
Extreme C
by Kamran AminiExtreme C is for C programmers who want to dig deep into the language and its capabilities. It will help you make the most of the low-level control C gives you
Extreme DAX: Take your Power BI and Microsoft data analytics skills to the next level
by Michiel Rozema Henk VlootmanDiscover the true power of DAX and build advanced DAX solutions for practical business scenariosKey FeaturesSolve complex business problems within Microsoft BI tools including Power BI, SQL Server, and ExcelDevelop a conceptual understanding of critical business data modeling principlesLearn the subtleties of Power BI data visualizations, evaluation context, context transition, and filteringBook DescriptionIf you want to get the most out of Microsoft Business Intelligence tools, sooner or later you'll need to master DAX. Extreme DAX enables business analysts to generate powerful and sophisticated analyses from their data.You'll learn the principles of business intelligence, good model design, and how DAX fits into it all. Then, you'll launch into detailed examples of DAX in real-world business scenarios such as inventory calculations, forecasting, intercompany business, and data security. At each step, senior DAX experts will walk you through the subtleties involved in working with Power BI models and common mistakes to look out for as you build advanced data aggregations.You'll deepen your understanding of DAX functions, filters, and measures, and how and when they can be used to derive effective insights. Also provided with the book are PBIX files for each chapter for you to follow along with and explore in your own time.What you will learnUnderstand data modeling concepts and structures before you start working with DAXGrasp how relationships in Power BI models are different from those in RDBMSesSecure aggregation levels, attributes, and hierarchies using PATH functions and row-level securityGet to grips with the crucial concept of contextApply advanced context and filtering functions including TREATAS, GENERATE, and SUMMARIZEExplore dynamically changing visualizations with helper tables and dynamic labels and axesWork with week-based calendars and understand standard time-intelligenceEvaluate investments intelligently with the XNPV and XIRR financial DAX functionsWho this book is forIf you are an analyst with a working knowledge of DAX in MS Power BI or other Microsoft analytics tools, this book will help you upgrade your DAX knowledge and work with analytical models more effectively.This book is not for beginners and practical experience with DAX is necessary.
Extreme Events and Natural Hazards
by Vijay P. Dimri Daniel N. Baker A. Surjalal Sharma Armin BundePublished by the American Geophysical Union as part of the Geophysical Monograph Series, Volume 196.Extreme Events and Natural Hazards: The Complexity Perspective examines recent developments in complexity science that provide a new approach to understanding extreme events. This understanding is critical to the development of strategies for the prediction of natural hazards and mitigation of their adverse consequences. The volume is a comprehensive collection of current developments in the understanding of extreme events. The following critical areas are highlighted: understanding extreme events, natural hazard prediction and development of mitigation strategies, recent developments in complexity science, global change and how it relates to extreme events, and policy sciences and perspective. With its overarching theme, Extreme Events and Natural Hazards will be of interest and relevance to scientists interested in nonlinear geophysics, natural hazards, atmospheric science, hydrology, oceanography, tectonics, and space weather.