Football is often described as a game of inches. First downs, scoring, and in/out of bound decisions that can determine the outcome of the game may even come down to fractions of an inch. Investing is similar: the difference between outperforming or underperforming the market may be a few fractions of a percentage point. As Ben Branch succinctly states, successful investing, defined as outperforming the market averages, is not easy. And yet it is very much a game worth playing, particularly if you win. The key to being on the winning side is to understand the fundamental principles of investing—what it is and how it works—before making any decision. In this highly practical, non-technical guide, Branch introduces the reader to stocks, bonds, options, mutual funds, real estate, futures, and all of the other basic elements of the market. He debunks popular myths and misconceptions about investing and shows you how to avoid mistakes in order to invest wisely. An extensive glossary, definitions and examples, and lists of dos and don'ts will make this book a handy resource for the novice as well as for seasoned investors looking to take their game to the next level. In this highly practical, non-technical guide, Branch provides the building blocks of a multi-dimensional investing approach. First, he reviews the principle of compound interest, the foundation of all investment strategy and performance. Then, arguing that successful investing is a function of three types of activities—selection, timing, and execution—he introduces the reader to stocks, bonds, options, mutual funds, real estate, futures, and all of the other elements of the market. In addition to covering well-known investments in detail, he explains lesser-known opportunities, such as bankruptcies and takeovers. Special topics include the effects of macroeconomic trends and the subtleties of timing for maximum advantage. He debunks popular myths and misconceptions about investing and shows you how to avoid mistakes in order to invest wisely. An extensive glossary, definitions and examples, and lists of dos and don'ts will make this book a handy resource for the novice, as well as for seasoned investors looking to take their game to the next level.
This book explains in clear and concise language how to wind-down and bring to a successful conclusion the liquidation of a company, where to find hidden values, and what problems to look for. The mystery and legalese is cut through and a simple, understandable guide is provided for the various ways of liquidating a company.
Throw out your old ideas about C and get to know a programming language that’s substantially outgrown its origins. With this revised edition of 21st Century C, you’ll discover up-to-date techniques missing from other C tutorials, whether you’re new to the language or just getting reacquainted. C isn’t just the foundation of modern programming languages; it is a modern language, ideal for writing efficient, state-of-the-art applications. Get past idioms that made sense on mainframes and learn the tools you need to work with this evolved and aggressively simple language. No matter what programming language you currently favor, you’ll quickly see that 21st century C rocks. Set up a C programming environment with shell facilities, makefiles, text editors, debuggers, and memory checkers Use Autotools, C’s de facto cross-platform package manager Learn about the problematic C concepts too useful to discard Solve C’s string-building problems with C-standard functions Use modern syntactic features for functions that take structured inputs Build high-level, object-based libraries and programs Perform advanced math, talk to internet servers, and run databases with existing C libraries This edition also includes new material on concurrent threads, virtual tables, C99 numeric types, and other features.
Pro Git (Second Edition) is your fully-updated guide to Git and its usage in the modern world. Git has come a long way since it was first developed by Linus Torvalds for Linux kernel development. It has taken the open source world by storm since its inception in 2005, and this book teaches you how to use it like a pro. Effective and well-implemented version control is a necessity for successful web projects, whether large or small. With this book you’ll learn how to master the world of distributed version workflow, use the distributed features of Git to the full, and extend Git to meet your every need. Written by Git pros Scott Chacon and Ben Straub, Pro Git (Second Edition) builds on the hugely successful first edition, and is now fully updated for Git version 2.0, as well as including an indispensable chapter on GitHub. It’s the best book for all your Git needs.
Six-time Hugo Award winner Ben Bova chronicles the saga of humankind's expansion beyond the solar system in Apes and Angels, the second book of the Star Quest Trilogy which began with Death Wave. Humankind headed out to the stars not for conquest, nor exploration, nor even for curiosity. Humans went to the stars in a desperate crusade to save intelligent life wherever they found it. A wave of death is spreading through the Milky Way galaxy, an expanding sphere of lethal gamma radiation that erupted from the galaxy's core twenty-eight thousand years ago and now is approaching Earth's vicinity at the speed of light. Every world it touched was wiped clean of all life. But it’s possible to protect a planet from gamma radiation. Earth is safe. Now, guided by the ancient intelligent machines called the Predecessors, men and women from Earth seek out those precious, rare worlds that harbor intelligent species, determined to save them from the doom that is hurtling toward them. The crew of the Odysseus has arrived at Mithra Gamma, the third planet of the star Mithra, to protect the stone-age inhabitants from the Death Wave. But they’ll also have to protect themselves. The Star Quest Trilogy #1 Death Wave #2 Apes and Angels At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
“But this is how we’ve always done it!” Objections to taking a fresh tack are about as common as budget shortfalls, and the two are more closely related than you might think. At the Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library in Arkansas, Bizzle and his colleagues defied common practices by using creative risk-taking in marketing and outreach to transform their library into a dynamic institution that continues to grow and thrive. Here they recount their story, sharing techniques for success alongside a provocative marketing philosophy that will spur libraries to move beyond their comfort zone. Focusing on creative ways to pull patrons in rather than just push the library out, this book Steers libraries towards defining their brand, explaining why it is crucial to meeting the needs of their users and potential usersOffers strategies for getting stakeholders on board and engaged, including how to address budgeting concernsDemonstrates the importance of the library’s website as the digital “main branch” of the library, with guidance for creating and promoting itDetails the systematic marketing campaign undertaken at the Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library, encompassing both traditional and new media channels such as billboards, posters, newspapers, TV and radio, and mobile technologyTakes the mystery out of how to use social media platforms as public awareness tools, complete with detailed strategies and step-by-step instructionsShows how to pull it all together into a manageable campaign through strong leadership and teamworkBy the time readers have finished this book, they’ll have a roadmap for revolution at their own institution.
Lippincott's CONCISE ILLUSTRATED ANATOMY series presents human gross anatomy in an efficient, easy-to-use format by combining core, need-to-know content with detailed atlas-style illustrations. This volume focuses on anatomical structures and functions of the thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and perineum, and includes clinical considerations concerning these important regions. With artwork adopted from the "Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Atlas of Anatomy" as well as new illustrations, understanding the functional and clinical relevance of anatomy has never been more at hand! "Features and benefits . . . "- Outline format balances concise text with comprehensive, detailed artwork for quick and efficient comprehension- Hundreds of full-color, atlas-style illustrations are carefully placed in close relation to relevant text for easy reference- Logical regional sequence reveals continuity among anatomical structures and components; chapters progress inward from superficial layers of the body to deep structures- Clinical Considerations highlight much sought-after clinically relevant information- Detailed tables are distributed at key points throughout chapters- Chapter-opening outlines facilitate topic location Lippincott's CONCISE ILLUSTRATED ANATOMY series is a perfect resource for students as well as those seeking a specialty reference for clerkship and beyond.Other titles in this series: "Lippincott's Concise Illustrated Anatomy: Back, Upper Limb & Lower Limb Lippincott's Concise Illustrated Anatomy: Head & Neck "(Coming Spring 2013)
Lippincott’s CONCISE ILLUSTRATED ANATOMY series presents human gross anatomy in an efficient, easy-to-use format by combining core, need-to-know content with detailed atlas-style illustrations. This volume focuses on anatomical structures and functions of the head and neck, and includes clinical considerations concerning these important regions. With artwork adopted from the Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Atlas of Anatomy as well as new illustrations, understanding the functional and clinical relevance of anatomy has never been more at hand! Features and benefits . . . - Outline format balances concise text with comprehensive, detailed artwork for quick and efficient comprehension - Hundreds of full-color, atlas-style illustrations are carefully placed in close relation to relevant text for easy reference - Logical regional sequence reveals continuity among anatomical structures and components; chapters progress inward from superficial layers of the body to deep structures - Clinical Considerations highlight much sought-after clinically relevant information - Detailed tables are distributed at key points throughout chapters - Special functional summaries of cranial nerves, arteries of the head and neck, and autonomic innervation Lippincott’s CONCISE ILLUSTRATED ANATOMY series is a perfect resource for students as well as those seeking a specialty reference for clerkship and beyond. Other titles in this series: Lippincott's Concise Illustrated Anatomy: Back, Upper Limb, Lower Limb Lippincott's Concise Illustrated Anatomy: Thorax, Abdomen & Pelvis
Abiding is not a word we have much use for in everyday conversation. Yet Ben Quash shows that this one concept is central to the Christian life. Abiding, as Quash demonstrates, has the sense of full personal commitment, a quality of solidarity that 'waiting' just cannot convey. It speaks of the centrality of order, consistency and continuity in the Christian tradition, of God's commitment to us and ours to our communities. On the other hand, the kind of 'abiding' that Jesus calls his followers to is one of relinquishment, openness and change, living a life out of one's own control so as to 'abide' in Him. Drawing on the wisdom and imagery of modern fiction, film and art, as well as examples of key figures in the classical Christian tradition, Quash skilfully and creatively explores the implications that 'abiding' has for our bodies and minds, our relationships and communities, and our spiritual lives.
Earthquakes come and go as they please, leaving behind them trails of destruc tion and casualties. Although their occurrence is little affected by what we do or think, it is the task of earth scientists to keep studying them from all possible angles until ways and means are found to divert, forecast, and eventually control them. In ancient times people were awestruck by singular geophysical events, which were attributed to supernatural powers. It was recognized only in 1760 that earthquakes originated within the earth. A hundred years later, first systematic attempts were made to apply physical principles to study them. During the next century scientists accumulated knowledge about the effects of earthquakes, their geographic patterns, the waves emitted by them, and the internal constitution of the earth. During the past 20 years, seismology has made a tremendous progress, mainly because of the advent of modern computers and improvements in data acquisi tion systems, which are now capable of digital and analog recording of ground motion over a frequency range of five orders of magnitude. These technologic developments have enabled seismologists to make measurements with far greater precision and sophistication than was previously possible. Advanced computational analyses have been applied to high-quality data and elaborate theoretical models have been devised to interpret them. As a result, far reaching advances in our knowledge of the earth's structure and the nature of earthquake sources have occurred.
Arochukwu kingdom has a great history, made more profound and authentic by its deep-rooted culture and traditions. Also, it's richly endowed with abundance of human and material resources, enough to transform it into an enviable society. This was demonstrated by the socio-economic and political exploits of our forebears in the 18th and 19th centuries when the kingdom was a Mecca of sorts. This book is incisive, thought provoking and a compendium of thoroughly researched data on Arochukwu history and civilization. It is authored by Aro citizens themselves and draws attention to some of the salient issues and grey areas which are yet to be successfully resolved by researchers.
This is a mathematics textbook with theorems and proofs. The choice of topics has been guided by the needs of computer science students. The method of semantic tableaux provides an elegant way to teach logic that is both theoretically sound and yet sufficiently elementary for undergraduates. In order to provide a balanced treatment of logic, tableaux are related to deductive proof systems. The book presents various logical systems and contains exercises. Still further, Prolog source code is available on an accompanying Web site. The author is an Associate Professor at the Department of Science Teaching, Weizmann Institute of Science.
The protection of copyright is one of the cultural, economic and social benefits, and on the other hand, encourages capitals to invest in various fields, this affects positively the pattern of consumption. This book offers a study on the protection of copyright and discusses: (Copyrights Protection, Main Features of the Law, Works Excluded from Protection and Duration of Protection).
This title forms part of the completely new Mathematics for the IB Diploma series. This highly illustrated coursebook, available in both print and e-book formats, has been written to specifically cover the new IB Standard Level syllabus. Based on the new group 5 aims, the progressive approach encourages cumulative learning. Features include: a dedicated chapter exclusively for combined exercises; plenty of worked examples; questions colour-coded according to grade; exam-style questions; feature boxes of hints and tips. The print book includes a CD-ROM providing a complete e-version of the book, extension worksheets, prior learning sheets, calculator skills sheets and fill-in proofs. These additional materials are also included in the e-book version.
Optimal Design of Distributed Control and Embedded Systems focuses on the design of special control and scheduling algorithms based on system structural properties as well as on analysis of the influence of induced time-delay on systems performances. It treats the optimal design of distributed and embedded control systems (DCESs) with respect to communication and calculation-resource constraints, quantization aspects, and potential time-delays induced by the associated communication and calculation model. Particular emphasis is put on optimal control signal scheduling based on the system state. In order to render this complex optimization problem feasible in real time, a time decomposition is based on periodicity induced by the static scheduling is operated. The authors present a co-design approach which subsumes the synthesis of the optimal control laws and the generation of an optimal schedule of control signals on real-time networks as well as the execution of control tasks on a single processor. The authors also operate a control structure modification or a control switching based on a thorough analysis of the influence of the induced time-delay system influence on stability and system performance in order to optimize DCES performance in case of calculation and communication resource limitations. Although the richness and variety of classes of DCES preclude a completely comprehensive treatment or a single “best” method of approaching them all, this co-design approach has the best chance of rendering this problem feasible and finding the optimal or some sub-optimal solution. The text is rounded out with references to such applications as car suspension and unmanned vehicles. Optimal Design of Distributed Control and Embedded Systems will be of most interest to academic researchers working on the mathematical theory of DCES but the wide range of environments in which they are used also promotes the relevance of the text for control practitioners working in the avionics, automotive, energy-production, space exploration and many other industries.
This book investigates everyday practices of intelligence cooperation in anti-terrorism matters, with a specific focus on the relationship between Europe and Britain. The volume examines the effective involvement of British anti-terrorism efforts in European cooperation arrangements, which until now have been overshadowed by the UK-US ‘special relationship’ and by political debates that overstate the divide between Britain and continental Europe. In arguing that British intelligence has always had a European dimension, it provides a distinct perspective to the study of intelligence cooperation and the role of British intelligence therein. Mobilizing a ‘field theory’ approach, the book provides an original contribution to the understanding of intelligence cooperation by investigating everyday bureaucratic practices of ‘ground-level’ security professionals and police forces, embedded in a European ‘field’ structured around the exchange of anti-terror intelligence. It also accounts for the drivers behind cooperation by using ‘field analysis,’ which explains the trajectory and positioning of actors according to their ‘capitals’ rather than necessities dictated by threats or state decisions. This book will be of much interest to students of Security Studies, International Political Sociology, Intelligence Studies, and International Relations in general.
The fourth edition of Structural Firefighting: Strategy and Tactics meets and exceeds the course objectives and outcomes for the National Fire Academy’s Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) non-core course, Strategy and Tactics (C0279). Structural Firefighting: Strategy and Tactics prepares the fire officer to take command at structure fires, effectively using available resources. The goal of this text is to explain proven tactics and strategies used at structure fires. It is designed to be used by all fire officers, from company officer to chief of department. The Fourth Edition provides the necessary tools to achieve maximum productivity under adverse fireground conditions. It references NFPA fire investigations, applicable NFPA statistics and standards, the NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program, and the Technical Report Series from the U.S. Fire Administration. It has been expanded to include information from recent studies by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and others. The Fourth Edition contains new content on integration of initial rapid intervention crews, updated content on vent-enter-isolate-search tactics, and more, while continuing to emphasize the role of preincident planning and command decisions that maximize life safety, extinguishment, and property conservation. A multitude of case studies, incident summaries, and extensive end-of-chapter activities promote application of chapter content and critical thinking skills. This text allows a company officer or incident commander to learn fireground procedures at an accelerated pace, thus reducing the cost in lives and property associated with learning by experience only. The Fourth Edition also includes: New and significantly expanded, in-depth Suggested Activities that challenge the reader to apply the strategies and tactics presented in each chapter Incident Summaries that summarize real fireground events and lessons learned Fallacy/Fact boxes that defuse myths and clarify the facts Updated statistics on significant fires in various occupancy types Safety and strategy tips throughout each chapter
During the days of American westward expansion Fort Smith was the gritty frontier town whose lawless reputation became known both east and west of the Mississippi. Dubbed "Hell on the Border," the last developed township just before unsettled native territory, Fort Smith laid low more than its fair share of settlers, pioneers, and outlaws alike. Yet after years of disorder, reformers and lawmen helped tame the city's wild ways, beginning Fort Smith's transformation into the prosperous city it is today. Yet buried beneath Fort Smith's infamous past are forgotten stories, untold tales, and little known facts concealed just below the city's historical surface. After years spent researching the city's history for his historical column in the Times Record, journalist Ben Boulden uncovers Fort Smith's hidden history.
“As an author, editor, and publisher, I never paid much attention to the competition—except in a few cases. This is one of those cases. The UNIX System Administration Handbook is one of the few books we ever measured ourselves against.” —Tim O’Reilly, founder of O’Reilly Media “This edition is for those whose systems live in the cloud or in virtualized data centers; those whose administrative work largely takes the form of automation and configuration source code; those who collaborate closely with developers, network engineers, compliance officers, and all the other worker bees who inhabit the modern hive.” —Paul Vixie, Internet Hall of Fame-recognized innovator and founder of ISC and Farsight Security “This book is fun and functional as a desktop reference. If you use UNIX and Linux systems, you need this book in your short-reach library. It covers a bit of the systems’ history but doesn’t bloviate. It’s just straight-forward information delivered in a colorful and memorable fashion.” —Jason A. Nunnelley UNIX® and Linux® System Administration Handbook, Fifth Edition, is today’s definitive guide to installing, configuring, and maintaining any UNIX or Linux system, including systems that supply core Internet and cloud infrastructure. Updated for new distributions and cloud environments, this comprehensive guide covers best practices for every facet of system administration, including storage management, network design and administration, security, web hosting, automation, configuration management, performance analysis, virtualization, DNS, security, and the management of IT service organizations. The authors—world-class, hands-on technologists—offer indispensable new coverage of cloud platforms, the DevOps philosophy, continuous deployment, containerization, monitoring, and many other essential topics. Whatever your role in running systems and networks built on UNIX or Linux, this conversational, well-written ¿guide will improve your efficiency and help solve your knottiest problems.
Reveals how international competition for university students is impacting higher education and explains the benefits of this competition, which allows students to choose from diverse educational settings and programs.
This is the first introductory textbook on Spin, the only requirement is a background in programming. Spin models are written in the Promela language which is easily learned by students and programmers. Spin is easy to install and use. The Spin model checker is not only a widely used professional tool but it is also a superb tool for teaching important concepts of computer science such as verification, concurrency and nondeterminism. The book introduces Spin-based software that the author has developed for teaching. Complete programs demonstrate each construct and concept and these programs are available on a companion website.
Field-tested tips, tricks, and design patterns for building machine learning projects that are deployable, maintainable, and secure from concept to production. In Machine Learning Engineering in Action, you will learn: Evaluating data science problems to find the most effective solution Scoping a machine learning project for usage expectations and budget Process techniques that minimize wasted effort and speed up production Assessing a project using standardized prototyping work and statistical validation Choosing the right technologies and tools for your project Making your codebase more understandable, maintainable, and testable Automating your troubleshooting and logging practices Ferrying a machine learning project from your data science team to your end users is no easy task. Machine Learning Engineering in Action will help you make it simple. Inside, you’ll find fantastic advice from veteran industry expert Ben Wilson, Principal Resident Solutions Architect at Databricks. Ben introduces his personal toolbox of techniques for building deployable and maintainable production machine learning systems. You’ll learn the importance of Agile methodologies for fast prototyping and conferring with stakeholders, while developing a new appreciation for the importance of planning. Adopting well-established software development standards will help you deliver better code management, and make it easier to test, scale, and even reuse your machine learning code. Every method is explained in a friendly, peer-to-peer style and illustrated with production-ready source code. About the technology Deliver maximum performance from your models and data. This collection of reproducible techniques will help you build stable data pipelines, efficient application workflows, and maintainable models every time. Based on decades of good software engineering practice, machine learning engineering ensures your ML systems are resilient, adaptable, and perform in production. Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications. About the book Machine Learning Engineering in Action teaches you core principles and practices for designing, building, and delivering successful machine learning projects. You’ll discover software engineering techniques like conducting experiments on your prototypes and implementing modular design that result in resilient architectures and consistent cross-team communication. Based on the author’s extensive experience, every method in this book has been used to solve real-world projects. What's inside Scoping a machine learning project for usage expectations and budget Choosing the right technologies for your design Making your codebase more understandable, maintainable, and testable Automating your troubleshooting and logging practices About the reader For data scientists who know machine learning and the basics of object-oriented programming. About the author Ben Wilson is Principal Resident Solutions Architect at Databricks, where he developed the Databricks Labs AutoML project, and is an MLflow committer. Table of Contents PART 1 AN INTRODUCTION TO MACHINE LEARNING ENGINEERING 1 What is a machine learning engineer? 2 Your data science could use some engineering 3 Before you model: Planning and scoping a project 4 Before you model: Communication and logistics of projects 5 Experimentation in action: Planning and researching an ML project 6 Experimentation in action: Testing and evaluating a project 7 Experimentation in action: Moving from prototype to MVP 8 Experimentation in action: Finalizing an MVP with MLflow and runtime optimization PART 2 PREPARING FOR PRODUCTION: CREATING MAINTAINABLE ML 9 Modularity for ML: Writing testable and legible code 10 Standards of coding and creating maintainable ML code 11 Model measurement and why it’s so important 12 Holding on to your gains by watching for drift 13 ML development hubris PART 3 DEVELOPING PRODUCTION MACHINE LEARNING CODE 14 Writing production code 15 Quality and acceptance testing 16 Production infrastructure
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