The Search For Strategy

Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. It is an inherently interdisciplinary field that encompasses astronomy, biology, geology, heliophysics, and planetary science, including complementary laboratory activities and field studies conducted in a wide range of terrestrial environments. Combining inherent scientific interest and public appeal, the search for life in the solar system and beyond provides a scientific rationale for many current and future activities carried out by the National Aeronautics and Science Administration (NASA) and other national and international agencies and organizations. Requested by NASA, this study offers a science strategy for astrobiology that outlines key scientific questions, identifies the most promising research in the field, and indicates the extent to which the mission priorities in existing decadal surveys address the search for life's origin, evolution, distribution, and future in the universe. This report makes recommendations for advancing the research, obtaining the measurements, and realizing NASA's goal to search for signs of life in the universe.

Mixed methods research is becoming prevalent in many fields, yet little has been done to elevate mixed methods research in information science. A comprehensive picture of information science and its problems is needed to further understand and address the issues associated with it as well as how mixed methods research can be adapted and used. The Handbook of Research on Mixed Methods Research in Information Science discusses the quality of mixed methods studies and methodological transparency, sampling in mixed methods research, and the application of theory in mixed methods research throughout various contexts. Covering topics such as the issues and potential directions for further research in mixed methods, this comprehensive major reference work is ideal for researchers, policymakers, academicians, librarians, practitioners, instructors, and students.

This comprehensive introduction gives basic how-to information on the use of online systems, discusses topics for which there are no accepted paradigms, and presents alternative points of view within a framework of previous research. Expanding on their immensely popular and critically acclaimed first edition, the authors have added extensive new material addressing Internet search and retrieval techniques as well as the more traditional Dialog and Lexis-Nexis services.

To safeguard public health, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must keep abreast of new scientific information and emerging technologies so that it can apply them to regulatory decision-making. For decades the agency has dealt with questions about what animal-testing data to use to make predictions about human health hazards, how to perform dose-response extrapolations, how to identify and protect susceptible subpopulations, and how to address uncertainties. As alternatives to traditional toxicity testing have emerged, the agency has been faced with additional questions about how to incorporate data from such tests into its chemical assessments and whether such tests can replace some traditional testing methods. Endocrine active chemicals (EACs) have raised concerns that traditional toxicity-testing protocols might be inadequate to identify all potential hazards to human health because they have the ability to modulate normal hormone function, and small alterations in hormone concentrations, particularly during sensitive life stages, can have lasting and significant effects. To address concerns about potential human health effects from EACs at low doses, this report develops a strategy to evaluate the evidence for such low-dose effects.

A two-time AJN Book of the Year Award winner and a 2013 Doody Core Title! This distinguished text provides top-tier guidance for advanced practice nurses on how to perform a comprehensive systematic review of available research to inform scholarly work, particularly in DNP and PhD programs. With a strategic focus on the search process and assessing the quality of the evidence, this text presents, clearly and comprehensively, all of the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct a foundational CSR in eight concrete steps. This text examines how to write a CSR proposal, final report, and a policy brief based on systematic review findings. Two finished proposals and two completed systematic reviews demonstrate each step of the process from start to finish. Additionally, the text covers software used in research queries and provides helpful strategies for effectively using the search function when seeking information. The Third Edition offers four new chapters with incisive recommendations for performing a CSR and addressing new ways CSR is being implemented in today’s healthcare environment. It describes the latest methodological advances, including living systematic reviews and dominance scores for economic review. Two complete CSRs along with new and updated examples throughout the book further aid readers in their pursuit of excellence in scholarly work. New to the Third Edition: New Chapters: How to choose the right critical appraisal tool Writing the final report and disseminating the results of systematic reviews Disseminating results with how to write a policy brief and/or press release on CSR results Example of a meta-analysis using GRADE Offers increased focus on dissemination Includes new and updated examples reflecting latest trends in nursing scholarly work Key Features: Provides the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct a CSR from start to finish Teaches readers how to conduct high-quality systematic reviews Instructs readers on pertinent resources and methods for optimal library-related systematic review research efforts Describes how to best search research databases to facilitate scholarly work Includes objectives, summary points, end-of-chapter exercises, discussion questions, suggested reading, and references to enhance understanding

The aim of this PhD thesis was to develop and assess the performance of techniques for continuous RR monitoring using ECG and PPG signals for use in wearable sensors to detect deteriorations.

This book constitutes the refereed conference proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming, CP 2016, held in Toulouse, France, in September 2016. The 63 revised regular papers presented together with 4 short papers and the abstracts of 4 invited talks were carefully reviewed and selected from 157 submissions. The scope of CP 2016 includes all aspects of computing with constraints, including theory, algorithms, environments, languages, models, systems, and applications such as decision making, resource allocation, scheduling, configuration, and planning. The papers are grouped into the following tracks: technical track; application track; computational sustainability track; CP and biology track; music track; preference, social choice, and optimization track; testing and verification track; and journal-first and sister conferences track.

Meta-analysis, decision analysis, and cost-effectiveness analysis are the cornerstones of evidence-based medicine. These related quantitative methods have become essential tools in the formulation of clinical and public policy based on the synthesis of evidence. All three methods are taught with increasing frequency in medical schools and schools of public health and in health policy courses at the undergraduate and graduate level. This book is a lucid introduction, and will serve the needs of students taking introductory courses that cover these topics. It will also be useful to clinicians and policymakers who need to understand the quantitative underpinnings of the methods in order to best apply the information that derives from them. The second edition of this popular book adds new material on cumulative meta-analysis as a method to explore heterogeneity. The coverage of cost-effectiveness analysis has been brought into close alignment with recommendations of the U.S. Public Health Panel on Cost-Effectiveness Analysis in Health and Medicine. Many of the examples have been replaced with more current examples, and all of the material has been updated to reflect recent advances in the methods and the emergence of consensus about some previously controversial issues. analysis. These three closely related methods have become even more important for synthesizing research since the first edition was published in 1994. And they have gained legitimacy as tools for guiding health policy.

Transfer pricing continues to be one of the most significant areas of heightened controversy in international taxation for multinational enterprises and tax administrations. Due to its far-reaching consequences, tax professionals and individual tax jurisdictions are required to understand the fundamentals of the topic, which is often caught in a maze of literature. Emerging from the joint research conducted by the WU Transfer Pricing Center at the Institute for Austrian and International Tax Law at WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business), the international tax law firm L&P – Ludovici Piccone & Partners, and the experiences from the annual advanced transfer pricing courses and conferences, this first edition of the book acts as a manual for understanding transfer pricing principles and their practical application. It provides a balanced approach by first detailing the basics of transfer pricing and second proceeding to specific topics that are highly relevant in today's tax environment. For the purpose of easy understanding, the book is presented in two parts: Part I: General Topics I. Introduction to Transfer Pricing II. Accurate Delineation and Recognition of Actual Transactions: Comparability Analysis III. Transfer Pricing Methods (Part I): Traditional Transaction Methods IV. Transfer Pricing Methods (Part II): Transactional Profit Methods V. Administrative Approaches to Avoiding/Minimizing Transfer Pricing Disputes VI. Administrative Approaches to Resolving Transfer Pricing Disputes VII. Transfer Pricing Documentation: Master File, Country File and Country-by-Country Reporting Part II: Specific Topics VIII. Attribution of Profits to Permanent Establishments IX. Transfer Pricing and Intra-group Services X. Transfer Pricing and Intra-group Financial Transactions XI. Transfer Pricing and Intangibles XII. Transfer Pricing, Supply Chain Management and Business Restructurings XIII. Transfer Pricing and Customs Valuation XIV. Transfer Pricing and EU State Aid In analysing the above topics, the work undertaken by the OECD, UN, EU, World Customs Organization, World Bank, International Monetary Fund and other international organizations is considered. Moreover, the book contains several practical examples, judicial precedents and illustrative explanations to complement the understanding. The book will be a catalyst for immense learning of students and young professionals who are at the introductory stage of understanding the nuances of transfer pricing. Further, the book also caters to tax lawyers, in-house tax counsels and academics working in international organizations, the business community and advisory firms as well as government officials interested in understanding transfer pricing.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming, CP 2001, held in Paphos, Cyprus, in November/December 2001. The 37 revised full papers, 9 innovative applications presentations, and 14 short papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from a total of 135 submissions. All current issues in constraint processing are addressed, ranging from theoretical and foundational issues to advanced and innovative applications in a variety of fields.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 33rd annual European Conference on Information Retrieval Research, ECIR 2011, held in Dublin, Ireland, in April 2010. The 45 revised full papers presented together with 24 poster papers, 17 short papers, and 6 tool demonstrations were carefully reviewed and selected from 223 full research paper submissions and 64 poster/demo submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on text categorization, recommender systems, Web IR, IR evaluation, IR for Social Networks, cross-language IR, IR theory, multimedia IR, IR applications, interactive IR, and question answering /NLP.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Image Analysis and Processing, ICIAP 2009, held in Vietri sul Mare, Italy, in September 2009. The 107 revised full papers presented together with 3 invited papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 168 submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on computer graphics and image processing, low and middle level processing, 2D and 3D segmentation, feature extraction and image analysis, object detection and recognition, video analysis and processing, pattern analysis and classification, learning, graphs and trees, applications, shape analysis, face analysis, medical imaging, and image analysis and pattern recognition.

The drivers of globalization are removing the barriers that segregated the competitive space of the small and large firms in the past. It is becoming increasingly difficult for independent small firms to thrive in their traditional markets unless they are globally competitive. Managing an enterprise's commercial, industrial and political relations well, regardless of size and location, is the essence of the entrepreneurial challenge in this competitive arena. Small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) often face very different issues than large multinational enterprises do when confronting internationalization. This volume provides an in-depth discussion of these challenges. The contributors to this volume explore the emerging patterns of SME growth and international expansion in response to the evolving competitive environment, dynamics of competitive behavior, entrepreneurial processes and formulation of strategy. They examine the basis and requirements of growth and expansion from three perspectives: the rapidly-changing environment in which business is conducted, entrepreneurial characteristics, and the evolving strategic and competitive response to this changing business environment. Business leaders, scholars and students interested in international business and entrepreneurship will welcome this volume.

This book comprises an introduction to information as an external commodity; a data base that can be manipulated, retrieved, transmitted, and used. It is useful at an introductory undergraduate level and also for anyone who is new to the field of Information Science.

This book presents the latest research advances in complex network structure analytics based on computational intelligence (CI) approaches, particularly evolutionary optimization. Most if not all network issues are actually optimization problems, which are mostly NP-hard and challenge conventional optimization techniques. To effectively and efficiently solve these hard optimization problems, CI based network structure analytics offer significant advantages over conventional network analytics techniques. Meanwhile, using CI techniques may facilitate smart decision making by providing multiple options to choose from, while conventional methods can only offer a decision maker a single suggestion. In addition, CI based network structure analytics can greatly facilitate network modeling and analysis. And employing CI techniques to resolve network issues is likely to inspire other fields of study such as recommender systems, system biology, etc., which will in turn expand CI’s scope and applications. As a comprehensive text, the book covers a range of key topics, including network community discovery, evolutionary optimization, network structure balance analytics, network robustness analytics, community-based personalized recommendation, influence maximization, and biological network alignment. Offering a rich blend of theory and practice, the book is suitable for students, researchers and practitioners interested in network analytics and computational intelligence, both as a textbook and as a reference work.

This textbook for advanced undergraduates and graduate students emphasizes computation and algorithms for a range of strategies for locomotion, sensing, and reasoning. It concentrates on wheeled and legged mobile robots but discusses a variety of other propulsion systems. This second edition presents advances in robotics and intelligent machines over the last ten years and includes additional mathematical background and an extensive list of sample problems.

Introducion : what this book can do for you -- What it is all about? -- A good answer needs a good question -- The truth is out there -- Separating the wheat from the chaff -- The what and why of research -- Don't lose it, use it! -- What difference does it make? -- Doing it at work -- What it was all about