Embedded systems are built for specific purposes and are optimized to meet different kind of constraints, such as performance, timing, power and cost. The design process therefore involves different optimization activities. In this paper, we discuss the use of constraint programming (CP) technology for these optimization problems. The main advantages and disadvantages of applying CP to embedded sy

We performed supplemental feeding experiments during three breeding seasons of the Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus L.) in order to establish the importance of food in reproductive timing. In particular, we addressed the question of why the response to supplemental food is restricted to 3—6 d in many bird species. Supplemental food advanced the start of egg—laying in all three breeding seasons. The mean

Questions concerning the occurrence of adaptive sex ratio manipulation have a long research tradition in evolutionary biology, but evidence from birds is scarce. It has been suggested that birds are unable to adaptively determine the sex of their young because of the constraints of their sex determination systems. Here we report results from a study of variation in offspring sex ratio in the blue

Aim and objectives: To explore nurses’ articulations of support and communication regarding sexual health with patients.Background: Sexual health is adversely effected by cancer and various oncological treatments. Patients’ often have the experience that health-care professionals do not talk about sexual health.Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven nurses in Southern Sweden.Aim and objectives: To explore nurses' articulations of support and communication regarding sexual health with patients. Background: Sexual health is adversely effected by cancer and various oncological treatments. Patients' often have the experience that healthcare professionals do not talk about sexual health. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven nurses in Southern Sweden

1. We manipulated the size hierarchy in broods of marsh tits (Parus palustris L.) by simulating hatching asynchrony to study how nestlings of different competitive ability, allocate their share of parental feedings to different growth strategies. 2. The mean rate of mass increase and the mass when the growth curve had reached an asymptote increased with the predicted competitive ability of nestlin

Breeding activities and molt are generally thought to be mutually exclusive in birds since both are energetically costly and are normally separated in time. However, sometimes molt overlaps with breeding to some degree. A trade-off between adult somatic maintenance functions (feather renewal) and parental care is then to be expected. The consequences of this are largely unknown, and there are few

In an aviary study, each of six male European Nuthatches Sitta europaea was allowed to hoard 30 sunflower seeds in natural hoarding substrates. After eight days, each bird was allowed to search for its cached seeds and its performance compared with that of a bird without previous experience of the specific aviary. In all but one case, the hoarder found significantly more seeds than did the naive b

The datasets presented here enable historical longitudinal studies of micro-level geographic factors in a rural setting. These types of datasets are new, as historical demography studies have generally failed to properly include the micro-level geographic factors. Our datasets describe the geography over five Swedish rural parishes and a geocoded population (at the property unit level) for this arThe datasets presented here enable historical longitudinal studies of micro-level geographic factors in a rural setting. These types of datasets are new, as historical demography studies have generally failed to properly include the micro-level geographic factors. Our datasets describe the geography over five Swedish rural parishes and a geocoded population (at the property unit level) for this ar

BACKGROUND: Robust comparisons of population-based cancer survival estimates require tight adherence to the study protocol, standardized quality control, appropriate life tables of background mortality, and centralized analysis. The CONCORD program established worldwide surveillance of population-based cancer survival in 2015, analyzing individual data on 26 million patients (including 10 million

Background: We set out to estimate net survival trends for 10 common cancers in 279 cancer registry populations in 67 countries around the world, as part of the CONCORD-2 study. Net survival can be interpreted as the proportion of cancer patients who survive up to a given time, after eliminating the impact of mortality from other causes (background mortality). Background mortality varies widely be

PURPOSE: Despite the increasing burden of cancer occurred over recent years in the African continent, epidemiologic data from Northern Africa area have been so far sparse or absent. We present most recently available data from the Benghazi Cancer Registry concerning cancer incidence and mortality as well as the most comprehensive survival data set so far generated for cases diagnosed during 2003 t

BACKGROUND: The methods currently available to estimate age- and sex-specific mortality rates for sub-populations are subject to a number of important limitations. We propose two alternative multivariable approaches: a relational model and a Poisson model both using restricted cubic splines.METHODS: We evaluated a flexible Poisson and flexible relational model against the Elandt-Johnson approach i

BACKGROUND: Worldwide data for cancer survival are scarce. We aimed to initiate worldwide surveillance of cancer survival by central analysis of population-based registry data, as a metric of the effectiveness of health systems, and to inform global policy on cancer control.METHODS: Individual tumour records were submitted by 279 population-based cancer registries in 67 countries for 25·7 million

Over the last few years, there has been growing international concern about the risk of overdiagnosis in breast screening and about how to communicate this to women. There has also been an increasing policy drive to provide people with information to enable them to make an informed choice about screening. In response to this, a novel approach to developing the information about cancer screening ha