In this paper quantum seals will be introduced. A quantum seal is a way of encoding a classical message into quantum states, so that everybody can read the message error-free, but at the same time the sender and all intended readers who have some prior knowledge of the quantum seal, can check if the seal has been broken and the message read. The verification is done without reading nor disturbi...

The present paper defines Digital Seals for Documents, their scope, application environment and limitations. These seals can be used to insert information on documents, as with watermarking, or to use documents as a communication channel for sending concealed messages, as it is the goal of steganography. Users can decide to employ one, another functionality, or a combination of them depending o...

Thousands of Caspian seals (Phoca caspica) died in the Caspian Sea from April to August 2000. Lesions characteristic of morbillivirus infection were found in tissue specimens from dead seals. Canine distemper virus infection was identified by serologic examination, reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction, and sequencing of selected P gene fragments. These results implicate canine diste...

We studied the capability of one male and one female harbour seal Phoca vitulina to discriminate diameter differences of circular discs by means of active touch with their mystacial vibrissae. To prevent the animals from perceiving visual information, they were blindfolded during trials. In a two-alternative forced-choice procedure, the seals were required to choose the larger of two Perspex di...

During breeding season, male harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) produce underwater calls used in sexual competition and advertisement. Call characteristics vary among populations, and within-population differences are thought to represent individual variation. However, vocalizations have not been described for several populations of this widely-distributed and genetically diverse species. This study...

Estimating animal populations is critical for wildlife management. Aerial surveys are used for generating population estimates, but can be hampered by cost, logistical complexity, and human risk. Additionally, human counts of organisms in aerial imagery can be tedious and subjective. Automated approaches show promise, but can be constrained by long setup times and difficulty discriminating anim...

Organochlorine and mercury (Hg) pollution has been one possible reason for a decline in the size of the population of the Saimaa ringed seal (Phoca hispida saimensis) in Lake Haukivesi, Finland. In this study, we analyzed changes in the concentrations of organochlorine compounds (OCls) and extractable organic halogen (EOX) in the blubber of Saimaa ringed seals that died from 1981 to 2000. In ad...

Heart rate, swimming speed and diving depth data were collected from free-ranging grey seals, Halichoerus grypus, as they foraged and travelled in the sea around the Hebrides Islands off western Scotland. Information was collected on a tracking yacht using a combination of sonic and radio telemetry. Diving heart rate declined as a function of dive duration. In long dives, grey seals employed ex...

Harbor seals Phoca vitulina haul out on land to give birth to and rear their pups, rest, escape aquatic predation and molt. The choice of a haul-out site is therefore fundamental to survival and reproduction. Aerial surveys of harbor seals were conducted in Cook Inlet, Alaska, to investigate the seals’ selection of various environmental characteristics of haul-out sites. Eight surveys from Apri...

The present study reviews two features that have the potential to increase consumer trust in Internet stores: (1) short arguments that explain the meaning of seals of approval and (2) the establishment of portal affiliation. The present study draws on previous research to argue that the effects of seals of approval on consumer trust are limited if consumers are not familiar with the meanings of...