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Our research group, under Principal Investigator (PI) Thea Bechshoft, has recently shown that it is possible to extract and measure cortisol in cetacean skin (Bechshoft et al., submitted). The goal of the current project is to validate this novel method by measuring baseline cortisol levels in cetacean skin and demonstrating the correlation between an acute stress exposure and the ensuing skin cortisol response. At the conclusion of the project period, we expect to have provided a greater understanding of the following: (1) the relationship in cetaceans between blood cortisol levels and skin cortisol levels; (2) the period of time it takes before an acute stress response is measurable in the cetacean skin matrix; and (3) cetacean baseline cortisol levels in skin, as well as inter- and intra-individual fluctuations.

The long-term goals of this project are to use large baleen whales as oceanographic sampling platforms, and to understand how they use oceanographic features to navigate and find prey. The specific objective of this research is to develop and calibrate satellite transmitters for baleen whales that can collect and transmit data on location, depth, temperature, and salinity. The project is carried out in cooperation with Mads Peter Heide-Jorgensen (Greenland Institute for Natural Resources) and Gisli Vikingsson (Marine Research Institute, Iceland). The study will address the objective through cooperation with the two main manufacturers of satellite transmitters for marine mammals (Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU), University of St. Andrews, Scotland, and Wildlife Computers (WC), Seattle, USA). New types of CTD oceanographic tags will be developed for baleen whales.

With this project, we propose the development of a novel tool in stress research; a non-invasive method to measure long-term cortisol levels in cetaceans. Cortisol in cetacean skin samples is expected to reflect levels of chronic stress, as the acute stress potentially caused by the sampling itself is not expected to enter this matrix for days or even weeks. Skin samples can thus provide information on the long-term physiological status of the animal.

We present results from recent experiments with laser cooled (24)Mg(+) ions captured in a pulse-excited linear Paul trap. As discussed in 1-3, the radial/transverse dynamics of charged particles in an electric quadrupole trap with a pulsed voltage excitation is analogous to that of particles travelling through the alternating gradient (AG) magnetic quadrupole lattice of a storage ring or transport channel. Hence, the pulse-excited Paul quadrupole trap may be used to emulate non-neutral beam propagation. In a series of experiments, we have investigated the stability of stationary Coulomb crystals. The results comply with current theory of crystalline plasmas and beams. We observe, however, that the plasma may stay crystalline beyond the expected stability region in a hitherto unseen configuration consistent with a string of rotating discs., This article is from CP606, Non-Neutral Plasma Physics IV, p145-150, 2001. Pub. in AIP Conference Proceedings: volume 606. Prepared in cooperation with Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universitaet, Greifswald, Germany. This article is from ADA404831 Non-Neutral Plasma Physics 4. Workshop on Non-Neutral Plasmas (2001) Held in San Diego, California on 30 July-2 August 2001

In this contribution, we present some of our recent results involving ion Coulomb crystals in linear Paul traps. A few results regarding single component crystals are discussed, but the main focus is on properties of two-component crystals and their applications in the fields of cold molecular physics and quantum optics., This article is from CP606, Non-Neutral Plasma Physics IV, p135-144, 2001. Pub. in AIP Conference Proceedings: volume 606. Prepared in cooperation with Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universitaet, Greifswald, Germany. This article is from ADA404831 Non-Neutral Plasma Physics 4. Workshop on Non-Neutral Plasmas (2001) Held in San Diego, California on 30 July-2 August 2001

We examined the stress-strain characteristics of dragline silks from a range of spiders and found large inter and intraspecific differences. Moreover, we observed daily variability in silk from individuals of Nephila edulis and we can show that spider condition (starvation) affected silk properties, in particular that it tended to decrease breaking elongation. Reeling speed significantly affected silk properties in both Nephila edulis and Araneus diadematus, such that with increasing speed (1) breaking elongation decreased, (2) breaking stress increased and (3) Young's modulus increased. Analysis of our data from the different reeling speeds indicates that Nephila and Araneus dragline silks differ in basic properties.

In this book we shall introduce four of the main approaches to program analysis: Data Flow Analysis, Control Flow Analysis, Abstract Interpretation, and Type and Effect Systems. Each of Chapters 2 to 5 deals with one of these approaches to some length and generally treats the more advanced material in later sections. Throughout the book we aim at stressing the many similarities between what may at a first glance appear to be very unrelated approaches. To help getting this idea across, and to serve as a gentle introduction, this chapter treats all of-the approaches at the level of examples. The technical details are worked-out but it may be difficult to apply the techniques to related examples until some of the material of later chapters have been studied., Text in English.