Modulation of cognitive performance and mood by aromas of peppermint and ylang-ylang

This study provides further evidence for the impact of the aromas of plant essential oils on aspects of cognition and mood in healthy participants. One hundred and forty-four volunteers were randomly assigned to conditions of ylang-ylang aroma, peppermint aroma, or no aroma control. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Cognitive Drug Research computerized assessment battery, with mood scales completed before and after cognitive testing. The analysis of the data revealed significant differences between conditions on a number of the factors underpinning the tests that constitute the battery. Peppermint was found to enhance memory whereas ylang-ylang impaired it, and lengthened processing speed. In terms of subjective mood peppermint increased alertness and ylang-ylang decreased it, but significantly increased calmness. These results provide support for the contention that the aromas of essential oils can produce significant and idiosyncratic effects on both subjective and objective assessments of aspects of human behavior. They are discussed with reference to possible pharmacological and psychological modes of influence

VMStools: Open-source software for the processing, analysis and visualization of fisheries logbook and VMS data

VMStools is a package of open-source software, build using the freeware environment R, specifically developed for the processing, analysis and visualisation of landings (logbooks) and vessel location data (VMS) from commercial fisheries. Analyses start with standardized data formats for logbook (EFLALO) and VMS (TACSAT), enabling users to conduct a variety of analyses using generic algorithms. Embedded functionality handles erroneous data point detection and removal, métier identification through the use of clustering techniques, linking logbook and VMS data together in order to distinguish fishing from other activities, provide high-resolution maps of both fishing effort and -landings, interpolate vessel tracks, calculate indicators of fishing impact as listed under the Data Collection Framework at different spatio-temporal scales. Finally data can be transformed into other existing formats, for example to populate regional databases like FishFrame. This paper describes workflow examples of these features while online material allows a head start to perform these analyses. This software incorporates state-of-the art VMS and logbook analysing methods standardizing the process towards obtaining pan-European, or even worldwide indicators of fishing distribution and impact as required for spatial planning. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Können wir Ethik und ethische Entscheidungsfindung angemessen durch Distant Learning vermitteln? Ein Pandemie-Pilotversuch

The Corona virus pandemic rendered most live education this spring term impossible. Other formats and new ideas were needed to offer students the opportunity to learn unchanged learning content and outcomes. To replace our module on ethics and ethical decision making in emergency medicine with simulation patients we developed an e-learning module consisting of a case, trigger questions and literature for self-study. This was followed by a Microsoft Teams seminar in which the students discussed their questions in subgroups on the basis of their reading and developed a team product they then presented to the other team.Students valued this module as enabling a safe space for their beliefs and views. A vast majority deemed the topics as relevant, two thirds would retake the seminar. Despite a productive online discourse, this format should not be used as sole module under normal conditions since it lacks the (simulation) patient interaction but it can prove to be a valuable addendum to live teaching.Die Coronavirus-Pandemie machte in diesem Frühjahrssemester die meisten Lehrveranstaltungen in Präsenz unmöglich. Es waren andere Formate und neue Ideen erforderlich, um den Studierenden die Möglichkeit zu bieten, die unveränderten Lerninhalte und -ziele zu erlernen. Um unser Modul mit Simulationspatienten über Ethik und ethische Entscheidungsfindung in der Notfallmedizin zu ersetzen, entwickelten wir ein E-Learning-Modul, das aus einem Fall, Triggerfragen und Literatur zum Selbststudium besteht. Daran schloss sich ein Microsoft-Teams-Seminar an, in dem die Studierenden ihre Fragen in Untergruppen auf der Grundlage ihrer Lektüre diskutierten und ein Teamprodukt entwickelten, das sie dann dem anderen Team vorstellten.Die Studenten schätzten dieses Modul als einen sicheren Raum für ihre Überzeugungen und Ansichten. Eine große Mehrheit hielt die Themen für relevant, zwei Drittel würden das Seminar wiederholen. Trotz eines produktiven Online-Diskurses sollte dieses Format unter normalen Bedingungen nicht als alleiniges Modul verwendet werden, da ihm die (Simulations-)Patienteninteraktion fehlt, es kann sich aber als wertvolle Ergänzung zum Live-Unterricht erweisen