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

Managing complex interoperability solutions using model-driven architecture

The increasing need to exchange information in joint operations has resulted in interoperability standards of significant complexity. For instance, the Joint Consultation, Command, and Control Information Exchange Data Model (JC3IEDM) that is part of the MIP interoperability solution has almost doubled in size since 2002. The configuration management of complex data models, especially in the context of international standardization activities, is a challenging task, because many different artifacts (examples, documentation, etc.) must be kept synchronized as the model evolves. Ideally, data models are expressed at several levels of abstraction in the form of computation-independent (business) models, platform-independent models (PIM), and platform-specific models (PSM). Efficient transformation tools are desirable to automate the generation of PSMs from a PIM. Another important aspect concerns the collaboration of different Communities of Interest (COIs). Diverging information exchange requirements call for a modular or even federated data model rather than a monolithic, indivisible one. In this paper, we demonstrate how the use of formal languages and the concepts of Model-Driven Architecture (MDA) can be applied to the JC3IEDM in order to improve the maintenance, consistency, and comprehension of the model and to provide implementers with products that allow them to build interoperability solutions for their C2 systems more easily

Diary of a Domain Analyst: A Domain Analysis Case-Study From Avionics

Domain analysis has been suggested by some in the reuse research community as an important process for achieving successful reuse. In this paper, we describe a domain analysis case-study in the domain of aero-engine systems. The principle objective of the case-study was to evaluate the use of a domain analysis technique on a complex domain in an industrial setting. As a result of the case-study we have learnt a number of lessons about successful domain analysis practice and experienced at first hand some of the widely accepted difficulties. For example, we now know that it is important to uncover the `real' issues in the domain, recognise the value of different information sources, organise and structure domain knowledge, and to recognise emerging architectures. The case-study has also helped us to identify the significance of those areas we feel are less well understood in domain analysis, such as domain structuring, modelling complex forms of commonality and optionality, rationale ca..