Northumbria University

About: Northumbria University is a education organization based out in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Context (language use) & Population. The organization has 5624 authors who have published 17423 publications receiving 381949 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Northumbria at Newcastle.

Liquid marbles: topical context within soft matter and recent progress

Abstract: The study of particle stabilized interfaces has a long history in terms of emulsions, foams and related dry powders. The same underlying interfacial energy principles also allow hydrophobic particles to encapsulate individual droplets into a stable form as individual macroscopic objects, which have recently been called “Liquid Marbles”. Here we discuss conceptual similarities to superhydrophobic surfaces, capillary origami, slippery liquids-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) and Leidenfrost droplets. We provide a review of recent progress on liquid marbles, since our earlier Emerging Area article (Soft Matter, 2011, 7, 5473–5481), and speculate on possible future directions from new liquid-infused liquid marbles to microarray applications. We highlight a range of properties of liquid marbles and describe applications including detecting changes in physical properties (e.g. pH, UV, NIR, temperature), use for gas sensing, synthesis of compounds/composites, blood typing and cell culture.

Governing Sustainable Cities

Abstract: Based upon a 3 year research project funded by the European Commission’s FP5 programme (DISCUS EVK4-CT-2001-00065), this book reports on the results of a study of local sustainable development processes and outcomes in 40 cities across Europe. It has been widely quoted and has considerable significance for practice, policy and research. Evans has been invited to speak to its themes and conclusions in the USA, Japan, China. South Africa, and in many European countries.

Attenuation of laboratory-induced stress in humans after acute administration of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm).

Abstract: The perennial lemon scented herb Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) has been in use as a pancultural medicinal treatment for more than 2 millennia. Its traditional indications have included administration for its general beneficial effects on the brain, as a treatment for memory disorders (1), and for “all complaints supposed to proceed from a disordered state of the nervous system’’ (2). Contemporary reports emphasize the sedative, spasmolytic, and antibacterial effects of M. officinalis, with indications encompassing nervous disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, and sleep disturbance (3–5). Melissa is most commonly sold over the counter in combination with other herbs, most notably Valeriana officinalis (valerian) (6,7). This combination has been shown to improve the sleep quality of healthy normal sleepers (8), and to have an effect on sleep parameters in poor sleepers similar to that of 0.125 mg of triazolam (9). Several studies in rodents have also suggested a mildly sedative effect of M. officinalis alone, with observations of a reduction in spontaneous movement in mice after administration of both the volatile oil of M. officinalis as well as the isolated terpenes (10) and a reduction in behavioral parameters in mice after the administration of a hydroalcoholic extract of M. officinalis (11). A single, double-blind, placebo-controlled study also assessed the behavioral effects of M. officinalis aromatherapy in a group of patients suffering from severe dementia. In comparison to placebo a significant reduction in agitation and social withdrawal, and an increase in constructive activities resulted from the 4-week treatment with essential oil (12). Although the mechanisms of action of Melissa are poorly understood, it has been suggested that the active components of extracts made from the leaves include monoterpenoid aldehydes, flavonoids, polyphenolic compounds including rosmarinic acid (13), and monoterpene glycosides (14). These components may well underlie a number of effects seen in vitro, which include potent antioxidant properties (15,16) and an affinity for binding to both nicotinic and muscarinic receptors in human brain cortex tissue (17). The latter mechanism is of specific interest as modulation of the cholinergic system may well be beneficial to cognitive function, most particularly in conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, that feature cholinergic dysregulation. Given the potential for extracts of M. officinalis to interact with the cholinergic system, two recent studies from our own laboratories have assessed both cholinergic receptor binding and the cognitive and mood effects of single doses of M. officinalis in healthy humans. In the first of these doubleblind, placebo-controlled, balanced-crossover studies (18), three separate single doses of a concentrated commercial M. officinalis extract (300 mg, 600 mg, 900 mg; Pharmaton S.A., Lugano, Switzerland) plus a placebo were administered in a counterbalanced manner to 20 participants, with a 7-day washout period between testing days. The most notable result of this experiment was a striking dose-dependent impairment in accuracy across a number of timed, computerized memory tasks. Mood was also modulated, with participants’ self-ratings of calmness, as assessed with Bond-Lader mood scales, increasing for the lowest dose (300 mg), whereas “alertness” was decreased for the highest, and cognitively most deleterious, dose (900 mg). Although this pattern of results is broadly in line with the contemporary role of M. officinalis as a mild sedative, it is not in keeping with beneficial modulation of cholinergic activity. Indeed, the subsequent in vitro analysis of the extract showed that it did not exhibit the expected cholinergic receptor binding properties, with negligible displacement of [ 3 H]-(N)-nicotine from nicotinic receptors, and comparatively low displacement of [ 3 H]-(N)-scopolamine from muscarinic receptors in human brain tissue. The second investigation (19), therefore, extended this line of research by initially screening a number of dried leaf samples for cholinergic binding, with a dried leaf with both substantial nicotinic and muscarinic binding properties being taken forward into

Success Traps, Dynamic Capabilities and Firm Performance

Abstract: Dynamic capabilities (DCs) are fundamental to the understanding of differential firm performance. However, the question remains why some firms are better at developing and applying DCs than others. In particular, successful firms have been warned against the tendency to fall into a success or competence trap, where success reinforces exploitation of existing competences and crowds out exploration of new competences, hindering the development of DCs. Therefore, this study examines the effects of success traps on DCs and consequently firm performance, taking into account firm strategy and market dynamism. To facilitate this, our study also identifies the commonalities of DCs across firms. Drawing on survey data from 113 UK high-tech small and medium-sized firms, we find that success traps have a significant, strong negative effect on DCs, which in turn have a weak positive effect on firm performance; DCs are manifested through absorptive and transformative capabilities as two common features across firms. We also find that the development and application of DCs is related to internal factors (such as success traps) rather than external factors (such as market dynamism).