Audience Acquisition in Online Resource Mobilization: Quantifying the Relationship with Influential Actors

The literature recognizes the potential of social media as an alternative channel for promoting the causes of social movements, but little is known about the factors that act on the endeavors by social movement organizations to expand their base of sup-porters in social media environments. Drawing on theories of resource mobilization and social networks, we present a framework for studying how the presence of in-fluential actors or users with a high number of followers in online social networks, can influence the acquisition of new followers by a social movement organization. We collected Twitter data from a major organization in the global justice movement and found evidence that suggests a relationship exists between influential actors and the audience acquired by the social movement organization. However, our model suggests this relationship dwindles as the popularity or number of followers of in-fluential actors reaches extreme large values. Our study sheds light for addressing future questions concerning the factors that drive the propagation of ideologies in social media environments raised by actors of social movements and other social figures in their efforts for bringing about social change

RESOURCE MOBILIZATION IN SOCIAL MEDIA: THE ROLE OF INFLUENTIAL ACTORS

This research in progress studies the role of social media as a resource for contemporary social movements in their endeavors to bring about social change. Current studies on this topic have largely regarded social media as an alternative channel for communicating situational information during protests against repressive regimes or perceptions of fraudulent democracy. Drawing on theories of resource mobilization and social networks, we present a framework for studying how the presence of influential and popular actors in social networks, can influence the acquisition process and the number of new followers by a social movement organization. We collected Twitter data for a major social movement organization in the global justice movement and found evidence suggesting that the existence of popular figures, impacts to some extent, the audience acquired by the social movement organization. We also conclude that the geographic location of these popular figures acts as a moderator for this effect. Our study lays the groundwork for answering questions regarding the sociotechnical dynamics that influence the propagation of ideologies in online environments promoted by groups and organizations concerned with societal issue

Analyzing Sentiments from Social Media: The Case of Financial Markets

Investors seeking quality information rely on market experts on financial news platforms such as Google Finance or Bloomberg. However, in recent years, stock discussion forums hosted on social media platforms are competing with financial news platforms and vying to become an important and credible source of information in this knowledge driven economy. Stock discussion forums are likely to attract retail investors who seek and share their opinions at no cost, and are competing with financial news platforms. This research compares the effect of information available on these two knowledge sources on stock returns. We use text mining methods to capture the sentiments revealed on a popular stock discussion forum and a news media platform and compare their ability to predict market returns. We find that sentiments from both social media and news media platforms predict future stock returns but the effect of social media appears to be stronger and more long lasting compared to news media

Exploring Information Disclosure In Online Auctions

This research examines how a seller’s reputation score and auction pre-configuration affects people’s participation in communication within online auction communities. A leading horizontal intermediary auction platform is used to conduct this research. Its seller “feedback” mechanism and “ask seller a question” forum are chosen as representatives of post- and intra-transactional information disclosure. A self-developed classification approach is used to classify the buyer-initiated questions. The results of multinomial logistic regression indicate that product quality, shipment and payment issues are aspects that concern buyers the most in the early stages of an auction. Subsequently, their attention is likely to shift to seller credibility and price negotiations as listing durations get longer. In terms of the influ- ence of seller feedback ratings, our findings suggest that lower-rated traders are more likely to be asked questions about product description and seller credibility. Buyer concern about seller uncertainty is only alleviated if the seller has a good reputation. Even medium-rated sellers are suspected of being opportunistic. Moreover, buyers are more willing to discuss transaction-related issues and raise negotiation-associated questions with sellers who have already achieved high reputation scores. Finally, the theoretical and managerial implications are elaborated

Methoxsalen loaded chitosan coated microemulsion for effective treatment of psoriasis

Methoxsalen has been used for the treatment of psoriasis. In order to develop alternative formulations for the topical administration of methoxsalen, chitosan coated microemulsion were evaluated as delivery vehicle. Microemulsions were prepared using water, soyabean oil. Egg phosphatidylcholine, ethanol and coated with chitosan. They were characterized for shape and surface morphology, droplet size and size distribution, zeta potential, pH and viscosity. The ability of the system to deliver into the skin was evaluated using dialysis membrane and human cadaver skin. The in vitro permeation data showed that the novel system cumulative amount released was 18.75 % lesser than the microemulsion. These studies clearly show that methoxsalen loaded chitosan-coated microemulsion provides control release of methoxsalen with retention on the skin. Therefore may be appropriate vehicle for topical delivery of methoxsalen.Keywords: Microemulsions; Soyabean; Methoxsalen; Chitosa

Investigating Tantalum as a Plasma-Facing Component for Nuclear Fusion Reactors

Nuclear fusion is a potential source for producing unlimited environment-friendly energy. Tungsten (W) is selected as the primary candidate material for plasma facing component in nuclear fusion reactors due to its high melting temperature (3695 K), low sputtering erosion yield and strong mechanical properties. However, recent investigations on W have confirmed that it undergoes severe surface morphology changes during low energy He plasma and/or ion irradiation similar to a harsh fusion environment. Additionally, our previous studies indicate that tantalum (Ta) may show better resistance to the harsh radiation environment and is therefore worthy of investigation. Hydrogen retention properties, specifically deuterium (D) retention in Ta, are not well documented and are extremely important safety issue for fusion reactors. Consequently, we exposed Ta to a fusion-like environment of low-energy D ions and performed thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS). Then, the samples were rapidly loaded (to avoid possible surface oxidation) into another vacuum chamber where we performed the thermal desorption spectroscopy measurements. Our investigations indicate two binding energy values for D in Ta, i.e. 1.8 eV and 2.1 eV. We observe a higher binding energy and a higher retention rate for D in Ta than W. We also observed that our results are consistent with theoretical predictions based on the absorption of D in Ta. Our preliminary results indicate that Ta shows better resistance to nanostructure formation (fuzz) than W in a fusion environment. However, this is still an open question and part of ongoing investigations

Synthesis and biological evaluation of thiazolidinedione derivatives of chalcones and flavones as antihyperglycemic and antidyslipidemic agents

A series of chalcone and flavone derivatives (6a-d, 9a-f) based on 2,4-thiazolidinedione have been synthesized and evaluated for in vivo antihyperglycemic activity in sucrose loaded (SLM) and streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic animal models and also for antidyslipidemic activity in the triton model. Compounds 9d, 9e, and 9f exhibited potent blood glucose-lowering activity in both SLM and STZ models. Compounds 6c, 6d, and 9c, 9e, and 9f showed moderate lipid-lowering activity. The selected most potent compounds 6d and 9e were also studied in db/db mice for both antihyperglycemic and antidyslipidemic activity

Synthesis and biological evaluation of thiazolidinedione derivatives of chalcones and flavones as antihyperglycemic and antidyslipidemic agents

579-588A series of chalcone and flavone derivatives (6a-d, 9a-f) based on 2,4-thiazolidinedione have been synthesized and evaluated for in vivo antihyperglycemic activity in sucrose loaded (SLM) and streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic animal models and also for antidyslipidemic activity in the triton model. Compounds 9d, 9e, and 9f exhibited potent blood glucose-lowering activity in both SLM and STZ models. Compounds 6c, 6d, and 9c, 9e, and 9f showed moderate lipid-lowering activity. The selected most potent compounds 6d and 9e were also studied in db/db mice for both antihyperglycemic and antidyslipidemic activity

Japanese Encephalitis Outbreak, India, 2005

An outbreak of viral encephalitis occurred in Gorakhpur, India, from July through November 2005. The etiologic agent was confirmed to be Japanese encephalitis virus by analyzing 326 acute-phase clinical specimens for virus-specific antibodies and viral RNA and by virus isolation. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these isolates belonged to genogroup 3

Chemical Protection Studies of Activated Carbon Spheres based Permeable Protective Clothing Against Sulfur Mustard, a Chemical Warfare Agent

Technological advancements in the field of chemical threat have made it possible to create extremely dangerous chemical warfare agents (CWA). Hence, the effective protection of personnel is very important in a chemical warfare scenario amidst the current climate of terrorism awareness. In particular, body protection plays a substantial role in the chemical defence considering the urgency of situation in the nuclear, biological and chemical environment. Activated carbon spheres (ACS) based permeable chemical protective clothing (coverall) was developed for protection against CWA. The adsorbent material i.e, ACS used in this protective clothing provided higher adsorption capacity (1029 mg/g in terms of iodine) and low thermal burden (34 °C WBGT index) compared to earlier indigenously developed NBC suit. This article focuses on the extensive evaluation of chemical protective clothing against sulfur mustard (HD), a CWA. The results revealed that the developed protective clothing provided more than 24 h protection against HD. This chemical protective suit is light weight (< 2.75 kg for XL size). It also has higher air permeability (> 30 cm3/s/cm2) as well as less water vapour resistance (< 9.6 m2Pa/W). With continued innovations in materials and attention to key challenges it is expected that advanced, multifunction chemical protective suit will play a pivotal role in the CWA protection scenario