Beauty and the Brand: A Digital Ethnography of Social Capital and Authenticity of Digital Beauty Influencers through Monetization Activities on YouTube

This dissertation explored the maintenance of social capital, projection of authenticity, alignment of beauty brands with the brand-as-person, and communicative practices of beauty influencers through a digital ethnography of YouTube beauty community. This research addressed how monetization practices by popular beauty influencers could affect the social constructs required in maintaining their position in the digital community. As beauty influencers continue to gain notoriety and engage in monetization activities through their standing on YouTube, it was important to address how the social practices utilized to build this notoriety were impacted by commoditization of content, toward understanding the sustainability of these practices for influencers and the beauty brands with whom they partner. A digital ethnography, utilizing an inductive content analysis and framework analysis, served as the method by which assessment of influencer projections and viewer reaction, within the cultural confines of the digital community, could be assessed. This research found that influencer projections were all impacted by the type of content. When influencers engaged in sponsored posts, viewers noted disparities in each of the constructs explored in this study, suggesting certain monetization activities can lower reputation engagement in the community. If influencers wish to engage in these monetization practices, they should be upfront with viewers about their intentions, choosing partnerships that are built through time and consistency. In doing so, influencers then are able to situate themselves as being genuine and honest with viewers, cementing their status in the community, while still benefitting personally and financially from monetization activities

Be Our Brand!: Emotional Labor and Social Media Branding Positions

Social networks sites have become a popular tool for companies to utilize when creating an online brand presence. Retailers are able to utilize social media as a tool to co-create alongside the consumer, creating new dimensions of the consumer-retailer relationships. However, as the affordances expanded, so did the need for individuals to manage these sites. Retailers began hiring individuals strictly to “be the brand†on their social network accounts, working as brand ambassadors to each individual consumer. The burdens of every consumer, all of their needs, desires, complaints, and praises fall squarely on the shoulders of social network branding employees. This can take a substantial emotional toll on the employee. As social media branding positions are often entry-level in the fashion industry, it is essential that faculty members understand and have open discussions with students regarding the pressures of these positions, to prepare them to enter this field

Explicit disclosure in retail communication: Impact of undetermined social network site relationships on branded identity

One of the most impactful technologies to emerge from Web 2.0 developments has been the social network site. In traditional models of branded identity, it is assumed that there is a distinction made between the retailer and consumer (de Chernatony, 1999; Kapferer, 2008). However, social network sites allow for the formation of undetermined relationships in which the underlying role of a party may be unknown.;As social network sites continue to shape retail practices, a gap in knowledge exists regarding how models of branded identity need to be modified to meet the demands of these undetermined social network site relationships. Through the exploration of one social network site, this research provides the basis for understanding how a traditional branded identity model is affected by varying levels of disclosure on the part of both retailer and consumer.;Grounded theory provided the methodological framework for a deductive content analysis of manifest data (Elo & Kyngas, 2007; Hsieh & Shannon, 2005). Qualitative coding of images, videos, and the inclusion of unique comments supplemented the quantitative data. Four features from de Chernatony\u27s (1999) model - brand vision and culture, brand positioning, brand personality, and brand reputation - served as the basis for deduction of themes from the retailer of study, Gap Inc., corporate literature. Representation of keywords in each theme accounted for the modification of deChernatony\u27s (1999) model.;Results suggest that branded identity functions around the feature of relationships on social network sites, which allows for multi-directional communication between identity functions. Findings also suggest that consumer control on social network sites has created a two-way communication channel by which the retailer becomes an equal to all members. An amended version of de Chernatony\u27s (1999) model represents the key features and themes associated with social network site relationship formation

Enclothed Cognition: Professional Clothing Symbolism among Plus-Size Women Ages 18 to 24

This research explores how young, plus-size female consumers engage with the process of enclothed cognition. It is believed that clothing inherently carries symbolism within the garment itself, which may then be transmitted to the wearer, such as the feeling of authority felt when wearing a business suit. Traditionally, plus-size consumers are considered to be individuals ages 30-40, wearing an American size 16 or above. However, this does not cover a key area of the plus-size demographic: young plus-size consumers. This research utilizes semi-structured narrative interviews to further explore young plus-size women\u27s personal definitions of professionalism and the enclothing process. Results indicate that these women may have difficulties enclothing the garments currently offered by plus-size retailers, as they do not match personal definitions of professionalism. Retailers should aim to provide garments that encloth a larger demographic area to provide greater options to consumers

Tamoxifen and its active metabolites inhibit dopamine transporter function independently of the estrogen receptors

As one of the primary mechanisms by which dopamine signaling is regulated, the dopamine transporter (DAT) is an attractive pharmacological target for the treatment of diseases based in dopaminergic dysfunction. In this work we demonstrate for the first time that the commonly prescribed breast cancer therapeutic tamoxifen and its major metabolites, 4‐hydroxytamoxifen and endoxifen, inhibit DAT function. Tamoxifen inhibits [3H]dopamine uptake into human DAT (hDAT)‐N2A cells via an uncompetitive or mixed mechanism. Endoxifen, an active metabolite of tamoxifen, asymmetrically inhibits DAT function in hDAT‐N2A cells, showing a preference for the inhibition of amphetamine‐stimulated dopamine efflux as compared to dopamine uptake. Importantly, we demonstrate that the effects of tamoxifen and its metabolites on the DAT occur independently of its activity as selective estrogen receptor modulators. This work suggests that tamoxifen is inhibiting DAT function through a previously unidentified mechanism.We demonstrate for the first time that the breast cancer therapeutic tamoxifen and its major metabolites, 4‐hydroxytamoxifen and endoxifen, inhibit dopamine transporter function, possibly through an allosteric interaction with the transporter. We demonstrate that these effects occur independently of any activity at the estrogen receptors. This work suggests a previously unidentified mechanism for tamoxifen that may have clinical implications.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136525/1/jnc13955_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136525/2/jnc13955.pd

Regulation of Calmodulin- and Dopamine-Stimulated Adenylate Cyclase Activities by Light in Bovine Retina

Neural retina from most species contains 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine (dopamine) receptors coupled to stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity. It has been demonstrated that release of dopamine from its neurons and subsequent occupation of dopamine receptors is increased by light. In this study, we have shown that adenylate cyclase activity in bovine retina is highly responsive to the endogenous Ca 2+ -binding protein, cal-modulin, and that calmodulin can increase dopamine-sen-sitive adenylate cyclase activity in bovine retina. We further demonstrate that both dopamine- and calmodulin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities can be regulated by alterations in light. Bovine retinas were dissected from the eye under a low-intensity red safety light, defined as dark conditions, and incubated for 20 min in an oxygenated Krebs Henseleit buffer under either dark or light conditions. The retinas were then homogenized and adenylate cyclase activity measured in a paniculate fraction washed to deplete it of endogenous Ca 2+ and calmodulin. Activation of adenylate cyclase activity by calmodulin, dopamine, and the nonhydrolyzable GTP analog, gua-nosine-5′-(Β,Γ-imido)triphosphate (GppNHp), was significantly (60%) greater in paniculate fractions from retinas that had been incubated under dark conditions as compared to those incubated under light conditions. Basal, Mn 2+ -, and GTP-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities were not altered by changes in lighting conditions. Calmodulin could increase the maximum stimulation of adenylate cyclase by dopamine in retinas incubated under either dark or light conditions, but the degree of its effect was greater in retinas incubated under light conditions. Activation of adenylate cyclase by calmodulin, dopamine, and GppNHp in paniculate fractions from retinas incubated under light conditions was indistinguishable from the activation obtained when retinas were incubated in the dark in the presence of exogenous dopamine. These results suggest that an increased release of dopamine occurs in light. The decreased response of adenylate cyclase to exogenous dopamine can then be explained by a subsequent down-regulation of dopamine receptor activity. The down-regulation of dopamine receptor activity can also regulate activation of adenylate cyclase by GppNHp and calmodulin. The results suggest that dopamine, calmodulin, and GppNHp are modulators of a common component of adenylate cyclase activity, and this component is regulated by light.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66410/1/j.1471-4159.1984.tb12753.x.pd

Calmodulin-Sensitive and Calmodulin-Insensitive Components of Adenylate Cyclase Activity in Rat Striatum Have Differential Responsiveness to Guanyl Nucleotides

The interaction between the Ca 2+ -binding protein, calmodulin, and guanyl nucleotides was investigated in a rat striatal paniculate fraction. We found that the ability of calmodulin to stimulate adenylate cyclase in the presence of guanyl nucleotides depends upon the type and concentration of the guanyl nucleotide. Adenylate cyclase activity measured in the presence of calmodulin and GTP reflected additivity at every concentration of these reactants. On the contrary, when the activating guanyl nucleotide was the nonhydrolyzable analog of GTP, guanosine-5′-(3,7-imido)triphosphate (GppNHp), calmodulin could further activate adenylate cyclase only at concentrations less than 0.2 p.M GppNHp. Kinetic analysis of adenylate cyclase by GppNHp was compatible with a model of two components of adenylate cyclase activity, with over a 100-fold difference in sensitivity for GppNHp. The component with the higher affinity for GppNHp was competitively stimulated by calmodulin. The additivity between calmodulin and GTP in the striatal particulate fraction suggests that they stimulate different components of cyclase activity. The cal-modulin-stimulatable component constituted 60% of the total activity. Our two-component model does not delineate, at this point, whether there are two separate catalytic subunits or one catalytic subunit with two GTP-binding proteins. The finding that GTP was unable to activate the calmodulin-sensitive component suggests that this component has either a different mode of binding to a GTP-binding protein or inherently higher GTPase activity than has the calmodulin-insensitive component. The results suggest there are two components of adenylate cyclase activity that can be differentiated by their sensitivities to calmodulin and guanyl nucleotides.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65160/1/j.1471-4159.1983.tb00838.x.pd

Chronic haloperidol treatment increased calcium-dependent phosphorylation in rat striatum

In previous studies, we observed that when rats were chronically treated with haloperidol, there was a significant increase of calmodulin activity in their striatal membranes. Calmodulin is knwon to modulate calcium-dependent protein phosphorylation in neural membranes. In the present study, we found that the total 32P-incorporation in the striatal proteins from chronic haloperidol-treated rats was significantly increased in comparison to saline-treated rats. A majority of the phosphorylation was attributed to the calcium-mediated activity, since it could be blocked by a calcium chelating agent (EGTA). By using EGTA to inhibit phosphorylation, the results indicated that the haloperidol-treated rats had approximately 3.5-fold greater Ca++-dependent protein kinase activity than the saline-treated rats. Exogenous calcium alone was insufficient to stimulate phosphorylation in the haloperidol-treated rats to the same magnitude as in the saline-treated rats. Calmodulin may be required. 32P-incorporation of two striatal proteins at molecular weight 40 and 52 kilodaltons were markedly stimulated by calcium. Cyclic AMP-mediated phosphorylation seemed to take only a small part in the alteration of total phosphorylation. Therefore, the increase of calmodulin activity and calcium-dependent phosphorylation appears to play a major role in the drug-induced dopamine receptor supersensitivity in rat striatum.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/24079/1/0000332.pd

Differential Regulation by Calmodulin of Basal, GTP-, and Dopamine-Stimulated Adenylate Cyclase Activities in Bovine Striatum

The concentration requirements of calmodulin in altering basal, GTP-, and dopamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities in an EGTA-washed paniculate fraction from bovine striatum were examined. In the bovine striatal paniculate fraction, calmodulin activated basal adenylate cyclase activity 3.5-fold, with an EC 50 of 110 n M . Calmodulin also potentiated the activation of adenylate cyclase by GTP by decreasing the EC 50 for GTP from 303 ± 56 n M to 60 ± 10 n M Calmodulin did not alter the maximal response to GTP. The EC 50 for calmodulin in potentiating the GTP response was only 11 n M as compared to 110 n M for activation of basal activity. Similarly, calmodulin increased the maximal stimulation of adenylate cyclase by dopamine by 50–60%. The EC 50 for calmodulin in eliciting this response was 35 n M . These data demonstrate that calmodulin can both activate basal adenylate cyclase and potentiate adenylate cyclase activities that involve the activating GTP-binding protein, N s . Mechanisms that involve potentiation of N s -mediated effects are much more sensitive to calmodulin than is the activation of basal adenylate cyclase activity. Potentiation of GTP-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity by calmodulin was apparent at 3 and 5 m M MgCl 2 , but not at 1 or 10 m M MgCl 2 . These data further support a role for calmodulin in hormonal signalling and suggest that calmodulin can regulate cyclic AMP formation by more than one mechanism.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65615/1/j.1471-4159.1988.tb01045.x.pd