A typology of job search sources: Exploring the changing nature of job search networks

This study explored American job seekers’ network of information sources using a random sample. Results revealed a pattern that job seekers segmented information sources by social (i.e. personal and professional acquaintances, family, and friends), formal (i.e. employment agencies, printed advertisements, and career events), and online (i.e. online pages and social network sites) types. Although online sources were particularly central in the network, job seekers who used one source type did so at the expense of other types of sources. Older and poorer job seekers were more likely to use formal sources, while online sources were used more by job seekers with higher education and Internet efficacy. The discussion offers advice for job seekers and those who coach job search. This study extends strength of weak ties theory by demonstrating the importance of online sources in job search

Reconsidering ‘Ties’: The Sociotechnical Job Search Network

This study explored how job seekers perceived human and technological sources in their sociotechnical ego-networks. United States residents (N = 285) who had sought jobs in the past 2 years responded to questions about their perceptions of sources used during the job search (n = 1297). Participants rated each source they used across a variety of perceived attributes. We measured tie strength using an amalgam of frequency of interaction and closeness, and strong tie sources included humans contacted online and in-person as well as websites. In contrast, the weakest tie sources were direct online application, employment agencies, and career events. Results showed a newly developed perceived bridging scale, social support, ease of access, and homophily were all positively related to tie strength. Influence was negatively related to tie strength. Information quality was not related to tie strength. We discuss implications for network and job search research, theory, and practice

The Role of Status Differentials and Homophily in the Formation of Social Support Networks of a Voluntary Organization

Given the important implications of social support on managing volunteers and their organizational commitment, we investigated how members of a Korean immigrant church (N = 178) exchanged two distinctive kinds of social support (i.e., informational and tangible). We used theories of centrality and homophily to hypothesize patterns of social connections among organizational members. Employing exponential random graph modeling (ERGM), the current study estimated the likelihood of age and gender homophily/heterophily in forming supportive ties while considering structural parameters. The results of analysis of variance showed that members with higher socioeconomic status and in official staff positions in the church were more central in the informational support exchange. However, ERGM for both types of support networks did not show hypothesized gender and age homophily/heterophily of Korean immigrants’ support exchange, suggesting the importance of other potential organizational and cultural influences. The findings shed light on the internal structuring of organizational support networks and suggest practical implications for managing organizational volunteers

Is #NotMyBattlefield Rooted in Gamer Identity? An Examination of Demographic Factors, Genre Preference, and Technology Use of Gamers

This study examined characteristics of players that self-identified as gamers. Participants (N = 476) were asked to complete an online survey and provide information about their video game play. Analyses of the survey responses found support for gamers being younger, men, and playing more. We also found that some of the genres of play and technology used diverged from previous research. The two most surprising findings were that gamers preferred to play on consoles more than on computers, and massive-multiplayer online games were not the most played genre. This paper contributed to research in three ways: previous assumptions surrounding gamer identity and demographics were tested, the genre of games and method of play were examined to refine the definition of a gamer, and the implications of gamer identity were discussed

Combining social network analysis and geographic information system for communication research: an application to immigrant communities

Social Network Analysis and Geographic Information Systems can be combined and applied to communication research to better understand how communication networks are associated with spatial or city characteristics. We use a case study of communication networks of immigrant church members (N = 178) in New Jersey to test theories of spatial versus strategic assimilation, visualize social networks, and city racial composition. The findings demonstrate that church members seeking information from coethnic immigrant networks were more likely to live in cities with a concentration of white residents, whereas members who provided more informational support to other members were less likely to live in whiter areas. Thus, coethnic residential choice may not always be linked to immigrant network use and the case applies more to the pattern of strategic assimilation. Future communication research involving questions related to physical locations and space can benefit from combining Social Network Analysis and Geographic Information System techniques in innovative ways.Financial support was provided by the University of Oklahoma Libraries’ Open Access Fund.Ye

A Test of the Mobile Phone Appropriation Model: A Comparison between Chinese and US Samples

The published version is being made available with the permission of the publisher.The mobile phone appropriation (MPA; Wirth et al., 2007, 2008) model is an integrative model that seeks to explain attitudes and behaviors related to mobile phone usage from a communication perspective, proposing a dynamic loop of metacommunication, evaluations, and usage patterns. Following a previous study (Lee & Cioena, 2023), the current research tests the MPA model with a Chinese sample collected through an online survey (N = 510) and compares it with the U.S. sample (N = 501) collected by Lee and Cionea (2023) using multigroup confirmatory factor analysis and multigroup structural equation modeling. Although the core structure of MPA model was shown to be tenable cross-culturally, the results of comparative analysis reveal some noticeable cultural differences in mobile phone appropriation and call for further model revisions. Noticeably, relational and social implications of mobile communication penetrate more aspects of mobile phone appropriation with greater strength in the Chinese sample, potentially due to the collectivistic Chinese culture, and the results demonstrate a paradox between perceived affordability and usage. The more Chinese participants evaluated the cost of mobile phone usage as a restrictive factor of MPA, corroborate the more they used it for relationship maintenance and daily schedule management. In addition, the results indicate some tensions between instrumental purposes and entertainment and symbolic usage unique to the Chinese context

Proposal of Strength Formula and Type Development of Composite Mega Column to Beam Connections with T-shaped Stiffener

[EN] As buildings are becoming larger, demand for mega-sized composite columns (over 1-meter diameter) is increased. We have developed and commercialized welded built-up CFT column (ACT Column I) since 2005 which are structurally stable and economical using cold-formed steel with rib. However, there has a limit in size of cross section (618 X 618mm) by a fabrication facilities. And due to charateristics of closed cross section, there has a limit to construction of connection of moment frame. Composite mega column (ACT Column II) has same concept of forming closed cross section. But in order to enlarge cross sectional size, thick plate is inserted between cold-formed steels. Since composite mega column can control thickness and width of thick plate, steel or composite beams can be directly attached to the connection. In this study, we propose strength formula of composite mega column to beam connections with T-shaped stiffener as internal diaphragm and verified through finite element analysis and simple tensile experiment.Lee, JH.; Kim, SH.; Kim, BK.; Yom, KS.; Choi, SM. (2018). Proposal of Strength Formula and Type Development of Composite Mega Column to Beam Connections with T-shaped Stiffener. En Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Advances in Steel-Concrete Composite Structures. ASCCS 2018. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 465-473. https://doi.org/10.4995/ASCCS2018.2018.7016OCS46547

Bacteriological investigation of ground water sources in selected urban areas of district Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Microbial contamination of ground water sources is a common problem in all the big cities, which endangers health and impairs quality of living . To assess this, 39 water samples were collected from highly populated 13 union councils from the urban area of district Mardan. Faecal coliform and Escherichia coli were investigated both qualitatively and quantitatively. Qualitative study showed that faecal coliform was found in 90% samples and E. coli in 56% samples. Quantitatively, faecal coliform most probable number (MPN) was ranging from 1601 to 2400 for about 28% samples, followed by 551 to 1600 and 201 to 550 for 20% samples each, 40 to 200 for 18% samples and less than 40 for about 13% samples. The major cause of the bacteriological contamination was found to be the extent of susceptibility of the water sources to intrusions from the nearest contamination source.Keywords: Mardan, urban area, microbial contamination, faecal coliform, ground water, Escherichia col

Activation of PERK Signaling Attenuates Aβ-Mediated ER Stress

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the deposition of aggregated beta-amyloid (Aβ), which triggers a cellular stress response called the unfolded protein response (UPR). The UPR signaling pathway is a cellular defense system for dealing with the accumulation of misfolded proteins but switches to apoptosis when endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is prolonged. ER stress is involved in neurodegenerative diseases including AD, but the molecular mechanisms of ER stress-mediated Aβ neurotoxicity still remain unknown. Here, we show that treatment of Aβ triggers the UPR in the SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells. Aβ mediated UPR pathway accompanies the activation of protective pathways such as Grp78/Bip and PERK-eIF2α pathway, as well as the apoptotic pathways of the UPR such as CHOP and caspase-4. Knockdown of PERK enhances Aβ neurotoxicity through reducing the activation of eIF2α and Grp8/Bip in neurons. Salubrinal, an activator of the eIF2α pathway, significantly increased the Grp78/Bip ER chaperone resulted in attenuating caspase-4 dependent apoptosis in Aβ treated neurons. These results indicate that PERK-eIF2α pathway is a potential target for therapeutic applications in neurodegenerative diseases including AD