Doing digital team ethnography: being there together and digital social data

With the digital availability of social data helping reshape ethnographic research and thus broadening the mainstream understanding of ethnography, this research proposes a set of strategies to overcome current limitations in doing ethnography. Based on a two-year online and offline ethnographic project on social media use in later life, insights are provided into how the practices and meanings of ethnography are being reconstructed and negotiated in response to the explosion of digital social data and through team practices. This paper reviews how collaborative and interdisciplinary ethnographic reflection is sustained and extended by digital tools, creating a live source of data that can be analysed within the framework of ethnography. As a contribution to current debates on the “Social Life of Methods“, it also reviews epistemic issues associated with digital data and team ethnography, such as the role of the ethnographer(s), the field(s) and computational data analysis. The article reaches the conclusion that digital team ethnography is a viable option for undertaking thick and descriptive studies about the use of social media, which in turn favours a collaborative, non-hierarchical and dialogue-driven knowledge production process

The Syk tyrosine kinase is required for skin inflammation in an in vivo mouse model of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita

The inflammatory form of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita is caused by autoantibodies against type VII collagen (C7), a component of the dermal-epidermal junction. We have previously shown that myeloid Src-family kinases mediate skin inflammation triggered by anti-C7 antibodies. Here we identify the Syk tyrosine kinase as a critical component of autoantibody-induced skin inflammation downstream of Src-family kinases. Immobilized C7-anti-C7 immune complexes triggered neutrophil activation and Syk phosphorylation in a Src-family kinase-dependent manner. Bone marrow chimeric mice lacking Syk in their hematopoietic compartment were completely protected from skin inflammation triggered by anti-C7 antibodies despite normal circulating anti-C7 levels. Syk deficiency abrogated the accumulation of CXCL2, IL-1beta and LTB4 at the site of inflammation and resulted in defective in vivo neutrophil recruitment. Syk-/- neutrophils had a normal intrinsic migratory capacity but failed to release CXCL2 or LTB4 upon activation by immobilized C7-anti-C7 immune complexes, indicating a role for Syk in the amplification of the inflammation process. These results identify Syk as a critical component of skin inflammation in a mouse model of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita and as a potential therapeutic target in epidermolysis bullosa acquisita and other mechanistically related inflammatory skin diseases such as bullous pemphigoid

Bullous pemphigoid in infants: characteristics, diagnosis and treatment

BACKGROUND: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) in infants is a rare but increasingly reported autoimmune blistering skin disease. Autoantibody reactivity is usually poorly characterized. Current guidelines do not address specific aspects of the infantile form of BP. The objectives of this study are to define clinical and diagnostic characteristics of infantile BP and develop a treatment algorithm. METHODS: Detailed characterization of a current case series of five infants with BP from our departments. Comprehensive analysis of all reported cases (1-12 months) with respect to clinical and laboratory characteristics, treatment and outcome. RESULTS: In total 81 cases were identified (including our own). The mean age was 4.5 months. Moderately severe and severe disease was seen in 84% of cases. Involvement of hands and feet was present in all cases. Immunofluorescence microscopy was comparable with BP in adults. Where analyzed, the NC16A domain of bullous pemphigoid 180 kDa antigen/collagen XVII (BP180) was identified as the major target antigen. BP180 NC16A ELISA values in our cohort were significantly higher than in a control cohort of 28 newly diagnosed adult patients. 50% of patients were treated with systemic corticosteroids, 20% with a combination of systemic corticosteroids and dapsone or sulfapyridine and 10% with topical corticosteroids alone. 14% of patients needed a combination of multiple immunosuppressants. All but one patient reached remission. Relapses were rare. CONCLUSIONS: Presentation of infantile BP is often severe with blistering of hands and feet present in all cases. Pathogenesis and diagnostic criteria are comparable to adult BP, yet BP180 NC16A ELISA levels seem to be significantly higher in infants. The overall disease outcome is favorable. Based on the results of this study we propose a treatment algorithm for infantile BP

Meiobenthos of the discovery Bay Lagoon, Jamaica, with an emphasis on nematodes.

PhDSediment granulometry, microphytobenthos and meiobenthos were investigated at five habitats (white and grey sands, backreef border, shallow and deep thalassinid ghost shrimp mounds) within the western lagoon at Discovery Bay, Jamaica. Habitats were ordinated into discrete stations based on sediment granulometry. Microphytobenthic chlorophyll-a ranged between 9.5- and 151.7 mg m-2 and was consistently highest at the grey sand habitat over three sampling occasions, but did not differ between the remaining habitats. It is suggested that the high microphytobenthic biomass in grey sands was related to upwelling of nutrient rich water from the nearby main bay, and the release and excretion of nutrients from sediments and burrowing heart urchins, respectively. Meiofauna abundance ranged from 284- to 5344 individuals 10 cm-2 and showed spatial differences depending on taxon. Of 22 higher taxa recorded, nematodes dominated followed by copepods, together accounting for ~80 % of all individuals. Both taxa were most abundant in grey sands, suggesting a response, either directly or indirectly, to the high microphyte biomass. Significant withinhabitat spatial variability in both meio- and microphytobenthos was found, causes of which are discussed. Nematode feeding groups varied between habitats. Fine white sands and both thalassinid mound habitats were dominated by non-selective deposit feeders. Slender and plump nematode morphotypes were found, yet the plump morphotype was largely absent from coarse sands subjected to high wave swash at the backreef border habitat. Here, nematode lengths were significantly higher than at other habitats. Nematode biomass spectra differed significantly between habitats, with a shift in peak biomass values towards larger size classes in the disturbed sediments. It is suggested that 3 longer and larger nematodes represent an adaptation to sediment disturbance, helping to prevent being displaced from the benthos by hydrodynamic forces and bioturbation

Digital Propaganda: The Tyranny of Ignorance

© The Author(s) 2018. The existence of propaganda is inexorably bound to the nature of communication and communications technology. Mass communication by citizens in the digital age has been heralded as a means to counter elite propaganda; however, it also provides a forum for misinformation, aggression and hostility. The extremist group Britain First has used Facebook as a way to propagate hostility towards Muslims, immigrants and social security claimants in the form of memes, leading to a backlash from sites antithetical to their message. This article provides a memetic analysis, which addresses persuasion, organisation, political echo chambers and self-correcting online narratives; arguing that propaganda can be best understood as an evolving set of techniques and mechanisms which facilitate the propagation of ideas and actions. This allows the concept to be adapted to fit a changing political and technological landscape and to encompass both propaganda and counter-propaganda in the context of horizontal communications networks

\ud HIV Serostatus, Hepatitis C and Depression Among Injection Drug Users in Kinondoni Municipality, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.\ud

Injection drug use in Sub Saharan Africa plays a big role in HIV and HCV transmission. This has brought a great interest with regard to control of the HIV pandemic and spread of HCV infections. In addition to that, Injection drug use is associated with mental conditions like depression. Situational analyses reveal that injection drug use is significantly increasing in different parts of Africa. Unfortunately, there are very few published studies available locally in Tanzania to assess the extent of problems and measures designed to address the issue of HIV, Hepatitis C and depression among Injection drug users. Injection drug use as a contributor to HIV and HCV infections is a subject that has received considerable attention in the scientific literature. Injection drug use is associated with increased transmission of HIV, Hepatitis C and multiple psychological problems including depression. There is no data that elucidates the extent of HIV, HCV and depression among injection drug users in Tanzania. HIV and AIDS, HCV infections and depression among intravenous drug users are common problems worldwide. This study assessed the prevalence of HIV, HCV infection and depression among Injection Drug Users in Kinondoni Municipality of Dar es Salaam Tanzania. The study aimed at showing the degree of the problem and further help in formulation of appropriate intervention programs to prevent transmission and address appropriate measures against HIV, HCV and depression among IDUs in Tanzania. This cross-sectional study combined a survey, with measures of HIV, HCV infection risk and depression, with biological tests for HIV and HCV being done. The study was conducted over a period of six months from late November 2010 to late April 2011. The sample included both males and females aged 18 years and above, who are IDUs attending community outreach services in different centers and who attended HIV testing and counseling in mobile services. Participants who were included had agreed to consent for participation in the study. \ud A total of 419 IDUs attended at community outreach services were recruited for the study after consenting, among these all clients were eligible for the study. The results revealed that among them 76.6% (n=321) were male while 23.4 % (n= 98) were female. The age range was 18 to 53years, with mean age of 26.6. Most patients were in the age group 25 to 34 years, i.e. 64.2% (n=269), compared to the older group aged of + 45 years whom were 1%. The overall prevalence of HIV, HCV infection and Depression among injection drug users was found to be 51.1%, 75.6% and 19.3% respectively. The prevalence was found to be higher in females in all the three conditions compared to males. I therefore recommend that there is an urgent need to invest in HIV/AIDS, HCV infections and depression prevention and control activities that target injection drug users in Tanzania. It is also important to include harm reduction measures like needle and syringe exchange programs as well as expanding the medically assisted therapy services to injection drug users. A new drug policy is important with emphasis on drug use and prevention, The Government should think of including HCV vaccine as part of its vaccination package to the new born. More researches should be done to assess the risk factors and to test these interventions and identify new preventive strategies for people who inject drugs and risk for HIV, HCV infection transmissions and Depression.\u

Defect energies, band alignments, and charge carrier recombination in polycrystalline Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S)2 alloys

This work investigates the defect energies, band alignments, and charge carrier recombination in polycrystalline Cu(In1-xGax)(Se1-ySy)2 chalcopyrite thin films and the interrelationship with the alloy composition. Photoluminescence spectroscopy of investigated Cu-poor Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S)2 layers generally shows broad emission lines with the corresponding maxima shifting towards higher energies under decreasing temperature or under increasing excitation power. Admittance spectroscopy of Cu-poor ZnO/CdS/Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S)2 chalcopyrite devices shows that the activation energies of the dominant defect distributions involving donors at the CdS/absorber interface and deep acceptors in the chalcopyrite bulk, increase upon alloying CuInSe2 with S. The band alignments within the Cu(In1-xGax)(Se1-ySy)2 system are determined using the energy position of the bulk acceptor state as a reference. The band gap enlargement under Ga alloying is accommodated almost exclusively in the rise of the conduction band edge, whereas the increase of band gap upon alloying with S is shared between comparable valence and conduction band offsets. The extrapolated band discontinuities [delta]EV(CuInSe2/CuInS2) = -0.23 eV, [delta]EC(CuInSe2/CuInS2) = 0.21 eV, [delta]EV(CuInSe2/CuGaSe2) = 0.036 eV, and [delta]EC(CuInSe2/CuGaSe2) = 0.7 eV are in good agreement with theoretical predictions. Current-voltage analysis of Cu-poor ZnO/CdS/Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S)2 devices reveals recombination barriers which follow the band gap energy of the absorber irrespective of alloy composition, as expected for dominant recombination in the chalcopyrite bulk. In turn, the recombination at the active junction interface prevails in Cu-rich devices which display substantially smaller barriers when compared to the band gap energy of the absorber. The result indicates that the Cu-stoichiometry is the driving compositional parameter for the charge carrier recombination in the chalcopyrite heterojunctions under investigations

Turning Scars into Stars in the Knowledge-Based Economy: A Case of M-PESA Women Empowerment Initiative in Rural Tanzania

Purpose- Although women constitute the majority of the rural labour force and contribute substantially to the economy in Tanzania, they are not given due recognition by the policymakers. Despite being major producers, they are still marginalized, do not have access to credit and considered un-bankable. Vodacom Tanzania LTD through its M-PESA Women Empowerment Initiative (MWEI) is reaching out to these marginalized rural women to empower them. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the social economic changes that MWEI has brought to women in rural areas in Tanzania. Design/ methodology/ approach- Case study design as well as both quantitative and qualitative research paradigms for the collection of data were used. Data validation was done using mean percentage. Findings-The paper indicates that Vodacom MWEI project provides the un-bankable rural women with cheap credits without interests and entrepreneurship training. The resulting socio-economic changes brought by MWEI to rural women entrepreneurs include: the creation of new jobs, construction or renovation of houses, ability to pay school fees, increased contribution to the household and national economy and online access to consultation services. The study concludes that the once considered not bankable and deprived rural women benefit from the ICT revolution. They are now empowered by MWEI with interest-free small loans using KBE enabling technology and training to start self-sustaining businesses. This has enabled them to create new jobs and increase their contribution to the household and national economy