A study of different representation conventions during investigatory sensemaking

Background: During the process of conducting investigations, users structure information externally to help them make sense of what they know, and what they need to know. Software-based visual representations may be a natural place for doing this, but there are a number of types of information structuring that might be supported and hence designed for. Further, there might be important differences in how well different representational conventions support sensemaking. There are questions about what type of representational support might allow these users to be more effective when interacting with information. Aim: To explore the impact that different types of external representational structuring have on performance and user experience during intelligence type investigations. Intelligence analysis represents a difficult example domain were sensemaking is needed. We have a particular interest in the role that timeline representations might play given evidence that people are naturally predisposed to make sense of complex social scenarios by constructing narratives. From this we attempt to quantify possible benefits of timeline representation during investigatory sensemaking, compared with argumentation representation. Method: Participants performed a small investigation using the IEEE 2011 VAST challenge dataset in which they structured information either as a timeline, an argumentation or as they wished (freeform). 30 participants took part in the study. The study used three levels of a between participants independent variable of representation type. The dependent variables were performance (in terms of recall, precision efficiency and understanding) and user experience (in terms of cognitive load, engagement and confidence in understanding). Result: The result shows that the freeform condition experienced a lower cognitive load than the other two: timeline and argument respectively. A post hoc exploratory analysis was conducted to better understand the information behaviour and structuring activities across conditions and to better understand the types of structuring that participants perform in the freeform condition. The analysis resulted in an Embedded Representational Structuring Theory (ERST) that helps to characterise and describe representations primarily in terms of their elements and their relations. Conclusion: The results suggest that: (a) people experienced lower cognitive load when they are free to structure information as they wish, (b) during their investigations, they create complex heterogeneous representations consisting of various entities and multiple relation types and (c) their structuring activities can be described by a finite set of structuring conventions

A one-way dissection of high-order compact scheme for the solution of 2D Poisson equation

We present a one-way dissection formulation of high-order compact scheme for the solution of 2D Poisson equation. One-way dissection is a type of matrix reordering, divide and conquers procedure. Efficient and concise compact schemes of 4th and 6th orders are derived using the truncation errors of the Taylors’ series expansion of the governing equation. The system is split into sub-domains and each sub-domain is treated separately. Two test problems are solved to show the fourth order performance of the scheme. The direct method is used to achieve a quick solution to the problems

Towards an approach for analysing external representations created during sensemaking using generative grammar

During sensemaking, users often create external representations to help them make sense of what they know, and what they need to know. In doing so, they necessarily adopt or construct some form of representational language using the tools at hand. By describing such languages implicit in representations we believe that we are better able to describe and differentiate what users do and better able to describe and differentiate interfaces that might support them. Drawing on approaches to the analysis of language, and in particular, Mann and Thompson’s Rhetorical Structure Theory, we analyse the representations that users create to expose their underlying ‘visual grammar’. We do this in the context of a user study involving evidential reasoning. Participants were asked to address an adapted version of IEEE VAST 2011 mini challenge 3 (interpret a potential terrorist plot implicit in a set of news reports). We show how our approach enables the unpacking of the heterogeneous and embedded nature of user-generated representations and allows us to show how visual grammars evolve and become more complex over time in response to evolving sensemaking needs

Political risk and foreign direct investment in Africa: the case of the Nigerian telecommunications industry

Foreign direct investment (FDI) flows are expected to be influenced by political risk factors. However, studies that evaluate the relationship between political risk and FDI flows in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are scarce. This study examines the impact of political risk on FDI flows in a SSA context using the 12 political risk components published as the International Country Risk Guide (ICRG) by the Political Risk Services Group (PRS) with the Nigerian telecommunications sector as a case study. The study finds that political risk has a significant influence on the inflow of FDI into developing economies in SSA such as Nigeria and that the 12 components affect FDI in different ways. Irrespective of the political risk rating, a consistent improvement in composite political risk enhances FDI inflow. Among the 12 components, corruption, law and order, democratic accountability and investment profile were found to have significant influences on FDI inflow into the Nigerian telecommunications sector. Corruption, in particular, explains nearly two-thirds of the FDI inflow

Chi Symbolism In Achebe’s Things Fall Apart: A Hermeneutic Understanding

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Business Education for Self-Reliance and Job Sustainability Among Undergraduate Students in Universities, South-South Nigeria

This study examined the Business Education for Self-Reliance and Job Sustainability Among Undergraduate Students in Universities, South-South Nigeria. The study adopted the survey design. The population of the study comprises of 145 lecturers drawn from universities offering Business Education across South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. No sampling was made since the population was manageable. Questionnaire was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by three experts in measurement and evaluation and Business Education Department at Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki which is located at South-East of Nigeria. The data collected were analysed using mean and standard deviation for the research questions; and independent samples t-test for the null hypotheses. The hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed a relatively high level of contribution of Business Education lecturers towards making undergraduate students self-reliant in Universities; a relatively low level of contribution of students towards acquisition of skills of self-reliance and job sustainability in Universities; no significant difference in the mean ratings of the contribution of male and female business education lecturers towards making undergraduate students self-reliant in universities; and no significant difference between male and female business education lecturers’ mean ratings of undergraduate students’ contribution towards self-reliance and job sustainability in Universities. On the bases of these findings, it was recommended that Universities should focus on creating a more engaging and interactive learning environment that encourages students to actively participate in acquiring skills of self-reliance. Keywords: Business Education; Self-Reliance; Job Sustainability; Undergraduate Students. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/14-24-10 Publication date:August 31st 202

An Analysis of the Nigerian Capital Market Performance and Economic Growth in Nigeria

The Nigerian capital market has performed fairly despite the numerous challenges and problems some of which include: the buy and hold attitude of Nigerians, massive ignorance of a large population of the Nigerian public of the nature and benefits of the capital market, few investment outlets in the market, lack of capital market friendly economic policies and political instability, private sector led economy and less than full operation of recent developments like the Automated Trading System (ATS), Central Securities Clearing System (CSC), On-line and Remote Trading, Trade Alerts and Capital Trade Points of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. From the result obtained, the following policy recommendations are made: There is need for the government through the central bank to implement policy that will increase the level and size of market capitalization in the capital market. Such increase in market capital will provide the needed funds for investors for further investments and hence increased productivity in Nigeria. The positive impact of number of deals also calls for proper policies to be implemented so as to attract more investors to invest in the market. There is also need to relax some stringent registration and operating procedures to enable more people and organizations to participate in the market. There is also need to institute policies that will further increase the value of market transaction in the market. As stated earlier there is need to remove hindrances on the part of prospective investors so as to increase both the volume and value of transactions in the market. An increase in the value of transaction will in turn lead to economic growth in Nigeria. It is important that interest rate should be lowered so as to increase the level of investment. An increase in investment will lead to an increase in economic growth in Nigeria. Keywords: capital market, Automated Trading System, Economic growth, private sector

Influence of Geographical Location on Key Nutritional Properties of Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) Pulp

Citrullus lanatus (watermelon) which was only cultivated in Northern Nigeria in the past, is now cultivated in other parts of Nigeria. However, there is no data to show the nutritional quality of C. lanatus as it relates to the location of cultivation. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the nutritional properties of the pulp of Citrullus lanatus cultivated in four states, representing four geopolitical regions of Nigeria. C. lanatus samples were collected from the northeast, southwest, southeast and south-south geopolitical zones of Nigeria. They were thoroughly washed, then the pulp was separated, homogenized and freeze-dried.  The amino acid profile, vitamins, proximate and mineral analyses of the freeze-dried samples were done by standard protocols. The amino acid profile results showed the presence of varied amino acids in the different zones, with the southwest giving the highest concentrations of the amino acids and the least concentration obtained from the south-south zone. The presence of vitamin C and A, and the minerals: Ca, Mg, K, Na, Fe, Pb, and Mn were detected in the pulp of C. lanatus at diverse concentrations in the various zones, with samples from the southwest zone also giving the highest composition of both vita by mins and mineral contents.  The proximate composition analysis results revealed a higher (p < 0.05) percentage of moisture, protein and fiber from the southwest sample when compared with other zones, and higher (p < 0.05) percentage composition of carbohydrate, ash and fat contents from the northeast samples relative to other zones. Thus, the nutritional value of the C. lanatus samples was in the order: Southwest > northeast > southeast > south-south. Conclusively, the results showed that the location of cultivation affects the nutritional value of Citrullus lanatus fruit

Religious Dogmatism, Prejudice and Conflict in Nigeria

Nigeria has over the years witnessed religious conflicts that have threatened the unity of Nigeria. From the point of view of Intergroup Threat Theory, this paper argues that religious conflicts that Nigeria has witnessed over the years is traceable to prejudice resulting from religious dogmatism which has been expressed through intolerance, clashes, riots, and discrimination. Through religious teachings, religious leaders have instilled dogmatic prejudice in their followers which has culminated in religious intolerance, violence, discrimination, and resentment perpetrated by religious groups against other religious groups which they have defined as out-group. To preclude religious conflict in Nigeria therefore, religious leaders and teachers should be sensitized to indoctrinate their members in a way that would promote love, peace, and tolerance, and abstain from any form of teaching and utterances that could cause their members to be prejudiced against other religious groups. Keywords: Dogmatism, Prejudice, Conflict, Nigeri