A Confirmation Bias View on Social Media Induced Polarisation During Covid-19

Social media has played a pivotal role in polarising views on politics, climate change, and more recently, the Covid-19 pandemic. Social media induced polarisation (SMIP) poses serious challenges to society as it could enable ‘digital wildfires’ that can wreak havoc worldwide. While the effects of SMIP have been extensively studied, there is limited understanding of the interplay between two key components of this phenomenon: confirmation bias (reinforcing one’s attitudes and beliefs) and echo chambers (i.e., hear their own voice). This paper addresses this knowledge deficit by exploring how manifestations of confirmation bias contributed to the development of ‘echo chambers’ at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Thematic analysis of data collected from 35 participants involved in supply chain information processing forms the basis of a conceptual model of SMIP and four key cross-cutting propositions emerging from the data that have implications for research and practice.

A Study of the Frequency Domain Induced Polarisation Effects Displayed by Clay and by Cation Exchange Resin, Model Soil Systems

<p>Work is reported of the development of clay and resin model soil systems for the observation of induced polarisation phenomena. A measuring technique is developed to determine impedance spectra of such models over the frequency range of 10-3 to 10 4 Hz, and a variety of model cells tested varying such parameters as temperature, electrolyte type and concentration, and bead size of resin. An increase in impedance with decrease in frequency is observed, consistent with field observation of the induced polarisation phenomenon associated with moist, non-mineralised soils, and a number of empirical observations of the form of this are made.</p>

A Study of the Frequency Domain Induced Polarisation Effects Displayed by Clay and by Cation Exchange Resin, Model Soil Systems

<p>Work is reported of the development of clay and resin model soil systems for the observation of induced polarisation phenomena. A measuring technique is developed to determine impedance spectra of such models over the frequency range of 10-3 to 10 4 Hz, and a variety of model cells tested varying such parameters as temperature, electrolyte type and concentration, and bead size of resin. An increase in impedance with decrease in frequency is observed, consistent with field observation of the induced polarisation phenomenon associated with moist, non-mineralised soils, and a number of empirical observations of the form of this are made.</p>

Effectiveness of 2D Induced Polarisation & Electrical Resistivity Tomography in Mapping Fracture Heterogeneity in Foundation Soils.

Inhomogeneity caused by fractures can constitute real problems in foundation soils which consequently can lead to structural failure. 2D Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) has been exceedingly popular in mapping near surface discontinuities that can possibly affect engineering structures. The effectiveness of using Induced Polarisation Tomography (IPT) in mapping subsurface fractures was explored. Using the same field way out for both ERT and IPT, investigations were carried out at a failed structure with foundational inhomogeneity in the Nsukka area, Southeastern Nigeria. Four Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and four Induced Polarisation Tomography (IPT) were carried out. Electrical Resistivity Tomography for profile line one (ERT1) and that of the opposite section, ERT3, revealed a fault trending NNW- SSE. This anomaly was also observed on the Induced Polarization Tomography for profile line one (IPT1) as well as that of profile line three (IPT3) at the same offset distances, delineating the same fracture zone. A second fault trending in NE-SW was mapped by the Electrical Resistivity Tomography for profile line two (ERT2) and Electrical Resistivity Tomography for profile line four (ERT4). The fault was also visible in the Induced Polarization counterparts, IPT2 and IPT4. Field validation along mapped trends recorded subtle cracks on the foundation along the same trend detected by the IPT as well as the ERT.

Series of 1-D ER and IP traverses reveal vestige of regional geological structure

At the Basement Complex geological province of central Nigeria, in the state of Niger, just northeast of the Bida Sedimentary Basin, there is the character of non-complexity and high uniformity in the local geology over an appreciable linear spread. This appreciation makes it a standard practice to do one-dimensional vertical electrical sounding surveys in the search for groundwater resources at this area with the expectation of reliable results. This seeming “simplicity” means that intense manual labour can be invested in acquiring a large data-field at a local area of survey where resources are not readily available to do a standard two-dimensional survey of the conventional kind. This is especially significant for the proposed area of development at the Gidan Kwano Campus of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Thus, with this awareness and the use of the ABEM Terrameter 4000 equipment, the aim of this study was to do an intense acquisition of one-dimensional electrical resistance and concomitant induced polarization programme for this proposed area of development so as to achieve the objective of garnering information about exploitable groundwater locations before structural developments cover these points up. Typical point-to-point one-dimensional tandem electrical resistance and concomitant induced polarisation surveys were completed along east-west profile lines for about 309 survey stations of the available 441 principal locations of the 4 km2 extent of the proposed new development. After due processing and interpretation of the data-field of this survey, whilst remarking that the induced polarisation data-set was used herein as quality control “refiner” only, clusters of reliable groundwater locations were observed at the southwest end of the 4 km2 areal extent of the proposed new development. It conforms to the dip of the landform and comparatively significant overburden-material thicknesses observed over there. Interestingly, in a twist of serendipity, the series of diagonal subsurface “fault-lines” that connect one promising groundwater prospect with the other, describable by a prominent northeast-southwest dip, aligns exactly with the Kazaure-Karaukarau-Kushaka-Ilesha Schist Belt. In the modern geography setting of the present time, the Kazaure-Karaukarau-Kushaka-Ilesha Schist Belt actually traverses a lengthy diagonal across the landscape of Nigeria, cutting through such Nigerian states as Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Niger, Kwara, Ekiti, and Osun. There is virtually no surface indicator of this once-prominent schist belt and what this study reveals is its vestigial signature