Degradation of N-(n-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) with and without Nitrification Inhibitor in Soils

Recent studies have shown that nitrification inhibitor (NI) impairs the efficacy of urease inhibitor, N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT), in reducing ammonia volatilization and urea hydrolysis rate. A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the influence of NI (specifically 3,4-dimethyl pyrazole phosphate) on the degradation of NBPT in six soils. Soils were amended with either NBPT (10 mg NBPT kg−1 soil) or NBPT plus NI (DI; 10 mg NBPT + 2.5 mg NI kg−1 soil), incubated at 21 °C, and destructively sampled eight times during a 14-day incubation period. The degradation of NBPT in soil was quantified by measuring NBPT concentration with high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the degradation rate constant was modeled with an exponential decay function. The study showed that the persistence of NBPT in soil was not influenced by the presence of NI, as the NBPT degradation rate constant across soils was 0.5 d−1 with either NBPT or DI. In contrast, the degradation rate constant was significantly dependent on soils, with values ranging from 0.4 to 1.7 d−1. Soil pH was the most important variable affecting the persistence of NBPT in soils. The half-life of NBPT was 0.4 d in acidic soil and 1.3 to 2.1 d in neutral to alkaline soils. The faster degradation of NBPT in acidic soils may explain its reduced efficacy in such soils

Creativity in software engineering:a systematic literature review

The competitive nature of industries and emergence of newer technologies demands an improving and creative approach in the development of software solutions. Conventional approaches to software development are characterized by sequential stiffened procedures with rigid management practices. These approaches limit the potential of alternative creative processes by impeding the adoption of one’s intuition, ability to explore, knowledge sharing and collaboration among developers. Software Engineering (SE) is a complex domain that requires intense creative activities for its sustainability; hence a firm understanding of creativity is in need. Creativity is a cognitive activity that is influenced by people, process, product and place. The study identified 89 primary studies through systematic literature review conducted to analyze, synthesize and aggregate evidences regarding the state-of-art on research of creativity in software engineering with the aim of addressing the techniques, tools, factors and measurement of creativity in software engineering domain. The findings revealed that the requirement and design phases of software development are more important stages in the development process where design decisions are made and creativity is much emphasized. Factors categorized as extrinsic and intrinsic factors are said to influence creative practices in SE domain. The adoption of creativity techniques such as collaboration, knowledge sharing and brainstorming with appropriate lightweight creativity supporting tools were identified to influence creative practices in software engineering domain, while its evaluation is difficult and subjective. In conclusion, the study advocates the adoption of creative practices with flexible management style in software development towards the building of effective and timely software. However, assertive adherence to traditional practices in software development could hamper creative practices. There exists no ultimate solution to creativity, beyond the harnessing of human cognitive capability. Hence, the management of software project should seek the development of the creative mind (engineers) with an embracing management practices for continuous deliverance of effective and novel solutions. The findings could impacts decision making of stakeholders in software engineering domain towards harnessing of creative practices

Degradation of <i>N</i>-(<i>n</i>-butyl) Thiophosphoric Triamide (NBPT) with and without Nitrification Inhibitor in Soils

Recent studies have shown that nitrification inhibitor (NI) impairs the efficacy of urease inhibitor, N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT), in reducing ammonia volatilization and urea hydrolysis rate. A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the influence of NI (specifically 3,4-dimethyl pyrazole phosphate) on the degradation of NBPT in six soils. Soils were amended with either NBPT (10 mg NBPT kg−1 soil) or NBPT plus NI (DI; 10 mg NBPT + 2.5 mg NI kg−1 soil), incubated at 21 °C, and destructively sampled eight times during a 14-day incubation period. The degradation of NBPT in soil was quantified by measuring NBPT concentration with high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the degradation rate constant was modeled with an exponential decay function. The study showed that the persistence of NBPT in soil was not influenced by the presence of NI, as the NBPT degradation rate constant across soils was 0.5 d−1 with either NBPT or DI. In contrast, the degradation rate constant was significantly dependent on soils, with values ranging from 0.4 to 1.7 d−1. Soil pH was the most important variable affecting the persistence of NBPT in soils. The half-life of NBPT was 0.4 d in acidic soil and 1.3 to 2.1 d in neutral to alkaline soils. The faster degradation of NBPT in acidic soils may explain its reduced efficacy in such soils

Computer security and ethics awareness among IIUM students: an empirical study

People's perception and attitude towards computer ethics and information security significantly affect the way they use information technology. This is especially the case among university students who are generally regarded as major violators of computer ethics and computer security. This paper follows previous work on computer security and ethics. The paper intend to examine the level of ethical and security awareness among IT and education students. The findings of this study reveals that there are satisfactory levels of awareness among the students surveyed with slightly higher level of awareness among IT students, most likely due to security and ethics courses they offered. Also, the findings indicate that gender-wise male students reported higher level of computer security and ethics violations than their female counterparts. The paper concludes that female students are more conscious of security and ethics while using computer (e.g. Internet) than the male students. Furthermore, IT students were found to be more aware of internet security & ethics, but largely ignore this knowledge and are more engaged in unethical activities and illegal internet practices when compared with Education students