Restricted Accessibility Research Articles

Surface microlayer-mediated virome dissemination in the Central Arctic

BackgroundAquatic viruses act as key players in shaping microbial communities. In polar environments, they face significant challenges such as limited host availability and harsh conditions. However, due to the restricted accessibility of these ecosystems, our understanding of viral diversity, abundance, adaptations, and host interactions remains limited.ResultsTo fill this knowledge gap, we studied viruses from atmosphere-close aquatic ecosystems in the Central Arctic and Northern Greenland. Aquatic samples for virus-host analysis were collected from ~60 cm depth and the submillimeter surface microlayer (SML) during the Synoptic Arctic Survey 2021 on icebreaker Oden in the Arctic summer. Water was sampled from a melt pond and open water before undergoing size-fractioned filtration, followed by genome-resolved metagenomic and cultivation investigations. The prokaryotic diversity in the melt pond was considerably lower compared to that of open water. The melt pond was dominated by a Flavobacterium sp. and Aquiluna sp., the latter having a relatively small genome size of 1.2 Mb and the metabolic potential to generate ATP using the phosphate acetyltransferase-acetate kinase pathway. Viral diversity on the host fraction (0.2–5 µm) of the melt pond was strikingly limited compared to that of open water. From the 1154 viral operational taxonomic units (vOTUs), of which two-thirds were predicted bacteriophages, 17.2% encoded for auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) with metabolic functions. Some AMGs like glycerol-3-phosphate cytidylyltransferase and ice-binding like proteins might serve to provide cryoprotection for the host. Prophages were often associated with SML genomes, and two active prophages of new viral genera from the Arctic SML strain Leeuwenhoekiella aequorea Arc30 were induced. We found evidence that vOTU abundance in the SML compared to that of ~60 cm depth was more positively correlated with the distribution of a vOTU across five different Arctic stations.ConclusionsThe results indicate that viruses employ elaborate strategies to endure in extreme, host-limited environments. Moreover, our observations suggest that the immediate air-sea interface serves as a platform for viral distribution in the Central Arctic.Dvb_jZZ1H7pg55rxrDSVb2Video

Highly enhanced electrocatalytic OER with facile electrodeposition of MIL–53(Fe)/NiAl–LDH/NF and NiAl–LDH/MIL–53(Fe)/NF

This research investigates a new approach to improve the electrocatalytic rate of the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER), a key step in water electrolysis. The study focuses on two promising materials: MIL–53(Fe) and NiAl–LDH. MIL–53(Fe) offers several advantages: high catalytic activity, large surface area, and good chemical stability. NiAl–LDH is attractive due to its layered structure, tolerance to a wide range of pH levels, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. However, their limitations like low conductivity and restricted accessibility of active sites hinder their performance in water splitting applications. To address these limitations, novel composite thin films were created using a technique called layer–by–layer (LBL) electrophoretic deposition. These films, built on nickel foam (NF) substrates, included two configurations: MIL–53(Fe)/NiAl–LDH/NF and NiAl–LDH/MIL–53(Fe)/NF. The MIL-53(Fe)/NiAl-LDH/NF composite exhibited remarkable OER activity in alkaline electrolytes, requiring overpotentials of only 200, 270, and 370 mV to reach current densities of 20, 50, and 100 mA cm−2, respectively. The Tafel slope of 54.86 mVdec−1 suggests rapid reaction kinetics. Additionally, it demonstrated excellent long-term stability, lasting for at least 20 h. The success of the MIL–53(Fe)/NiAl–LDH/NF composite can be attributed to the LBL technique. This method creates a composite with a larger surface area, significantly improving OER efficiency. In contrast, the MIL–53(Fe)/NiAl–LDH/NF configuration had the opposite effect. The NF pores became blocked by the MIL–53(Fe) layer, reducing the overall surface area, hindering electron transfer, and thereby limiting oxygen production. The LBL deposition method used in this study proves its effectiveness in designing efficient electrocatalysts. This opens up possibilities for creating other multicomponent materials for energy applications. The findings provide valuable insights for future research on these promising composite materials, potentially leading to the development of cost-effective and high-performance catalysts for various electrochemical applications.

A rapid and efficient approach for quantifying metformin in human plasma using Ultra-High performance liquid chromatography with UV-Detection: Relevance in Non-Diabetes clinical studies

Metformin, a first-line drug to treat type-2 diabetes, has gained attention in various non-diabetes studies, such as anti-aging, reduced cancer incidence and mortality, and reduced symptomatic viral infection due to its immunomodulatory properties. This study aims to develop and validate a simple and cost-effective ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography method with UV detection (uHPLC-UV) for quantifying metformin in human plasma amidst operational challenges and restricted accessibility to mass spectrometry. Plasma samples were protein precipitated with acetonitrile, and metformin was separated from endogenous plasma components using a Waters Acquity UPLC BEH Amide column, 1.8 µm, (2.1 x 100 mm) with gradient elution using 0.1 M potassium phosphate adjusted with phosphoric acid to pH 5.8, and acetonitrile as mobile phases and detected at 240 nm. Method validation was performed according to U.S. FDA guidelines. Total run time achieved was 3 min and linearity was demonstrated over the range of 0.1–40 mg/L based on linear regression using 1/x weighting. The lowest quantitation limit of 0.1 mg/L was achieved. Excellent recoveries (90.3–98.4 %) and negligible matrix factors (94.6–108.1 %) were observed in the sample preparation, negating the need for using any internal standard. Finally, the developed assay was utilised to measure metformin plasma levels from healthy volunteers recruited in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigating potential immunomodulatory effects of metformin influence on yellow fever viremia.

Designing Political Brand Identity Through Architecture: A Case of Malatya City Hall

Corporate level awareness and understanding of political systems are widely spreading in politics through the application of marketing concepts by parties. This study explores how party ideology, hierarchical structures, and symbolism are embedded into the design of government buildings to enhance corporate communication with stakeholders. A design strategy that links architecture with politics views specific architectural features as semiotic resources for party identity and envisions them as design patterns in the future. This paper presents the Malatya City Hall as an example, which was designed using a similar architectural style to that of the Nationalist Movement Party Headquarters in Türkiye. Employing critical discourse analysis (CDA), we unveil the political structure underlying the Headquarters, which is subsequently transposed into the design of City Hall. The Ottoman-Seljuk architectural style, in its modern interpretation, serves as a reflection of political ideology in these buildings. The corporate organizational structure is emphasized through the president’s prominent position and the restricted accessibility to his spaces, evident in the layout design. Additionally, symbolism is incorporated by aligning the building’s architectural plan with the party’s logo, creating a direct visual representation of political brand identity.

Noble metal-free tandem catalysis enables efficient upcycling plastic waste into liquid fuel components

The lack of effective approaches for upcycling waste plastic has led to severe environmental pollution and squandering of carbon resources. While hydrocracking macromolecular polyolefins over typical metal-zeolite catalyst produces high quality liquid fuel components, the limited activity of base metal and restricted accessibility of acid sites within microporous zeolite renders this process still not in practical scale. A tandem catalyst comprising Ni-WO3/Al2O3 and Beta zeolite was developed for consecutive hydrocracking polyolefins, achieving a yield of 86.2 % of primarily gasoline-jet ranged hydrocarbons (mainly C5-C16 and minor C16+) at 280 °C. The incorporation of tungsten species onto Ni/Al2O3 largely enhances the surface acidity and accelerates the primary cracking process that converts polyethylene (PE) into medium-sized intermediates, which would readily diffuse into the pore networks of Beta and undergo further cracking to yield desired liquid hydrocarbons. In addition, this tandem catalyst also promotes facile hydrocracking of consumer-grade plastic waste and maintains excellent stability over 5 recycling tests. The noble-metal-free catalyst achieves an impressive liquid formation rate of 5.74 g·gcat.−1·h−1, rivaling the noble metal-based catalyst and demonstrating high application prospects.

Century-scale dataset of bathymetry and shoreline position for Tagus ebb-tidal delta, Portugal

Understanding long-term coastal changes requires comprehensive records of morphological data spanning extended periods, ideally over multiple decades. Nevertheless, significant challenges arise from the restricted availability and accessibility of reliable data, especially in the case of complex coastal systems dominated by wave-current dynamics, such as ebb-tidal deltas (ETDs). This study introduces a new dataset for Tagus ETD in central Portugal, from 1845 to 1985 based on historic nautical charts available for the area. The data includes: (1) high-resolution bathymetric surfaces of ETD configuration for years 1845, 1879, 1893, 1929, 1939, 1960 and 1985; (2) shoreline position of three different indicators (Low-Water Line, High-Water Line and foredune dune seaward limit) at the adjacent coast for the same years; (3) rates-of-change for shoreline position of the High-Water Line indicator. Data also includes an uncertainty assessment for hydrographical and shoreline position information estimated from historic nautical charts. These data provide a valuable resource for describing, understanding, and modelling the long-term behaviour of ETDs not covered by other currently available datasets.

Assessment of the Status and Characteristics of Faecal Sludge Management in populated unplanned settlements of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

This study evaluates faecal sludge management in densely populated informal settlements of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, using suitable standardized methods. The data indicates that latrines are built with less emphasis on quality compared to the construction of houses, resulting in the use of inferior materials and technology. Various techniques are employed for emptying pits, with vacuum trucks and manual pit emptying being the predominant methods. However, lack of access to households poses a significant obstacle to vacuum truck emptying, as 39.67% cannot be reached by transportation means. The pit emptying industry faces high costs and restricted technological accessibility. Semi-manual and semi-mechanized technology innovations for hygiene emptying in less accessible dwellings have not gained sufficient appeal among inhabitants in densely crowded unplanned settlements. DAWASA owns treatment plants for faecal sludge treatment, but these are located far away, increasing transportation expenses. Implementing decentralized faecal sludge treatment plants appears to be a more effective approach. The collection and handling of faecal sludge now overlook the potential for resource recovery and re-use, which might greatly enhance the sustainability of faecal sludge management. Two government ministries have partially incorporated the faecal sludge management or sanitation sector into their health and water policies and programs, but the separation of responsibility has hindered its growth and lack of emphasis on information diffusion in urban areas.

Integrating Local Wisdom into a Halal Tourism Model: The Case of Indonesia

Indonesia has the largest Muslim population globally with a significant potential for halal tourism, especially when integrated with local wisdom. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the development of halal ecosystem, the necessity of halal tourism village, and the creation of a sustainable model based on local wisdom. It also emphasized on increasing public awareness regarding the criteria for halal ecotourism, including infrastructure and facilities. This qualitative case study was conducted in Indragiri Village, Bandung Regency, West Java. The results showed that the establishment of Indragiri Halal Ecotourism Village had a significant impact. This included the development of local culture, improved public awareness, increase in community income, and the fulfillment of the six requirements for Muslim-friendly facilities recommended by the Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC). The requirements included halal food, worship places, water-filled restrooms, private recreational services, and absence of non-halal activities. However, there were challenges related to the development of halal ecotourism sector, such as limited collaboration with Islamic financial institutions and restricted accessibility to Indragiri Ecotourism Village.

Strategic Planning & Industry Sector Enhancing SDGS

Objective: The objective of this study is to explore the nature of strategic planning (SP) in four selected industry sectors (IS) in regard to the SP-IS relationships, the features and aspects that influence SP in and within one industry as well as with the selected industry sectors. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 28 related studies were selected from electronic academic resources and databases (e.g., Google scholar, Emerald, and Academia …etc.). The criteria used in selection is based on the easiest and most accessible documents to the researcher by using the title of the study with similar terms and words for the selected industry sectors. Four sectors have been selected: SP in banking, tourism & hospitality, healthcare, and higher education sector. The selected study samples were conducted in different countries of the world. Tables used are divided into columns for summarizing the essential data for each study such as study title, type of industry sector and country, findings, SP components, and its influence on performance. Selected studies have been carefully reviewed and evaluated. The methodology and construct of each study is considered, and the content analysis is used in addition to the researcher’s real-life experiences, as well as the opinions of academic peers were considered. Findings: The purpose of every examined study for each industry sector was identified and compared with same industry and with other examined industry sectors. The majority of the studies reviewed had similar objectives. The SP and SM concepts are well-known, understood, and used in many industry sectors. The findings show that SP has a favorable influence, and repeated elements and dimensions have been identified. More importantly, all of the evaluated studies have titles that include SP, strategic implementation (SI), or strategic management (SM) either explicitly or implicitly. Research limitations/implications: The results of the study are related to chosen studies of 4 industry sectors. As such, it is not possible to generalize these findings. The restricted accessibility to the relevant databases, journals, and web resources is another research barrier. Moreover, this kind of study—or one comparable to it—requires a longitudinal research approach. As such, the writer makes every attempt to condense the information that is accessible and comprehensible to him. Originality/value: This study highlights the SP-IS relationship of four important industry sectors in different countries with varied SP comparative features.

Implicit calibration method for underwater stereo cameras.

Underwater stereo cameras can effectively capture intricate environments with restricted accessibility, offering an appealing solution for precise perception. Stereo imaging is however susceptible to distortions caused by the refraction of incoming rays. These distortions are nonlinear and challenge the standard single viewpoint projection assumption. In this paper, we propose a data-driven implicit calibration method for underwater stereo cameras. To address the imaging characteristics and aberration distributions across different coordinates of underwater stereo cameras, we have developed the corresponding coordinates regression network and fusion strategy, thereby converting the calibration process into network-based learning. Secondly, we designed an underwater self-luminous calibration target system and the underwater corner point extraction strategy for sample dataset acquisition. We evaluated the proposed method comprehensively in terms of measurement, camera posture estimation, and 3D reconstruction, and compared it with other explicit calibration methods. The experimental results show that the proposed implicit calibration method is superior to other explicit calibration. We demonstrate with real experiments that our method enables efficient camera calibration for underwater vision applications.

Construction of Metal-Organic Framework-Based Heterogeneous Pepsin and Its Degradation Performance and Mechanism for Phthalic Acid Esters.

Biological enzyme-driven degradation of environmental pollutants has attracted widespread attention because it is ecofriendly and highly efficient. Immobilized enzyme technology has emerged as a promising technique in enzymology that addresses the limitations associated with free enzymes. Traditional solid-loaded enzyme substrates are often affected by blockages and restricted substrate accessibility. In this study, we synthesized an efficient heterogeneous pepsin catalyst, named PEP@M-MIL100(Fe), by covalently combining carboxylated ferrite structural expanded metal-organic frameworks with pepsin. This catalyst demonstrated excellent environmental adaptability and remarkable catalytic degradation capabilities. Notably, it rapidly degraded the persistent microplastic pollutant diisononyl phthalate (DINP) within just 150 min, with a removal efficiency of up to 95.88%. Impressively, even after 10 consecutive uses, the catalyst maintained its high performance. We proposed an innovative steady-state heterogeneous enzyme-catalyzed degradation mechanism, i.e., diffusion (D)-absorption (A)-binding (B)-reaction (R)-degradation (D)-link mechanism, which emphasizes the influence of substrate diffusion rates in this process. This work presents the first successful application of pepsin to DINP degradation and offers a sustainable and effective approach for addressing contemporary pollution challenges.

Innate immune training restores pro-reparative myeloid functions to promote remyelination in the aged central nervous system

The reduced ability of the central nervous system to regenerate with increasing age limits functional recovery following demyelinating injury. Previous work has shown that myelin debris can overwhelm the metabolic capacity of microglia, thereby impeding tissue regeneration in aging, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. In a model of demyelination, we found that a substantial number of genes that were not effectively activated in aged myeloid cells displayed epigenetic modifications associated with restricted chromatin accessibility. Ablation of two class I histone deacetylases in microglia was sufficient to restore the capacity of aged mice to remyelinate lesioned tissue. We used Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), a live-attenuated vaccine, to train the innate immune system and detected epigenetic reprogramming of brain-resident myeloid cells and functional restoration of myelin debris clearance and lesion recovery. Our results provide insight into aging-associated decline in myeloid function and how this decay can be prevented by innate immune reprogramming.

Measure Constraints Faced by Farm Women Using ICT Tools by Garett Ranking Method

Traditionally the extension services have focused on male farmers. In the last few decades the concern regarding farm women have been raised globally. There is immediate need to equip these farm women with relevant knowledge and skill. It is only possible if appropriate and relevant Information communication technology (ICT) tools are made available to farm women to get information related to agriculture. The present study was conducted in the Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand state to identify the constraints faced by farm women while using ICT tools. Garrett ranking was used. For this study, respondents were selected by using a Probability proportional to size (PPS) sampling method. To derive the inferences of the study, two blocks were selected for the present study. The study covered four villages & it covered 120 farm women in the selected villages. Data for the study was collected during 2019-20. Primary data was collected from farm women through personal interview method with the help of a pretested schedule. The main personal constraints noticed were lack of preference in using Information communication technology (ICT), lack of training, lack of confidence, lack of motivation and lack of time to utilize Information communication technology (ICT). The main technological constraints were language problem to use Information communication technology (ICT), complex nature of Information communication technology (ICT) restricted availability and restricted accessibility to Information communication technology (ICT) tools. The main cultural constraints were lack of faith in Information communication technology (ICT) tools, traditional belief in the existing system, discouragement from the family and society. The main infrastructural barriers were poor electricity services and poor network connectivity.

Structural insights into GABAA receptor potentiation by Quaalude

Methaqualone, a quinazolinone marketed commercially as Quaalude, is a central nervous system depressant that was used clinically as a sedative-hypnotic, then became a notorious recreational drug in the 1960s-80s. Due to its high abuse potential, medical use of methaqualone was eventually prohibited, yet it persists as a globally abused substance. Methaqualone principally targets GABAA receptors, which are the major inhibitory neurotransmitter-gated ion channels in the brain. The restricted status and limited accessibility of methaqualone have contributed to its pharmacology being understudied. Here, we use cryo-EM to localize the GABAA receptor binding sites of methaqualone and its more potent derivative, PPTQ, to the same intersubunit transmembrane sites targeted by the general anesthetics propofol and etomidate. Both methaqualone and PPTQ insert more deeply into subunit interfaces than the previously-characterized modulators. Binding of quinazolinones to this site results in widening of the extracellular half of the ion-conducting pore, following a trend among positive allosteric modulators in destabilizing the hydrophobic activation gate in the pore as a mechanism for receptor potentiation. These insights shed light on the underexplored pharmacology of quinazolinones and further elucidate the molecular mechanisms of allosteric GABAA receptor modulation through transmembrane binding sites.

Systematic review of memory assessment in virtual reality: evaluating convergent and divergent validity with traditional neuropsychological measures.

The evaluation of memory is a crucial aspect of both cognitive research and clinical applications, as it offers valuable insights into an individual's cognitive wellbeing and performance. Conventional neuropsychological assessments represent the established method for assessing different aspects of memory. Recent technological advancements, specifically in the field of virtual reality (VR), have introduced novel methods for evaluating memory. This systematic review aims to examine the current state of memory assessment using VR technologies, assessing the degree of convergence and divergence between VR-based memory assessments and conventional neuropsychological tests. A systematic review of the literature was conducted searching PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science databases, leading to the incorporation of 24 studies. Studies were grouped according to the examined memory domain (episodic, prospective, spatial domain). Convergence and divergence validity were examined for each, and information on software and hardware features was collected. This review demonstrates a notable alignment between VR-based memory assessments and conventional neuropsychological tests. Moreover, VR tasks have shown to exhibit associations with executive functions and overall cognitive performance. The inclusion of various ecological contexts, such as residential environments, commercial establishments, and simulated scenarios, serves to augment the ecological validity of memory evaluations conducted in VR. The findings indicate that VR assessments demonstrate a functional perspective by effectively capturing the dynamic relationship between memory, executive functions, and overall cognitive performance. Nevertheless, it is imperative to acknowledge and tackle certain constraints that may hinder the widespread adoption and utilization of VR tasks. These limitations encompass factors such as restricted accessibility to VR tasks and the presence of heterogeneity in VR hardware and software. The dynamic and ever-changing nature of VR technology presents a range of potential avenues for future investigation and utilization in the domain of memory evaluation.

Enhanced tetracycline degradation through nonradical processes by modulating the exposure of active sites on the iron nanoconfined catalysts

There is an urgent need to develop effective and sustainable methods for reducing water pollution. Non-homogeneous Fenton catalysts are commonly used to eliminate pollutants from water. However, the effectiveness of these catalysts is limited by the restricted availability and accessibility of the active site (AS). In this work, we presented a strategy for modulating the exposure of active nanometallic particles to fully expose the AS at the nanoscale. We also confined the AS in carbon frameworks with micropores and mesopores to enhance the effectiveness of AS utilization in Fenton-like reactions. The experimental results indicate that the Fe-out@N-C/PMS system achieved complete degradation of tetracycline within 10 min and maintained an efficient degradation rate of over 91% after five consecutive cycles. The degradation of contaminants was due to an effective non-radical mechanism, as shown by free radical quenching experiments, EPR reactive species capture tests, in situ Raman, and PMSO probe experiments. Furthermore, density-functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that iron nanoparticles supported on nitrogen-doped carbon acted as active sites, enhancing electron transfer capacity (N-C (0.24 e) vs. Fe-out@N-C (0.69 e)). Finally, the intermediates have a limited environmental impact because of their extremely low concentrations, despite having a high relative toxicity. The exposed metal nanoparticle catalysts provide a new approach for effectively activating PMS to efficiently degrade organic contaminants with a high mineralization rate via the non-radical pathway.

Electron Transfer from Encapsulated Fe3C to the Outermost N‐Doped Carbon Layer for Superior ORR

AbstractEncapsulating Fe3C in carbon layers has emerged as an innovative strategy for protecting Fe3C while preserving its high oxygen reduction activity. However, fundamental questions persist regarding the active sites of encapsulated Fe3C due to the restricted accessibility of oxygen molecules to the metal sites. Herein, the intrinsic electron transfer mechanisms of Fe3C nanoparticles encapsulated in N‐doped carbon materials are unveiled for oxygen reduction electrocatalysis. The precision‐structured C1N1 material is used to synthesize N‐doped carbons with encapsulated Fe3C, significantly enhancing catalytic activity (EONSET = 0.98 V) and achieving near‐100% operational stability. In anion‐exchange membrane fuel cells, an excellent peak power density of 830 mW cm−2 is reached at 60 °C. The experimental and computational results revealed that the presence of Fe3C cores dynamically triggers electron transfer to the outermost carbon layer. This phenomenon amplifies the oxygen reduction reaction performance at N sites, contributing significantly to the observed catalytic enhancement.

Highly Ordered Gyroid Nanostructured Polymers: Facile Fabrication by Polymerizable Pluronic Surfactants.

Highly ordered, network-nanostructured polymers offer compelling geometric features and application potential. However, their practical utilization is hampered by the restricted accessibility. Here, we address this challenge using commercial Pluronic surfactants with a straightforward modification of tethering polymerizable groups. By leveraging lyotropic self-assembly, we achieve facile production of double-gyroid mesophases, which are subsequently solidified via photoinduced cross-linking. The exceptionally ordered periodicities of Ia3d symmetry in the photocured polymers are unambiguously confirmed by synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), which can capture single-crystal-like diffraction patterns. Electron density maps reconstructed from SAXS data complemented by transmission electron microscopy analysis further elucidate the real-space gyroid assemblies. Intriguingly, by tuning the cross-linking through thiol-acrylate chemistry, the mechanical properties of the polymer are modulated without compromising the integrity of Ia3d assemblies. The 3-D percolating gyroid nanochannels demonstrate an ionic conductivity that surpasses that of disordered structures, offering promising prospects for scalable fabrication.

Enhancing Security Using GPS-GSM Motorcycle Tracking System

Motorcycles are progressively becoming a well-known mode of transportation in Ghana, especially in the northern region. Their affordability and easy movement on our rough roads make them a choice many users prefer. Nonetheless, the increase in the number of these motorcycles brought some concerns connected with safety and security. To resolve these issues, the improvement of the security framework is fundamental. Real-time monitoring is part of the Internet of Things (IoT), which permits distance monitoring. Different tracking technologies such as RFID, Internet tracking, cellphone triangulation, GPS, and other technologies. This research work expects to plan a far-reaching motorcycle security and global positioning framework utilizing an Arduino microcontroller Uno r3, Neo-6mGPS, and GSM SIM800L modules. The GPS module obtains the location area while the GSM module works with interaction between the Arduino Uno and the client's cell phone, showing the area on Google Maps. The framework comprises a locking component and a global positioning framework. The motorcycle's ignition system is controlled by a locking mechanism that enhances protection against theft. Besides, the scarcity of these security systems and the existing motorcycle tracking systems are very costly to purchase and maintain. There is restricting openness for the overwhelming majority of bike users. This prompt is a high pace of bike theft, making recovery challenging. One of the project's goals are to decrease power utilization in the global positioning framework, upgrade GPS following precision, and use SMS as the essential means of communication. This research work adopted the Agile Methodology of designing applications. While this research work presents various benefits, it additionally has limits. These incorporate the expenses of equipment parts. Restricted accessibility of Arduino components in the Ghanaian market and time. Regardless of these restrictions, the exploration attempts to create powerful and open bike security in the Ghanaian market.

The effect of the road rationing policy on housing prices: evidence from the odd-even policy in Jakarta

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of the Odd-Even Road Rationing Policy (RRP) on housing prices in Jakarta, Indonesia. It aims to evaluate the net effect of the RRP on housing prices. Design/methodology/approach The study uses the monocentric model and employs the difference-in-differences (DD) method. Annual neighborhood-level housing price data is analyzed to assess the impact of the RRP on housing prices. Additionally, propensity score matching is used to address potential biases resulting from non-random policy assignments. Findings The results demonstrate that houses located within the RRP-restricted area experience a decrease in price that is relative to those in the control group. The findings indicate a decrease in housing prices ranging from 7.59% to 14.7% within the RRP-restricted area. This suggests that the positive impacts resulting from the RRP have not fully compensated for the restricted accessibility experienced by individuals who have limited behavioral changes. The study also confirms the significance of commuting costs in individuals' location decisions, aligning with predictions from urban economics models. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by providing insights into the effects of a RRP on housing prices. It expands understanding beyond the immediate effects on traffic conditions and air pollution, which previous studies have primarily focused on. Furthermore, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research will be the first conducted to identify the impacts of RRP on housing prices in Indonesia.