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Like many port cities in the 19th-century Caribbean, the free port of Gustavia in the Swedish-Caribbean colony of St Barthélemy had a high ratio of women to men, many of whom were enslaved women or free women of colour, disenfranchised under Swedish colonial law. They were present in public life, and can be seen in many cases of breaking 'vägfrid' or participating in public fights, verbally or physically. Sexual honour was a frequent point of conflict in these fights, which could be directed to not just individuals, but entire households. When we examine these cases more closely, we can see how what might at first seem to be random arguments were often embedded in interpersonal relationships, where the street became the meeting place for people, but also an area of conflict between houses. Noise was a frequent consideration in these cases, especially the racialized noise of Black women, as Caribbean homes were very open and led to noise spreading quite easily. In this way, what were at first private disputes easily became public disturbances and colonial courts worked to discipline and control noise from Black women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes the categories established to study the connections between national identities and football in Latin America. It focuses particularly on that of the 'public arena', inspired by the work of Clifford Geertz, and that of 'free zones' in culture, introduced by the Argentine anthropologist Eduardo Archetti in his research into a 'popular sports nationalism' at the dawn of the twentieth century. As part of the analysis, it looks at the narrative of Argentina's recent victory of the Qatar World Cup 2022 on television and in the experience of fans, as well as the (futile) attempts by politicians to channel the fervour. Finally, the article explores how the political hero moves into post-politics: the narrative twists that enable the shift from Maradona to Messi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to reveal the impact of pilot free trade zones policy on green development, we use multi-period difference-in-difference estimation and fixed effect model to explore the impact and impact mechanism of the establishment of free trade zones on the green transformation of enterprises from the micro perspective, based on the panel data of China's A-share listed companies from 2009–2021, The results show that pilot free trade zones policy significantly improves the green transformation of enterprises in the zones. Pilot free trade zones policy affects the corporate green transformation through industrial agglomeration and financial constraints. The green transformation of state-owned enterprises, non-heavy polluting enterprises and high-tech enterprises are significantly impacted by pilot free trade zones policy. Urban innovation and green subsidies play a positive moderating role in the impact of free trade zones on enterprises' green transformation. The research conclusions provide a valuable policy basis for how to promote the green transformation of enterprises under the free trade zones policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green development is an important component of China's new development concept. Pilot Free Trade Zones (PFTZs), as "experimental fields" for promoting reform, deepening opening-up, and raising the level of an open economy, are important open areas for China to promote green development. However, existing related research is not extensive. This article takes PFTZs as quasi-natural experiments, with the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) as the research area. Based on urban panel data from 2006 to 2020, using multi-period differences-in-differences and spatial differences-in-differences models, it explores the impact effects of PFTZs on urban green development and their potential mechanisms. The research findings indicate: (1) Overall, PFTZs significantly promote urban green development, with variations in impact effects due to different batches and locations of establishment. (2) Mechanism tests show that PFTZs mainly promote urban green development by stimulating technological innovation, industrial upgrading, and reducing government intervention. (3) From the perspective of spatial spillover effects, the establishment of PFTZs not only promotes the green development process in the host cities but also has a promoting effect on the green development of surrounding cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Therapeutic options for managing Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), one of the deadliest types of aggressive malignancies, are limited and disappointing. Therefore, despite suboptimal clinical effects, gemcitabine (GEM) remains the first-line chemotherapeutic drug in the clinic for PDAC treatment. The therapeutic limitations of GEM are primarily due to poor bioavailability and the development of chemoresistance resulting from the addiction of mutant-K-RAS/AKT/ERK signaling-mediated desmoplastic barriers with a hypoxic microenvironment. Several new therapeutic approaches, including nanoparticle-assisted drug delivery, are being investigated by us and others. This study used pH-responsive nanoparticles encapsulated ERK inhibitor (SCH772984) and surface functionalized with tumor-penetrating peptide, iRGD, to target PDAC tumors. We used a small molecule, SCH772984, to target ERK1 and ERK2 in PDAC and other cancer cells. This nanocarrier efficiently released ERKi in hypoxic and low-pH environments. We also found that the free-GEM, which is functionally weak when combined with nanoencapsulated ERKi, led to significant synergistic treatment outcomes in vitro and in vivo. In particular, the combination approaches significantly enhanced the GEM effect in PDAC growth inhibition and prolonged survival of the animals in a genetically engineered KPC (LSL-KrasG12D/+/LSL-Trp53R172H/+/Pdx-1-Cre) pancreatic cancer mouse model, which is not observed in a single therapy. Mechanistically, we anticipate that the GEM efficacy was increased as ERKi blocks desmoplasia by impairing the production of desmoplastic regulatory factors in PDAC cells and KPC mouse tumors. Therefore, 2nd generation ERKi (SCH 772984)-iRGD-pHNPs are vital for the cellular response to GEM and denote a promising therapeutic target in PDAC with mutant K-RAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay explores the role of quarantine stations as sites of creation and disruption of Mediterranean borderlands. It considers the early history of the "new lazaretto," the maritime quarantine station created in Ancona, a city in the Papal States, after Pope Clement XII declared the city a free port in 1732. Big and beautiful, the new lazaretto was built on an artificial island and marked Ancona's cityscape. This essay reconstructs how it functioned as a dynamic border space where concerns about disease transmission were addressed through the deployment of practices of environmental and sensory control. It argues that the new lazaretto embodied a liminal environment that was established at the crossroads of medical, economic, religious, and political entanglements and reflected the geopolitical dynamics of the eastern Mediterranean world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to theoretically explore the technological systems of tropical island zero-carbon building (TIZCB) to scientifically understand the characteristics of these buildings in terms of energy utilization, energy conservation, energy production, and intelligent system mechanisms. The purpose is to address the inefficiencies and resource wastage caused by the traditional segmented approach to building energy consumption management. Thus, it seeks to achieve a comprehensive understanding and application of the zero-carbon building (ZCB) technology system. This article focuses on the demands for energy-efficient comfort and innovative industrialization in construction. Through an analysis of the characteristics of TIZCB and an explanation of their concepts, it establishes a theoretical framework for examining the system mechanisms of these buildings. Additionally, it delves into the energy utilization, energy conservation, energy production, and intelligent system from macro, meso, and micro perspectives. This approach results in the development of an implementation strategy for studying the mechanisms of energy usage, conservation, and intelligent production systems in TIZCB. The results show that: (1) this study delves into the theoretical underpinnings of TIZCB, emphasizing their evolution from a foundation of low-carbon and near-zero energy consumption. The primary goal is to achieve zero carbon emissions during building operation, with reliance on renewable energy sources. Design considerations prioritize adaptation to high-temperature and high-humidity conditions, integrating regional culture along with the utilization of new materials and technologies. (2) A comprehensive technical framework for TIZCB is proposed, encompassing energy utilization, conservation, production capacity, and intelligent systems. Drawing from systems theory, control theory, and synergy theory, the research employs a macro–meso–micro analytical framework, offering extensive theoretical support for the practical aspects of design and optimization. (3) The research implementation plan establishes parameterized models, unveiling the intricate relationships with building performance. It provides optimized intelligent system design parameters for economically viable zero-carbon operations. This study contributes theoretical and practical support for the sustainable development of TIZCB and aligns with the dual carbon strategy in China and the clean energy free trade zone construction in Hainan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The equity and efficiency of medical and health resource allocation is the key point of health reform in all countries. Poor allocation efficiency of health resources will seriously affect the sustainable and high-quality development of health causes. Hainan Province is the only free trade port with Chinese characteristics in China, which means that Hainan has ushered in a brand-new development under the policy of free trade port. This study aims to adopt policies to improve the efficiency of medical and health resource allocation in Hainan Province and provide references for other regions. In this study, the Super-efficiency SBM and Malmquist models were used to analyze the static and dynamic efficiency of medical and health resource allocation in Hainan Province during 2016–2020. The results showed that, statically, the average efficiency of comprehensive allocation of health resources in Hainan Province from 2016 to 2020 was 0.975, showing poor overall performance and significant regional differences. Dynamically, the average index of allocation efficiency of medical and health resources was 0.934, showing a negative growth trend. The technical efficiency and scale efficiency of health resource allocation efficiency showed positive growth, while the technical progress and pure technical efficiency showed negative growth. It shows that it is influenced by both scale efficiency and technological progress, among which technological progress is the key factor. Therefore, some policy suggestions are put forward to further optimize the allocation of medical and health resources and improve utilization efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Thread lifting is a non‐surgical cosmetic procedure that utilizes threads to lift and tighten sagging skin on the face. In Lateral face lifting with anchoring technique, the threads are inserted into the skin and anchored in place to provide support to the skin at artery free zone. This technique utilizes a long cog thread, allowing for stronger fixation points. The optimal location for thread anchoring is in the fascia of the treatment area. Method and materials: The study was performed with twelve cadavers with twenty‐four specimens of head from cadavers and was processed using phosphotungstic acid‐based contrast enhancement micro‐computed tomography and conventional computed tomography. The superficial temporal artery with branches of parietal and temporal were then observed with image Slicer program to analyze the safe anchoring place for the deep temporal fascia. The main branch was selected with diameter over 0.3 mm and less than 0.3 mm was regarded as arteriole. Additionally, a case of deep temporal tagging with the Secret Miracle (Hyundae Meditech Co., Ltd., South Korea) has been used for lifting procedures. Result: The main branch of the parietal branch located posteriorly was located mean of ‐13 mm (range of +5.5 mm to ‐23 mm). And the temporal artery ran most anteriorly had mean of 44 mm anteriorly (range of 32 to 59 mm). The safe area for the tagging is at the deep temporal fascia between the superior temporal line and inferior temporal line. The safe range of deep temporal fascia is a vertical line crossing tragus from 1 to 3 cm anteriorly. Conclusion: By analyzing the result of the superficial temporal artery of parietal and temporal branches the ideal tagging place for the thread anchoring area has been suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this article is to analyze the articulation between neo-extractivist policies and neoindigenist policies in Jujuy, Argentina, between the years 2015 and 2022. Specifically, we study the articulation of the Secretariat of Indigenous Peoples with other spheres of the provincial State and with indigenous communities. We address three cases: the sanction of Law 5915 in 2016, the creation of the Intercultural Police in 2018, and the project to install the Free Zone in Quiaca Vieja (department of Yavi, Puna region) in 2018-2022. We hold as a hypothesis that the indigenist institutionality operates to legitimize the neo-extractivist economic policy that is presented as a renewal of the productive matrix. We return to a qualitative methodology and use documentary review and interviews with key informants as data construction techniques. Our theoretical framework includes critical perspectives on neo-extractivism and neo-indigenism, as well as contributions from Indian-indigenous political thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise of distributed energy resources has empowered consumers to become prosumers, generating their own electricity. This trend has led to the development of peer‐to‐peer (P2P) energy trading, where P2P participants trade energy among themselves. Since the integration of P2P energy trading can influence retail markets in distribution systems, the focus is on its effects on retail markets. Therefore, this paper proposes a method to determine the maximum P2P penetration levels on distribution systems while considering the effects on the benefits of stakeholders, including P2P participants, retail customers, and distribution system operators. The proposed method also assesses the impact of P2P energy trading on two schemes: the impact on buy‐from‐grid prices for retail customers and the impact on social benefits. The analysis revealed three distinct zones of photovoltaic and P2P penetration: the P2P restricted zone, the P2P with curtailment zone, and the P2P free trading zone. By examining these zones, the maximum P2P penetration levels—which ensure that buy‐from‐grid prices and social benefits remain within acceptable thresholds—can be determined. This study enables DSOs to find the maximum P2P penetration level at which a balance of stakeholders' benefits can be achieved and non‐beneficial effects on retail customers do not occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the economic geography of Uzbekistan's free economic zones, focusing on their current significance and future prospects. It examines the historical and theoretical foundations of these zones, focusing on their role in shaping and organizing them. The study looks at the status of the free economic zones and examines their contribution to key economic indicators such as gross domestic production, trade, labor and tourism. In addition, the study uncovers the challenges faced by the free economic zones and provides targeted recommendations to effectively address these issues. The findings not only contribute to the existing economic geography literature, but also serve as a valuable resource for policy makers, researchers and stakeholders interested in promoting economic growth and regional development through free economic zones. This study provides a comprehensive analysis and a theoretical basis for understanding free economic zones in Uzbekistan and offers a broader perspective for improving their performance and potential to ultimately promote sustainable economic development in the country and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term "free zone" refers to designated areas in which companies are taxed very lightly and it enhances global market presence by attracting new business and foreign investments. For over a century, governments around the world have sought to boost and exploit the economic power of their particular regions and zones by designating them as "special" or "free" economic zones. The trend of establishing such zones or areas have gained momentum in the last four or five decades with countries accounting for small businesses and millions of direct or indirect jobs. The Middle East, especially the countries in the Persian Gulf, for some and other reasons, have particularly embarked on such a trend. The current paper tries to highlight benefits and challenges faced by free trade zones in Iran, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, taking into account recent global financial crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The macroscopic characteristics of the fractured space and the microscopic pore features are critical factors determining the effectiveness of gangue slurry backfilling. To identify the key areas for slurry backfilling, a combination of theoretical analysis, simulation experiments, and on-site industrial trials was used to reveal the movement laws of backfilling space overlying the fractured zone. The distribution characteristics of voids available for slurry backfilling within the fractured space were explored, and the interaction between gangue slurry and goaf voids was clarified. A formula for calculating the void ratio in the caved zone was derived, and a model for the distribution of voids in the slurry backfilling space was established. This model identified the main areas where slurry backfilling should be focused, namely the overlapping space between the free accumulation zone and the load-influenced zone. Experimental results demonstrated that the porosity of the collapsed rock mass within the goaf follows a negative logarithmic function along both the dip and strike directions, which was consistent with the theoretical calculations. Through in-situ grouting backfilling experiments on the ground, the feasibility of gangue slurry backfilling in the goaf was verified, and the process of interaction between gangue slurry and goaf voids was elaborated. This process generally involves three stages: initial flow, vertical upwelling, and horizontal diffusion, all of which are closely interconnected. Practical engineering applications of gangue slurry backfilling were carried out in the free accumulation zone and the load-influenced zone at the Huangling No. 2 coal mine. The successful validation of underground gangue slurry backfilling technology demonstrated its feasibility and the correctness of the theoretical approach. This research provides new evidence for environmentally friendly disposal of gangue materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of COVID-19 has badly affected most companies across the economy, with many of them claiming losses in revenue and human resources. As such claimed losses are hard to quantify, we aim to understand the nature and scale of the shortfalls in the company's revenues and the factors affecting changes in revenues, including demand of company's services and change in the operational capacity. The impact of shortfalls is also examined on human resources in terms of employee's layoffs, wages, and new recruitment during the time of COVID-19, specifically the period 2020–2021. The quantitative analysis is based on a survey questionnaire of 61 logistics and supply chain companies randomly selected from the industrial cities and free economic zones in the Sultanate of Oman. Data analysis reveals that the pandemic reduced the demand for services and lowered revenues, subsequently affecting wages and employees' layoffs. The lack of imported spare parts and raw materials affected the firm's operational capacity. The surveyed companies suffered from empty shipping containers and heavy traffic at various ports. While providing a more realistic and quantifiable account of the economic impact of the pandemic on firms operating in Oman, our findings have practical implications for policymakers and executives to develop a rapid response system to minimize the financial and human resources costs at the time of crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteria and viruses can travel along air currents, remain in the air, or cling to surfaces before being breathed in by another person. They are transferred by tiny respiratory droplets and are referred to as airborne infections. Lack of ventilation or low ventilation rates is associated with increased infection rates or clusters of airborne infections. While normal people remain in the same outpatient room as infectors, this research will utilize a two-dimensional mathematical model for approximating the exhaled air concentration in the specified region with an outlet ventilation system and the risk of infection. As a result, the exhaled air concentration and infection risk are affected by the initial concentration level, the distance of the seating position, and the rate of ventilation. The forward time center space technique is used to estimate the model solution. A good agreement solution is obtained using the forward time center space. The model can also be used as part of an internet of things (IoT) system to explore inventive ways to infection)free zone management. The proposed strategy represents the balance in the air quality management process between the distance of the seating position and the performance of the air ventilation system for optimal outcomes. We illustrate that the suggested technique works in real-world circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers an introduction to 'After Su Shi', a special issue of Journal of Visual Art Practice, which focuses on the art practice of China's revered poet, calligrapher and stateman, Su Shi (1037–1101). The article situates the work of Su Shi specifically within the context of Hainan, the southern island of China where Su Shi was exiled near the end of his life. Some of his most famous poetry was written during this period and subsequently his identification with Hainan has long endured. Key heritage sites are referenced in this article, and, combined with an overview of the collected papers of the special issue as well as Hainan's recent new status as free port, this introduction sets out both a historical and contemporary view of Su Shi. It elucidates his far-reaching influence but also contemporary 'currency', suggesting of what might come after Su Shi, both in this image, but also akin to his free-spirited belief in the arts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article sketches a new, integrated history of the free port from the late sixteenth to the mid twentieth century. It lays out the historiographical problems associated with the free port, ranging from how to conceptualise the form and function of the institution and the uses to which it has been put, to situating its place within liberal political economy. The starting point for making sense of the free port is to trace the history of its paradigmatic cases, studying not only key models such as Livorno, Hamburg, or Singapore; but also how contemporaries discussed, appropriated, and adapted them. It then turns to do just that, reconstructing the defining moments in the history of the free port: from the Mediterranean in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries; the Caribbean in the eighteenth and early nineteenth century; Europe in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; East Asia during the nineteenth century; and the entire globe in the twentieth century, when the free port was increasingly subsumed by a host of other spatial arrangements, such as the special economic zone. The conclusion considers what the free port indicates about the history of global capitalism and its relationship to European history and imperialism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mercantile history of Charlotte Amalie and Gustavia, free ports in the Danish (1672–1917) and Swedish (1784–1878) Caribbean, have existed outside of the standard purview of both national and transnational historiographies, despite the considerable attention they received by eighteenth century political and economic thought. Due to their unique legislative character, they cannot be situated easily within available historical frameworks. In contemporary politico-economic opinion and eyewitness accounts, the Scandinavian free ports were equated to other free trade regimes insofar as they were conceived as a means of commercial rivalry against other nations. The liberal laws of free ports were styled as consistent with Enlightenment theories of equality and industry, even though they did not represent anything novel in the permeable commercial world of early modern colonialism. Interloping, as the practice of trespassing commercial privilege was commonly referred to, was a key feature of the transit trade operating out of these free ports. The utility of the free port trade was highly contingent upon shifting alliances and patterns of conflict. Operating across the peripheries of other empires, Scandinavian free trade designs in the Caribbean were beneficial for various actors, including but not limited to the parent states themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the Dutch West Indies Company (WIC) established the free port of Willemstad, Curaçao after 1674, they launched a model for economic competition that other European empires would emulate. Within a century, the Danish, Spanish, British, and French all established their own Caribbean free ports. Emulation, however, was not replication. This article argues that while the expansion of free ports into different Caribbean empires generated similar forms of economic dualism (prohibitive commercial systems in certain locales with more-open ones in others), they all served varying purposes. The Dutch and Danish maintained or expanded their free-port systems and utilised strategic neutrality to remain active players within an increasingly competitive economic arena. Britain wanted to extend its commercial empire by making foreign realms dependent on its trade. France sought to pacify recalcitrant planters desperate for reliable provisioning. Finally, Spain enacted free ports in Santo Domingo to supply and encourage settlement in a region threatened by French encroachments. Thus, although these empires all established free ports in strategic locales and jealously emulated each other, they did so with unique political-economic aims in mind. Meanwhile, merchants, enslaved Africans, sailors, settlers, and European intellectuals employed Caribbean free ports to accomplish their own ends as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reconstructs the Ibero-American debate on free ports by looking both at the circulation of ideas and news in the Atlantic, and at the political and institutional changes that the debate generated, focusing on the cases of Veracruz and Cadiz. It aims to show how the discourse on free ports permeated both sides of the Atlantic and became a pervasive political, economic, and intellectual aspect of the desire for reform and independence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the evolution of trade policies in early British Singapore from its founding in 1819 to about 1830. By focusing on this timeframe, it aims to shed light on the important shifts that occurred during this formative period. The article addresses three issues that are key to understanding the trajectory of early British Singapore. First, it explores the reasons behind the dissolution of the original power- and revenue-sharing arrangements between the British, the Temenggong, and Sultan Hussain by 1824. By investigating the reasons behind this termination, the article seeks to uncover the power struggles that (re-) shaped early governance in Singapore. Second, the article examines the roles played by traditional Malay commercial conventions and practices. As a result, a more multi-faceted understanding emerges of Singapore's commercial and cultural origins. Finally, the article investigates the driving forces behind the establishment of British Singapore as a free port supported by free trade. By exploring the motivation, timing and debates about policy, the article provides insights into the economic and political factors that propelled Singapore's rise as a trading hub. The conclusions in this article offer a thought-provoking reassessment and reframing of Singapore's early development as a port and British settlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between 1765 and 1789, the Spanish crown issued a series of comercio libre decrees that liberalised trade between Spanish America and peninsular Spain. What was the crown attempting to do by relaxing trade restrictions within the empire? Because the comercio libre decrees only authorised free trade within the confines of the empire, it may be easy to conclude, as the extant scholarship has, that these decrees were a delayed attempt to revitalise an increasingly obsolete mercantilist system. Indeed, Spain's new imperial system of free trade appears to be little more than an outmoded form of protectionism centred on hoarding bullion. This article pushes against this perspective and shows that Spain's decrees of comercio libre were part of an attempt to erect a peculiar interconnected system of free ports within the empire. Even though Spain's free trade system excluded international trade, its intellectual architects deployed Enlightenment political economy to dynamize and integrate the imperial economy while avoiding the increasingly bellicose competition for international markets that was ascendant among European empires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the 1901–1904 discussions about free trade in the Priamur region and the territories in Chinese Manchuria leased to the Russian Empire. The discussions are placed in the contexts of nationalising empire, Russian imperialism, and cosmopolitan society of the globalised free port of Vladivostok. The piece traces the place of ideas about free trade in the social and political imagination of contemporaries in the Priamur region to show how these images were challenged by imperial expansion in Manchuria. It also analyses the rhetorical strategies used by regional actors to re-negotiate the borders of economic and political expansion, as well as the internal and external comparisons they made. The article demonstrates how debates about free trade in the Russian Far East offer deeper insight into how ideas about free trade and free ports as institutions affected not only the economic but social and political transformations in the late imperial period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay relies on an extensive database of articles from The Economist and The New York Times to track the contours of free port debate over time. A secondary aim (exploiting this database) is to map more fully the spatial and chronological bounds of the free port. A third, more tentative goal is to gauge how the free port functioned and why it became outmoded by the late twentieth century, as discourse about the free port gave way to a wider array of institutions such as the export processing zone and the special economic zone. Ultimately, we argue that the free port is best seen as a concomitant of Euro-American imperialism, whether viewed from the metropole or the colonies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 1820s and 1830s, two debates about free ports took place in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. One debate concerned domestic fiscal policy and the regulation of foreign trade. In this debate the legacies of the political economic thought of Gijsbert Karel van Hogendorp and the mid eighteenth-century debate on turning the Dutch Republic into a limited free port were played out. The first Dutch debate on free ports was a response to changing conditions in global trade and a further attempt to regain the old staple market and connect it to an industrialising national economy. The other debate concerned the establishment of the Dutch Trade Company (Nederlandse Handels Maatschappij) and the declaration of a series of overseas free ports in the years after the British seizure of Singapore and its ratification in 1824. This second debate concerned the modernisation of colonial trade to halt the expansion of British commercial settlements in and around the Dutch East Indies as well as in the Caribbean. Together these debates represented the national challenge to put the entire Dutch economy on a new foundation and reflected differing constitutional perspectives that had pitted liberals against patriots since the late eighteenth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ports offer key vantage points from which to write a global history, as their trade connects people, goods, and capital to far reaching parts of the world. Instead of focusing on trade connections, this article proposes studying the spatial frameworks of comparison in free port and free zone planning. Using reports from ports, ministries, and chambers of commerce, this article analyses these shifting frameworks for comparison in Bombay's port planning from the 1830s to the 1980s. Port planners, merchants, and ministry experts placed these ports and zones within shifting spatial frameworks, which determined which zones or ports could and could not be compared. These comparisons informed policy changes. Uncovering India's free port and zone debates reveals the plurality of concepts and policy models, not a single original zone that has spread around the world. This article asks how these actors understood the world, its changing spatial formats, and the role of free ports or free zones in these constellations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free zones kept outside the customs regime is expected to contribute economic performance, especially foreign trade. Since the general foreign trade policy instruments are not applied, entries and exits to the market are more easily realized. The aim of this study is to examine the factors affecting export performance of free zones in Turkiye. For this purpose, the data of 18 free zones in Turkiye for the period of 2004-2020 were analyzed by panel data methodolgy. The stationarity levels of the series were determined by unit root tests, the model was estimated using the Driscoll-Kraay estimator, and finally, the Dumitreschu-Hurlin causality test was used to examine the causality between the variables. It was concluded that the logistics potential of the province where the free zone is located, education, exchange rates, and average growth rate of EU countries positively affect the exports from the free zones, during the examined period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phase frequency detector (PFD) is an important component in a phase-locked loop (PLL). PFD detects the timing difference between the reference clock (REFCK) and the feedback clock (FBCK). PFD plays a major role in deciding the amount of time required by a PLL to achieve lock. The blind zone in the PFD causes inaccurate PFD output. This negatively impacts the PLL's lock-in time. The increase in lock-in time poses great challenges for developing high-speed PLLs. This paper proposes a PFD architecture that eliminates the reset pulse when the timing difference between the REFCK and the FBCK is significantly high. The elimination of the reset pulse in this way leads to a blind zone free PFD across process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) variations. The PFD is realized and implemented in the Cadence spectre environment using the UMC 0.18 μ m CMOS process. From the results, it can be stated that the designed PFD is blind zone free across PVT variations. The proposed PFD-based PLL locks faster than the traditional PFD-based PLL. The proposed PFD consumes 163 μ W power at a 100 MHz operating frequency which is the lowest compared to the earlier reported works. Its operational range is [ - 2 π , 2 π ]. The PFD occupies an area of 0.0069 mm 2 . The proposed design is well suited to low-power, high-speed PLL applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firms that stand to gain from the institutional framework of a free trade zone (FTZ) usually opt for locations in the FTZ region where they could expect higher returns on investment. This concentration of industries in FTZs can result in a reallocation of productivity, potentially leading to the "hollowing out" effect in existing industries, which can have a beggar-thy-neighbour effect on regional growth. Over the long term, the outcome, whether it leads to prosperity or detriment, hinges on the delicate balance between the immediate static loss associated with resource reallocation and the dynamic gains based on traditional manufacturing sector's growth along the evolving FTZ environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Compared to standard neuro-diagnostic techniques, retinal biomarkers provide a probable low-cost and non-invasive alternative for early Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk screening. We have previously quantified the periarteriole and perivenule capillary free zones (mid-peripheral CFZs) in cognitively unimpaired (CU) young and older adults as novel metrics of retinal tissue oxygenation. There is a breakdown of the inner retinal blood barrier, pericyte loss, and capillary non-perfusion or dropout in AD leading to potential enlargement of the mid-peripheral CFZs. We hypothesized the mid-peripheral CFZs will be enlarged in CU older adults at high risk for AD compared to low-risk individuals. Methods: 20 × 20° optical coherence tomography angiography images consisting of 512 b-scans, 512 A-scans per b-scan, 12-µm spacing between b-scans, and 5 frames averaged per each b-scan location of the central fovea and of paired major arterioles and venules with their surrounding capillaries inferior to the fovea of 57 eyes of 37 CU low-risk (mean age: 66 years) and 50 eyes of 38 CU high-risk older adults (mean age: 64 years; p = 0.24) were involved in this study. High-risk participants were defined as having at least one APOE e4 allele and a positive first-degree family history of AD while low-risk participants had neither of the two criteria. All participants had Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores ≥ 26. The mid-peripheral CFZs were computed in MATLAB and compared between the two groups. Results: The periarteriole CFZ of the high-risk group (75.8 ± 9.19 µm) was significantly larger than that of the low-risk group (71.3 ± 7.07 µm), p = 0.005, Cohen's d = 0.55. The perivenule CFZ of the high-risk group (60.4 ± 8.55 µm) was also significantly larger than that of the low-risk group (57.3 ± 6.40 µm), p = 0.034, Cohen's d = 0.42. There were no significant differences in foveal avascular zone (FAZ) size, FAZ effective diameter, and vessel density between the two groups, all p > 0.05. Conclusions: Our results show larger mid-peripheral CFZs in CU older adults at high risk for AD, with the potential for the periarteriole CFZ to serve as a novel retinal vascular biomarker for early AD risk detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are over 5,000 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the world. About 75 percent of developing economies and almost all transition economies use SEZs in their early stages of industrialization. Why have SEZs traveled so far and fast globally? How does this policy vary when it enters different national contexts? I develop an SEZ policy adoption framework for developing or transitioning countries. I then apply the framework to compare how Ethiopia and Vietnam have learned from mainland China and Taiwan's SEZ policies. Drawing on field interviews with 53 key stakeholders, I argue that the recent wave of SEZ adoption among late industrializers is rooted in their desires to catch up, just as China and other Newly Industrialized Economies (NIEs) did. A coalition between the NIEs' governments, private investors, and state-owned companies actively promoting their model become the key policy ambassadors in the globalization of SEZ while expanding NIE capital to emerging markets. The localization of SEZs in national contexts, however, is constrained by their extant institutional settings. My case studies demonstrate the importance of policy transfer as a driver of SEZ policy and highlight the critical role that emulation plays in late industrialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Al-Mg-Li alloy is ideal for ultra-lightweight aircraft components, and its further performance improvement is of great interest in the aerospace industry. In this study, the effects of various beryllium (Be) additions (Be-free, 0.1, 0.25, 0.50 wt.%) on the microstructure, mechanical, and corrosion performance of the Al-Mg-Li alloys were systematically investigated. The optimal tensile property was obtained in the alloy which added 0.1 wt.% Be with an ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS), and elongation (El) of 530 MPa, 370 MPa, and 9.2%, respectively. Trace Be addition promotes the grain refinement of the as-cast alloy ingot and contributes positive effects to the recrystallization, bringing improvement of the tensile property. Meanwhile, the best anti-corrosion behavior is also presented at 0.1 wt.% Be is added, due to its potential to reduce the width of precipitates free zone (PFZ). As the Be content increases to an excessive level, the comprehensive performance decreases. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that adding trace Be elements into Al-Mg-Li alloys has a positive effect on the comprehensive service performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify factors influencing the development of China-ASEAN trade- from the total economic volume of both sides, distance, the population size of ASEAN countries, the construction of a free trade area, and the signing of the Belt and Road initiative, resource endowment per capita, the exchange rate between RMB and ASEAN countries, and the land area of ASEAN countries—to develop a conceptual framework for China-ASEAN trade potential. Study design: This study uses panel data from 2001 to 2021 that is evenly distributed among 10 ASEAN countries to serve as the dataset. Firstly, the unit roots are checked and the cointegration relationships are examined, focusing on the heterogeneity test. Based on the classical trade gravity model, the innovative trade gravity model with key influencing factors is constructed. On the basis of the classical trade gravity model, an innovative trade gravity model of key influencing factors is constructed. The trade potential model is used to calculate the direct trade potential coefficient between China and ASEAN countries, which points out the direction for the sustainability of bilateral trade. Results: This study finds that among the factors affecting China-ASEAN bilateral trade, the total economic output of both sides, distance, population size of ASEAN countries, the construction of the FTA, and the signing of the Belt and Road Initiative all have a positive impact on bilateral trade. Three influencing factors, namely per capita resource endowment, exchange rate between RMB and ASEAN countries, and the size of ASEAN countries, have a negative impact on bilateral trade, but to a lesser extent. The trade potential between China and Vietnam falls into the category of potential re-modelling, indicating that both sides are currently utilizing their trade potential to the greatest extent possible, that trade growth space is limited, and that new trade opportunities must be discovered. The trade potential index between China and nine ASEAN countries, excluding Vietnam, is in the potential-exploiting category, indicating that the potential has not been fully utilized by both sides and that there is still room for growth in the scale of trade between the two countries. Conclusion: With the shift of the world's economic center of gravity in the direction of Asia following COVID-19, China and ASEAN countries should seize the opportunity to strengthen their comprehensive strength and economic aggregates and further develop China's constructive role in the regional organization. The signing of the Belt and Road Initiative and the construction of a free trade zone has had a positive effect on the development of bilateral trade. Propose that: positive trade factors should continue to be strengthened, trade barriers should be removed, and new dynamics of bilateral trade growth should be enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With China's construction of free trade zones and the development of digital technology, immigrants from Myanmar and internal migrants from all parts of China have gathered in Ruili, a cross-border hub connecting the two countries. As a result of these mobilities it has been transformed into a grass-roots level cosmopolitan area. Through six years of fieldwork, this study found that grassroots female live streamers who were excluded from mainstream metropolises gained more opportunities for survival and development in jadeite cross-border trade activities in Ruili through the concepts of female entrepreneurship and everyday strategic cosmopolitanism The notion of strategic cosmopolitanism refers to non-elite openness as a strategic response to economic, employment or career advancements generated by policies, discursively presented as economic cosmopolitanism. The increase in economic gains for some has significantly improved their socio-economic status, while at the same time paying the price of being locked in the logic and rules of capitalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The object of the research is elastic plates located across the movement of the solution on the vibrosieve. The problem of uniform distribution of material on the surface of the sieve is considered, which is solved with the help of the design proposed in the work. Tensometry was used as a research method with subsequent processing of the results on an elector computer. In the course of the research, an analog-to-digital converter developed and manufactured at the Department of Mechanization of Construction Processes of the National University «Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic» (Ukraine) was used. As well as a computer with a free COM-1 port, «PROGRAM.EXE» software and a spreadsheet editor, strain gauges in the form of strain gauges with two pasted tensor resistors connected by a half-bridge circuit. The paper proposes a fundamentally new scheme of a vibrosieve with additional working bodies in the form of elastic plates located across the movement of the solution on the sieve. The elasticity and mass of the plates are selected in such a way that their oscillations during the operation of the vibrosieve exciter are close to resonance. At the same time, the mode of vibration of the vibrosieve itself is far beyond resonance. As a result, a higher-quality and energy-efficient cleaning of the washing liquid will be obtained. This is due to the fact that the proposed cleaning method has a number of features, in particular, dispersion of drilling fluid over the entire surface of the vibrosieve and maximum loading of the entire working surface of the sieve to avoid dead zones. Thanks to this, it is possible to obtain resonant oscillations. In comparison with known analogs that work in a resonant mode, this provides advantages in the cleaning of drilling mud. The amplitude of oscillations of elastic plates reaches 1.2–1.5 mm, which is significantly greater than the amplitude of oscillations of a vibrating table. In practice, it will be possible to use the proposed fundamentally new scheme of a vibrosieve with additional working bodies in the form of elastic plates that work in a resonant mode, as a way of supplementing vibrosieves that are in use or new when manufactured at manufacturers’ factories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the ways an inter-municipality bus system for passengers improved its accessibility and affordability for end-users at regional level. Using archetype theory, we conducted a case-study in FÖLI, a not-for-profit organization tasked with collective transport of passengers by bus in Southwest Finland. We find that FÖLI implemented a radical revolutionary change by introducing a new framework for the carriage of passengers by bus at a regional level, in which a zone free and flat fare policy applies. The sequence of change became central; with a continuous reorientation linearity aiming to improve the accessibility and affordability of collective transport by bus for commuters. The paper contributes to archetype theory by examining the relevance of accessibility and affordability in the configuration process of designing and implementing change, and extending knowledge in this area. Specifically, for the first time, our research shows the way in which FÖLI used the accessibility and affordability policy as an interpretative scheme to design and implement the change process successfully. The practical implication is that municipalities understood the relevance of improving collective transport infrastructures (roads, systems and technologies) to attract commuters as a way of saving total costs to fund underperforming buslines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The core of low-carbon development lies in reducing carbon sources and increasing carbon sinks, and the construction of free trade zones (FTZs), as an experimental field for China' s comprehensively deepening reforms, is of great significance to urban lowcarbon development. Based on the panel data from 288 cities in China from 2007 to 2020, this paper first comprehensively evaluated the carbon neutrality levels of cities from two aspects: carbon emission and sequestration. Then, it used the multi-period difference-indifferences method and the spatial Durbin model to explore the 'low carbon effect' of the establishment of FTZs. The results showed that: the establishment of FTZs had a significant impact on the low-carbon development of the cities where they were located. Specifically, the establishment of FTZs could drive urban low-carbon development from within the cities by improving their digitization and resource allocation efficiency. At the same time, increased government attention to green development enhanced the carbon emission disincentive and boosted carbon uptake facilitation, fostering a more robust urban low-carbon development. Moreover, the carbon emission suppression effect, carbon absorption promotion effect, and carbon neutral effect of establishing the FTZs varied according to the batches of the establishment, city location, and city characteristics. The 'low-carbon effect' of the first two batches of FTZs, the region south of the Qinling-Huaihe River, and the cities with a higher degree of openness were more pronounced overall. Furthermore, the establishment of the FTZs also had a certain spatial spillover effect on urban low-carbon development. Based on these findings, the paper suggests prioritizing top-level design, exerting comparative advantages, and promoting the low-carbon development benchmark area in a gradient manner. Acceleration of trade facilitation and digital financial reform, promotion of the digital transformation of traditional industries with advantages, and encouragement of digital and low-carbon deep integration are also recommended. The introduction of highquality foreign investment should be combined with the improvement of the effectiveness of supervision and services to improve the efficiency of resource allocation. The study proposes leveraging digital platforms and free trade alliances to maximize the FTZs' catalytic effects. Overall, this study offers significant theoretical and practical insights for enhancing the construction of the FTZs, promoting urban low-carbon development, and advancing towards the goal of carbon neutrality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper deals with mathematical modeling of a fishery resource system in an aquatic atmosphere consisting of two zones: a free fishing zone and a reserved zone, where fishing is strictly prohibited. The dynamics of the system is studied in the presence of bird predator. In this paper, the quadratic harvesting of the fish species in unreserved zone has been considered whereas bird predator species is subjected to linear harvesting. All the possible biological and bionomic equilibria of the system are studied extensively for their existence, local as well as global stability. We have found various ranges of harvesting parameter for maintaining the Sustainability in the proposed ecosystem. Optimal harvesting is discussed using Pontryagin's maximum principle. Numerical simulations are done to support the theoretical results obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present the high-speed phase frequency detector where the phase characteristics are enhanced. This PFD has a simple structure where the dead zone is annihilated and blind zone is highly reduced. This PFD generates UP and DN signal only when it gets the distinct phase difference. With the reduction of the reset time, the proposed PFD function is in the order of 1.5 M H z − 4 G H z operating frequency. The design shows the improvement by completely eliminating the dead zone. However, the blind zone is minimised to 74.6 p s in the phase characteristics which improves the output phase noise as −132.9 d B c / H z at 1 M H z offset frequency. The power consumption is minimised upto 417.3 μ W @ 4 G H z operating frequency. The design is simulated in standard 0.18 \mum CMOS technology node with 1.8 V power supply. Furthermore, the achieved frequency band is applicable for high-speed and low-power PLL application such as Zigbee, Wifi, Bluetooth and 4 G communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FlexPES is a soft X-ray beamline on the 1.5 GeV storage ring at MAX IV Laboratory, Sweden, providing horizontally polarized radiation in the 40-1500 eV photon energy range and specializing in high-resolution photoelectron spectroscopy, fast X-ray absorption spectroscopy and electron-ion/ion-ion coincidence techniques. The beamline is split into two branches currently serving three endstations, with a possibility of adding a fourth station at a free port. The refocusing optics provides two focal points on each branch, and enables either focused or defocused beam on the sample. The endstation EA01 at branch A (Surface and Materials Science) is dedicated to surface- and materials-science experiments on solid samples at ultra-high vacuum. It is well suited not only to all flavours of photoelectron spectroscopy but also to fast (down to sub-minute) high-resolution X-ray absorption measurements with various detectors. Branch B (Low-Density Matter Science) has the possibility to study gas-phase/liquid samples at elevated pressures. The first endstation of this branch, EB01, is a mobile setup for various ion-ion and electron-ion coincidence techniques. It houses a versatile reaction microscope, which can be used for experiments during single-bunch or multi-bunch delivery. The second endstation, EB02, is based on a rotatable chamber with an electron spectrometer for photoelectron spectroscopy studies on primarily volatile targets, and a number of peripheral setups for sample delivery, such as molecular/cluster beams, metal/semiconductor nanoparticle beams and liquid jets. This station can also be used for non-UHV photoemission studies on solid samples. In this paper, the optical layout and the present performance of the beamline and all its endstations are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recognising and meeting the social and emotional wellbeing needs of LGBTQIA+ students is an essential education policy issue globally. Yet, research suggests that this vulnerable group continues to face challenges to their ability to feel culturally safe at school. Negative experiences include verbal and physical abuse, and this often results in poor outcomes for students. Certain European countries such as Malta and The Netherlands have demonstrated positive progress towards enacting inclusive policy, while others, including Poland, are known to have made little or no development in this area. This paper provides a policy issue analysis on the current situation in Polish schools while considering the added threat of LGBT+ free zones that have plagued the political landscape and exist as a further barrier to tolerance and empowerment. Following this discourse, recommendations for school communities have been provided for the purpose of establishing safe learning environments for LGBTQIA+ students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of study of the Prut River heterotrophic bacterioplankton. The bi-disciplinary technique was used to assess its hydrocarbon-oxidizing activity, namely: microbiological research was carried out in parallel with hydrochemical investigation of the natural water samples and samples enriched with diesel fuel. The Moldovan-Romanian transboundary section of the Prut River includes various ecological zones, such as the Costești-Stanca Reservoir, the mouth of the Jijia River, the Prut floodplains with the relict Beleu Lake (where oil extraction is carried out despite the fact that it is a protected area of the scientific reserve "Prutul de Jos") and the Prut River mouth with the Giurgiulesti International Free Port. The microbial community of fluvial bacterioplankton corresponds to the specific conditions of each these biotopes, being the most reproducible and adaptable component of the biota. The results obtained in the study of the Prut River bacterioplankton demonstrate the presence of hydrocarbon-adapted microorganisms with a good potential to utilize petroleum products in their metabolic processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article selects relevant data from 283 cities in China from 2000 to 2020 and verifies the impact of the establishment of free trade zones on human capital levels based on the asymptotic PSM-DID model. It is found that the establishment of FTZs can significantly contribute to the improvement of regional human capital levels, but the promotion effect has a certain lag. Finally, the article gives constructive suggestions based on the empirical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]