Border City Research Articles

Quantifying Damages to Soil Health and Emissions from Land Development in the State of Illinois (USA)

The concept of soil health is increasingly being used as an indicator for sustainable soil management and even includes legislative actions. Current applications of soil health often lack geospatial and monetary analyses of damages (e.g., land development), which can degrade soil health through loss of carbon (C) and productive soils. This study aims to evaluate the damages to soil health (e.g., soil C, the primary soil health indicator) attributed to land developments within the state of Illinois (IL) in the United States of America (USA). All land developments in IL can be associated with damages to soil health, with 13,361.0 km2 developed, resulting in midpoint losses of 2.5 × 1011 of total soil carbon (TSC) and a midpoint social cost of carbon dioxide emissions (SC-CO2) of $41.8B (where B = billion = 109, USD). More recently developed land area (721.8 km2) between 2001 and 2016 likely caused the midpoint loss of 1.6 × 1010 kg of TSC and a corresponding midpoint of $2.7B in SC-CO2. New developments occurred adjacent to current urban areas near the capital cities of Springfield, Chicago, and St. Louis (the border city between the states of Missouri and IL). Results of this study reveal several types of damage to soil health from developments: soil C loss, associated “realized” soil C social costs (SC-CO2), and loss of soil C sequestration potential from developments. The innovation of this study has several aspects. Geospatial analysis of land cover combined with corresponding soil types can identify changes in the soil health continuum at the landscape level. Because soil C is a primary soil health indicator, land conversions caused by developments reduce soil health and the availability of productive soils for agriculture, forestry, and C sequestration. Current IL soil health legislation can benefit from this landscape level data on soil C loss with GHG emissions and associated SC-CO2 costs by providing insight into the soil health continuum and its dynamics. These techniques and data can also be used to expand IL’s GHG emissions reduction efforts from being solely focused on the energy sector to include soil-based emissions from developments. Current soil health legislation does not recognize that soil’s health is harmed by disturbance from land developments and that this disturbance results in GHG emissions. Soil health programs could be broadened to encourage less disturbance of soil types that release high levels of GHG and set binding targets based on losses in the soil health continuum.

Measurements of traffic-related air pollution at a U.S.–Mexico port of entry and its impacts on nearby community

Traffic-related air pollutants are especially prevalent in border cities with multiple ports of entry (POEs). Excessive emissions due to long delays of idling commercial and passenger vehicles at the POEs could exacerbate various types of respiratory health conditions for the POE users and workers. We conducted a 1-month in-traffic air monitoring campaign at a POE in El Paso, Texas using three continuous FEM instruments for three criteria pollutants (PM, O3, and NO2). Concurrent monitoring of PM in the nearby community was performed using a number of low-cost PM sensors. The 1-month average PM2.5 concentration at the POE was found below 11.6 µg/m3, while the 5-min average of in-traffic PM2.5 concentration could be as high as 450 µg/m3. The in-traffic PM2.5 concentrations were comparable to the data concurrently measured in a state-operated community monitoring site approximately 0.4 km away from the POE. Ozone (O3) concentrations remained low in the region. The in-traffic 1-h NO2 concentrations were below the 1-h NAAQS of 100 ppb, except for only two 5-min intervals. Our results suggest that traffic emissions do not result in elevated levels of pollutant concentrations at this POE compared to the concentration levels observed in the nearby community. In addition, the performance and accuracy of the low-cost sensors appear to be less reliable during our study, although the devices were capable of detecting the trends and variability in pollutant concentrations in real time.

Whole Genomic Analysis Revealed High Genetic Diversity and Drug-Resistant Characteristics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Guangxi, China.

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is a major public health issue in China. Nevertheless, the prevalence and drug resistance characteristics of isolates vary in different regions and provinces. In this study, we investigated the population structure, transmission dynamics and drug-resistant profiles of Mtb in Guangxi, located on the border of China. From February 2016 to April 2017, 462 clinical M. tuberculosis isolates were selected from 5 locations in Guangxi. Drug-susceptibility testing was performed using 6 common anti-tuberculosis drugs. The genotypic drug resistance and transmission dynamics were analyzed by the whole genome sequence. Our data showed that the Mtb in Guangxi has high genetic diversity including Lineage 1 to Lineage 4, and mostly belong to Lineage 2 and Lineage 4. Novelty, 9.6% of Lineage 2 isolates were proto-Beijing genotype (L2.1), which is rare in China. About 12.6% of isolates were phylogenetically clustered and formed into 28 transmission clusters. We observed that the isolates with the high resistant rate of isoniazid (INH, 21.2%), followed by rifampicin (RIF, 13.2%), and 6.7%, 12.1%, 6.7% and 1.9% isolates were resistant to ethambutol (EMB), streptomycin (SM), ofloxacin (OFL) and kanamycin (KAN), respectively. Among these, 6.5% and 3.3% of isolates belong to MDR-TB and Pre-XDR, respectively, with a high drug-resistant burden. Genetic analysis identified the most frequently encountered mutations of INH, RIF, EMB, SM, OFL and KAN were katG_Ser315Thr (62.2%), rpoB_Ser450Leu (42.6%), embB_Met306Vol (45.2%), rpsL_Lys43Arg (53.6%), gyrA_Asp94Gly (29.0%) and rrs_A1401G (66.7%), respectively. Additionally, we discovered that isolates from border cities are more likely to be drug-resistant than isolates from non-border cities. Our findings provide a deep analysis of the genomic population characteristics and drug-resistant of M. tuberculosis in Guangxi, which could contribute to developing effective TB prevention and control strategies.

Feminización de trayectorias migratorias pendulares y flotantes en la frontera colombo-venezolana

This article describes and characterizes the floating and pendular migration flows of a group of Venezuelan women in the border city of Arauca, Colombia. Using a qualitative methodological approach, field observations, in-depth interviews, focus groups, and a literature review of updated academic, regulatory, and institutional texts were conducted in an area of study with limited gender-based description. Thus, this study highlights the role of Venezuelan women as active migrant subjects and concludes that the labor, family, and social trajectories of the interviewed women are transversely modified by their migration experience, as they are subjected to various risks that expose their vulnerability as migrant women, in addition to risks derived from xenophobia and discrimination. Paradoxically, the migratory diaspora represents their only hope for having a better quality of life.

Examining the impacts of public transit on healthy aging through a natural experiment: study protocols and lessons learned from the Active El Paso project.

This paper describes protocols and experiences from a seven-year natural-experiment study in El Paso, Texas, a border city of predominantly Latino/Hispanic population. The study focuses on how Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) impacts physical activity and thus plays a role in alleviating obesity and related chronic diseases that impact healthy aging. Our protocols describe a longitudinal and case-comparison study, which compared residents exposed to new BRT stations with those who were not. This paper also introduces lessons and experiences to overcome the following challenges: delays in the BRT opening (the main intervention), the COVID-19 pandemic, methodological challenges, participant recruitment and retention, and predatory survey takers. Our transdisciplinary approach was pivotal in addressing these challenges. We also proposed and tested multi-level intervention strategies to reduce modifiable barriers to transit use. Our most important takeaway for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers is the importance of being flexible and ready to adapt to new circumstances. Future natural-experiment researchers need to become more versatile in an increasingly volatile and uncertain world.

Assessment of Paediatric Forensic Cases Under the Age of 18 Who Presented to the Emergency Clinic: The Case of Kilis, a Border City with Syria.

This study was conducted to determine the paediatric forensic cases under the age of 18 from of the year of the outbreak of war. The population of the study included 16,970 people under the age of 18, who were accepted as forensic cases among 88,052 cases, who presented to the emergency department of Kilis State Hospital between January 2011 and November 2019. The application time of the patients, their nationality, age, gender, their types of application to the emergency department, the event causing the forensic case, and the follow-up and treatment methods in the emergency department were recorded on the standard data entry form. Among all the paediatric forensic cases, it was determined that 52.0% were Syrian, 70.8% were boys, 30.0% were in the age range of 11 and 15 years and 20.5% had an outpatient treatment. In this study, although juvenile forensic rates are consistent with the literature, the higher forensic cases of Syrian nationality was determined as a striking result. Today, considering extraordinary situations such as wars and armed conflicts, more refugees may benefit from Turkish healthcare services in the in the forthcoming periods and it is important for community health to conduct studies in this field.

Adaptation and validation of the social skills scale for intercultural primary school pupils

In recent decades, large migratory movements have been taking place, which has turned Spain into a culturally diverse country. For this reason, the present research focuses on social skills, which are considered of utmost importance in different educational contexts. To this end, the aim was to adapt and validate a scale to diagnose social skills in young people aged 6 to 12 years (M = 9.65 years; SD = 1.395). Of these, 460 (60.4%) were boys and 301 (39.60%) girls. For this purpose, a methodology is followed that involves the judgement of experts in the field, followed by an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and then a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The sample chosen for the study is made up of 1564 young people, Primary School students from different Andalusian localities that constitute border cities in the south of Spain, and which have a great cultural, ethnic and religious diversity that is reflected in their classrooms. The items of the scale were obtained from relevant questionnaires on the subject under study, initially containing 33 items and 6 underlying constructs. After validation of the AFE (n = 761), the structure is verified and the model is corroborated by CFA (n = 803) with structural equations (RMSEA = 0.04; CFI = 0.77; TLI = 0.73). Finally, the reliability and internal consistency of the instrument is examined, obtaining values above 0.6 for all dimensions. As a result, a new scale composed of 33 items and 5 dimensions is obtained, with psychometric properties that give it validity and reliability. In conclusion, we present a useful resource for teachers that allows them to diagnose the social skills of Primary School students in schools characterised by their great cultural diversity and among the peer group.

Social and environmental determinants influencing injection drug use and HIV risk among two sister cities on the US–Mexico border: a comparative cross-sectional study, 2016–2018

The economic, social, cultural and political milieus that influence injection drug-related HIV risk behaviors along the US–Mexico border in the previous decade have been studied comparing cities on an East–West axis. In an effort to inform interventions targeting factors beyond the individual level, we used a cross-sectional study design comparing people who inject drugs during 2016–2018, living on a North–South axis, in two cities—Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico and El Paso, Texas, USA—situated at the midpoint of the 2000 US–Mexico borderland stretch. We conceptualize injection drug use and its antecedents and consequences as influenced by factors operating at various levels of influence. Results of analysis comparing samples recruited from each border city indicated significant differences in demographic, socioeconomic, micro- and macro-level factors that affect risk. Similarities emerged in individual-level risk behaviors and some dynamics of risk at the drug use site most frequented to use drugs. In addition, analyses testing associations across samples indicated that different contextual factors such as characteristics of the drug use sites influenced syringe sharing. In this article, we reflect on the potential tailored interventions needed to target the context of HIV transmission risk among people who use drugs and reside in binational environment.

Export of vegetables in the rural development district of Tecamachalco, Puebla, within the framework of the USMCA

This research addresses the problems faced by exporters of vegetables in the Rural Development District of Tecamachalco, Puebla. In the international framework of the USMCA, the marketing process is complicated due to the certification of the products that have to be regularized for export through SENASICA, HACCP, and PRIMUS LAB, whose marketing channels have been established through intermediaries, so it has created a disparity between the producer and the final consumer. The nationwide marketing chain has been identified in three supply centers: Huixcolotla, the City of Puebla, and Iztapalapa, in CDMX, in addition to municipal markets and local flea markets. Also, it was identified that the most important means of international marketing is through land transport, and the main border cities are: Tijuana, Nuevo Laredo, Matamoros, Mexicali, Nogales, and Ciudad Juárez. Finally, the fieldwork was carried out with producers of the region in the municipalities of Tecamachalco, Acatzingo, Tochtepec, Tlacotepec, Tepeaca, and Huixcolotla, where a sample of 185 producers was applied through a questionnaire, which was used as an instrument in the regional level survey

Transforming Rural Land to Urban – Ethical Considerations in Real Estate Development

The rural-urban frontier is a constantly shifting one due to a variety of economic and social factors that trigger this transformation in the rural-urban continuum. The most intense changes in the built environment are taking place outside the borders of cities, in rural areas adjacent to them. Real estate development has become the most significant instrument for this transformation. Existing real estate industry ethical codes in India are short on specifics and lack enforceability; a statutory code of ethics could promote best business practices. A schematic diagram is developed to understand the complex interplay of ethical behaviour between agencies in the real estate ecosystem. Drawing on the deliberations of a high-powered focus group as well as a rich all-India sample of 103 respondents covering 15 States, the paper identifies what the various stakeholders perceive as priorities for incorporation in a common code of ethics. The surveyed sample includes 87 professionals and experts (administrators, planners, regulators, lawyers, chartered accountants, bankers, engineers, architects, academicians and researchers), and 16 stakeholder associations (of builders, consumers and realtors). Transparency, promise-keeping, accountability, professional excellence, law-abidance, fairness and integrity are identified as the main characteristics prioritised, but the perspectives of stakeholder segments are nuanced and vary considerably, necessitating a strategic approach towards the drafting of a common ethical code. It is suggested that the All-India Forum of Real Estate Regulatory Authorities is best placed to bring on board all stakeholders in the finalisation of a code of ethics that could get statutory moorings in the RERA Act of 2016.

Economic spillovers and political payoffs in government competition for firms: Evidence from the Kansas City Border War

When jurisdictions use business incentives to compete for firms, the political payoffs of winning firms are privately derived by the politicians of the winning jurisdictions, but the economic payoffs, such as new jobs, can spill over to the residents of non-winning jurisdictions. I study how potential political payoffs shape government competition for firms using a simple model of government competition and firm location choice. I use the model to propose an empirical approach of deriving lower bounds on political payoffs with data on accepted incentives. Applying this approach to the recent state competition between Kansas and Missouri for firm relocation within Kansas City, I find that the two states derived sizable political payoffs.

Fault Control on Groundwater Flow in An Alluvial Aquifer, Chaman and Khojak Basins, Balochistan, Pakistan

Geological structures such as faults play a critical role in the flow of fluids in a reservoir by affecting its permeability. This study explores the role of the Chaman Fault in the distribution of hydrological division, groundwater separation of the aquifer systems of Khojak and Chaman basins. The Chaman Fault is a left-lateral strike-slip transform plate boundary located at the border city of Chaman, District Killa Abdullah, Balochistan. The Chaman fault plays an important role in the division of groundwater in the subsurface, accommodating the structural compartment of the aquifer system. The studies showed that the strike-slip movement of the fault made the aquifer impervious along the fault line. This assertion may also be confirmed by the drastic change in the water table across the fault. Sharp changes in the groundwater table and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) were observed during the study. The Karazes which are an indigenous method of irrigation is present in the eastern foothills of Khojak mountains called Khojak basin. Here the water table is as shallow as ≈ 6 meters in comparison to the western side of the fault, where the water table drops to ≈274 meters towards the valley of Chaman basin. The average TDS level on the eastern side of the fault line is 773 mg/L and 1361 mg/L on the western side. Therefore, the Chaman fault is acting as a groundwater barrier which is feeding the Karezes for centuries.

From The Past to The Present: Footprint of Urban and Forest Ecology in Istanbul

Istanbul is an important city whose population has been increasing continuously from the past to the present. This increase has led to the emergence of new residential areas, and therefore, to the constant expansion of the boundaries of the settlement. Today's core of the city of Istanbul is the historical region called the city wall. Until the 1950s, the settlement was mainly concentrated in this area and its immediate vicinity. There were more industrial facilities outside this region. In the time leading up to the construction of the first bridge into the Bosphorus, the population was generally gathered between the coastal and the D100 highway. After the construction of the first bridge in 1973, the boundaries of the settlement began to shift to the north of the D100 highway. When the second bridge to the Bosphorus (Fatih Sultan Mehmet) was built in 1988, the boundaries of the settlement expanded further north. Since this year, the bridge has been built together with the II. The area between the Ring Road (TEM) and the D-100 highway has been the scene of a busy settlement. During these years (1970-1990), which constituted the highest period of migration from the countryside to the city, the population of Istanbul increased more than twice. In the time leading up to the construction of the third Bosphorus bridge (Yavuz Sultan Selim), the settlement experienced a rapid expansion to the north of the TEM road. Istanbul, which has experienced the same periodic process twice in the past, is experiencing it again with the construction of the third bridge. This time, the city's borders have entered a continuous expansion circuit towards the Black Sea. During these processes, the city's green areas have rapidly declined and the urban areas have continuously increased. In order to detect this change in periods, periodic satellite images were classified through GIS and Remote Sensing programs and the evolution of green areas were revealed. The findings revealed that the green areas have been decreasing continuously since 1975 and this is closely related to the bridges and connection roads. It has been revealed that the process that the city has experienced in the past will live again with the newly built bridge, and this time the process will be faster. In this new period, the Black Sea will form the new border of the city. This shows us that the city is pushing the boundaries of expansion and that the new green spaces will lose their function.

Valuing the coordinated development of urbanization and ecosystem service value in border counties

Improving coordination between urbanization and ecosystem service value (ESV) in border counties can help optimize the spatial patterns of regional coordinated development. However, the majority of current analysis focuses on the urbanization process of core areas and large-scale administrative units and lacks a quantitative investigation of border counties. Taking 25 border counties in Yunnan Province, China, as research cases, this study evaluated urbanization level and ESV. A coupling coordination degree (CCD) model and a geographical detector model were used to explore the interaction of the two systems and reveal the influencing factors. Furthermore, different scenarios were simulated to reveal the effects of policy priorities on CCD. The results showed the following: (1) The urbanization level increased from 2005 to 2019 while the ESV level fluctuated, showing spatial patterns of having multiple centers and being high in the middle and low at both ends, respectively. (2) Although CCD increased, its level was still low, and the urbanization of most counties lagged behind. (3) Normalized difference vegetation index, temperature, and largest patch index were the main factors affecting CCD, and the interaction effects between any two of these factors were stronger than the independent effect of any single factor. (4) Policy priorities had a significant effect on CCD. Our findings can provide references for border cities in similar contexts to balance urbanization and ESV based on local circumstances.

Бразилиа — бразильский Санкт-Петербург?

Based on the concept of “text of the city”, formulated in the works of Yuri Lotman and Vladimir Toporov within the studies undertaken by Tartu-Moscow Semiotic School in the decades of 1970–1980s, the article considers the possibility of tracing some similarities between the Petersburg text of Russian culture and the text of the capital of Brazil — the city of Brasilia — in Brazilian culture. In particular, we are talking about the chronicle “In the early beginnings of Brasilia” (1970) by Clarice Lispector, which reflects the first impressions of the Brazilian writer from the newly built capital. The texts of St. Petersburg and Brasilia seem to us to be similar semiotic structures. One can note the presence of the binary opposition city-nature, the mythologization of the foundation of the city and its creators, the motive of its artificiality and ideal visibility. However, there are significant differences between the texts of both capitals. In the case of the Brazilian capital, this is a relatively recent text, so there are significantly fewer works in which this city is mentioned. The geographical position is also a significant difference: for example, St. Petersburg is a border city, while Brasilia is located in the center of the country. That is why, while eschatological motifs predominate in the Petersburg text, Brasilia’s text clearly expresses the connection between earth and sky, which is characteristic of concentric cities.

Urban Green Space Policy Reform in Indonesia: Breathing in the Middle of Development

Rapid population growth and limited land availability have resulted in a decline in environmental space utilization, including green open spaces, which are crucial for oxygen production and supporting biodiversity. Land conversion driven by increased land demand exacerbates this issue. This research focuses on two main problems: the adherence of the Salatiga City Local Government in Indonesia to the minimum area requirement for green open spaces mandated by Law No. 26 of 2007, and the forms and utilization of green open spaces within the city. This research reveals deficiencies and obstacles in implementing the policy, leading to a failure in meeting the minimum area target. Factors such as idealistic policy pursuit, delegation of authority issues, and excessive emphasis on perfection rather than practical relevance contribute to these challenges. The Salatiga City Regional Spatial Plan, outlined in Regional Regulation Number 4 of 2011, designates green open spaces as protected areas, encompassing city parks, cemeteries, urban forests, border rivers, and green belts. However, obstacles arise from small area sizes, incorrect initial land use practices, and inadequate resolution of land ownership issues. Despite these challenges, the City of Salatiga has partially maintained the functionality of these spaces, prioritizing their overarching purpose over specific land use. In conclusion, this research highlights the shortcomings in implementing Green Open Space policies in Salatiga. It emphasizes the importance of addressing land-related issues and ensuring proper management of green spaces. Resolving these challenges is crucial for enhancing environmental sustainability and benefiting both the community and the environment.

Spatial-Temporal Variation Characteristics and Obstacle Factors of Resilience in Border Cities of Northeast China

The study of border resilience is an effective means to analyze the development status of border cities. This study constructs a border city resilience assessment framework, measures the urban resilience level of 13 prefecture-level administrative regions in China’s northeastern border region from 2010 to 2019, reveals their temporal and spatial differentiation characteristics, analyzes the main obstacles, and proposes development strategies. This study reveals the following: (1) The overall resilience of the northeast border cities is at a medium level, and differences between regions and cities are large. (2) The resilience of the northeast border cities increased rapidly between 2010 and 2015, especially in the western area; the improvement effect was poor between 2015 and 2019, and except for the increased resilience of individual cities in the eastern area, the development of other cities was slow and some even declined. (3) At the city scale, the development potential, economic structure, residents’ security, and environmental governance capabilities are the main factors restricting improvement in the basic resilience of the northeast border cities. Insufficient national policy support and the poor development of neighboring countries have become obstacles to cities’ exclusive resilience.

Uncovering spatial and social gaps in rural mobility via mobile phone big data

Rural mobility inequality is an important aspect of inequality-focused Sustainable Development Goals. To reduce inequality and promote global sustainable development, more insight is needed into human mobility patterns in rural areas. However, studies on rural human mobility are scarce, limiting our understanding of the spatial and social gaps in rural human mobility and our ability to design policies for social equality and global sustainable development. This study, therefore, explores human mobility patterns in rural China using mobile phone data. Mapping the relative frequency of short-distance trips across rural towns, we observed that geographically peripheral populations tend to have a low percentage of short-distance flows. We further revealed social gaps in mobility by fitting statistical models: as travel distances increased, human movements declined more rapidly among vulnerable groups, including children, older people, women, and low-income people. In addition, we found that people living with low street density, or in rural towns in peripheral cities with long distances to city borders, are more likely to have low intercity movement. Our results show that children, older adults, women, low-income individuals, and geographically peripheral populations in rural areas are mobility-disadvantaged, providing insights for policymakers and rural planners for achieving social equality by targeting the right groups.

Los neoliberarchivos de Teresa Margolles

In Lote Bravo (2005), What Else Could We Talk About? Cleaning (2009), and Irrigation (2010), contemporary Mexican artist Teresa Margolles exposes and denounces the política de negación, or politics of denial, that conceals or disregards the violence and the precarious conditions that define life along the US border in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Here, neoliberal rationality has empowered a corrupt political and economic class to sanction behavior that favors profit over life and creates a culture of fear and death. To investigate Margolles’s confrontational approach and her recurring engagement with this border city, or “cyclical border encounters,” I adopt the concept of neoliberarchivos, defined as contemporary artworks that act as anti-neoliberalist counterarchives, rendering visible the exercise of violence upon bodies as seen in the feminicidios, masculinicidios, and juvenicidios that have occurred for the last three decades on the border. In the form of installation, sculpture, video art, site-specific artworks, and performance, the neoliberarchivos document and display marginalized knowledge and contest official rhetoric. The neoliberarchivos of Teresa Margolles exemplify a significant trend in global contemporary art that seeks to destabilize hegemonic economic and power structures dominant at the border through a counterarchival impulse.

GeoInfographic design of the multi-spatiality of borders: A case study of epidemic prevention and control in Ruili, China.

We live in a world of borders, which influence our perception and movement. Traditional mapping techniques show limitations as borders have become shifting and complex, and borders' multi-scale and multi-spatial properties have been strengthened significantly. To fill the knowledge gap, we explored the multi-spatiality of borders and provided approaches for border symbol design and visualization by taking the coronavirus-hit border city, Ruili, China, as an example. This work could shed light on multi-spatial geographic visualization and policy-making.