Local City Research Articles

PERSPECTIVA TEÓRICO-METODOLÓGICA E PROPOSTA DE ANÁLISE SOBRE PEQUENAS CIDADES, CIDADES LOCAIS, PEQUENAS LOCALIDADES, ESPAÇO MIKRIPOLITANO

This study aims to analyze and define the appropriate terminology for "small cities," "local cities," "small localities," or "mikripolitan space". To achieve this, one of the methodological procedures was a comprehensive literature review regarding the subject, highlighting key authors of Brazilian geography, such as Pierre Monbeig, Milton Santos, Roberto Lobato Corrêa, Tania Maria Fresca, and Ângela Maria Endlich. The study underscores the lack of available research on these geographical spaces. Monbeig (1957) argued that small cities warrant investigation due to their unique complexity. Santos (2008) also acknowledged the paucity of studies on these cities, accentuating their significance as entities comparable to large cities in developing countries. In Espaço e Método [Space and Method], Santos (2008b [1985]) expounded on how complexity increases as the scale of study diminishes. While Endlich (2017) reported an increase in academic production on small localities, she nonetheless observed that it remains insufficient. Data from the 2022 Demographic Census demonstrated that in 88.01% of Brazilian municipalities the population is less than 50,000, thus reflecting the importance of this topic. In order to exemplify, the study also proposes to analyze the network and the intermediate geographic region of Cascavel in the state of Paraná. Keywords: Small Cities; Local Cities; Small Localities; Mikripolitan Space; Geographic Region.

A Study on Consistency and Its Actual Situation of Hub Setting by Urban Facility Location Plan and Regional Public Transportation Plan in Local City

A Study on Consistency and Its Actual Situation of Hub Setting by Urban Facility Location Plan and Regional Public Transportation Plan in Local City

Black–Brown Coalitions in Local City Council Elections

Abstract Previous work suggests that African American and Latino voters lack political cohesiveness. Recently, these findings have been cited by opponents of “minority aggregation,” which is the idea that African Americans and Latinos can be thought of as constituting a single “class of citizens” when filing claims under the Voting Rights Act. I replicate one influential study, Rocha (2007), with updated data and greater attentiveness to moderating conditions that are meaningful in voting rights law. My findings suggest African Americans and Latinos are more cohesive than previously thought, especially in majority–minority jurisdictions. Furthermore, cohesion cannot be explained solely by shared partisanship.

Revitalisation Design of North Coastal Border in Lemahwungkuk Sub-District with Urban Design Element Analysis

Cirebon is one of the cities in West Java province. The city is located in the lowlands on the north coast of Java. The low topography factor is closely related to urban problems, such as slums in the Lemahwungkuk sub-district of Cirebon City. This research aims to solve urban problems because, according to the Mayor's Regulation No. 663/Kep.421-DPRKP/2021, Lemahwungkuk sub-district includes Cangkol coastal and Kesunean coastal areas among the eleven slum locations in Cirebon city. In addition, there is a plan to revitalize the coastal border area. The method used in this research is qualitative, using urban design analysis and site analysis. The data sources were obtained through interviews with 20 informants and mapping using ArcGIS 10.8 software. The concept of an environmental approach with an orientation towards the community in the design of the revitalization of the north coast area in Lemahwungkuk District emphasizes the physical environment, infrastructure, economy, socio-culture, disaster, and collaboration between the government and the community. The results of this revitalization design can also be a recommendation for development in Cirebon, West Java. In addition, it recommends conservation and tourism activities on the north coast of Cirebon, West Java. Efforts to overcome the phenomenon of urban sprawl at the research site by changing the pattern of settlements and building layout to improve the quality of the community environment and increase public space and green open space for conservation, tourism, and aesthetic functions of the region.

Private Educational Expenditure Inequality between Migrant and Urban Households in China’s Cities

This paper studies households’ expenditure on the education of children in China’s cities to assess how internal migrant families’ investment in the human capital of their offspring differs from that of local urban families. The private education-related expenditure reflects both households’ willingness to invest in human capital and institutional constraints, as China’s household registration (hukou) system prevents children without a local city hukou from enrolling in urban public schools. In-school fees (consisting of statutory tuition and institutional tuition fees) are commonly topped-up with substantial private tutoring expenditure. We apply multiple regression to the 2008 “Rural–Urban Migration Survey in China” data to analyze the average expenditure differences between temporary migrants, permanent migrants and locals. The findings are, after controlling for social and economic characteristics, that: (1) the overall spending on education of migrant households overwhelmingly exceeds that of locals, which is expected since migrants must finance privately all education-related expenses their children incur; (2) migrant households spend more on institutional tuition fees compared to households with a local city hukou, reflecting the varying severity of administrative hurdles faced by families; and (3) temporary migrants spend more on institutional tuition fees than permanent migrant households, but less in private tutoring.

Changes in Climatological Variables at Stations around Lake Erie and Lake Michigan

Climatological variables undergo changes over time, and it is important to understand such dynamic changes at global, regional, and local levels. While global and regional studies are common in the study of climate, such studies at a local level are not as common. The aim of this article is to study temporal changes in precipitation, snowfall, and temperature variables at specific stations located on the rims of Lake Erie and Lake Michigan. The identification of changes is carried out by applying change-point analysis to precipitation, snowfall, and temperature data from Buffalo, Erie, and Cleveland stations located on the rim of Lake Erie and at Chicago, Milwaukee, and Green Bay stations located on the rim of Lake Michigan. We adopt mainly the Bayesian information criterion (BIC) method to identify the number and locations of change points, and then we apply the generalized likelihood ratio statistic to test for the statistical significance of the identified change points. We follow this up by finding 95% confidence intervals for those change points that were found to be statistically significant. The results from the analysis show that there are significant changes in precipitation, snowfall, and temperature variables at all six rim stations. Changes in precipitation show consistently significant increases, whereas there is no similar consistency in snowfall increases. Temperature increases are generally quite sharp, and they occur consistently around 1985. Overall, upon combining the amounts of changes from all six stations, the average amount of change in annual average temperature is found to be 0.96 °C, the average percentage of change in precipitation is 16%, and the average percentage of change in snowfall is 17%. The changing local climatic conditions identified in the study are important for local city planners, as well as residents, so that they can be well prepared for changing climatic scenarios.

THE IMPORTANCE OF EXPANDING RESEARCH ON THE SERPENTINIZATION OF OPHIOLITE ROCKS BY NATURAL “WHITE” HYDROGEN FOR KAZAKHSTAN

In Kazakhstan, options and regions for hydrogen production are being considered, including in Western Kazakhstan, the Mangystau region, using the water of the Caspian Lake. The current advanced hydrogen production technologies, including green hydrogen, are very expensive, requiring billions of dollars of investment and potentially creating difficulties for the local population and nature, ecology, flora and fauna. At the same time, geological studies of alternative hydrogen production options in Kazakhstan are poorly developed. Kazakhstan needs and is currently very important to study serpentinization of ophiolite rocks using natural «white» hydrogen. In many countries, there is practically a «gold rush» now, hydrogeologists are conducting research on the search for natural «white» hydrogen. Hydrogeologists have now discovered numerous sources of natural hydrogen in geological environments from Mali to Switzerland, France, Germany, the USA, Canada, and Australia. More than 50 companies have sprung up to discover and mine it. A natural hydrogen well operates in Mali to provide energy to a local city with a population of about 4,000 people for free and forever. Unlike other geological fuels, which are formed over millions of years, natural hydrogen is generated by mixing water and iron particles, serpentinization of ophiolite rocks, and is renewable on the scale of human time, and not in geological epochs. Alternative options for the production and use of hydrogen are presented in this review, including various types of hydrogen, black, gray, green, blue, turquoise, pink and yellow, depending on the method of its extraction and production. Kazakhstan, with the richest natural ore reserves, including coal and polymetals, where ophiolite rocks may be located, may well have deposits of natural «white» hydrogen, such geological studies in Kazakhstan are poorly developed.

Association between bike-sharing systems and the blood pressure of local citizens: a cross-sectional study in China

IntroductionGlobally, hypertension stands as the foremost preventable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and premature death. However, scalable approach to lowering blood pressure (BP) at the population level remains lacking. We...

Downwind Warming of Cities? Inequal Heat Distribution Attributed to Winds

Heat exposure within urban areas is strikingly uneven, posing disproportionate risks to certain communities. While nature-based solutions have gained attention, the role of wind in distributing heat remains less understood in an urban planning scale. This study assessed the interaction between wind direction, speed, and heat advection in Taipei Basin during summers from 2011 to 2020, using data from densely installed meteorological stations. A novel method was developed to capture multiple wind directions while accounting for local terrain and urban effects. Results revealed that wind-induced heat advection is complicated by local terrain and nearby cities in the conurbation, varying heat distribution. Windy conditions were mostly warmer than calm conditions, with north-westerly and westerly winds causing the strongest heat advection. Heat advection increased with wind speeds up to 5.4 m/s and decreased thereafter. Substantial intra-urban differences in heat advection were observed, reaching 4.33°C daytime and 3.34°C nighttime. Upwind areas were not necessarily cooler, while some downwind areas at mountain foot experienced greater warming. Up to 2.6SD of advected heat magnitude was found downwind at night. These findings underscore inequitable heat transfer to areas that do not generate heat and the critical need for wind-sensitive planning for both city-region and inter-urban areas.

정책담화모형(NPF)을 활용한 A지방중소도시 고교평준화 정책 추진 과정 분석

This study analyzes the process of implementing the high school equalization policy in a local small city, city A, using the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF). The research examines how the discourse surrounding the equalization policy is formed and developed through press releases and related materials published from March 1, 2017 to December 31, 2023. The results show that proponents emphasized the elimination of high school rankings and the equality of educational opportunities, while opponents raised concerns about the potential decline in academic standards and the outflow of talented students. Additionally, political events, such as the replacement of the superintendent of education, significantly influenced the direction of the discourse. This analysis is expected to contribute to identifying potential challenges and issues in advance when introducing equalization policies and to developing effective response strategies through the case of City A.

Does high-speed rail construction reduce air pollution? Evidence from prefecture-level cities in China

Based on data from 282 cities in China, this study assesses the impact of high-speed rail (HSR) construction on air pollution with a difference-in-difference (DID) method and a quasi-natural experiment of HSR construction. The results indicate HSR construction reduces air pollution, specifically, PM2.5 concentrations in HSR cities decreased by 2.91 %. Moreover, heterogeneity exists in the influence of HSR on air pollution of different types of cities. Considering cities of different administration levels, HSR construction significantly reduces air pollution in peripheral cities, while the pollution reduction in core cities is not obvious. Considering cities with different population sizes, the HSR construction suppresses air pollution in small cities and big cities, while this suppressive effect in small cities is more obvious. The mechanism analysis confirms HSR construction reduces PM2.5 by three ways: substituting civil aviation, adjusting industrial structure, and enhancing innovation foundation. Meanwhile, a spatial spillover effect exists in HSR's effect on air pollution: HSR construction reduces air pollution in local cities, while also promoting air quality in neighboring cities due to the spatial correlation between cities.

Implementasi Algoritma A* (A-Star) untuk mencari Rute Tercepat dari Bandara Soekarno Hatta ke Destinasi Kota Tua Jakarta

The tourism sector is an economic sector that is growing rapidly. One of the best destinations that can be used as a tourist destination in DKI Jakarta is the Old City of Jakarta. The Old City of Jakarta has easy access and very affordable costs. There are many roads to the Old City of Jakarta, but the road to the Old City of Jakarta is very far away and has traffic congestion, especially towards the weekend, which could potentially make it difficult for tourists who want to visit. Therefore, we need an effective method that can help find the route with the shortest distance and fastest travel time. In this research, the method that can be used to find the fastest path or route is the A*Star algorithm. The results obtained after examining three routes (Jalan Kapuk Kamal Raya, Jalan Peta Barat and Jalan Raya Daan Mogot), obtained the fastest route with a distance of 5,881.5 KM, namely the Jalan Kapuk Kamal Raya route. By applying this method, it is hoped that it can solve the problem of determining the fastest route to the tourist location of the Old City of Jakarta.

Scientific and Technological Innovation Effects on High-Quality Agricultural Development: Spatial Boundaries and Mechanisms

This study investigates the spatial boundaries and mechanisms of the effect of scientific and technological innovation (STI) on high-quality agricultural development (HQA) to enhance agricultural practices. By employing a double-fixed spatial Durbin model and analyzing panel data from 167 prefectural-level cities in major grain-producing regions spanning from 2004 to 2021, we revealed significant spatiotemporal variations in the impact of STI on HQA in both local and adjacent cities. Our findings remained robust after rigorous testing. The study identified the spillover range of STI to be 420 km, displaying a distinctive inverted U-shaped trend around 170 km. Mechanism analysis indicates that both agricultural industry upgrades and human capital levels within 420 km amplify the influence of STI on local HQA, with only the latter demonstrating spillover effects. Within 170 km, both factors effectively regulate HQA in adjacent cities, while beyond this distance, only human capital regulatory impact continues to exhibit spillover effects. These insights offer theoretical guidance for designing effective agricultural scientific and technology promotion policies aimed at elevating the quality of HQA.

Research on the characteristics of residents who choose the residential areas in the fringe of a local city

Research on the characteristics of residents who choose the residential areas in the fringe of a local city

Impacts of low-carbon city pilot policy on ecological well-being performance across Chinese cities: A spatial difference-in-difference analysis

Attaining a win-win goal among ecological conservation and well-being development is an inevitable requirement for China's transition towards low-carbon cities. Using a dataset of China's 277 cities during 2007-2021, this paper explores the local-neighbor impacts of the Low-Carbon City Pilot (LCP) policy on ecological well-being performance (EWP) by adopting the spatial difference-in-difference (SDID) approach. Then, explaining its action mechanism from a green lifestyle perspective. The results show that: (1) the quantity of sample cities with excellent EWP levels is on an upward trend, rising from 13 in 2007 to 76 in 2021, an increase of 22.75%; (2) LCP policy facilitates the growth of EWP in local cities and exerts notable spatial spillover effects, enhancing EWP in neighboring cities within 1300 km; (3) Improving residents’ green consumption awareness is an effective mechanism for LCP policy to enhance EWP of local and surrounding cities; (4) The local-neighbor effects of LCP on EWP are more significant in non-resource, government innovation-preferring and large cities. These results can offer valuable insights for policymakers in formulating environmental strategies that reconcile ecological environment with well-being growth.

Establishing a Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GVHD)-Focused Multidisciplinary Telehealth Clinic

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a complication following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant that frequently causes multiorgan affection and decrease in quality of life. Global assessment and care of these patients require a multidisciplinary approach, but access to focused clinics is limited given their scarcity and location in major cities, as well as mobility and transportation challenges that frequently affect these patients. Thus, we established a multispecialty GVHD telehealth (TH) clinic and hypothesized that a virtual platform will expand access to clinical care in children and adults. The clinic team members included BMT specialist, nursing, dermatologist, dentist, nutritionist, physiatrist, research personnel, and others as needed. We evaluated all GVHD-related visits (in-person and TH) conducted in a single center from 01/2022 to 12/2022. Ninety-three patients received a total of 308 visits, and one-third were via TH. Approximately half of the in-person group had at least 1 TH visit, and 10 patients were seen exclusively via TH. Most patients had advanced chronic GVHD. More male patients were seen in GVHD clinic, but female patients had increased in clinic visits via TH (41% TH versus 32% in-person). One-third of clinic visits were from patients of racial and ethnic minorities. While only 6% (n = 12/217) of in-person visits were for patients living >100 miles from the center, 34% (n = 31/91) of TH visits were from far distances including out-of-state. At baseline, the most common patient-reported symptoms in a subset of patients included fatigue, disturbed sleep, and distress. Fifteen patients completed a follow-up symptom survey and reported significantly reduced distress regarding their GVHD (P = .02), although other symptoms remained stable. A multidisciplinary TH clinic provided care for adult and pediatric patients with GVHD. We demonstrated preliminary feasibility of building a robust TH platform with a collaborative multispecialty approach that allowed access and continuity of medical care. Gender inequalities were reduced, and distance to our center represented a lesser barrier to attending specialized care via TH. Additionally, patients reported a significant reduction in distress. Our findings support the ongoing development of a virtual platform to improve access to specialized GVHD care.

Source identification of heavy metal contamination in beach sediments of the ancient city of Phaselis in Antalya/Türkiye

The ancient city of Phaselis, which is located along gravel, coarse sandy, and sandy beaches, is a popular area visited by thousands of domestic and foreign tourists every year, and has been selected as the study area. Sediment samples collected from 57 different locations in the ancient city of Phaselis were analyzed using a X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer, and the major, trace, and rare earth element contents of the samples were revealed. The heavy metals arsenic (As), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), tin (Sn), stronsium (Sr), and zinc (Zn) were used in the pollution index calculations. Distribution maps revealed that heavy metal concentrations reached higher levels, especially in the eastern part of the study area. Therefore, it is recommended to plant rooted macrophytes that can absorb the heavy metals Cr and Ni and perform phytoremediation of the sediment in the region.

Digital Economy Reformulation and Economic Competitiveness of Smart Cities: An Application of Soft Systems Methodology

Smart cities have become a new trend in urban development worldwide, and digital economy plays a crucial role. Therefore, this study aimed to create a novel formulation of digital economy that contributes to improving competitiveness of smart cities and provides practical guidance on digital economy strategies. A Soft System Methodology (SSM)–based action that utilizes the concept of systems was used to investigate conceptual models from different perspectives, from conceptual thinking to real-world–based action. Moreover, Indonesia was selected as a case study due to its extensive implementation of smart cities over the past five years, with over 250 cities participating in the program. The study successfully identified five scopes of digital economy, namely digital technology, digital service, shared economy and platform, digitalized economy, and financial services. It also identified six crucial criteria of economic competitiveness, namely human resources, product offerings, innovation capability, economic productivity, ease of business and investment, as well as financial capital. In conclusion, local cities and regencies' governments need to accelerate digital economy by creating supporting policies, making collaboration, effective digital marketing, improving digital literacy, guaranteeing cyber security, as well as protecting consumers and data privacy.

Assessing the economic impact of innovative cities

ABSTRACT This study examines the effects of South Korea’s Innovative City (IC) policy, which aims to redistribute public institutions to local cities to alleviate urban congestion and mitigate regional disparities. Utilizing the synthetic control method, this study evaluates the policy’s influence on local productivity and investigates its spillover effects. The findings reveal a marked increase in productivity within rural cities, highlighting the policy’s efficacy in less urbanized areas. However, the outcomes vary across different locales, with some urban ICs experiencing productivity enhancements, while rural ICs near expanding urban areas do not. Additionally, the study observes limited spillover effects in cities near ICs, indicating that indirect benefits are not uniformly distributed.

The impact and spatial spillover effect of traditional culture on urban green innovation: Empirical evidence from China

The issues of resource scarcity and environmental pollution has become huge challenges that all of humanity faces together. To resolve the issue, promoting urban green innovation capacity is important. This study uses 189 prefecture-level cities and above in China from 2011 to 2020 as samples, and empirically test the impact and spatial spillover effect of traditional culture on urban green innovation. This study finds that: (1) Traditional culture can improve the local green innovation and positively impact the green innovation in neighboring cities by radiation effect, and the conclusion remains valid after robustness tests; (2) Talent flow and data flow negatively moderate the positive impact of traditional culture on green innovation in local cities. In addition, from a dynamic perspective, traditional culture has a negative impact on green innovation in neighboring cities because of the siphon effect; (3) The spatial spillover effect of traditional culture on urban green innovation shows distinct heterogeneity due to the different regions and whether it is a low-carbon pilot city. This study verifies the important value of Chinese traditional culture in urban sustainable development, which is of great significance for the protection and inheritance of traditional culture and the improvement of urban green innovation.