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We share the results of interviews and participant observations conducted in South Texas in spring of 2020 and summer of 2021 to understand how local authorities manage the issue of migrant deaths. Drawing on fifty-seven interviews and observations of local stakeholders from law enforcement and first responders to nonprofit organizations, United States Border Patrol (USBP) agents, and others, three experiences emerged. First, USBP both capacitates and limits local ability to respond to migrant deaths. Second, local jurisdictions feel a sense of impotence as a consequence of overwhelming migrant decedent caseloads, often leading to what we have termed an occupational paralysis. Third, failing to recognize migrant deaths as a regional phenomenon throughout South Texas hinders interior counties from receiving needed support. In our discussion we reflect on the experiences our interlocutors shared with us and the degree to which long-standing U.S. prevention through deterrence policy has configured the Texas–Mexico border into a necropolitical landscape, in the sense that U.S. Southwestern border enforcement, infrastructure, and the environment itself have a spatial arrangement that relegates migrant lives "outside the normal state of law" (Mbembe, 13), and funnels them toward death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Texas–Mexico border region is a unique place where two countries and culture connected. We sought to investigate border school district students’ academic performance as measured by Texas standardized test: the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR). To do so, we first used propensity score matching (PSM) techniques to analyze data collected from a public database: Texas Assessment Management System (TAMS). Specifically, we provided a PSM analysis of non-border and border school districts regarding their demographic characteristics [i.e., identified as a rural district, percentage of economically disadvantaged (ED) students, percentage of English learners (ELs), mobility rate, instructional hours, principal experience, teacher experience, teacher–student ratio, and teacher turnover rate]. Then, multiple regression analyses were conducted to compare Texas border and non-border school students’ reading, math, and science achievements, respectively, based on a matching sample with control for demographic variables. The results of the current study indicate that no significant difference was found between border and non-border school districts, regarding students’ academic performance in reading, math, and science, when districts were matched and demographic characteristics were controlled. We further found that demographic variables, such as percent of ED students, principal experience, and teacher turnover rate, significantly impact students’ academic achievement. Such findings have suggested that the achievement gap between border and non-border districts can be closed if extra support can be provided to ED students, and funding could be allocated in border districts to maintain experienced principals and teachers.

Abstract Background Diagnostic follow-up of women with an abnormal Pap test is necessary to resolve the risk developing cervical cancer. The purpose of this study is to describe patient characteristics associated with timely receipt of a diagnostic colposcopy after an abnormal Pap test among Hispanic women in El Paso, a Texas-Mexico border city. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of Hispanic patients seen at an academic colposcopy clinic following an abnormal Pap test. An optimal diagnostic interval to colposcopy was based on a National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) quality indicator and was defined as receipt of colposcopy within 90 days or less from the date of an abnormal Pap test. Risk ratios (RR) were calculated by building a generalized linear model fit using a Poisson distribution, log link, and robust variance. Results Overall, 177 of the 270 women (65.6%) received follow-up within an optimal diagnostic interval. After adjusting for other variables in the model, women who were 30 years of age or older were 32% more likely to have an optimal interval than younger women (adjusted RR = 1.32, P

The mosquito species Aedes aegypti (Linneaus) is the vector of multiple arboviruses, including dengue, Chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever. Risk of infections associated with these arboviruses continues to expand as the geographical range of Ae. aegypti extends into temperate regions. Although Ae. aegypti is abundant along the U.S.-Mexico border, the ecology of this mosquito species in this temperate/subtropical desert is not well understood. Our study objective was to estimate the seasonal population density in 2 urban communities: Sparks, El Paso, Texas and Anapra, Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Estimates of the population density of adult Ae. aegypti were obtained by month (June to December) and across years (2016 to 2018) using gravid traps. Mosquitoes were collected inside and outside a total of 108 and 101 participating homes in Sparks and Anapra, respectively. We determined multiple environmental and climatic factors influencing annual population trends. Generally, an increase in the abundance of Ae. aegypti was associated with an increase in precipitation, moderate temperatures, and high humidity, while months with temperatures below 4.4°C led to near absence of adults. Across months, we found low densities of Ae. aegypti during June and July, followed by near 100-fold increases in abundance from August to October before rapidly decreasing to near zero in subsequent cold season months. Our study sheds light on population dynamics and response variables at the leading edge of Ae. aegypti range, which require the development of targeted vector control measures for this mosquito species in this and other regions., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Diagnostic follow-up of women with an abnormal Pap test is necessary to resolve the risk developing cervical cancer. The purpose of this study is to describe patient characteristics associated with timely receipt of a diagnostic colposcopy after an abnormal Pap test among Hispanic women in El Paso, a Texas-Mexico border city. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of Hispanic patients seen at an academic colposcopy clinic following an abnormal Pap test. An optimal diagnostic interval to colposcopy was based on a National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) quality indicator and was defined as receipt of colposcopy within 90 days or less from the date of an abnormal Pap test. Risk ratios (RR) were calculated by building a generalized linear model fit using a Poisson distribution, log link, and robust variance. Results: Overall, 177 of the 270 women (65.6%) received follow-up within an optimal diagnostic interval. After adjusting for other variables in the model, women who were 30 years of age or older were 32% more likely to have an optimal interval than younger women (adjusted RR = 1.32, P < 0.01). High school graduates were less likely than more educated women to have an optimal interval (adjusted RR = 0.68, P < 0.01). Participation in the NBCCEDP was not associated with receipt of follow-up within an optimal diagnostic interval. Conclusions: Compared with women with greater educational attainment, high school graduates were less likely to receive follow-up within an optimal diagnostic interval, as were younger (< 30 years) women compared with older women. Participation in the NBCCEDP was not associated with receipt of care within an optimal diagnostic interval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is a public health concern that disproportionately affects populations from low socioeconomic status (SES) and minority groups. Evaluation of social and health risk factors of preschool children living along the Texas‐Mexico border provides feedback to design health interventions. METHODS: South Texas Early Prevention Study‐PreK (STEPS‐PreK) is a cluster randomized trial designed to assess the effect of the Bienestar coordinated school health program on children's health outcomes. Family characteristics, dietary intake, fitness, and anthropometric data were collected from 1277 preschool students enrolled in 28 preschools. RESULTS: The response rate was 67%. Overall, 57% of families lived in poverty. The mean age of students was 4.7 years, 95% were Hispanic, and 51% were male. The average serving of fruits and vegetables per day were 1 and 1/3, respectively. Of these, students consumed 39.7% of fruits and 18.9% of vegetables. Obesity prevalence for boys was 19.2% and for girls 16.8%. Nearly one‐half reported some form of food insecurity. CONCLUSIONS: Children living in low‐income areas are affected by high levels of social and health risk factors. It is these families who should be targeted with early‐age and culturally appropriate health programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gendered perspectives may be particularly important in shaping norms and values around HPV and HPV vaccination, as previous research suggests that sexuality taboos (e.g. promiscuity) may contribute to low perceived risk among adolescent and young adult Hispanic females. However, research to date focuses primarily on Hispanic mothers, adolescent females, and women of HPV vaccine-eligible age. Hispanic father's perspectives are relatively unknown despite father's important role in shaping norms for their female children. Objective: To close this gap, this study examines gendered perspectives in knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes about HPV and HPV vaccination from Hispanic parents (mothers and fathers), women of vaccine-eligible age (18–26 years old), and women eligible for Pap Test screening (>26 years old) living in two counties along the Texas-Mexico border. Design: We conducted eight focus groups. Research staff transcribed audio recordings verbatim and uploaded them into Atlas(ti) 5.0 for analysis. The research team analyzed the data for content, meaning, patterns and themes using the constant comparison approach. Results: Perspectives were highly gendered. Women's (all groups combined) beliefs focused on misconceptions around how the HPV virus is contracted (e.g. toilet surfaces). Women also linked HPV-related sexual risk to adultery and indiscretion of male partners. Fathers (men) were more likely to link risk to female promiscuity. Fathers also worried that HPV vaccination might increase promiscuity. All groups believe that HPV vaccination is a way to protect Hispanic females in the face of beliefs around sexual behavior and risk of contracting HPV. Conclusion: Results suggest gendered differences in risk beliefs concerning HPV among Hispanics living along the Texas-Mexico border. Researchers can use these findings to address barriers to HPV vaccination, as well as to create culturally appropriate prevention messages that may help reduce disparities in HPV among Hispanic women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forensic and humanitarian interventions deployed to address migrant death in US southwestern border states have become increasingly prevalent over the past four decades. In this paper we address two persistent issues specific to the Texas-Mexico border context. First, we present the first comprehensive geospatial analysis of migrant deaths in South Texas, establishing a twelve-year (2009–2020) mortality profile. And second, we introduce the concept of necrosilences and its implications to both forensic and humanitarian work and usage of geospatial tools. We applied ANOVA, spatial statistics, and cluster analysis to test the relationships of migrant mortality point locations throughout South Texas, an area comprised of ten counties with some of the highest reported migrant deaths in the state. Our findings demonstrated that unidentified human remains that corresponded to migrants were found most consistently in jurisdictions inland from the Mexican border. Further, the map visualizations highlighted vast areas seemingly devoid of migrant deaths. These "empty" areas are emblematic of necrosilences. That is, instances where there is a lack of access or accounting rather than no death incidences. We conclude by discussing the importance of visualizing necrosilences. • Significant mortality clustering was detected both in summer and winter months. • Significant clustering occurred more on private property inland from the border. • Mortality clustering occurred between or away from Border Patrol structure. • Necrosilences indicate areas with lacking or absent mortality accounting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on comparing the growth trajectory of border and non-border school districts regarding their fifth-grade students’ performance on a standardized reading test. Using a growth hierarchical linear model, we investigated the effect of time, school location, and their interaction on students’ reading performance through the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) reading test in five recent school years. It was found that border school students lagged behind in reading at the initial stage when STAAR was first administered. As time went by, the gap between border and non-border district students’ reading performance remained. Implications for teaching pedagogy and research are discussed regarding the preparation of border district students to become bilingual, bicultural, and biliterate.

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Copyright of Canadian Journal of Latin American & Caribbean Studies (Taylor & Francis Ltd) is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study investigates language attitudes towards English, Spanish and codeswitching in two Texas border cities (Laredo and Edinburg) by means of a matched guise test with three attribute dimensions (solidarity, status, and personal appeal). It was found that there were no significant overall differences between attitudes in the two cities. As anticipated, code-switching received the lowest ratings in all dimensions; English and Spanish were matched for status, and Spanish received the highest scores for solidarity. When the variable of gender was considered (both for raters and speakers), differences in ratings emerged, evidence that in both cities the three varieties play different roles in mediating gender relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the elevated body mass index (BMI) for age in the Head Start population in Texas from 2003-2008. It notes that the study will be compared to the results of the data gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for Spanish American preschool children. The study shows that 20.01% of males and 19.04% of females were obese and 40.79% of males and 36.73% of females were overweight.

The article discusses a study of serological differences in folate or vitamin B12 in pregnancies affected by neural tube defect (NTD). Direct serological evidence found that low serum folate and low vitamin B12 in women residing at the Texas-Mexico border whose pregnancies were affected by NTD. The study concluded that physician attention was needed to decrease concentrations of serum folate and vitamin B12 in the women.

Abstract: Detection of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), a frequent cause of treatment failure, takes 2 or more weeks to identify by culture. Rifampicin (RIF) resistance is a hallmark of MDR-TB, and detection of mutations in the rpoB gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis using molecular beacon probes with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is a novel approach that takes ≤2 days. However, qPCR identification of resistant isolates, particularly for isolates with mixed RIF-susceptible and RIF-resistant bacteria, is reader dependent and limits its clinical use. The aim of this study was to develop an objective, reader-independent method to define rpoB mutants using beacon qPCR. This would facilitate the transition from a research protocol to the clinical setting, where high-throughput methods with objective interpretation are required. For this, DNAs from 107 M. tuberculosis clinical isolates with known susceptibility to RIF by culture-based methods were obtained from 2 regions where isolates have not previously been subjected to evaluation using molecular beacon qPCR: the Texas–Mexico border and Colombia. Using coded DNA specimens, mutations within an 81-bp hot spot region of rpoB were established by qPCR with 5 beacons spanning this region. Visual and mathematical approaches were used to establish whether the qPCR cycle threshold of the experimental isolate was significantly higher (mutant) compared to a reference wild-type isolate. Visual classification of the beacon qPCR required reader training for strains with a mixture of RIF-susceptible and RIF-resistant bacteria. Only then had the visual interpretation by an experienced reader had 100% sensitivity and 94.6% specificity versus RIF resistance by culture phenotype and 98.1% sensitivity and 100% specificity versus mutations based on DNA sequence. The mathematical approach was 98% sensitive and 94.5% specific versus culture and 96.2% sensitive and 100% specific versus DNA sequence. Our findings indicate the mathematical approach has advantages over the visual reading, in that it uses a Microsoft Excel template to eliminate reader bias or inexperience, and allows objective interpretation from high-throughput analyses even in the presence of a mixture of RIF-resistant and RIF-susceptible isolates without the need for reader training. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Diabetes prevalence is higher along U.S.-Mexico border than in nonborder regions, and numerous community-based organizations are addressing this diabetes disparity through prevention and management programs. However, the nature, scope, and effectiveness of these efforts and programs are not well documented. This study aims at identifying key characteristics of diabetes programs in a Texas-Mexico border region with a predominately Hispanic, underserved population. A survey is administered to 84 community-based organizations in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV); 25 organizations respond. Nineteen programs related to diabetes and healthy lifestyle behaviors are identified in the LRGV. The majority of the programs are based on guidelines of national and state professional associations and agencies; target low-income and minority populations; are offered at no cost; and include program evaluation activities. Future research should examine the effectiveness, as well as the fidelity of the guidelines, of diabetes programs in the border region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. US Hispanic women have higher cervical cancer incidence rates than non-Hispanic White and African-American women and lower rates of cervical cancer screening. Knowledge, attitudes, and cultural beliefs may play a role in higher rates of infection of human papillomavirus (HPV) and decisions about subsequent diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer. Study aim. To explore the level of HPV knowledge, attitudes, and cultural beliefs among Hispanic men and women on the Texas-Mexico border. Methodological approach. Informed by feminist ethnography, the authors used an interpretive approach to understand local respondents' concerns and interests. Focus group sessions were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Recruitment and sample. Promotoras (lay health workers) recruited participants using convenience sampling methods. Group sessions were held in public service centers in Brownsville. Participants' ages ranged from 19 to 76 years. Methods analysis. Focus group discussions were audio-recorded and transcribed in Spanish. Researchers read and discussed all the transcripts and generated a coding list. Transcripts were coded using ATLAS.ti 5.0. Key findings. Participants had little understanding about HPV and its role in the etiology of cervical cancer. Attitudes and concerns differed by gender. Women interpreted a diagnosis of HPV as a diagnosis of cancer and expressed fatalistic beliefs about its treatment. Men initially interpreted a diagnosis of HPV as an indication of their partners' infidelity, but after reflecting upon the ambiguity of HPV transmission, attributed their initial reaction to cultural ideals of machismo. Men ultimately were interested in helping their partners seek care in the event of a positive diagnosis. Implications for practice. Results suggest that understanding Hispanics' cultural norms and values concerning disease, sexuality, and gender is essential to the design and implementation of interventions to prevent and treat HPV and cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the study conducted regarding the factors that contributed to the indoor radon elevation in Paso Del Norte Region in Texas. The researchers have gathered field data on radon concentrations to statistically correlate the impact of location, tap water and soil on radon indoors. The scheme serves as the resource of the physicians in understanding the factors affecting indoor radon.

Abstract: Understanding influences on health-related quality of life (HRQL) is critical in order to track and improve the health of poor, vulnerable populations and reduce health disparities. However, studies assessing HRQL of minorities are relatively scarce. The purpose of this study was to document personal and socioenvironmental correlates to HRQL. The study population is Mexican Americans in the Texas–Mexico border region living in colonias – unincorporated, impoverished settlements with substandard living conditions along the U.S.–Mexico border. Mexican Americans living in colonias are one of the most disadvantaged, hard-to-reach minority groups in the United States. We used data from the Integrated Health Outreach System Project collected in 2002 and 2003. Our sample included 386 participants randomly selected and interviewed face-to-face with a structured survey. We measured HRQL and examined personal and socioenvironmental correlates. Unadjusted and adjusted (multivariate) logistic regression models were used for data analyses. We found that border Mexican Americans living in colonias were of similar mental health status compared to the general population of the United States, but worse off in terms of physical health. Poor education and long-term residency in colonias were predictors of lower physical health. Women reported worse mental health than men. Length of time living in a colonia, co-morbidity status, and perceived problems with access to healthcare was associated with poorer mental health status. This study provides information for health professionals and policymakers and underscores the need to provide better preventive and medical services for underserved populations. Major findings indicate the need for additional research centered on further exploration of the impact of economic, cultural, and social influences on HRQL among severely disadvantaged populations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background:  Acculturation has been linked to an increased prevalence of alcohol-related problems. However, most of the research has been conducted with Hispanic populations in metropolitan areas of the United States, none of which is on the U.S.–Mexico border. This study examines the association between acculturation, heavy episodic drinking, and DSM-IV alcohol abuse and dependence among Hispanics in the Texas–Mexico border. Methods:  The study used data from a survey conducted (2002 to 2003) along the Texas–Mexico border and included 472 male and 484 female Hispanic adults from El Paso, the Rio Grande Valley, and colonias. Based on the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II scale, respondents were coded into 4 acculturation categories: “very Mexican oriented,”“Mexican bicultural,”“Anglo bicultural,” or “very Anglo/Anglicized.”. Results:  Acculturation was related to lower rates of alcohol use disorders among men and a higher frequency of heavy episodic drinking among women. Multivariate analyses indicate that men who report heavy episodic drinking and those who are “very Mexican,”“bicultural Mexican,” or “bicultural Anglo” are more at higher risk for alcohol abuse and/or dependence compared with “very Anglo/Anglicized” men. For women, acculturation level did not predict alcohol disorders. Statistical analyses included testing for bivariate associations and multivariate logistic regression predicting heavy episodic drinking alcohol abuse or dependence. Conclusions:  This study suggests that acculturation has different effects on drinking for men and women. This finding needs some attention as literature also indicates that women drink more and may develop more alcohol-related problems as they acculturate. This increase in women’s drinking is probably because of U.S. society’s more liberal norms governing female drinking. The “bimodal” distribution of risk, in which only men in “very Anglo” group are at a lower risk than the others, may be unique to the Border. The association between acculturation and alcohol use disorders does not appear to be linear and the effect of acculturation is not uniform on individuals’ drinking behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the role of school social workers MS potential agents of change in the educational system, with a special focus on their major demographic characteristics in Texas and along the Mexico border region. The border region of the state has chronic poverty and limited educational attainment levels and demonstrates a need for innovative ideas to improve the quality of life and the prospects of its aspiring youths. It is becoming increasingly evident and acceptable to educational stakeholders that the school social workers employed by school districts are probably the best-skilled and best-equipped employees in the public school environment to handle many of the social problems students are facing today. The multiplicity of nonacademic problems students encounter is hindering the potential for higher standards and educational attainment. Using data primarily from the Texas Education Agency and the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners, we find that more school social workers are needed and that a notable number of active social workers are not licensed. Two of the major findings indicate that the ratio of students to social workers in Texas is 7,838 to one (5,643 to one on the border), contrary to the benchmark set by the Department of Education of 800 students per social worker in the No Child Left Behind campus evaluation criteria, and that 31.4 percent of the school social workers in Texas (27.9% on the border) do not have a current license. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective. : Neural tube defects (NTDs) affect about seven of every 10,000 deliveries in Texas. To reduce the risk for NTDs, women are encouraged to supplement with 400 mcg folic acid daily during their reproductive years. This study examines folic acid awareness, knowledge, and supplementation practices among women of childbearing age (WCBA), including residents of Texas–Mexico border as well as women of Hispanic origin/ethnicity, populations that have NTD rates up to three times higher than the national average. Methods. : We conducted a statewide multistage sample telephone survey among Texas women of childbearing age in 2001. In total 1,196 women age 18 to 44 were interviewed. Results. : About 78% of WCBA knew about folic acid, 28% knew that folic acid prevents birth defects, and 25% knew to take folic acid before pregnancy. The prevalence of daily folic acid supplementation among all women of childbearing age was 33%. Education was the strongest predictor of folic acid awareness followed by race/ethnicity and age. Significant predictors of daily folic acid supplementation were education and ethnicity. Conclusions. : Our findings suggest the need for more emphases on strategies to improve the level of folic acid supplementation among low educated women, and race ethnic minority populations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The study seeks to determine (1) whether the crime seriousness ranking hierarchy identified by Rossi et al. in 1974 persists and (2) whether intra-group agreement on the relative ordering of crimes exists within a Mexican American sample stratified by age and sex. A self-administered survey questionnaire surveyed a sample of 525 college students and 426 parents. Respondents were asked to rank 20 crime offenses according to perceived seriousness. The analyses indicate that the older cohort of respondents is more conservative than the college students and that female students have lower tolerance for crime than their male counterparts. Among Mexican Americans, significant generational and sex differences exist in how serious certain behaviors are perceived. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) and Laredo regions located along the Texas-Mexico border consist of seven counties with a population of approximately 1.5 million people and a high uninsured rate (33.5%). Cervical cancer mortality in these border counties is approximately 30% higher than the rest of Texas. The RGV and Laredo areas were studied to better understand the state of access to cervical cancer prevention services along the Texas-Mexico border., Methods: Data on the population served and the services provided were analyzed to determine the gap between cervical cancer screenings recommended versus those received. Through interviews, we gathered the perspectives of 16 local stakeholders regarding cervical cancer screening for underserved individuals in the region., Findings: It is estimated that 69,139 uninsured women aged 21-64 years in the RGV/Laredo per year are recommended to undergo cervical cancer screening with Papanicolaou (Pap) and/or human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, but only 8941 (12.9%) Pap tests are being performed by the Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving uninsured women in these regions. Systemic barriers identified include insufficient provider clinical capacity, the high cost of healthcare, and uncertainty about government funding sources. Patient barriers identified include inadequate knowledge on navigating the local healthcare system, low health literacy, lack of money and childcare, an inability to miss work, limited transportation, and fear of deportation., Conclusion: Decreasing the disparity between cervical cancer screening services provided and those recommended requires addressing the barriers, identified by local experts, which prevent uninsured women from accessing care. These challenges are being addressed through ongoing programs and collaborations.

This study focuses on comparing the growth trajectory of border and non-border school districts regarding their fifth-grade students' performance on a standardized reading test. Using a growth hierarchical linear model, we investigated the effect of time, school location, and their interaction on students' reading performance through the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) reading test in five recent school years. It was found that border school students lagged behind in reading at the initial stage when STAAR was first administered. As time went by, the gap between border and non-border district students' reading performance remained. Implications for teaching pedagogy and research are discussed regarding the preparation of border district students to become bilingual, bicultural, and biliterate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollutant emissions in the Texas-Mexico border were investigated using an emission database that covers 25 Texas counties and the states of Coahuila, Chihuahua, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas in Mexico. Major emissions are from energy generation, mainly from two coal-fired facilities in Coahuila, which also generate most of carbon dioxide. Texas exhibits a larger concentration of sources; around Laredo and the Lower Rio Grande Valley and a sugarcane mill is a significant contributor to particles emissions. In Mexico the minerals and metals industries are the second major contributors to emissions, especially particles. Fossil fuel production is the main source of VOCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]