The commodification of international adoptees through a conflict lens

The practice of international adoption, also known as intercountry adoption (ICA), can be defined as a transference of a child from international borders (Ma, 2017). International, also known as intercountry, adoption is a process that is widely characterized to provide the creation of families and humanitarian aid to orphaned children. It is most often facilitated by privatized intermediaries, predominantly facilitating the transference of children from non-Western nations to Western ones. Adopting abroad has largely been framed as a practice of humanitarianism, yet instances of corruption, neglect, and abuse have shown a different nature of the system. Dominant source countries, such as China, Guatemala, and Russia, have abolished their intercountry adoption due to the prevalence of trafficking, exploitation, and abuse. With increased awareness of exploitation and corruption inciting more international concern, it brings into question the ethics and morals on which the system of adoption is built. Since its inception, the international adoption system has been altered by the power disparities in Western nations and source countries. The political, economic, and cultural imbalances of source and receiving countries has postulated adoptees as commodities in a commercialized industry. The commodification of children in vulnerable regions of the Global south has incentivized source countries to function as a supply-chain to meet the demand of prospective families in the West. The exploitation of children in source countries is due to the lack of framework that actively enforces defined policy that prioritizes the best interests of the child. International adoption has been transformed into a market-driven system, in which vulnerable children are commercialized for Western nations. Prospective parents in these regions are instilled with rescue mentalities that lead them to believe intercountry adoption is a form of humanitarian aid. The cultural motives of humanitarianism have largely contributed to the historical trends of intercountry adoption to the United States, yet it fails to account for the exploitation and corruption present. This has directly influenced the ways in which the welfare of the child has been dismissed in the system, without any concern to the birth parents or country of origin. International adoption has expanded the function of providing orphaned children with homes abroad, which has in turn contributes to an exploitative system that caters to wealthier nations and prospective parents in the West. The practice has encouraged the pervasive commodification of international adoptees, allowing for profitability to be prioritized over the welfare of the child. Instead of providing children in precarious environments with homes, intercountry adoption has shifted to a practice of finding children for Western homes (Graff, 2008). The lack of compulsory regulation and preventative protective policy has incentivized and legitimized countries, agencies, and prospective families to exploit orphans and source countries for economic and social currency. The United States has been particularly complicit in developing the exploitive system, as the country of unipolarity constitutes more influence, power, and authority than any other nation participating in international adoption. The power and wealth disparity in the international sphere allows the United States to capitalize on the lack of regulation of international adoption to maximize power and profit. From 1991 to 2010, Americans adopted 304,156 children overseas from a range of 165 countries (Efrat, Leblang, Liao, Pandya, 2015). While adopting abroad has contributed to family-building for many prospective parents in the United States, it is vital that adoption be centered within the best interests of the child. Especially when considering that most orphans abroad lack agency and autonomy, it is imperative that the system which governs them be representative of ethical practices for the child. The United States is capable of reconfiguring the current system of adoption that prioritizes prospective families and agencies while simultaneously ensuring the elimination of possible exploitation. This coincides with the baseline necessity of protecting the welfare of the child before meeting the demands of Western agencies, intermediaries, and prospective parents. The decentering of the best interests of the child has consequentially allowed for the exploitation, abuse, and neglect that is negatively connotated to the international adoption system, today. Enforced standards and regulations should not lead to the abolition of intercountry adoption, but the international standardization should prioritize the ethical framework that addresses the commercialization and lack of regulation. The United States has the responsibility in adhering to a regulatory framework that properly facilitates the thousands of adoptees that come into American homes

A Qualitative Analysis of Educator Well-being Through Teaching SEL: A Classroom Pilot

Early childhood educators are expected to teach social emotional learning (SEL) in their classrooms, while educators themselves are in need of SEL as much as their students due to stress and burnout in this occupation being at an all-time high. We ran a small pilot study of a mindfulness, audio-based SEL tool (Moshi) to see whether brief daily use leads to easier implementation of SEL in the classroom and, in turn, relates to better educator well-being. In this qualitative study, we analyzed 12 transcripts from interviews and focus groups with 16 educators from 12 elementary schools after at least six weeks of classroom use of the tool. Two independent researchers coded de-identified transcripts and reconciled themes through a structured review. Themes that emerged were: (1) high need for SEL post-pandemic; (2) improvements in student emotion regulation, engagement/focus, and creativity; (3) educator mental health is low and needs support, with educators benefiting personally from participation; (4) learning about SEL and integrating it into daily routines; (5) family/community spillover; and (6) the need for developmentally appropriate, flexible tools. Educators described better self-regulation, feeling more connected to their classrooms and colleagues after the pandemic, and teaching SEL skills students need now and going forward. Many also became more aware of their own mental-health needs and noticed calmer, more regulated rooms. In short, technology-based SEL moments can ease educators’ mental and emotional load; when educators feel calmer and less worn down, classrooms tend to run more smoothly. This was a small, ecological qualitative study, and the findings are preliminary. However, these results, in combination with the high rates of stress and burnout for educators, show a need to continue to research how the curriculum taught by educators can indirectly affect their own well-being and, therefore, can be designed with both the student and educator in mind

The psychology of morbid fascination: The role of spectatorship in executions, rubbernecking, dark tourism, and true crime consumption

This literature review examines the general idea of morbid fascination through the lens of spectatorship. The questions that this paper will attempt to answer and contribute knowledge towards are, “What is the psychology behind morbid fascination?” and “Why are humans drawn to the macabre?”. This paper will use a myriad of different sources such as books, peer-reviewed articles, personal accounts, documentaries, podcasts, and different studies from the psychological, criminal justice, and philosophical fields of study to very carefully review, report, compile, and add new theories onto the information provided. The sections discussed throughout will fall under four categories: Public Executions, Rubbernecking, Dark Tourism, and True Crime Consumption. The questions this paper will answer throughout its development in large are: What is the psychology behind morbid fascination? Why are humans drawn to the macabre? What are the psychological explanations, implications, and impacts of this fascination? This paper serves as a compilation of information as well as a foundation for future academic endeavors regarding morbid fascination

Using a Layered Ensemble of Physics-Guided Graph Attention Networks to Predict COVID-19 Trends

The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly disseminated worldwide, profoundly impacting numerous nations. Accurately forecasting the trajectory of COVID-19 across various scales is crucial for informing public health decisions. However, existing forecasting models primarily operate at the state or country level. Conventional mathematical models face limitations due to oversimplified assumptions, while machine learning algorithms struggle to extrapolate novel trends. This underscores the necessity for hybrid machine learning models that amalgamate domain expertise to enable precise long-term predictions. In response, we propose a sophisticated three-layered ensemble, tailored to geographical insights and fostering extensive peer learning. Our framework aims to forecast COVID-19 trends at country, continent, and global levels. At its foundational tier, we introduce a country-level predictor utilizing a hybrid Graph Attention Network (GAT) fused with a modified SIR model, adaptive loss functions, and mobility-informed edge weights. By amalgamating 163 country GATs, we train the subsequent continent and world layers of the ensemble using Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) models. Our findings substantiate that integrating precise equations and empirical data to model inter-community interactions significantly enhances the performance of spatio-temporal machine learning algorithms. Moreover, our study demonstrates the efficacy of incorporating geographic information, such as continent composition, in enhancing the predictive accuracy of the world predictor within our layered architecture. This approach not only refines the forecasting capabilities but also underscores the critical role of geographic insights in augmenting predictive models for global health challenges like COVID-19

Resilience as a coming-of-age model in young adult literature

I argue that resilience should be recognized as a coming-of-age model because it offers support and empowerment while being inclusive to all comings of age. I have identified three types of resilience and analyzed them in three novels: non-guardian resilience in Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor and Park, peer resilience in Matthew Hubbard’s The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge, and creative resilience in Isabel Quintero Gabi, A Girl in Pieces

Investigating the relationship between intelligence and executive function through visual scanning strategies

Executive function (EF) refers to a set of cognitive processes responsible for higher-order thinking, behavioral regulation, and goal-directed behavior, while intelligence is considered a contributing factor to cognitive performance. Previous research has explored the relationship between these two constructs, but it has potentially overlooked the individual differences necessary for a comprehensive understanding of its complexity. This study aimed to investigate these individual differences in EF by employing novel eye-tracking methodology within a Go/No-Go task. We recruited 99 participants from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to complete an adapted Go/No-Go task and the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence Second Edition (WASI-II). We found that higher intelligence was associated with more efficient visual scanning strategies (i.e. fewer fixations and longer durations). Individuals who made fewer fixations and had longer fixation durations scored higher on block design, matrix reasoning, and vocabulary subscales in the WASI-II, and fixation duration significantly predicted intelligence

Elementary teachers\u27 perception of preparedness for the elementary science classroom

This dissertation explores the perception of preparedness among elementary teachers to effectively teach three-dimensional science lessons as advocated by the Next Generation Science Standards. A mixed methods approach combining qualitative interviews with quantitative analysis was employed to gain a full understanding of variables that are related to teachers feeling prepared for the classroom and what aspects of teacher preparation and professional experience are areas of success or areas of growth in terms of implementing effective science instruction in a large school district in southeastern Tennessee. Findings revealed teachers completing a full semester of student teaching perceived themselves to be significantly more prepared for the science classroom than those teachers who only completed a partial semester of student teaching. Teacher experience, science methods courses completed, effectiveness of teacher preparation program, and science content knowledge were not shown to have a relationship with teacher perception of preparation for the elementary science classroom. Teachers identified several strengths in teacher preparation programs including firsthand experiences, exemplar professors, and courses designed around education students. On the other hand, weaknesses were identified in teacher preparation programs including limited science coursework, professor limitations, and overall limited preparation for the science classroom. Teachers identified weak preparation in three-dimensional, inquiry-based science in their preparation programs. Ideas to improve teacher preparation were highlighted including a need to focus more heavily on the new science standards, time to create science lessons with colleagues, more time to observe effective science lessons, and more opportunities to teach science lessons in the classroom. In the professional world, teachers identified more time to collaborate with peers, more effective professional development, and a rise in the importance of science teaching as ways to increase teacher preparation for the science classroom. These results indicate a need to revise teacher preparation programs and preparation in the professional world to increase student achievement in elementary science

Understanding Molecular Mechanisms of UPS Regulation of Transcription Factors

Regulation of transcription is critical for the maintenance of normal cellular homeostasis. Failure to regulate transcription can lead to cellular catastrophe and disease. One of the ways cells cope with the challenges of transcription is by making extensive use of the proteolytic activities of the Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS). The evolutionary conserved UPS is involved in targeted degradation of transcription factors (TFs) and thus regulates transcription. Dysregulation of UPS-mediated degradation of TFs could lead to overexpression of TFs in cells, thereby could lead to oncogenesis. Importantly, TFs, Paf1 and Taf2 are overexpressed in many cancers [1-5], however, the basis for overexpression of TFs, Paf1 and Taf2 in cancer cells are unclear. In UPS, E3 ligases are essential in understanding molecular mechanisms as it possess the substrate specificity. Although Not4 is the E3 ligase in UPS regulation of Paf1 [6,7], the mechanism of Not4-mediated UPS regulation of Paf1 in regulating transcription is not clear. Moreover, it is yet unknown the E3 ligase involved in UPS regulation of Taf2. Therefore, we proposed two aims: Aim 1: Investigation of Paf1 ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation in regulation of transcription. Aim 2: Identification of the E3 ligase involved in UPS regulation of Taf

A multiscale approach to controlling corrosion in Magnesium-based materials: nanoparticle alloying, hybrid coatings, and predictive modeling

Biodegradable materials have garnered significant interest over the past decades as alternatives to non-degradable implant materials used in osteosynthesis surgeries. Among these, magnesium and its alloys have emerged as promising candidates due to their favorable mechanical properties and biocompatibility. However, the high degradation rate of magnesium in aqueous environments remains a major limitation to its broader application. To address this challenge, recent research has focused on tailoring the corrosion behavior of magnesium using alloying, coatings, and various fabrication processes to suit specific clinical needs. In this work, we explore two distinct approaches to enhance the performance of magnesium-based implants. The first approach involves the use of powder metallurgy to incorporate nanoparticles into magnesium alloy powders and investigate their impact on key performance properties. The second novel approach focuses on systematically examining the influence of different coating parameters for a hybrid micro-arc oxidation (MAO) and sol-gel coating process to gain a deeper understanding of the factors’ role in achieving desirable implant characteristics. Additionally, we present an innovative machine learning (ML) model developed to predict the corrosion behavior of MAO-coated magnesium. This model, applied for the first time to deal with the very complex corrosion behavior of magnesium-based systems, utilizes key process parameters as predictors. Such an ML approach is expected to minimize material usage and reduce experimental time when predicting the corrosion behavior of MAO-coated magnesium materials

Is the Light Triad really that light?: The Light Triad\u27s role in relationship savior complex

Light triad traits, such as optimism, empathy, and compassion, are theorized to be three main components of a prosocial and compassionate orientation. However, in romantic relationships, those qualities may encourage a “savior complex” in which one partner attempts to help, fix, or change their partner’s less ideal components. To study this, 106 participants ranging in age from 18 to 24 years old were surveyed about their light triad traits, helping/savior complex behavior, confidence as a romantic partner (i.e., self-efficacy), closeness with their partner (i.e., inclusion of other in the self), and perceived responsiveness toward their partner. As hypothesized, those who engaged in more savior complex behaviors were higher in light triad overall, Humanism, and Kantianism. Faith in humanity was not significantly correlated with the savior complex. Additionally, potential mediators of the light triad’s association with the savior complex were assessed. As hypothesized, perceived partner responsiveness was a significant mediator. However, inclusion of other in the self and self-efficacy were not. These results expand upon light triad and savior complex research and emphasize the potential downsides of a highly positive romantic partner. Limitations and future directions will be discussed