35333 research outputs found
Sort by
Are Stock Returns and Output Growth Higher Under Democrats?
Full text linkRecent literature suggests that both stock returns and economic growth are significantly higher under Democratic presidential administrations. This is a puzzle in that persistent differences in stock returns seem unlikely in efficient markets, and it is not obvious why Democrats should do better. Often these kinds of results go away upon further analysis or more data, and this appears to be true in the present case. In this paper the sample is extended to 28 administrations, fromWilson-1 through Biden. While the mean stock return under the Democrats is higher, none of the differences in means is significant at conventional significance levels. There is considerable variation in the mean return across administrations, which results in lack of significance. Similarly, while the mean output growth rate under the Democrats is larger, the difference is not significant. Again, there is considerable variation in output growth across administrations. Results are also presented with the nine administrations between Hayes and Taft added, a total of 37 administrations. While the added data are likely not as good, the conclusion is the same—no significant differences
A Geospatial Approach to Measuring Economic Activity
Full text linkWe introduce a new methodology to detect and measure economic activity using geospatial data and apply it to steel production, a major industrial pollution source worldwide. Combining plant output data with geospatial data, such as ambient air pollutants, nighttime lights, and temperature, we train machine learning models to predict plant locations and output. We identify about 40% (70%) of plants missing from the training sample within a 1 km (5 km) radius and achieve R2 above 0.8 for output prediction at a 1 km grid and at the plant level, as well as for both regional and time series validations. Our approach can be adapted to other industries and regions, and used by policymakers and researchers to track and measure industrial activity in near real time
From Clinic to Court: Feminist Organizing and the Fight for Birth Control in Griswold v. Connecticut
Full text linkIn 1961, Planned Parenthood League of Connecticut (PPLC) Director Estelle Griswold and Yale School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Chair Dr. Charles Lee Buxton were arrested. Charged with opening an illegal birth control clinic in New Haven, the two embarked on a four-year battle to overturn Connecticut’s decades-old anti-birth control law. The resulting Supreme Court case, Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), was the culmination of decades of advocacy, coalition building, and cultural conflict over reproductive rights in one of the nation’s most restrictive states.
Griswold v. Connecticut established the constitutional right to marital privacy, creating the protection needed for all married couples to use birth control. The arguments presented in the case reflected not only the moral fervor of the era but also social anxieties about sexuality, public health, and women’s autonomy. More than a legal milestone, it was a turning point in sex-related law, laying the groundwork for subsequent landmark decisions expanding access to contraception (Eisenstadt v. Baird, 1972), abortion (Roe v. Wade, 1973), and later, protections for same-sex intimacy (Lawrence v. Texas, 2003).
Most legal scholarship on Griswold v. Connecticut focuses on the case’s constitutional implications, using it as a lens to examine broader shifts in legal history. This focus often comes at the expense of a deeper historical analysis of the feminist movement’s role in overturning Connecticut’s law. Griswold did not emerge from the Supreme Court fully formed; rather, it was the product of years of activism, strategic defiance, and public pressure. In a state that is now considered overwhelmingly liberal, how did such a law persist for so long? How was it ultimately overturned? What did this case reveal about the feminist movement’s presence in Connecticut in the 1960s? These questions frame the central inquiry of this essay
Evaluation Of Genetic Testing For Thoracic Aortic Disease
No full textAimsThoracic aortic disease (TAD), including aneurysms and dissections, present a significant global health challenge due to its typically asymptomatic nature until the onset of critical complications that come with high morbidity and mortality. Effective risk stratification is crucial for early identification and management of patients and their families who are at heightened risk of disease progression. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of current genetic testing guidelines for patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms. Methods The study evaluated genetic tests for TAD from 2012 to 2023 in patients aged 18 and older with a thoracic aorta diameter greater than 4 cm. Mutation rates were compared by American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association testing criteria met by patients: age younger than 60 years, syndromic features of connective tissue diseases (CTDs), family history, or none. Results were classified as pathogenic, variants of uncertain significance (VUS), or negative. Genes tested were analyzed in 2 categories: primary (strongly associated with heritable diseases) or secondary (less strongly associated). Results In total, 1034 patients were included: 42.4% aged younger than 60 years, 19.1% with syndromic features of CTD, 41.8% with family history, and 30.7% meeting no criteria. Overall, 3.97% had pathogenic mutations, and 27.27% had VUS. Mutation rates were greatest in patients with syndromic features of CTD (13.2%), followed by patients aged younger than 60 years (5.48%), with a family history (4.63%), and with no criteria met (2.21%). Primary genes had pathogenic mutation rates of 3.29% and VUS rates of 12.19%. Secondary genes had lower pathogenic rates (0.68%) but greater VUS (17.5%). Mutation rates in primary genes peaked at 22% in patients meeting all criteria, whereas those younger than 60 years without family history or syndromic features of CTD had the lowest rate (0.54%). Conclusions This study underscores the evolving role of genetic testing in the risk stratification of patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms. We found that guidelines criteria are not uniformly effective for risk stratification and employing a comprehensive strategy that encompasses the ensemble of these criteria can significantly improve risk stratification. Furthermore, we found that testing genes weakly associated with aortic disease is of limited clinical utility due to high rates of VUS. We propose that refining genetic testing guidelines to incorporate multiple patient criteria could enhance risk stratification and support informed decision-making in genetic testing for TAD
Quantitative Assessment Of Facial Ptosis In Face Transplantation
Full text linkAs a transformative surgical procedure, face transplantation restores form and function to patients with severe facial disfigurements, yet the long-term aging dynamics of transplanted tissues remain poorly characterized. This study aimed to investigate the progression of facial ptosis in transplanted facial allografts over time, addressing a critical gap in the understanding of long-term outcomes following face transplantation. Specific aims include quantifying ptosis progression using cephalometric measurements, identifying regional variations in the degree of ptosis across the face, and comparing changes between face transplant recipients and a non-face transplanted control cohort to contextualize findings.
To assess these aims, standardized frontal headshots of nine face transplant recipients were analyzed at three time points: T0 (1 year post-transplantation), T1 (3 years post-transplantation), and T2 (most recent follow-up photograph available post-transplantation, median follow-up of cohort: 9 years). Utilizing ImageJ software, ten independent cephalometric measurements adapted from the literature were employed to assess facial ptosis at each timepoint in this patient cohort. These metrics include eyebrow peak angle (bilateral), eyebrow tail angle (bilateral), vertical eyelid-iris ratio (bilateral), lateral canthus-oral-nasal angle (bilateral), bigonial-bizygomatic ratio and ergotrid length-upper lip ratio. These same measurements were performed on a group of ten non-face transplant human subjects at two timepoints, T1 and T2, with a median time interval of 78 years between them. Various descriptive analysis and non-parametric statistical tests were utilized for evaluating the results.
The results demonstrated significant changes between median values at T1 and T2 of the face transplant cohort when examining the left eyebrow peak angle (T1: 28.54° vs T2: 20.98°, p=0.0239), left eyebrow tail angle (T1: 7.01° vs T2: 15.32°, p=0.0085), right eyebrow tail angle (T1: 6.30° vs T2: 15.53°, p=0.0008), left lateral canthus-oral-nasal angle (T1: 42.80° vs T2: 37.72°, p\u3c0.0001), bigonial-bizygomatic ratio (T1: 0.87 vs T2: 0.91, p=0.0007), and ergotrid length-upper lip ratio (T1: 0.77 vs T2: 0.83, p=0.0007). There was no significant difference noted between median values at T1 and T2 when examining the right eyebrow peak angle (T1: 27.79° vs T2: 20.59°, p=0.1821), left vertical eyelid-iris ratio (T1: 0.65 vs T2: 0.62, p=0.1944) and the right lateral canthus-oral-nasal angle (T1: 42.68° vs T2: 37.11°, p=0.0689). Across all facial ptosis metrics evaluated in the upper, middle, and lower face there was no significant difference between T0 and T1 timepoints (p\u3e0.05). Sub-analysis of the cohort across applicable facial ptosis metrics between patients with bony components included in their allograft versus myocutaneous only allograft highlighted in overall trend toward greater facial ptosis in myocutaneous only allografts. When examining the non-face transplant cohort, all facial ptosis metrics demonstrated significant changes between the two timepoints. A comparison of the median change in various facial ptosis metrics from T1 to T2 of the face transplant cohort compared to the non-face transplant human subjects demonstrated no significant difference across all facial ptosis metrics evaluated except for the ergotrid length-upper lip ratio which demonstrated significantly greater ptosis in the non-face transplant cohort (0.14 vs 0.07; p=0.0220).
This study is the first to provide a direct quantification of the degree of facial ptosis seen in face transplant recipients over time. Ultimately, the findings underscore the critical need for ongoing surveillance and periodic revision procedures in face transplant recipients to maintain functional and aesthetic outcomes over the long term. While early revisions mitigate ptosis during the initial years post-transplantation, significant ptosis observed at longer follow-up intervals demonstrates the limitations of these interventions in addressing long-term tissue laxity. Preliminary findings here suggest that incorporating skeletal subunits into facial allografts may provide biomechanical advantages by preserving ligamentous support and reducing ptosis. Additionally, the findings of this research contribute to the growing understanding of facial allograft aging and offers a comparative framework against natural facial aging. The comparative ptosis progression across a median 6-year time interval of face transplant patients equalizing to a median 78-year time interval of non-face transplant human subjects underscores the potentially accelerated aging dynamics of facial allografts as they relate to facial ptosis. Collectively, these findings provide a foundation for optimizing surgical techniques, improving long-term care strategies, and expanding the utility of facial ptosis metrics in reconstructive and rehabilitative medicine
An Analysis Of Differences In Neuromodulator Expression In Mucosal Tissue In Patients With Disorders Of The Gut-Brain Interaction
No full textThis project aims to identify tissue biomarkers that correlate with clinical presentations of disorders of the gut-brain interactions by analyzing mRNA expression of neuromodulators, neurotransmitters, and their receptors in mucosal tissue biopsy samples.This study recruited pediatric patients with Rome Criteria IV- diagnosed disorders of the gut-brain interactions, as well as asymptomatic controls, who were scheduled for esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) or colonoscopy at Yale New Haven Hospital. Mucosal biopsy samples were collected from the gastric fundus, gastric antrum, and duodenum in those undergoing EGDs, and from the right and left colon in those undergoing colonoscopies. Tissue samples were frozen at-80 C until further processing. Total RNA was extracted and purified from each sample utilizing Qiagen’s RNeasy Mini Kit. NanoString technology was used for the analysis of gene expression, utilizing a customized cassette with 90 targets selected based on animal and human studies of known and potentially associated neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, and receptors affecting gastrointestinal motility and sensory functions. Sequence-specific mRNA probes were used to directly detect gene expression levels with a digital count of the target molecules. Digital counts were compared for each biopsy site between the groups using non-parametric testing. A total of 36 upper gastrointestinal (GI) biopsies from twelve patients, including two asymptomatic controls, were analyzed for neuromodulator gene expression. Our analysis demonstrates that neurotensin peptide expression was significantly elevated in the fundus of the stomach in symptomatic patients compared to controls (p = 0.030). No significant differences were found in the gastric antrum or duodenal samples. A total of 40 lower GI biopsies from 20 patients, including five asymptomatic controls, were analyzed for neuromodulator gene expression. Our analysis shows that there was a significant difference in the expression of neuropeptide Y receptor Y1 (p = 0.019), neuropeptide Y receptor Y2 (p = 0.044), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) (p = 0.019), VIP exon 1 (p= 0.010), VIP exon 2 (P = 0.014), VIP exon 7 (p = 0.019), substance P receptor exon 5 (p = 0.034) in the right colon for symptomatic patients versus controls. When stratifying by Rome IV criteria-based diagnosis, there was a significant difference in the right colon between controls and patients with functional constipation (FC) in the following neurotransmitters: adrenoreceptor alpha 2A (p = 0.042), histamine receptor H1 (p = 0.042), neuropeptide Y receptor Y1 (p \u3c 0.001), neuropeptide Y receptor Y2 (p = 0.007), neurotensin peptide (p = 0.012), Neurturin (p = 0.019), substance P receptor exon 5 (p = 0.029), VIP (p = 0.012), VIP exon 1 (p = 0.04), VIP exon 2 (p = 0.04), VIP exon 7 (p = 0.012). In contrast, no significant differences were found between controls and patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in the right colon. On the other hand, analysis of the left colon showed no significant differences in neurotransmitter expression between symptomatic and control patients overall. However, Rome-criteria based stratification revealed a significant increase in somatostatin receptor 4 expression in IBS (p = 0.016). Adrenoreceptor alpha 2A and neurotensin receptor type 1 were significantly altered in FC (p = 0.013 for both). This study highlights significant dysregulations in neurotransmitter and neuromodulator expression in the gastrointestinal tract mucosa of patients with disorders of gut-brain interactions (DGBIs). In the upper gastrointestinal tract, elevated neurotensin peptide levels in the gastric fundus were associated with DGBIs. Neurotensin has been implicated in modulating gastric motility, inhibiting acid secretion, and regulating appetite, and our results suggest that neurotensin dysregulation could be a feature of upper GI DGBI pathophysiology. In the lower GI tract, distinct differences in neurotransmitter expression were observed between the right and left colon. The right colon generally exhibited more pronounced deviations in the symptomatic state, which could potentially indicate greater involvement of the right colon in DGBI pathophysiology. Significant alterations were notably found in neuropeptide Y receptors, VIP, and substance P receptor in the right colon in patients with functional constipation, but not IBS. These results suggest that different DGBI subtypes are characterized by distinct neuromodulator profiles, which may provide insight into their pathophysiology and potential future avenues for uncovering specific biomarkers and therapeutic targets
Superficial Cervical Plexus Block And Quality Of Recovery After Thyroidectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Full text linkPurpose: To investigate the effect of the superficial cervical plexus block (SCPB) on the quality of recovery of patients undergoing thyroidectomy with an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocol
Methods: This double-blind randomized controlled trial recruited adult patients undergoing thyroidectomy to be randomized to receive pre-incisional bilateral SCPB with either 0.25% bupivacaine or saline. All enrolled participants completed a baseline Quality-of-Recovery 40 (QoR-40) survey prior to surgery, and another QoR-40 survey on postoperative day (POD) 1. Their electronic health records were reviewed to obtain information on secondary outcomes such as intraoperative analgesics administered, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) duration of stay, incidence of nausea or vomiting in PACU, and post-operative opioid consumption in PACU and on POD 1. Differences in QoR-40 scores between baseline and POD 1 were assessed with paired t-test for global QoR-40 scores and also within QoR-40 dimensions.
Results: At the time of writing, 300 patients were screened for eligibility, of which 175 were contacted and 70 provided informed consent to participate. 1 participant was withdrawn by the principal investigator after consent was provided, resulting in 69 enrolled participants. There was no loss to follow up. Among all participants, there was a significant decrease in QoR-40 score from baseline to POD 1. (Baseline: 183.5 ± 15.4; POD 1: 174.3 ± 16.8; p \u3c 0.001). There were also significant decreases in QoR-40 scores within the Physical Comfort (Baseline: 53.8 ± 5.37; POD 1: 52.4 ± 5.32; p \u3c 0.05), Physical Independence (Baseline: 23.9 ± 1.98; POD 1: 20.4 ± 3.81; p \u3c 0.001), and Pain (Baseline: 32.6 ± 3.23; POD 1: 28.8 ± 4.13; p \u3c 0.001) dimensions. There were 5 adverse events, all of which were determined to be unrelated to the study interventions.
Conclusions: While full analysis cannot be performed at this time, interim analysis of the available data provides confidence for the study’s protocol and ability to complete recruitment for the desired sample size. Future directions are to complete study enrollment and full analysis of the data
The Use Of Biologic Agents In Cutaneous Immune-Related Adverse Events Due To Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Full text linkImmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed the treatment landscape in the field of oncology due to their effective antineoplastic properties for various cancers. Though revolutionary in cancer treatment, their use is limited by various immune-related adverse events (irAE). Cutaneous immune-related adverse events (cirAE) are the most common type of irAE and encompass a spectrum of dermatological manifestations. These include lichenoid reactions, psoriasiform eruptions, eczematous dermatitis, immunobullous disorders, granulomatous reactions, pruritus (with or without a primary eruption), vitiligo, and severe cutaneous adverse reactions such as Stevens–Johnson syndrome and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome.
The standard approach in the treatment of high-grade or refractory cutaneous immune-related adverse events often involves high-dose systemic corticosteroids. However, systemic corticosteroid use can lead to the potential disruption of antitumor responses and has associated medical complications. To address this, corticosteroid-sparing targeted immunomodulators have been explored as therapeutic alternatives. Biologic agents have been commonly utilized for non-cutaneous immune-related adverse events, such as immunotherapy-induced colitis. As such, these agents are being investigated in treating various patterns of cutaneous immune-related adverse events. Biologics have been increasingly recognized as effective in the management of cirAE; however, more data is needed to establish the efficacy and safety of these agents. Safety regarding oncologic outcomes is of particular importance, as further research is necessary to explore biologic therapy’s long-term effects on antitumor responses.
In this thesis, our primary aim was to perform a comprehensive literature review to characterize the use of biologic agents in the management of different cutaneous immune-related adverse event patterns. Our second aim was to describe the efficacy and safety of cirAE treated with biologic agents in our own cohort at the Yale Oncodermatology Clinic. Finally, our third aim was to evaluate tumor response and oncologic safety in this same cohort at the Yale Oncodermatology Clinic.
In the first aim, our literature review consolidates all cirAE treated with biologic therapy from the English-language literature on PubMed. For our second and third aims, the retrospective case series includes patients with an ICI-associated cirAE treated with a biologic agent at the Yale Oncodermatology Clinic. All data collection was performed manually given the lack of accurate and standardized classification codes for the various cirAE. All data was recorded in a secure Yale Box folder. Descriptive analyses and basic statistics were performed using Microsoft Excel Version 16.92.
Aim 1 (Literature Review): Overall, 163 out of 183 (89.1%) cases in the literature of cirAE with a reported response to biologic agents had at least a partial response. In many cases, biologic therapy often led to a complete or near-complete resolution of cirAE in our study.
Aim 2 (Retrospective Case Series – Biologic Efficacy and Safety): Of patients treated at the Yale Oncodermatology Clinic, 26 patients were included in the cohort based on inclusion criteria of having an ICI-associated cirAE with subsequent treatment with biologic therapy. All 26 (100.0%) patients exhibited at least a partial response of their cirAE to biologic therapy, and 17/26 (65.4%) patients exhibited a complete response. No adverse events from biologic therapy were reported.
Aim 3 (Retrospective Case Series – Oncologic Outcomes): Of the patients treated at the Yale Oncodermatology Clinic, ICI therapy was disrupted in most cases (20/26 patients, 76.9%) due to cirAE severity. Most patients (11/20, 55.0%) were able to resume ICI therapy while their cirAE remained controlled on biologic therapy, with all patients (26/26, 100%) exhibiting at least partial clinical response to therapy. 16 patients (62%) experienced no progression of oncologic disease, while 10 patients (38%) had progression of disease while on biologic therapy.
Given that ICIs will continue to be increasingly employed for various malignancies, it is of utmost importance to manage cirAE effectively and explore the use of biologic therapy as a steroid-sparing alternative for this patient population
Neighborhood-Level Variation In The Effectiveness Of And Participation In An Intensive Health Behavior And Lifestyle Treatment Program For Pediatric Obesity
Full text linkBright Bodies (BB) is a family-based intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment (IHBLT) for pediatric obesity, with demonstrated efficacy and real-world effectiveness. Our study involved two aims: 1) to assess the extent to which real-world effectiveness varied by participants’ neighborhood characteristics, and 2) to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19-associated transition of BB to virtual delivery on participant engagement, particularly for those disadvantaged by inequities in social determinants of health. To achieve Aim 1, we included first-time BB participants 2008-2018 who had an initial BMI ≥85th percentile and available addresses. Addresses were geocoded using ArcGIS Pro and assigned a Child Opportunity Index (COI) score (Low, Moderate, and High), a robust census-level multidimensional index of neighborhood characteristics. Participants were also assigned a COI Healthy Environment (COI HE) score, an index subcategory which accounts for factors highly relevant to BB and obesity outcomes (e.g. healthy food retailer density, neighborhood walkability). We used two mixed effect linear models to examine differences in monthly change in BMI, measured as a percent of the 95th percentile (%BMIp95), by COI or COI HE, adjusting for age, sex, season/year of first session, and baseline %BMIp95. In the COI HE model, we additionally adjusted for ethnicity and insurance type. The study sample included 391 youth (mean ± SD age 11.7 ± 2.8 y, 60.1% female). Participants’ neighborhoods were categorized as 80.8/66.5% Low COI/COI HE, 10.5/22.5% Moderate, and 8.7/11.0% High. Participants’ %BMIp95 reduced on average by 1.65% (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.41, 1.89) per month overall in the COI model; results from the COI HE model were comparable (1.84 [95% CI 1.61, 2.07]). COI was not significantly associated with change in %BMIp95 (p = 0.050). Participants from both High and Low COI neighborhoods had greater change in %BMIp95 compared with those from Moderate neighborhoods (-0.68 [-1.28, -0.07], p = 0.03; -0.44 [-0.85, -0.04], p = 0.03 respectively). In contrast, COI HE was significantly associated with change in %BMIp95 (p = 0.004). Those from High COI HE neighborhoods had greater change in %BMIp95 compared with those from Moderate (-0.65 [-1.18, -0.13], p = 0.014) and Low neighborhoods (-0.79 [-1.25, -0.32], p-value = 0.001). These results suggest that BB is effective across all levels of COI/COI HE, yet may be more so for those from High COI HE neighborhoods. Future modifications to BB and similar pediatric IHBLTs should seek to directly address inequities in access to built environments that facilitate healthy, active living. To achieve Aim 2, we included new participants in the traditional in-person BB (1/2018-12/2019, pre-pandemic) and virtual BB (4/2020-3/2022, during-pandemic) who enrolled within a sufficient timeframe to attend ≥10 classes. Addresses were geocoded and assigned both COI and COI Housing Resources (HQ) scores; the latter accounts for factors uniquely relevant to virtual programming (e.g. limited broadband access, crowded housing). Using Chi-square and independent t-tests, we compared baseline participant demographics, as well as enrollment timing, COI/COI HQ distribution, and geographic spread for in-person vs. virtual participants. Using Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon Rank-Sum, and Pearson correlation tests, we investigated variation in attendance for in-person vs. virtual participants, assessing for the influence of enrollment timing, COI, COI HQ, and geographic spread. New in-person (N = 67) and virtual participants (N = 73) had similar baseline characteristics (mean age 11 ± SD 2.6y, 55% female), with no meaningful differences in overall attendance, late enrollment rate, or COI/COI HQ distribution. Those in virtual programs had a longer median travel time to the in-person Bright Bodies location by 2.7 min (p = 0.002). We did not observe a meaningful difference in attendance between in-person vs. virtual Bright Bodies among those who enrolled on time (75.0% vs. 74.3%, p = 0.98), but among those who enrolled late, attendance was substantially lower in the virtual group (56.9% vs. 31.3%, p = 0.02). We also did not observe meaningful differences in attendance in in-person vs. virtual BB among those from Low COI (60.0% vs. 50.0%, p = 0.18), Moderate COI (90.5% vs. 84.2%, p = 0.42), or High COI neighborhoods (42.7% vs. 50.0%, p = 0.96). Nor did we observe meaningful differences in attendance among those from Low COI HQ (59.2% vs. 46.7%, p = 0.07), Moderate COI HQ (51.0% vs. 71.4%, p = 0.35), or High COI HQ (80.0% vs. 60.0%, p = 0.32) neighborhoods. Travel time to the in-person BB location was inversely associated with attendance among in-person (r = -0.29, p = 0.02), but not virtual participants (r = 0.06, p = 0.63). These findings suggest that virtual BB appeals to youth with similar demographics compared with in-person BB and has the potential to engage a more geographically diverse population. A tailored orientation for late enrollees may improve engagement specifically in virtual BB. Barriers rooted in housing resource inequities do not appear to hinder participation more in virtual BB compared with in-person BB
Adopting America’s Future Citizens: The Children’s Bureau and the Plight of East Asian War Orphans, 1950-1969
Full text linkThis essay considers the role of the Children’s Bureau in the transnational adoptions of East Asian war orphans from 1950-1969. World War II and other Cold War conflicts left hundreds of thousands of children in Japan, Hong Kong, and Korea orphaned and displaced. This essay argues that the Children’s Bureau played an important role in the transnational adoptions of East Asian war orphans. The Bureau was the only federal agency involved in these adoptions explicitly devoted to child welfare. Cold War geopolitics imbued the Bureau’s approach. Through transnational adoptions, the agency simultaneously responded to Cold War pressures to help children fathered by American GIs abroad while promoting narratives of American altruism. World War II and the Cold War expanded notions of adoptability, but the Bureau struggled to reconcile its claims of “universal childhood” with the perceived racial differences of East Asian war orphans. As private, proxy adoption schemes like the Holt Adoption Program rose in prominence during the mid-1950s through the 1960s, the Bureau fought a losing battle against proxy adoptions and privatization. The Children’s Bureau played a significant role in the history of transnational adoptions, and it is one deserving of closer consideration