Digital Commons Network^™

Trump Vs. The Fourteenth Amendment, Rye Maccurtain

Bates College Journal of Political Studies

This paper argues that President Trump’s 2025 executive order to end birthright citizenship represents a major break from constitutional tradition and a clear turn toward far-right ideology. The order challenges the Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to anyone born on United States soil and has been upheld for more than a century, including in the Supreme Court case United States v. Wong Kim Ark. Although some conservatives may frame the action as a routine effort to strengthen immigration policy, the order moves beyond traditional conservatism. It departs from the rule of law, rejects long-standing legal precedent, and promotes an exclusionary …

On The Persistence Of Justice: Is Justice Always The Bedrock Of A Political Constitution?, Miles Kaufman

Bates College Journal of Political Studies

This paper seeks to determine the extent to which justice is required in premodern political constitutional thought. For coherence, I have calibrated this paper’s focus to the works of Plato, Augustine, and Machiavelli. Plato embodies the foundation of justice in Western political theory; Augustine, its early Christianization; and Machiavelli, removed by the better part of a millennium as he is from the two former, represents the later progression of justice as a concept. All develop political constitutions reliant upon some form of justice. I begin with a summary of the coherence of justice despite significant evolution over time, establishing three …

Spirituality Activism And Identity As A Site Of Transformation Based On Gloria Anzaldùa’S Vision Of Resistance, Maria Torres Rey

Bates College Journal of Political Studies

This paper examines Gloria Anzaldùa’s conceptualization of identity as a dynamic site of resistance and healing within Chicana feminist thought. Through frameworks such as mestiza consciousness, Nepantla and spiritual activism, Anzaldùa challenges Western dualisms and reimagines identity as a fluid and political space shaped by personal and collective experience. Her theories provide a powerful lens for understanding the intersections of race, gender, sexuality and spirituality. This paper also argues that her emphasis on inner transformation risks under-engaging material structures such as capitalism, state violence and environmental degradation. By situating Anzaldùa alongside key Chicana feminist scholars, the paper highlights both the …

Patenting Health: How Intellectual Property Rights Jeopardise Medical Research, Lorenz N. Soukup

Bates College Journal of Political Studies

Recent health crises have taught us that proper resource allocation is an important tool in the fight against e.g., pandemics and endemics. This concerns medical care on the one side, but also medical research as a precursor and catalyst for successful implementation of interventions, on the other side. James R. Brown argues that the most effective way to make use of medical research is to make the funding a public affair, removing private stakeholders from the equation. Concretely, he proposes to remove intellectual property rights in medicine as a whole. This paper evaluates his thesis.

Ai Against Copyright Law And Intellectual Property, Nate Oh

Bates College Undergraduate Law Review

No abstract provided.

The New Language: Contractual Interpretation In The Age Of Emojis, Kosi Moneke

Bates College Undergraduate Law Review

Since their creation in 1999, emojis have evolved from just playful visual expressions to communicative tools that are increasingly appearing in legal disputes. This paper explores emojis as mediums of legal meaning. It examines how U.S. contract law approaches emojis as evidence of assent, threat, conspiracy, and intent, and how established contractual doctrines have adapted to emojis as tools of expressive communication. Though ambiguous, this paper aims to demonstrate that emojis can be interpreted within existing contractual frameworks.

This paper is structured as follows: it situates emojis as a continuation of contract law's historical engagement with nonverbal assent. It will …

Rethinking Coercion: Moving Beyond Moralized Accounts Of Coercion, Lorenz N. Soukup

Bates College Journal of Political Studies

Coercion is often portrayed as a vile act, which is inherently immoral. Typical examples include blackmail or receiving an offer at gunpoint. Most contemporary theories centre around this characteristic immorality of coercion. In the following paper I will argue that coercion need not involve an immoral act. I will look at two distinctly different theories of coercion. On the one hand, a moralised account proposed by Jennifer Lackey and on the other hand, an account refraining from moralising coercion brought forward by Scott Anderson. The aim of this paper is not to define coercion but to motivate a shift in …

Recurring Patterns In Democratic Backsliding: The United States, Hungary, And Israel, Leah Brouda

Bates College Journal of Political Studies

Utilizing a three-pronged analysis method, this article argues that not only is democratic backsliding – the degrading quality of democratic institutions in a state – on the rise but that it has frequent recurring themes. These themes are consolidation of executive authority, changes in court power and judicial independence, and election manipulation. Utilizing a combination of public opinion research and indexes such as Freedom House and the Global State of Democracy Index (GSDI), these themes emerge as patterns that are both understood and misconstrued by citizens in each country and of the world. The analysis is based on themes in …

Trump Vs. The Fourteenth Amendment, Rye Maccurtain

Bates College Undergraduate Law Review

This paper argues that President Trump’s 2025 executive order to end birthright citizenship represents a major break from constitutional tradition and a clear turn toward far-right ideology. The order challenges the Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to anyone born on United States soil and has been upheld for more than a century, including in the Supreme Court case United States v. Wong Kim Ark. Although some conservatives may frame the action as a routine effort to strengthen immigration policy, the order moves beyond traditional conservatism. It departs from the rule of law, rejects long-standing legal precedent, and promotes an exclusionary …

Combating Human Rights Abuses In The Democratic Republic Of Congo, Karan Kuppa-Apte

Bates College Journal of Political Studies

This article focuses on human rights abuses stemming from the mining industry of the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly in the country's eastern region. It argues that the United States (US), European Union (EU), and China should strive to uphold human rights in DRC because of their significant global presence and involvement in the country's mining industry. It begins with an overview of the conflict, including its historical origins, relevant actors, and current status quo. It continues by describing two unsuccessful strategies that have been tried to protect human rights. It concludes with a recommendation to the US, EU, and …

Silenced Voices: An Exploration Of Religious Oppression And Human Rights Violation In Post-Revolutionary Iran, Isabella Caradonna

Bates College Undergraduate Law Review

No abstract provided.

Conflating Disease, Morality, And Sex: Regulating Military Fitness In The War Years, Hanna Ranis

Bates College Journal of Political Studies

The United States military worried about the impact of venereal diseases on the ability of soldiers to fight in both World War 1 and 2. The war years thus resulted in an increase in regulations that sought to curb the spread of venereal diseases. Much of this regulatory shift has focused on how police targeted women who were suspected of spreading venereal diseases to American soldiers. Women were profiled as promiscuous and possible sex workers, with the lines between the two categories becoming increasingly blurred. Policing was viewed as a public health regulatory mechanism that needed to be carried out …

The Flexibility Of The Constitution: Civil War-Era Actions And Their Reenactments, Leah Brouda

Bates College Undergraduate Law Review

No abstract provided.

Bates College Journal Of Political Studies: Volume Ii, Issue 1, Fall 2025, Bates Initiative For Government Studies

Bates College Journal of Political Studies

No abstract provided.

Bates College Undergraduate Law Review: Volume Ii, Issue I, Fall 2025, Bates College Law Society

Bates College Undergraduate Law Review

No abstract provided.

Integrating Peer Specialists In Primary Care: Narrative Review With Illustrative Examples, And Pragmatic Recommendations To Support Implementation, Emily M. Johnson, Christina Shook, Kimberly Barrie, Kyle Possemato

The Journal of Integrated Primary Care

Behavioral health peer support specialists, peers, are health care system employees with lived experience of mental health or substance use concerns who are trained and hired to support others with behavioral health concerns in behavioral health clinics and medical settings. Peer-delivered services have a long history and research consistently demonstrates evidence of varied benefits for a wide range of patients. Peers are increasingly being hired to work within primary care settings to support the needs of primary care patients with behavioral health concerns and enhance the interdisciplinary nature of integrated primary care teams. However, integration of peers into this new …

Constrained Response Generation For Conversational Generative Ai Agents, Łukasz Bieniasz-Krzywiec, Kyle Boone, Ryan Carl Yao Yu

Defensive Publications Series

The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) agents in various applications can be affected by the underlying models exhibiting hallucinations and/or vulnerability to prompt injection attacks. In customer-facing applications, such as taking orders for quick service restaurants (QSR) or drive-through restaurants, model hallucinations can create a risk of brand damage and/or bad publicity. This disclosure describes techniques that constrain the output of generative AI agents using deterministic control to reduce off-topic or inappropriate responses in structured conversational contexts such as order-taking in a quick service restaurant. A deterministic control module includes a state machine whose states are the current context. …

Adaptive Placement Of Augmented Reality User Interface Elements Using Reinforcement Learning, Dongeek Shin

Defensive Publications Series

Conventional augmented reality (AR) systems often struggle to accurately and contextually place user interface (UI) elements, leading to a non-immersive or intrusive user experience. This disclosure presents a method for personalized UI placement in AR through reinforcement learning. The technique utilizes an agent trained with deep reinforcement learning to determine the optimal position and orientation of virtual UI elements. Input features, including environmental depth maps, eye-tracking data, and application context, are processed to inform placement decisions. The agent learns from both implicit user interactions, like gaze aversion or physical interference, and explicit user corrections. This process allows the UI placement …

Cross-Device Eye-Tracking Calibration Via Reference Model Remapping, Mar Gonzalez Franco, Eric Jordan Gonzalez, Lucy Abramyan, Karan Ahuja, Prasanthi Gurumurthy, Khushman Jayantilal Patel

Defensive Publications Series

Eye-tracking calibration models are often specific to a particular device’s sensor geometry, requiring extensive data collection and retraining when camera or LED positions are altered in new hardware. This process is resource-intensive and hinders the portability of models across different devices. A method is disclosed for adapting a comprehensive eye-tracking model from a reference device to a new device with a different sensor layout. By collecting a minimal set of new calibration points on the target device, a transformation matrix is generated. This matrix remaps the existing reference model to the new geometry. The primary purpose of this technique is …

Visual Cue For Item Value Discrepancy In An Augmented Reality Environment, Nick Dugal

Defensive Publications Series

Wearable devices, such as augmented reality (AR) devices and smart glasses, lack an intuitive, non-disruptive mechanism for informing a user about suboptimal pricing for a viewed item. This disclosure describes a method for displaying a dynamic visual cue, such as a stylized line, proximate to an item’s displayed price. The properties of this cue, including color, thickness, or animation, can be modified to convey the magnitude of the value discrepancy. User interaction with the cue can reveal detailed comparison pricing sourced from various databases. This price-matching information can also be transferred to a secondary device. The primary purpose is to …

Automated Spatial Localization Of Iot Devices Via Visual Detection And Network-Initiated Feedback, Michael Christopher Yu

Defensive Publications Series

Manually registering the spatial positions of numerous Internet of Things (IoT) devices within an Extended Reality (XR) environment is a cumbersome process for users. This lack of automated spatial mapping limits the ability to perform context-aware interactions with these devices. The disclosed method addresses this by using an XR device’s vision and depth sensors to first detect a potential IoT device and estimate its 3D position. The XR device then sends a network-based request to candidate devices, instructing them to provide a confirmation signal, such as illuminating an LED. When the XR device’s camera detects this signal, the device's identity …

Design-Time Preview System For Blended User Interfaces On Transparent Displays, Adhithya Ramakumar, Louis Benedict Pullen-Freilich

Defensive Publications Series

Designing user interfaces for transparent additive displays presents a challenge in which graphical blend modes alter specified UI colors based on the real-world background, creating a mismatch between the design intent and the final user experience. This limitation forces a slow, iterative workflow of deploying to a physical device to verify visual appearance. A method is disclosed for generating an accurate design-time preview of such UIs directly within a development environment. The technique renders the complete UI to an offscreen buffer and then composites the UI against a representative background using a graphics layer with a specified blend mode. This …

Addressing Challenges In Accessing Secondary And Tertiary Healthcare Services For Migrants And Refugees In Egypt, Noura Seada, Nehal El-Bakhshawangy, Heba Semary, Fatma Alzahraa Hassan, Ahmed Hammad

Papers, Posters, and Presentations

The growing number of vulnerable migrants and refugees worldwide presents a significant challenge to host countries, particularly in terms of accessing healthcare services. Egypt hosts over 9 million migrants and refugees, with 1.5 million in a vulnerable situation. Despite the country’s efforts in providing adequate healthcare to these vulnerable groups, some challenges persist. This paper addresses the barriers that vulnerable migrants and refugees face when seeking secondary and tertiary healthcare services in Egypt, analyzing the legal, economic, social, and health system factors that contribute to this problem.

In 2018, the Egyptian government began an ambitious journey to reform its healthcare …

Development Of An Iot-Based Energy Theft Detection System For A Single-Phase Smart Meter, Ojo Julius Oladele, Funso Kehinde Ariyo, Samson Oladayo Ayanlade, Ayooluwa Peter Adeagbo, Ismail Adeniyi Adeleke

Al-Bahir

Electricity theft causes annual global losses exceeding $96 billion, severely impacting distribution networks. This paper presents a novel IoT-based system integrating current differential sensing, physical tamper detection, and edge-cloud analytics to detect energy theft in single-phase smart meters. The design employs three ACS712 current sensors to monitor Kirchhoff-compliant current flow at the grid pole, meter input, and load output, coupled with a PIR sensor for cabinet intrusion. A SIM800L GSM module enables real-time theft alerts and remote disconnection, while closed-loop control autonomously restores power after tamper resolution — a feature absent in prior GSM-only systems. An Android application provides geotagged …

Economic Evaluation Of Ai-Assisted Technologies In Healthcare: A Systematic Review, Wen-Tung Wu, Yi-Wen Chao, Tsung-Kun Lin, Ching-Kuo Huang, Ping-Hsuan Hsieh

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are increasingly integrated into healthcare, yet their economic value remains uncertain. Traditional economic evaluation methods may not adequately capture the unique features of AI, including dynamic model evolution, scalability, and broader societal impacts. This systematic review synthesized existing evidence on the cost-effectiveness of AI-based healthcare interventions and assessed the methodological rigor of published studies. A comprehensive search identified health economic evaluations of AI applications published between September 2019 and March 2025, following PRISMA and SWiM guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42025641230). Eligible studies were full economic evaluations comparing AI-based interventions with non-AI alternatives, and data were …

Combination Treatment Of Cordycepin And Radiation Induces Apoptosis Accompanied By Protective Autophagy In Tm3 Mouse Leydig Progenitor Cells, Yu-Yan Lan, Yi-Ping Lee, Wei-Ru Huang, Chun-Ying Yu, Lyh-Jyh Hao, Chun-Hung Lin, Bu-Miin Huang

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Leydig cells are anatomically located in the testicular interstitial tissue, and their main function is to produce and secrete testosterone and indirectly support spermatogenesis. We previously reported that the combination treatment of cordycepin and radiation can effectively induce Leydig tumor cell apoptosis through cell cycle arrest, caspase activation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and DNA damage. However, there is still a lack of scientific evidence for the susceptibility of normal Leydig cells to the combination treatment. In the present study, mouse TM3 Leydig progenitor cells were used as a model to evaluate the effects and mechanisms …

Selective Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter Two Inhibitor Empagliflozin Ameliorates Diabetic Cardiomyopathy By Activating The Ampk/Tfeb Signaling Pathway., Man-Chen Hsu, Ru-Wen Chang, Mu-Chun Wang, Chia-Hui Chen, Wen-Hua Chen, Tzong-Shyuan Lee, Chih-Hsien Wang

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

The highly selective SGLT2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) is reported to have beneficial effects on diabetic cardiac hypertrophy; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the cardioprotection of SGLT2i are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the impact of the SGLT2 Inhibitor empagliflozin (EMPA) on diabetic hearts and its regulatory mechanisms in high-fat-diet (HFD)- and streptozotocin (STZ)-treated rats. Male rats orally administered HFD/STZ treatment for eight weeks, with or without EMPA (10 mg/kg), were used as our in vivo model. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used for histological examination. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry were used to analyze the expression of …

Targeting Chemical Carcinogenesis: Α-Pinene And D-Limonene As Chemopreventive Agents Against Nnk/ Tcdd- And Urethane-Induced Lung Tumorigenesis, Kuo-Ching Huang, Vui-Hyen Chew, Yu-Ying Chen, Huey-Jen Su, Hao-Ting Chang, Rong‑Jane Chen, Ying‑Jan Wang

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, driven by carcinogens such as tobacco-derived nitrosamines, dioxins, and urethane. This study evaluated the chemopreventive effects of two monoterpenes, α-pinene and D-limonene, using NNK/TCDD- and urethane-induced lung tumor models and A549 lung cancer cells. Both compounds significantly reduce tumor number and size, with enhanced effects when combined. Mechanistic studies revealed suppression of PRC1, β-catenin, and c-Myc, alongside activation of p53, Bax, and caspase-3, indicating inhibition of the PRC1—Wnt/β-catenin pathway and induction of apoptosis. These findings suggest α-pinene and D-limonene as safe, promising agents for lung cancer chemoprevention.

Fish Oil Rich In Ω-3 Fatty Acid Alleviates Long-Term High Fructose Consumption-Induced Fatty Liver And Kidney Dysfunction In Rats, Shing-Hwa Liu, Ruoh-Wenn Hung, Ting-Yu Chang, Meng-Tsan Chiang

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Excessive fructose intake leads to fatty liver and kidney dysfunction, with associated inflammation and metabolic disturbances. This study evaluated the effects of fish oil rich in ω-3 fatty acid on these conditions in rats fed a high- fructose diet. Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups: normal diet, high-fructose (HF) diet, and high- fructose diet with 5% fish oil supplementation. The experiment lasted for 21 weeks. Fish oil supplementation significantly reduced blood levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in HF-fed rat. It also improved liver function markers and kidney function indicators. Mechanistically, fish …

Effects Of Chamomile And L-Theanine Beverage On Menstrual Pain, Menstrual Symptoms, Mood, And Sleep Quality In Young Women Experiencing Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study, Ziqing Soh, Soo Cing Tan, Tak Hiong Wong, Seok Tyug Tan, Seok Shin Tan, Chin Xuan Tan

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Primary dysmenorrhea is one of the most common complaints among young women. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of chamomile and L-theanine beverage intake on menstrual symptoms, pain intensity, mood, and sleep quality in young adult females with primary dysmenorrhea, using a two-phase continuous study design. In the first phase, a cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea. In the second phase, participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n =15), which consumed chamomile and L- theanine beverage (CTT), or the control group (n =15), which consumed chamomile-flavored beverage (non-CTT). Beverages …