University of Human Arts and Sciences

ABSTRACT This article examines how U.S. foreign aid and diplomacy shaped authoritarian durability and human rights violations in Egypt under Hosni Mubarak (1981–2011). Drawing on interest convergence theory (Regilme 2021), the analysis demonstrates that U.S. assistance functioned less as a vehicle for democratization than as strategic support embedded in a stability-first bargain that privileged regional order, counterterrorism, regime survival, and the Egypt–Israel peace over human rights protection. Using process tracing, the article analyzes U.S. aid data, official statements, and human rights reports to identify four mechanisms: strategic localization of donor discourses by regime elites, resource mobilization into coercive and patronage capacity, selective repression of opposition and civil society, and a culture of impunity that insulated abuses from accountability. The findings show how material transfers and legitimizing narratives reinforced one another, expanding coercive governance while rendering rights politically expendable. The article contributes to debates on foreign aid, authoritarian resilience, and Middle East politics by specifying when and how external support entrenches repression.

E-cigarette use (i.e., vaping) among young adults increases the risk for significant health consequences and combustible cigarette uptake. Although there are a growing number of vaping cessation interventions for young adults, there are no known evidence-based e-cigarette use treatments that include smoking uptake prevention. The Live Free From E-Cigarettes (LIFFE) digital program was developed to help young adults stop or reduce their use of e-cigarettes and reduce their cigarette smoking susceptibility. Twenty young adults (ages 18-24) who vape but do not smoke combustible cigarettes were recruited via social media. They completed an initial survey and the single-session, 30-min intervention on their mobile devices, followed by quantitative measures of intervention feasibility and acceptability. One week later, participants completed an interview to provide feedback about the program and a follow-up survey. All participants completed all seven intervention modules. Participants rated LIFFE as feasible in terms of delivery, usability, and logistics. Participants were satisfied with the content, design, and potential to help them and other young adults who vape to stop or reduce use. Some participants reported reductions in their susceptibility to smoke and vaping behaviors, including via quitting, 1 week after the intervention. Quantitative and qualitative results indicate that LIFFE is a feasible and acceptable program for engaging young adults in cessation efforts. Participants also included suggestions for potential changes to enhance the LIFFE program. Next steps will include building upon these suggestions for intervention refinement and testing the refined version in a randomized controlled trial. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

In this study, we aimed to determine whether the semitendinosus (ST) and biceps femoris long head (BF) exhibit systematically distinct preferred directions (PDs) and to evaluate the biomechanical mechanisms underlying the PDs. A total of 21 healthy young adults performed isometric torque tasks in 16 sagittal-plane directions while surface electromyography (EMG) signals were recorded from six lower limb muscles. Joint torque was estimated with inverse dynamics, and muscle PDs were determined through linear regression of EMG against torque data. Optimal PDs were predicted with static optimization modeling that incorporated both moment arm and physiological cross-sectional areas. Mechanical-only PDs were also estimated based solely on moment arm geometry. Experimentally derived PDs differed significantly between ST and BF (P < 0.001). The ST exhibited significantly greater alignment with optimization-based predictions (mean cosine similarity = 0.96 ± 0.08) than with mechanical-only predictions (0.82 ± 0.15, P = 0.0007), whereas the BF showed comparable levels of agreement with both models (optimization = 0.70 ± 0.35, mechanical = 0.76 ± 0.20, P = 0.3096). These findings indicate that muscle-specific neural modulation contributes to directional tuning, particularly in the ST, and highlight the necessity of incorporating both biomechanical and neural factors to understand spatial organization of muscle activity during complex multijoint motor tasks.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrates that the semitendinosus and biceps femoris long head exhibit distinct preferred directions during multijoint isometric torque tasks. Whereas biceps femoris shows high interindividual variability despite anatomical alignment, semitendinosus consistently deviates from mechanical predictions, suggesting stable neural modulation. These findings reveal how the central nervous system selectively tunes muscle activity in a muscle-specific manner, balancing anatomical structure and task-dependent control across multijoint muscles.

Recent advances in design biology, including artificial cells, DNA nanostructures, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven molecular design, biofoundries, and next-generation genome editing, are transforming the health sciences of mind and body (HS-MB). Moving beyond traditional observational paradigms, these technologies enable predictive and design-oriented strategies for regulating stress, emotional health, achieving immune homeostasis, and managing lifestyle-related disorders. Psychological and social factors profoundly influence core physiological systems, including neuroendocrine (hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal [HPA]) axis and cortisol rhythm, autonomic (vagal tone and heart rate variability), immune (cytokine balance and inflammatory control), metabolic (glucose–insulin regulation), and sleep–circadian systems. Artificial cells serve as controllable models for neurotransmitter signaling, immune interactions, and gut–brain communication, while DNA origami provides programmable nanocarriers that complement lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). Genome-editing innovations—such as prime, base, and epigenome editing—facilitate precise and reversible modulation of psychiatric risk genes, particularly when combined with induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) and brain-organoid models. Biofoundries integrate AI into Design–Build–Test–Learn (DBTL) cycles, automating molecular discovery and optimization. Ethical and regulatory considerations, including AI transparency, biocontainment, and dual-use governance, must be incorporated from the outset. Collectively, design biology, when strategically aligned with HS-MB, establishes a foundational framework for twenty-first-century medicine that bridges molecular engineering and holistic well-being.

The integration of augmented reality (AR) in education has demonstrated significant potential to transform traditional learning into interactive and immersive experiences, particularly in language learning. This study explores the perceptions and experiences of undergraduate student facilitators in designing and implementing an AR-enhanced adventure game to improve English proficiency. The research involved 23 participants utilizing the EyeJack application to develop situational learning activities that incorporated cognitive and language skills. A convergent mixed-methods approach was employed, combining surveys, structured interviews, and artifact-based observations to evaluate communication, the quality of instructional materials, the use of AR tools, and logistical considerations. The results reveal that AR significantly enhanced engagement, motivation, and practical language application among participants. However, challenges such as technical constraints, the need for facilitator training, and adaptation to diverse learning contexts were highlighted. Participants emphasized AR’s potential to foster meaningful and enjoyable educational experiences while advocating for improvements in logistical support and training. The findings provide valuable insights for educators and policymakers into how AR can be effectively integrated into language learning to enhance collaboration, critical thinking, and task-based learning. Furthermore, this study contributes to the broader academic field by advancing knowledge on the pedagogical applications of AR, offering a framework for scaling its implementation across diverse educational settings. This study concludes that AR-enhanced activities, when strategically designed and executed, can revolutionize language education by bridging traditional and technology-enhanced methodologies. By addressing current challenges, AR tools can serve as transformative resources, promoting inclusive and innovative learning practices that align with the evolving demands of education in the digital age.

The characters, stories, and various issues related to female consciousness discussed in literary texts can serve as a conduit for readers to understand the complex of gender, culture, and identity in postcolonial contexts. This article explores how Chinese-American author Eileen Chang portrays the realization of female consciousness in women from post-colonial Hong Kong and Shanghai through music. Drawing upon the theories of Lucy Green and Marcia J. Citron, this study conducts a critical content analysis of two of Chang's works Aloeswood Incense (1944) and Love in a Fallen City (1943). It examines specific dialogues and discourses related to themes of music, gender, and cultural identity. In this context, the main character Weilong in one story transforms her engagement with music and education, showcasing her journey towards self-realization and empowerment, while the protagonist Liusu in the other narrative is depicted as navigating through societal expectations and personal aspirations, with music playing a significant role in her selfempowerment. The research findings suggest Chang's works reflect the expectations and limitations of society towards women, while also revealing the crucial role of music in shaping and expressing female identity. This article can serve as a means for readers to learn about how women's roles and identities in relation to music were shaped and how cultural background can help create similar outcomes.

ABSTRACTRhythmic limb multi-joint movement like locomotion is controlled by intralimb coordination. Intralimb coordination changes entail immediate alterations in movement patterns and be related with cerebellum function. Synchronized cerebellum activity has known to modulate the frequency of walking, but not known the effect of only intralimb coordination. The purpose of this study was to reveal the effect of synchronized and unsynchronized cerebellum activity on the coordination of multi-joint movements of the unilateral leg in young and elderly people. To achieve our purpose, we applied synchronized and unsynchronized cerebellum transcranial alternating current stimulation during cyclic unilateral multi-joint movement by visual tracking task. The results showed that the reduction in comprehensive synchrony between targets and movements through trials had no significant differences under all stimulus conditions in young and elderly people. However, the reduction in variation of synchronization through trials was significantly smaller under the synchronized transcranial alternating current stimulation condition in both young and elderly groups. Variation of synchronization was remarkably reduced under the synchronized transcranial alternating current stimulation condition for the elderly group. This study showed that movement-synchronized cerebellum activity contributes to reducing fluctuations in movement synchrony by coordinating unilateral multi-joint movements. Moreover, this reduction was remarkable in the elderly group.

This paper investigated the use of defective verbs. The data were collected by the means of written continuous assessment administered to one hundred and fifty EFL learners of English Department of the University of Doba. They were analyzed through Corder’s (1967) Error Analysis (EA) approach. The results of this study revealed that those students encountered a lot of difficulties in using defective verbs in their essays. Five types of errors have been identified. These include the insertion of complete infinitive after defective verbs, the adding of ‘-ed’ at the end of defective verbs, the use of preterit after defective verbs, the adding of ‘s’ at the end of defective verbs and the use of ‘do’ with defective verbs in negative form and interrogative form. The analysis indicated that 37.81% of error regarded the insertion of complete infinitive after defective verbs, 18.48% concerned the adding of ‘-ed’ at the end of defective verbs, 17.64% concerned the use of preterit after defective verbs, 15.96% concerned the adding of ‘s’ at the end of defective verbs and 10.08% regarded the use of ‘do’ with defective verbs. These errors are influenced by the phenomenon of overgeneralization of English grammatical rules on the one hand and the lack of mastery of the use of defective verbs on the other hand.

BACKGROUND: Chronic physical fatigue is one of the most pressing problems among athletes. The Profile of Mood States is often used in sports scenario, but subjective assessments have the risk of overlooking actual chronic physical fatigue. By contrast, salivary human herpesvirus 6 has attracted attention as a sensitive microbiological marker for objective assessment in recent years. Therefore, we conducted a pilot study to determine whether the salivary human herpesvirus 6 can be applied for condition monitoring in athletes. Additionally, we examined whether the viral marker is independent of subjective assessment.METHODS: Subjects were 20 healthy male university Judo athletes. This study had a cross-sectional design. The main outcome was the detection rate and DNA copy number of salivary human herpesvirus 6. We also conducted the Profile of Mood States 2 to examine the correlation between the DNA copy number and Fatigue-Inertia or Total Mood Disturbance scores.RESULTS: Salivary human herpesvirus 6 was detected in 19 of the 20 (95%) saliva samples, and the mean±standard error of DNA copy number was 60,503±18,653 copies/mL. There was no significant correlation between the DNA copy number and mood states (Fatigue-Inertia: rs=-0.037, P>0.05, Total Mood Disturbance: rs=0.030, P>0.05).CONCLUSIONS: Salivary human herpesvirus 6 can be used as a marker of chronic physical fatigue in athletes because both the detection rate and DNA copy number were greater than those reported in non-athletes in previous studies. Moreover, it can be considered that the viral marker is independent of subjective assessment.

Although the benefits of the consumption of green tea and its components, including catechins and theanine, regarding aging, memory impairment and age-related cognitive decline have been investigated in senescence-accelerated prone mice (SAMP8), studies that simultaneously measured the kinds of proteins that vary in their expression due to the administration of green tea and its extracts were not found. In this study, the effect of dietary and decaffeinated matcha on protein expression in the hippocampus of SAMP 8 was examined comprehensively, mainly using proteomics. Although improvements in memory and the hair appearance of the back coat were limited upon administering the samples, the following regulations were observed in some of the proteins involved in neuron degeneration, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, synapse transmission and nerve cell plasticity, antioxidation, glutamate transport and metabolism, GABA (γ-amino butyric acid) formation and transport and excitatory amino acid transporters: proteins downregulated upon sample intake (p < 0.05): brain acid-soluble protein 1, microtubule-associated protein tau, synapsin-2, sodium- and chloride-dependent GABA transporter; proteins that tended to decrease upon sample intake (0.05 < p < 0.10): Parkinson’s disease (autosomal recessive and early-onset) 7 and synapsin-1; proteins upregulated upon sample intake (p > 0.95): glutathione S-transferase Mu 1, tubulin alpha-1A chain, dynamin-2, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II subunit gamma and tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tyrosine 5-monooxygenase activation protein epsilon polypeptide; proteins that tended to increase upon sample intake (0.95 > p > 0.90): glutathione S-transferase Mu7 and soluble carrier family 1 (glial high-affinity glutamate transporter); proteins that tended to decrease: sodium- and chloride-dependent GABA transporter 3. These results indicate that matcha and decaffeinated matcha could reduce aging and cognitive impairment by regulating the expression of these proteins. Furthermore, these proteins could be used as markers for the evaluation of food and its available components for reducing aging and cognitive impairment.