vitality

The article analyses the cognitive and pragmatic functions of anthropomorphic metaphor in contemporary English-language discourse relating to project management and innovative information technologies. Particular attention is devoted to the conceptual mechanisms through which human characteristics, physiological states, cognitive processes and social relationships are projected onto abstract technological phenomena and corporate management practices. The study investigates the role of anthropomorphic metaphor in the formation of specialised terminology, the conceptualisation of complex digital processes and the facilitation of professional communication within multicultural corporate environments. Drawing upon the cognitive theory of metaphor, the research employs corpus-based analysis using Corpus Query Language (CQL) to identify, extract and classify metaphorical expressions occurring in technical documentation and professional project management communications. The analysis examines representative terminological units, including parent/child process, orphan file, zombie process, dead code, AI hallucinations, handshake, project health check and post-mortem, with particular emphasis on their underlying source domains and communicative implications. The findings reveal systematic patterns of metaphorical conceptualisation across two principal areas: innovative IT technologies and corporate project management. Technological processes are frequently represented through metaphors associated with human mortality, vitality and cognitive activity, whereas managerial practices draw extensively upon models of physical health, social interaction and interpersonal relationships. Three principal pragmatic functions of anthropomorphic metaphors are identified: cognitive-heuristic, communicativemanagerial and emotional-psychological. These functions contribute to the interpretation of complex technical phenomena, the establishment of shared professional terminology and the conceptual framing of organisational processes. The research further identifies the relevance of anthropomorphic terminology to intercultural professional communication, particularly in environments where English functions as a lingua franca. It is established that understanding the conceptual foundations of such expressions represents an important component of specialised linguistic competence among future engineers and IT professionals. The findings provide a theoretical and methodological basis for incorporating anthropomorphic terminology into English for Specific Purposes (ESP) instruction at technical universities, thereby supporting the development of professional communicative competence and intercultural adaptability in international technological and corporate contexts. Keywords: anthropomorphic metaphor, cognitive linguistics, IT discourse, project management, English for Specific Purposes.

Background As global aging accelerates, age-related psychophysiological conditions have emerged as major public health concerns. Promoting and sustaining vitality, an inherent human capacity, is essential for healthy aging and long-term well-being. The Mindfulness-based Vitality Promotion (MVP) program is a mindfulness-based behavioral intervention designed to enhance physical and psychological vitality and support sustainable well-being. This study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of the MVP program and explored preliminary pre–post changes in health-related outcomes among community-dwelling individuals in a lifelong learning setting. Methods This study employed a single-arm mixed-methods design. A total of 35 participants were recruited for this study. The MVP program was delivered over 8 weeks, with each session lasting 90 min. Quantitative data were collected through self-report questionnaires, and qualitative data were obtained via semi-structured interviews. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed based on program retention, session attendance, and participant satisfaction. Results Quantitative analysis revealed significant pre–post increases in integrative vitality and well-being, along with significant reductions in depression, fatigue, and anxiety. No statistically significant changes were observed in pain, sleep disturbance, digestive symptoms, anger, or mindfulness. Of the 35 enrolled participants, 31 completed the program (88.6%), with a mean attendance of 6.37 of eight sessions. Among the 30 satisfaction survey respondents, 28 (93.3%) indicated willingness to participate again and 30 (100%) indicated willingness to recommend the program to others. The qualitative analysis identified four major themes: (i) diverse life challenges and self-care needs, (ii) learning through experience, connection, and application, (iii) regaining balance and agency in life, and (iv) sustaining practice requires continued support. Conclusion Mixed-methods findings provide preliminary information regarding the feasibility and acceptability of the MVP program and indicate favorable pre–post changes in several self-reported health-related outcomes. The MVP program may represent a practical lifelong learning intervention with potential relevance for public health promotion. Further controlled studies are warranted to establish its efficacy. Trial registration The trial was first submitted to the Clinical Research Information Service, Republic of Korea (KCT0009961, https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do?seq=28524&search_page=L ), on October 8, 2024, before participant enrollment began, and registration was finalized on November 28, 2024.

Background and Objectives: Architectural spaces are often designed with a strong visual focus, yet their sonic potential remains underexplored. Inspired by the concept of “breathing” that symbolizes life, movement, and vitality, the research project Prana aimed to create a responsive sound installation that enhances the sonic environment in architectural spaces by utilizing efficient wireless communication, sensors, and algorithms, which can evoke the feeling of breathing life into a space, providing visitors with a novel and engaging sensory experience. The designed system offered flexibility for placement and adaptation across various locations. Conducted within the tunnel of Wat Umong in Chiang Mai, Thailand, the exhibition was presented to the public, and the author collected data from visitors for the evaluation. This project serves as an example of how interactive sound design can revitalize architectural environments by creating a dialogue between sound, space, and audience. Methods: The study adopts both research-led and practice-led approaches, examining the interplay between technical design and aesthetic expression. The author collected ideas and designed the technical process of developing interactive sound installation, environmental sound design, multi-channel sound system, and wireless communication to develop the installation. The process of developing and installing the work was closely documented, while visitor experiences were assessed through direct observation and questionnaires during the exhibition period for the evaluation. The collected data was analyzed and presented as results in two aspects, sound design and system design. Results: The sound installation utilized microcontrollers (Arduino) and radio transceivers to process signals from two selected sensors (photoelectric sensor and electric gyroscope) encapsulated in small bells as triggers for algorithmically projecting prepared sounds through a multichannel sound system. The electric gyroscope has been proven to be more effective in representing the movement of the bell in the form of digital data. The collected data from the exhibition reveals that a coherent relationship between sound installation, spatial context, and environmental soundscape forms a vital foundation for innovative sound design. Audience responses emphasized that engagement and satisfaction largely depend on the immersive and experiential qualities of the work, highlighting the significance of site-responsive experimentation and clear design intentions. Conclusions: The Prana project demonstrates how interactive sound design can meaningfully enrich architectural environments by integrating technology, spatial awareness, and aesthetic intention. The findings show that when sound, space, and audience interaction are thoughtfully aligned, architectural settings can be transformed into dynamic, sensory experiences that evoke vitality and presence, much like the metaphor of breathing that inspired the work. Technically, the use of microcontrollers, wireless communication, and motion-based sensing proved effective in creating a flexible and responsive sonic system, with the electric gyroscope offering particularly reliable data for movement-triggered sound generation in this project. Audience feedback confirmed that the success of such installations depends not only on technological capability but also on the experiential coherence and immersion they create. This highlights the importance of site-specific testing, deliberate sound selection, and a clear conceptual foundation. Ultimately, the project offers a practical and artistic framework for future interactive sound installations, highlighting how responsive technologies can animate architectural spaces and foster deeper engagement through sound. Furthermore, developing simple and user-friendly interfaces can extend the accessibility of interactive sound installations.

Introduction Many people who have experienced trauma feel that PTSD criteria do not describe their experiences. They report culturally specific symptoms, in our new theory referred to as Cultural Scripts of Trauma, yet no study has systematically mapped these experiences or developed tools to measure them. Objectives This study aims to map cultural scripts of trauma suffering and to develop and validate the Cultural Scripts of Trauma Inventory (CSTI) across Eastern African countries, including Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya. Methods A qualitative study involving 115 participants across nine focus groups of trauma survivors and experts was conducted to map the main cultural scripts of trauma experiences and generate initial pool of items. This was followed by a quantitative validation study involving 1,208 participants from Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya. In an online survey, participants completed the pre-CSTI and additional measures for convergent and divergent validity, such as the International Trauma Questionnaire, Clinical Aspects of Historical Trauma, Purpose in Life Questionnaire, Subjective Vitality, and General Self-Efficacy. Results The results yield 71 Cultural Scripts of Trauma Sufferings (CSTs). The confirmatory factor analysis confirms 15 most relevant CSTs regrouped in five factors such as cognitive, body related, frame of mind, meaning disruption and family stress demonstrating excellent model fit. Those constitute 15 item-inventory that showed strong overall reliability and validity. Additionally, the model exhibited configural, metric, and partial scalar invariance, confirming its consistency across various groups. Conclusion This study is advancing culturally informed diagnosis and treatment of post traumatic sequelae by identification of culturally specific post trauma suffering and development and validation of CSTI in East African countries. It provides clinicians and researchers with a resource to adopt a model of beyond and including PTSD by offering a deeper understanding of post-traumatic stress in diverse cultural contexts.

مقدمه: بسیاری از افرادی که تجربه آسیب روانی داشته‌اند، احساس می‌کنند ملاک‌های اختلال استرس پس از سانحه (PTSD) تجارب آن‌ها را توصیف نمی‌کند. آن‌ها نشانه‌های خاص فرهنگی را گزارش می‌کنند که در نظریه جدید ما به عنوان «الگوهای فرهنگی آسیب روانی» نامیده می‌شود، اما تاکنون هیچ مطالعه‌ای به طور نظام‌مند این تجارب را ترسیم نکرده یا ابزارهایی برای سنجش آن‌ها توسعه نداده است. اهداف: هدف این پژوهش، ترسیم الگوهای فرهنگی رنج آسیب روانی و توسعه و اعتباریابی ابزار سنجهٔ الگوهای فرهنگی آسیب روانی (CSTI) در کشورهای شرق آفریقا از جمله رواندا، اوگاندا، تانزانیا و کنیا است. روش‌ها: مطالعه‌ای کیفی با مشارکت ۱۱۵ نفر در قالب ۹ گروه متمرکز از بازماندگان آسیب و خبرگان به منظور ترسیم الگوهای اصلی تجارب آسیب روانی و تولید بانک اولیه گویه‌ها انجام شد. سپس مطالعه‌ای کمی جهت اعتباریابی با مشارکت ۱۲۰۸ نفر از رواندا، اوگاندا، تانزانیا و کنیا صورت گرفت. در یک نظرسنجی آنلاین، شرکت‌کنندگان نسخه اولیه CSTI و ابزارهای تکمیلی برای سنجش روایی همگرا و واگرا، از جمله پرسشنامه بین‌المللی آسیب روانی، جنبه‌های بالینی آسیب تاریخی، پرسشنامه هدفمندی در زندگی، سرزندگی ذهنی و خودکارآمدی عمومی را تکمیل کردند. نتایج: نتایج منجر به شناسایی ۷۱ الگوی فرهنگی رنج آسیب روانی (CST) شد. تحلیل عاملی تأییدی، ۱۵ الگوی فرهنگی مهم‌تر را در پنج عامل شامل شناختی، بدنی، وضعیت ذهنی، اختلال معنایی و استرس خانوادگی با برازش عالی مدل تأیید کرد. این عوامل، ابزار ۱۵ گویه‌ای را تشکیل می‌دهند که از پایایی و روایی کلی قوی برخوردار است. افزون بر این، مدل از نظر پیکربندی، سنجش و بخشی از مقیاس، ناوریانس را نشان داد و ثبات آن را در گروه‌های مختلف تأیید کرد. نتیجه‌گیری: این مطالعه با شناسایی رنج‌های خاص فرهنگی پس از آسیب و توسعه و اعتباریابی CSTI در کشورهای شرق آفریقا، به تشخیص و درمان مبتنی بر فرهنگ پیامدهای پس از آسیب کمک می‌کند. این ابزار منبعی برای درمانگران و پژوهشگران فراهم می‌کند تا مدلی فراتر و شامل PTSD را با درک عمیق‌تر از استرس پس از سانحه در زمینه‌های فرهنگی متنوع اتخاذ کنند.