Positive psychology perspectives on social values and their application to intentionally delivered sustainability interventions

Despite the increasing interest in the intersections among values, well-being and environmental outcomes in sustainability science, few studies have considered these relationships by drawing on well-established theories and methods from positive psychology. The aim of this paper is to review three approaches conceptually related to positive psychology (self-determination theory, SDT; character strengths and virtues, CSV; acceptancy and commitment therapy, ACT) and compare these to sustainability approaches to well-being and values. First, we critically compare how values are understood, constructed and operationalised within the positive psychology and environmental values literatures. We offer a summary table to detail key concepts (and articles) which sustainability scientists may draw upon in their work against the dimensions of (1) elicitation process, (2) value provider (3) value concept and (4) value indicators. Second, we critically compare how the positive psychology and environmental values literature have considered the intersections between values and well-being. We identify the positive psychology pathways of 'value activation' and 'healthy-values' as alternative methods for sustainability scientists to consider. Third, we offer future options for the integration of positive psychology and environmental values literatures to deliver interventions which may lead to well-being and sustainability outcomes. We suggest that mindfulness could be applied as a method to clarify and activate values within a nature exposure context, which harnesses the qualities of both disciplines. To demonstrate integrative possibilities, a case example is offered which brings focus to well-being and sustainability outcomes, the intersection of value pathways, and intervention components drawn from both disciplines.Peer reviewe

Minimal Bystander Activation of CD8 T Cells during the Virus-induced Polyclonal T Cell Response

Acute infections with viruses such as lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) are associated with a massive polyclonal T cell response, but the specificities of only a small percentage of these activated T cells are known. To determine if bystander stimulation of T cells not specific to the virus plays a role in this T cell response, we examined two different systems, HY-specific T cell receptor (TCR)-transgenic mice, which have a restricted TCR repertoire, and LCMVcarrier mice, which are tolerant to LCMV. LCMV infection of HY-transgenic C57BL/6 mice induced antiviral CTLs that lysed target cells coated with two of the three immunodominant epitopes previously defined for LCMV (glycoprotein 33 and nucleoprotein 397). Although LCMV-induced cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) from C57BL/6 mice could lyse uninfected H-2k and H-2d allogeneic targets, LCMV-induced CTLs from HY mice lysed only the H-2kexpressing cells. The HY mice generated both anti-H-2k and anti-H-2d CTL in mixed leukocyte reactions, providing evidence that the generation of allospecific CTLs during acute LCMV infection is antigen specific. During the LCMV infection there was blastogenesis of the CD8+ T cell population, but the HY-specific T cells (as determined by expression of the TCR-α chain) remained small in size. To examine the potential for bystander stimulation under conditions of a very strong CTL response, T cell chimeras were made between normal and HY mice. Even in the context of a normal virus-induced CTL response, no stimulation of HY-specific T cells was observed, and HY-specific cells were diluted in number by day 9 after infection. In LCMV-carrier mice in which donor and host T cells could be distinguished by Thy1 allotypic markers, adoptive transfer of LCMV-immune T cells into LCMV-carrier mice, whose T cells were tolerant to LCMV, resulted in activation and proliferation of donor CD8 cells, but little or no activation of host CD8 cells. These results support the hypothesis that the massive polyclonal CTL response to LCMV infection is virus-specific and that bystander activation of non–virus-specific T cells is not a significant component of this response

The role of nature-based solutions and senses of place in enabling just city transitions

Discussions about just transitions and nature-based solutions (NBS) often articulate an essentialist sense of place perspective that emphasises stasis through combinations of belonging, rootedness, continuity, attachment and connections among sites, scales and subjectivities. In response, we demonstrate how a progressive understanding of "senses" of place that embraces fluid place meanings accessible at different temporal and spatial scales enables a new understanding of the interface between structural and emotional transformation of place, as well as rethinking of just urban transitions. We present four transformation modalities that reconsider people-place, people-nature, and people-institutional relations pertinent to environmental justice and use case examples to demonstrate their relevance to NBS planning. We conclude by offering two overarching principles for urban policy, planning, and governance for fostering just transitions through NBS. First, NBS planning needs to pur-posively activate structural and emotional transformations through experimentation to enhance procedural justice. Second, NBS co-design and implementation should consider the dynamic interplay between recognition and distribution justice to engage multiple senses of place.Peer reviewe

Honouring the participatory mapping contributions and enduring legacy of Professor Gregory G. Brown

This commentary honours the seminal and foundational contributions of Professor Gregory G. (Greg) Brown to the fields of public participation geographic information systems (PPGIS), natural resource management and spatial planning. We synthesise his work into four theses that underpinned his three decades of research: 1) The mapping of place values provides place-specific information about sense of place which can aid in the assessment of the risks associated with landscape modification; 2) PPGIS analysis techniques can support socially acceptable and scientifically defensible land-use decisions in multiple planning contexts; 3) Issues of representation and data quality can be systematically investigated and managed; and 4) While PPGIS is increasingly being applied by cities and other organisations globally, there remains multiple challenges regarding the use of PPGIS findings in land-use decision making. We then briefly summarise his future visions for PPGIS research into: improving participation, and identifying and controlling threats to spatial data quality; turning PPGIS from a participation tool to a political force that can engage with the politics of place and, related to the previous vision; building capacity and champions for those who see the value in participatory mapping methods and are willing to articulate publicly how participatory contributions will be used. The co-authors and all signatories to this commentary are deeply grateful for the many ways that Greg has touched our lives over the years. He will be sadly missed.Peer reviewe

Photoionized features in the X-ray spectrum of Ex Hydrae

We present the first results from a long (496 ks) Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating observation of the intermediate polar EX Hydrae ( EX Hya). In addition to the narrow emission lines from the cooling post-shock gas, for the first time we have detected a broad component in some of the X-ray emission lines, namely, O VIII lambda 18.97, Mg XII lambda 8.42, Si XIV lambda 6.18, and Fe XVII lambda 16.78. The broad and narrow components have widths of similar to 1600 km s(-1) and similar to 150 km s(-1), respectively. We propose a scenario where the broad component is formed in the pre-shock accretion flow, photoionized by radiation from the post-shock flow. Because the photoionized region has to be close to the radiation source in order to produce strong photoionized emission lines from ions such as O VIII, Fe XVII, Mg XII, and Si XIV, our photoionization model constrains the height of the standing shock above the white dwarf surface. Thus, the X-ray spectrum from EX Hya manifests features of both magnetic and non-magnetic cataclysmic variables

Finding feasible action towards urban transformations

While innovative approaches to urban transformations are increasingly proposed, scholars often overlook challenges faced by endogenous actors (e.g. urban planners) tasked with taking action within non-ideal, real-world settings. Here we argue that an ‘inside’ view of transformations (focused on judgment in practice) is needed to complement existing ‘outside’ views (focused on assessment), where the feasibility of action becomes a central concern. This recasts urban transformations in a discretised perspective. It suggests a view of transformation pathways as both directed and stochastic, and emergent from an unfolding series of ‘fuzzy action moments’. Principles for bridging urban science and planning are derived.Peer reviewe

Chronic Orofacial Pain: Burning Mouth Syndrome and Other Neuropathic Disorders

Chronic orofacial pain is a symptom associated with a wide range of neuropathic, neurovascular, idiopathic, and myofascial conditions that affect a significant proportion of the population. While the collective impact of the subset of the orofacial pain disorders involving neurogenic and idiopathic mechanisms is substantial, some of these are relatively uncommon. Hence, patients with these disorders can be vulnerable to misdiagnosis, sometimes for years, increasing the symptom burden and delaying effective treatment. This manuscript first reviews the decision tree to be followed in diagnosing any neuropathic pain condition, as well as the levels of evidence needed to make a diagnosis with each of several levels of confidence: definite, probable, or possible. It then examines the clinical literature related to the idiopathic and neurogenic conditions that can occasion chronic orofacial pain, including burning mouth syndrome, trigeminal neuralgia, glossopharyngeal neuralgia, post-herpetic neuralgia, and atypical odontalgia. Temporomandibular disorders also are examined as are other headache conditions, even though they are not neurologic conditions, because they are common and can mimic symptoms of the latter disorders. For each of these conditions, the paper reviews literature regarding incidence and prevalence, physiologic and other contributing factors, diagnostic signs and symptoms, and empirical evidence regarding treatments. Finally, in order to improve the quality and accuracy of clinical diagnosis, as well as the efficiency with which effective treatment is initiated and delivered, criteria are offered that can be instrumental in making a differential diagnosis