Education for Sustainable Development and Meaningfulness: Evidence from the Questionnaire of Eudaimonic Well-Being from German Students.

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD, SDG 4) and human well-being (SDG 3) are among the central subjects of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this article, based on the Questionnaire for Eudaimonic Well-Being (QEWB), we investigate to what extent (a) there is a connection between EWB and practical commitment to the SDGs and whether (b) there is a deficit in EWB among young people in general. We also want to use the article to draw attention to the need for further research on the links between human well-being and commitment for sustainable development. A total of 114 students between the ages of 18 and 34, who are either engaged in (extra)curricular activities of sustainable development (28 students) or not (86 students), completed the QEWB. The students were interviewed twice: once regarding their current and their aspired EWB. Our results show that students who are actively engaged in activities for sustainable development report a higher EWB than non-active students. Furthermore, we show that students generally report deficits in EWB and wish for an improvement in their well-being. This especially applies to aspects of EWB related to self-discovery and the sense of meaning in life. Our study suggests that a practice-oriented ESD in particular can have a positive effect on the quality of life of young students and can support them in working on deficits in EWB.

Interaction between LPS and a dental resin monomer on cell viability in mouse macrophages.

OBJECTIVE: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from cariogenic microorganisms and resin monomers like HEMA (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) included in dentin adhesive are present in a clinical situation in deep dentinal cavity preparations. Here, cell survival, expression of proteins related to redox homeostasis, and viability of mouse macrophages exposed to LPS and HEMA were analyzed with respect to the influence of oxidative stress. METHODS: Cell survival of RAW264.7 mouse macrophages was determined using a crystal violet assay, protein expression was detected by Western blotting, and HEMA- or LPS-induced apoptosis (cell viability) was analyzed by flow cytometry. Cells were exposed to HEMA (0-8mM), LPS (0.1µg/ml) or combinations of both substances for 24h. The influence of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) was analyzed using the specific inhibitors PD98059 (ERK1/2), SB203580 (p38) or SP600125 (JNK), and oxidative stress was identified by the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC). RESULTS: Cell survival was reduced by HEMA. LPS, however, increased cell survival from 29% in cultures exposed to 8mM HEMA, to 46% in cultures co-exposed to 8mM HEMA/LPS. Notably, LPS-induced apoptosis was neutralized by 4-6mM HEMA but apoptosis caused by 8mM HEMA was counteracted by LPS. Expression of NOS (nitric oxide synthase), p47phox and p67phox subunits of NADPH oxidase, catalase or heme oxygenase (HO-1) was associated with HEMA- or LPS-induced apoptosis. While no influence of MAPK was detected, NAC inhibited cytotoxic effects of HEMA. SIGNIFICANCE: HEMA- and LPS-triggered pathways may induce apoptosis and interfere with physiological tissue responses as a result of the differential formation of oxidative stress.