Subjective emptiness is a pervasive transdiagnostic construct. The aim of this series of studies was to use construct validation procedures to better understand the nature and correlates of subjective emptiness. A literature review led to 88 items which were then trimmed to 53 via qualitative interviews with patients and experts. This preliminary scale was administered to 543 university students and 1,067 clinical participants along with measures of depression, meaning in life, borderline personality disorder, and impulsivity. The scale was reduced to 17 items following item analysis, factor and item response theory analyses, extreme groups comparisons, and examinations of criterion validity. This 17-item scale, along with measures of identity disturbance and maladaptive personality traits, was then administered to 1,016 clinical participants. The scale was trimmed to 7 items based on results from these data. Results strongly supported the unidimensionality of subjective emptiness and its transdiagnostic clinical value.

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The inscription of East Rennell in Solomon Islands on the World Heritage List was a landmark in the implementation of the World Heritage Convention. However, the site is now on the List of World Heritage in Danger, threatened by resource development, invasive species, climate change and the over-harvesting of certain animals. This article examines the scope for the Protected Areas Act of 2010 to be used to safeguard the site, and the challenges that may be encountered if the Act is implemented there. It explains how the Act provides direct protection against some (but not all) of the threats to East Rennell. Furthermore, the approach to conservation facilitated by the Act is appropriate for Solomon Islands, where most land is under customary tenure, many people rely on natural resources to support their subsistence lifestyles and the government's capacity to enforce legislation is limited. The article argues that the relationship between the legislation and custom must be considered in the design of the landowner consent process, the preparation of the site's management plan, and the selection of its management committee. Additionally, the protected area should aim to improve the livelihoods of the East Rennellese, as well as safeguarding the site's heritage values.

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