Self-esteem: defining, measuring and promoting an elusive concept

Self-esteem has been a much debated construct in the educational sphere and interest in the area continues to flourish in classroom and research contexts. While the merits of targeting self-esteem have long been accentuated (Emler, 2001; MacIntyre, 2005; Cooper and Jacobs, 2011), the validity of the construct has also been questioned in light of modest empirical support. Recently, clearer definitions of the concepts involved and more reliable means of assessing these variables have helped allay doubts about its validity. However, a number of challenges persist in this regard, most notably in the context of learners with special educational needs (SEN). In light of recent calls for schools to explicitly plan for, monitor and measure the self-esteem of pupils with SEN alongside cognitive-academic outcomes (National Council for Special Education (NCSE), 2014), a review of research and practices in this area is timely. It is hoped that this review will provide some guidance for teachers in terms of defining, measuring and promoting self-esteem outcomes

Conflict in Libya and the Future Risk to the Demining Community

The evolving face of modern warfare in Libya and elsewhere will leave behind an explosives legacy that the humanitarian-demining community must manage. This article examines the innovation of the anti-government forces in employing modified weaponry and assesses some of the challenges this might bring to humanitarian demining and explosive-ordnance-disposal teams in the future

IEDs and Their Impact on Mine Action

This article addresses the increasingly prevalent threat of improvised explosive devices around the world. The author carefully defines this often unpredictable and unconventional “weapon of choice” and outlines the steps to eliminate the hazard it presents to global security. The article also discusses the role IEDs play within the scope of mine action, arguing their danger exceeds that of traditional mines and other unexploded ordnance

The Growing Threat to Humanitarian Operations

Deminers and other humanitarian-aid workers around the world, though previously viewed as off-limits, have become targets of distrust and even violence by certain groups. This article explores the reasons for this shift in ideology, and what action humanitarian organizations must take in order to protect their personnel

Reflections on the Connection of Virtue Ethics to Therapeutic Jurisprudence

Therapeutic Jurisprudence (‘TJ’) and virtue ethics are major parallel forces for good in legal practice. Both seek to understand and mediate frailness in human behaviour and explain why such ‘goodness’ is important for lawyers and their clients. But while a TJ practitioner and a virtue ethicist are often in agreement, they are fraternal rather than identical twins. This paper is addressed to those practising lawyers for whom TJ may become a central motivation to practice law, by reflecting on the moral advantages that virtue ethics can offer such practitioners in their daily decision making

Determinants of physical activity promotion by smoking cessation advisors as an aid for quitting: Support for the Transtheoretical Model

Objectives: Physical activity (PA) can reduce cigarette cravings and aid quitting but little is known about its promotion by smoking cessation advisors. This study aimed to: (1) determine the extent to which smoking cessation advisors promote PA; and (2) examine the relationship between PA promotion as a cessation aid and advisor characteristics and cognitions, within the Transtheoretical Model (TM) framework. Methods: Self-report surveys assessing PA promotion, TM variables, advisors’ own PA levels and demographics were completed by 170 advisors in England and Scotland. Results: Advisors reported spending 29 minutes promoting PA over a 6/7-week clinic. Those in later stages of readiness for promoting PA as a cessation aid and those spending more time promoting PA held more positive beliefs regarding pros and cons, self-efficacy, outcome efficacy and importance of PA within smoking cessation. Time spent promoting PA and stage of readiness were strongly associated. There was a trend for the more physically active advisors to promote PA more often. Conclusions: About half the advisors promoted PA and TM variables predicted this variability. Practice Implications: PA promotion among smoking cessation advisors may be facilitated by enhancing self-efficacy, outcome efficacy and pro and con-beliefs related to PA promotion

C–F bond activation of perfluorinated arenes by a bioxazoline-derived N-heterocyclic carbene

The N-heterocyclic carbene IBioxMe4 enacts selective single and double C–F bond activation of octafluorotoluene and hexafluorobenzene, respectively. The formation of the fluoroarene substituted, zwitterionic imidazoliumolate products is consistent with a mechanism involving nucleophilic aromatic substitution and subsequent oxazoline ring opening by liberated fluoride