United Learning

This study aimed to assess the impact of a psychosocial development program on academy soccer players with coaches being central design and delivery. The 8 Pillars program (designed to foster Communication, Control, Commitment, Confidence, Concentration, Resilience, Presence, and Self-awareness) was delivered through player workshops, coaching practice, and coach-led environmental manipulation. A total of 25 academy soccer players (Mage 14.7 ± 0.3) completed the Psychological Characteristics of Development Excellence Questionnaire-2 pre- and postseason, and a self-report scale for each of the eight prescribed psychosocial skills and characteristics at five time points across the season. Significant (p < .05) improvement between pre- and postseason for “Imagery and Active Preparation,” “Seeking and Using Social Support,” and “Active Coping” factors within the Psychological Characteristics of Development Excellence Questionnaire-2 were evident. Significant (p < .05) improvements were shown for “Communication,” “Control,” “Commitment,” “Concentration,” and “Resilience” scales across the season. These findings give initial efficacy that a targeted, multifaceted program, largely delivered by coaches, can improve player self-reported psychosocial skills and characteristics in a U.K. academy soccer setting.

Gerald Grace (2002. Catholic Schools: Mission, Markets and Morality. London: Routledge), borrowing from the sociological constructs of Pierre Bourdieu, speaks of the significance of the spiritual and cultural capital of religious orders in providing a substantial catalyst in the development of Catholic education in England and Wales This article endeavours to explore the extent to which spiritual capital remains impactful in a cross-section of Catholic Independent schools with a founding religious trusteeship in the UK, taking into account the changing ecclesial demography within the Catholic Church in the UK alongside contemporary education challenges. Following a critical retrieval of literature relating to the concept of spiritual capital, this article will classify and interpret research evidence based interviews with headteachers of a range of Catholic Independent schools.

Many reef invertebrates reproduce through simultaneous broadcast spawning, with an apparent advantage of overwhelming potential predators and maximizing propagule survival. Although reef fish have been observed to consume coral gamete bundles during spawning events, there are few records of such predation by benthic invertebrates. Here, we document several instances of the ruby brittle star, Ophioderma rubicundum, capturing and consuming egg‐sperm bundles of the mountainous star coral, Orbicella faveolata, and the symmetrical brain coral, Pseudodiploria strigosa, during spawning events in the Cayman Islands in 2012 and the Florida Keys in 2022. These observations are widely separated in space and time (>600 km, 10 years), suggesting that this behavior may be prevalent on western Atlantic reefs. Since O. rubicundum spawns on the same or subsequent nights as these coral species, we hypothesize that this opportunistic feeding behavior takes advantage of lipid‐rich coral gamete bundles to recover energy reserves expended by the brittle star during gametogenesis. The consumption of coral gametes by adult brittle stars suggests an underexplored trophic link between reef invertebrates and also provides evidence that ophiuroid–coral symbioses may oscillate between commensalism and parasitism depending on the ontogeny and reproductive status of both animals. Our observations provide insights into the nuanced, dynamic associations between coral reef invertebrates and may have implications for coral reproductive success and resilience.

Attendance of skilled and experienced professionals at breech births has been associated with a reduction in adverse perinatal outcomes. We aimed to determine whether United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS) sites could reliably provide attendants with OptiBreech training and/or advanced proficiency (intervention feasibility) and consistent care (fidelity) that meets women's needs (acceptability), with low neonatal admission rates (safety) and recruitment adequate to support a clinical trial (trial feasibility). Mixed methods implementation evaluation was used. Settings were 13 services in England and Wales. Participants were 82 women requesting support for a vaginal breech birth (VBB) at term. Outcomes were descriptively analyzed. Twenty-one women were interviewed, and transcripts were analyzed using the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability. Iterative analysis informed subsequent interviews and the ongoing process of implementation across sites. Although we initially suggested multidisciplinary teams, actively recruiting Trusts yielded services where VBB care was provided through a dedicated clinic, organized and delivered primarily by a lead midwife who functioned as a specialist. This model achieved 87.5% fidelity with the intervention's goal of ensuring the attendance of OptiBreech-trained professionals. Neonatal outcomes remained stable, with an admission rate of 5.5%. Women reported care from specialist midwives as highly acceptable, but the model is vulnerable without a strategic effort to develop additional proficient team members. Dedicated clinics coordinated by specialist midwives appear to be an acceptable and feasible implementation strategy to test the safety and effectiveness of proficient team care for VBB in a clinical trial. Back-up arrangements should be maintained while additional members of the team develop proficiency.

Abstract The distributions and conservation status of the six native amphibian species in Scotland are reviewed. Issues of under‐recording and false recording are noted, and steps to remedy these problems are described. Threats to amphibians in Scotland include diseases (a minor impact so far), road deaths, habitat loss, and climate change (to which populations may be resilient). Exploitation, competition, and pollution do not appear to be significant threats to amphibians in Scotland. Legal protection is currently strongest for the great crested newts (Triturus cristatus) and natterjack toads (Epidalea calamita), but the natterjack toads have only a small localized Scottish population. The ponds at Gartcosh hold the largest great crested newt population in Scotland. Translocation to a specially created reserve appears to have been successful but a new road across the site is an additional hazard, for which monitoring is in progress. Amphibian habitat enhancement in Scotland includes pond‐creation programmes, which have successfully increased the diversity of plants and invertebrates as well as amphibians. The value of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) for amphibians and other wildlife is reviewed. The Eurasian beaver reintroduction programme may benefit amphibians in the longer term, but research is currently lacking. Road tunnels combined with fences are a vital mitigation for road‐traffic impacts on amphibians and have been monitored at one Scottish site. Amphibian ladders in road drains are another potentially helpful mitigation. The amphibians of Scotland need more long‐term monitoring. A national strategy is imminent and should stimulate the required research and action.

After two terms of working in a pathfinder Trust schools partnership, strategic head Ken Tonge reports on their progress