Breakthroughs in Alzheimer's Research: A Path to a More Promising Future?

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a widespread neurodegenerative disorder with a significant global impact, affecting approximately 50 million individuals, and projections estimate that up to 152 million people will be affected by 2050. AD is characterized by beta-amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain, leading to cognitive decline. Summary: Recent research on AD has made significant strides, including the development of an "amyloid clock" biomarker that tracks AD progression through positron emission tomography (PET) scans. Surf4 and other genes have been discovered to play a role in regulating beta-amyloid toxicity, while inhibiting the enzyme hexokinase-2 has shown positive results in preclinical studies. New brain mapping techniques have identified early brain-based causes of cognitive changes in AD, and biomarkers such as neuronal pentraxin protein Nptx2 and astrocytic 7-subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (7nAChRs) show potential for early detection. Other approaches, such as replenishing the enzyme Tip60, selectively degrading the modified protein p-p38 with PRZ-18002, and targeting the protein voltage-dependent anion channel-1 (VDAC1), have shown promise in enhancing cognitive function and preventing pathophysiological alterations linked to AD. Baseline blood samples and other biomarkers such as urine formic acid, p-tau 198, microRNAs, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) have also been discovered for early detection and intervention of AD. Additionally, recent FDA approvals for medications such as aducanumab and lecanemab provide options for reducing AD symptoms and improving function, while clinical trials for dementia vaccines show promise for the nasal and beta-amyloid 40 vaccines as well as vaccinations targeting tau. Key Messages: These advancements in AD research, including biomarker discovery and the development of disease-modifying treatments, are crucial steps towards improving the lives of those affected by AD and finding a cure for this debilitating disease.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Based Structural Health Monitoring and Computer Vision-Aided Procedure for Seismic Safety Measures of Linear Infrastructures.

Computer vision in the structural health monitoring (SHM) field has become popular, especially for processing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) data, but still has limitations both in experimental testing and in practical applications. Prior works have focused on UAV challenges and opportunities for the vibration-based SHM of buildings or bridges, but practical and methodological gaps exist specifically for linear infrastructure systems such as pipelines. Since they are critical for the transportation of products and the transmission of energy, a feasibility study of UAV-based SHM for linear infrastructures is essential to ensuring their service continuity through an advanced SHM system. Thus, this study proposes a single UAV for the seismic monitoring and safety assessment of linear infrastructures along with their computer vision-aided procedures. The proposed procedures were implemented in a full-scale shake-table test of a natural gas pipeline assembly. The objectives were to explore the UAV potential for the seismic vibration monitoring of linear infrastructures with the aid of several computer vision algorithms and to investigate the impact of parameter selection for each algorithm on the matching accuracy. The procedure starts by adopting the Maximally Stable Extremal Region (MSER) method to extract covariant regions that remain similar through a certain threshold of image series. The feature of interest is then detected, extracted, and matched using the Speeded-Up Robust Features (SURF) and K-nearest Neighbor (KNN) algorithms. The Maximum Sample Consensus (MSAC) algorithm is applied for model fitting by maximizing the likelihood of the solution. The output of each algorithm is examined for correctness in matching pairs and accuracy, which is a highlight of this procedure, as no studies have ever investigated these properties. The raw data are corrected and scaled to generate displacement data. Finally, a structural safety assessment was performed using several system identification models. These procedures were first validated using an aluminum bar placed on an actuator and tested in three harmonic tests, and then an implementation case study on the pipeline shake-table tests was analyzed. The validation tests show good agreement between the UAV data and reference data. The shake-table test results also generate reasonable seismic performance and assess the pipeline seismic safety, demonstrating the feasibility of the proposed procedure and the prospect of UAV-based SHM for linear infrastructure monitoring.

In-water resuscitation during a surf rescue: Time lost or breaths gained? A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: A technique called in-water resuscitation (IWR) was devised on a surfboard to ventilate persons who seemingly did not breathe upon a water rescue. Despite IWR still raises uncertainties regarding its applicability, this technique is recommended by the International Liaison Committee for Resuscitation (ILCOR). Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of IWR with a rescue board before and during towing and, to compare rescue times and rescue-associated fatigue levels between rescues with rescue breath attempts and without (SR). METHODS: A randomized crossover pilot test was conducted: 1) IWR test with pocket mask and, 2) Conventional SR test. IWR tests were conducted using a Laerdal ResusciAnne manikin (Stavanger, Norway). Three groups of variables were recorded: a) rescue time (in s), b) effective ventilations during rescue, and c) rating of perceived effort (RPE). RESULTS: Focusing on the rescue time, the performance SR was significantly faster than IWR rescue which took 61 s longer to complete the rescue (Z = -2.805; p = 0.005). No significant differences were found between techniques for the RPE (T = -1.890; p = 0.095). In the IWR analysis, lifeguards performed an average of 27 ± 12 rescue breaths. CONCLUSION: The application of IWR on a rescue board is feasible both at the time of rescue and during towing. It shortens the reoxygenation time but delays the arrival time to shore. Both IWR and SR result in similar levels of perceived fatigue.

Riding waves to improve functioning: a quantitative evaluation of a Surf Week in individuals with chronic phase brain injury with six months follow-up.

PURPOSE: Environmental enrichment seems to enable people in the chronic phase of acquired brain injury (ABI) to experience new functional abilities and motor/coping strategies and consequently to become more adaptable which might prevent/reverse functional decline. This study describes the influence of a five-days Surf Week program on participants on physical function, self-efficacy, functional balance performance and self-perceived recovery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multiple-baseline single-case design was used. Adults participating in the Surf Week in chronic phase of ABI were eligible to participate. Participants completed a battery of tests monitoring physical function, self-efficacy, functional balance performance and self-perceived recovery. This battery was repeated 5 times over a 1-year period, two times pre-Surf Week, three times post-Surf Week. Visual data inspection with two non-overlap methods were used to determine if patients showed sustained improvement in outcomes post-intervention. RESULTS: A moderate to strong indication for improvements on physical function, functional balance performance and self-perceived recovery exists till six months follow-up. No indication was observed on self-efficacy till six months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: A five-days Surf Week is a physically, cognitively and socially intensive stimulating activity that can positively challenge individuals after ABI and seems to improve physical functioning, functional balance performance and self-perceived recovery.

Surf therapy, if appropriate measures are taken, is a safe yet physically, cognitively and socially intensive stimulating intervention that capitalizes on enriched environment principles, and might address the holistic needs in this population.Surf therapy might positively influence physical function, balance and self-perceived recovery in adults with acquired brain injury in the chronic phase.Rehabilitation professionals should experience/explore with their patients with acquired brain injury challenging (group) outdoors activities such as these, aiming to meet patients' needs, interests, or values in the chronic phase of recovery, and so create successfully participation in activities that capitalizes on enriched environment principles.

Pyrin Inflammasome Activation Defines Colchicine-Responsive SURF Patients from FMF and Other Recurrent Fevers.

Syndrome of undifferentiated recurrent fever (SURF) is characterized by recurrent fevers, a lack of confirmed molecular diagnosis, and a complete or partial response to colchicine. Despite the clinical similarities to familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), the underlying inflammatory mechanisms of SURF are not yet understood. We here analyzed the in vitro activation of the pyrin inflammasome in a cohort of SURF patients compared to FMF and PFAPA patients. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were collected from SURF (both colchicine-treated and untreated), FMF, PFAPA patients, and healthy donors. PBMC were stimulated ex vivo with Clostridium difficile toxin A (TcdA) and a PKC inhibitor (UCN-01), in the presence or absence of colchicine. The assembly of the pyrin inflammasome was evaluated by measuring the presence of apoptosis-associated Speck-like protein containing caspase recruitment domain (ASC) specks in monocytes using flow cytometry. IL-1ß secretion was quantified using an ELISA assay. No differences in TcdA-induced activation of pyrin inflammasome were observed among FMF, PFAPA, and healthy donors. Untreated SURF patients showed a reduced response to TcdA, which was normalized after colchicine treatment. In contrast to FMF, SURF patients, similar to PFAPA patients and healthy donors, did not exhibit pyrin inflammasome activation in response to UCN-01-mediated pyrin dephosphorylation. These data demonstrate that in vitro functional analysis of pyrin inflammasome activation can differentiate SURF from FMF and PFAPA patients, suggesting the involvement of the pyrin inflammasome in the pathophysiology of SURF.

Intestinal SURF4 is essential for apolipoprotein transport and lipoprotein secretion.

OBJECTIVE: Lipoprotein assembly and secretion in the small intestine are critical for dietary fat absorption. Surfeit locus protein 4 (SURF4) serves as a cargo receptor, facilitating the cellular transport of multiple proteins and mediating hepatic lipid secretion in vivo. However, its involvement in intestinal lipid secretion is not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the role of SURF4 in intestinal lipid absorption. METHODS: We generated intestine-specific Surf4 knockout mice and characterized the phenotypes. Additionally, we investigated the underlying mechanisms of SURF4 in intestinal lipid secretion using proteomics and cellular models. RESULTS: We unveiled that SURF4 is indispensable for apolipoprotein transport and lipoprotein secretion. Intestine-specific Surf4 knockout mice exhibited ectopic lipid deposition in the small intestine and hypolipidemia. Deletion of SURF4 impeded the transport of apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), proline-rich acidic protein 1 (PRAP1), and apolipoprotein B48 (ApoB48) and hindered the assembly and secretion of chylomicrons and high-density lipoproteins. CONCLUSIONS: SURF4 emerges as a pivotal regulator of intestinal lipid absorption via mediating the secretion of ApoA1, PRAP1 and ApoB48.

Proposing a hybrid technique of feature fusion and convolutional neural network for melanoma skin cancer detection.

Skin cancer is among the most common cancer types worldwide. Automatic identification of skin cancer is complicated because of the poor contrast and apparent resemblance between skin and lesions. The rate of human death can be significantly reduced if melanoma skin cancer could be detected quickly using dermoscopy images. This research uses an anisotropic diffusion filtering method on dermoscopy images to remove multiplicative speckle noise. To do this, the fast-bounding box (FBB) method is applied here to segment the skin cancer region. We also employ 2 feature extractors to represent images. The first one is the Hybrid Feature Extractor (HFE), and second one is the convolutional neural network VGG19-based CNN. The HFE combines 3 feature extraction approaches namely, Histogram-Oriented Gradient (HOG), Local Binary Pattern (LBP), and Speed Up Robust Feature (SURF) into a single fused feature vector. The CNN method is also used to extract additional features from test and training datasets. This 2-feature vector is then fused to design the classification model. The proposed method is then employed on 2 datasets namely, ISIC 2017 and the academic torrents dataset. Our proposed method achieves 99.85%, 91.65%, and 95.70% in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity, respectively, making it more successful than previously proposed machine learning algorithms.

Surfeit Locus Protein 4 as a Novel Target for Therapeutic Intervention in Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Surfeit locus protein 4 (SURF4) functions as a cargo receptor that is capable of transporting newly formed proteins from the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum into vesicles and Golgi bodies. However, the role of SURF4 in the central nervous system remains unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of SURF4 and its underlying mechanisms in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats, and whether it can be used effectively for novel therapeutic intervention. We also examined whether transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) can exert a neuroprotective effect via SURF4-dependent signalling. Following cerebral I/R injury in rats, a significant increase was observed in the expression of SURF4. In both I/R injury and oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) insult, suppressing the expression of SURF4 demonstrated a neuroprotective effect, while overexpression of SURF4 resulted in increased neuronal death. We further showed that the levels of nerve growth factor precursor (proNGF), p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), sortilin, and PTEN were increased following cerebral I/R injury, and that SURF4 acted through the PTEN/proNGF signal pathway to regulate neuronal viability. We demonstrated that tDCS treatment reduced SURF4 expression and decreased the infarct volume after cerebral I/R injury. Together, this study indicates that SURF4 plays a critical role in ischemic neuronal injury and may serve as a molecular target for the development of therapeutic strategies in acute ischemic stroke.

Surf therapy for improving child and adolescent mental health: A pilot randomised control trial.

The aim of this pilot randomised control trial (RCT) was to test, 1) feasibility and acceptability of a surf therapy program to improve symptoms of mental ill-health among children and adolescents, and 2) the design and procedures of an evaluative study. This pilot RCT compared a 6-week mentor-supported surf therapy program with a wait list control group, in Australian children and adolescents aged 8-18yrs (M age = 11.28, SD = 2.34; 15 females), who were help seeking for issues relating to their mental health. Exclusion criteria included if an individual was actively suicidal or experiencing a psychotic episode or being unavailable for program dates. The primary outcome was the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and study design assessed via 11 pre-defined criteria. A secondary outcome was to investigate the effectiveness signal of the intervention on child indicators of depression and anxiety, assessed via the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale-Short Form and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Random allocation was computer generated and while it was not possible to blind participants, researchers collecting assessments were blinded to group allocation. Thirty-six youth were randomised (intervention = 18; wait list controls = 18), representing an 84% participation rate among eligible youth. Of the 11 a priori feasibility and acceptability criteria, 4 of 5 relating to the intervention, and 4 of 6 addressing the study design were fully met, with the unmet factors guiding program revision. At the completion of the intervention, children and adolescents receiving the intervention reported reductions in symptoms of depression (ES = 0.57), anxiety (ES = 0.43), emotional problems, (ES = 0.79), peer problems (ES = 0.56), hyperactivity/inattention (ES = 0.28), and overall difficulties (ES = 0.64). These reductions were not sustained 6-weeks after completion of the intervention. Surf therapy is an acceptable and feasible intervention for addressing symptoms of mental ill-health among children and adolescents. Preliminary evidence suggests that surf therapy improves symptoms of mental ill-health in the short-term but that these improvements were not sustained after the intervention is ceased.

Implementation of artificial intelligence for the detection of cutaneous melanoma within a primary care setting: prevalence and types of skin cancer in outdoor enthusiasts.

Background: There is enthusiasm for implementing artificial intelligence (AI) to assist clinicians detect skin cancer. Performance metrics of AI from dermoscopic images have been promising, with studies documenting sensitivity and specificity values equal to or superior to specialists for the detection of malignant melanomas (MM). Early detection rates would particularly benefit Australia, which has the worlds highest incidence of MM per capita. The detection of skin cancer may be delayed due to late screening or the inherent difficulty in diagnosing early skin cancers which often have a paucity of clinical features and may blend into sun damaged skin. Individuals who participate in outdoor sports and recreation experience high levels of intermittent ultraviolet radiation (UVR), which is associated with the development of skin cancer, including MM. This research aimed to assess the prevalence of skin cancer in individuals who regularly participate in activities outdoors and to report the performance parameters of a commercially available AI-powered software to assess the predictive risk of MM development. Methods: Cross-sectional study design incorporating a survey, total body skin cancer screening and AI-embedded software capable of predictive scoring of queried MM. Results: A total of 423 participants consisting of surfers (n = 108), swimmers (n = 60) and walkers/runners (n = 255) participated. Point prevalence for MM was highest for surfers (6.48%), followed by walkers/runners (4.3%) and swimmers (3.33%) respectively. When compared to the general Australian population, surfers had the highest odds ratio (OR) for MM (OR 119.8), followed by walkers/runners (OR 79.74), and swimmers (OR 61.61) rounded out the populations. Surfers and swimmers reported comparatively lower lifetime hours of sun exposure (5,594 and 5,686, respectively) but more significant amounts of activity within peak ultraviolet index compared with walkers/runners (9,554 h). A total of 48 suspicious pigmented lesions made up of histopathology-confirmed MM (n = 15) and benign lesions (n = 33) were identified. The performance of the AI from this clinical population was found to have a sensitivity of 53.33%, specificity of 54.44% and accuracy of 54.17%. Conclusions: Rates of both keratinocyte carcinomas and MM were notably higher in aquatic and land-based enthusiasts compared to the general Australian population. These findings further highlight the clinical importance of sun-safe protection measures and regular skin screening in individuals who spend significant time outdoors. The use of AI in the early identification of MM is promising. However, the lower-than-expected performance metrics of the AI software used in this study indicated reservations should be held before recommending this particular version of this AI software as a reliable adjunct for clinicians in skin imaging diagnostics in patients with potentially sun damaged skin.

Surf Redfish-Based ZnO-NPs and Their Biological Activity with Reference to Their Non-Target Toxicity.

The marine environment is a rich source of bioactive compounds. Therefore, the sea cucumber was isolated from the Red Sea at the Al-Ain Al-Sokhna coast and it was identified as surf redfish (Actinopyga mauritiana). The aqueous extract of the surf redfish was utilized as an ecofriendly, novel and sustainable approach to fabricate zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs). The biosynthesized ZnO-NPs were physico-chemically characterized and evaluated for their possible antibacterial and insecticidal activities. Additionally, their safety in the non-target organism model (Nile tilapia fish) was also investigated. ZnO-NPs were spherical with an average size of 24.69 ± 11.61 nm and had a peak at 350 nm as shown by TEM and UV-Vis, respectively. XRD analysis indicated a crystalline phase of ZnO-NPs with an average size of 21.7 nm. The FTIR pattern showed biological residues from the surf redfish extract, highlighting their potential role in the biosynthesis process. DLS indicated a negative zeta potential (-19.2 mV) of the ZnO-NPs which is a good preliminary indicator for their stability. ZnO-NPs showed larvicidal activity against mosquito Culex pipiens (LC50 = 15.412 ppm and LC90 = 52.745 ppm) and a potent adulticidal effect to the housefly Musca domestica (LD50 = 21.132 ppm and LD90 = 84.930 ppm). Tested concentrations of ZnO-NPs showed strong activity against the 3rd larval instar. Topical assays revealed dose-dependent adulticidal activity against M. domestica after 24 h of treatment with ZnO-NPs. ZnO-NPs presented a wide antibacterial activity against two fish-pathogen bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aeromonas hydrophila. Histopathological and hematological investigations of the non-target organism, Nile tilapia fish exposed to 75-600 ppm ZnO-NPs provide dose-dependent impacts. Overall, data highlighted the potential applications of surf redfish-mediated ZnO-NPs as an effective and safe way to control mosquitoes, houseflies and fish pathogenic bacteria.

Estimation of Wind Speed Based on Schlieren Machine Vision System Inspired by Greenhouse Top Vent.

Greenhouse ventilation has always been an important concern for agricultural workers. This paper aims to introduce a low-cost wind speed estimating method based on SURF (Speeded Up Robust Feature) feature matching and the schlieren technique for airflow mixing with large temperature differences and density differences like conditions on the vent of the greenhouse. The fluid motion is directly described by the pixel displacement through the fluid kinematics analysis. Combining the algorithm with the corresponding image morphology analysis and SURF feature matching algorithm, the schlieren image with feature points is used to match the changes in air flow images in adjacent frames to estimate the velocity from pixel change. Through experiments, this method is suitable for the speed estimation of turbulent or disturbed fluid images. When the supply air speed remains constant, the method in this article obtains 760 sets of effective feature matching point groups from 150 frames of video, and approximately 500 sets of effective feature matching point groups are within 0.1 difference of the theoretical dimensionless speed. Under the supply conditions of high-frequency wind speed changes and compared with the digital signal of fan speed and data from wind speed sensors, the trend of wind speed changes is basically in line with the actual changes. The estimation error of wind speed is basically within 10%, except when the wind speed supply suddenly stops or the wind speed is 0 m/s. This method involves the ability to estimate the wind speed of air mixing with different densities, but further research is still needed in terms of statistical methods and experimental equipment.

An Experimental Investigation of the Mechanical Performance of EPS Foam Core Sandwich Composites Used in Surfboard Design.

Surfboard manufacturing has begun to utilise Expanded Polystyrene as a core material; however, surf literature relatively ignores this material. This manuscript investigates the mechanical behaviour of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) sandwich composites. An epoxy resin matrix was used to manufacture ten sandwich-structured composite panels with varying fabric reinforcements (carbon fibre, glass fibre, PET) and two foam densities. The flexural, shear, fracture, and tensile properties were subsequently compared. Under common flexural loading, all composites failed via compression of the core, which is known in surfing terms as creasing. However, crack propagation tests indicated a sudden brittle failure in the E-glass and carbon fibre facings and progressive plastic deformation for the recycled polyethylene terephthalate facings. Testing showed that higher foam density increased the flex and fracture mechanical properties of composites. Overall, the plain weave carbon fibre presented the highest strength composite facing, while the single layer of E-glass was the lowest strength composite. Interestingly, the double-bias weave carbon fibre with a lower-density foam core presented similar stiffness behaviour to standard E-glass surfboard materials. The double-biased carbon also improved the flexural strength (+17%), material toughness (+107%), and fracture toughness (+156%) of the composite compared to E-glass. These findings indicate surfboard manufacturers can utilise this carbon weave pattern to produce surfboards with equal flex behaviour, lower weight and improved resistance to damage in regular loading.

Mammalian cargo receptors for endoplasmic reticulum-to-Golgi transport: mechanisms and interactions.

Proteins that are destined to enter the secretory pathway are synthesized on the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and then translocated into the ER lumen, where they undergo posttranslational modifications, folding, and assembly. After passing a quality control system, the cargo proteins are packaged into coat protein complex II (COPII) vesicles to exit the ER. In metazoans, most COPII subunits have multiple paralogs, enabling COPII vesicles the flexibility to transport a diverse range of cargo. The cytoplasmic domains of transmembrane proteins can interact with SEC24 subunits of COPII to enter the ER exit sites. Some transmembrane proteins may also act as cargo receptors that bind soluble secretory proteins within the ER lumen, enabling them to enter COPII vesicles. The cytoplasmic domains of cargo receptors also contain coat protein complex I binding motifs that allow for their cycling back to the ER after unloading their cargo in the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment and cis-Golgi. Once unloaded, the soluble cargo proteins continue maturation through the Golgi before reaching their final destinations. This review provides an overview of receptor-mediated transport of secretory proteins from the ER to the Golgi, with a focus on the current understanding of two mammalian cargo receptors: the LMAN1-MCFD2 complex and SURF4, and their roles in human health and disease.

Injuries and Use of Safety Equipment in River Surfing.

Background: River surfing (also called "rapid surfing") involves surfing on stationary waves that are artificially created or placed in rivers and is gaining popularity, especially among surfers in landlocked areas but also among athletes without experience in ocean surfing. Different wave setups, types of boards, and types of fins, as well as the use of safety equipment, can lead to overuse and injuries. Purpose: To analyze the incidence, mechanisms, and risk factors of river surfing-related injuries for different types of waves and to evaluate the usage and appropriateness of safety equipment. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: An online survey was distributed via social media to river surfers in German-speaking countries to collect information on demographics, injury history for the previous 12 months, wave site attended, use of (safety) equipment, and health issues. The survey was accessible between November 2021 and February 2022. Results: A total of 213 participants completed the survey: 195 participants from Germany, 10 from Austria, 6 from Switzerland, and 2 from other countries. The mean age was 36 years (range, 11-73 years), 72% (n = 153) were male, and 10% (n = 22) took part in competitions. Overall, 60% (n = 128) of surfers experienced 741 surfing-related injuries over the previous 12 months. The most common mechanisms of injury were contact with the bottom of the pool/river (n = 75 [35%]), with the board (n = 65 [30%]), and with the fins (n = 57 [27%]). The most frequent injury types were contusions/bruises (n = 256), cuts/lacerations (n = 159), abrasions (n = 152), and overuse (n = 58). Injuries affected mainly the feet/toes (n = 90), head/face (n = 67), hand/fingers (n = 51), knee (n = 49), lower back (n = 49), and thighs (n = 45). Earplugs were used by 50 (24%) participants, and a helmet was used regularly by 38 (18%) participants and never by 175 (82%) participants. Conclusion: The most frequent types of injury in river surfers were contusions/bruises, cuts/lacerations, and abrasions. The main mechanisms of injury were contact with the bottom of the pool/river, with the board, or with the fins. The feet/toes were more prone to injuries, followed by the head/face and hand/fingers.

A grounded theory exploration of programme theory within Waves of Wellness surf therapy intervention.

OBJECTIVE: Poor mental health represents a large proportion of disease burden faced by young Australians, which has been further exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the reluctance of this population to seek support. Surf therapy is a novel form of intervention targeting mental health. The objective of this study was to interrogate programme theory within surf therapy, as delivered by the Waves of Wellness Foundation (WOW) in Australia. METHODS AND MEASURES: The study utilised grounded theory to understand or develop theoretical mediators for WOW surf therapy based on interviews exploring the experiences of previous intervention participants (n = 16; mean age = 18.4 years, SD = 2.8, range 14-24). Data were analysed through constant comparative analysis. RESULTS: Five categories emerged from participant data as foundational to WOW programme theory: (a) Safe Space, (b) Social Support, (c) Sensory Grounding, (d) Mastery and (e) Respite. These categories have novel theoretical and practical implications for both surf therapy and wider clinical practice, especially around concepts such as delivering 'mental health by stealth' and fostering longer term 'mental health maintenance' for participants. CONCLUSION: The study developed an initial WOW programme theory, highlighting the importance of foundational therapeutic structures beyond simply going surfing.

Setting qualitative performance parameters of elite surfing aerial manoeuvres with 360° rotation / Establecimiento de parámetros cualitativos de rendimiento de maniobras aéreas de surf de élite con rotación de 360 grados / Definição de parâmetros qualitativos de desempenho de manobras aéreas de surf de elite com rotação de 360 graus

El objetivo fue analizar parámetros de maniobras aéreas de surf de alto nivel, apoyando el entrenamiento específico y la prevención de lesiones. Utilizando análisis de video de maniobras aéreas completadas porsurfistas masculinos de top-5en 19 eventos durante las temporadas 2018y 2019del World Championship Tour, se seleccionaron (n=97): Frontside Air, Frontside Air Reverse 360, Backside Air y Backside Air Reverse 360.Se trata de una investigación de métodomixto. Tiene un análisis de tarea cualitativo, realizado a través del análisisen fases, considerando características clave de las acciones corporales y principios de movimiento. A través de la metodologíaobservacional (nomotético, puntual y multidimensional) se midió laaltura del aéreo, el ancho del BoS y los ángulos de flexión de la rodilla y del tobillo delanteros.Las referencias en el análisis cualitativo fueron: rotación de cabeza y tronco, triple flexión de miembros inferiores (preparación) y máspronunciada en larecuperación; flexión de cabeza, tronco y brazos desde el despegue (preparación) hasta el pico del vuelo (principal) provocando el desplazamiento anterosuperior del CoM; ampliación de la BoS para aéreos frontales (principal). El análisiscuantitivo permitió identificarlamedia dela altura del aéreo (169,60±52,85cm), del ancho de la base de sustentación (BoS) (79,17±13,72cm), y de los ángulos de flexión de la rodilla (113,78±19,90º) y del tobillo(32,74±14,51º)delanteros durante el aterrizaje. El análisis descriptivo puede contribuir al desarrollo de programas de formación específicos para la enseñanza y el aprendizaje, con el objetivo de mejorar el rendimiento de las maniobras aéreas. (AU)

Purpose was to analyse parameters of high-level surfing aerial manoeuvres, supporting specific training and injury prevention. Using video analysis ofaerials completed by top-5male surfersin 19 events during 2018and 2019 seasonsof the World Championship Tour, were selected (n=97): Frontside Air, Frontside Air Reverse 360, Backside Air and Backside Air Reverse 360. This is a mixed method research. Has a qualitative task analysis, carried out through phaseanalysis, considering key features from body actions and principles of movement. Through observational methodology (nomothetic, single point and multidimensional)was measured the aerial height, theBoS width, and flexion angles of front knee and front ankle.Qualitative analysis references were: rotation of the head and trunk, triple-flexion of the lower limbs (retraction) and more pronounced in the follow-through; head, trunk, and arms flexion fromthe take-off (retraction) to the peak of the flight (action) causing the anterosuperior CoM displacement; widening of the BoS for frontside aerials (action). Quantitative analysis allowed to identify the mean of aerial height (169.60±52.85cm), of base of support (BoS) width (79.17±13.72cm), and flexion anglesof front knee (113.78±19.90º) and front ankle (32.74±14.51º) during landing.Descriptive analysis may contribute to the development of specific training programs for teaching and learning, aiming to improve performance of aerial manoeuvres. (AU)

O objetivo foi analisar parâmetros de manobras aéreas de surf de alto nível, dando suporte ao treino específico e à prevenção de lesões. Através da análisede vídeode manobras aéreas concluídaspor surfistas masculinos do top-5,em 19 eventos durante as temporadas 2018 e 2019do World Championship Tour, foram selecionados (n=97): Frontside Air, Frontside Air Reverse 360, Backside Air e Backside Air Reverse 360.Esteé um estudo com um método misto. Temos uma análise da tarefa qualitativa, realizada através da análise por fases, considerando as principais características das ações corporais e dos princípios do movimento.Através da metodologia observacional (nomotético, pontual e multidimensional) foi medida a altura do aéreo, a largura do BoS e os ângulos de flexão do joelho e do tornozelodianteiros. As referências da análise qualitativa foram: arotação de cabeça e tronco, tripla flexão dos membros inferiores (preparação) e mais acentuada na finalização; flexão da cabeça, tronco e braços desde a descolagem (preparação) até o pico do voo (ação principal) causando o deslocamento antero-superior do CoM; alargamento da BoS paraaéreos frontais (ação principal). A análise quantitativa permitiu identificar a média da altura do aéreo (169,60±52,85cm), da largura da base de sustentação (BoS) (79,17±13,72cm) e dos ângulos de flexão do joelho(113,78±19,90º) e tornozelo (32,74±14,51º)dianteiros durante a aterragem. A análise descritiva pode contribuir para o desenvolvimento de programas de treino específicos para ensino e aprendizagem, visando melhorar o desempenho das manobras aéreas. (AU)

Strong winds as driver of surf zooplankton abundance and composition in a temperate sandy beach.

This study explores the effect of different wind events (direction and duration) on the surf zone zooplankton community in a temperate sandy beach. Samplings were realized on the surf zone of Pehuen Co sandy beach during 17 wind events from May 17th, 2017, to July 19th, 2019. Biological samples were taken before and after the events. The identification of the events was realized using recorded high-frequency wind speed data. General Linear Model (LM) and Generalized linear models (GLM) were employed to compare physical and biological variables. We observed that the wind direction unequally altered the ecosystem along with its duration, modifying the composition and abundance of zooplankton communities. Short-duration wind events were associated with an increment in the zooplankton abundances, being Acartia tonsa and Paracalanus parvus dominant. Within the short-duration cases, winds from the W sector were identified with the inner continental shelf species' presence, such as Ctenocalanus vanus and Euterpina acutifrons, and to a lesser extent, Calanoides carinatus, and Labidocera fluviatilis, together with surf zone copepods. Long-duration cases were associated with a significant decrease in the zooplankton abundance. Within this group, SE-SW wind events were identified with adventitious fraction taxa. Considering that the occurrence of extreme events is growing because of climate change, affecting the frequency and intensity of storm surges, the knowledge of the responses of biological communities to these events is necessary. This work provides quantitative evidence on a short-time scale of the implications of the physical-biological interaction during different strong wind cases in surf zone waters of sandy beaches.

Recoding of Nonsense Mutation as a Pharmacological Strategy.

Approximately 11% of genetic human diseases are caused by nonsense mutations that introduce a premature termination codon (PTC) into the coding sequence. The PTC results in the production of a potentially harmful shortened polypeptide and activation of a nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) pathway. The NMD pathway reduces the burden of unproductive protein synthesis by lowering the level of PTC mRNA. There is an endogenous rescue mechanism that produces a full-length protein from a PTC mRNA. Nonsense suppression therapies aim to increase readthrough, suppress NMD, or are a combination of both strategies. Therefore, treatment with translational readthrough-inducing drugs (TRIDs) and NMD inhibitors may increase the effectiveness of PTC suppression. Here we discuss the mechanism of PTC readthrough and the development of novel approaches to PTC suppression. We also discuss the toxicity and bioavailability of therapeutics used to stimulate PTC readthrough.