Futurity.org » University of Queensland

Long ‘sexy’ fins don’t thwart swimming

Tracey Franchi-Queensland — Wed, 01 May 2013 14:09:31 +0000

U. QUEENSLAND (AUS) — Looking flashy to attract mates could be a risky strategy, but long, flamboyant fins don’t seem to be a burden for male threadfin rainbowfish, report scientists.

The researchers tested the evolutionary theory assumption that only the best individuals are able to bear the energetic or survival costs associated with “sexy” features.

Chinese herbs help cut diabetes symptoms

Vanessa Coppard-Queensland — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:09:58 +0000

U. QUEENSLAND (AUS) — Conventional drugs to treat type 2 diabetes are significantly more effective when paired with traditional Chinese medicine, new research finds.

The study involved a controlled clinical trial of 800 type 2 diabetic adults, comparing the anti-diabetic drug Glibenclamide as a stand-alone treatment and treatment with Glibenclamide in conjunction with traditional Chinese medicine.

Do earthquakes have the Midas touch?

Janelle Kirkland-Queensland — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:46:33 +0000

U. QUEENSLAND (AUS) — Earthquakes may be one of the primary ways that gold and quartz deposits form, a new study suggests.

New research published in Nature Geoscience demonstrates the link between seismic activity and the precipitation of gold and other trace elements in earthquake fault zones.

Bumble bee loss threatens food security

Ken Branson-Rutgers — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:27:07 +0000

RUTGERS (US) — Wild pollinators are just as important, and often more efficient, at pollinating crops than domestic honey bee colonies, but bumble bee colonies are vanishing.

“This will be a surprise to the agricultural establishment,” says Rachael Winfree, professor of ecology, evolution, and natural resources in Rutgers’ School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, who was involved in the two new studies.

For tennis elbow, steroids may be a long shot

Kirsten Rogan-Queensland — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:33:08 +0000

U. QUEENSLAND (AUS) — Steroid injections help tennis elbow in the short term, but can lead to higher odds of re-injury, as well as delayed healing.

Researchers found that treating patients suffering from tennis elbow with physiotherapy and a corticosteroid injection didn’t reduce recurrence or have a long-term effect on complete recovery, pain, or quality of life.

Professor Bill Vicenzino from the University of Queensland’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences says recent high quality trials revealed steroid injections resulted in initial short-term benefits, followed by the high chance (more than 70 percent) of recurrence of injury after two months, as well as protracted delayed healing.

How to grow sorghum that’s easier to digest

Ron Hohenhaus-Queensland — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:39:11 +0000

U. QUEENSLAND (AUS) — Scientists have identified a sorghum gene that could lead to the development of more digestible feedstocks for farm animals and better nutrition for some of the world’s poorest nations.

Known around the world for its drought-tolerance and florid heads of grain at harvest time, a more digestible sorghum would allow better uptake of vital nutrients.

Deep brain therapy effective in early Parkinson’s

Shannah OBrien-Queensland — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:58:02 +0000

U. QUEENSLAND (AUS) — Researchers report significant improvements in quality of life for patients who receive deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease.

“Before the release of this study, a typical patient with Parkinson’s disease would need to wait around 10 years or until their motor complications could no longer be treated successfully with medicine alone, before DBS surgery was considered an option,” says neurologist Peter Silburn, lead clinical professor from the Asia-Pacific Centre for Neuromodulation, a joint initiative of the University of Queensland and St Andrew’s Hospital.

Without calcium, coral reefs may stop growing

Tracey Franchi-Queensland — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 12:01:28 +0000

U. QUEENSLAND (AUS) — Many Caribbean coral reefs don’t have enough calcium carbonate and have either stopped growing or are on the threshold of eroding away, new evidence suggests.

Coral reefs form some of the planet’s most biologically diverse ecosystems, and provide valuable services to humans and wildlife, however their ability to maintain their structures and continue to grow depends on the reef’s ability to both produce and accumulate calcium carbonate.

Giraffes pick and choose their social circles

Tracey Franchi-Queensland — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:30:19 +0000

U. QUEENSLAND (AUS) — Female giraffes won’t hang out with just anybody—like humans, they have what’s called a “fision-fusion” social system.

Studying social relationships among female giraffes could provide essential information for the management and conservation of the species.

An online test for Alzheimer’s by 2015?

Mikaeli Costello-Queensland — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 20:31:53 +0000

U. QUEENSLAND (AUS) — Doctors may soon detect symptoms of Alzheimer’s earlier—and more cheaply than using MRI—with online navigation tests.

Study coordinator Lizzie Coulson, a professor at the University of Queensland, says her research team has identified how Alzheimer’s disease impairs the cholinergic basal forebrain in undertaking navigational tasks. Their study appears in the journal PLOS ONE.