A Charles Sturt University (CSU) researcher is investigating a reliable method of improving blood flow to cold feet, a symptom of poor blood supply, which will also help treat foot ulcers and pains. PhD student Ms Sylvia McAra is testing a medication, glyceryl trinitrate, which has been used for 150 years to treat the heart disease angina. “It causes blood vessels to widen and allow more blood to reach the area where patches containing small doses of the medication are applied,” she said. Ms McAra is now seeking more participants from the Border region for her study, which requires 120 people for six months. “We already have 100 people, so we just need 20 or so more. Early results are promising and suggest this is a useful treatment in many cases. We need people who complain of cold feet in winter for the study, including diabetes sufferers. Each participant will have a review of medical history and provision of information to their doctor, and blood circulation is checked during each visit,” Ms McAra said. Participants will need to attend CSU’s new Community Engagement and Wellness Centre (CEW) once each month for six months starting in February. To find out more about the study or to book a visit, contact Lyn at the CEW on (02) 6051 9299.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) staff and current students are laying out the welcome mat for over 500 students commencing their studies at CSU in Albury-Wodonga in 2013. They will join over 1 200 students currently enrolled in courses on the Albury-Wodonga Campus. The new students, hailing from across the Border region, around Australia and the world, have accepted the challenge, and fun, of university study at CSU. “It’s not all good times – they will need to knuckle down to some hard academic work to complete their degrees, and we have people and resources in place to help them,” said Orientation Week coordinator and student support officer, Ms Kerry Read. New students living in one of the on campus residences will start arriving on Saturday 23 February, with the first formal events commencing on Monday 25 February. All students will receive an official welcome, with academic procession, on Tuesday 26 February. “The new students are embarking on an exciting phase of their lives, and we at Charles Sturt University are here to assist them in their journey to a university degree,” said Head of CSU in Albury-Wodonga and acting Dean of Studies, Professor Julia Coyle.

People with Parkinson’s disease or rheumatoid arthritis are invited to take part in research at Charles Sturt University (CSU) to investigate the role of red blood cells in neutralising free radicals, chemicals derived from breaking down oxygen in the blood that can damage the body. CSU PhD student with the School of Community Health, Ms Di Hughes, is looking at the shape and biochemistry of red blood cells which are critical for delivering oxygen to the body. “Cell shape is affected by oxidative stress, which is the balance between free radicals and antioxidants which neutralise free radicals. We want to study the levels of antioxidants, free radicals and resulting inflammation in people with these diseases,” Ms Hughes said. “Ultimately, this research could help understand the role of oxidative stress and antioxidants in Parkinson's disease and rheumatoid arthritis.” After an initial discussion with Ms Hughes, which includes a medical questionnaire, accepted participants can attend the Health Skills ward at Thurgoona to give blood and urine samples which will be analysed for free radicals, antioxidants and the shape of red blood cells.

Two researchers from Charles Sturt University (CSU) want to learn more about what the residents of Thurgoona and Wirlinga on the north-east edge of Albury know and understand about conservation and the plants and animals that live in the area. Dr Rosemary Black and Dr Shelby Laird from CSU’s Institute for Land, Water and Society will distribute a postal survey to households in these suburbs, starting Wednesday 6 March. “The Thurgoona and Wirlinga areas are expected to grow to over 50 000 people in the next 30 years, and will become a more urban environment,” Dr Black said. “This will impact on the area’s native animals and the flora they depend on, particularly threatened species. We are investigating this community’s knowledge and values about nature and conservation before changes occur and before any projects or education initiatives are conducted. This is a very rare opportunity for us as researchers to gather this information.” The postal survey will be followed by interviews with some residents to gather more data that could be used to develop better conservation projects in the future. “Finding out what people know about nature and conservation in Thurgoona and Wirlinga will help conservation organisations like the Albury Conservation Company, as well as state and local governments, to better plan their future conservation activities,” Dr Laird said.

Australian Skeptics have retained their $110 000 prize after 84 tests were performed during the annual Mitta Muster near Albury-Wodonga on Sunday 10 March to see if anyone could demonstrate an ability to ‘divine’ water. In what was the world’s largest scientific test of water divining, 20 two litre bottles full of sand or water were placed randomly in an open area to see if water diviners could identify the contents of each bottle. There was no time limit and bottles were moved periodically throughout the day to ensure fairness. “The results showed no doubt,” said Charles Sturt University psychology lecturer and event organiser, Dr Krissy Wilson. “All results fell into the expected pattern for random results and no pattern for any ‘diving’ abilities. We had participants from across NSW and Victoria take the test, and none were scientifically proved to have any particular psychic ability to find water.” Chief investigator from Australian Skeptics, Mr Ian Bryce, observed that, “The results when charted revealed a classic ‘bell curve’ showing results that we would expect from random chance”. Australian Skeptics remain willing to search for the evidence that divining is a real phenomenon. The $110 000 prize remains available for anyone able to demonstrate any paranormal claim under controlled conditions.

High school students in the NSW Mid-North Coast, central and southern NSW and regional Victoria can learn vital life skills while running a simulated business in an online game to be hosted by Charles Sturt University’s Faculty of Business. The GameOn! organisers at CSU are now calling for teams of Years 10 and 11 students from high schools around regional NSW and Victoria to participate in the game in 2013. The game was first staged in 2012. “The student teams will make vital business decisions about marketing, human resources, operations and finance for an online, simulated business. Apart from developing problem-solving skills in their businesses, GameOn allows students to develop important life skills such as leadership, group work, critical thinking, negotiation and time management,” said GameOn coordinator Dr Abbey Dwivedi.  Teams will need to be nominated by the extended deadline of Friday 5 April, with eight rounds of ‘decisions’ to be made during the year and winning teams due to be announced in September 2013.

Children and staff at Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Murray Children’s Centre will share their love for the local environment at an event this week at CSU in Albury-Wodonga. Members of the public as well as parents and guests of the Centre have been invited to view the vegetable, herb and native gardens established in the grounds of the Centre as part of a project funded by CSU Green showing the children how water conservation can be integrated around the home. “We wanted to use the CSU Green grant to develop our gardens so children can learn in a stimulating and sustainable environment, using plants and materials we can all have in our own backyards,” said Centre director, Dr Sydnye Allen. The afternoon tea event commences at 3.30pm on Friday 5 April at the Murray Children’s Centre, building 711, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona.

Environmental educators from across the Murray Darling Basin will gather this week at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga to describe their opportunities and problems and discuss collaborations in the coming year. The meeting, on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 April, will be hosted by the Regional Centre for Expertise in Education for Sustainable Development (RCE-MD) based at CSU. Thirty-five educators from primary schools, TAFE, catchment management authorities, state agencies and research institutes from NSW, ACT and Victoria will gather on the University’s most environmentally sustainable campus to explore education for sustainable development in the Murray Darling Basin. Event coordinator Dr John Rafferty said, "This is a significant meeting of environmental educators. These professionals work with schools, communities and families promoting greater understanding of natural systems across Murray Darling Basin communities.” This second annual meeting is funded by the Murray Darling Basin Authority  in conjunction with RCE-MD.  

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) research student is calling for participants from Albury-Wodonga in a study that could help improve the understanding of major diseases. “Diabetes and high blood pressure are very common diseases, and their prevalence is increasing across regional Australia,” said Mr Prajwal Gyawali, a PhD student with the School of Community Health. “These diseases affect the shape and function of red blood cells in blood vessels. The aim of my project is to investigate the extent that blood flow and the shape of red blood cells are affected by diabetes and high blood pressure.” Mr Gyawali is calling for residents from Albury-Wodonga to take part in his project, which will help in assessing the severity and progression of diabetes and high blood pressure, and may also contribute to better understanding of the possible causes of these diseases. During a 30 minute visit to a research room at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Mr Gyawali will ask participants about any medical problems, dietary habits and medications, take body and blood pressure measurements and blood and urine samples for testing. To take part in the project, contact Mr Prajwal Gyawali on mobile 0414 932 057 or send an email pgyawali@csu.edu.au .