UO E-clips, Oct. 18-20

Campus loans out dumped bicycles (Associated Press, appearing in the Seattle Post Intelligencer): The University of Oregon has converted a couple of dozen abandoned bikes into a fleet of loaners for campus commuting. In the first few weeks of the term, students quickly scooped up the loan program's 30 bikes, and 80 more are waiting for a chance at their own set of wheels. "Before, I sort of thought bikes were for kids and teenagers, but now I think I'll definitely be riding after I graduate," said Bjorn Brown, an economics major from Toronto.

Program looks at negative conflicts that arise in sport (Register-Guard): If you ever want a tough assignment, try asking this question the next time you’re in a particularly obnoxious crowd at Autzen Stadium or McArthur Court: “How did sports turn into something that is so inherent with negative conflict? Where did we go wrong?” To say the least, it might be hard to get that conversation going in certain parts of a stadium these days. But it’s a question that’s being asked in other places, including not far from Mac Court. About two blocks away, the University of Oregon School of Law is tackling the sports behavior issue through a program called Competition Not Conflict.

Brave souls give it their all to sing at Mac Court (Register-Guard): Oh, say … can you sing? Carly Walker can. Even in front of total strangers. In fact, she prefers it that way. “I usually don’t get nervous in front of people I don’t know,” said the Kennedy Middle School sixth-grader, who was the 10th of 52 entries during national anthem auditions Sunday morning at McArthur Court on the University of Oregon campus. The poised Carly, who played the lead in McCornack Elementary School’s production of “Oliver” last year, sang with a smooth and controlled voice during her first-ever audition to sing the notoriously difficult “Star-Spangled Banner” before home UO basketball game.

Study suggests fertility has role in dental health (Associated Press, appearing in The Oregonian … similar story appearedin multiple other publications): A review of historical records has found a possible link between fertility changes and dental health for women. University of Oregon anthropologist John Lukacs says his review suggests that rising fertility and hormonal changes help explain why women suffered more tooth decay than men as civilization began to emerge. The increase in cavities had been linked to the changes in food production as ancient people moved from hunting and gathering to organized farming. But Lukacs said the increase is likely due mostly to hormonal changes during pregnancy along with a reduction in the antimicrobial action of saliva in women. A desire for high-energy, sweet foods during the third trimester of pregnancy also may be to blame. The study was published in the October issue of Current Anthropology.

Gene-linked overeating not the only risk for obesity (FoodConsumer.org): A new study suggests that people become obese because they eat too much and they eat too much because they have weakened reward circuitry in their brains, which forces them to eat more to get satisfied with the foods they eat. The theory is plain and simple, but more work is needed. The study led by Eric Stice and colleagues at the University of Texas and the University of Oregon and Yale University found that young females who were positive for a genetic variant and had less activation in the dorsal striatum part of the brain were more likely to gain weight within one year of the study.

Global warning keynote speaker to appear (News Review): The Douglas County Global Warming Coalition will present Sarah Mazze, developer and coordinator of the climate master program at the University of Oregon, at a gathering from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Douglas County Library. The presentation on solutions to global warming includes speakers Steve Rehnquist of the Douglas County Oregon State University Extension Service on “Sustainability in Your Backyard” and Steve Tuchscherer of the Roseburg City Council on “Sustainability Practices in Local Government.” Attendance is free; refreshments will be served. Parking for the event will be available in the parking lot on Fowler Street across from the library.

Some question the use of school timeout rooms (Kansas City Star): After failing to finish an assignment, 8-year-old Isabel Loeffler was sent to the school’s timeout room -- a converted storage area under a staircase. Isabel, who has autism, was left alone there for three hours and wet herself before she was finally allowed to leave. Appalled, her parents removed her from the school district and filed a lawsuit. Some educators say timeout rooms are being used with increased frequency to discipline children with behavioral disorders. And the timeouts are probably doing more harm than good, they add. “It really is a form of abuse,” said Ken Merrell, head of the Department for Special Education and Clinical Sciences at the University of Oregon. “It’s going to do nothing to change the behavior. You’re using it as an isolation booth.”

Lakers not as attractive as usual (San Francisco Chronicle): Amid the bright lights of America's most sinfully extravagant city, the NBA's glitziest team filled slightly more than half an arena last weekend. It was a bit colder than usual around these parts, but even the Los Angeles Lakers were feeling the chill of the economy. The Lakers secured an impressive 99 percent renewal for season-ticket holders, but their exhibition games this month have been played in front of surprisingly sparse crowds in venues outside Los Angeles. ... "You have to attribute some of it to the economy, given that we're all kind of counting pennies right now," said Paul Swangard of the Warsaw sports marketing center at the University of Oregon. "People are saying, 'The circus is coming to town, but I guess I'm going to skip it this year.' People usually have plenty of options. Maybe their best option is to stay home."