EDUCATION UCI reports gene mutations affect calorie...

EDUCATION

UCI reports gene mutations affect calorie burning

A team of researchers at UC Irvine published a report in the Jan.

9 issue of Science saying that certain gene mutations in early

humans, who migrated north from warmer climates, may have helped them

adapt to the cold and burn calories more efficiently.

The school’s Center for Molecular and Mitochondrial Medicine and

Genetics found that people with the mutated gene can handle a diet

higher in calories and fat better than people without the mutation,

who tend to live in more tropical climates. The mutation also means

those people produce fewer free radicals when they burn calories,

meaning fewer age-related illnesses.

* Students in UC Irvine’s graduate school of management’s class of

2005 can enter a contest to invest $300,000 of UCI trustee Chuck

Martin’s money for one year. Martin, also a Laguna Beach venture

capitalist, will split the gains with them if they do well, up to

$12,000 per student. If the students’ stocks tank, they’ll only lose

their $200 entry fee.

* Orange County school and law enforcement officials discussed the

problems of preparing for the unknown in a school safety community

forum at UC Irvine on Monday. Representatives from the Orange County

Department of Education, the Sheriff’s Department and risk management

companies discussed ways to deal with threats from nature, students

and terrorists. UCI’s Center for Unconventional Security Affairs,

which integrates people from the public and private sectors to

research and address a variety of threats, presented the forum.

-- Marisa O’Neil

COSTA MESA

Cirque du Soleil’s not ‘wherever,’ it’s right here

Cirque du Soleil’s latest production, “Varekai,” opened at the

Orange County Fairgrounds on Friday.

“Varekai,” which means “wherever” in the language of Romany

gypsies, features acts such as the triple trapeze, juggling and

aerial straps, in which two men fly high above the stage. The

Canadian circus’ trademark blue-and-yellow big top will remain at the

fairgrounds through February.

* The Orange County Transportation Authority on Monday selected a

route for the CenterLine light rail system that city leaders and

South Coast Metro business owners prefer. The route includes a short,

underground stretch on Avenue of the Arts, but does not have a stop

at South Coast Plaza.

* The Mesa Verde Homeowners Assn. is opposing the sale of several

slivers of Fairview Park to property owners who have been treating

the land as their own backyards. The 17 homeowners have exceeded

their property limits from less than a foot to more than 22 feet. On

Tuesday, the City Council will get an update on what it would take to

sell the land.

* The Planning Commission postponed again any decision on a

proposed mobile home park conversion law because it wanted more time

to absorb feedback given at its Monday meeting and to ensure a full

commission would vote on it. Only four commissioners were present

Monday.

-- Deirdre Newman and Marisa O’Neil

PUBLIC SAFETY

Police arrest suspect in sexual assaults, burglaries

Police arrested Friday a 35-year-old Lake Forest man who,

officials say, reportedly befriended women in bars, offered them

rides home, and then returned under the cover of darkness and

sexually assaulted at least two of them.

Romilien Antonio Fleming usually hung out at Pierce Street Annex

on East 17th Street, where he met most of his victims, police said.

Fleming reportedly waited until the women got intoxicated and then

offered them rides home, officials said. He dropped them off, then

returned and sexually assaulted them, officials said. He also stole

from them, but his primary intent was to assault the women, although

he did not rape them, police said.

Police arrested Fleming on Friday as he was trying to burglarize

another victim’s home, officials said. None of the victims were

injured.

* Police are looking for four men suspected of grabbing and

inappropriately touching three women on separate occasions on the

same stretch of Victoria Street in the last two weeks, officials

said. All three incidents happened between the 500 and 600 blocks of

Victoria Street, police said. None of the victims were injured. The

incidents appear to be related, officials said. The targets were all

women walking alone. Two of the attacks happened in broad daylight.

The incidents are not gang-related, police said.

-- Deepa Bharath

BUSINESS AND POLITICS

Triangle Square has plans to fill vacancies by summer

Costa Mesa’s Triangle Square shopping center is on track with

plans to boost occupancy to 100% by this summer, officials said.

Upgrades could include new stadium seating in the Edwards Theater,

a two-story gym in now-vacant store spaces, and a revamped food

court. The shopping center’s management also hopes to plan four major

events a year to draw customers.

* Newport Beach businesswoman Cristi Cristich, one of six GOP

candidates for the 70th Assembly District seat, led the pack in

fundraising during 2003, according to campaign finance reports.

Cristich raised almost $703,000 for her campaign, followed by

opponents Chuck DeVore with nearly $336,000; Don Wagner with

$115,000; and Marianne Zippi with $83,000. No reports were available

for candidates Chonchol D. Gupta and Long K. Pham.

* In the 35th state Senate District race, 70th District

Assemblyman John Campbell raised $760,000 in 2003, or more than twice

as much as opponent Ken Maddox, the 68th District assemblyman, who

raised almost $307,000.

-- Alicia Robinson