GLBT DIGEST - January 26, 2007

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The current issue of The Express Gay News is online http://expressgaynews.com/



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The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Religion-Today.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print


January 25, 2007
Religion Today

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 1:53 p.m. ET

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio (AP) -- The former seminary president who sparked anational debate on the impact of gays entering the Roman Catholic priesthoodis now tackling another sensitive issue, adding his voice to thoseadvocating an end to mandatory celibacy.

''Celibacy used to go with priesthood as fish went with Fridays,'' said theRev. Donald Cozzens. ''Over the past 40 to 50 years, I would argue that moreand more Catholics are questioning the need to link celibacy withpriesthood.''

In ''Freeing Celibacy,'' Cozzens suggests there may be a way through theproblem by allowing celibacy as an option but dropping it as a requirement.

Although he is taking on an institution that measures change over centuries,Cozzens -- a celibate priest himself -- thinks the time is right for arethinking of celibacy.



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The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/26/us/26bishop.html?pagewanted=print


January 26, 2007

Outspoken Catholic Pastor Replaced; He Says It's Retaliation
By LAURIE GOODSTEIN


In his last Mass as pastor at the inner-city parish in Detroit where he hadserved for 23 years, Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton told hisparishioners that he was forced to step down as pastor because of hislobbying efforts on behalf of the victims of sexual abuse by members of theclergy, a stance that put him in opposition to his fellow bishops.

Last weekend, the archbishop of Detroit, Cardinal Adam Maida, sent a letterto the parish, St. Leo, saying Bishop Gumbleton had to be removed because ofchurch rules on retirement. But as Bishop Gumbleton, who turns 77 on Fridayand had already retired last year as a bishop, told his parish last Sunday,there are many pastors even older than he who are allowed to continueserving.

"I'm sure it's because of the openness with which I spoke out last Januaryconcerning victims of sex abuse in the church. So we're all suffering theconsequences of that, and yet, I don't regret doing what I did because Istill think it was the right thing to do," he said, as the congregation roseand erupted in applause.



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365gay.com

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/01/012507wamar.htm


Washington Civil Unions Bill Gets First Hearing
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: January 26, 2007 - 12:01 am ET

(Olympia, Washington) A woman who same-sex partner died as a result of lastDecember's floods told Washington state lawmakers Thursday that she haddifficulty getting into the hospital to see her dying lover.

The Washington State Senate Committee On Government Operations and Electionswas hearing the first day of testimony on a bill that would create civilunions in the state.

Charlene Strong told how partner Kate Fleming got trapped in the basementstudio where she ran an audio company. As the water rose she was unable toopen the door to get out.

Rescuers finally broke through and rushed Fleming to an area hospital.



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Expressgaynews.com

http://www.expressgaynews.com/2007/1-26/news/national/efforts.cfm

Activists look for silver lining in amendment fights
Anti-gay measures inspiring new efforts in some 'red states'

By LOU CHIBBARO JR
Friday, January 26, 2007

A small corps of gay activists waged a near-futile battle during the pastthree years as voters approved a wave of state constitutional amendmentsbanning same-sex marriage that spread from the South across the Great Plainsto the upper mountain states.

By the end of 2006, voters in 27 states had passed such amendments, with allbut four of them occurring in the conservative, Republican leaning statesthat the nation's political pundits have designated as "red" states.

In most of these states, especially the rural ones in the heartland,large-scale, statewide gay rights groups did not exist. While activistsscrambled to put together campaigns to fight the amendments, politicalobservers in the states described these efforts as "too little and too late."



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Expressgaynews.com

http://www.expressgaynews.com/2007/1-26/view/editorial/naff.cfm


Profiles in gay courage
Gay politicians are winning elections in unlikely places and should inspirethe rest of us to follow their honest lead.
Friday, January 26, 2007

THE IDEA FOR this "red issue" sprang from a trip I took to Houston inNovember to attend the Victory Fund's International Gay & Lesbian LeadershipConference that brings together openly gay politicians for seminars andnetworking opportunities.

At the opening night cocktail party, I declined to wear my nametag in theroom full of politicians. I expected the room to be a minefield of peoplethe Blade had covered and somehow slighted over the years and dreaded theinevitable confrontations. A roomful of public figures imbibing alcoholicbeverages scared me.

But what happened next surprised me. Instead of being ostracized, I wasrecognized and welcomed by folks from Alabama to California and quicklydiscovered just how much online media have helped reduce the isolation feltby many gay people living in rural areas.



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Expressgaynews.com

http://www.expressgaynews.com/2007/1-26/view/editorial/mon.cfm

The religious left - yes, it does exist
There are more gay-friendly Christian denominations than people realize

By JESSE MONTEAGUDO
Friday, January 26, 2007

Last spring, at the height of the Senate debate over the Federal MarriageAmendment, an interfaith coalition of Jewish, Sikh, Protestant and UnitarianUniversalist clergy and laity got together to oppose the amendment. Thoughthe members of the newly created Clergy For Fairness held different viewsabout homosexuality and same-sex marriage, they all agreed that the FederalMarriage Amendment was discriminatory.

"When one group is singled out for discrimination, it's not long beforeother groups will be singled out, too," said Rabbi Craig Asler, one of theorganizers. "It's the first time we see the Constitution in danger ofenshrining discrimination against one party, one class, and to remain silentas a Jew is unconscionable."

In previous "Journals," I wrote about the various branches of Judaism andtheir variant views on lesbian and gay rights. (The Orthodox are against;Reform and Reconstruction are in favor; and Conservatives are typicallyundecided.) In this article I will limit myself to the views of liberalChristians.



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365gay.com

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/01/012507golf.htm


Settlement Reached In Lesbian Couple's Suit Against Country Club
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: January 25, 2007 - 9:00 pm ET



(San Diego, California) A settlement has reportedly been reached in afive-year-long legal battle between a lesbian couple and an exclusive SanDiego country club that refused to give them a family membership.

The North County Times reports that both sides in the dispute have declinedto disclose the terms of the agreement. The attorney who represented thecouple said that under the agreement the details are confidential.

The lawsuit California's Supreme Court ruled in August 2005 that thatBernardo Heights Country Club discriminated against B. Birgit Koebke andKendall French.

Bernardo Heights' membership policy allows a spouse to be included inmembership. Koebke had joined the club in 2001 and sought to have Frenchadded as a spouse.



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365gay.com

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/01/012507france.htm


French Politician Fined Under Gay Hate Law
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: January 25, 2007 - 9:00 pm ET



(Paris) A member of President Jacques Chirac's ruling UMP party has beenfined almost $4,000 under a French law making it a crime to publiclydisparage gays.

A court in Douai, in northern France leveled the fine, plus more than $2,000in court costs, on Christian Vanneste.

In 2004 the mayor of a small community in southwestern France performedFrance's first gay marriage Vanneste declared that homosexuality was"inferior" to heterosexuality and would be "dangerous for humanity if it waspushed to the limit".

The marriage was later declared illegal, but Vanneste was charged under thethen new hate crime law by LGBT activists.




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365gay.com

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/01/012507ford.htm


Gay Dems Seek Assurances New DLC Leader Lives Up To LGBT Commitment
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: January 25, 2007 - 1:00 pm ET


(Washington) National Stonewall Democrats called on former CongressmanHarold Ford, Jr. Thursday to live up to commitments by the DemocraticLeadership Council to oppose ballot measures that require states to bardomestic partnership benefits, civil unions and the legal responsibilitiesof civil marriage to same-sex couples.

Ford was officially named Thursday as the new chair of the DLC.

A social conservative, Ford has voted in Congress against a number of LGBTissues.

In both 2004 and 2006 Ford voted for an amendment to the United StatesConstitution that would permanently bar civil unions and civil marriage tosame-sex couples.

Both attempts to advance the amendment failed in both the U.S. House ofRepresentatives and Senate.



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365gay.com

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/01/012507gill.htm


Gill Goes National
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: January 25, 2007 - 5:00 pm ET

(Washington) The Denver Colorado-based Gill Action Fund announced Thursdayit will open a national office in Washington.

The Gill Foundation was established in 1994 by openly gay softwareentrepreneur Tim Gill to help fund LGBT civil rights campaigns.

It initially worked with groups in Colorado but has since expanded to helpfund groups across the country. Today it is the nation's largest funderfocusing primarily on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights.

The Action Fund was created in 2005 to fund issue campaigns.

From its Washington office the Action Fund will work with existing LGBTrights groups - the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian TaskForce, Victory Fund and Lambda Legal.


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Advocate.com

http://advocate.com/print_article_ektid41404.asp


Catholic adoption agencies seek exemption from U.K. gay rights law

British prime minister Tony Blair said Thursday that the government willannounce a decision next week on a proposed regulation, opposed by the RomanCatholic Church, banning discrimination against gay couples wanting to adoptchildren.


British prime minister Tony Blair said Thursday that the government willannounce a decision next week on a proposed regulation, opposed by the RomanCatholic Church, banning discrimination against gay couples wanting to adoptchildren. Blair personally favors the right of gay and lesbian couples toadopt, but in a statement issued Thursday he did not declare whether he wasfor or against giving the church the exemption it has sought from theregulation, spokespeople with his office said.

"We will announce a decision next week and then vote. I am committed tofinding a way through this sensitive and difficult issue," Blair said in thestatement. The issue will be put to a vote in parliament within a month, hisoffice staff said.



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Expressgaynews.com

http://www.expressgaynews.com/2007/1-26/locallife/feature/feature.cfm


Life begins at 60
Documentary tells the unusual story of transgendered senior LeAnna Bradley

By SHERI ELFMAN
Friday, January 26, 2007

LEANNA BRADLEY HAS HAD a difficult life. The transgendered activist andfounder of the organization "Stop Hate Now" has suffered through manylifetimes of pain.

Born Donald Daryl Alfred, Bradley says that even at the young age of 3, sheknew something wasn't right. She didn't address that "something" until yearslater, when at the age of 60, she had a sex-change operation.

Eight years later, the Wilton Manors resident is about to get her 15 minutesof fame. Last week, Forever Films, a New York-based company, arrived in townto film a documentary about Bradley's life. They filmed Bradley at New Moon,a popular lesbian bar, and at Bradley's home.

"They've already done documentaries on transgendered young girls, so theywanted a senior," Bradley explains. "Someone with a horrific life - and thatwas me."




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365gay.com

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/01/012507poway.htm


School Wins Another Round In Ongoing Anti-Gay T-Shirt Case
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: January 25, 2007 - 11:00 am ET

(San Diego, California) A federal court has ruled that a Southern Californiaschool had the power to suspend a student for wearing a T-shirt denouncinghomosexuality.

Tyler Chase Harper was kicked him out of class at Poway High School in 2004for not removing the homemade T-shirt that said on the front "Be ashamed,our school embraced what God has condemned," and on the back "Homosexualityis shameful".

The teen wore the shirt on the National Day of Silence in 2004.

Harper, with the help of the Alliance Defense Fund sued the school andsought an injunction barring Poway from refusing to allow students to wearclothing with a political or social message.



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365gay.com

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/01/012507power.htm


Gay Clout To Be $835- Billion By 2011 Study Shows
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: January 25, 2007 - 5:00 pm ET

(New York City) A new economic impact study says that 2011 LGBT buyingpower in the US will exceed $835-billion per year.

"Corporate America is waking up to the enormous opportunity of marketing togays and lesbians," said market research firm Packaged Facts which preparedthe study in collaboration with Witeck-Combs Communications, an LGBTmarketing and public relations firm.

The report, The Gay and Lesbian Market in the U.S. says that this year thebuying power of gays and lesbians will reach $660 billion. The study saidthat it is estimated there are about 15.3 million gays and lesbians in thecountry.

"What we're finding since our last report two years ago is a greateropenness among gays and lesbians to share their consumer habits, leisure andmedia pursuits, and personal/social attitudes," said Don Montuori, thepublisher of Packaged Facts.




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Forwarded from Scott Long
Director
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights ProgramHuman Rights Watch
350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor
New York, NY 10118 USA
tel. +1 (212) 216-1297
fax +1 (212) 216-1876
e-mail: longs@hrw.org

I got this tonight from InterPress Service. It suggests that all thoseAfrican LGBT leaders whose very existence Brian Miller questioned are infact making a significant impact at the World Social Forum--you'll find hereseveral groups and individuals who signed the letter. It also suggests thatperhaps they are better known, and more widely respected, than people in thesometimes-insular environment of global-North LGBT activism suppose.

Look, folks. There's absolutely no reason most people on this list shouldknow the leaders of African LGBT movements. But it does seem reasonablethat people and groups like Outrage who don't know them should be modestabout the fact, and refrain from doing press releases on countries wherethey have not contacted a single leader. I do not understand their ragethat activists who are doing extraordinary work in difficult situations intheir own countries haven't troubled to seek out the important people inEurope whom they need, or ought to need--so it appears-- to validate theircauses.

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WORLD SOCIAL FORUM:
Long Fight for Justice for Homosexuals

Joyce Mulama

NAIROBI, Jan 23 (IPS) - Even with tens of thousands of activists at theWorld Social Forum (WSF) denouncing injustices of all kinds, the issue ofdiscrimination against homosexuals is making its voice heard amidst the din.At the five-day forum, which opened Jan. 20 here in Kenya's capital,lesbians and gays from across Africa have come out to express how they havebeen ill-treated by society.

In most African countries, homosexuality is taboo. It is regarded by some assatanic and un-African.



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Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/24/AR2007012401790_pf.html


Yet Another Actor Acting Out

By Jabari Asim
Friday, January 26, 2007; 12:00 AM

Long before he became a co-star on the hit TV show "Grey's Anatomy," IsaiahWashington distinguished himself as an actor with an intellectual bent. Inan essay published in Essence magazine a little more than a decade ago, helamented the shortage of good roles for black male performers. Aftercomplaining about being offered five "drag-queen" roles in less than a year,Washington expressed his determination to "infuse the characters I play withsome level of complexity and humanity."

In eloquent, thoughtful prose, Washington assured readers that he had noproblem with gay characters or characters in drag. He recalled his firstamateur acting job, the role of Sweetie Pie, "a flaming drag queen andgospel singer." Later, as a member of a touring repertory company, he playeda cross-dressing character with AIDS. "That role gave me a firsthand look atgay-bashing," he wrote. "I was the target of angry expletives, jeers andnervous laughter and was even spat upon by a junior-high-school student whotook my performance just a little too seriously."



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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,246399,00.html

Should Sex Predators Be Castrated?

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

This is a partial transcript of "The Big Story With John Gibson," January23, 2007, that has been edited for clarity.

JOHN GIBSON, HOST: The "Big Debate" tonight: Should male sex offenders becastrated?

Lawmakers in Massachusetts are thinking about doing just that. It's proposedlegislation that would allow the chemical castration of sex offenders. It'salready legal in five states, including California. But is castration thebest solution for stopping sex predators? Does it really work? With me nowis Massachusetts state Representative Paul Casey, who filed this bit oflegislation.

So Paul, there are other states, Texas, California, let me put up a map,show you where this is legal around the country: California, Texas,Illinois, Georgia and Florida. What's the experience there? Does it work?




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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org

Nigeria Bill To Die Anyway

San Francisco Bay Times:
http://www.sfbaytimes.com/?sec=article&article_id=6025

Nigerian Bill to Die Anyway
By Ann Rostow
Published: January 25, 2007

Look. I don't know much about Nigerian politics. In fact, I know virtuallynothing save that there's a pretty horrific piece of legislation floatingaround the parliament that would outlaw any positive discussion ofhomosexuality and imprison people for simply being in a relationship,getting together in gay groups or expressing a desire for civil rights.

But apparently, Britain's most energetic activist, Peter Tatchell ofOutrage, knows just about as much as I do.

Last week, he issued an international call to arms against the bill, whichhe claimed in an open letter was "certain" to be passed "soon" absent aworld outcry. I read this letter with nary a second thought, thinkingsomething like, "My that Peter Tatchell sure keeps his finger on the world'spulse," or maybe, "Wonder whether the snack cabinet is unlocked."



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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org

Booking with American Airlines to benefit PFLAG

American Airlines has been a strong supporter of PFLAG for many years byproviding round-trip airline tickets for staff, particularly those inthe Field & Policy Department.

The amount of donated tickets from American Airlines directly correlates tothe number of PFLAG members who purchase flights. This means thatthe more you fly with American Airlines, the more donated tickets PFLAG willreceive allowing our staff to travel more. When booking travel,please consider using American Airlines. You'll find that their pricing isvery reasonable.

For PFLAG is get credit for a flight, you must enter the PFLAG BusinessExtrAA Account Number (either on www.AA.com orbooking on the phone). That number is 527590

When booking on www.AA.com , follow these instructions:



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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org


HRC is in the hunt for a deputy field director. I wanted to make sure thatthe announcement was seen far and wide.

Over the course of the last year HRC, under the helm of Joe Solmonese, hasdramatically increased it's political field effort. Marty Rouse serves asthe National Field Director and we are in the search to find an addition tothe team that Marty has put together.

The Deputy National Field Director will help direct HRC's field efforts andmember mobilization, manage the current field team, as well as act as anambassador between the field department and the other fantastic departmentsthat make up HRC.

Please feel free to send this announcement far and wide. We would like tobegin seeing resume's ASAP and we strongly encourage women and people ofcolor to apply.



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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org


http://www.tri.org


NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 25, 2007


Triangle Foundation Announces National Summer Camp for GLBT Youth


DETROIT - Straight kids aren't the only ones who get to go to camp anymore.Triangle Foundation, in cooperation with national supporting organizationsNational Gay and Lesbian Task Force; the National Youth Advocacy Coalition;Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays; and the National Centerfor Transgender Equality, has announced that the second annual Camping.OUTwill be open to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and allied youth fromacross the United States.

"Camping.OUT was the one place where I didn't have to worry about what Isaid and if people were going to like me. For once I was accepted for who Iwas" said Robert Proffer, a participant at Camping.OUT 2006.

This year's camp, which will be held in Michigan from Aug. 14 - 19, willbuild upon the success of last years Camping.OUT, according to coordinatorGreg Varnum.



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Forwarded from Kenneth Sherrill - Ken's List
Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu
kenslist@groups.queernet.org

Swedes keenest on ethnic minorities (but less keen ongay people)

Swedes keenest on ethnic minorities

Published: 24th January 2007 11:51 CET
The Local
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/6188/

Swedes are the quickest in the European Union to embrace the concept of themulti-cultural society. They are also among the least satisfied with effortsto combat discrimination, according to a new Eurobarometer survey.

In Sweden, 86% of those asked in the survey took the view that ethicminorities enrich the country's culture. Fewer than 4 out of 10 respondentsshared this opinion in Malta (32%) and Cyprus (39%).
Related Articles

"It is pleasing that so many people are positive towards ethnic diversity insociety," Sweden's integration minister Nyamko Sabuni told The Local.




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Journal of HomosexualitySent: Friday, January 26, 2007 4:17 AM

Subject: New issue available for Journal of Homosexuality


Journal of Homosexuality
Volume 52, Issue 1/2
Editor(s): John P. De Cecco, PhD


SPECIAL ISSUE:

LGBT Studies and Queer Theory: New Conflicts, Collaborations, and Contested
Terrain
Guest Editor(s):
Karen Lovaas, PhD
John Patrick Elia, PhD
Gustavo A Yep, PhD

This issue is now available online and will soon be mailed to subscribers inapproximately 4-6 weeks.

NOTE: If the URLs in this email are not active hyperlinks, copy and pastethe URL into the address/location box in your browser.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword
Steven Seidman
http://www.haworthpress.com/store/ArticleAbstract.asp?ID=91212




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Journal of Lesbian StudiesSent: Friday, January 26, 2007 4:20 AM

Subject: New issue available for Journal of Lesbian Studies


Tell a Friend
Journal of Lesbian Studies
Volume 10, Issue 3/4
Editor(s): Esther D Rothblum, PhD


SPECIAL ISSUE:

"Lesbians" in East Asia: Diversity, Identities, and Resistance

Guest Editor(s):
Diana Khor, PhD
Saori Kamano, PhD
This issue is now available online and will soon be mailed to subscribers inapproximately 4-6 weeks.

NOTE: If the URLs in this email are not active hyperlinks, copy and pastethe URL into the address/location box in your browser.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction
Diana Khor, Saori Kamano
http://www.haworthpress.com/store/ArticleAbstract.asp?ID=85846



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