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Background/aim This study investigated a novel combined therapy of rosmarinic acid (RA)/blue light on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell proliferation in vitro. Materials and methods HNSCC cells were exposed to BL (500 mW/cm2) for 90 s, and incubated with 80 μg/ml RA for 1 hour. Cell viability was determined after 24 h using WST-1 assay. Western blot was used to detect treatment-induced changes in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and nitric oxide levels were quantified using CM-H2DCFH-DA assays. Apoptosis was assessed using Annexin V/PI staining and flow cytometry. Results RA/blue light treatment resulted in a significant reduction in cell viability, EGFR activation and H2O2 levels in all HNSCC cell lines. However, no significant changes in NO production or apoptosis induction were found. Conclusion RA/blue light effectively decreased HNSCC cell proliferation through reduction in EGFR activation and H2O2 production, and not via induction of apoptosis.

Corrosion and release of nickel ions from biomedical alloys are well documented, but little is still known about the effects of released nickel ions on cellular function with recurrent inflammatory challenges. Evidence suggests Ni(II) ions amplify LPS-induced secretion of several pro-inflammatory cytokines from monocytes. Exacerbating the inflammatory response, hyperglycemic conditions also affect monocytic function. This study investigated how Ni(II) and hyperglycemic conditions, both singly and in combination, alter monocyte proliferation, mitochondrial activity, inflammatory responses, and differentiation. Results showed that Ni(II) did not affect proliferation, but decreased mitochondrial activity in monocytic-cells and macrophages under normal conditions. However, hyperglycemic conditions negated the toxicity seen with Ni(II) exposure. Cytokine secretion in response to LPS was variable, with little effect on IL6 secretion, but significantly increased secretion of IL1β at intermediate Ni(II) concentrations. Hyperglycemic conditions did not alter these results significantly. Finally, exposure to eluants from nickel-based commercial alloys caused enhanced IL1β secretion from PMA-treated cells. These data suggest that corrosion products from nickel-containing dental alloys increased Ni(II)-induced changes in cytokine secretion by monocytes and macrophages. By better defining the effects of Ni(II) at these lower, biomedically relevant concentrations, we improve understanding of the biomedical alloy risk in the context of dental inflammation. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A:2433-2439, 2018.

Objectives The objective of this study was to evaluate the baseline differences between alveolar and basal areas of the rat mandible. Study Design Rat mandibular alveolar and basal bones were evaluated using histology and micro-computed tomography to compare osteocyte number as well as bone density and architecture and polymerase chain reaction to measure gene expression levels. Results Micro-computed tomography data indicated that basal bone is denser and less porous than alveolar bone. Histologic analysis showed that alveolar bone has more osteocytes per unit area compared with basal bone. Real-time polymerase chain reaction results showed higher levels of expression of the following genes in basal bone than in alveolar bone: SOST , E-11 , DMP-1 , and MEPE . Conclusions Three of these gene products are associated with mature osteocytes, and this suggests that basal bone has more mature osteocyte phenotypes compared with alveolar bone. These findings are suggestive of fewer bone mineralization units and therefore a slower remodeling rate.

Is tape still the best choice for storage? What are the options and what are the advantages and disadvantages? For years, the industry has opted for high-end enterprise tape drives such as the IBM TS11XX series and has avoided midrange drives such as LTO because of higher-reliability drives and media and high-cost and high-value data. The current standard tape drive used in the seismic industry, the IBM TS1120 (often incorrectly referred to as 3592), which uses the 500-GB JA tape, dates from 2005 and is no longer available for purchase. (The JA tape was released in 2003.) There are various reasons why more modern drives and tapes have not become standard, and this has led to increased cost and confusion.

Several studies suggest that light in the UVA range (320–400 nm) activates signaling pathways that are anti-inflammatory and antioxidative. These effects have been attributed to Nrf2-mediated upregulation of “phase 2” genes such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) that neutralize oxidative stress and metabolize electrophiles. Proteomics analysis previously had shown that small doses of blue light (400–500 nm) increased levels of peroxiredoxin phase 2 proteins in THP-1 monocytes, which led to our hypothesis that blue light activates Nrf2 signaling and thus may serve as an anti-inflammatory agent. THP-1 monocytes were treated with doses of blue light with and without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inflammatory challenge. Cell lysates were tested for Nrf2 activation and HO-1 production. Treated cells were assessed for viability/mitochondrial activity via trypan blue exclusion and MTT assay, and secretion of two major pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin 8 (IL8) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) was measured using ELISA. Blue light activated the phase 2 response in cultured THP-1 cells and was protective against LPS-induced cytotoxicity. Light pre-treatment also significantly reduced cytokine secretion in response to 0.1 μg ml−1 LPS, but had no anti-inflammatory effect at high LPS levels. This study is the first to report these effects using a light source that is approved for routine use on dental patients. Cellular responses to these light energies are worth further study and may provide therapeutic interventions for inflammation.

The purpose of this investigation was to conduct a content analysis of the publications of the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers (ALER), previously known as College Reading Association (CRA), in the area of preservice teacher education in literacy. As a service to the organization, 71 articles published in ALER’s flagship journals between 1961 and 2011 were analyzed. Articles were coded to document descriptive characteristics, topics and issues addressed, and recommendations for improving teacher education. Findings are discussed in light of challenges to teacher educators in general and to ALER’s Teacher Education Division in particular as we continue to raise the bar in terms of making substantive contributions to the improvement of the next generation of teachers.

Drawing on the author’s experience as an information professional for individuals with disabilities, this article discusses the challenges faced by both library users and staff in obtaining and providing information to this community. It poses four questions: Where do individuals with disabilities fit into diversity studies? Do individuals with disabilities come into our libraries? If not, why not? What can we do for current staffs to make sure they are prepared to serve the disabled of their communities? How can we prepare our future information professionals to provide high-quality services to individuals with disabilities? There is and will be a greater demand from individuals with disabilities for equal library services given an aging population and the technological advances that make equal services possible. We cannot consider ourselves information professionals until we understand this community, their needs, and how we provide for those needs.

Purpose This chapter lays out the blueprint the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped followed in meeting the expectations of readers with print disabilities. The chapter also discusses the challenges both state and local public libraries face in meeting the current and future expectations of these clients and presents a scenario of a hybrid service in which state and local public libraries work together to meet client expectations. Methodology/approach Reports the process and strategies the library used to reinvent itself as a community-centered institution. Presents possible approaches for a collaborative, inclusive library service by state/federal sponsored and public libraries. Findings The Maryland Library successfully met client expectation through creating a community-centered library. Public libraries offer many inclusive services that, combined with the specialized service of a state/federally sponsored library, could provide equitable information access for clients with diverse, individual information needs. Originality/value This case study presents a successful library service for a complex, continually changing client population and proposes collaborative partnerships for special and local public libraries.

Volunteers from the International Reading Association (IRA) participated in the teacher education component of Macedonia's Secondary Education Activity, an initiative to reform vocational/technical education (VET), funded from 2004 to 2008 by USAID. Volunteers offered professional development to VET teachers using a trainer-of-trainers model, designed to create more interactive classrooms characterized by critical thinking and collaboration. The three authors–the initial lead volunteer, a Fulbright scholar, and a project participant–assess the sustainability of the component's goals by examining the interactions during project implementation of potential Macedonian change agents, including its Ministry of Education, within the context of institutional stability/change and power relationships. They also report findings from a postproject survey of project participants. While the authors identify political, social, and economic structural weaknesses that hampered widespread sustainability of project goals, they also note important positive effects on certain teachers who participated in IRA's professional development component.

THE roots of modern Austrian political culture, consensus, neutrality and proportionality (Proporz), developed in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War. They were the results of pragmatic political responses to a dire situation, not of a well laid plan. Nor were they based on specifi c ideological beliefs. This was the politics of pragmatism that was adopted by political leaders operating in a climate of internal and external confusion, insecurity, suspicion and fear. The backdrop was the position of Austria in 1945, lying on the geopolitical fault-line which would become the Iron Curtain, and thus existing in constant fear of Soviet domination. Both dissent and domestic protest were condemned by the two major political parties, the Austrian People’s Party (OVP/Osterreichische Volkspartei) and the Socialist Party (SPO/Sozialistische Partei Osterreichs), who feared that anything other than complete unity would lead to destabilization and foreign intervention, or, to be more precise, the absorption of Austria into the evolving Eastern Bloc. Consensus was necessary in order to prevent domestic confl ict, which might enable the Russians to absorb all of Austria, or to divide the country between East and West (as did indeed happen in Germany after 1949). All post-war Austrian politicians, with the exception of the left wing of the Socialist Party and the whole Communist Party (KPO/Kommunistische Partei Osterreichs), were therefore agreed that social harmony was essential. One-quarter of Austria was occupied for ten years by Soviet troops and the country had borders with two states, Hungary and Czechoslovakia

Although parathyroid scintigraphy with technetium-99m sestamibi has been shown to be a sensitive and specific test for the detection and localization of parathyroid adenomas in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, false-negative studies occur. Our goal was to determine whether the presurgical parathyroid hormone level could be used to predict whether a scan would be positive or negative.A retrospective review of parathyroid scans was performed. Analysis included patients with surgical confirmation of a parathyroid adenoma and a documented parathyroid hormone (PTH) level obtained within 6 months of the scan. Patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism were excluded. A true-positive study was defined by the surgical finding of an adenoma on the side indicated by the scan. A scan was false-negative if it did not detect the adenoma found at surgery. A scan was false-positive if an adenoma was identified in the wrong side of the neck or if an adenoma was called but not found.Of 166 scans, 83 met the criteria for inclusion. There were 56 true-positives, 21 false-negatives, and 6 false-positives. The mean PTH in patients with true-positive scans was 367 pg/mL (range, 46-3231 pg/mL) and with false-positive and false-negative scans was 148 pg/mL (range, 46-390 pg/mL). The difference was statistically significant.There is a correlation between the sensitivity of parathyroid scintigraphy and presurgical PTH. The overlap, however, of parathyroid hormone levels in positive and negative scans does not allow one to confidently preselect candidates for preoperative scanning.

Reading epilepsy is a rare type of reflex epilepsy. The seizures often comprise facial twitching and alexia, but can be difficult to recognise and mistaken for non-epileptic events. Previous reports have identified reading of printed text, television and computer screens as inducing seizures, but hand-held digital media have not been implicated. We report a 44-year-old woman with difficulty using the text message function of her mobile phone with a long background of unrecognised reading-induced seizures.

In 1950 occupied Austria experienced the most dangerous wave of labour protest in its post-war history. The government reacted by accusing the Communist Party of attempting to destabilize democracy, seize power and draw the country into the Eastern Bloc. For decades the events were known as the ‘1950 “Putsch”’ and came to symbolize both Austria’s geopolitical vulnerability to Soviet expansionism, and the strength of her post-war national cohesion. This article examines the background to the strikes, their development and the reaction to them, and argues that they were a grassroots protest against the system of centrally negotiated wages and prices agreements which was the precursor of the Austrian Social Partnership. Despite protests against earlier agreements, the government was forced to adopt further controls in the summer of 1950 to reconcile the conflict between removing subsidies and controlling prices. When the strikes broke out, it exaggerated Communist and Soviet intervention in order to deflate internal dissent and encourage increased Western economic and military support. Discussions in Cabinet during the strike show that the government did not consider the situation to be a putsch attempt. Nevertheless, the ‘failed putsch’ became part of the popular image of Austria as the David which had withstood the Soviet Goliath.

The motivating concern behind this article is that women, in the diversity of their ages, life situations, cultural traditions of gender and actual sexual connections to men, are still marginalized by prevailing approaches to HIV and AIDS. Safe sexual practices for women, within social contexts and actual sexual relations with men, are not being approached in ways that engage women's (or their male partners') active involvement. Conventional heterosexual distinctions between women's and men's sexuality disables prevention processes. Categories and perspectives which prevail in ''interpreting'' the HIV/ AIDS epidemic, inhibitions and assumptions framing sexual safety information, and cultural narratives of gendered love/desire/sex, converge into two highly problematic outcomes: a dissociation of heterosexually-defined men who have sex with women from central responsibility for HIV prevention, and marginalization of women who have sex with men from concern about women's sexual safety.

BPA has been a controversial component of dental materials since the first reports of its potential toxicities in the mid-1990s [1]. Concerns for the estrogenic and other toxicities of BPA from all environmental sources have escalated over the past decade or so to the point that federal regulatory agencies have begun to address the issue. An early survey was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2003–2004 (the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey or NHANES) [2] that found detectable levels of BPA in 93 % of the Americans tested. Because of that survey, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) component of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) focused efforts to evaluate research on the potential adverse effects of BPA [3]. Their findings are expressed on a 5-point scale of concern for adverse effects that includes (from lowest concern level to highest) negligible, minimal, some, concern, and serious. They reported negligible or minimal concern for almost all categories. However, they expressed “some concern for adverse effects” for the effect of BPA on brain, behavior, and prostate gland of fetuses, infants, and children. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a statement in 2010 stating that it shares the perspective of the NTP findings concerning the potential effects of BPA [4]. It followed up in July 2012 with a new Food Additive Regulation prohibiting the use of BPA in the production of baby bottles and sippy cups [5].

Our labs have observed decreased proliferation of several cultured head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines when treated with rosmarinic acid or blue light. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the combination therapy would be more effective than either treatment alone, and to further characterize the cellular mechanisms responsible for these effects. UM-SCC-6 oral squamous carcinoma cells were cultured in 24- or 96-well plates, and cells were exposed to blue light delivered from a Quartz-tungsten-halogen dental curing lamp (500 mW/cm2) for 90 or 120 sec, followed 1 h later by the addition of 80 μg/ml rosmarinic acid. Cell number was assessed at 24h using a WST-1 cell proliferation assay and cell migration was measured with an Oris Universal Migration Assay Kit. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) was quantified with each single treatment and combination using the CM-H2DCFH-DA assay. Western blot analysis was used to monitor changes in levels of cell signaling proteins known to be affected by each single treatment including phosphoAKT (pAKT) and AKT, NF-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and GAPDH (as a loading control). As hypothesized, the combination of rosmarinic acid and blue light was more effective in reducing cell proliferation and migration than either single treatment alone. Both treatments also produced an early increase in ROS. Treatment with blue light significantly increased pAKT while rosmarinic acid decreased AKT activation. However, both treatments increased levels of Nrf2 and its downstream target, HO-1. In order for the transcription factor NRF2 to translocate to the nucleus it needs to be stabilized and activated. AKT is an upstream kinase that is a known activator of NRF2 in response to an increase in ROS. Nuclear NRF2 binds to the antioxidant response element (ARE) within the promoters for phase II detoxifying/antioxidant genes, including that of HO-1. This signaling cascade has been shown to lead to anti-proliferative functions. Our results suggest that blue light induces this pathway by transiently increasing ROS that then significantly activates AKT. Subsequent NRF2 activation leads to increased levels of HO-1. Rosmarinic acid appears to use a different mechanism to upregulate NRF2 due to its downregulation of AKT. Importantly, both treatments activate NRF2, resulting in induction of antioxidant protein expression and ultimately decreasing ROS needed to promote tumor cell growth. This combination therapy may prove to be a useful, non-invasive treatment for HNSCC. Citation Format: Christi N. Waer, Zohra Tumur, Dee Dee Hui, Bonnie Le, Carlos Guerra, Jill Lewis, Bradley Henson. A novel rosmarinic acid/blue light combination treatment inhibits cell proliferation and migration in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1330.

The Austrian First Republic was founded in 1918 following the collapse of the Habsburg Empire and was officially destroyed by the German invasion in 1938. The term ‘First Republic’, however, actually encompasses three political phases: the democratic republic (1918-33), the dictatorship (19334) and the ‘Austrofascist’ Standestaat (1934-8).1 Throughout most of this twenty-year period the national government was dominated by the Christian Social Party. The purpose of this chapter is to examine the relationship between that party and the growth of fascism in Austria. It will be argued that the Christian Social leadership swung towards fascism in the late 1920s as a result of domestic political and economic problems, developing in the process a form of ‘Austrofascism’ that was distinct from both German and Italian fascisms. Essential to this argument is the debate within Austria on the still politically contentious term ‘Austrofascism’.

Current therapeutic approaches to salivary gland cancer are often associated with severe disfigurement and loss of glandular function, which are traumatic to the patients. Exploration of novel treatment approaches, such as gene therapy, is needed.The human salivary gland cancer cell line HSG was transiently transfected with full length human caspase-14 cDNA. Photomicroscopy, BrdU assay, cell counting, MTT assay, and TUNEL assay were applied. To determine the tumorigenicity, tumor volume, tumor pathology and vascularization were analyzed in vivo.Cell growth and viability were inhibited significantly by transient caspase-14 expression. Caspase-14 expression resulted in a significant reduction of tumorigenicity. Importantly, a significant decrease in tumor blood vessel formation was observed.Salivary gland cancer cells underwent growth inhibition, cell death, and reduced tumorigenicity in vivo when exogenous caspase-14 was expressed, which could be due, in part, to an inhibitory effect of caspase-14 on tumor vascularization.

In this study, human MCF-7 breast cancer cells, which express functional estrogen and progesterone receptors, were used to compare the efficacy of combined antiestrogen plus antiprogestin therapy to antiestrogen monotherapy. Cells were treated with the antiestrogen 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT) and/or the antiprogestin mifepristone (MIF) and effects on cell proliferation (cytostatic action), cell cycle phase, the phosphorylation state of the tumor suppressor retinoblastoma protein (Rb), and induction of active cell death (cytotoxic action) were determined. Combination hormonal therapy showed both increased cytostatic and cytotoxic activity as compared to either monotherapy. The increased cytostatic action was mediated by Rb activation; whereas, the cytotoxic (pro-apoptotic) action of combined hormonal therapy correlated to a significant reduction in Rb protein levels. To test the apparent role of Rb protein loss in the pro-apoptotic action of combined hormonal therapy, Rb was downregulated in MCF-7 cells using siRNA-targeting. The siRNA-mediated knockdown of Rb combined with 4-OHT therapy resulted in a pro-apoptotic action similar to that resulting from 4-OHT and MIF combination treatment, which included increased cell detachment from the monolayer, high-molecular-weight genomic DNA fragmentation, and cleavage of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and lamin A. From these studies, we conclude that Rb protein downregulation is required for 4-OHT-treated, estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer cells to undergo active cell death. We discuss the potential of using an antiprogestin such as MIF plus antiestrogen treatment to more effectively downregulate Rb in ER+ breast cancer cells to increase the overall cytotoxic action of hormonal therapy.

The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21WAF1 participates in cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. p21WAF1 can be induced by green tea polyphenol EGCG in several cancer cell types, but its role in the oral cancer cell response to EGCG is not known. We found that EGCG upregulates p21WAF1 in an oral carcinoma cell line, OSC2, by cDNA microarray. The current study determined the impact of siRNA-suppressed p21WAF1 and its response to EGCG on cell growth, DNA synthesis and apoptosis by RT-PCR, Western blot, BrdU incorporation, MTT and caspase 3 activity assays. Suppression of p21WAF1 by siRNA resulted in an accelerated cell growth and DNA synthesis, and increased cell viability. However, caspase 3 activity was not significantly inhibited. The evidence showed that p21WAF1 is involved in EGCG-induced growth arrest of OSC2 cells, which may facilitate caspase 3-mediated apoptosis. Thus, expression of functional p21WAF1 may promote phytochemical-mediated growth arrest and apoptosis in oral carcinoma cells.

Dysfunction of salivary glands is often associated with aging and cancer therapy. Green tea polyphenols were previously found to protect normal epithelial cells from reactive oxygen species, and to induce apoptosis in tumor cells. The current study investigated whether -(-) epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major green tea polyphenol, protects normal salivary gland cells from the effects of gamma-irradiation and the chemotherapy drug cis-platinum(II)diammine dichloride (CDDP). Human immortalized salivary acinar and ductal cells, and oral squamous cell carcinoma cells were irradiated with gamma-rays or treated with CDDP, with or without pretreatment with EGCG, followed by MTT and BrdU incorporation assays. The results demonstrated that EGCG protected the normal salivary gland cells from chemical or irradiation-induced damage. However, protection of oral cancer cells by EGCG was also observed if EGCG was at physiologically achievable salivary concentrations but not at higher concentrations, suggesting that the combination of green tea consumption with cancer therapy requires further evaluation.

Induction of apoptosis by green tea polyphenols has been observed in various tumor cell systems, but whether green tea polyphenol-induced apoptosis requires caspase 3 for execution has not been confirmed. We previously reported that green tea polyphenol-induced apoptosis involved Apaf-1 accumulation and caspase 3 activation in the cytosol. In the current study, tumor cells either with deleted caspase 3 gene or expressing wild-type caspase 3 were treated with increasing concentrations of green tea polyphenol(s), followed by morphological analysis and caspase 3 activity assay. The caspase 3 null parental cell line was further examined in comparison with a well-characterized, caspase 3 wild type oral carcinoma cell line by MTT assay and BrdU incorporation assay. The results demonstrated that, while the mitochondrial function gradually declined to insignificant levels, caspase 3 null cells did not undergo apoptosis, which suggested that green tea polyphenol-induced apoptosis is a mitochondria-targeted, caspase 3-executed mechanism.

Green tea polyphenols (catechins) are known to induce cell death in many types of tumor cells, but how normal epithelial cells survive in the presence of polyphenols is unknown. We recently reported that green tea polyphenols potently induced a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p57/(KIP2), only in normal human epithelial cells. In this study, we investigated the correlation between p57 expression and survival/apoptosis by Western blot analysis, caspase 3 assays and morphological analysis. It was demonstrated that, in the cells that lack p57 induction, green tea polyphenols induced Apaf-1 expression along with caspase 3 activation, leading to apoptosis. In contrast, cells with polyphenol-inducible p57 maintained constant levels of Apaf-1 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), with basal caspase 3 activity. Retroviral-transfected, p57-expressing oral carcinoma cells showed significant resistance to green tea polyphenol-induced apoptosis. Our results suggest that p57/KIP2 is a determinant pro-survival factor for cell protection from green tea polyphenol-induced apoptosis.

In April 2006, a nurse-led telephone-based service was launched in Birmingham to improve the health outcomes of up to 2000 patients with high-risk, long-term conditions. Patients received regular telephone calls and educational materials selected according to their conditions. In August 2006, 506 questionnaires with 30 five-point Likert-type questions were sent to patients and 128 were returned within four weeks (25% response rate). The results showed that 96% of the respondents strongly agreed or agreed that they were satisfied with the quality of service being provided by the care managers. The educational material (care books) was found to be informative, easy to read and easy to understand. The qualitative feedback indicated that patients perceived the service to be useful, accessible and helped them to be more efficient in taking care of themselves. More than 40% of the patients agreed that the service reduced their need to go to hospital. Using a telephone-based disease management service seems to be an acceptable option for patients with long-term conditions in the UK.

The SEG Technical Standards Committee is currently revising the SEG-D Field Tape Standard to accommodate the needs of current and anticipated future acquisition systems. This includes not just field acquisition support for arbitrary sample rates, continuous passive recording, multicomponent sources and receivers, and sophisticated field filters, but also things like area/line/crew/client/job information, source and receiver coordinates and their reference system, and capture of processing such as trace edits in the field system.

It is surprising, really, in this AIDS era, how little everyday discussion there is about safer sex. ‘Safer sex’ has settled as a rather abstract term, still more often associated with information leaflets, various images of condoms or with that old, problematic notion of ‘target groups’ than with you or me or the man next door. It often surfaces in talk about ‘gay men’ generally and their assumed, generalized response to the epidemic or about education strategies for that amorphously invoked category ‘young people’. In one way or another safer sex seems usually to end up related to some group ‘out there’ — a way of thinking that has plagued the HIV/AIDS epidemic and anxious responses to it everywhere. Ways of thinking about prevention strategies concerning the spread of HIV always seem to locate the issue more easily with someone else. The categories and behaviour risks named often seem to have the curious effect of placing the everydayness of ‘you and me’ somewhere off the map, however old you and I may be, whatever our sexual identities or realities, whoever our relatives, friends, lovers. As if the discourse about safer sex has come to spin its own cocoon within the AIDS field world, the media hype and an endless array of government authority funded leaflets, but lingers impotent outside the thresholds of this house or that apartment, outside the door of that kitchen where people are talking round a table, or this bedroom where the sheets are being drawn back.

Acknowledgments Introduction Women in Politics in a Comparative Scandinavian Context Factors Related to High Female Political Representation in Norway The Role of the Women's Movement in Norwegian Women's Attainment of High Political Representation Norwegian Politicians' Perceptions of the Effects of Increased Women's Representation The Significance of Increasing Numbers of Women Politics at a Gendered Institution Conclusion: Engendering Political Equality Bibliography