March 7, 1999

New books about getting over romances noted; Suzanne Yalof says she wrote Getting Over John Doe to help other jilted women; photo (S)

Small but growing number of long-weekend travelers are journeying around United States, and often world, on rock-bottom, last-minute E-fares available only on Internet; such fares are generally offered by major airlines at midweek for following weekend's travel; table of discounted fares; chronology of weekend trip from New York to Seattle; photos; drawings (M)

More than 10 percent of country's health care workers are allergic to latex, allergy that was almost unheard of decade ago; illness affects roughly 3 percent of general population; at least 30 people have died of latex-related illnesses in last decade; sharp rise in reported allergies stems from sevenfold increase in use of latex gloves since 1987, when Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised health care workers to wear them to protect against infection from HIV; allergy is unpredictable, and can be devastating; in some people allergies build up slowly through years; most troublesome is that those who are allergic to latex often get much sicker when they seek treatment because doctors' offices and hospitals, where air is thick with latex powder, are most dangerous places; photos (L)

Special report, Out of Bounds, explores growing list of female athletes who say they were sexually harassed by their male coaches; rise in reports of such harassment is unanticipated byproduct of landmark victory for women: Title IX, 1972 law barring sexual discrimination at schools that receive Federal moeny; in wake of that law, participation in organized women's athletics rocketed from 300,000 to 3 million student-athletes, creating need for thousands of new coaches; share of coaches who are women has dropped dramatically: to 47.4 percent from earlier 90 percent on college level; researchers in field say schools are reluctant to pool data, partly from fear of creating general atmosphere of guilt; interviews with 50 athletes, parents, coaches and others indicate reports of harassment are on rise; issue is in spotlight with two current lawsuits against high-profile coaches, Anson Dorrance at University of North Carolina and Jesse Dwire at Syracuse University; photos (L)

Algerians have new hope of peace following savage war between country's military rulers and Islamic guerrilla groups that took at least 80,000 lives since 1992; presidential election is scheduled for Apr 15, with 11 candidates representing array of political opinions, and promise from army not to interfere, as it has in past; many Algerians conclude that faction among generals are so shocked by years of violence that they decided to begin transferring some power to elected politicians; senior Government officials say there can be no final answer until country rebuilds its economy and finds work for millions of unemployed, especially in 70 percent of population under 30, commonly described as 'standing reserve force' for guerrillas; photos; map (L)