Leptepsilonema gen. n. (Nematoda, Epsilonematidae) from Chile and the Caribbean Sea

The new genus Leptepsilonema is erected. L. procerum sp.n from intertidal sandy beaches of the Caribbean sea and L. macrum sp.n. and L. exile sp.n. from Chile are described. Postembryonal development of L. procerum , covering the juvenile stages II-IV, is presented. Some ecological data are added.     

Interaction Between Cryopreservation, Rewarming Rate and Seed Humidification on the Germination of Two Spanish Endemic Species

The effects of humidification, storage in liquid nitrogen (1or 30 d) and rewarming rate on seed germination were studiedin two Spanish endemics. Humidification resulted in higher germinationpercentages only in the species with hard covers, especiallyin slowly rewarmed seeds. In an experiment lasting 21 weeks,seeds stored in liquid nitrogen were removed for 10 min eachweek to mimic the withdrawal of samples from a seed bank; thishad no effect on germination.Copyright 1998 Annals of BotanyCompany Centaurea hyssopifolia,Limonium dichotomum, cryopreservation, cypsela, endemics, germination, humidification, seeds.     

Use of partially engorged female ticks as laboratory animals in microbiological research

Abstract. Partially engorged female ticks were used as laboratory animals in microbiological research. The ticks, which were inoculated intracoelomally, became a convenient substrate for the detection of viruses, rickettsiae and protozoal parasites. This research concerned the isolation of newly recovered micro-organisms, the study of development, structure and distribution of microbial agents in ticks, and the study of their interaction with other pathogens or symbionts during mixed infection in a tick body. The isolation and maintenance of Rickettsiella phytoseiuli , the organism not of tick-borne origin, was achieved. For use in Central Europe the tick Dermacentor reticulatus is recommended for the above investigations.     

Factors predicting drop‐out in community mental health centres

This study aimed to identify treatment, therapist and patient factors associated with dropping out of treatment in four outpatient mental health services. The experimental group comprised all 789 individuals who attended for the first time the mental health services during one year and dropped out of treatment in the same year or during the two following ones. The control group consisted of the same number of individuals, chosen at random from patients who, in the same year, attended for the first time the services and did not subsequently drop out of treatment. The overall drop-out rate was 33.2%. According to logistic regression analysis, the predictive factors of dropping out were: being treated in a particular centre, the involvement of more than one therapist in treatment, having no previous history of psychiatric disorders, being young and being male.