Multidimensional primate niche space sheds light on interspecific competition in primate evolution.

Characterising how the totality of primate diversity is distributed across the order, and how it evolved, is challenging because diversity in individual traits often show opposing phylogenetic patterns. A species' combination of traits can be conceptualised as its 'niche'. Here, we describe and analyse seven-dimensional niche space, comprising 11 traits, for 191 primate species. Multifaceted diversity is distributed unequally among taxonomic groups. Cercopithecoidea and Hominidae occupy the largest areas of niche space, and are the most diverse families; platyrrhine families occupy small areas, and this space overlaps with strepsirrhines. The evolution of species' locations in niche space is regulated by selection for adaptive optima in trait combinations. Given that niche similarity results in interspecific competition, we quantify two measures of species' niche locations relative to others. We find that omnivores, frugivores, and species tolerating higher temperatures experience stronger interspecific competition. Hominidae occupation of niche space suggests competitive exclusion from niches by Cercopithecoidea over evolutionary time; but living great apes experience the lowest levels of interspecific competition. Callitrichids experience the highest levels of interspecific competition. Our results provide a standardised measure of primate niches that sheds light on the partitioning and evolution of primate diversity, and how this is driven by interspecific competition.

Psychotherapists in the HMO.

Managed care is becoming a significant force shaping the development of contemporary mental health treatment. In order to understand how the HMO affects practice style, 294 psychotherapists (psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and others) responded to objective and open-ended questions about psychotherapy models, psychotherapy orientation, practice habits, quality of work, work conditions, stresses, burnout and its prevention, graduate training, evolution of practice style and the development of self as a person. A tentative "composite sketch" of the typical HMO therapist is developed. Practical applications of the findings are discussed, and advice and recommendations are offered to the beginning HMO therapist.

Treatment of Gram-negative bacillary meningitis with intrathecal gentamicin.

In order to evaluate the effect of intrathecal gentamicin on gram-negative bacillary meningitis, twenty-eight patients were treated with intralumbar or intraventricular gentamicin in combination with systemic gentamicin and with other antibiotics. Sterile cerebrospinal fluid was achieved in 21/22 (95%) episodes of documented gram-negative bacillary meningitis in patients who received more than one day of therapy. Seventy-seven percent of these patients survived their infection. The mean cerebrospinal fluid gentamicin level measured 24 hours after intrathecal administration was 5.9 ug/ml following intralumbar administration and 11.1 ug/ml following intraventricular administration. Toxic side effects due to intrathecal administration of gentamicin were not noted. These findings suggest that both intralumbar and intraventricular administration of gentamicin are safe and efficacious in the treatment of gram-negative bacillary meningitis.