The Seasonal Natural History of the Ant, Dolichoderus mariae, in Northern Florida

Dolichoderus mariae Forel, (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is an uncommon, monomorphic but locally abundant, reddish-brown ant of peculiar nesting habits, whose range includes most of the eastern USA. In north Florida the ant excavates soil under wiregrass clumps or other plants with fibrous roots to form a single, large, shallow, conical or ovoid chamber broadly open to the surface around the plant base. Colonies are highly polygyne and, during the warm season, inhabit multiple nests connected only by above ground trails, over which nests exchange workers. Although monomorphic, worker size may differ significantly between colonies. The colony cycle is dominated by strong seasonal polydomy. From one or two over-wintering nests, the colonies expanded to occupy up to 60 nests by late summer, then retract once more to one or two nests by mid-winter. The worker-to-queen ratio changed greatly during this cycle, with over two thousand workers per queen during fall and winter, dropping to a low of about 300 during midsummer. Most of these summer queens probably die during the fall. Colonies reoccupy roughly the same area year to year even though they contract down to one or two nests in winter. Observation of fights in the contact zone between colonies suggested that the colonies are territorial. The ants subsist by tending aphids and scale insects for honeydew and scavenging for dead insects within their territories

Prediction of social structure and genetic relatedness in colonies of the facultative polygynous stingless bee Melipona bicolor (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Stingless bee colonies typically consist of one single-mated mother queen and her worker offspring. The stingless bee Melipona bicolor (Hymenoptera: Apidae) shows facultative polygyny, which makes this species particularly suitable for testing theoretical expectations concerning social behavior. In this study, we investigated the social structure and genetic relatedness among workers from eight natural and six manipulated colonies of M. bicolor over a period of one year. The populations of M. bicolor contained monogynous and polygynous colonies. The estimated genetic relatedness among workers from monogynous and polygynous colonies was 0.75 ± 0.12 and 0.53 ± 0.16 (mean ± SEM), respectively. Although the parental genotypes had significant effects on genetic relatedness in monogynous and polygynous colonies, polygyny markedly decreased the relatedness among nestmate workers. Our findings also demonstrate that polygyny in M. bicolor may arise from the adoption of related or unrelated queens

The role of non-foraging nests in polydomous wood ant colonies

A colony of red wood ants can inhabit more than one spatially separated nest, in a strategy called polydomy. Some nests within these polydomous colonies have no foraging trails to aphid colonies in the canopy. In this study we identify and investigate the possible roles of non-foraging nests in polydomous colonies of the wood ant Formica lugubris. To investigate the role of non-foraging nests we: (i) monitored colonies for three years; (ii) observed the resources being transported between non-foraging nests and the rest of the colony; (iii) measured the amount of extra-nest activity around non-foraging and foraging nests. We used these datasets to investigate the extent to which non-foraging nests within polydomous colonies are acting as: part of the colony expansion process; hunting and scavenging specialists; brood-development specialists; seasonal foragers; or a selfish strategy exploiting the foraging effort of the rest of the colony. We found that, rather than having a specialised role, non-foraging nests are part of the process of colony expansion. Polydomous colonies expand by founding new nests in the area surrounding the existing nests. Nests founded near food begin foraging and become part of the colony; other nests are not founded near food sources and do not initially forage. Some of these non-foraging nests eventually begin foraging; others do not and are abandoned. This is a method of colony growth not available to colonies inhabiting a single nest, and may be an important advantage of the polydomous nesting strategy, allowing the colony to expand into profitable areas

Polydomy (Polycaly)

Peer reviewe

A population comparison of the strength and persistence of innate colour preference and learning speed in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris

Studies of innate colour preference and learning ability have focused on differences at the species level, rather than variation among populations of a single species. Initial strength and persistence of colour preferences are likely to affect colour choices of naïve flower visitors. We therefore study the influence of both the strength and persistence of innate colour preference (for blue) on an operant learning task (associating food reward with yellow flowers) in two populations of the bumblebee Bombus terrestris. We found that both strength and persistence of blue preference differed significantly between populations: B. terrestris dalmatinus had a weaker and less persistent blue preference than B. terrestris audax. These differences in preference also influenced learning performance. Considering only landing behaviours, one-trial learning occurred in the majority (73%) of bees, and was achieved sooner in B. terrestris dalmatinus because of its weaker blue preference. However, compared to landing behaviours the relative frequency of approach flights to rewarding and unrewarding flower types changed more slowly with task experience in both populations. When considering both approaches and landings, the rate of learning, following the first rewarded learning trial, was faster in B. terrestris audax than B. terrestris dalmatinus. However, the net effects of population differences in blue preference and learning dynamics result in similar final levels of task performance. Our results provide new evidence of behavioural differences among isolated populations within a single species, and raise intriguing questions about the ecological significance and adaptive nature of colour preference

age: Observational data from the ICON audit

Purpose: To investigate age-related differences in outcomes of critically ill patients with sepsis around the world.Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of data from the prospective ICON audit, in which all adult ( >16 years ) patients admitted to participating ICUs between May 8 and 18, 2012, were included, except admissions for routine postoperative observation. For this sub-analysis, the 10,012 patients with completed age data were included. They were divided into five age groups - 80 years. Sepsis was defined as infection plus at least one organ failure.Results: A total of 2963 patients had sepsis, with similar proportions across the age groups (80 = 30.9%). Hospital mortality increased with age and in patients >80 years was almost twice that of patients 70 years was independently associated with increased risk of dying.Conclusions: The odds for death in ICU patients with sepsis increased with age with the maximal rate of increase occurring between the ages of 71 and 77 years. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.C1 [Kotfis, Katarzyna] Pomeranian Med Univ, Dept Anaesthesiol Intens Therapy & Acute Intoxica, Szczecin, Poland.[Wittebole, Xavier] UCL, Clin Univ St Luc, Dept Crit Care, Brussels, Belgium.[Jaschinski, Ulrich] Klinikum Augsburg, Klin Anasthesiol & Operat Intens Med, Augsburg, Germany.[Sole-Violan, Jordi] Hosp Univ Gran Canaria Dr Negrin, Dept Intens Care, Las Palmas Gran Canaria, Spain.[Kashyap, Rahul] Mayo Clin, Dept Anesthesia Ei Perioperat Med, Rochester, MN USA.[Leone, Marc] Aix Marseille Univ, Hop Nord, AP HM, Serv Anesthesie & Reanimat, Marseille, France.[Nanchal, Rahul] Med Coll Wisconsin, Dept Med, Milwaukee, WI 53226 USA.[Fontes, Luis E.] Hosp Alcides Carneiro, Petropolis Med Sch, Dept Intens Care & Evidence Based Med, Petropolis, Brazil.[Sakr, Yasser] Uniklinikum Jena, Dept Anesthesiol & Intens Care, Jena, Germany.[Vincent, Jean-Louis] Univ Libre Bruxelles, Erasme Univ Hosp, Dept Intens Care, Route Lenn 808, B-1070 Brussels, Belgium.[Tomas, E.] Clin Sagrada Esperanca, Luanda, Angola.[Bibonge, E. Amisi] Clin Univ Kinshasa, Kinshasa, DEM REP CONGO.[Charra, B.] Chu Ibn Rochd Casablanca, Casablanca, Morocco.[Faroudy, M.] Ibn Sina Hosp, Rabat, Morocco.[Doedens, L.] Chris Hani Baragwanath Acad Hosp, Soweto, South Africa.[Farina, Z.] Grays Hosp, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.[Adler, D.] Sandton Medi Clin, Sandton, South Africa.[Balkema, C.] Tygerberg Hosp, Cape Town, South Africa.[Kok, A.] Union Hosp Alberton, Alberton, South Africa.[Alaya, S.] Bizerte Hosp, Bizerte, Tunisia.[Gharsallah, H.] Mil Hosp Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.[Muzha, D.] Natl Trauma Ctr & Mil Hosp, Tirana, Albania.[Temelkov, A.] Alexandrovska Univ Hosp, Sofia, Bulgaria.[Georgiev, G.] Emergency Univ Hosp Pirogov, Sofia, Bulgaria.[Simeonov, G.] Tokuda Hosp Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria.[Tsaryanski, G.] Uh St Ekaterina Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria.[Georgiev, S.] Univ Hosp Obstet & Gynaecol, Sofia, Bulgaria.[Seliman, A.] Univ Hosp Sveta Marina Varna, Varna, Bulgaria.[Vrankovic, S.] Gen Hosp Siben, Shibenik, Croatia.[Vucicevic, Z.] Univ Hosp Ctr Sestre Milosrdnice, Zagreb, Croatia.[Gornik, I] Univ Hosp Ctr Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.[Barsic, B.] Univ Hosp Infect Dis, Zagreb, Croatia.[Husedzinovic, I] Univ Hosp Dubrava, Zagreb, Croatia.[Pavlik, P.] Ctr Cardiovasc & Transplant Surg, Prague, Czech Republic.[Manak, J.] Charles Univ Hosp, Prague, Czech Republic.[Kieslichova, E.] IKEM, Prague, Czech Republic.[Turek, R.] KNTB Zlin AS, Prague, Czech Republic.[Fischer, M.] Krajska Nemocnice Liberec, Prague, Czech Republic.[Valkova, R.] Masarykova Nemocnice V Usti Labem, Labem, Czech Republic.[Dadak, L.] St Annes Univ Hosp Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.[Dostal, P.] Univ Hosp Haradec Kralove, Haradec Kralove, Czech Republic.[Malaska, J.] Univ Hosp Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.[Hajek, R.] Univ Hosp Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic.[Zidkova, A.] Univ Hosp Plzen, Plzen, Czech Republic.[Lavicka, P.] Charles Univ Hosp Plzen, Plzen, Czech Republic.[Starkopf, J.] Tartu Univ Hosp, Tartu, Estonia.[Kheladze, Z.] Crit Care Med Inst, Gainesville, Georgia.[Chkhaidze, M.] Jo Ann Med Ctr, Tbilisi, Georgia.[Kaloiani, V] Kipshidze Cent Univ Hosp, Tbilisi, Georgia.[Medve, L.] Dr Kenessey Albert Hosp, Balassagyarmat, Hungary.[Sarkany, A.] Fejer Cty St George Teaching Hosp, Szekesfehervar, Hungary.[Kremer, I] Flor Ferenc Cty Hosp, Budapest, Hungary.[Marjanek, Z.] Javorszky Odon Hosp, Vac, Hungary.[Tamasi, P.] Peterfy Hosp Budapest, Budapest, Hungary.[Krupnova, I] Infectol Ctr Latvia, Riga, Latvia.[Vanags, I] Paul Stradins Clin Univ Hosp, Riga, Latvia.[Liguts, V] Riga East Clin Univ Hosp, Riga, Latvia.[Pilvinis, V] Hosp Lithuanian Univ Hlth Sci Kauno Klinikos, Kaunas, Lithuania.[Vosylius, S.] Vilnius Univ Hosp, Vilnius, Lithuania.[Kekstas, G.] HSICU, Vilnius Univ Hosp Santariskiu Clin, Vilnius, Lithuania.[Balciunas, M.] CICU, Vilnius Univ Hosp Santariskiu Clin, Vilnius, Lithuania.[Kolbusz, A.] Csk Mswia, Warsaw, Poland.[Kubler, A.] Med Univ, Wroclaw, Poland.[Mielczarek, B.] Med Univ Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland.[Mikaszewska-Sokolewicz, M.] Med Univ Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.[Kotfis, K.] Pomeranian Med Univ, Szczecin, Poland.[Tamowicz, B.] Reg Hosp Poznan, Poznan, Poland.[Sulkowski, W.] Szpital Powiatowy W Ostrowi Mazowieckiej, Ostrow Mazowiecka, Poland.[Smuszkiewicz, P.] Univ Hosp, Poznan, Poland.[Pihowicz, A.] Wojewodzki Szpital Zakazny, Torun, Poland.[Trejnowska, E.] Wojewodzkie Ctr Med, Warsaw, Poland.[Hagau, N.] Emergency Cty Hosp Cluj, Cluj Napoca, Romania.[Filipescu, D.] Emergency Inst Cardiovasc Dis, Bucharest, Romania.[Droc, G.] Fundeni Clin Inst, Bucharest, Romania.[Lupu, M.] Galati Hosp, Bucharest, Romania.[Nica, A.] Lnbi Prof Dr Matei Bals, Bucharest, Romania.[Stoica, R.] Inst Pulmonol Marius Nasta, Bucharest, Romania.[Tomescu, D.] Inst Clin Fundeni, Bucharest, Romania.[Constantinescu, D.] Sfantul Pantelimon Hosp, Bucharest, Romania.[Zbaganu, G. Valcoreanu] Spitalul Cf 2 Bucuresti, Bucharest, Romania.[Slavcovici, A.] Iuliu Hatieganu Univ Med & Pharm, Teaching Hosp Infect Dis, Cluj Napoca, Romania.[Bagin, V] City Clin Hosp 40, St Petersburg, Russia.[Belsky, D.] City Hosp 40, St Petersburg, Russia.[Palyutin, S.] Clin Hosp NVNV Solovyev, Yaroslavl, Russia.[Shlyapnikov, S.] Emergency Res Inst NA Djanelidze, St Petersburg, Russia.[Bikkulova, D.] Fed Res Ctr Paediat Haematol Oncol & Immunol, Moscow, Russia.[Gritsan, A.] Krasnoyarsk State Med Univ, Krasnoyarsk Reg Hosp, Krasnoyarsk, Russia.[Natalia, G.] Med Assoc Novaya Bolnitsa, Ekaterinburg, Russia.[Makarenko, E.] Mil Med Acad, Ekaterinburg, Russia.[Kokhno, V] Novosibirsk Med Univ, Novosibirsk, Russia.[Tolkach, A.] Omsk Reg Clin Hosp, Omsk, Russia.[Kokarev, E.] Railway Hosp Khabarovsk, Khabarovsk, Russia.[Belotserkovskiy, B.] St Alexy Hosp, St Louis, France.[Zolotukhin, K.] State Dist Hosp, Moscow, Russia.[Kulabukhov, V] Vishnevsky Inst Surg, Moscow, Russia.[Soskic, L.] Clin Ctr Serbia, Clin Cardiac Surg, Belgrade, Serbia.[Palibrk, I] Clin Ctr Serbia, Clin Digest Surg, Belgrade, Serbia.[Jankovic, R.; Jovanovic, B.] Clin Ctr Nis, Clin Vasc Surg, Nish, Serbia.[Pandurovic, M.] Clin Ctr Serbia, Emergency Ctr, Belgrade, Serbia.[Bumbasirevic, V] Clin Ctr Belgrade, Emergency Ctr, Belgrade, Serbia.[Uljarevic, B.] Gen Univ Hosp, Belgrade, Serbia.[Surbatovic, M.] Mil Med Acad, Belgrade, Serbia.[Ladjevic, N.] Urol Hosp, Belgrade, Serbia.[Slobodianiuk, G.] Dist Hosp, Bratislava, Slovakia.[Sobona, V] Fac Hosp, Bratislava, Slovakia.[Cikova, A.] Univ Hosp Bratislava, Hosp Ruzinov ICU, Bratislava, Slovakia.[Gebhardtova, A.] Univ Hosp Ruzinov Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia.[Jun, C.] Qingdao Univ, Tertiary Hosp, Qingdao, Shandong, Peoples R China.[Yunbo, S.] Qingdao Univ, Affiliated Hosp, Med Coll, Qingdao, Shandong, Peoples R China.[Dong, U.] Beijing Canc Hosp, Beijing Inst Canc Res, Beijing, Peoples R China.[Feng, S.] Beijing Chaoyang Hosp, Beijing, Peoples R China.[Duan, M.] Beijing Friendship Hosp, Beijing, Peoples R China.[Xu, Y.] Capital Med Univ, Beijing Tongren Hosp, Beijing, Peoples R China.[Xue, X.] Beijing Univ Peoples Hosp, Beijing, Peoples R China.[Gao, T.] Beijing Luhe Hosp, Beijing, Peoples R China.[Xing, X.] Chinese Acad Med Sci, Canc Hosp, Beijing, Peoples R China.[Zhao, X.] China Acad Chinese Med Sci, Guang An Men Hosp, Beijing, Peoples R China.[Li, C.] Peoples Hosp, Chuxiong, Yunnan, Peoples R China.[Gengxihua, G.] Donge Cty Peoples Hosp Shandong Prov, Liaocheng, Shandong, Peoples R China.[Tan, H.] Chinese Acad Med Sci, Fu Wai Hosp, Beijing, Peoples R China.[Xu, J.] Fujian Prov Hosp, Fuzhou, Fujian, Peoples R China.[Jiang, L.] Capital Med Univ, Fuxing Hosp, Beijing, Peoples R China.[Tiehe, Q.] Guangdong Gen Hosp, Guangzhou, Guangdong, Peoples R China.[Bingyu, Q.] Henan Prov Peoples Hosp, Zhengzhou, Henan, Peoples R China.[Shi, Q.] Xi An Jiao Tong Univ, Coll Med, Xian, Shaanxi, Peoples R China.[Lv, Z.] Kunming Third Peoples Hosp, Kunming, Yunnan, Peoples R China.[Zhang, L.] Lanzhou Univ, Hosp 2, Lanzhou, Gansu, Peoples R China.[Jingtao, L.] 309th Hosp, Beijing, Peoples R China.[Zhen, Z.] China Med Univ, Hosp 1, Beijing, Peoples R China.[Wang, Z.] Peking Univ, Shougang Hosp, Beijing, Peoples R China.[Wang, T.] Peking Univ, Hosp 3, Beijing, Peoples R China.[Yuhong, L.] Pla Navy Gen Hosp, Beijing, Peoples R China.[Zhai, Q.] Shandong Univ, Qilu Hosp, Jinan, Shandong, Peoples R China.[Chen, Y.] Jiaotong Univ, Affiliated Med Sch, Ruijin Hosp, Shanghai, Peoples R China.[Wang, C.] Shandong Prov Hosp, Jinan, Shandong, Peoples R China.[Jiang, W.] Shanghai 10th Peoples Hosp, Shanghai, Peoples R China.[Ruilan, W.] Shanghai First Peoples Hosp, Shanghai, Peoples R China.[Chen, Y.; Xiaobo, H.] Sichuan Prov Peoples Hosp, Chengdu, Sichuan, Peoples R China.[Ge, H.] Sir Run Run Shaw Hosp, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, Peoples R China.[Yan, T.] Affiliated Guiyang Med Coll, Guiyang, Guizhou, Peoples R China.[Yuhui, C.] Fudan Univ, Peoples Hosp Shanghai 5, Shanghai, Peoples R China.[Zhang, J.] Dalian Med Univ, Affiliated Hosp 1, Dalian, Peoples R China.[Jian-Hong, F.] Suzhou Univ, Affiliated Hosp 1, Suzhou, Peoples R China.[Zhu, H.] Xinjiang Med Univ, Affiliated Hosp 1, Urumqi, Peoples R China.[Huo, F.; Wang, Y.] Jilin Univ, Hosp 1, Changchun, Jilin, Peoples R China.[Li, C.] First Peoples Hosp Kunming, Kunming, Yunnan, Peoples R China.[Zhuang, M.] Gen Hosp Shenyang Mil Reg, Shenyang, Liaoning, Peoples R China.[Ma, Z.] Peoples Hosp Cangzhou, Cangzhou, Peoples R China.[Sun, J.] Jilin Univ, Hosp 2, Changchun, Jilin, Peoples R China.[Liuqingyue, L.] Second Peoples Hosp Liaocheng City Shandong Prov, Liaocheng, Shandong, Peoples R China.[Yang, M.] Third Xiangya Hosp, Changsha, Hunan, Peoples R China.[Meng, J.] Tongde Hosp Zhejiang Prov, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, Peoples R China.[Ma, S.] Tongji Univ, Shanghai East Hosp, Shanghai, Peoples R China.[Kang, Y.] West China Hosp, Scu, Peoples R China.[Yu, L.] Wuhan Ctr Hosp, Wuhan, Hubei, Peoples R China.[Peng, Q.] Xiangya Hosp, Changsha, Hunan, Peoples R China.[Wei, Y.] Yantai Yuhuangding Hosp, Yantai, Peoples R China.[Zhang, W.] Yantaishan Hosp, Yantai, Shandong, Peoples R China.[Sun, R.] Zhejiang Prov Peoples Hosp, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, Peoples R China.[Yeung, A.] Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hosp, Hong Kong, Peoples R China.[Wan, W.] Princess Margaret Hosp, Hong Kong, Peoples R China.[Sin, K.] Queen Elizabeth Hosp, Hong Kong, Peoples R China.[Lee, K.] United Christian Hosp Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong, Peoples R China.[Wijanti, M.] Anestesi, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.[Widodo, U.] Pku Muhammadiyah Bantu, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.[Samsirun, H.] Rd Mattaher Hosp Jambi, Jambi City, Indonesia.[Sugiman, T.] Rumah Sakit Pantai Lndah Kapuk, North Jakarta, Indonesia.[Wisudarti, C.] Sardjito Hosp, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.[Maskoen, T.] Sch Med Unpad, Hasan Sadikin Hosp, Bandung, Indonesia.[Hata, N.] Nippon Med Sch, Chiba Hokusoh Hosp, Inzai, Japan.[Kobe, Y.] Chiba Univ Hosp, Chiba, Japan.[Nishida, O.] Fujita Hlth Univ, Sch Med, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan.[Miyazaki, D.] Japanese Red Cross Maebashi Hosp, Maebashi, Gumma, Japan.[Nunomiya, S.] Jichi Med Univ Hosp, Shimotsuke, Japan.[Uchino, S.] Jikei Univ, Sch Med, Tokyo, Japan.[Kitamura, N.] Kimitsu Chuo Hosp, Kisarazu, Japan.[Yamashita, K.] Kochi Med Sch, Nankoku, Kochi, Japan.[Hashimoto, S.] Kyoto Prefectural Univ Med, Kyoto, Japan.[Fukushima, H.] Nara Med Univ Hosp, Kashihara, Nara, Japan.[Adib, N. Nik] Hosp Sultanah Nur Zahirah, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia.[Tai, L.] Kuala Lumpur Hosp, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[Tony, B.] Queen Elizabeth Hosp 2, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.[Bigornia, R.] Cebu Velez Gen Hosp, Cebu, Philippines.[Bigornia, R.] Perpetual Succour Hosp, Cebu, Philippines.[Palo, J.] Med City, Pasig, Philippines.[Chatterjee, S.] Alexandra Hosp, Singapore, Singapore.[Tan, B.] Natl Univ Hlth Syst, Singapore, Singapore.[Kong, A.] Singapore Gen Hosp, Singapore, Singapore.[Goh, S.] Tan Tock Seng Hosp, Singapore, Singapore.[Lee, C.] Natl Taiwan Univ Hosp, Taipei, Taiwan.[Pothirat, C.] Chiaingmai Univ, Maharaj Nakorn Chiangmai Hosp, Chiang Mai, Thailand.[Khwannimit, B.] Prince Songkla Univ, Hat Yai, Thailand.[Theerawit, P.] Ramathibodi Hosp, Bangkok, Thailand.[Pornsuriyasak, P.] Ramathibodi Hosp, Somdech Phra Debaratana Med Ctr, Bangkok, Thailand.[Piriyapatsom, A.] Mahidol Univ, Siriraj Hosp, Bangkok, Thailand.[Mukhtar, A.] Cairo Univ, Giza, Egypt.[Dsicu] Demerdash Surg Intens Care Unit, Cairo, Egypt.[Hamdy, A. Nabil] Ain Shams Fac Med, Cairo, Egypt.[Hosny, H.] Zaitoun Specialized Hosp, Cairo, Egypt.[Ashraf, A.] Gums, Tehran, Iran.[Mokhtari, M.] Sbums, Imam Hossein Hosp, Tehran, Iran.[Nowruzinia, S.] Imamreza Hosp, Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan, Iran.[Lotfi, A.] Laleh Hosp, Tehran, Iran.[Zand, F.] Shiraz Anesthesiol & Crit Care Res Ctr, Shiraz, Iran.[Nikandish, R.] Shiraz Univ Med Sci, Shiraz, Iran.[Moghaddam, O. Moradi] Tehran Med Sci Univ, Tehran, Iran.[Cohen, J.] Rabin Med Ctr, Petah Tiqwa, Israel.[Sold, O.] Sourasky Tel Aviv Med Ctr, Tel Aviv, Israel.[Sfeir, T.] Ctr Hosp Nord, Ettelbruck, Luxembourg.[Hasan, A.] Sohar Hosp, Sohar, Oman.[Abugaber, D.] Specialized Arab Hosp, Nablus, Palestine.[Ahmad, H.] Almana Gen Hosp, Khobar, Saudi Arabia.[Tantawy, T.] KFSHRC, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.[Baharoom, S.] King Abdulaziz Med City Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.[Algethamy, H.] King Abdulaziz Univ, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.[Amr, A.] King Saud Med City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.[Almekhlafi, G.] Riyadh Mil Hosp, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.[Coskun, R.] Erciyes Univ, Med Fac, Kayseri, Turkey.[Sungur, M.] Erciyes Univ, Med Sch, Kayseri, Turkey.[Cosar, A.] Gulhane Mil Med Acad, Ankara, Turkey.[Gucyetmez, B.] Int Hosp, Istanbul, Turkey.[Demirkiran, O.] Istanbul Univ, Cerrahpasa Med Sch Hosp, Istanbul, Turkey.[Senturk, E.] Istanbul Univ, Istanbul Med Fac, Istanbul, Turkey.[Ulusoy, H.] Karadeniz Tech Univ, Med Fac, Trabzon, Turkey.[Atalan, H.] Mem Atasehir Hosp, Istanbul, Turkey.[Serin, S.] Pamukkale Univ, Denizli, Turkey.[Kati, I] Yuzuncu Yil Univ, Med Fac, Van, Turkey.[Alnassrawi, Z.] Dubai Hosp, Dubai, U Arab Emirates.[Almemari, A.] Mafraq Hosp, Abu Dhabi, U Arab Emirates.[Krishnareddy, K.] Sheikh Khalifa Med City, Abu Dhabi, U Arab Emirates.[Kashef, S.] Tawam Hosp, Al Ain, U Arab Emirates.[Alsabbah, A.] City Hosp, Dubai, U Arab Emirates.[Poirier, G.] Hop Charles Lemoyne, Longueuil, PQ, Canada.[Marshall, J.] St Michaels Hosp, Toronto, ON, Canada.[Herridge, M.] Toronto Gen Hosp, Toronto, ON, Canada.[Herridge, M.] Toronto Western Hosp, Toronto, ON, Canada.[Fernandez-Medero, R.] San Juan Hosp, San Juan, PR USA.[Fulda, G.] Christiana Care Hlth Syst, Newark, DE USA.[Banschbach, S.] Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr, Cincinnati, OH 45229 USA.[Quintero, J.] El Camino Hosp, Mountain View, CA USA.[Schroeder, E.] George Washington Hosp, Washington, DC USA.[Sicoutris, C.] Hosp Univ Penn, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA.[Gueret, R.] John H Stroger Hosp Cook Cty, Chicago, IL USA.[Kashyap, R.] Mayo Clin, CCM, Rochester, MN USA.[Bauer, P.] Mayo Clin, PCC, Rochester, MN USA.[Nanchal, R.] Med Coll Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226 USA.[Wunderink, R.] Northwestern Mem Hosp, Chicago, IL 60611 USA.[Jimenez, E.] Orlando Reg Med Ctr Inc, Orlando, FL USA.[Ryan, A.] Washington Hosp Ctr, Washington, DC 20010 USA.[Ryan, A.] Washington Hosp Ctr, 2H, Washington, DC USA.[Ryan, A.] Washington Hosp Ctr, 2G, Washington, DC USA.[Ryan, A.] Washington Hosp Ctr, 3H, Washington, DC USA.[Ryan, A.] Washington Hosp Ctr, 3G, Washington, DC USA.[Ryan, A.] Washington Hosp Ctr, 4H, Washington, DC USA.[Ryan, A.] Washington Hosp Ctr, CVRR, Washington, DC USA.[Prince, D.] Armadale Hlth Serv, Mount Nasura, WA, Australia.[Edington, J.] Bendigo Hosp, Bendigo, Vic, Australia.[Van Haren, F.] Canberra Hosp, Canberra, ACT, Australia.[Bersten, A.] Flinders Med Ctr, Bedford Pk, SA, Australia.[Hawkins, D. J.] Joondalup Hlth Campus, Joondalup, WA, Australia.[Kilminster, M.] Lismore Base Hosp, Lismore, NSW, Australia.[Sturgess, D.] Mater Adult Hosp, South Brisbane, Qld, Australia.[Ziegenfuss, M.] Prince Charles Hosp, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.[O'Connor, S.] Royal Adelaide Hosp, Adelaide, SA, Australia.[Lipman, J.] Royal Brisbane & Womens Hosp, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.[Campbell, L.] Royal Darwin Hosp, Tiwi, NT, Australia.[Mcallister, R.] Royal Hobart Hosp, Hobart, Tas, Australia.[Roberts, B.] Sir Charles Gairdner Hosp, Nedlands, WA, Australia.[Williams, P.] Queen Elizabeth Hosp, Woodville, SA, Australia.[Parke, R.] Auckland Dist Hlth Board, Auckland, New Zealand.[Seigne, P.] Christchurch Hosp, Christchurch, New Zealand.[Freebairn, R.] Hawkes Bay Hosp, Hastings, New Zealand.[Nistor, D.] Palmerston North Hosp, Midcent Hlth, Palmerston North, New Zealand.[Oxley, C.] Middlemore Hosp, Auckland, New Zealand.[Young, P.] Wellington Hosp, Wellington, New Zealand.[Valentini, R.] Cemic, Buenos Aires, DF, Argentina.[Wainsztein, N.] Fleni, Buenos Aires, DF, Argentina.[Comignani, P.] Hosp Aleman, Buenos Aires, DF, Argentina.[Casaretto, M.] Hosp Cent San Isidro, Buenos Aires, DF, Argentina.[Sutton, G.] Hosp Fernandez, Buenos Aires, DF, Argentina.[Villegas, P.] Hosp Francisco Lopez Lima Area Programa Gen Roca, Gen Roca, Argentina.[Galletti, C.] Sanatorio Allende, Cordoba, Argentina.[Neira, J.] Sanatorio Trinidad Palermo, Buenos Aires, DF, Argentina.[Rovira, D.] Sanatorio Julio Corzo Rosario, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.[Hidalgo, J.] Karl Heusner Mem Hosp, Belize City, Belize.[Hidalgo, J.] Belize Healthcare Partner, Belize City, Belize.[Sandi, F.] Hosp Obrero 1, La Paz, Bolivia.[Caser, E.] Cias Unimed Vitoria, Vitoria, ES, Brazil.[Thompson, M.] Evangelical Hosp Cachoeiro De Itapemirim, Cachoeiro De Itapemirim, Brazil.[D'agostino Dias, M.] Hosp 9 Julho, Sao Paulo, Brazil.[Fontes, L.] Hosp Alcides Carneiro, Petropolis, Brazil.[Lunardi, M.] Hosp Clin Luzia De Pinho Melo, Mogi Das Cruzes, Brazil.[Youssef, N.] Hosp Nacoes Curitiba, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil.[Lobo, S.] Hosp Base Famerp, Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, Brazil.[Silva, R.] Hosp Clin Niteroi, Niteroi, RJ, Brazil.[Sales Jr, J.] Hosp Clin Padre Miguel, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.[Madeira Campos Melo, L.] Hosp Terapia Intens, Sao Paulo, Brazil.[Oliveira, M.] Hosp Trabalhador, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil.[Fonte, M.] Hosp Esperanza, Olinda, PE, Brazil.[Grion, C.] Hosp Evangel Londrina, Londrina, Brazil.[Feijo, C.] Hosp Geral Fortaleza, Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil.[Rezende, V] Hosp Geral Roraima, Boa Vista, Brazil.[Assuncao, M.] Hosp Israelita Albert Einstein, Sao Paulo, Brazil.[Neves, A.] Hosp Mater Dei, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.[Gusman, P.; Dalcomune, D.] Hosp Meridional, Cariacica, ES, Brazil.[Teixeira, C.] Hosp Moinhos Vento, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.[Kaefer, K.] Hosp Municipal Ruth Cardoso, Balneario, Brazil.[Maia, I] Hosp Nereu Ramos, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil.[Souza Dantas, V] Hosp Pasteur, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.[Costa Filho, R.] Hosp Pro Cardiaco, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.[Amorim, F.] Hosp Reg Samambaia, Brasilia, DF, Brazil.[Assef, M.] Hosp Reg Hans Dieter Schmidt, Joinville, Brazil.[Schiavetto, P.] Hosp Santa Casa Campo Mourao, Campo Mourao, PR, Brazil.[Houly, J.] Hosp Santa Paula, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.[Houly, J.] Hosp Santapaula, Sao Paulo, Brazil.[Bianchi, F.] Hosp Sao Jose Avai, Itaperuna, RJ, Brazil.[Dias, F.] Hosp Sao Lucas Pucrs, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.[Avila, C.] Hosp Sao Vicente Paula, Rio De Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.[Gomez, J.] Hosp Sao Vicente Paulo, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.[Rego, L.] Hosp Saude Mulher, Belem, Para, Brazil.[Castro, P.] Hosp Tacchini, Bento Goncalves, RS, Brazil.[Passos, J.] Hosp Unimed Costa Do Sol Macae Rj, Macae, RJ, Brazil.[Mendes, C.] Hosp Univ Ufpb Joao Pessoa, Joao Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil.[Grion, C.] Hosp Univ Londrina, Londrina, Brazil.[Colozza Mecatti, G.] Hosp Univ Sao Francisco, Braganca Paulista, SP, Brazil.[Ferrreira, M.] Santa Casa Caridade Diamantina, Diamantina, MG, Brazil.[Irineu, V] Santa Casa Misericordia Tatui, Tatui, Brazil.[Guerreiro, M.] Sao Francisco de Paula Hosp, Sao Francisco De Paula, RS, Brazil.[Ugarte, S.] Clin Indisa, Providencia, Chile.[Tomicic, V] Clin Las Lilas, Providencia, Chile.[Godoy, C.] Hosp Carlos Van Buren, Valparaiso, Chile.[Samaniego, W.] Hosp Trabajador Santiago, Santiago, Chile.[Escamilla, I] Hosp El Pino, San Bernardo, Chile.[Escamilla, I] Hosp Mutual De Seguridad, Santiago, Chile.[Castro Castro, L.] Ctr Med Imbanaco, Valle Del Cauca, Colombia.[Libreros Duque, G.] Clin Colombia Cali, Cali, Colombia.[Diaz-Guio, D.] Clin Del Cafe, Armenia, Colombia.[Benitez, F.] Clin La Estancia SA, Popayan, Colombia.[Guerra Urrego, A.] Clin Medellin, Medellin, Colombia.[Buitrago, R.] Fdn Clin Shaio, Bogota, Colombia.[Ortiz, G.] Hosp Santa Clara, Bogota, Colomb