Disparate behavioral types in wild and reared juveniles of gilthead seabream.

Fish differ consistently in behavior within the same species and population, reflecting distinct behavioral types (BTs). Comparing the behavior of wild and reared individuals provides an excellent opportunity to delve into the ecological and evolutionary consequences of BTs. In this work, we evaluated the behavioral variation of wild and reared juvenile gilthead seabreams, Sparus aurata, a highly relevant species for aquaculture and fisheries. We quantified behavioral variation along the five major axes of fish behavioral traits (exploration-avoidance, aggressiveness, sociability, shyness-boldness, and activity) using standardized behavioral tests and a deep learning tracking algorithm for behavioral annotation. Results revealed significant repeatability in all five behavior traits, suggesting high consistency of individual behavioral variation across the different axes in this species. We found reared fish to be more aggressive, social and active compared to their wild conspecifics. Reared individuals also presented less variance in their aggressiveness, lacking very aggressive and very tame individuals. Phenotypic correlation decomposition between behavioral types revealed two different behavioral syndromes: exploration-sociability and exploration-activity. Our work establishes the first baseline of repeatability scores in wild and reared gilthead seabreams, providing novel insight into the behavior of this important commercial species with implications for fisheries and aquaculture.

Measuring inter-individual differences in behavioural types of gilthead seabreams in the laboratory using deep learning.

Deep learning allows us to automatize the acquisition of large amounts of behavioural animal data with applications for fisheries and aquaculture. In this work, we have trained an image-based deep learning algorithm, the Faster R-CNN (Faster region-based convolutional neural network), to automatically detect and track the gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata, to search for individual differences in behaviour. We collected videos using a novel Raspberry Pi high throughput recording system attached to individual experimental behavioural arenas. From the continuous recording during behavioural assays, we acquired and labelled a total of 14,000 images and used them, along with data augmentation techniques, to train the network. Then, we evaluated the performance of our network at different training levels, increasing the number of images and applying data augmentation. For every validation step, we processed more than 52,000 images, with and without the presence of the gilthead seabream, in normal and altered (i.e., after the introduction of a non-familiar object to test for explorative behaviour) behavioural arenas. The final and best version of the neural network, trained with all the images and with data augmentation, reached an accuracy of 92,79% ± 6.78% [89.24-96.34] of correct classification and 10.25 ± 61.59 pixels [6.59-13.91] of fish positioning error. Our recording system based on a Raspberry Pi and a trained convolutional neural network provides a valuable non-invasive tool to automatically track fish movements in experimental arenas and, using the trajectories obtained during behavioural tests, to assay behavioural types.

Aggressiveness-related behavioural types in the pearly razorfish.

Behavioural types (i.e., personalities or temperament) are defined as among individual differences in behavioural traits that are consistent over time and ecological contexts. Behavioural types are widespread in nature and play a relevant role in many ecological and evolutionary processes. In this work, we studied for the first time the consistency of individual aggressiveness in the pearly razorfish, Xyrichtys novacula, using a mirror test: a classic method to define aggressive behavioural types. The experiments were carried out in semi-natural behavioural arenas and monitored through a novel Raspberry Pi-based recording system. The experimental set up allowed us to obtain repeated measures of individual aggressivity scores during four consecutive days. The decomposition of the phenotypic variance revealed a significant repeatability score (R) of 0.57 [0.44-0.60], suggesting high predictability of individual behavioural variation and the existence of different behavioural types. Aggressive behavioural types emerged irrespective of body size, sex and the internal condition of the individual. Razorfishes are a ubiquitous group of fish species that occupy sedimentary habitats in most shallow waters of temperate and tropical seas. These species are known for forming strong social structures and playing a relevant role in ecosystem functioning. Therefore, our work provides novel insight into an individual behavioural component that may play a role in poorly known ecological and evolutionary processes occurring in this species.

Las manos como factor de riesgo en la sepsis nosocomial

Teniendo en cuenta el incremento de la morbilidad y gravedad de la sepsis nosocomial en las Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos de Neonatología y de Adultos, se realizó un estudio transversal con los objetivos de demostrar la presencia de gérmenes bacterianos en las manos del personal de enfermería de dichas unidades y evaluar la eficacia de los procederes del lavado y antisepsia como habitualmente lo realiza este personal. Se procedió al hisopado de las manos en 4 tiempos: al entrar a la unidad sin lavarse las manos aún; después del lavado de manos; posteriormente a la aplicación del antiséptico y casi al final de la jornada, de manera sorpresiva. En las 88 muestras hubo crecimiento bacteriano con 113 aislamientos. Los resultados demuestran, en primer lugar, una elevada presencia de gérmenes patógenos a la entrada y al final de la jornada, lo que representa un alto riesgo para los pacientes hospitalizados en las UCI, pero también una seria amenaza para la familia y la comunidad y lo que es más importante: la ineficacia de los procederes que deberían garantizar la seguridad de los pacientes. La persistencia de los gérmenes fue de más de un 60% después del lavado de manos y de más de un 70 porciento luego de la aplicación del antiséptico, lo que urge la revisión de las normas técnicas actuales del lavado de manos en general y de la antisepsia(AU)

Motivates the realization of this traverse study, the increment of the morbility and graveness of the nosocomial sepsis in the Intensive Care Units (ICU) of Neonatology and Adults with the objectives of demonstrate the presence of bacterial germs in the hands of the infirmary personnel of these units and to values you the effectiveness of the procedures laundry and antisepsis just as they habitually do it. It was proceeded then to a microbiological study of the hands in 4 times: when entering to the unit without being still washed the hands; after the laundry shakes hands; later on to the application of the antiseptic and lastly, almost at the end of the day, suddenly; in the 88 samples, there was bacterial growth with 113 isolations. The results demonstrate, in the first place, a high presence of pathogenic germs to the entrance and at the end of the day, what represents a great risk for the patients hospitalized firstly in the ICU, but also a serious threat for the family and the community. What is more important: the inefficiency of what should guarantee the security of the patients. The persistence of the germs was more than 60% after the laundry shakes hands and more than 70 percent after the application of the antiseptic. That is why it is very important the revision of the current technical standardise of the laundry shakes hands in general and of the antisepsis(AU)