Effect of Population Density on Personality of Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii).

Personality is widely observed in animals and has important ecological and evolutionary implications. In addition to being heritable, personality traits are also influenced by the environment. Population density commonly affects animal behavior, but the way in which it shapes animal personality remains largely unknown. In this study, we reared juvenile crayfish at different population densities and measured their personality traits (shyness, exploration, and aggression) after reaching sexual maturity. Our results showed repeatability for each behavior in all treatments, except for the shyness of females at medium density. There was a negative correlation between shyness and exploration in each treatment, and aggression and exploration were positively correlated in medium- and high-density females. These indicate the presence of a behavior syndrome. On average, the crayfish raised at higher population densities were less shy, more exploratory, and more aggressive. We found no behavioral differences between the sexes in crayfish. These results suggested that population density may affect the average values of behavioral traits rather than the occurrence of personality traits. Our study highlights the importance of considering population density as a factor influencing personality traits in animals and, therefore, might help us to understand animal personality development.

Effects of Cheliped Amputation on the Personality of Crayfish.

Animal personality, which describes inter-individual differences and intra-individual consistency in behaviors across time and contexts, has been widely observed and has significance for both ecology and evolution. Morphological modifications, particularly during early life stages, may highly influence animal behavior in adulthood; thus, exploring this relationship can elucidate personality development throughout ontogeny. In this study, we reared juvenile crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) with different degrees of cheliped mutilation and explored their personality patterns, including exploration and aggression, when they reached sexual maturity. Male crayfish showed repeatability in exploration, and both sexes showed repeatability in aggression. We observed no significant correlation between the two behavioral traits, indicating the absence of behavioral syndromes. Moreover, exploration did not differ according to the type of mutilation, but crayfish with more intact chelipeds were more aggressive, and males were more aggressive than females. These results indicate that cheliped mutilation may modify the average levels of personality traits associated with competition or self-defense. Our study provides insights into how morphological modifications may shape animal personalities in adulthood.

Effect of tobacco usage on surgical site wound problems after primary total hip and total knee arthroplasty: A meta-analysis.

The meta-analysis aims to assess and compare the effect of tobacco usage on surgical site wound problems (SSWPs) after primary total hip and total knee arthroplasty (PTH&TKA). Using dichotomous random- or fixed-effects models, the outcomes of this meta-analysis were examined, and the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was computed. Fifteen studies from 2001 to 2023 were enrolled for the present meta-analysis including 560 819 personals with PTH&TKA. Smokers had significantly higher SSWPs (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.21-1.94, p < 0.001) compared with non-smokers in personals with PTH&TKA. Current smokers had significantly higher SSWPs (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.40-1.80, p < 0.001) compared with non-smokers in personals with PTH&TKA. Current smokers had significantly higher SSWPs (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.19-1.70, p < 0.001) compared with former smokers in personals with PTH&TKA. However, former smokers and non-smokers had no significant difference in SSWPs (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.95-1.30, p = 19) in personals with PTH&TKA. The examined data revealed that in personals with PTH&TKA smokers had significantly higher SSWPs compared with non-smokers, and current smokers had significantly higher SSWPs compared with non-smokers and former smokers; however, former smokers and non-smokers had no significant difference in SSWPs. Yet, attention should be implemented while relating to its values since some of the comparisons were made using a low number of selected studies.

Risk Predictability in Early Life Shapes Personality of Mosquitofish in Adulthood.

Animal personality is of great ecological and evolutionary significance and has been documented in many animal taxa. Despite genetic background, personality might be prominently shaped by external environments, and it is significant to explore the environmental factors that influence the ontogeny of animal personality in early life. Here, we reared newborn mosquitofish Gambusia affinis under different treatments of risk predictability (i.e., no risks, unpredictable risks, risks at 5 min after feeding and risks at 2 h after feeding) and measured their two personality traits at sexual maturity. We measured the behavioral repeatability, correlation between behavioral characteristics, and the impact of risk predictability. We found that the fish showed repeatability in exploration in all risk treatments, as well as repeatability in shyness under predictable risks. When growing up in risk treatments, no matter predictable or unpredictable, shyness and exploration showed a negative correlation, suggesting a behavioral syndrome between the two behavioral traits. The fish reared under predictable risks were less explorative than those under unpredictable risks, while there were no differences in shyness among treatments. Besides, smaller fish were bolder and more explorative than larger ones. Our findings imply that risk predictability in early life may play an important role in shaping animal personality and modifying the average behavioral levels.

Risk factors for postoperative surgical site wound problems after metastatic and primary spine tumour surgery: A meta-analysis.

A meta-analysis study was conducted to assess the risk factors (RFs) for postoperative surgical site wound problems (POSSWPs) after metastatic and primary spine tumour surgery (STS). A comprehensive literature examination until February 2023 was implemented, and 1786 linked studies were appraised. The 18 picked studies contained 18 580 subjects with surgery in the studies' baseline with and without different RFs. Odds ratio (OR) in addition to 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to calculate the consequence of RFs for POSSWPs after metastatic and primary STS using the dichotomous and continuous styles and a fixed or random model. Subjects with surgical instrumentation in their surgery had a significantly higher rate of POSSWPs in STS (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.49-3.49, P < 0.001) compared with those without surgical instrumentation. Subjects with preoperative chemotherapy had a significantly higher rate of POSSWPs in STS (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.09-3.00, P = 0.02) compared with those without preoperative chemotherapy. Subjects with preoperative radiotherapy had a significantly higher rate of POSSWPs in STS (OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.12-3.34, P = 0.02) compared with those without preoperative radiotherapy. Subjects with corticosteroid intake had a significantly higher rate of POSSWPs in STS (OR, 2.89; 95% CI, 1.73-4.82, P < 0.001) compared with those without corticosteroid intake. No significant difference was found between males and females in the rate of POSSWPs in STS (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.66-1.37, P = 0.78). Surgical instrumentation, preoperative chemotherapy, preoperative radiotherapy and corticosteroid are RFs for the higher rate of POSSWPs in STS; however, gender was not shown to be a risk factor. Though precautions should be taken when commerce with the consequences since some of the studies picked for this meta-analysis had low sample sizes.