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Dams commonly restrict fish movements in large rivers but can also help curtail the spread of invasive species, such as invasive bigheaded carps (Hypophthalmichthys spp). To determine how dams in the upper Mississippi River (UMR) affect large-scale invasive and native fish migrations, we tracked American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) and bigheaded carp across > 600 river km (rkm) and 16 navigation locks and dams (LD) of the UMR during 2 years with contrasting water levels. In 2022, a low-water year, both native paddlefish and invasive bigheaded carp had low passage rates (4% and 0.6% respectively) through LD15, a movement bottleneck being studied for invasive carp control. In contrast, flooding in 2023 led to open-river conditions across multiple dams simultaneously, allowing 53% of paddlefish and 46% of bigheaded carp detected in Pool 16 to move upstream through LD15. Bigheaded carp passed upstream through LD15 rapidly (μ = 32 rkm per day) a maximum of 381 rkm, whereas paddlefish moved an average of 9 upstream rkm per day (maximum of 337 rkm). Our results can inform managers examining trade-offs between actions that enhance native fish passage or deter movements of invasive species. This understanding is critical because current climate change models project increases in flooding events like that observed during 2023., (© 2024. The Author(s). Parts of this work were authored by US Federal Government authors and are not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.)

Objectives: Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus [GAS]) is a prevalent cause of community-acquired bacterial infections, with invasive GAS (iGAS) infections presenting severe morbimortality. Clindamycin is generally used based on its antitoxin effect. This study investigates changes in iGAS incidence, clinical presentation, outcomes, and clindamycin resistance in an adult cohort., Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of S. pyogenes episodes from a tertiary adult hospital in Barcelona (Spain) between 2015 and 2023. The pre-pandemic period includes data from 2015-2019. The pandemic period, from 2020-2021, and post-pandemic period comprised 2022 to the first semester of 2023., Results: The global incidence of GAS infections in the pre-pandemic and post-pandemic periods were 2.62 and 2.92 cases per 10.000 hospital admissions, whereas for iGAS cases, they were 1.85 and 2.34. However, a transient decrease was observed during the pandemic period: 1.07 and 0.78 per 10.000 hospital admissions. There was a significant decrease in GAS and iGAS infections during the pandemic period compared with the pre-pandemic incidence ( P <0.001 for GAS infections and P = 0.001 for iGAS cases) and the post-pandemic incidence ( P = 0.032 for GAS infections and P = 0.037 for iGAS cases). The most common source of infection was skin and soft tissue infections with 264 (54%) cases. Skin and soft tissue infections and cases of necrotizing fasciitis increased during the pandemic. Clindamycin resistance occurred in 13.5% of isolations during the pre-pandemic and 17.5% in post-pandemic period ( P = 0.05)., Conclusions: Our study revealed a temporary reduction in iGAS infections, followed by resurgence in the post-pandemic period. The observed rise in clindamycin resistance emphasizes the importance of monitoring local resistance patterns for tailored treatment., Competing Interests: On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest. No funding or financial support was received for the production of the present work., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Vessel sound is now globally recognized as a significant and pervasive pollutant to aquatic life. However, compared to marine environments, there is a paucity of data on sound emitted by vessel activity in freshwater habitats. The Upper Mississippi River (UMR) is home to a diverse array of aquatic life as well as being a key route for barge transportation with 29 locks and dams. In this study, passive acoustic monitoring was conducted at Lock and Dam 19 near Keokuk, Iowa, on the UMR between 20 June - August 28, 2019 to coincide with peak navigation use. There was a significant increase in median sound pressure level (SPL; 50-12,000 Hz) recorded during vessel passages (123 dB re. 1μPa for recreational vessels and 137 dB re. 1μPa for commercial vessels) compared to median background levels (111 dB re. 1μPa). Results provide information on the ambient soundscape at a navigation lock, providing a baseline essential for future studies gauging the effect of anthropogenic sound on aquatic life. Lock 19 has also been identified as a potential site for acoustic deterrent deployment to prevent invasive fish movements. The results of this study can help determine the sound level or frequency deterrents would need to emit, to avoid those currently produced during vessel passage., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Patients judged ready for release from a state mental hospital were interviewed to determine their levels of depression and psychosocial functioning. This interview was repeated for 31 of the patients 8 weeks after their release and simultaneously repeated for 31 similar patients who remained in the hospital. In comparison with the matched controls, released patients became less depressed, less socially isolated, and less irritable. No differential improvement was found in their self-image. These findings, controlled for certain potential biases in a quasi-experimental design, identify some specific benefits of community placement for chronic mental patients.