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Catchments are vital ecosystems that support the livelihoods of dependent communities, yet effective governance is essential for maintaining their structural and functional integrity. Globally, catchments face increasing threats from land-use changes, population pressures, and climate variability, as exemplified by the Manafwa catchment in Eastern Uganda. This paper examined the institutional arrangements for governing Manafwa catchment, using the Policy Arrangements Approach, which analyses policy processes through four interconnected dimensions: rules of the game, actors, resources, and discourse, thereby enhancing understanding of how institutional design influences catchment governance. Data were collected through document analysis of policies, laws, and regulations, as well as structured interviews with purposively selected actors. Results revealed a complex institutional landscape characterised by multiple actors, overlapping mandates, and funding gaps. Therefore, there is a need to establish legally recognised institutions with clear mandates to manage catchments and to explore alternative sustainable funding mechanisms to improve policy implementation and sustainability.
This paper examines the accidental nature of the work of art in the thought of Eustratius of Nicaea, an eleventh-century Byzantine philosopher and bishop. This perspective is analyzed through his foundational writings: The Dialogue on Holy Icons, The Syllogistic Proofs, and The Commentary on Book VI of the Nicomachean Ethics. His standpoint on the work of art as a depiction of the being’s accidents is a emerged from his reflections on the mode of icon veneration, which are elaborated through debates on the subject with Leo of Chalcedon. The implications of such an understanding are far-reaching; thus, the study also explores the position of art in relation to wisdom and theology as the criterion for the superiority of knowledge. Due to its accidental nature, the visual art occupies a lower position compared to wisdom and theology proper, which is essentially conceptual, although in a broader sense it also concerns itself with the icons.
Background/Aim. Prompt and precise detection of urinary tract infections (UTIs) is crucial for timely antibiotic administration and improved treatment outcomes. The aim of the study was to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of fluorescence rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) compared to bacterial culture (BC) and to evaluate its clinical applicability for identifying UTIs. Methods. This retrospective study included 240 inpatients with clinically indicated UTIs evaluated between October 2024 and March 2025. All urine specimens were analyzed using both fluorescence ROSE testing and BC, with the latter serving as the reference standard. Diagnostic metrics–such as sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and overall accuracy–were calculated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine the area under the curve (AUC). Results. BC revealed 179 (74.58%) positive cases. Fluorescence ROSE demonstrated a sensitivity of 95.53%, specificity of 85.25%, PPV of 95.00%, and NPV of 86.67%, resulting in an overall diagnostic accuracy of 92.92%. The ROC analysis produced an AUC of 0.90 (95% confidence interval: 0.86–0.94). The misclassification rate was minimal at 7.08%. Escherichia coli was the primary pathogen, constituting 54.19% of isolates. Furthermore, fluorescent ROSE significantly decreased di-agnostic turnaround time compared to traditional culture. Conclusion. Fluorescence ROSE has improved diagnostic precision and fast detection capabilities for UTIs. As an adjunct to BC, it may improve early identification and facilitate rapid antibiotic therapy, especially in clinical settings requiring a swift response.
The aim of this study was to compare the mineralogical composition of a plain Pseudogley from Lipolist, southern Macva, and a slope Pseudogley from Slatina, Pocerina, Serbia, with particular emphasis on mineralogical differentiation along the soil profiles. Samples were collected from all genetic horizons of two representative soil profiles. Particle-size distribution and soil pH were determined, while the mineralogical composition of the bulk soil (< 2 mm) and clay (< 2 μm) fractions was investigated by X-ray diffraction. Both profiles showed clear textural differentiation, characterised by an increase in clay content in the Btg and BtgC horizons, and acidic soil reaction. The bulk soil fractions of both profiles had the same qualitative mineral assemblage, dominated by quartz, followed by plagioclase and mica/hydromica. The clay fraction was dominated by illite and hydromica, while mixed‐layer minerals, kaolinite and smectite occurred in lower proportions. In both profiles, the most pronounced mineralogical differentiation occurred in the Btg and BtgC horizons. Smectite, vermiculite and mixed-layer minerals generally increased in these horizons, whereas illite/hydromica and kaolinite showed a decreasing tendency. The observed vertical mineralogical differentiation suggests the combined influence of inherited mineral composition, lessivage and pedogenic transformations under periodically waterlogged and acidic conditions. Differences between the two profiles may additionally reflect parent-material heterogeneity.
This study investigates the health status and vulnerability of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and Macedonian pine (Pinus peuce Griseb.) in northeastern Montenegro. Utilizing three sample plots (50 m x 50 m) across varying altitudes, tree vitality was assessed via ICP Forests methodology (defoliation and discoloration). The research analyzes the impact of biotic (insects, fungi), abiotic (wind, snow) and antropogenic factors on stand structure. The results confirm that the canopy opening affects the vitality of spruce and Macedonian pine stands.
