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During a detailed faunistic survey of the river Turiec in northern Slovakia in 2013–2022, we found 18 species of aquatic molluscs (8 gastropods and 10 bivalves) at 9 sites. The most species-rich assemblages were in the middle course of this river. The surprisingly low species richness in the lower course could be due to the heavily altered riverbed and polluted water. The most frequently recorded species were the gastropods Ancylus fluviatilis and Radix ampla and the bivalves Pisidium casertanum and P. subtruncatum. The rare and critically endangered bivalve Pisidium tenuilineatum was recorded in 2017 at one site, and two endangered species, Unio crassus and P. amnicum, were found in rich populations in 2022. The presence of these species confirms the relatively good preservation of the middle course of Turiec. The non-native species Physa acuta was found in this river for the first time.

Floods are the most common natural process causing damage to property and loss of life in our geographical area. Efforts to reduce the risk of flooding require methods for assessing the flood risk. Application and comparison of these methods in the same area allows us to describe the differences which could not be discovered only by studying the procedure of these methods. Two methods of flood risk assessment and their outputs were compared in one part of the Turiec River in Slovakia. Results of these methods are different flood risk maps while the key difference is the definition of risk. Risk is defined on the entire surface of the modelled scenarios in the case of the risk map based on Method I. In Method II, flood risk represents an area with unacceptable risk which means the risk where the threshold value has been exceeded. The two methods obtained similar results regarding areas subject to the greatest risk of flood damage. However, Method II appears to be more effective. It uses flood depth and flood velocity information and includes creation of a Flood danger map – a suitable tool for urban planning. The method focuses only on the localities where it is urgent to reduce the flood risk.

Boisserie, E.: Family, Heritage and Slovak Politics: The Signatories of The Declaration of Martin in “Patroitic Genealogy” This article deals with the familial relationships between signatories of the Declaration of Martin (October the 30th, 1918). It is not only focused on the idea of very strong family ties between them, but also develops the idea of family dynamics and strategies which can be analyzed both as a proof and as a reinforcement of the strength of old and solid ties between the “fathers” of the cultural and political Slovak national program and the “sons” who signed the Declaration. A significant part of those involved in the Declaration are also included into strong familial and extra-familial ties which can be seen as a relevant example of what Giovanni Levi called “kinship fronts.”

Floods are the most common natural process causing damage to property and loss of life in our geographical area. Efforts to reduce the risk of flooding require methods for assessing the flood risk. Application and comparison of these methods in the same area allows us to describe the differences which could not be discovered only by studying the procedure of these methods. Two methods of flood risk assess-ment and their outputs were compared in one part of the Turiec River in Slovakia. Results of these methods are different flood risk maps while the key difference is the definition of risk. Risk is defined on the entire surface of the modelled scenarios in the case of the risk map based on Method I. In Method II, flood risk represents an area with unacceptable risk which means the risk where the threshold value has been exceeded. The two methods obtained similar results regarding areas subject to the greatest risk of flood damage. However, Method II appears to be more effective. It uses flood depth and flood velocity information and includes creation of a Flood danger map - a suitable tool for urban planning. The method focuses only on the localities where it is urgent to reduce the flood risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with the familial relationships between signatories of the Declaration of Martin (October the 30th, 1918). It is not only focused on the idea of very strong family ties between them, but also develops the idea of family dynamics and strategies which can be analyzed both as a proof and as a reinforcement of the strength of old and solid ties between the "fathers" of the cultural and political Slovak national program and the "sons" who signed the Declaration. A significant part of those involved in the Declaration are also included into strong familial and extra-familial ties which can be seen as a relevant example of what Giovanni Levi called "kinship fronts." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]