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Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited chronic life-threatening disorder with increasing prevalence in Europe. People living with SCD in Europe mainly belong to vulnerable minorities, have a lower level of health education and suffer from isolation compared to those living with other chronic conditions. As a result, SCD patients are much less likely to partner in the design of research related to their condition and are limited in their ability to influence the research agenda. Aiming to increase the influence of patient voice in the development of SCD-related research, we set out to develop patient centered actions in the frame of International Scientific Conferences in collaboration with the ERN-EuroBloodNet, Oxford Blood Group, Annual Sickle Cell Disease and Thalassaemia Conference (ASCAT), the European Hematology Association and the British Society of Hematology. Results: Two events were organized: a one-day research prioritization workshop and a series of education sessions based on topics chosen by SCD patients and their families. Methodology and outcomes were analyzed in terms of influence on scientific, medical and patient communities. Conclusion: The ERN-EuroBloodNet workshops with patients at annual ASCAT conferences have provided an opportunity to enhance patient experience and empowerment in SCD in Europe, producing benefits for patients, caregivers, patient associations and health professionals. Future work should focus on delivering the research questions identified at this workshop and the opportunities to share information for patient education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, scientific congresses are increasingly being organized as virtual congresses (VCs). In May 2020, the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) held a VC, free of charge. In the absence of systematic studies on this topic, the aim of this study is to evaluate the attendance and perceived quality of the 2020 EAN VC compared to the 2019 EAN face‐to‐face congress (FFC). Methods: An analysis of the demographic data of participants obtained from the online registration was done. A comparison of the two congresses based on a survey with questions on the perception of speakers' performance, quality of networking and other aspects was made. Results: Of 43,596 registered participants, 20,694 active participants attended the VC. Compared to 2019, the number of participants tripled (6916 in 2019) and the cumulated number of participants attending the sessions was five times higher (169,334 in 2020 vs. 33,024 in 2019). Out of active participants 55% were from outside Europe, 42% were board‐certified neurologists (FFC 80%) and 21% were students (FFC 0.6%). The content of the congress was evaluated as 'above expectation' by 56% of the attendees (FFC 41%). Of the respondents who had been exposed to earlier EAN congresses 73% preferred the FFC compared to the VC (17%). Conclusion: The VC fulfilled the main mission of organizing high quality EAN congresses despite the restrictions of the impersonal format. The geographical distribution of the participants proves the expected higher inclusivity of a VC. The large participation of students and neurologists in training opens new educational potentials for the EAN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of the first state system in Europe took place from the conclusion of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, as a result of the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648), to the Utrecht (1713), Rastatt-Baden (1714) and Nystad Congresses (1721) which finished the end of the war of the Spanish Succession and the Northern war. The legal fixation of the Westphallian system was accompanied by its public perception and acceptance. First of all, this was demonstrated by International Congresses, which were not only a common negotiation process, but also a place of representation of the significance and culture of each state. In fact, the European Congress was a carefully designed triumph of Рeace within the continent, which required considerable funds, was widely covered in the press and glorified in celebrations, paintings, plastic art, release of commemorative medals, poetry and even fashion. The article presents the most striking examples of iconography of Peace Congresses. The author believes that their performative nature and iconography, emphasizing the European character of Peace and the protopatriotic moods that it evoked, made a significant contribution to the civilization heritage of Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presentation of the latest research, scientific debates on autism is in continuous development. We meet important personalities in this fi eld. The current article presents 12 new approaches that brought debated data to Congress in September 2019. It has thus been proven that research in the nonaddressed areas can bring semiological, genetic and socio-inclusion news. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue contains papers presented at the 6th International Entomophagous Insects Conference. Entomophagous insects consume other insects. They are a fundamental component of ecosystems and are extensively used as biocontrol agents. The first article reviews the role of ladybirds in biological control and the second reviews the biological control of stink bugs. The following nine research articles cover the rearing, behavior, life history, and ecology of parasitoid and predator species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carrying the higher religious education on a scientific foundation, to follow developments in national and international arena and time and time in order to improve the quality of higher religious education. A part of these studies is the "International Higher Religious Education Congress". In this study, bibliometric analyses on ‚The International Congress on Higher Religion Education‛ which were conducted in Istanbul in 2017 in cooperation with Ansar Foundation value Education Center and Istanbul University Faculty of Theology. The purpose of this study, in which the qualitative research method is used, is to contribute to the field of religious education by setting out the general characteristics of the mentioned congress. As a result, it was determined that 67 verbal reports were presented in the congress, 101 participants were present in the Congress, and the majority of the participants (n=81) were domestic participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Progress is being made in all aspects of Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL) research, resulting in many recent advances. These advances encompass several areas that were previously thought intractable, ranging from basic science, through to a better understanding of the clinical presentation of different forms of NCL, therapeutic development, and new clinical trials that are underway. Increasing numbers of original NCL research papers continue to be published, and this new sense of momentum is greatly encouraging for the field. Here, we make some predictions as to what we can anticipate in the next few years. • Progress is being made in all aspects of Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis research. • Advances range from better understanding of basic science to clinical presentation. • Advances are also being made in therapeutic development, including new clinical trials. • This article makes some predictions about prospects for the next few years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on fifteenth international congress on soil mechanics. The congress was accompanied by six satellite conferences: development of tunnel engineering and underground construction; transition from slip to flow: mechanisms and protective measures; marine structures; latest achievements in the field of the strengthening and property-improvement of soils; lessons learned from strong earthquakes; and basic principles of soil behavior. General papers were presented in a plenary session.

The article discusses the highlights of the first and the sixth National Iranian Stroke Congress which was held in the Petrochemical Recreation Complex in Tabriz, Iran from November 27-29 2013. Topics discussed include physicians Afshin Divani, Manouchehr Seyyedi Vafaei, Olsen Niles and Ozcan Ozdemir as international guests, workshops on various areas of acute stroke and exhibition of pharmacological companies in the field of stroke treatment and management.