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This report describes the 7th European Judo Science & Research Symposium & 6th Scientific and Professional Conference - "Applicable research in judo" held in Poreč, Croatia on June 19-20, 2023. The two-day conference included three keynote speakers on the first day and 20 oral presentations divided into two sections. The second day included four practical sessions, which closed the program. The conference proceedings book was published, which includes 24 papers. The conference was again impeccably organised and had an outstanding return after the Covid-19 interruption, with many exciting topics presented by researchers and judo practitioners. Additionally, slightly more judo coaches and ex-athletes joined the conference, bringing us one step closer to tightening the gap between judo science and coaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the authors point out important practical issues arising in the application of international treaties in Private International Law, such as the complex situations that may arise in connection with the entry into force of the treaty, the succession of international treaties, the hierarchy of international treaties, and an analysis of the common rule on the primacy of bilateral treaties. Besides, the need for reviewing existing bilateral treaties Law has been discussed as well, bearing in mind more efficient solutions envisaged in the conventions of the Hague Conference on Private International Law. Finally, the paper also indicates the specific cases where the innovated solutions of the new PIL Act of the Republic of Croatia and the Draft PIL Act of the Republic of Serbia are considerably more favorable than the binding multilateral agreement on determining the content of foreign law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fifth Croatia Stuttering Symposium in 2022 continued the Fourth Croatia Stuttering Symposium 2019 theme of the connection between research and clinical practice. At the 2022 Symposium, there were 145 delegates from 21 countries. This paper documents the contents of the first of three Symposium modules. The module topic was that three treatments for early childhood stuttering are supported by randomized controlled trial evidence. A clinical situation was considered where a parent of a 3-year-old child asked what results to expect of stuttering treatment. A distinguished scholar presented a 5-minute video interpretation of the research concerning the randomized controlled trial evidence for the three treatments. Three master clinicians then each presented a 2-minute video demonstration of how those research findings might be applied in a clinical situation. Following that, the convenors moderated a discussion between the distinguished scholar, master clinicians, and delegates regarding the research and how it applies to clinical practice. • We explored of the connection between research and clinical practice. • We considered what results to expect of stuttering treatment. • A distinguished scholar, master clinicians, and delegates discussed the matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fifth Croatia Stuttering Symposium of 2022 continued the Fourth Croatia Stuttering Symposium 2019 theme of the connection between research and clinical practice. At the 2022 Symposium, there were 145 delegates from 21 countries. This paper documents the contents of the second of three Symposium modules. The module topic was that some children with early stuttering will recover naturally. A clinical situation was considered where a parent of a 3-year-old child asked if a clinician can predict whether their child will recover from stuttering without treatment. A distinguished scholar presented a 5-minute video interpretation of research about this topic. Three master clinicians then each presented a 2-minute video demonstration of how that research might be applied in a clinical situation. Following that, the convenors moderated a discussion between the distinguished scholar, master clinicians, and delegates regarding the research and how it applies to clinical practice. • We considered natural recovery from early stuttering. • We considered whether natural recovery is predicable. • A distinguished scholar, master clinicians, and delegates discussed the matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fifth Croatia Stuttering Symposium of 2022 continued the Fourth Croatia Stuttering Symposium 2019 theme of the connection between research and clinical practice. At the 2022 Symposium, there were 145 delegates from 21 countries. This paper documents the contents of the third of three Symposium modules. The module topic was mental health and early stuttering, and that pre-schoolers who stutter are at risk of developing mental health issues. A clinical situation was considered where a parent of a 3-year-old child asked a clinician what the early signs of mental health issues might be for a child who stutters. A distinguished scholar presented a 5-minute video interpretation of research about this topic. Three master clinicians then each presented a 2-minute video demonstration of how that research might be applied in a clinical situation. Following that, the convenors moderated a discussion between the distinguished scholar, master clinicians, and delegates regarding the research and how it applies to clinical practice. • We considered mental health and early stuttering. • We considered the early signs of mental health issues. • A distinguished scholar, master clinicians, and delegates discussed the matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitual behaviours are triggered automatically, with little conscious forethought. Theory suggests that making healthy behaviours habitual, and breaking the habits that underpin many ingrained unhealthy behaviours, promotes long-term behaviour change. This has prompted interest in incorporating habit formation and disruption strategies into behaviour change interventions. Yet, notable research gaps limit understanding of how to harness habit to change real-world behaviours. Discussions among health psychology researchers and practitioners, at the 2019 European Health Psychology Society 'Synergy Expert Meeting', generated pertinent questions to guide further research into habit and health behaviour. In line with the four topics discussed at the meeting, 21 questions were identified, concerning: how habit manifests in health behaviour (3 questions); how to form healthy habits (5 questions); how to break unhealthy habits (4 questions); and how to develop and evaluate habit-based behaviour change interventions (9 questions). While our questions transcend research contexts, accumulating knowledge across studies of specific health behaviours, settings, and populations will build a broader understanding of habit change principles and how they may be embedded into interventions. We encourage researchers and practitioners to prioritise these questions, to further theory and evidence around how to create long-lasting health behaviour change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report describes the 6th European Judo Science & Research Symposium & 5th Scientific and Professional Conference - "Applicable Research in Judo," held in Porec, Croatia, on June 12-14, 2019. The three-days conference included three keynote speakers on the first day which were followed by 12 presentations in two sections on the second day and a round table that closed the third and final day of the program. Proceedings book of the conference was published, which includes 17 papers. Although the conference organization was impeccable, the question remains how to further involve coaches in the conference and even more ignite their interest in science in judo to recognize the advantages that sports science could bring to their athletes and training processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Perspectives about anxiety-related mental health issues with persistent stuttering. • Perspectives about when to begin early intervention for stuttering. • Perspectives about the issue of early intervention and anxiety. During the 2019 Fourth Croatia Clinical Symposium, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), scholars, and researchers from 29 countries discussed speech-language pathology and psychological practices for the management of early and persistent stuttering. This paper documents what those at the Symposium considered to be the key contemporary clinical issues for early and persistent stuttering. The authors prepared a written record of the discussion of Symposium topics, taking care to ensure that the content of the Symposium was faithfully reproduced in written form. Seven contemporary issues for our field emerged from the Symposium. Effective early intervention is fundamental to proper health care for the disorder. However, as yet, there is no consensus about the timing of early intervention and how it should be managed. Currently, clinical translation is a barrier to evidence-based practice with early stuttering, and proactive strategies were suggested for junior SLPs. Apprehension emerged among some discussants that treatment of early stuttering may cause anxiety. For persistent stuttering, assessment procedures were recommended, as were strategies for dealing with childhood bullying. There was agreement that SLPs are the ideal professionals to provide basic cognitive-behavior therapy for clients with persistent stuttering. Questions were raised about our discipline standards for basic professional preparation programs for stuttering management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This exploratory qualitative study examines the impact of a short-term study abroad trip for U.S. social work doctoral students built around an international conference in Zagreb, Croatia. The program incorporated reflection and experiential learning. Data were collected using pretrip and posttrip written reflections from study participants (N=4). Two primary themes emerged from thematic analysis that showed a positive impact on participants: an enhanced understanding of themselves as global citizens and an enhanced sense of themselves as global professionals. Three themes also emerged supporting the pedagogic strategy: experiential learning promoted global engagement, reflection catalyzed robust learning, and the impact of the experience was greater than the sum of its parts. Directions for further research on short-term study abroad programs are discussed as well as strategies for enhancing short-term study abroad to promote global engagement in social work at the master's and doctoral levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents abstracts on medical topics including spinal trauma in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, central pain syndromes after traumatic head injury, and strategies for reconstruction to a lower limb injury.

Information about the scientific conference entitled "20 years of application of the Companies Act in the interdisciplinary context" that was held on January 29, 2015 in Croatia is presented. Topics discussed include the interdisciplinary approach in the economic education of young people, the Croatian company law, and the legal regime of the EU European Union (EU). The event featured several experts including Professor Hana Horak, Judge Nevenka Marković and Professor Kristijan Poljanec.

Aim: Endovenous thermal ablation (ETA) procedures are catheter-directed, ultrasound (US)-guided thermal methods for treatment in varicose veins disease. Radiofrequency, laser or steam energy thermally denatures vein wall collagen, leading first to vein wall inflammation, then fibrosis and finally to occlusion. The aim of this guideline is to give evidencebased recommendations for ETA procedures. Methods: These guidelines were drafted during a consensus meeting of a group of experts in the field of ETA in June 2012 (Hvar, Croatia) under the auspices of the International Union of Phlebology (IUP). These guidelines review the present state of knowledge as reflected in peer-reviewed published medical literature. The recommendations of these guidelines are graded according to the American College of Chest Physicians Task Force recommendations on Grading Strength of Recommendations and Quality of Evidence in Clinical Guidelines. Results: Recommendations on the use of ETA procedures were made based on the quality of evidence for efficacy, safety, tolerability, cosmetic outcome, patient satisfaction/preference and, where appropriate, on the experts' opinion. Health economics were not considered, since differences in national health systems and pricing make it difficult to form general conclusions that are relevant at an international level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Optimising breastfeeding rates is a public health priority. Studies have shown that all forms of extra breastfeeding support increase breastfeeding rates, including support provided by trained health professionals. International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) are trained healthcare professionals in the clinical management of breastfeeding and human lactation. The IBCLC certification is a sought-after credential and can only be obtained after passing the exam administered by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE). In Slovenia and Croatia, the IBLCE exam has been offered since 2006 and 2009, respectively. In this study, our aim was to 1) determine which candidate characteristics are associated with a passing grade on the IBLCE exam; and 2) analyse differences between candidates from Slovenia and Croatia, given Slovenians' higher achievements in the past. Methods: In February, 2017, a 4-page, 36-question survey was sent via Survey Monkey to the available email addresses of all past IBLCE exam candidates in Croatia and Slovenia. Questions covered sociodemographic data, breastfeeding education, exam preparation, motivation and experience taking the IBLCE exam. Results: Ninety-two participants completed the online survey: 36 from Croatia and 55 from Slovenia, giving a response of 47 and 52%, respectively. No significant difference was found in pass rates between the two countries, despite Slovenians being younger and spending more time observing normal breastfeeding dyads. Variables found to be significantly more common among respondents who passed the IBLCE exam included: attending breastfeeding conferences/symposiums, using a breastfeeding atlas and studying with others. Statistical predictors of IBLCE exam success were: number of hours of bedside teaching, perceived clarity of photographs and breastfeeding conference/symposium attendance. Respondents who reported that they had attended a breastfeeding conference/symposium, had less hours of bedside teaching and perceived exam photographs as completely clear, were 7.49 (95% CI 2.26, 24.84), 0.48 (95% CI 0.28, 0.82), and 3.49 (95% CI 1.17, 10.41) times more likely to pass the exam, respectively. Conclusion: Breastfeeding conference attendance, less bedside teaching and perceived clarity of exam photographs may be predictors of IBLCE exam success. Further studies on larger samples of exam candidates are required to confirm our findings and determine other factors associated with passing the IBLCE exam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]