Nicolae-Victor Zamfir graduated Faculty of Physics of Bucharest in 1976, and afterwards started his career as a research scientist at the Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering (IFIN-HH), in Magurele, getting his Ph.D in Nuclear Physics at the Central Institute of Physics in Bucharest, in 1984. From 1990 to 2004 he worked and taught in prestigious institutions in Germany and in the United States of America, as follows: 1990-1992, Visiting Scientist at the University of Cologne in Germany; 1992-1997: Physicist at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York; 1997-2004: Senior Research Scientist at the Wright Nuclear Structure Laboratory, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. After the outstanding career abroad, Professor Zamfir return to the country and in 2004 became the General Director of the IFIN-HH, at the present holding the same position. Since 2012 Nicolae-Victor Zamfir is the Director of Extreme Light Infrastructure - Nuclear Physics (ELI-NP), a major European Infrastructure project, part of the Roadmap of the European Strategic Forum for Research Infrastructure (ESFRI). Research activity conducted by Professor Zamfir has spanned a wide range of topics in Nuclear Physics, Nuclear structure and Gamma-ray spectroscopy, being published in over 300 articles, with more than 5,000 citations and presented at more than 200 invited lecturers and contributions at International Conferences. Synergistic Activities: president of the Romanian Physical Society (since 2009) and the Romanian representative at CERN (since 2009), vice-chair of FAIR Scientific Council (2011-2015) and, starting with 2016, member of the Board of Directors of the Romanian – U.S. Fulbright Commission and member of the European Physical Society Executive Board, referee for Physical Review Letters, Physical Review C, Physics Letters B, Nuclear Physics A, International Journey of Modern Physics and Journal of Physics G. Member of four Editorial Board Physics Journals and of more than 30 Advisory Committees for various International Conferences, as well as member of Programme Advisory Committees of various research facilities, co-organizer of more than 20 International Conferences, Workshops and Summer Schools in Nuclear Physics, co-editor of eight Proceedings of International Conferences. Awards: Hurmuzescu Prize of the Romanian Academy (1984), Member of the Romanian Academy since 2006, Knight, Romanian Order of Faithful Service (2008), Member of Academia Europea (2012), Honorable Doctor of Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna (2015), Officer, Romanian Order of Faithful Service (2015), Officer, Legion d’Honneur (2016).

Plenary Lecture:          Extreme Light Infrastructure - Nuclear Physics (ELI-NP): Status and Perspectives.

Abstract: The Project Extreme Light Infrastructure - Nuclear Physics (ELI-NP), valued 310 mil. euros is under implementation in Bucharest-Magurele. The future research facility, dedicated to investigate the impact of very intense electromagnetic radiation on matter with specific focus on nuclear phenomena and their applications, will be operational in 2019. The experiments will be based on a 2x10PW Laser Beam and on a very high brilliance Gamma Beam produced by Compton backscattering of light photons on electrons accelerated by a LINAC. The implementation status of the project, the description of the future ELI-NP facility and of the planned experiments will be presented.

Lucian Dascalescu graduated with first class honors from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Cluj-Napoca, in 1978, and received the Dr. Eng. degree from the Polytechnic Institute of Bucharest, in 1991. He obtained the Dr. Sci. degree in 1994, and then the HDR diploma in physics, both from the University of Grenoble. His professional carrier began at CUG Inc, Cluj-Napoca. In 1983, he moved to the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, as Ass. Prof. of Electr. Eng. From October 1991 to June 1992, he received a Research Fellowship at CNRS, Grenoble, France, where he returned in 1994, after one year as an Invited Lecturer at Toyohashi University of Technology, Japan. For four years, he taught a course in electromechanical conversion of energy at IUT 1 Grenoble. In 1997, he was appointed Prof. of Electr. Eng. at the University of Poitiers, IUT Angoulême, where he is the head of the Applied Electrostatics Group. Dr. Dascalescu is the author of several textbooks in the field of electrical engineering and ionized gases. He holds 16 patents, has written more than 230 papers, is member of the steering committee of several international conferences, and Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, Journal of Electrostatics and other international peer-reviewed scientific journals. He was invited to lecture on the electrostatics of granular materials at various universities and international conferences all over the world. Prof. Dascalescu is Fellow IEEE, Past Chair of the Electrostatics Processes Committee IEEE, Past-Vice-Chair of IEEE France section, and member of the board of the French Society of Electrostatics. He was awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa of the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca and University of Pitesti.

Plenary Lecture:          Numerical Modeling of Electrostatic Processes

Abstract: Design of experiments (DOE). Most electrostatic processes involve the action of electric field forces on charged or polarized bodies. Numerical modelling of such processes commonly implies appropriate solving the motion equations of the respective bodies, using the results of an accurate calculation of the electric field in which they evolve. In some situations, the charge carried by the bodies cannot be neglected in the computation of the electric field. Therefore, suitable numerical algorithms are needed to enable the coupling between the electric field and motion equations. The presentation will briefly describe the recent advances achieved by the Applied Electrostatics Research Unit of the PPRIME Institute of the University of Poitiers, France, in the development of numerical solution to modelling two electrostatic processes: (1) separation of granular mixtures originating from waste electric and electronic equipment; (2) tribo-charging of granular materials in vibratory devices. In each of these cases, numerical simulation facilitates the evaluation of the effects of the control variables, the identification of the optimal operation conditions, and the assessment of the robustness of the process. Research and development of new processes can largely benefit from the use of these techniques.

Ladislau Vékás was born in Arad, Romania, on December 5, 1945. He received his physicist degree from the Faculty of Physics, University of Timisoara, Romania, in 1968 and the Dr. in physics degree from the University “A.I. Cuza” Iasi, Romania. Between 1970-1991 he was senior researcher and associate professor at University POLITEHNICA of Timisoara. He was senior researcher, head of the Laboratory of Magnetic Fluids, Center for Fundamental and Advanced Technical Research, Romanian Academy-Timisoara Branch between 1997-2009. From 2009 he is the Director of Center for Fundamental and Advanced Technical Research, Romanian Academy-Timisoara Branch. Dr. Ladislau Vékás is one of the founders of the Laboratory of Magnetic Fluids from Timisoara in 1975 and from 1991 the head of this laboratory. Coordinator of the up-scale of magnetic fluid manufacturing for leak-proof magnetofluidic rotating seal technology and biotechnology applications at SC ROSEAL SA (Romania); responsible/coordinator of over 50 multi-annual national and international research projects (FP7, MERANET, COST). Over 170 peer reviewed articles, 2 books and 6 book-chapters; co-author of 14 patents. Awards: Dragomir Hurmuzescu Prize of the Romanian Academy (1983). Memberships: Romanian Academy-corresponding member (2012-); European Academy of Sciences and Arts (EASA), Salzburg (1992-); International Steering Committee of Magnetic Fluids (1993-).

Plenary Lecture:          Magnetically controllable fluids: tuning the composition, structure and properties for applications.

Abstract: Synthesis and characterization of ferrofluids (magnetic (nano)fluids), magnetoresponsive nanocomposites and nano-micro composite magnetorheological (MR) fluids tailored for engineering and biotechnology applications will be briefly reviewed. Results of surface chemical analysis (XPS), Mössbauer spectroscopy, colloidal stability and structural investigations (TEM, DLS, SLS, SAXS, SANS), DC magnetometry and magnetogranulometry, rheological and magnetorheological measurements are correlated for high performance ferrofluids, magnetic bio-nanocomposites and ferrofluid based magnetorheological fluids. Their up-scaled manufacturing and applications in leakage-free rotating seals for equipments in electro-nuclear stations, semi-active seismic dampers for civil engineering, MR brakes and motion control devices for hydraulic machinery, as well as in magnetic separation of high-value biomaterials (proteins) will be presented to illustrate some recent advances of magnetic fluid technology.

Octavian Adrian Postolache (M’99, SM’2006) graduated in Electrical Engineering at the Gh. Asachi Technical University of Iasi, Romania, in 1992 and he received the PhD degree in 1999 from the same university, and university habilitation in 2016 from Instituto Superior Tecnico,Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal. In the period 1992-2000 he worked as assistant and assistant professor at Technical University of Iasi. In 2000 he became principal researcher of Instituto deTelecomunicações where he is now Senior Researcher. He served as invited professor at EST/IPSSetubal, Portugal between 2001 and 2012 when he joined Instituto Universitario de Lisboa/ ISCTE-IUL Lisbon where he is currently Aux. Professor. His fields of interests are smart sensors for biomedical and environmental applications, pervasive sensing and computing, wireless sensornetworks, signal processing with application in biomedical and telecommunications, non-destructive testing and diagnosis based on eddy currents smart sensors, computational intelligence with application in automated measurement systems. He was principal researcher of different projects including EHR-Physio regarding the implementation of Electronic Health Records for Physiotherapy and he iscurrently principal researcher of TailorPhy project Smart Sensors and Tailored Environments for Physiotheraphy. He served as technical principal researcher in projects such Crack Project related non-destructive testing of conductive materials. He is vice-director of Instituto deTelecomunicações/ISCTE-IUL delegation, director of PhD program Science and CommunicationTechnologies at ISCTE-IUL, and he was leader of several collaboration projects between the Institutode Telecomunicaçoes and the industry such as Home TeleCare project with Portuguese Telecommunication Agency for Innovation (PT Inovação), Integrated Spectrum Monitoring project with National Communication Agency (ANACOM). He is active member of national and international research teams involved in Portuguese and EU and International projects. Dr. Postolache is author and co-author of 9 patents, 4 books, 16 book chapters, 67 papers in international journals with peer review, more than 220 papers in proceedings of international conferences. He is IEEE Senior Member I&MSociety, Distinguished Lecturer of IEEE IMS, chair of IEEE I&MSTC-13 Wireless and Telecommunications in Measurements, member of IEEE I&M TC-17, IEEE I&M TC-18, IEEE I&MSTC-25, IEEE EMBS Portugal Chapter and chair of IEEE IMS Portugal Chapter. He is Associate Editorof IEEE Sensors Journal, and IEEE Transaction on Instrumentation and Measurements, he was general chair of IEEE MeMeA 2014, and TPC chair of ICST 2014, Liverpool and ICST 2015 in Aukland. He received IEEE best reviewer and the best associate editor in 2011 and 2013 and other awards related to his research activity in the field of smart sensing.

Plenary Lecture:          Tailored Environments for Physiotherapy Assessment in the Internet of Things Era.

Abstract: IoT and Cloud Computing are very promissory technologies regarding patient monitoring and information management especially for particular case of physical rehabilitation. Thus, IoT-enabled devices capture and monitor relevant data for the patients under rehabilitation process in clinics or in their own homes that allow providers to gain insights without having to bring patients in for visits. IoT can help improve patient outcomes based on objective evaluation of the rehabilitation progress, communication among health professionals, communication with the patients, data accuracy and the capacity to support clinical research. Tailored Environments associated with serious game and augmented reality, IoT compatible, enable the measurement of patient balance and movements providing data to be used for physiotherapy effectiveness evaluation. As part of these interactive environments, natural user interfaces expressed by leap motion and Kinect, sensorised daily used equipment, such as smart walkers and crutches, wearable motor activity monitors with EMG, force and acceleration measurement capabilities will be discussed. Sensing technologies materialized by piezoresistive force sensors microwave radar motion sensors, MEMS inertial sensors, optical fiber sensors will be presented together appropriate signal processing techniques implemented on client side or on the cloud side. IoT for physiotherapy software platforms will be discussed together important issues such as data security privacy.

Winfried Mayr received his Diploma in Electronics and Control Engineering 1983 and his PhD in Biomedical Engineering in 1992 from the Vienna University of Technology. He started his postgraduate work with the 2nd Surgical Clinic of the Vienna University, Medical Faculty, as a research assistant in 1983, got a position as Assistant Professor 1997 and Associate Professor at the Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering of the Vienna Medical University in 2001. He is heading the research group "Clinic related Translational Research and viennaFES" and coordinating the "Vienna Program for Restoration of Movement". In 2010 he received a Dr.h.c. degree from the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania. He is current president of the Austrian Society for Biomedical Engineering. Details under http://www.zmpbmt.meduniwien.ac.at/team/mayr-winfried.

Plenary Lecture:          Chances and limitations of electrical stimulation in support of movement rehabilitation

Abstract: Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) and more recently Functional Magnetic Stimulation (FMS) have proven to be highly effective and efficient tools for assessment and therapy support for movement rehabilitation in numerous scientific studies. Nevertheless implementation in clinical practice still lags back and this lack of use of potentially highly beneficial methodological improvements is unsatisfactory, causes unnecessary health care costs and limits therapeutic accomplishments. Reasons are difficult to identify. Resource limitations may be primarily responsible for giving little room for introduction of innovative methods and technology that require extension to complementary expertise. Also scepticism against change of established routine may play an inhibiting role. Technology for electrical stimulation is available in a wide spectrum from simple to highly complex, non-invasive or implantable, and at a wide range of costs. What all solutions have in common is that the crucial part for application is the interface between technology and organism. This concerns selectivity and stability of nerve- or muscle-fiber activation as well as safety issues and usability considerations. A most effective application must include comprehensive clinical knowledge in combination neurophysiological and biomedical engineering expertise to analyse underlying mechanisms and optimise intervention setups. Classical applications have been focused on stimulation of motor nerves or muscle fibers for functional substitution of paralysed muscle functions. More recent trends go towards afferent nerve stimulation for activation of reflex responses and providing inputs for spinal interneuron networks. Contemporary techniques develop towards individualisation of treatment with detailed neurophysiological assessment for intervention planning and monitoring. Optimized movement rehabilitations must rely on this assessment-based individualisation and on best-selected and adapted methodology and equipment. Similar principles are essential for effective technical developments. Engineers need to build on most actual technological innovations, but in addition need strong and respectful inclusion of medical and physiological specialists, to be interactively involved in development processes. .