doctoral thesis of graduates university of cyprus ...‘πόφοιτοι...However, integrating IoT components or modifying existing configurations without halting the system operation

DOCTORAL THESIS OF GRADUATES

UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS (ABSTRACTS) FEBRUARY 2019

ABSTRACTS OF PHD THESIS 2019

Σελί δα 2

The Senate of the University of Cyprus unanimously decided, on the 14th

November 2018 and 30th of January 2019, to award 35 Ph.D. titles on the graduate

ceremony on the 7th of February 2019.

In this edition the research subject of the PhD student is presented in a short

summary.

The information is presented in alphabetical order by Department.


Σελί δα 3

NAME/SURNAME DEPARTMENT ΤΙTLE OF THESIS/ ABSTRACT George Tryfonos Architecture An Integrated Digital Design and Robotic Fabrication Process of Tensile Mesh Structures

Supervisor: Odysseas Kontovourkis, Assistant Professor

The dissertation proposes an integrated procedure of digital design and robotic fabrication for the

production of tensile meshes in multiple dimensions consisting of elastic threads, aiming at the efficient

and accurate transfer of their properties and behavior from the design phase to the additive placement

phase.

Charis Achilleos Biological Sciences

Mouse Models for Papillomavirus-Mediated Phenotypes

Supervisor: Katerina Strati, Assistant Professor

HPVs have been associated with the development of the majority of cervical cancers, a subset of head and

neck cancers, skin cancer and other anogenital cancers. We used mouse models of papillomavirus gene

expression in order to study the mechanisms through which these viruses contribute to cancer.


Σελί δα 4

Ioanna Kalvari Biological Sciences

Computational Approaches for the Identification of LIR-motifs in Selective Autophagy Receptor

and Adaptor Proteins

Supervisor: Vasilis Promponas, Assistant Professor

Selective macroautophagy (autophagy) is a conserved catabolic cellular homeostasis mechanism known

to be mediated by specialized proteins that interact with proteins of the Atg8 family via short linear motifs,

the so called LIR-motifs. In this study we developed computational methods for the identification of LIR-

motifs and LIR containing proteins.

Pantelis Savvides Biological Sciences

Ethology and Ecophysiology of the Species Acanthodactylus Schreiberi Boulenger, 1878

Supervisor: Spyros Sfenthourakiς, Associate Professor

Acanthodactylus schreiberi is the only lizard species of Cyprus registered as Endangered (IUCN). Herein,

we focused on three populations, with different ecological characteristics (i.e. substrate type, predator

diversity), in order to explore the role of the respective ecological factors on the physiology (sprint performance) and

ethology (antipredator strategies) of the species.

Theodoulakis Christofi Biological Sciences

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Interactions With Its Host And With Commensal Escherichia Coli


Σελί δα 5

Supervisor: Yiorgos Apidianakis, Assistant Professor

In our study we used Drosophila melanogaster and the laboratory mouse to investigate human intestinal

bacteria. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a human opportunistic pathogen, was observed to interact with the

host and with other bacterial species. Particularly, a mutual interaction between Escherichia coli and P.

aeruginosa was identified and the mechanism described.

Demetris Apostolides Chemistry Synthesis and Characterization of Well-Defined Polymer Networks Cross-Linked via Dynamic Covalent

Acylhydrazone Bonds

Supervisor: Costas Patrickios, Professor

This PhD Thesis deals with the formation and characterization of five families of well-defined dynamic

covalent polymer networks (DCPN) based on well-defined telechelic polymeric (or oligomeric) building

blocks cross-linked with dynamic covalent acylhydrazone (AHyd) bonds. Every DCPN family was formed

from the combination of two soluble telechelic compounds, one bearing benzaldehyde terminal groups,

and the other bearing acylhydrazide terminal groups.


Σελί δα 6

Eleni Kitiri Chemistry Synthesis and Characterization of Double Networks with Various Functional Properties

Supervisor: Costas S. Patrickios, Professor

This PhD Thesis involves the synthesis and characterization of mechanically robust double networks as

well as the study of their various functional properties (mechanical properties, well-defined structure,

biocompatibility and photoresponsiveness).

Filippos Alogdianakis Civil and Environmental

Engineering

Statistical Assessment and Probabilistic Prediction of Bridge Deterioration Using Structural Condition

Recordings

Supervisor: Dimos Charmpis, Αssociate Professor

Infrastructure facilities deteriorate with time and their maintenance and repair are very costly. In the

present study, bridge deterioration is statistically investigated using recorded inspection data regarding

structural condition, in order to identify primary influencing factors. The results are exploited by a novel

method developed to probabilistically predict future deterioration.


Σελί δα 7

Charalambos Kyriakou Civil and Environmental

Engineering

Pavement Monitoring Utilizing Smartphones, Vibration Sensors and Pattern Recognition for the

Detection and Classification of Roadway Pavement Anomalies

Supervisor: Symeon Christodoulou, Professor

The study explores the use of data, collected by sensors from smartphones and automobiles’ (OBD-II)

devices while vehicles are in movement, for the detection and classification of pavement surface

anomalies. The smartphone-based data collection is complimented with robust regression analysis,

artificial neural network techniques, algorithms and bagged trees classification models.

Georgios Hadjidemetriou Civil and Environmental

Engineering

Roadway Pavement Condition Assessment Utilizing Computer Vision, Machine Learning and Entropy

Supervisor: Symeon Christodoulou, Professor

This thesis proposes a condition evaluation system for roadway asphalt pavements, which prioritizes the

maintenance of road segments, using low-cost cameras as well as developed vision- and machine learning-

based algorithms. This system can contribute to the improvement of roadway condition, having a positive

impact on mobility, productivity and users.


Σελί δα 8

Souzana Peppi Classical Studies and

Philosophy

The Rhetorical Aspect of the Consolatory Speeches of Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Supervisor: Spyridon Tzounakas, Associate Professor

It examines how the philosopher himself embraces the structure of a rhetorical speech and how he adjusts

its characteristics to his consolatory speech. The three consolatory speeches of Seneca De Consolatione

ad Marciam, De Consolatione ad Polybium and De Consolatione ad Helviam Matrem are analysed in

sections.

Maria P. Christodoulou

Classics and Philosophy Edition And Commentary Of The Epigrams Of Apollonides

Supervisor: Maria Ypsilanti, Assistant Professor

This thesis is a critical edition of the epigrams of Apollonides after the comparation of the two byzantine

manuscripts which contain the text, of their apographs, of the dictionary of Suda as well as the main

editions of the Greek Anthology. Introduction, translation into Modern Greek and extended commentary

are included.


Σελί δα 9

Kalliopi Christoforou

Pougiourou

Classics and Philosophy The leader in Sophocles

Supervisor: Antonis Tsakmakis, Associate Professor

The thesis examines the phenomenon of leadership as it appears in the remained tragedies of Sophocles.

It answers the basic question “who is and how a leader acts in Sophocles’ plays”. The thesis is a first

attempt at focusing on the leader in tragedies and investigating and determining the behavior of leaders.

Constantinos Costa Computer Science Algorithms and Indexing Structures for Spatial Big Data

Supervisor: Demetrios Zeinalipour-Yazti, Associate Professor

In this PhD thesis we present algorithms and indexing structures that tackle critical challenges brought

forward by Spatial Big Data (SBD), namely query response time and storage efficiency. We frame our

research contributions in the context of a novel performance-driven architecture, named SPATE+, which

can achieve better utilization and efficiency than the state-of-the-art solutions.

Ioannis Marcoullis Computer Science Self-Stabilizing State Machine Replication in Static and Reconfigurable Asynchronous


Σελί δα 10

Message-Passing Systems

Supervisor: Chryssis Georgiou, Associate Professor

The State Machine Replication (SMR) paradigm in distributed systems is fundamental to fault tolerance.

Self-stabilizing systems allow fault-tolerant systems to recover automatically from transient faults. The

Thesis proposes self-stabilizing algorithms in problems that relate to SMR and that lead to self-stabilizing

blockchain systems and reconfigurable SMR.

Christos Mettouris Computer Science A Model-Driven Development Framework for Automated Design and Development of Ubiquitous

Context-Aware Recommender Systems for Commerce

Supervisor: George Papadopoulos, Professor

This thesis defines and uses the concept of UbiCARS and proposes the UbiCARS Model-Driven

Development Framework aiming to reduce development complexity, abstract technical details and

expedite development of recommender systems for commerce, as well as increase accuracy and

availability of recommendations. A novel graphical Domain Specific Modelling Language is proposed.

Andria Dimosthenous Education Teacher and home learning environment effects on student achievement gains in mathematics: A

longitudinal study


Σελί δα 11

Supervisor: Leonidas Kyriakides , Professor

Investigation of the short and long term effect of teaching factors and home learning environment on

mathematics student achievement gains. Investigation of student achievement for the same sample of

students (n=1444) over a period of three school years (i.e. from the beginning of year 1 until the end of

year 3).

Elisavet Kiourti Education “(Dis)Connecting Literacies: From Online Videogame Strike Global Offensive,

Into Classroom”

Supervisor: Elena Ioannidou, Assistant Professor

The ethnographic research examined (a) the ways the videogame Counter Strike Global Offensive

functions as an interactive problem-solving literacy space during gameplay; (b) the out-(digital) literacy

practices of the participants related to deep expertise on the CS:GO and (c) the notion of metagaming.

Additionally, the research investigated the stances of the participants in school literacy.

Maria Kyriakou Education An Action Research for the Support of Play Pedagogy: Teacher’ s Actions and Play Skill Development in

Children 3-6 Years Old

Supervisor: Eleni Loizou, Associate Professor


Σελί δα 12

This research highlights the necessary actions in implementing play pedagogy, which can help preschool

teachers use play as a way of organizing learning as this is proposed in new Early Childhood Education

Curriculum (3-6 years old). It also provides suggestions to effectively transform existing play practices and

move from Free and Quiet Activities to Free and/or Structured Play.

Giorgos Konstantinidis

Education

Fatherhood and Disability: The Social Gender as a Means of Investigation and Interpretation of the

Paternal Role in Families with a Disabled Child.

Supervisor: Helen Phtiaka, Associate Professor

Nobody is pre-prepared to become a parent of a disabled child. Most fathers interact with their disabled

child through entertainment activities, while they show reduced interest in education and care duties. It

takes a long time for fathers to achieve acceptance, whereas with a lack of a positive attitude there is a

risk of abandoning the disabled child.

Georgios M. Milis Electrical and Computer

Engineering

SEMIoTICS: Semantically-enhanced IoT-enabled Intelligent Control Systems

Supervisor: Marios Polycarpou, Professor,

Christos Panayiotou, Associate Professor


Σελί δα 13

The “Internet-of-Things” (IoT) improves the capability of devices to interact with their environment.

However, integrating IoT components or modifying existing configurations without halting the system

operation and redesigning the control scheme, remains a challenge. This thesis uses “semantic web”

technologies and designs a novel intelligent feedback control architecture and system.

Stavros Hadjitheophanous Electrical and Computer

Engineering

Parallel Fault Simulation and Test Generation Automation Processes for Chip Multiprocessors

Supervisor: Maria K. Michael, Associate Professor

The present thesis investigates the impact of partitioning in parallel test automation processes. The

developed methods are able to maintain the scalability of the algorithms as the number of processing

cores utilized increases and in parallel avoid test inflation problem for multiple-detect test sets. CMP

reliability improvement is also investigated.

Kyriakos Iakovidis History and Archaeology United Democratic Left (EDA) Attitude Towards the Cyprus Problem During the 50s. Accompanied by a

Chapter on AKEL Stance Towards the Cyprus Problem During the Period ’55-΄59

Supervisor: Georgios Kazamias, Associate Professor


Σελί δα 14

The main aim of the thesis is to examine and explain the attitude of the Greek leftist party, United

Democratic Left (EDA), towards the Cyprus question in the 1950s, specifically from August 1951, when

EDA was founded until the Zurich-London (1959) agreements.

Apostolos Kouroupakis History and Archaeology Cyprus And The Great Schism Of The West (1378-1417)

Supervisor: Schabel Christopher, Professor

This PhD dissertation examines the situation of the Latin Church of Cyprus during the Great Schism of the

West (1378-1417), which created a great turmoil within the Latin Church. In an Appendix we publish in full

all the papal letters from the Vatican Archive (over 85% these letters are previously unpublished).

Artemis Chaviara History and Archaeology

A Technical Approach to Pottery Production in Attica During the Historic Period: Use of Raw Materials

and Processing Techniques Over Time

Supervisor: George Papasavvas, Associate Professor

This doctoral thesis addresses a longstanding archaeological question on the clay-sources used for the

decoration attic pottery production in attica bearing black-glaze, through a combination of

multidisciplinary and practical methodology and draw conclusions on the organization of pottery

workshops from sixth to fourth century BCE.


Σελί δα 15

Petroulla Hadjittofi History and Archaeology “… in all Perfection Gold and Silver Jewellery”: Jewellery Production, Typology and Use in Cyprus

(1830-1960)

Supervisor: Euphrosyne Rizopoulou-Egoumenidou, Professor Emerita

The PhD thesis examines the production, typology and social use of jewellery manufactured or imported

and used in Cyprus from the last decades of the Ottoman Period until the end of the British Period. The

undertaken research addresses matters of craftsmen and techniques, cultural contacts, and social

identities, as expressed through jewellery.

Pandelitsa Panaseti Mathematics and

Statistics

Viscoplastic Flows With Wall Slip and Pressure-dependent Rheological Parameters

Supervisor: Georgios Georgiou, Professor

We solve the plane Poiseuille flow of a Herschel-Bulkley fluid with asymmetric wall slip and investigate the

development of viscoplastic flow in a channel with slip only along one wall. We extend the lubrication

method of Fusi et al. (2015) and solve the flow of Herschel-Bulkley fluid with pressure-dependent yield


Σελί δα 16

stress and consistency index, in the case of long symmetric or asymmetric channels with a general wall

functions.

Pantelis Koullapis Mechanical and

Manufacturing

Engineering

In silico studies for the prediction of regional aerosol deposition in the human airways

Supervisor: Stavros Kassinos, Professor

Knowledge of aerosol deposition characteristics in the human airways is important in pulmonary drug

delivery and in assessing health effects of inhaled pollutants. The objective of this thesis is to advance the

use of Computational Fluid-Particle Dynamics tools in studies related to aerosol transport and deposition

in both the upper airways and the peripheral lung.

Charis Orfanidou Mechanical and

Manufacturing

Engineering

Complex Functional Oxides For Thermal Management And Resistive Switching Applications

Supervisor: Ioannis Giapintzakis, Professor

In this thesis a feasibility simulation study using La5Ca9Cu24O41 material for heat channeling in

Extremely-Thin-Silicon-on-Insulator devices was accomplished, and an experimental study of Resistive


Σελί δα 17

Switching phenomena in LixCoO2–based memory cells was carried out in order to identify the mechanism

governing these phenomena.

Paris Papagiorgis Physics Spectroscopic Studies Of Nanocrystal Solids Functionalized For Optoelectronic Applications

Supervisor: Grigorios Itskos, Associate Professor

This thesis contains spectroscopic studies of two promising for optoelectronics semiconductor colloidal

nanocrystal systems. The first and greater part of the thesis involves studies of the optical properties of

PbS nanocrystals for photovoltaic applications, while the last part of the thesis focuses on the investigation

of new nanomaterials from the perovskites family.

Dora Georgiou Psychology The Psychophysiology of Intergroup Anxiety in the Cyprus Context

Supervisor: Georgia Panayiotou, Professor

In this study we examined how preconscious prejudice in the form of intergroup anxiety unfolds in a simple

experimental picture viewing paradigm. Particularly we examined psychophysiology and self-reported


Σελί δα 18

affect in relation to ingroup, outgroup and control group while keeping in mind contextual factors that are

relevant to Cyprus.

Orestis Kasinopoulos Psychology

Evaluation of a Brief Avatar-Guided ACT-based Intervention for Chronic Pain Management

Supervisor: Maria Karekla, Assistant Professor

This dissertation sought to explore the effectiveness of brief digital ACT-based intervention for chronic

pain management. Driven by technological, psychological and adherence-focused theories, this trial

showed than an Avatar-guided Acceptance-based intervention may produce significant improvements in

pain management, as well as promising results in terms of completion and adherence.

Michaela Paraskeva-

Siamata

Psychology Emotion Regulation in Smokers: How Cognitive Reappraisal and Acceptance Affect Subjective,

Physiological, Cognitive and Behavioural Correlates of Craving

Supervisor: Maria Karekla, Assistant Professor

The present thesis examined how emotion regulation strategies, and specifically cognitive reappraisal,

acceptance and the usual emotion regulation strategy for coping with smoking craving, affect the

subjective, physiological, cognitive and behavioural aspects of craving. Results showed that the three

emotion regulation strategies have similarities in their way of action.


Σελί δα 19

Vasiliki Tsolia Psychology

Inter Ethnic Bullying Between Adolescents: A Longitudinal Examination Of The Role Of Social

Psychological Processes

Supervisor: Charis Psaltis, Associate Professor

The thesis concerns the attitudes of Greek Cypriot adolescent students toward immigrant students and

vice versa. The aim of the current thesis was the investigation of social psychological processes (e.g.

identity, norms, prejudice), school characteristics (e.g. interethnic climate), demographics (e.g. gender,

financial status, ethnicity) and individual characteristics (e.g. personality, degree of acculturation) involved

in interethnic bullying.

Chryso Pelekani Turkish and Middle

Eastern Studies

The Gurbetties and Their Language Gurbetcha

Supervisor: Christiane Bulut, Associate Professor

On the basis of the linguistic data collected, it is clear that Gurbetcha is a mixed language, which combines

the grammatical system of the Cypriot Turkish dialect with various lexical borrowings. The lending and

loan adjustments were analyzed by showing the similarities and differences in the language subsystems

of phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics.

Documents

doctoral thesis of graduates university of cyprus ...‘πόφοιτοι...However, integrating IoT components or modifying existing configurations without halting the system operation