Cyprus Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 1.1 (1995)

List of Abstracts

Vladimir A. Shikhin

“Decision-Making in Simulation Data Treatment”

Four statistical procedures based on analysis of variances or/and signed ranks nonparametric tests are proposed to use. It makes possible to formalize the decision-making rules on models validation and selection and to solve it numerically using statistical tests. The proposed approaches have been tested on the problem of synchronous machine model selection in electromechanical transient processes' studies through simulation. The experimental results are satisfactory and agree well with the reference solutions.

Eugeny Krustev

“Planning the Motion of Industrial Robot Arms”

This paper elaborates on the problem of planning the motion of industrial robot arms when the linear and angular displacement of the end effector is given in advance. It introduces the method of kinematic path control for the purpose of solving the minimum time problem and finding the robot arm motion with a prescribed velocity profile of the end effector. An extended form of this method treats simultaneously the constraints of the joint variables and the joint rates of both redundant and non-redundant robot arms. A great deal of attention is here focused on the efficient implementation of the kinematic path control method in computer programmes.

George Michaelides

“Civil Engineering Syllabuses and Research in University Education in Cyprus”

The purpose of this study was to investigate what is needed for (a) syllabuses in taught courses, and (b) research programmes, in Civil Engineering at university level education in Cyprus in the context of the needs and characteristics of Cyprus.

The necessary information to enable the researcher to deduce what recommendations to make was mainly collected through a questionnaire answered by one hundred Civil Engineers working in Cyprus.

The most important matters that were investigated included the involvement or participation of civil engineers in (a) academic research related to the needs and characteristics of Cyprus, (b) research as part of present or previous employment in Cyprus, and (c) committees dealing with civil engineering matters in Cyprus. The outcome of this enquiry is that civil engineering research in Cyprus is mostly needed in connection with building materials, especially concrete, and structural design, especially antiseismic design.

As far as syllabuses are concerned, the respondents of the questionnaire indentified subjects or branches of civil engineering that are required to carry out their duties in their present employment and also postgraduate courses that would or could be useful for their present or future work. The results showed that such subjects include: computers, structural (including antiseismic) design, construction management, building materials, concrete technology and structural analysis.

About one-third of Civil Engineers in the sample indicated an interest in research related to the needs and characteristics of Cyprus. Opportunities should therefore be created to enable these engineers to get involved.

This article is based on the dissertation entitled ”Civil Engineering syllabuses and research in university education in the context of the characteristics and needs of Cyprus“ which was submitted to the University of Wales in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Education (M.Ed.).

S.M. Jha

Monotony with high intensity is a natural phenomenon, specially in the present materialistic world in which we are often beset with multi-dimensional problems. An urgency to protect this planet from industrial pollution, a need to preserve cultural heritages and a demand to raise the foreign exchange reserves make it essential that we assign an overriding priority to the tourism industry. Sophistication invites complications. Of late, the market is sophisticated, the customers are sophisticated and even the tourism organisations have been found developing in a right fashion. The multi-pronged developments in the global socio-economic climate make it essential that we make the tourism industry internationally competitive.

The study aims at innovating the marketing decisions so that the tourism sector continues to play a decisive role in the economic transformation process vis--vis counters the serious side effects on the competitiveness of the tourist product in the international market. The innovative marketing thus becomes the crying need of the day. Creativity in decisions paves ways for sensitivity which opens doors for acceptability and effectiveness.

The present paper suggests ways that how and in what way the marketing efforts can be innovated; an optimal development can be made possible and a positive image can be projected.

Antonis Papaioannou

“Effects on Delayed Entry to School on test scores”

It is hypothesised that the length of time from the potential entry (date when a child completes the age required by the law for admission to the primary school) and the actual entry (admission date set by regulations) to school is inversely related to performance on ability tests in the sense that children who wait for shorter periods of time for entry to school, score higher than children who wait for longer periods of time.

Such differences seem to be installed in the first class of the primary school and persist through to the secondary school.

The obvious implication for education is the spacing of entry intakes to school which, as it is suggested, should not be restricted to one each year.

C. Damianou

“The role of High Intensity Focussed Ultrasound in the treatment of Benign and malignant tumors”

High Intensity Focussed Ultrasound can be used to remove tumors (benign or malignant), provided that the ultrasonic path to the tumor is favourable. The author believes that the above technique will be the dominant technological surgical procedure of the 90's because it is non-invasive, there are no side effects, it has good tissue penetration and its thermal effects can be controlled precisely. High intensity focussed ultrasound has currently two strong applications for destroying tumors in the breast and prostate. Future applications will include neck, pancreas, liver, rectal and kidney tumors.