doctoral thesis of graduates university of cyprus ... · Supervisor: Christos Christodoulou ,...

22
DOCTORAL THESIS OF GRADUATES UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS (ABSTRACTS) FEBRUARY 2020

Transcript of doctoral thesis of graduates university of cyprus ... · Supervisor: Christos Christodoulou ,...

DOCTORAL THESIS OF GRADUATES

UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS (ABSTRACTS) FEBRUARY 2020

ABSTRACTS OF PHD THESIS 2020

Σελί δα 2

The Senate of the University of Cyprus unanimously decided, on the 6th November

2019, 4th of December 2019 and 5th February 2020 to award 50 Ph.D. titles on the

graduate ceremony on the 13th of February 2020.

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.

ABSTRACTS OF PHD THESIS 2020

Σελί δα 3

NAME/SURNAME DEPARTMENT ΤΙTLE OF THESIS/ ABSTRACT Theofilia Kaourma Accounting and Finance Essays on Retail Investors Trading Behavior in FX Market

Supervisor: George Nishiotis, Professor

This Ph.D. thesis uses a proprietary intraday dataset containing detailed information on individual investors

FX market transactions and their demographics to investigate the effects of news sentiment, scheduled

macro news announcements and market flash crashes on retail investors trading activity. It also

investigates retail investor risk-taking behavior in FX markets.

Maria Efthymiou Accounting and Finance Essays in behavioral finance

Supervisor: Andreas Milidonis , Associate Professor

The aim of the dissertation is to explore two behavioral biases; limited attention and representativeness

biases. By exploring the US corporate bond market, the aim is to investigate whether investors are prone

to these biases and the extent to which institutional investors exert price pressure in bond pricing.

ABSTRACTS OF PHD THESIS 2020

Σελί δα 4

Theodosis Kallenos Accounting and Finance

Topics in portfolio management

Supervisor: George Nishiotis , Associate Professor

Chapter 1 of this thesis documents significant portfolio holdings disclosure valuation effects and strategic

disclosure timing by portfolio managers. Chapter 2 provide an in-depth examination of the performance

and risk adjusted characteristics of Business Development Companies. Chapter 3 examines the conflicts of

interest in externally managed funds.

Louis Hadjioannou Biological Sciences

Ecological and biological responses to environmental changes, in the endemic scleractinian coral

cladocora caespitosa (Linnaeus, 1767), in Cyprus

Supervisor: Spyros Sfenthourakis, Professor

We identified colonies of C. caespitosa as gonochoric and growth rates to be similar to those in W.

Mediterranean. Through systematic monitoring of colonies we observed mortality events due to extreme

events (prolonged high temperature and windstorm). Results showed that increased nutrient

concentrations affect the response of the corals.

ABSTRACTS OF PHD THESIS 2020

Σελί δα 5

Martin Abbas Hellicar Biological Sciences

Aspects of farmland management for bird conservation in Cyprus

Supervisor: Alexander Kirschel, Assistant Professor

We examine mapping of High Nature Value farmland, arriving at an approach for improved HNVf definition

to facilitate its maintenance. We study the impact of grazing on birds and vegetation, finding that

conservation management of scrub and open forest should aim at keeping grazing to a minimum and

preventing fire.

Andrea Christofidou Biological Sciences

The potential role of miR-548c-5p in regulating the transcription of FOXC2 in differentiating human

podocytes

Supervisor: Constantinos Deltas, Professor

MiRNA prediction analysis revealed a full-length target site for miR-548c-5p at >8kb upstream of FOXC2.

Following multiple experimentation processes, a mechanism is proposed by which the RISC/miR-548c-5p

complex influences the expression of FOXC2 and podocyte differentiation. Collectively, results indicate a

well-orchestrated regulatory model of FOXC2 expression by a remote target-site for miR-548c-5p.

ABSTRACTS OF PHD THESIS 2020

Σελί δα 6

Stavria Panayidou

Biological Sciences

Investigating the role of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Metabolism in Virulence.

Supervisor: Giorgos Apidianakis, Assistant Professor

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative bacterium classified among the few priority pathogens

urgently requiring new and effective treatments. In this study in order to identify novel therapeutic targets

against P. aeruginosa, we focused on virulence-related metabolic genes, which are not essential for the

bacterial growth.

Charalambos Papatryfonos Chemistry On the Use of Swellable Polymers as Structure Directing Scaffolds in Porous Solids Design

Supervisor: Charis R. Theocharis, Professor

The aim of this work was the use of swellable polymer networks as structure directing scaffolds for

mesoporous metal oxides synthesis. In particular, cerium and titanium oxides were synthesized and

characterized throughout this research project with the use of polymer networks acting both as a

removable scaffold and at the same time as the reaction vessel.

ABSTRACTS OF PHD THESIS 2020

Σελί δα 7

Elisa Alloa Chemistry Structural Characterization of Organic Conjugated Dyes through Vibrational and Time-Resolved

Spectroscopic Techniques

Supervisor: Sophia Charalambous Hayes , Associate Professor

The development of optoelectronics applications is related to the structural characterization of organic

conjugated molecules. Vibrational spectroscopy is herein employed, providing a detailed picture of the

supramolecular conformation of perylenes, together with an excited state evolution study on

oligofluorenes. The development of a stimulated/inverse Raman optical setup was also initiated.

Sofia Hadjithoma Chemistry Synthesis and Reactivity of Uranium, Vanadium and Copper Complexes with Triazine and Amidate

Ligands

Supervisor: Anastasios Keramidas , Professor

Here in, the selective ligation of uranium with the use of triazine ligands and the activation of dioxygen by

amidate and triazine pyridine complexes of copper and vanadium were investigated.

ABSTRACTS OF PHD THESIS 2020

Σελί δα 8

Eirini Lariou Chemistry Spectroscopic Studies of Molecular Conformations of Conjugated Polymers for OPV applications

Supervisor : Sophia Charalambous Hayes, Associate Professor

The role of conjugated polymers in organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices is to absorb light and facilitate

charge transport towards the electrodes. Two specific conjugated systems are being studied, with focus

on a key factor in optimising device performance, which is the molecular conformation of the polymeric

chains within the films.

Konstantinos

Megalooikonomou

Civil and Environmental

Engineering

Modeling the Behavior of Reinforced Concrete (RC) Columns Under Lateral Loads

Supervisor: Petros Komodromos, Associate Professor

Columns play a very important role in the structural performance. Therefore, it is essential to apply a

suitable analytical tool to estimate their structural behavior considering all failure mechanisms. In the

present thesis a fiber beam-column element was developed, in order to provide an analytical test-bed for

simulation of old-type RC columns.

ABSTRACTS OF PHD THESIS 2020

Σελί δα 9

Michalis Agathocleous

Savvas Karatsiolis

Computer Science

Computer Science

Learning Schemes for Efficiently Training Neural Networks on Protein Secondary Structure Prediction

Supervisor: Christos Christodoulou , Professor

The problem of classifying sequential data where the upstream and downstream information of a

sequence is useful for the classification has been dealt with by a variety of Machine Learning methods.

These methods have been applied in the Protein Secondary Structure Prediction problem.

Conditional Generative Denoising Autoencoder

Supervisor: Christos Schizas, Professor

The thesis proposes an original model and its mathematical foundation whose functionality relies on the

conventional denoising autoencoder. The model generates images according to the user’s preferences

defining both the desired and the undesired image characteristics that are evident in the training dataset.

ABSTRACTS OF PHD THESIS 2020

Σελί δα 10

Zacharias Hadjilambrou Computer Science Harnessing CPU Electromagnetic Emanations for Power-Delivery Network Characterization

Supervisor: Yiannakis Sazeides, Associate Professor

This thesis proposes a novel methodology for Power-Delivery-Network (PDN) characterization. The

proposed methodology is based on wirelessly sensing the PDN emanated electromagnetic (EM) radiation

using an antenna and an instrument for analyzing the received signals such as a spectrum-analyzer. The

proposed approach has three major advantages compared to state-of-the art PDN characterization

approaches: a) it is non-intrusive, b) it is cross-platform, and c) it does not require development effort nor

on-chip/on-package resources.

Evie Poyiadji Education

Digital Literacy Practices and Literacy Teaching in Elementary Education: A Case Study of a Teacher in

and out of School Context

Supervisor: Stavroula Kontovourki, Assistant Professor

The doctoral dissertation focuses on the literacy practices and performances of an elementary school

teacher, who constituted a case study for the examination of the complexity of digitality and literacy

teaching in L1 settings. Findings of the study focus on the hybridization of literacy, of space, as well as of

the performances of pedagogical roles there in.

ABSTRACTS OF PHD THESIS 2020

Σελί δα 11

Maria Athanasiou Education Aspects of Educational Change and Implementation: A Case Study on the Conditions that Influenced the

implementation of the 2010 Language Curriculum for Primary Education in Cyprus.

Supervisor: Mary Ioannides – Koutselini, Emeritus Professor

This thesis addresses the concept of “educational change”. It aims to explore the conditions and events

that interacted, suspended and hindered the implementation of the 2010 Language Curriculum for

Primary Education in Cyprus. The archival study carried out focuses on the period from 2008 to 2014.

Michalis Livitziis Education

“On the Fly” Teacher-Student Interactions as a Means to Formative Assessment in Science Education

Supervisor: Constantinos Constantinou, Professor

The aim of this study was to enrich the literature on coding and analysis of informal formative assessment

and in particular during classroom dialogues where "on the fly" interactions are implemented. Through

attending and videotaping courses and subsequent coding of dialogues, we sought to identify patterns

that emerged to highlight opportunities and challenges that arise when using this formative assessment

method.

ABSTRACTS OF PHD THESIS 2020

Σελί δα 12

Eleni Katsiai Education “In the Search of the Position and the Identity of the Term Daimon in the World of the Homeric Epics – A Proposal

for the Usage and the of its Meaning in the Teaching Process”

Supervisor: Mary Iwannidou-Koutselini , Emeritus Professor

This thesis focuses and re-evaluates the role of the term daimon in Homer. The purpose of this thesis is to

show how the term daimon based on its distinct roles as an “identifiable sign” of the mysterious and the

unknown in the epics, as a conceptual/discursive device, may be used as an innovative methodological

technique in the contexts of the teaching procedure in Gymnasium.

Christodoulos Skouromounis Electrical and Computer

Engineering

MmWave Heterogeneous Cellular Networks and Applications: A Stochastic Geometry Approach

Supervisor: Ioannis Krikidis , Associate Professor

The increasing demand for data traffic poses huge challenges for communications systems operating in

bands below 6 GHz. To this end, this doctoral thesis presents an analytical framework based on stochastic

geometry for evaluating the performance of the millimeter-wave heterogeneous networks, from a

macroscopic point-of-view.

ABSTRACTS OF PHD THESIS 2020

Σελί δα 13

Chrysovalanto Christodoulou Electrical and Computer

Engineering

Converged Optical Access Networks for Mobile Backhaul

Supervisor: Georgios Ellinas , Professor

The main objective of this dissertation is to provide services that are high-speed, survivable, and with

guaranteed QoS, supporting different types of traffic for both fixed and mobile users. Solutions are being

developed for the problem of efficient and reliable transfer of fixed and wireless traffic to converged access

networks.

Charalambos Menelaou Electrical and Computer

Engineering

Traffic Demand Management in the ERA of Connected Vehicles

Supervisors: Christos Panayiotou, Professor

Stelios Timotheou, Assistant Professor

This Ph.D. thesis developed a mathematical framework that eliminates congestion in urban areas while at

the same time, it maximizes the efficiency of the network by combining existing control measures with

innovative demand management strategies. Demand management is achieved through a novel

reservation architecture that grants access to the network.

ABSTRACTS OF PHD THESIS 2020

Σελί δα 14

Angelika Theofanidi French and European

Studies

Law, Justice and the Notion of the Absurd in the Works of Albert Camus

Supervisor: Yiannis Ε. Ioannou, Professor

In the works of Albert Camus, the notion of the absurd evolves around the notion of justice. The absurd

man of Camus is he who understands that life ends with death. In search of happiness, the absurd man

must have one thing in mind: not to exceed the limit.

Erato Hadjisavva History and Archaeology The Artistic Activity in Cyprus in the Period of British Rule

Supervisor: George Kazamias, Associate Professor

The thesis attempts to record and socio-political approach to the artistic activity in Cyprus during the

period 1878-1959. It examines the teaching process of the painting course at schools as a starting point

for Cyprus and the first attempts of Cypriots to study painting. The thesis refers to the first Cypriot sculptors

and painters, their exhibitions and artistic interventions.

ABSTRACTS OF PHD THESIS 2020

Σελί δα 15

Andreas Eliades History and Archaeology British Foreign and Defence Policy in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East: Effects and

consequences for Cyprus on a Bilateral and Multilateral Framework Since the Establishment of NATO

and its Involvement with the Cyprus Issue (1949-1960).

Supervisor: Petros Papapolyviou , Associate Professor

This thesis focuses on the British foreign and security policy in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle

East. It also presents how the Cypriot issue was perceived and addressed within NATO during the 1950’s,

as well as how the newly established Republic of Cyprus was perceived within NATO.

Avraam Savva

History and Archaeology

Institutions and Forms of Commercial Control in the Hellenic Period with Emphasize to the Ptolemaic

Kingdom

Supervisor: Theodoros Mavrogiannis , Associate Professor

This thesis examines the extent to which the Hellenistic economy (323 - 168 BC) presents rates of capitalist

development and how modern economic theories, micro-economy and macro-economy are developed

through the commercial institutions existing in the commercial markets and as well the Egyptian economy

of Ptolemies.

ABSTRACTS OF PHD THESIS 2020

Σελί δα 16

Alina Velislava Kamenou

Chrysovalantis Papadamou

History and Archaeology

History and Archaeology

Trade vs. Cultural Mediation: Integrating the Black Sea in the Greco-Phoenician Networks of Exchange

(7th – 1st Century BC)

Supervisor: Vasiliki Kassianidou, Professor

This doctoral dissertation investigates commercial and cultural exchanges between the Levant and the

Black Sea in a period spanning from the time of the Greek colonisation of this area in the second half of

the 7th century BC until the Roman age.

Cypriot Refugees in Venice after the War of Cyprus (1570-71). Reconstruction of Everyday Life, Social

and Cultural Integration (1570-1650).

Supervisor: Angel Nicolaou – Konnari, Associate Professor

This doctoral dissertation investigates the Cypriot refugees in Venice after the war of Cyprus (1570-71) and

presents their social background, their inclusion in the local society, their involvement in the Greek

fraternity issues (Confraternità di San Nicolò dei Greci) and their development in the venetian

environment.

ABSTRACTS OF PHD THESIS 2020

Σελί δα 17

Dimitrios Pilavakis Mathematics and

Statistics

Block Bootstrap Methods for Functional Time Series

Supervisors: Efstathios Paparoditis, Professor

Theofanis Sapatinas, Professor

This dissertation applies bootstrap methods to dependent functional data. In particular, central limit

theorems for the moving block and tapered block bootstrap for functional time series are proved.

Furthermore, algorithms based on the above procedures for testing the equality of mean functions and

covariance operators of several populations are proposed.

Charalambos Frantzis Mechanical and

Manufacturing

Engineering

Accelerating CFD Simulations of Two-Fluid Flows: Application in Numerical Wave Tanks

Supervisor: Dimokratis Grigoriadis, Assistant Professor

A numerical method was developed that allows the coupling of the Immersed Boundary method and Fast

Direct Solvers, for the efficient simulation of two-fluid flows. Next, an efficient Numerical Wave Tank was

developed, which was also used to study the interaction of solitary waves with single-row pile breakwaters.

ABSTRACTS OF PHD THESIS 2020

Σελί δα 18

Maria Louca

Andreas Demou

Mechanical and

Manufacturing

Engineering

Mechanical and

Manufacturing

Engineering

In Vitro Investigation of the Role of Ras Suppressor-1 (RSU-1) and the Integrin-Linked Kinase (ILK) in

Glioma Progression and Invasion

Supervisor: Triantafyllos Stylianopoulos, Assistant Professor

The purpose of this thesis was to study the development of RSU-1 and ILK proteins in glioma and more

specifically in glioblastoma, which is the most aggressive type of brain cancer.

Numerical Study of Thermally-Driven Flows with Variable Properties

Supervisor: Dimokratis Grigoriadis, Assistant Professor

In this thesis, a very efficient numerical methodology for the simulation of thermally-driven flows with

variable properties is presented. The methodology was used for simulating relevant flows of liquids and

gases in cavities, to investigate non-Oberbeck-Boussinesq effects.

ABSTRACTS OF PHD THESIS 2020

Σελί δα 19

Salvatore Calì Physics

Model Study of Charm Loop Effects

Supervisors: Haris Panagopoulos, Professor

Francesco Knechtli, Professor (University of Wuppertal)

In this thesis we want to compute the loop effects due to a dynamical charm quark in QCD. For this

purpose, we simulate two theories: Nf=0 QCD and QCD with Nf=2 dynamical quarks at the charm mass.

The dynamical charm effects are extracted from the comparison of Nf=0 and Nf=2 QCD.

Aurora Scapellato Physics Direct Evaluation of Parton Distribution Functions of the Nucleon from Lattice QCD

Supervisors: Constantia Alexandrou , Professor

Francesco Knechtli, Professor (University of Wuppertal)

We describe the computations of parton distribution functions of the nucleon from first principles. The

investigation is done within the lattice formulation of Quantum Chromodynamics. The calculations are

ABSTRACTS OF PHD THESIS 2020

Σελί δα 20

performed on a twisted mass ensemble of gauge field configurations simulated with two degenerate light

quarks with mass fixed to their physical value.

Simone Bacchio Physics Simulating Maximally Twisted Fermions at the Physical Point with Multigrid Methods

Supervisors: Constantia Alexandrou , Professor

Francesco Knechtli, , Professor (University of Wuppertal)

We develop multigrid methods for simulating lattice QCD with physical values of the quark masses within

the twisted mass fermion formulation. We employ the developed multigrid method both for the

calculation of the quark propagators needed for extracting the hadronic matrix elements and for

accelerating the generation of gauge field ensembles

Elena Yiangou

Psychology Definite Article Acquisition and Morphosyntactic Development in Cypriot-Greek Cochlear Implanted

Children Compared to Typically Hearing Peers

Supervisor: George Spanoudes, Associate Professor

ABSTRACTS OF PHD THESIS 2020

Σελί δα 21

This study, aimed to examine the morphosyntactic development and use of the definitive article in all

genders, cases and numbers, in cochlear-implanted Cypriot-Greek children and how it compares to that of

typically hearing peers. TEREL, a language assessment for children ages 2;6 - 5;6 years was also developed.

Maria Ioannou Social and Political

Sciences

Does (Digital) Activism Matter? Exploring the Evolution of Collective Action: The Case of Irianna’s

Solidarity Movement in Greece

Supervisor: Savvas Katsikides, Professor

Attachment, Bullying/Victimization Experiences, Resilience and Religiosity as Adjustment Factors

within the Military Environment.

Supervisor: Stelios Georgiou, Professor

The purpose of the current research was to examine the relationship between bullying/victimization,

attachment, resilience and religiosity to the adjustment of conscript soldiers within the military

environment. The results showed direct and indirect case-by-case effects among the variables

mentioned above, affecting the adaptability of the conscripts during their service.

Pavlos Pavlou Psychology

ABSTRACTS OF PHD THESIS 2020

Σελί δα 22

The current study provides nuanced evidence regarding the role and use of social networks in protest

activities. Premises on a rich theoretical background the study situates the study of (digital) activism under

a multidisciplinary approach. Drawing on qualitative and quantitative methods, it explores the solidarity

movement in favor of Irianna which took place in Greece in 2017-2018.

Ioanna Pilavaki Social and Political

Sciences

“Sexual Harassment in Workplace: Critical Feminist Analysis of the Trade Unions and Employers’

Organizations Role in Cyprus”.

Supervisor: Alexia Panagiotou, Associate Professor

The purpose of this research is to present a critical feminist analysis of the way Cypriot trade unions and

employers’ organizations, have dealt with the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace over the years,

focusing on the organizational theory model (power, structure, organization). The ultimate goal was to

identify and analyze systemic and organizational factors which are an obstacle to dealing with sexual

harassment.