Doctoral Thesis Research Articles

Erwin Bünning and Wolfgang Engelmann: establishing the involvement of the circadian clock in photoperiodism.

In 1936, Erwin Bünning published his groundbreaking work that the endogenous clock is used to measure day length for initiating photoperiodic responses. His publication triggered years of controversial debate until it ultimately became the basic axiom of rhythm research and the theoretical pillar of chronobiology. Bünning's thesis is frequently quoted in the articles in this special issue on the subject of "A clock for all seasons". However, nowadays only few people know in detail about Bünning's experiments and almost nobody knows about the contribution of his former doctoral student, Wolfgang Engelmann, to his theory because most work on this topic is published in German. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the most important experiments at that time, including Wolfgang Engelmann's doctoral thesis, in which he demonstrated the importance of the circadian clock for photoperiodic flower induction in the Flaming Katy, Kalanchoë blossfeldiana, but not in the Red Morning Glory, Ipomoea coccinea.

Szabálysértési "kontra" közigazgatási bírság

Aim: The legislator places the sanctioning of unlawful conduct in the various areas of law on the basis of principles of legal policy, expediency and effectiveness, but at its own discretion. The law on misdemeanours has traditionally covered conduct which is less dangerous to society and which does not rise to the level of a criminal offence. However, there are movements between the different areas of law. Some conduct is transferred from the area of misdemeanour law to administrative fines. It is not uncommon for certain offences to remain within the scope of the law on offences, while other offences in the same situation are transferred to administrative law. Can this phenomenon be linked to the system of sanctions in the two areas of law? What sanctions can be found in each area of law and how effective are they in sanctioning specific offences? The answers to these questions may provide a direction for the further development of the law of misdemeanours and may confirm the thesis already formulated in the literature that the gradually declining administrative protection function of the law of misdemeanours is being taken over by sectoral legislation and that the law of misdemeanours is increasingly becoming a shadow image of criminal law. Methodology: In order to answer the questions, the author compared and analysed the provisions of the Act on Administrative Offences and the Act on Sanctions for Administrative Offences, as well as the related literature. Findings: In order to understand this phenomenon, it is necessary to take into account the legal policy rationale and the questions of economy and efficiency. Value: The analysis has shown the similarities and differences between the various sanctions and has indicated which sanctions may be an adequate solution for specific behaviours. The findings of the study will be incorporated into the doctoral thesis on „The criminal power of public administration”.

Reflecting on the contributions of Professor Tsionas in time series analysis, asset price modelling, and forecasting

While Professor Tsionas is widely acclaimed for his ground-breaking works in Bayesian panel econometrics and frontier analysis models, his substantial impact in time series analysis in finance remains relatively less known. Nonetheless, the doctoral thesis of Professor Tsionas focussed on asset pricing models, serving as a foundation for his subsequent research pursuits in time series analysis and forecasting. Characterised by elegance and simplicity, Professor Tsionas conceptualised econometric models and Bayesian estimation methods that have been applied to fields such as banking, finance, macro-finance, and tourism. In addition, his insights into time series analysis have informed decision-making processes in these fields.

Summaries of Doctoral Dissertations

Summaries of Doctoral Dissertations

Academician Boris Vasilyevich Petrovsky (1908–2004) (on the 115<sup>th</sup> anniversary of his birth)

Outstanding Soviet surgeon, scientist, teacher, health care organizer and public figure, founder of the largest scien tific and practical school of surgeons, Minister of Health of the USSR (1965–1980), Hero of Socialist Labor (1968), academician of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences (1966) and the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences (1957) (RAS and RAMS since 1991), laureate of the Lenin Prize (1960) and the State Prize of the USSR (1971), Honored Scientist of the RSFSR (1957), Professor Boris Vasilyevich Petrovsky was born on June 14 (27 according to the new style), 1908 in the CITy of Essentuki in the family of a doctor. In 1926, he entered the medical faculty of Moscow State University, in 1930, he received a medical diploma and worked as a surgeon in a regional hospital in the Moscow region, and in 1932, he was appointed to the position of the researcher at the Moscow Oncology Institute under the leadership of Professor P.A. Herzen. During the Soviet-Finnish and the Great Patriotic Wars, he served as a surgeon in various hospitals. In 1947, he defended his doctoral dissertation «Surgical treatment of gunshot wounds of blood vessels at the front line». In 1951, B. V. Petrovsky was elected the head of the department of faculty surgery of the pediatric faculty of the 2nd MMI named after N. I. Pirogov, and in 1956 – the head of the department of hospital surgery of the 1st MMI named after I. M. Sechenov. In 1963, the All-Union Scientific center for Surgery of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences was created in Moscow, the organizer and director of which (1963–1988) was Boris Vasilievich (since 1989 – honorary director of the All-Union Scientific center for Surgery). At the same time, from 1965 to 1980, he headed the USSR Ministry of Health. Academician B. V. Petrovsky created the largest scientific and practical surgical school in the history of our country, which included more than 150 doctors of medical sciences. He was the author and co-author of about 700 scientific papers, including 45 monographs and manuals devoted to vari ous problems of cardiovascular, thoracic, abdominal, and military field surgery. Boris Vasilievich was the member of 34 international societies, associations, academies and colleges, as well as the honorary member of 14 foreign surgical societies. Academician B. V. Petrovsky died on May 4, 2004 and was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow.

Doctoral dissertations in Theology in the Nordic Countries 2022 and 2023

Doctoral dissertations in Theology in the Nordic Countries 2022 and 2023

Gendered Differences in Acknowledgements for Doctoral Advisors at a Land-Grant University

The acknowledgements section of a doctoral dissertation provides a rare view into the student-advisor relationship. The gendered differences for how doctoral students acknowledge male and female advisors was examined in 208 dissertations from a U.S. land-grant university. Doctoral students used a greater number and diversity of words when acknowledging female advisors. Nine hierarchical thematic roles and obligations of advisors were identified and were equally represented in acknowledging male and female advisors. Doctoral students described the roles and obligations of their doctoral advisor independently of gender; however, they used gendered language, which highlights the persistence of gendered norms within academic culture.

Mortarboard Review

This is the second article in an ongoing series, published annually, highlighting a selection of English-language dissertations from the previous calendar year related to Montessori philosophy and education. Thirteen doctoral dissertations completed and approved during the 2023 calendar year were identified. The authors selected three dissertations to spotlight because they represent high-quality research in an area that is relevant to the current educational landscape: antibias and anti-racist (ABAR) educational practices.

Supporting Doctoral Candidates through Completion and Final Examination

Completion and final examination comprise the final stages of a doctoral program and represent the culmination of the doctoral candidates’ years of research. In this entry, completion is defined as the writing and submission of a doctoral thesis, and final examination is defined as the viva voce. Over the years, the format and scope of doctoral degrees has expanded and a variety of formats are now offered. In addition to the traditional research-only doctoral degree, professional, practice-based, and new route programs also contain a taught element alongside research. However, the creation of a substantive thesis or practice-based alternative addressing a novel research question is common to all. In contrast, processes and formats of viva voces vary across the globe. These range from private, closed-door defenses to assessed or ritualistic public defense presentations. For both completion and final examination, there are many practical and psychological hurdles that need to be navigated in order for the candidate to attain their doctoral degree. This entry will highlight these aspects as well as provide evidence-based guidance for supervisors in supporting their doctoral candidates through these daunting final stages.

Research Trends in Doctoral Dissertation in Library and Information Science Submitted to Universities of Madhya Pradesh

An analysis of the trends of research in library and information science doctoral dissertation awarded in universities of Madhya Pradesh between 1982 and 2022, an analysis of the level of the library and information science in broad and narrow subject areas as well as research, development patterns and productivity of universities. To find out the current trends, the present study helps in acquainting the LIS research community with the current scenario and direction of research in this era of information and communication technology. University data analysis leads to very good results and conclusions for knowing the current trends in research in the subject of library and information science. Index Terms -: Doctoral research in LIS; - LIS research trends; keyword analysis; LIS research in regional language; Universities of Madhya Pradesh

Artificial intelligibility: the role of gender in assigning humanness to natural language processing systems

ABSTRACT In place of ‘Artificial Intelligence’, this article proposes artificial intelligibility as the more accurate term for describing the mistaken assignment of humanness to non-living objects. Artificial Intelligibility is manifested when a user assumes an object has capacity to understand them simply because it is understandable to them. Relatively simplistic Natural Language Processing systems may perform genres of humanness in conversational interactions to the degree that they are imagined to be sentient, as ‘Artificial Intelligence’. However, decolonial scholars have observed that humanness developed as a mutable, sociogenic construct. Decolonial gender theorists have further derived the role played by heteronormativity and repronormativity in upholding this power. Equating the intelligible performance of a gendered genre of humanness with intelligence risks obfuscating this interplay while reinforcing eugenic stratifications of life. This article reframes behavioural measures of ‘intelligence’ to gendered ‘intelligibility’ to explore the role of gender in enabling entry into the symbolic order of humanness. It presents three key findings from my doctoral thesis to question how and why some gendered, NLP-incorporating devices can be imagined to have lives that matter within the same economy of value that renders some humans and animals killable.

Bibliometric Analysis of Master’s and Doctoral Theses on Vegan Nutrition in Turkey

This study aims to examine the bibliometric characteristics of thesis studies on vegan nutrition conducted in existing academies in Turkey and included in the National Thesis Center of the Council of Higher Education (YÖKTEZ) database. A total of 118 theses published between 2002 and 2023, related to vegan nutrition, were included in the research. Our study revealed that the majority of the published thesis studies on the topic were at the master's degree level and that predominantly female researchers showed interest in the subject. It was also found that the highest number of studies, both at the master's and doctoral levels, were conducted within the Food Engineering discipline. Quantitative research methods were mostly used, and an increasing interest in the topic was observed over the years.

Between Enchantment and the Image-spirit (utupë): the essence of the image

This work develops the first chapter of my doctoral thesis. It presents an unprecedented approach to the relationship between the Enchantment of the Tremembé indigenous people – beings of the forest that are present in the Tremembé cosmogony –, and the Spirit-Image (utupë) of the Yanomani indigenous people – the true interior of forest beings in the Yanomani cosmogony. The central question arises: Is the Spirit-Image (utupë) necessary to see Enchantment? The chapter problematizes indigenous knowledge from these peoples separated by their identity, but who share the belief in forest beings and their representations within each cosmovision.Finally, the connection between these two concepts is questioned, which share the (in)visibility, the representation of mythical ancestors and the ability to keep images as the essence of life.

Insights for opponents on fostering interaction in the public defence of a doctoral dissertation

The public defence of a doctoral dissertation is a multifaceted, demanding interaction situation, in which the Doctoral Candidate and the Opponent have a conversation about the Candidate’s doctoral dissertation. The public defence is an honoured tradition and, in many countries, one of the key celebratory moments in academia. In Finland, the event is public and rather formal. The public defence has received little focus in research and academic discussion from the perspective of social interaction, in which the Opponent has a central role. The interpersonal communication competence of the Opponent largely determines the nature of the public defence. Hence, there is need for guidelines and support for the Opponents’ communication. The aim of our article is to describe the typical conventions of Finnish public defence for those unfamiliar with it and provide insights into public defence as an interaction situation. Additionally, we offer communication guidelines for the Opponents on how to construct effective and appropriate interaction in public defence and help those granted the honour to prepare and conduct their duties competently. We cover both the interpersonal conversation between the Candidate and the Opponent, and the engagement with the listeners.

Insights about the publicness of public space from the Kamppi area of Helsinki

Undergoing dramatic changes in its form, structure and purpose, public space has recently drawn sharp criticisms from its investigators and its theorists. At the same time, for the public who use it, public space has continued to be meaningful and attractive. To understand what public space is and what constitutes its publicness in the city of today, I conducted a multiple-case study and prepared a doctoral dissertation Publicness of Public Space in the Contemporary City: Insights from Helsinki (Tamašauskaitė 2024). On March 1st, 2024, during the public defence of my dissertation, I gave a lectio praecursoria, which this short article is based on. In my lectio, I overviewed contestations over the concepts public space and publicness, suggesting that the publicness of contemporary public space shall be conceived through use and treated as a phenomenon that comprises three dimensions, namely activities, users and control. The focus of the lectio was on my main findings from the three publicly usable spaces within the Kamppi area of Helsinki: Narinkka Square, Tennispalatsi Square and Kamppi Shopping Centre. First, I highlighted that from my study, I learnt that the publicness of the three spaces is primarily activity-based, whereby their publicness is strikingly similar when the spaces are used in comparable ways. Next, I suggested that even if the diversity of user groups is highly important in ensuring a wide variety of activities, it is all those activities that intermix and combine with one another that produces an ecosystem out of activities and that reveal the dynamics of activity-based publicness to be situational. Finally, I argued that various means of control are but some of the matters that affect the actual and the possible use of public space, for the publicness of adjacent public spaces may also complement each other.

Restoration manager: Adapting project delivery methods for the restoration of architectural heritage

The restoration of architectural heritage is a complex process and presents intricate and formidable challenges. The project delivery method plays a pivotal role for the success of the restoration process. There exists a diverse array of project delivery methods, each characterized by its distinct set of advantages and disadvantages. In the context of architectural heritage restoration, given its distinct characteristics, these advantages and disadvantages encompass a wide spectrum. Current project delivery methods, while effective for certain contexts, often fall short in addressing the unique requisites of restoration projects. Acknowledging this inadequacy, this article undertakes a research that includes a literature review that not only examines prevailing project delivery methods but also articulates the need for a tailored framework within the restoration field. This article is produced from the doctoral thesis titled "Development of a Sustainable Integrated Management System for the Conservation of Architectural Heritage", which is in the process of preparation. In the light of the results of the survey which is conducted within the scope of the first author's doctoral study in order to examine the project delivery approach preferred among the participants that are working in the field of the conservation of architectural heritage, a project delivery method called "Restoration Manager", which has been precisely prepared to meet the requirements inherent in restoration initiatives, is presented. This comprehensive project delivery method seeks to fill the void by addressing the distinct needs and challenges encountered in restoration projects. The essence of this work is to create an appropriate project delivery system that adapts to the nuances of the restoration works, and through this project delivery framework, the restoration processes and outcomes will successfully be completed.

Accelerating research processes with Scopus AI: A place branding case study

Academic databases play a crucial role in advancing science by hosting a vast array of peer-reviewed literature. However, academic database search tools involve a relatively slow and rather unintuitive process of searching and evaluating content. To address these challenges, in January 2024, Elsevier introduced Scopus AI, a generative artificial intelligence that synthesises evidence indexed in Scopus based on prompts. This study assesses the utility of Scopus AI (in its beta version at the time of the research), within the context of a doctoral thesis through a specific case study. By employing a relational prompt and three follow-up questions, the study aims to pinpoint intersections between different topics within the realm of Social Sciences and, more specifically, Communication, with a case on place branding. The consolidated result provides an initial list of references, offers a comprehensive overview, and allows to generate a meta-synthesis based on the summaries provided by each prompt. Scopus AI (beta) presents features that enable researchers to identify influential authors and works, explore relevant keywords, review recent literature, and identify potential research gaps. Although Scopus AI has some limitations, such as the dependence on the abstracts of documents indexed in Scopus, the simplification of concepts, or the relative disconnection between arguments, the results demonstrate the value of this tool in accelerating research processes, as it synthesises research in a given area, maps its main characteristics and allows for information discovery.

Wide-bore polyester sutures may create sufficient collagen for cure of prolapse/incontinence: a work in progress.

The main thrust of the Integral Theory Paradigm (ITP) is that inadequate ligament collagen causes pelvic organ prolapses (POP) and pelvic symptoms, a concept validated by multiple publications which cured POP and bladder/bowel/pain dysfunctions by collagen-creating slings. Sling surgery for surgical cure of these conditions was eliminated in the United States, Europe and other regulatory jurisdictions by banning all mesh products (including tapes) in about 2017. The aim of this work was to inform of the progress of a highly promising alternative method for collage creation for ligament repair: wide-bore polyester sutures accurately applied to weak ligaments. The scientific rationale for the wide-bore polyester plication method was a revisit and analysis of prior Instron testing data from a rejected polyester aortic graft from a doctoral thesis. The analysis indicated that the collagen produced by No. 2 polyester sutures would be sufficient to repair weakened pelvic ligaments. The surgical methodology consisted of application of wide-bore No. 2 or No. 3 polyester sutures to existing vaginal surgical techniques such as cardinal/uterosacral ligament (CL/USL) repair in the Fothergill operation, deep transversus perinei (DTP) ligamentous supports of the perineal body (PB) and uniquely, pubourethral ligament (PUL) repair for stress urinary incontinence (SUI). No vaginal tissue was excised. These operations are now being performed in several centres around the world. Because of this, the results detailed below are indicative only, and necessarily incomplete, as they are only from these units. Twelve month data (n=35) for SUI cure (83%) following PUL repair by the urethral ligament plication (ULP) operation has been submitted for publication; POP quantification (POPQ) points Ba, C, Bp, D were significantly improved at 6 weeks postoperative review following repair of CLs (cystocele) and USLs (uterine/apical prolapse) (n=56): deep transverse perinei ligament repair (descending perineal syndrome "DPS") (n=4) were cured at 6-12 months review. Though numbers are few, in the context of DPS being considered incurable, these numbers are significant. Except for the ULP operation, the techniques for cystocele, uterine prolapse, perineocele were essentially evolved versions of the Fothergill and standard PB repairs without any vaginal or ligament excisions. Though promising, more extensive and longer-term results are clearly required before this wide-bore polyester ligament repair method can become mainstream.

Discrimination Experienced by Biracial Children in Angeles City, Philippines

There is a lack of study on the nature and scope of discrimination experienced by biracial children in the Philippines. Aiming to contribute to filling the gap, this article draws from a doctoral thesis that used an indigenous Filipino research approach to investigate Filipino biracial children’s view of their dignity. Biracial children from poor neighborhoods in Angeles City participated in the study. Their caregivers and some community members were also interviewed. The research found that colonial beliefs and practices led to formation of biases which triggered the discrimination experienced by the biracial child participants and negatively affected their dignity. The biases were manifested during incidences of bullying and name-calling, cultural/racial stereotyping, social stigma, not being consulted, and corporal punishment. Recommended measures to address discrimination include access to education and promotion of pakikipagkapwa (treating others as fellow human being).

Towards a Logical Foundation of Randomized Computation: Doctoral Thesis Abstract

AbstractInteractions between logic and theoretical computer science are multiple and profound. In the last decades, they have been deeply investigated, but, surprisingly, the study of probabilistic computation was only marginally touched by such fruitful interchanges. The overall goal of my doctoral thesis was precisely that of start bridging this gap by developing logical systems corresponding to specific aspects of randomized computation and, due to them, by generalizing standard achievements to the probabilistic realm. To do so, the key ingredient is the introduction of new, measure-sensitive quantifiers associated with quantitative interpretations.