Empower,not impose!—Preventing academic procrastination

ABSTRACT

In the frame of the goal setting process between supervisor and student while writing a thesis, it is hypothesized that mutually set goals (participation) and writing down the results of the meeting (recording) can prevent procrastination and increase engagement of the student. With a questionnaire relating to the latest written thesis (n?=?97, academic sample), the effects of goal setting characteristics (recording, participation) and task characteristics (ambiguity, control) on engagement and procrastination were examined. Results of a multiple mediation model indicate that recording indirectly influences engagement and procrastination through its effect on ambiguity. Moreover, participation indirectly influences engagement through its effect on control. It is concluded that goal setting characteristics and task characteristics can affect student’s procrastination. Thus, the present research provides criteria for how supervisors can prevent students from procrastinating.     

Light microscopical investigations on structural changes of skeletal muscle as artifacts after postmortem stimulation

Samples of skeletal muscle were taken from 20 human corpses where mechanical or electrical stimulation had been carried out up to 8h postmortem (hpm) in order to estimate the time since death. The stimulation had caused an idiomuscular bulge or tetanic contraction of the muscle tissue at this location. The muscle samples were examined for structural changes of the fibers by light microscopy. A comparison with control muscle samples taken contralaterally from the same corpse, showed that the findings previously interpreted as being of intravital origin, e.g. destruction of fiber integrity, invagination and contraction bands, could also be due to postmortem alterations. It is hypothesized that structural changes to the muscle fibers can, in general, be produced as long as the manifestation time is shorter than the supravital phase after the time of force impact.     

Subject index : Volume 25 (1984)

Biostatistical Parameters such as the paternal markers in the child (PM), individual exclusion change (IEC) probability of incidental involvement (Z), probability of paternity (POP), plausibility of paternity according to Essen-Möller (PLEM) and paternity index (PI) are defined and discussed in respect to their application in cases of disputed paternity. In order to calculate these parameters for up to 24 marker systems, including HLA under strict observation of the linkage disequilibrium, a computer programme in BASIC has been developed.