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Forensic entomological evidence is most often used to estimate the postmortem interval (PMI). Satisfactory techniques have not been available to quantify the precision of such a PMI estimate. For Cochliomyia macellaria(F.) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), we describe construction of a confidence interval on age of a larva, given its weight. The method requires a controlled experiment by which weights of larvae are observed at ages spread over sufficient range to cover the time from egg hatch up to postfeeding stage. A statistical model relating distributions of weights to age is formulated and fit to these data. We assumed a simple model in which both means and variances of weight distributions are linearly interpolated between sampled ages. The weight of a larva of unknown age is then compared to the fitted model via inverse prediction to compute the confidence interval on age of the larva.

Copper(II) hydroxide chloride, Cu(OH)1.5Cl0.5, and copper(II) hydroxide nitrate, Cu(OH)1.5- (NO3)0.5, were precipitated by the stepwise addition of hydroxide to solutions containing Cu2+ at 10-4 or 10-3 M, and Cl - or NO3- at several concentrations between 10-3 and 10-1 M. The nature of the precipitates was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. pKs0 values estimated from the pH for 50% precipitation were 16.9 for Cu(OH)1.5Cl0.5 and 16.0 for Cu(OH)1.5(NO3)0.5. In each case, as OH- was added to a solution which contained Cu2+ with Cl - or NO3-, the pH rose initially to that characteristic of the formation of amorphous Cu(OH)2(pKs0 = 17.8), but decreased again after further additions of hydroxide or on aging to that characteristic of the more stable hydroxide chloride or hydroxide nitrate. It is suggested that Cu(OH)2 is an intermediate in the formation of Cu(OH)1.5Cl0.5 and Cu(OH)1.5(NO3)0.5.

The Triangle (NC) Branch is working for nuclear disarmament one local council at a time. Eleven WILPF members and friends gathered to support the Carrboro City Council which passed a [...]

Trauma caused by motor vehicle collisions is a common cause of death, accounting for more than 3000 deaths each day worldwide (about 7 of which occur in Canada). (1) For [...]

The Domestic Production Deduction (IRC section 199) was created by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (PL 108-357, 188 Stat. 1418) and amended by the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act [...]

As the Bush administration pushes Congress to place a $250,000 cap on pain and suffering awards in medical malpractice lawsuits, other moves quietly afoot by state medical boards, state medical associations and specialty societies may reduce liability insurance premiums by limiting the number of suits., Florida neurosurgeon Gary Lustgarten is a former college wrestler in a fight for his professional life. And the outcome of his battle could affect every practicing U.S. physician, directly or [...]

Objective: Estimates of any protective effect of seat belts could be exaggerated if some crash survivors falsely claimed to police that they were belted in order to avoid a fine. [...]

The financial aid regulations (Title IV) are no less complicated than the IRS regulations. There are complex formulas, unfamiliar terms, esoteric definitions, and difficult calculations, many of which can become [...]

Abstract Objective To estimate the association of driver air bag presence with driver fatality in road traffic crashes. Design Matched pair cohort study. Setting All passenger vehicle crashes in the [...]

Litigating to Avoid Taxation of Personal Injury Damages The IRS continues to litigate and to appeal cases involving exclusion from taxable income of certain types of damage awards. The authors [...]

Misclassification of seat belt use In a recent article, Robertson (1) commented on our study of scat belts and death in a crash (2) Robertson wrote: 'What is not explained [...]

What are personal injuries for purposes of exclusion from gross income? IRC Sec. 104(a)(2) allows damages received for personal injuries to be excluded from gross income. Personal injuries are not [...]

The Internet, with approximately 200 million users worldwide, is an economical and effective way for CPAs to advertise and promote their services. The challenge lies in making a professional website [...]

The recent decision in United States v. Textron Inc. and Subsidiaries [507 F. Supp. 2d 138 (D.R.I. Aug. 28, 2007)] will have far-reaching implications for the treatment and discoverability of [...]

Certainly, the casualty loss of a personal residence is a devastating event in the lives of those experiencing it. From a tax standpoint, however, the loss will be less devastating [...]

A lack of consensus on the effectiveness of seat belts, when used, is remarkable given that belts have been standard equipment in passenger cars for more than 30 years in [...]