Estimating Postmortem Intervals of Human Remains Recovered in Mid-Western Waterways: A Test of Terrestrial and Aquatic Body Scoring Methods

In attempt to determine postmortem intervals (PMI), forensic investigators often rely on observed amounts of postmortem taphonomic alterations of the human body. Research has been conducted in an attempt to understand and predict the sequence and rate of human decomposition using total body scoring methods as well as accumulated degree days (ADD) (Megyesi et al. 2005). While most research focuses on methods of decomposition scoring in terrestrial environments, Heaton et al. (2010) devised a method to aid in the prediction of PMI and postmortem submersion intervals (PMSI) in an aqueous environment. Using 73 forensic cases collected from the Hennepin County, MN, Medical Examiner’s Office, La Crosse, WI, Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Manitowoc County, WI, Medical Examiner’s Office, this study demonstrates that aquatic taphonomic alterations do not always occur in a sequential pattern due to a plethora of variables, such as water temperature. The data were split into three categories according to known ADD. Using both the Megyesi et al. (2005) and the Heaton et al. (2010) decomposition scoring methods, cold water submersion of a human body can produce varied results and the inability to accurately predict PMI and PMSI. Those forensic cases with the shortest PMSI also show a low accuracy rate of predicting PMSI. Both the Megyesi et al. (2005) and the Heaton et al. (2010) total scoring methods resulted in more accurate PMSI prediction for those cases with ADDs between 26°C and 99°C. This study demonstrates the demand for more accurate decompositional scoring methods and the need for further exploration into the study of the effects of cold-water temperatures on the taphonomic process of the human body

A lattice point counting generalisation of the Tutte polynomial

International audienceThe Tutte polynomial for matroids is not directly applicable to polymatroids. For instance, deletion- contraction properties do not hold. We construct a polynomial for polymatroids which behaves similarly to the Tutte polynomial of a matroid, and in fact contains the same information as the Tutte polynomial when we restrict to matroids. This polynomial is constructed using lattice point counts in the Minkowski sum of the base polytope of a polymatroid and scaled copies of the standard simplex. We also show that, in the matroid case, our polynomial has coefficients of alternating sign, with a combinatorial interpretation closely tied to the Dawson partition

Aligning State Developmental Standards to Toddler and Early Childhood Montessori Practical Life and Sensorial Materials

The purpose of this research was to determine whether a progress report that aligns the Montessori materials to child development benchmarks would increase parent understanding of the Montessori materials, as well as give teachers a means of reporting growth that is systematic and consistent. Trial reports were created aligning the toddler and early childhood practical life and sensorial curriculum areas to the state standards. Parents were asked to compare the current reports with the new reports. The postimplementation survey results suggested that 97% of parents better understood the alignment between the Montessori materials and child development and 100% of teachers affirmed the new reports made a clear association between the two. The new reports clarified the alignment between the Montessori materials and children’s development for parents and created a standard measurement tool for Montessori educators with the vernacular to explain the Montessori materials progression to parents

A lattice point counting generalisation of the Tutte polynomial

The Tutte polynomial for matroids is not directly applicable to polymatroids. For instance, deletion- contraction properties do not hold. We construct a polynomial for polymatroids which behaves similarly to the Tutte polynomial of a matroid, and in fact contains the same information as the Tutte polynomial when we restrict to matroids. This polynomial is constructed using lattice point counts in the Minkowski sum of the base polytope of a polymatroid and scaled copies of the standard simplex. We also show that, in the matroid case, our polynomial has coefficients of alternating sign, with a combinatorial interpretation closely tied to the Dawson partition

Trauma-Informed Practices of Mental Health Providers Around the Globe

This study examined trauma-informed practices of mental health professionals from 25 different countries. The literature indicates that many practitioners feel unprepared and unequipped to therapeutically work with individuals who have experienced trauma-related psychological disorders (SAMHSA, 2014). This poster highlights the deficits in trauma-informed competency among practitioners from around the globe, offers recommendations to emphasize graduate and post-graduate trauma-informed training, and also offers suggestions for future trauma competencies

2006-2007 Dean\u27s Showcase No. 4

https://spiral.lynn.edu/conservatory_deansshowcase/1045/thumbnail.jp