Assets of new retired-worker beneficiaries: findings from the New Beneficiary Survey

Most new retired workers in 1982 owned some type of asset, usually a savings, checking, or credit union account, according to data obtained by the Social Security Administration (SSA) in its New Beneficiary Survey. Many recently retired workers also owned their home, often mortgage-free. Homeownership was their most significant asset in terms of its median value. Comparatively few retirees owned property other than a home, though for owners of such property, the median value was substantial. Married couples, whose assets included those of both partners, more frequently owned assets and their assets had higher median values than did unmarried individuals. A comparison of retired workers with persons aged 65 or older who were enrolled in the Medicare program but who had not yet received retired-worker benefits showed that these Medicare-only enrollees were much better off, both in the likelihood of owning assets and in having higher median values for their assets. Individuals who retired before reaching age 65 and therefore received a reduced social security benefit were not as well off as those whose first benefit was paid at age 65 or older. Overall, the asset situation of new retired workers in 1982 was better than that of men and unmarried women aged 58-63 in 1969, even when the 1969 assets were adjusted to constant 1982 dollars.     

Concepts in survival from lethal handgun wounds

Autopsy cases of deaths from handgun wounds were studied. Survival times were estimated from time of the incident until the time of pronouncement on police reports. Two groups were apparent--short-term and non-short-term survivors. These groups were compared statistically with respect to age, race, sex, Spanish surname, alcohol, drugs detected at autopsy, caliber of projectile, frequency of shots, and location of injury.     

The analysis of casework sized alloy fragments by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) using discrete nebulisation

A discrete nebulisation technique has been developed for the multi-element analysis of 100-μl solution droplets by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The technique increases analytical speed and uses very small solution volumes with only a slight degradation in detection limits when compared to continuous solution introduction.To evaluate its suitability in casework, small alloy fragments were produced by cutting with a hacksaw, sample division and filing. The analysis of fragments from two different brasses indicated that quantitative data could be obtained from fragments as small as 10 μg. The accurate determination of lead, a non-homogeneous constituent of leaded brasses, required sample sizes an order of magnitude greater. Analysis of an alloy of fine grain structure (copper-nickel) demonstrated that quantitative data could be obtained from samples weighing a few micrograms or less.