Estimation of postmortem interval (PMI) as revealed through the analysis of annual growth in woody tissue

The discovery of human remains lying across a black spruce (Picea mariana) leader (branch) that subsequently grew up around the remains provided an opportunity to use the growth ring pattern to estimate the postmortem interval (PMI). As these remains were discovered in an advanced state of decomposition in October of 2000, and it was clear that relevant insect evidence was not forthcoming, this novel approach to estimating PMI was proposed. The asymmetrical growth of the leader resulted in a correspondingly asymmetrical pattern of its growth riings. As the date of cutting the leader was known, it was possible to evaluate the asymmetrical growth pattern to provide an estimation of PMI. Fine polishing of the cross section and computerized quantification of ring widths enabled an estimation of the displacement of the leader, and hence the time the decedent's body was so positioned. By charting the ring-width differential for the leader, it was concluded that the displacement occurred sometime between July of 1993 and May of 1994. The actual date of disappearance was confirmed to be August 24, 1993.     

Hanging in,stepping up and stepping out: livelihood aspirations and strategies of the poor

In recent years understanding of poverty and of ways in which people escape from or fall into poverty has become more holistic. This should improve the capabilities of policy analysts and others working to reduce poverty, but it also makes analysis more complex. This article describes a simple schema which integrates multi-dimensional, multi-level, and dynamic understandings of poverty, of poor people's livelihoods, and of changing roles of agricultural systems. The article suggests three broad types of strategy pursued by poor people: ‘hanging in’, ‘stepping up’, and ‘stepping out’. This simple schema explicitly recognises the dynamic aspirations of poor people, diversity among them, and livelihood diversification. It also brings together aspirations of poor people with wider sectoral, inter-sectoral, and macro-economic questions about policies necessary for the realisation of those aspirations.     

Can Changes in Transformational-Oriented and Transactional-Oriented Leadership Impact Turnover over Time?

This article empirically examines the impact that leadership styles have on turnover. The results reveal that transformational-oriented leadership was found to lower voluntary turnover—that is, the aggregate of quits and transfers. Transactional-oriented leadership, on the other hand, was found to increase quits in agencies. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed in the article.     

The Law Commission Consultative Report on Company Security Interests: An Irreverent Riposte

I was once at a sermon by a well-known Northern Ireland politician and minister of religion in which, talking about the fall from grace of a British minister following a sex scandal, he commented that while the will of God worked slowly it also worked surely. Be that as it may, one might comment that the process of law reform, whatever about working surely, can certainly work slowly. Back in July 2002 the Law Commission produced with some haste a consultation paper on Registration of Security Interests . ¹ There was a bit of a fanfare, a short consultation period and talk of imminent legislative change. Things went quiet for a while. More than 2 years later the Law Commission came back in September 2004 with a further consultation paper only this time called a "consultative report" ² with the promise of a Final Report in July 2005. In this article I will look at the consultative report and ask whether it is going to be the harbinger of legislative transformation.