[Thermometrical determination of the postmortem interval by non-linear optimization method]

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Computational Biology
• Biophysics

Context:

• Accurate determination of the postmortem interval is crucial in forensic investigations.
• Existing methods may not fully account for individual cooling variations or measurement errors.
• The Marshall-Hoare law provides a theoretical basis for modeling corpse cooling.

Purpose:

• To develop and implement an online application for calculating the postmortem interval.
• To apply a numerical method based on the Marshall-Hoare law and dual thermometry.
• To quantify the impact of measurement errors on postmortem interval estimations.

Summary:

• A novel numerical method, implemented as the Warm Bodies Z online application, determines the postmortem interval using corpse core dual thermometry and the Marshall-Hoare law.
• This iterative optimization algorithm considers unique cooling conditions and calculates uncertainty arising from measurement errors.
• The method utilizes a two-variable target function derived from non-linear Marshall-Hoare equations.

Impact:

• Provides a scientifically validated tool for forensic practitioners.
• Enhances the accuracy and reliability of postmortem interval estimations.
• Offers a quantifiable measure of uncertainty in forensic calculations.