• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.55-63
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• 2018

Microbes and their toxins can be bioweapons that bioterrorists use them to commit bioterrorism and biocrime. Due to the potential and relative ease of the bioattack, life-threat pathogenic agents (bacteria, viruses, and toxins) as bioweapon revealed the need for a new field of microbial forensics. Microbial forensics is a new scientific discipline combining microbiology and forensic science, which is focused on characterization of evidence from a bioterrorism, biocrime, and an inadvertent release of biothreat agents. The sophisticated analytical tool and knowledge of microbial forensics can provide investigative leads and help determine who was responsible for the biocrime, the source of the bioweapon, and how and where the bioweapon was produced. Among the fields of microbial forensics, this paper will briefly describe evidence collection, handling, packaging, transportation, storage, analytical methods of evidence, and review microbial forensics as a response to bioterrorism and biocrime.

• Anatomy & Biological Anthropology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.121-131
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• 2018

Stature is one of the unique biological properties of a person, which can be used for identification of the individual. In this regard, statures are estimated for the unknown victims from crimes and disasters. However, the accuracy of estimates may be compromised by inappropriate methodologies and/or practices of stature estimation. Discussed in this study are the methodological issues related to the current practices of forensic anthropological stature estimation in Korea, followed by suggestions to enhance the accuracy of the stature estimates. Summaries of forensic anthropological examinations for 560 skeletal remains, which were conducted at the National Forensic Service (NFS), were reviewed. Mr. Yoo Byung-eun's case is utilized as an example of the NFS's practices. To estimate Mr. Yoo's stature, Trotter's (1970) femur equation was applied even though the fibula equation of a lower standard error was available. In his case report, the standard error associated with the equation (${\pm}3.8cm$) was interpreted as an 'error range', which gave a hasty impression that the prediction interval is that narrow. Also, stature shrinkage by aging was not considered, so the estimated stature in Mr. Yoo's case report should be regarded as his maximum living stature, rather than his stature-at-death. Lastly, applying Trotter's (1970) White female equations to Korean female remains is likely to underestimate their statures. The anatomical method will enhance the accuracy of stature estimates. However, in cases that the anatomical method is not feasible, the mathematical method based on Korean samples should be considered. Since 1980's, effort has been made to generate stature estimation equations using Korean samples. Applying the equations based on Korean samples to Korean skeletal remains will enhance the accuracy of the stature estimates, which will eventually increase the likelihood of successful identification of the unknowns.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.85-93
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• 2016

This study investigated the possibility of DNA contamination during fingerprint collection when using a fingerprint brush. Two kinds of brushes were selected: powdered brushes and neat (not powdered) brushes. The fingerprints were collected from the tips of all the fingers and near the wrists of both living and deceased persons using the two brushes. Both brushes were analyzed for the DNA contents and profiles. The results obtained confirmed the transfer of DNA onto both brushes, although the results showed that the powdered brushes carried more DNA compared with the neat brushes. More DNA was transferred onto the brushes used on deceased persons than onto the brushes used for living persons. Only partial DNA profiles were obtained from the brushes, which is due to the presence of other sources of DNA on the surfaces of the skin of both living and deceased persons. This phenomenon confirmed the DNA contamination during fingerprint collection when fingerprint brushes were used.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.410-417
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• 2017

Estimation of postmortem interval (PMI) is a key issue in the field of forensic pathology. With the availability of quantitative analysis of RNA levels in postmortem tissues, several studies have assessed the postmortem degradation of constitutively expressed RNA species to estimate PMI. However, conventional RNA quantification as well as biochemical and physiological changes employed thus far have limitations related to standardization or normalization. The present study focuses on an interesting feature of the subdomains of certain RNA species, in which they are site-specifically cleaved during apoptotic cell death. We found that the D8 divergent domain of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) bearing cell death-related cleavage sites was rapidly removed during postmortem RNA degradation. In contrast to the fragile domain, the 5' terminal region of 28S rRNA was remarkably stable during the postmortem period. Importantly, the differences in the degradation rates between the two domains in mammalian 28S rRNA were highly proportional to increasing PMI with a significant linear correlation observed in mice as well as human autopsy tissues. In conclusion, we demonstrate that comparison of the degradation rates between domains of a single RNA species provides quantitative information on postmortem degradation states, which can be applied for the estimation of PMI.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2013.05a
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• pp.197-200
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• 2013

Internet phone, communication cost and easy-to-use low-cost compared to the PSTN is a mobile phone of a conventional, and use of the Internet phone is spreading. Construction as part of the broadband convergence network(BCN), Internet service provider(KT, SKT, LG) has converted to Internet phone telephone network to all government agencies. In addition, members of the public also have an Internet phone service that you are using. In this paper, we analyze the hacking attack on IP-PBX in the IETF SIP-based that are used in Internet telephony, to the study. The test bed is constructed in the same way as the Internet telephone system to perform studies carried hacking attacks on IP-PBX, analyze the results and to extract evidence forensics. When used in crime by hacking the Internet telephone, we propose a method which can be used as evidence in forensic having legal effect.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.164-170
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• 2012

Cyanoacrylate fuming mehod is effective for latent fingerprints developing on non-porous surfaces. In this study, we investigated optimal conditions for latent fingerprint development using cyanoacrylate fuming method in vacuum chamber. The effects of temperature, relative humidity, fuming method and processing time were checked throughly. The amount of evaporated cyanoacrylate was increased at higher temperature, but cyanoacrylate polymerization on the fingerprint ridge was best at $30^{\circ}C$. With a relative humidity of 40% to 50% conditions, good quality of fingerprints were developed. If a relative humidity is lower than 30% or higher than 60%, polymerization rate of cyanoacrylate monomers on the fingerprint ridge was decreased. It was identified that application of $OMEGA-PRINT^{TM}$ dispersal pad or cotton ball with sodium hydroxide fuming method in vacuum chamber was more effective than natural fuming method. We found that cyanoacrylate processing time in vacuum chamber did not have more significant than relative humidity.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.319-328
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• 2017

The identification of explosive residues on specimens obtained from an explosion event is a crucial factor for assessing the cause of the explosion. In order to detect the components of explosives, the explosive residues deposited on surfaces are commonly extracted using swabbing materials pre-wetted with an organic solvent. The residues are then analyzed with analytical instruments such as LC/MS and CE/MS. Most conventionally used swabbing media such as cotton swabs or cotton tip swabs seem unsuitable for extracting explosive residues from the surface of a large area of clothes because the swabbing materials tend to be damaged easily, and because only a relatively small amount of explosives is collected. To overcome these problems, we have introduced a novel wiper ($215{\times}210mm$, single layer, Yuhan-Kimberly, Republic of Korea) as a swabbing material to recover representative organic explosives, namely, TNT, RDX, tetryl, HMX, PETN, and NG, from a large area of clothes. Different sides of the wiper, which was folded in half five times, was used to swab the surface of a clothing. We compared this novel wiper with a cotton swab and a cotton tip swab in terms of the recovery efficiency for the aforementioned organic explosives by pre-wetting with methanol, acetone, and acetonitrile, respectively. We identified that this novel wiper collected a significantly higher amount of organic explosive residues than a cotton swab or a cotton tip swab when using methanol as an extracting solvent.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 2013

We identified four new bovine tri-nucleotide microsatellite loci and analyzed their sequence structures and genetic parameters in 105 randomly selected Korean cattle (Hanwoo). Allele numbers of the loci B17S0808, B15S6253, B8S7996, and B17S4998 were 10, 11, 12, and 29, respectively. These alleles contained a simple or compound repeat sequences with some variations. Allele distributions of all these loci were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P > 0.05). Observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.54 (B15S6253) to 0.92 (B17S4998) and from 0.599 (B15S6253) to 0.968 (B17S4998), respectively, and two measures of heterozygosity at each locus were highly correlated. Polymorphism information content (PIC) for these 4 loci ranged from 0.551 (B15S6253) to 0.932 (B17S4998), which means that all these loci are highly informative (PIC > 0.5). Other genetic parameters, power of discrimination (PD) and probability of exclusion (PE) ranged from 0.783 (B15S6253) to 0.984 (B17S4998) and from 0.210 (B15S6253) to 0.782 (B17S4998), respectively. Their combined PD and PE values were 0.9999968 and 0.98005176, respectively. Capillary electrophoresis revealed that average peak height ratio for a stutter was 13.89% at B17S0808, 26.67% at B15S6253, 9.09% at B8S7996, and 43.75% at B17S4998. Although the degree of genetic variability of the locus B15S6253 was relatively low among these four microsatellite markers, their favorable parameters and low peak height ratios for stutters indicate that these four new tri-nucleotide microsatellite loci could be useful multiplex PCR markers for the forensic and population genetic studies in cattle including Korean native breed.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.260-264
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• 1999

A simple and rapid procedure, called FoLT-PCR(Formamide Low Temperature-Polymerase Chain Reaction) was applied to amplifying DNA directly from various forensic biological evidences including human blood, saliva, hair root, or semen without any DNA preparative steps. We added washing step with non-ionic detergent, 1% Triton X-100, and used Taq DNA polymerase instead of Tth DNA polymerase to amplify 3 STR loci and gender allele simultaneouly. Optimal concentration of formamide and annealing temperature were determined empirically to 8%(v/v), and $48^{\circ}C$ respectively. We also compared this method with standard PCR.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.48-52
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• 2008

A new forensic saliva test method using $SALIgAE^{(R)}$ was evaluated in this study. The sensitivity and specificity of $SALIgAE^{(R)}$ were examined and compared to those of other saliva test methods such as agarose gel diffusion method and $Phadebas^{(R)}$ test sheet method. $SALIgAE^{(R)}$ showed high sensitivity and specificity to human saliva in addition to quickness. Moreover modified $SALIgAE^{(R)}$ method was cheap and easy to use in crime scene and DNA laboratory. $SALIgAE^{(R)}$ was very stable at room temperature and had no effect on STR typing.