• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.94-96
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• 2020

In November 2013, a case of sustained combustion of a female body was encountered in a Korean farming village. The body was almost completely incinerated from the neck to the knees, and other parts of the body, such as the head, arms, lower legs, and feet, were slightly damaged. The most likely external ignition source was the flame from a matchstick. The elderly woman was found incinerated on the floor of the living room, while other objects in the house were largely undamaged except for having a brown oily or greasy coating. Flammable substances were not detected from the woman's intact pieces of clothing and socks, and her muscular tissues did not contain toxic chemicals. The concentration of carboxyhemoglobin in her peripheral blood was 11% and that of ethyl alcohol in her aqueous humor was below 0.010%. An autopsy failed to determine the exact cause of death because of excessive charring.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.106-115
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• 2011

Systematic toxicological analysis (STA) means the process for general unknown screening of drugs and toxic compounds in biological fluids. In order to establish STA, in previous study we investigated pattern of drugs & poisons in autopsy cases during 2007~2009 in Korea, and finally selected 62 drugs as target drugs for STA. In this study, rapid and simple drug identification and quantitative analytical program by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS) was developed. The in-house program, "DrugMan", consisted of modified chemstation data analysis menu and newly developed macro modules. Total 55 drugs among 62 target drugs were applied to this program, they were 14 antidepressants, 8 anti-histamines, 5 sedatives/hypnotics, 5 narcotic analgesics, 3 antipsychotic drugs, and etc. For calibration curves, fifty five drugs were divided into four groups of range considering their therapeutic or toxic concentrations in blood specimen, i.e. 0.05~1 mg/l, 0.1~1 mg/l, 0.1~5 mg/l or 0.5~10 mg/l. Standards spiked bloods were extracted by solid-phase extraction (SPE) with trimipramine-D3 as internal standard. Parameters such as retention times, 3 mass fragment ions, and calibration curves for each drug were registered to DrugMan. A series of identification, semi quantitation of target drugs and reporting the results were performed automatically. Calibration curves for most drugs were linear with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.98. Sensitivity rate of DrugMan was 0.90 (90%) for 55 drugs at the level of 0.5 mg/l. For standard spiked bloods at the level of 0.5 mg/l for 29 drugs, semi quantitative concentrations were ranged 0.36~0.64 mg/l by DrugMan. If more drugs are registered to database in DrugMan in further study, it will be useful tools for STA in forensic toxicology.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.170-179
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• 2023

Starvation, diabetes, alcoholism and hypothermia cause ketoacidosis in the human body; therefore, the cause of death can be determined by analyzing ketone bodies in the blood of the deceased. In the case of decomposition of the cadaver, however, since collecting intact blood is impossible, ketone body analysis is performed using the spleen. However, the index for diagnosing ketoacidosis is based on blood concentration, and its correlation with ketone bodies present in the spleen remains unknown. In particular, since decomposition proceeds rapidly during summer, when temperature and humidity are high, understanding the correlation between ketone bodies in the blood and spleen is important to estimate the state at the time of death from a decaying body. Therefore, in the present study, the correlation between ketone bodies in the blood and spleen of the deceased was explored. Ketone bodies (beta-hydroxybutyric acid [BHB] and acetone) in the blood and spleen were analyzed and compared from autopsies (>100 mg·L^-1 BHB, blood basis) conducted at the Daejeon Forensic Research Institute from June to December 2021. Moreover, the concentration of ketone bodies in the spleen juice and tissues was compared assuming the scenario of extreme decomposition. Ketone retention concentration in the blood and spleen was positively correlated, and the ratio of BHB concentration in the spleen to BHB concentration in the blood ranged from 0.52 to 1.08 (mean = 0.85 ± 0.12), although the ratio may vary depending on the degree of decomposition of the corpse.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.15-20
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• 2013

This paper dealt with melting characteristics of low-voltage miniature cartridge fuse used for 220 V electronic equipment. The experimental sample is low-voltage miniature cartridge fuse with rating of 250 V(3A) and size of $5{\times}20$ mm. In order to evaluate melting and scattering characteristics of the fuse, we applied to 8/20 ${\mu}s$ surge current, overload current and external thermal stress such as flame of fire. From the experimental results, the fuse element was melted and scattered by applied surge current(above 0.79 kA) and overload current(above 4.5 A). It was also attached to the inner surface of the fuse tube. The fuse element was attached as a thin film on inner surface of fuse tube when large surge current was applied. It was confirmed, however, the fuse element was not changed by external thermal stress such as flame and hot-air.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.327-333
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• 2022

The DNA profiling of short tandem repeat (STR) markers is a powerful tool for forensic identification and forensic paternity testing. However, STR loci are susceptible to mutation that cause mismatches between parents and children when paternity is tested. Herein, we examined paternity disputes with 23 autosomal STR loci using two commercial human identification kits and revealed successive mismatches at the D13S317 locus across three generations of a Korean family. Additionally, we investigated 12 X-chromosomal STRs and discovered an inconsistency at the DXS10148 locus between the father and daughter of the same Korean family. Furthermore, we confirmed STR genotypes at the D13S317 and DXS10148 loci of the family using sequencing analysis. Consequently, we identified a successive single-step mutation at the D13S317 locus and one single-step mutation at the DXS10148 locus in three generations of the Korean family. Therefore, this case study may be useful for interpreting and understanding forensic paternity tests.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.346-361
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• 2022

Food poisoning accidents caused by poisonous plants occur every year. As certain poisonous plants are mistaken for edible plants causing food poisoning, accurate species identification of poisonous plants is required. DNA barcodes suitable for species identification of poisonous plants and database that can be used for accurate species identification are necessary for their use in forensic cases. In this study, species identification of 19 poisonous plants native to Jeju Island using seven DNA barcodes (trnH-psbA, trnL-trnF, trnL intron, rbcL, matK, ITS1-ITS4, 18S rRNA) was performed to construct a database containing sequence information and DNA barcode universality. trnL-trnF barcode and ITS1-ITS4 barcode were the easiest markers for PCR amplification and sequence retrieval, and the combination of the two barcodes enabled single species identification in 18 out of 19 plants. Therefore, when an investigation of unknown poisonous plants is requested, combination of trnL-trnF and ITS1-ITS4 barcodes is considered as a primary marker for species identification. The database of recommended DNA barcodes for each poisonous plant presented in this study will be helpful in plants poisoning cases.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.340-351
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• 2013

The chemical element and structural characterization of different types of cements and its brick stones are been investigated under forensic aspects using X-ray florescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrometer. The XRF provides rapid compositional data for controlling almost all stages of raw materials, clinker and cement. The decisive advantage of XRD methods is based on the unique character of the diffraction patterns of crystalline substances, the ability to distinguish between elements and their oxides, and the possibility to identify chemical compounds, polymeric forms, and mixed crystals by non-destructive examination. Therefore, combination of these examinations is useful and able to apply for the forensic analysis in comparison of cements and brick stones. There are more study remained to determine the viability of method for forensic analysis of brick stones and the limits of the discrimination that can be achieved.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.490-494
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• 2017

With increasing the number of vehicles, the accident rate also goes up and the damaged vehicles should be painted as a final repair process. At the painting stage the solvent-based paint causes environmental problems. To overcome these problems waterborne refinish paint is frequently used recently. However, for waterborne refinish, the costs of insurance coverage are too expensive, and insurance reimbursement costs could be burdensome. Because of the high price of aquatic paint treatment, the service shop might charge the malicious service price. In this study, the surfactant of Surfynol 104, which is the component in the paint, was used as an indicator whether the vehicle was painted with waterborne paint. The specimen was quantitatively analyzed to contain 0.38% of the surfactant through the standard addition method with isotope substituted internal standard (IS) of fluranthene-d10 by curie point pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS).

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.71-77
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• 2018

Detection of bloodstains is a very important process in scientific investigations, and luminol is often used for the detection of bloodstains that are not visible. Recently, new preparation methods of blood detection reagents based on luminol (BloodFlareA, B) were developed and reported to have higher active persistence and to be more economical than conventional blood detection reagent, BlueStar forensic. In this paper, we tested the specificity and effect of the BloodFlares (A and B) on DNA and compared them with those of BlueStar forensic. False positive results for the BloodFlares were not observed in semen, saliva, vaginal fluids, urine, sweat, and nasal discharge, but were observed in $CuSO_4$, $FeSO_4$, and bleach solutions, and the observed patterns were similar to those of BlueStar forensic. The effect on DNA was determined by analyzing the DNA yield, degradation index, and DNA profiling. Based on these results, we concluded that the BloodFlares based on luminol do not affect DNA stability and are applicable in forensics.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.230-234
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• 2015

This paper includes a review of 555 drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) cases analyzed at the National Forensic Service (NFS), South Korea, between 2006 and 2012. The results of toxicological analyses of blood and urine samples were also reported, and furthermore the results were interpreted with respect to the number of drugs detected. The number of DFSA cases was highest during warmer summer months and the mean age of the victims was 25 years, with 48% being between 20 and 29 years. Accommodations or entertainment places were the most frequent place of the sexual assault (57%); and the assailant was a stranger in 72% of the DFSA cases. Drugs were identified in the blood or urine samples in 145 cases (26%) and sedative-hypnotics, such as benzodiazepines and zolpidem, were the most commonly detected, along with sedative antihistamines such as doxylamine and diphenhydramine. The frequent presence of sedative drugs in biological samples tends to implicate their use in chemical submission. However, interpreting the analytical results in terms of voluntary vs. surreptitious administration of drugs requires further detailed investigation and knowledge of the victim's health status and medication used at the time of event.