• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.80-88
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• 2023

Fingerprints play a crucial role in the identification of potential suspects in criminal cases. However, determining the actual time, i.e., the time at which the fingermark was deposited, is challenging. Herein, we investigated the persistence and aging of fingerprints over time by observing the time evolution of latent fingerprints on a polystyrene box stored in a dark room. Fingerprint samples that were stored for up to two years could be detected with maximum accuracy using a black iron-oxide-based emulsion (black emulsion). To estimate the time of fingerprint deposition, fingerprint aging was studied by analyzing the lipid components of the fingerprints after their development. Cholesterol and squalene were selected as indicators of fingerprint aging, and their ratio was estimated to assess aging. In the case of fingerprint samples stored in a dark room for up to one month after deposition, the cholesterol/squalene ratio was approximately 0.01; it increased gradually to ≥ 0.1 over six months. A substantial reduction in the levels of cholesterol and squalene from the initial levels was also noted. Cholesterol and squalene were not detected after one year of storage. Thus, the extent of aging could be determined by analyzing the aging indicators for up to six months. Two cases that could cause error in the estimation of the fingerprint deposition time, namely, heating of the fingerprint sample before development and storage of the developed fingerprints in a dark room, were also investigated.

• The Korean Journal of Legal Medicine
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.111-125
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• 2018

Statistical analysis was performed on national forensic autopsy data collected in the Republic of Korea, with the exception of Ulsan, during 2017. A total of 8,777 cases were categorized based on the region; information was provided by the Police Agency and the Coast Guard regarding sex, age, manner of death, and cause of death. Analysis of the manner of death revealed that 3,971 cases (45.2%) were unnatural deaths, 3,679 cases (41.9%) were natural deaths, and 1,127 cases (12.8%) were unknown deaths. Among the unnatural deaths, the majority of the cases (1,740 cases, 43.8%) were accidents, 1,316 cases (33.1%) were suicide, 385 cases (9.7%) were homicide, and 530 cases (13.3%) were undetermined deaths. Among the unnatural deaths, the majority of the cases (1,575 cases, 39.7%) were trauma, followed by 793 cases (20.0%) of poisoning and 689 cases (17.4%) of asphyxia. Falling down was the major cause of death by trauma (737 cases, 46.8%). As a result of the classification of asphyxia based on previous study, strangulation was the major cause, with 538 cases (78.1%). Among the natural deaths, heart disease was the major cause (1,790 cases, 48.7%), followed by vascular disease (697 cases, 18.9%).

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.302-313
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• 2023

Y chromosomal short tandem repeat (Y-STR) markers have been developed continuously to complement forensic DNA analyses and population genetic studies. Initially, we collected data from previously reported Korean population Y-STR haplotype studies on 1133 individuals. We then conducted a marker expansion analysis using a dataset from the Y-STR Haplotype Reference Database (YHRD), covering up to 29 Y-STRs, referred to as Ymax. Additionally, we examined the impact of rapidly mutating (RM) Y-STRs included in this expanded marker set on the discrimination capacity. We observed that marker expansions both with (0.9896), and without (0.9510), RM Y-STR improved the discrimination capacity. Subsequently, we focused on 16 individuals belonging to seven distinct groups sharing identical haplotypes. These particular haplotypes had been previously identified among 476 unrelated males using 23 Y-STR markers from the PowerPlex^® Y23 System. We expanded the marker panel up to Ymax to explore how discrimination improved with an expansion of Y-STR markers for these 16 individuals. Among the expanded markers, DYS627, which had high discriminatory power, had a high mutation rate (1.10 × 10^-2) and high gene diversity (0.83). In contrast, DYF387S1 displayed high gene diversity (0.95) but a relatively low mutation rate (2.80 × 10^-3). We propose that these findings will be valuable in the selection of suitable Y-STR markers, depending on the objectives of forensic analyses. Additionally, the presence of frequently observed Y-haplotypes in Korean population will facilitate statistical interpretation in Y-STR DNA profiling.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.121-127
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• 2019

This study examined a fire accident caused by a defect in the vehicle ABS module. A large number of vehicles using the same manufacturer's ABS module in recent fire events showed a tendency to combust due to the same faults. As previously stated in the ABS module which shows the electrical breakdown between the power lines supplied to the constant power source by the battery. The electrical breakdown of the ABS module was caused by defects of the ABS module itself that were influenced by of the external flame. These results highlight the need to determine if there is a deficiency of the ABS module in the investigation of the cause of a fire in a vehicle which is produced by the same manufacturer.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.245-255
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• 2013

Identification of paint on victim's clothing and a vehicle are valuable for forensic examination when investigating hit-and-run accidents. Automotive paints on clothes are used to prove a victim caused by traffic accident and to identify a suspected vehicle. The comparison of transferred paints between victim's vehicle and suspected vehicle can be an important evidence in reconstructing the accident situation and in discovering the truth. The paints such as white, yellow, red, blue, or black are hard to examine particle shape under a stereomicroscope because of it is not included aluminum, pearl, and mica flakes in the pigments. The aim of this study under forensic aspect is to compare pigment among basecoat layers of solid paints by identifying inorganic elemental compositions and binder resins of pigments using by micro-FT-IR and micro-XRF spectrometer. The pigment samples were analyzed by using two methods of FT-IR: Reflectance and ATR method. Two methods of FT-IR were useful in discriminating binder resins of pigments by comparing characteristic peaks and patterns of spectra. Also, XRF spectrometer could identify the elemental compositions in inorganic pigments of trace paints which are difficult to compare the identification by FT-IR.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2013

In this paper, the finite element analysis using ADINA has performed to investigate an accident that a man's head was damaged by the falling object. The simulation condition has defined by the point of forensic medicine view and the CCTV image analysis. From the CCTV image analysis, we expected that the sphere diameter of object is 15cm and object color is white. Assuming the falling mass is the ice mass, the results of the ADINA simulation show that a man's head can be broken by the falling ice mass.

• The Korean Journal of Legal Medicine
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.146-152
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• 2018

We investigated the neural correlates of accurate eyewitness memory retrieval using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. We analyzed oxygenated hemoglobin ($HbO_2$) concentration in the prefrontal cortex during eyewitness memory retrieval task and examined regional $HbO_2$ differences between observed objects (target) and unobserved objects (lure). We found that target objects elicited increased activation in the bilateral ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, which is known for monitoring retrieval processing via bottom-up attentional processing. Our results suggest bottom-up attentional mechanisms could be different during accurate eyewitness memory retrieval. These findings indicate that investigating retrieval mechanisms using functional near-infrared spectroscopy might be useful for establishing an accurate eyewitness recognition model.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.66-73
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• 2013

This study assesses neck injury of occupants in a real traffic accident case that a preceding vehicle moved backward and impacted a parked vehicle at a low velocity. This case is different from a case of whiplash injury caused by rear impact on vehicle. The impact velocity was estimated from damages of the two vehicle bumpers and the displacement of the parked vehicle was also estimated from CCTV images. MADYMO simulation was performed based on the vehicle specifications and investigation report. The comparison of neck flexion moments with the corresponding injury criteria revealed that occupants of the parked vehicle might have hardly neck injury.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.40-46
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• 2014

This paper deal with due to the additional equipment established on the vehicle fire accident cases. Recently, vehicle was recognized as other living spaces and it was increasing installation of additional devices such as a black box, multivision, additional battery and so on. However, these additional devices were established on the vehicle by non-specialists such as the general public user or manufacturing and distributors of additional devices since the vehicle factory. Resulting from the additional equipments due to installation errors in these additional equipments connected to the electrical wiring insulation damage or electrical breakdown occurs, and finally leading to a fire caused by the additional equipments. Therefore, additional equipment established on the vehicle due to a fire in order to prevent accidents during the manufacturing process of these devices are installed. If not installed unless the manufacturing process, the installation of additional equipments established by professional who knows the vehicle structure that will be able to prevent the fire.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.54-60
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• 2014

This paper describes electric shock accidents on a 4.16 kV class circuit breaker for power plant. Electric shock accidents mostly involve damage of human life, in comparison with electrical fire, rate of human death tend to be higher in electric shock accidents. Specially, in a high voltage facilities rate of human death comprised about 43.7% by electric shock accidents. If electric shock accidents happen in a 4.16 kV class circuit breaker for power plant, then the power plant discontinue power production. Electric shock accidents in a power plant have a great ripple effect such as an electric power shortage. In this paper, we analyzed electric shock accidents on a 4.16 kV class circuit breaker for power plant. From the analysis results, we confirmed a cause of electric shock accidents on a 4.16 kV class circuit breaker, it happened by defect of interlock equipment or occurrence of breakdown between first feeder contactor and shielding plate. In order to reduce electric shock accidents on a 4.16 kV class circuit breaker, the power plant should consider improvement of interlock equipment and insulation of feeder contactor in circuit breaker.