• Journal of forensic and investigative science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2006

The purposes of fire investigation are to identify and analyze the causes of fire and, using the results in promoting fire fighting policies, ultimately to prevent fires caused by similar causes and to protect people's life and properties from fire. However, although the patterns of fire are getting more diverse and complicated with the rapid development of industry, complicated with the rapid development of industry, fire fighting organizations are continuing traditional superficial fire investigation without operating a fire investigation department for the reason of insufficient manpower, equipment and budget, losing public confidence. Thus, the present study purposed to propose plans to improve the technicality of fire investigation and win public confidence in fire investigation. First, the technicality of fire investigation should be improved by operating a department and personnel exclusively for fire investigation. Second, fire investigation should be more scientific and precise using high tech fire investigation equipment. Lastly, responsible fire fighting administration should be realized through statistical analysis of the causes of fire and computerization. The results of this study are expected to contribute to the safety and security of our society.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.229-232
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• 2009

DNA isolation for PCR-based short tandem repeat (STR) analysis is essential to recover high yields of amplifiable DNA from low copy number (LCN) DNA samples. There are different methods developed for DNA extraction from the small bloodstain and gloves, commonly found at crime scenes. In order to obtain STR profiles from LCN DNA samples, DNA extraction protocols, namely the automated $iPrep^{TM}$ $ChargeSwitch^{(R)}$ method, the automated $QIAcube^{TM}$ method, the automated $Maxwell^{(R)}$ 16 DNA $IQ^{TM}$ Resin method, and the manual $QIAamp^{(R)}$ DNA Micro Kit method, were evaluated. Extracted DNA was quantified by the $Quantifiler^{TM}$ Human DNA Quantification Kit and DNA profiled by $AmpFISTR^{(R)}$ $Identifiler^{(R)}$ Kit. Results were compared based on the amount of DNA obtained and the completeness of the STR profiles produced. The automated $iPrep^{TM}$ $ChargeSwitch^{(R)}$ and $QIAcube^{TM}$ methoas produced reproducible DNA of sufficient quantity and quality trom the dried blood spot. This two automated methods showed a quantity and quality comparable to those of the forensic manual standard protocols normally used in our laboratory. In our hands, the automated DNA extraction method is another obvious choice when the forensic case sample available is bloodstain. The findings of this study indicate that the manual simple modified $QIAamp^{(R)}$ DNA Micro Kit method is best method to recover high yields of amplifiable DNA from the numerous potential sources of LCN DNA samples.

• Journal of forensic and investigative science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.25-42
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• 2008

As the age of the sex crime perpetrators and victims is going down, the importance of Sex Assault Prevention Education (SAPE) is on the rise. In order to see how many students are aware of the SAPE which are currently being conducted in the local schools. A total of 600 students from five different primary schools in Kyongsan City area were questioned with the questionnaire. On the whole, the level of acknowledgement on the sexual assault is estimated as 20.52 out of total point 53.00. The point in each question is shown as low as follows; The notion of Sexual Assault (9.88 out of 19), recognition of Sexual Assault (5.45 out 11), way to cope with the sexual assault (6.60 out of 11), and knowledge on the symptom induced by the sexual assault (4.04 out of 12). The SAPE should be taught to the student from the young age frequently. The efficiency of SAPE will be increased by the health-care teachers who have the professional knowledge with the case studies and teaching materials like CD-ROMs. The health-care teachers as the SAPE lecturers require continuous training.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.93-96
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• 2013

The prediction of externally visible characteristics from DNA has been studied for forensic genetics over the last few years. Externally visible characteristics include hair, skin, and eye color, height, and facial morphology, which have high heritability. Recent studies using genome-wide association analysis have identified genes and variations that correlate with human visible phenotypes and developed phenotype prediction programs. However, most prediction models were constructed and validated based on genotype and phenotype information on Europeans. Therefore, we need to validate prediction models in diverse ethnic populations. In this study, we selected potentially useful variations for forensic science that are associated with hair and eye color, iris pattern, and facial morphology, based on previous studies, and analyzed their frequencies in 1,920 Koreans. Among 20 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 10 SNPs were polymorphic, 6 SNPs were very rare (minor allele frequency < 0.005), and 4 SNPs were monomorphic in the Korean population. Even though the usability of these SNPs should be verified by an association study in Koreans, this study provides 10 potential SNP markers for forensic science for externally visible characteristics in the Korean population.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.74-77
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• 2022

We present a fatal case of cerebral arterial thrombosis after corona virus disease 19 (COVID-19) vaccination with ChAdOx1 nCOV-19. The deceased was a 63-year-old woman with no relevant medical history. She presented symptoms of nausea, fatigue, and headache immediately after vaccination. Ten days after vaccination, she suddenly started vomiting and developed high blood pressure. The patient eventually died 23 days after vaccination. Autopsy findings showed that the cerebral arteries and internal carotid arteries were fully enlarged and were compacted with thrombi. The brain stem showed ischemic necrosis, and extravasation from this necrotic lesion led to focal subarachnoid hemorrhage around the brain stem where large blood clots still remained. No aneurysms or atherosclerotic changes were found in these arteries. We note the following three facts. Firstly, all symptoms occurred immediately after vaccination; secondly, the main cause of death was consistent with known side effects of the vaccine; and lastly, the mechanism of thrombus formation in this case goes beyond the general category of thrombogenesis known so far. While the authors know that this case does not fall into known categories of vaccine side effects, we presenting this case to demonstrate that a comprehensive review of various possibilities related to vaccine side effects is needed to establish a COVID-19 defense system.

• Journal of forensic and investigative science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.31-44
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• 2006

The importance regarding the notion of immediate medical treatment and nursing for the victims of sexual crimes is not widely recognized yet in Korea. Throughout this research is focused on the nursing systems and the system of foreign countries in reference to sexual crime victims, and the conclusion is as follows. In Korea, there are currently no educational or medical institutes for the medical handling for the victims of sexual crimes, and the role of nurses in the medical institutes is insufficient. In addition, the basis for the standard of operation regarding the initial response, evidence collection, pursuit of systematical evidence and data is not established even in the sexual assault counseling/advocacy center. Therefore, it is necessary to foster the sexual assault nurse examiner for the sexual crime victims, and to develop adequate training programs based on the present situation in Korea. Though the cooperation among government, medical institutes, and social movement groups, it is essential to initiate effective and publicly-trusted specialized training programs for forensic nurses who will be fully charged with the treatment of sexual crime victims. By introducing the sexual assault nurse examiner system, it can be possible to develop advanced treatment for the child or adolescent victims of sex crimes.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.269-277
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• 2024

Scientific forensic techniques are used to verify environmental impact of groundwater pollution, surface water pollution, air pollution, noise, and vibration according to residents' complaints in connection with construction and civil engineering works. In this study, we investigated the contamination of groundwater and the lowering of the groundwater level in an area surrounding a tunnel excavation site for the Andong-Yeongdeok national road, using a forensic hydrogeological technique. We reviewed the groundwater level and water quality of well GW1 in the area surrounding the tunnel excavation site as well as tunnel construction information and then we analyzed the correlations among the obtained data. Before tunnel excavation, the water level of well GW1 was lower than the tunnel elevation. Considering the relationship between the precipitation, tunnel discharge, tunnel depth, and groundwater level of well GW1, the groundwater flowed from the tunnel to well GW1. Moreover, the tunnel discharge and groundwater levels were not related to each other. The pH of well GW1 was 8.4 before tunnel excavation. During excavation, the pH declined to 8.1-8.2 at the beginning, and increased to 8.8 at the end of the excavation. The fluorine concentration in well GW1 was 2.49 mg/L, 1.91-3.22 mg/L, and 1.7-2.67 mg/L, respectively, before, during, and after the excavation. The sulfate ion concentration was very high, over 2,000 mg/L, before and during the excavation; after the excavation, it was between 200 and 323 mg/L. Turbidity was 1.47, 10.5, and 4.51 NTU before, during, and after tunnel excavation, respectively. Therefore, the excavation of this tunnel is not related to the groundwater quality of well GW1.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.1013-1024
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• 1998

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1001-1010
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• 1999

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.1093-1109
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• 1996