• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.115-121
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• 2021

Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS), which are ethanol metabolites, are direct indicators of ethanol intake; they have been studied in a variety of biological samples in forensic science. It is necessary to analyze ethanol metabolites to determine whether the ethanol detected in autopsy cases was due to alcohol consumption before death or due to the ethanol produced from post-mortem decay. In general, EtG and EtS are detected in the blood together with ethanol; however, it may be difficult to secure blood depending on the extent of decay. Therefore, the aforementioned method should be replaced by detecting the ethanol metabolites using tissue biological samples. In this study, we determined the optimal experimental conditions for detecting EtG and EtS from spleen samples using Liquid Chromatography - Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Herein, the test method was validated, and an analysis method was applied to the actual autopsy cases.

• Journal of Auto-vehicle Safety Association
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.70-77
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• 2020

In this study, we estimate the vehicle speed by analyzing the acoustic data recorded in a single microphone of a surveillance camera. The frequency analysis of the acoustic data corrects the Doppler effect, which is a characteristic of the moving sound source, and reflects the geometric relationship according to the location of the sound source and the microphone on the two-dimensional plane. The acoustic data is selected from the horn sound that is mainly observed in an urgent situation among various sound sources that may occur in a traffic accident, and the characteristics of the monotone source are considered. We verified the reliability of the proposed method by time domain acoustic analysis and actual vehicle evaluation. This method is effective and can be used for traffic accident analysis in the blind spot of the camera using a single microphone built into the existing surveillance camera.

• The Korean Journal of Legal Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.115-119
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• 2015

We investigated event-related potentials (ERPs) to estimate the accuracy of eyewitness memories. Participants watched videos of vehicles being driven dangerously, from an anti-impaired driving initiative. The four-letter license plates of the vehicles were the target stimuli. Random numbers were presented while participants attempted to identify the license plate letters, and electroencephalograms were recorded. There was a significant difference in activity 300-500 milliseconds after stimulus onset, between target stimuli and random numbers. This finding contributes to establishing an eyewitness recognition model where different ERP components may reflect more explicit memory that is dissociable from recollection.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.189-199
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• 2024

In forensic genetics, when it is not possible to confirm an individual's identity through STR profile analysis, additional information about the individual can be obtained using DNA-based phenotypic traits estimation. Recently, various researches have been conducted on methods to determine externally visible characteristics (EVC) such as eyes, hair, and skin color. However, relying solely on such phenotypic traits information has limitations for application in East Asian regions, including Korea. In this study, in order to utilize EVC related to an individual's appearance as investigative information, SNPs related to eye shape, hair thickness, skin color, as well as baldness, body type, high myopia, facial shape, acne, and behavioral habits were explored. A total of 50 SNPs were selected, and a targeted amplicon NGS panel capable of amplifying them all at once was developed. Experimental results confirmed the allelic types and frequencies of the 50 SNPs in 14 samples. We plan to use this panel to investigate the correlation between genotype and phenotype using various samples, and to develop methods for interpreting the results.

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Legal Medicine
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.61-64
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• 2016

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV (EDS IV) is a hereditary disorder of the connective tissue, characterized by easy bruising, thin skin with visible veins, and spontaneous rupture of the large arteries, uterus, or bowel. EDS IV is caused by mutations of the gene for type III procollagen (COL3A1), resulting in insufficient collagen production or a defect in the structure of collagen. EDS IV can have fatal complications such as the rupture of great vessels or organs, which can cause hemorrhaging and sudden unexpected death. Here, we report a case of a 43-year-old female who collapsed after a struggle with a neighbor. In this patient, the bifurcation of the bilateral common iliac artery ruptured, with no evidence of trauma, inflammation, or atherosclerosis. Genetic analysis of COL3A1 showed the presence of a c.2771G>A (p.Gly924Arg) mutation, which may be associated with EDS IV. The forensic pathologist should consider the possibility that the spontaneous visceral or arterial rupture was caused by EDS IV. Genetic analysis is not currently a routine procedure during autopsy. However, in this case, we suggest that the patient possibly had an underlying EDS IV condition, and we recommended family members of the deceased to seek genetic analysis and counseling.

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Legal Medicine
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.168-171
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• 2018

In Korea, small octopus (Octopus minor) and webfoot octopus (Octopus ocellatus) are food items and fatal laryngeal choking due to ingestion of live octopus is not uncommon. We recently encountered two autopsy cases of accidental choking on small octopus and webfoot octopus. Case 1 involved a 58-year-old fisherman who ingested two live webfoot octopuses in his fishing boat and collapsed. He was immediately taken to the hospital but died. During autopsy, one of the webfoot octopuses was found between his pharynx and esophagus; it was obstructing the epiglottis and upper esophagus. His blood alcohol concentration was 0.140%. Case 2 involved a 55-year-old man who ingested an intact body part of a small octopus and was found dead in his house. He had a history of cerebral infarction and angina pectoris. During autopsy, an intact body part of the small octopus was found to be lodged in the laryngeal inlet.

• Korean Journal of Forensic Psychology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-20
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• 2020

Witnesses will be exposed to a variety of misinformation after the witnessing of the event and state at the scene of the investigation after the delay period. This study was conducted to promote correct recall reporting without being affected by factors that against correct recall. Self-Administered Interview(SAI) is known to obtain eyewitness accounts quickly and accurately. Therefore, we performed a SAI to see if it reported more information than the control group that did not perform the SAI. Also, it also performed that correct information was maintained without being affected by misinformation and delay. Eighty-eight participants were asked to perform SAI or game after showing a video of mock crime. Misinformation was presented in the first or second session to see if it affected recall. An analysis of responses from the final test conducted in the second session by participants showed that groups that conducted SAI after a four-week delay reported more correct information than control groups, while there was no difference between incorrect- and confabulation information. In particular, the timing of presenting misinformation did not affect the amount of recall. This suggests that conducting the SAI immediately after witnessing the event protects correct information even after four weeks. Finally, the significance and limitations of this study, and subsequent studies were discussed.

• Journal of Auto-vehicle Safety Association
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.35-41
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• 2023

On December 19, 2015, as Article 29-3 (Installation of Accident Recording Devices and Provision of Information) of Motor Vehicle Management Act came into force, In Korea, the EDR (Event Data Recorder) reports are often used for the analysis of various traffic accident cases such as multiple collisions, traffic insurance crimes, and sudden unintended acceleration (SUA), and the others. So many investigators have analyzed the driver's behavior and vehicle situation by comparing the time zero in the EDR report to the actual crash time in dash-cam (or CCTV). Time zero (T0) is defined as the reference time for the record interval or time interval when recording an accident in Article 56-2, Enforcement rule of Performance and Standard for Automobile and Automotive parts. Also in the EDR report, time zero (T0) is defined as whichever of the following occurs first; 1. "wake-up" by an air-bag control system, 2. Continuously running algorithms (by monitoring of longitudinal or lateral delta-V), 3. Deployment of a non-reversible deployment restraint. We have already proposed the "Flowchart & Checklist" to adopt the EDR report for traffic accident investigation and the necessity of specialized institutions or courses to systematically educate or analyze the EDR data. Therefore, in this paper, we report to traffic accident investigators notable points and analysis methods based on some real-world traffic accidents that can be misjudged in specifying time zero (T0).