Shadows into Light: The Potential Investigative Utility of Voice Analysis with Two Types of Online Child-Sex Predators.

Over 390,000 child sexual abuse victims in the United States have not yet been identified. Due to the increased prevalence of Internet-driven child-sex offenders (e.g., child pornographers and travelers), detection becomes more elusive, and disclosure elicitations are more challenging for law enforcement. The current retrospective study examines an innovative, investigative method of voice stress analysis use, and describes its possible utility in identifying previously undetected sexual offending within these two offender populations. In the total sample of 82 arrestees with no known history of "hands-on" sexual offending, 0% initially admitted to sexually abusing at least one child. However, coinciding with voice stress analysis procedures, 40.2% of the suspect pool (57.1% of child pornographers and 36.7% of travelers) provided admissions to hands-on offenses. Also, 80.5% admitted to at least one sex crime offense during the pre and posttest stages of the investigation. All voice stress analysis "Stress Indicated" examinations resulted in verifiable disclosures (of victims and sex crimes). Critically, as a result of voice stress analysis procedures, 87 previously undiscovered live victims were identified. Finally, this study's description of specific characteristics and predictive qualities of victimizers vs. non-victimizers in each offender-type should benefit future investigators, researchers, and therapists alike.

Structural optimization of thiol-based inhibitors of glutamate carboxypeptidase II by modification of the P1' side chain.

A series of thiol-based inhibitors containing a benzyl moiety at the P1' position have been synthesized and tested for their abilities to inhibit glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCP II). 3-(2-Carboxy-5-mercaptopentyl)benzoic acid 6c was found to be the most potent inhibitor with an IC(50) value of 15 nM, 6-fold more potent than 2-(3-mercaptopropyl)pentanedioic acid (2-MPPA), a previously discovered, orally active GCP II inhibitor. Subsequent SAR studies have revealed that the phenoxy and phenylsulfanyl analogues of 6c, 3-(1-carboxy-4-mercaptobutoxy)benzoic acid 26a and 3-[(1-carboxy-4-mercaptobutyl)thio]benzoic acid 26b, also possess potent inhibitory activities toward GCP II. In the rat chronic constriction injury (CCI) model of neuropathic pain, compounds 6c and 26a significantly reduced hyperalgesia following oral administration (1.0 mg/kg/day).