Is intimate partner sexual violence a singular violence?

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the specificities of intimate partner sexual violence among heterosexual partners, as well as to contrast them to the sexual violence perpetrated by strangers or acquaintances. METHOD: A narrative review was conducted to identify relevant findings in the scientific and medical literature to inform about intimate partner sexual violence. Findings were also analysed with the lens of the clinical experience of the authors working with men convicted of intimate partner sexual violence. RESULTS: Intimate partner sexual violence was legally recognized by article 222-22 of the French Penal Code in 2006. In France rape committed by intimate partners accounts for 34% of rapes of adult women. Intimate partner sexual violence is likely to be underestimated due to variables of individual, relationship, community, and societal levels. Despite a common perception that intimate partner sexual violence is located at the lower end of the severity continuum compared with other forms of sexual violence, studies have shown that intimate sexual violence is as or even more harmful to a woman. Compared to victims of other types of sexual violence, women sexually abused by an intimate partner experience more severe mental health outcomes such as depression, anxiety, anger, self-blame, increased feelings of shame, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse to cope or suicide attempt. Intimate partner sexual violence is also associated with humiliation and betrayal of trust, greater physical violence, greater risk of sexually transmitted infections, re-victimization, higher risk of serious injury or homicide. Beyond the legal definition of sexual rape, intimate partner sexual violence encompasses a wide range of subtle and complex behaviors such as coercive tactics, blackmail, implicit threat or reproductive control. The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown seems to have played a "revealing" or "aggravating" role rather than a "triggering" of intimate violence. The treatment of intimate partner sexual violence is complex and should consider diverse therapeutic strategies to deconstruct the offenders' societal misrepresentations and to make them aware of their partner's inter-subjectivity. CONCLUSIONS: Identifying and understanding intimate partner sexual violence need to be improved both to refine the treatment of the offender-victim dyad and to break down the toxic relational dynamics maintaining abusive behaviors.

Violent Partners or a Specific Class of Offenders? A Criminal Career Approach to Understanding Men Involved in Intimate Partner Sexual Violence.

The current study investigates the criminal career of individuals involved in intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV). Specifically, the goal is to determine whether men who engage in IPSV can be distinguished from those who engage in intimate partner non sexual violence (IPNSV) only and whether criminal trajectories in the resulting subgroup are heterogeneous. The sample comes from a Canadian database including a total of 12,458 individuals involved in IPSV and 32,474 individuals involved in IPNSV). Bivariate and multivariate analyses are performed to examine the differences in the two groups while latent profile analysis allows examining the heterogeneity of characteristics of men who engaged in IPSV. Findings indicate that the criminal career of men who engage in IPSV follows a pattern that is clearly distinct from that of men who engage in IPNSV only and is more specialized in terms of sexual offenses. Results also show that the criminal trajectories followed by the men who engage in IPSV are heterogeneous. Four profiles of different trajectories were identified. Both theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Medically Significant Vector-Borne Viral Diseases in Iran.

Vector-borne viral diseases (VBVDs) continue to pose a considerable public health risk to animals and humans globally. Vectors have integral roles in autochthonous circulation and dissemination of VBVDs worldwide. The interplay of agricultural activities, population expansion, urbanization, host/pathogen evolution, and climate change, all contribute to the continual flux in shaping the epidemiology of VBVDs. In recent decades, VBVDs, once endemic to particular countries, have expanded into new regions such as Iran and its neighbors, increasing the risk of outbreaks and other public health concerns. Both Iran and its neighboring countries are known to host a number of VBVDs that are endemic to these countries or newly circulating. The proximity of Iran to countries hosting regional diseases, along with increased global socioeconomic activities, e.g., international trade and travel, potentially increases the risk for introduction of new VBVDs into Iran. In this review, we examined the epidemiology of numerous VBVDs circulating in Iran, such as Chikungunya virus, Dengue virus, Sindbis virus, West Nile virus, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, Sandfly-borne phleboviruses, and Hantavirus, in relation to their vectors, specifically mosquitoes, ticks, sandflies, and rodents. In addition, we discussed the interplay of factors, e.g., urbanization and climate change on VBVD dissemination patterns and the consequent public health risks in Iran, highlighting the importance of a One Health approach to further surveil and to evolve mitigation strategies.

Genetic Characterization of Sandfly-Borne Viruses in Phlebotomine Sandflies in Iran.

Phleboviruses are classified into two main groups: the sandfly fever group (transmitted by sandflies and mosquitoes) and the Uukuniemi group (transmitted by ticks). Old World sandfly-borne viruses (SBVs) are classified into four main serocomplexes; sandfly fever Naples viruses (SFNVs), sandfly fever Sicilian viruses (SFSVs), Karimabad viruses (KARVs), and Salehabad viruses (SALVs). This study addresses current knowledge gaps on SBVs in Iran by focusing on identification and molecular epidemiology. We used PCR to examine DNA/RNA extracts to identify sandfly species and evaluate for SBV presence. We identified five specimens positive for phleboviruses: one Ph. sergenti for Tehran virus (TEHV), one Ph. papatasi for SFSV, and two Ph. papatasi and one Ph. perfiliewi for KARV. A phylogenetic tree indicated that the TEHV isolate from this study formed a cluster with previous isolates of TEHV, Zerdali virus, and Fermo virus. Meanwhile, the identified SFSV isolate fell in lineage I and was grouped with previous isolates of SFSVs and Dashli virus in Iran. Finally, the KARV isolates from this study formed a monophyletic clade in a sister relationship with other viruses in KARV lineages I and II. This comprehensive study on SBVs in Iran provided new insights into the molecular epidemiology of TEHV, SFSVs and KARVs in this country.

A Peek into Their Mind? An Exploration of Links Between Offense-Supportive Statements and Behaviors among Men Who Sexually Exploit Children and Adolescents Online.

While forensic psychologists have some access to their patients' thoughts when deciding on a diagnosis or appraising risk, others, such as police investigators, must rely on physical evidence and behavioral markers to make sense of a crime. Studies showing that offense-supportive cognitions constitute a risk factor for sexual offending, including offenses that take place on the internet, highlight the need for some access to offenders' thoughts. This exploratory study examines the associations between offense-supportive statements about the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents and proxy behaviors. As part of PRESEL, a collaborative research project between Québec provincial police and academic researchers, the case files of 137 men convicted of using child sexual exploitation material or committing child-luring offenses were analyzed. Results showed that many meaningful risk factors and sexual offending behavioral markers were associated with the cognitive themes Sexualization of children, Child as partner, Dangerous world, Entitlement, and Uncontrollability. The use of encryption was negatively associated with the cognition Virtual is not real while Internet is uncontrollable was associated with fewer contacts with minors over the internet. Findings are useful for understanding the psychological needs that should be targeted in treatment, as well as helping prioritize police workloads.

Childhood victimization and poly-victimization of online sexual offenders: A developmental psychopathology perspective.

BACKGROUND: Research on childhood victimization of individuals involved in online sexual offending during adulthood is scarce. Studies focusing on adverse childhood of individuals involved in offline child abuse suggested that childhood trauma was associated with an increased probability of sexual offending during adulthood. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to explore the role that childhood victimization may have in the development of risk factors that increase the likelihood of being involved in online sexual offending. PARTICIPANTS: This comparative study analyzed the characteristics of 127 individuals involved in online sexual offending who did not experience childhood victimization and 77 individuals involved in online sexual offending who experienced childhood victimization. METHODS: Bivariate and regression analyses were conducted to identify variables associated with the presence of victimization and polyvictimization during childhood. Next, structural equation modeling analysis was used to identify the direct and indirect relationships between childhood (poly)victimization and the development of risk factors. RESULTS: Results showed that individuals who experienced childhood victimization presented different risk factors and cognitions compared to those who did not. Depending on the type of victimization experienced, criminogenic cognitions, antisocial behaviors, and sexual interests for children were more likely to be developed. CONCLUSIONS: For individuals involved in online sexual offending during adulthood, childhood abuse is directly associated with the development of offense-supportive cognitions, substance abuse, and youth engagement in sexual offending, while sexual interests for children and sense of loneliness are indirect consequences of childhood trauma.

Child sexual exploitation material offenders, one-size-fits-all for? Exploring tailored clinical dimensions based on cognitive and behavioural criminogenic factors.

BACKGROUND: Interventions for individuals involved in sexual offending behaviours are likely to be more effective if adapted to focus on their specific characteristics, suggesting that men who engage in sexual offences against children over the Internet should be treated differently from those who have actual physical contact against children. AIMS: The goal of this study is to explore possible associations between the criminogenic cognitions and behaviours of men using online child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) and variables relevant to intervention. We hypothesised that antisocial tendencies, sexual, emotional and relational problems and self-regulation problems, as well as cognitive distortions would be associated with CSEM use. METHOD: Ninety-eight men who had been convicted of at least one online CSEM-related offence, but no child contact sexual offences, at any time between 2001 and 2020 were recruited in the province of Quebec (Canada). Cases were reviewed to identify cognitive and behavioural criminogenic factors according to a coding sheet developed after reference to prior literature. Variables were extracted from official criminal records, sexological and psychological reports, as well as investigative and forensic reports and interviews. Exploratory factor analysis was carried out to identify potentially relevant dimensions. RESULTS: Analysis confirmed five distinct factors which, together, accounted for 60% of the variance: dissocial traits, dysfunctional intimacy, passive alienation (internalised sense of alienation), normless alienation (social norms experienced as alien) and coping with threat. CONCLUSION: Because online CSEM-related offenders present heterogeneous risks and needs, a 'one-size-fits-all' intervention is unlikely to be optimal for most of them. Our findings suggest a way of classifying risks and needs to facilitate more focused interventions. Future research should evaluate the relative effectiveness of general interventions compared to those tailored towards the dimensions of risks and needs identified in this study.

Pornography Use, Offense-Supportive Cognitions, Atypical Sexual Interests, and Sexual Offending against Children.

The effects of pornography are hotly debated in the scientific literature, especially its potentially negative influence on sexual offending. While studies do not support direct effects of pornography use on sexual offending, pornography is hypothesized to have a catalytic effect among men who are predisposed to sexually offend due to the presence of other risk factors. Using a sample of 241 men varying in sexual offending history, this study examined the associations of different types of pornography consumption, offense-supportive cognitions, and atypical sexual interests on sexual offending against boys or girls. Bivariate analyses support the idea that people seek pornography that matches their sexual interests. Multivariate analyses revealed that the only type of pornography associated with contact sexual offending against boys or girls was child pornography, as it had incremental validity predicting number of victims beyond offense-supportive cognitions and atypical sexual interests. Moderation analyses suggested that, as hypothesized, child pornography consumption amplifies the effect of sexual interests for boys on sexual offending against boy victims. However, that moderation effect was not found for sexual offending against girls. Clinical and research implications are discussed, focusing on the importance of including measures of pornography consumption within forensic assessment and management protocols.

Offense-Supportive Cognitions Expressed by Men Who Use Internet to Sexually Exploit Children: A Thematic Analysis.

Although offense-supportive cognitions are related to the maintenance of contact sexual offending behavior, it is unknown whether this finding also applies to online sexual offending behavior. A few studies have examined the cognitions of men convicted for using child sexual exploitation material, but findings remain limited due to important methodological limitations. Furthermore, fewer studies have investigated the cognitions of men who use the internet to solicit sexual activities with children. The objective of this study was to examine the nature of the cognitions that support online sexual offending against children. The content of police interviews was analyzed using a thematic analysis to identify the cognitive themes present in the offense-related views expressed by 20 men who consumed child sexual exploitation material, 15 who sexually solicited children, and 18 who committed both types of online offenses. Results revealed eight cognitive themes that reflected four underlying themes related to interpersonal relationships, the sexualisation of children, perceptions of the self, and perceptions of the virtual environment. Findings indicate that while the cognitive themes of the three groups are similar, their specific content varies according to the types of offenses. Implications for future research are discussed.

Is There an "Expert" Stranger Rapist?

The concept of expertise applied to the criminal context assumes that offenders are driven by the abilities to both maximize the payoffs and minimize the risks associated with the crime-commission. This study tested the articulation between these two types of decisions taken by stranger rapists to successfully commit their crime. Specifically, this study aims to identify whether offenders whose modus operandi is indicative of criminal expertise are more likely to use forensic awareness strategies. Multivariate analyses conducted on 1,551 cases showed that stranger rapists who adopted behaviors indicative of expertise were more likely to use forensic awareness strategies to decrease the risk of police detection. Mixed associations were found between the number of forensic awareness strategies and their nature (i.e., protecting identity vs. destroying evidence) and rapists' expertise, thus leading to a four-type theoretical classification of expertise: novice, bold, opportunistic, and expert stranger rapists. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Offence-Supportive Cognitions, Atypical Sexuality, Problematic Self-Regulation, and Perceived Anonymity Among Online and Contact Sexual Offenders Against Children.

Cognitions that support sexual offending, atypical sexuality, and problems with self-regulation are important indicators of offending among men who engage in contact sexual offences against children (e.g., Hanson & Morton-Bourgon, 2005). While sexual interest in children-a major indicator of atypical sexuality-has been identified as a risk factor for online sexual offending against children (Seto & Eke, 2015), several other indicators, such as offence-supportive cognitions, sexual preoccupation, sexual coping, and perceived anonymity-a presumed risk factor for online sexual offending-have not yet been investigated among men who use the internet to solicit children or to consume child sexual exploitation material. This study investigated the associations between offence-supportive cognitions, atypical sexuality, self-regulation using sex, and perceived anonymity with sexual offending behaviors against children in a sample of 241 men convicted of various sexual and non-sexual offences. Results from logistic regressions show that offence-supportive cognitions, sexual interests in children, and sexual coping, but not sexual preoccupation and perceived anonymity, are associated with either or both online and contact sexual offending behaviors against children. Our results support the prior finding showing that men with online sexual offences are more paraphilic or sexually preoccupied then men with only contact offences against children. They also suggest that offence-supportive cognitions, atypical sexual interests, and sexual coping may be motivating factors, and therefore relevant risk factors, for online sexual offending against children.

Escherichia coli: Physiological Clues Which Turn On the Synthesis of Antimicrobial Molecules.

Zoonotic pathogens, like Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are a food safety and health risk. To battle the increasing emergence of virulent microbes, novel mitigation strategies are needed. One strategy being considered to combat pathogens is antimicrobial compounds produced by microbes, coined microcins. However, effectors for microcin production are poorly understood, particularly in the context of complex physiological responses along the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT). Previously, we identified an E. coli competitor capable of producing a strong diffusible antimicrobial with microcin-associated characteristics. Our objective was to examine how molecule production of this competitor is affected by physiological properties associated with the GIT, namely the effects of carbon source, bile salt concentration and growth phase. Using previously described liquid- and agar-based assays determined that carbon sources do not affect antimicrobial production of E. coli O103F. However, bile salt concentrations affected production significantly, suggesting that E. coli O103F uses cues along the GIT to modulate the expression of antimicrobial production. Furthermore, E. coli O103F produces the molecule during the exponential phase, contrary to most microcins identified to date. The results underscored the importance of experimental design to identify producers of antimicrobials. To detect antimicrobials, conventional microbiological methods can be a starting point, but not the gold standard.

Construction and preliminary validation of the Cognitive and Emotional Congruence with Children (C-ECWC) Scale.

Emotional congruence with children is central in understanding why some adults pursue sexual contact with children. Although self-report scales have been developed to assess for emotional congruence with children, these scales have equivocal latent structure and less than desirable performance in validation research. Further, these scales were not developed to assess emotional congruence with children in individuals who commit Internet-facilitated offenses. In the current study, a sample of men with histories of Internet-facilitated sexual offenses, contact sexual offenses against children, and nonsexual offenses was used to examine factor structure, internal consistency, convergent and divergent validity, and known-group validity of the newly developed Cognitive and Emotional Congruence with Children (C-ECWC) scale. The scale had a three-factor latent structure, adequate internal consistency and adequately captured the nomological network of correlates and group differences anticipated for a measure of emotional congruence with children. Implications for scale validation and use in future research into emotional congruence with children are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

The Development and Validation of the Cognitions of Internet Sexual Offending (C-ISO) Scale.

Tools designed to measure the cognitions of individuals who engage in sexual activities with children over the Internet are either based on knowledge about men who had committed contact sexual offenses or cognitive phenomena not specifically associated to offending behaviors. Thus, there is no validated tool specifically designed to assess the offense-supportive cognitions of men who use the Internet to sexually offend children. This study developed and validated the Cognitions of Internet Sexual Offending (C-ISO) scale. A sample of 241 men with online and contact sexual as well as with nonsexual offenses completed the C-ISO scale and its psychometric properties, and latent structure was analyzed using both Classical Test Theory (CTT) and Item Response Theory (IRT), resulting in a final version containing 31 items. The analyses indicate that the C-ISO has excellent psychometric properties and discriminates men with online sexual offenses from those with contact sexual and nonsexual offenses. Implications of the findings for clinical practice and future research are discussed.

A Billion Distorted Thoughts: An Exploratory Study of Criminogenic Cognitions Among Men Who Sexually Exploit Children Over the Internet.

There is evidence that endorsing a higher level of offense-supportive cognitions is associated with contact sexual offending. Such an association assumes the construct of cognitions as unidimensional, thus ignoring the possibility that specific subtypes of cognitions exist and that certain may be criminogenic. To investigate this possibility, this study aimed at examining the associations between criminal behaviors and cognitive themes found in the discourse of men who engage in sexual offenses against children over the Internet. Through the discourse of a sample of 60 men with online child sexual exploitation material and solicitation offenses, a previous study identified eight cognitive themes: Uncontrollability, Nature of harm, Child as sexual being, Child as partner, Dangerous world, Entitlement, Virtual is not real, and Internet is uncontrollable. These themes were not investigated for their criminogenic nature. Thus, in this study, bivariate analyses were used to determine whether these cognitive themes were linked to three indicators of criminal behaviors: the extent of criminal charges, the diversity of offending behaviors, and the nature of contact with victims. Results suggest that, taken as a whole, online sexual offense-supportive cognitions may not be criminogenic. Moreover, only cognitive themes related to antisocial orientation and atypical sexuality were found linked with criminal behaviors, although associations found remain limited. Findings and associated implications are further discussed for research and clinical purposes.

Properties of an Antimicrobial Molecule Produced by an Escherichia coli Champion.

Over recent decades, the number and frequency of severe pathogen infections have been increasing. Pathogen mitigation strategies in human medicine or in livestock operations are vital to combat emerging arsenals of bacterial virulence and defense mechanisms. Since the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, the competitive nature of bacteria has been considered for the potential treatment or mitigation of pathogens. Previously, we identified a strong E. coli competitor with probiotic properties producing a diffusible antimicrobial molecule(s) that inhibited the growth of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Our current objective was to isolate and examine the properties of this antimicrobial molecule(s). Molecules were isolated by filter sterilization after 12 h incubation, and bacterial inhibition was compared to relevant controls. Isolated antimicrobial molecule(s) and controls were subjected to temperature, pH, or protease digestion treatments. Changes in inhibition properties were evaluated by comparing the incremental cell growth in the presence of treated and untreated antimicrobial molecule(s). No treatment affected the antimicrobial molecule(s) properties of STEC inhibition, suggesting that at least one molecule produced is an efficacious microcin. The molecule persistence to physiochemical and enzymatic treatments could open a wide window to technical industry-scale applications.

Competition among Escherichia coli Strains for Space and Resources.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are a subgroup of E. coli causing human diseases. Methods to control STEC in livestock and humans are limited. These and other emerging pathogens are a global concern and novel mitigation strategies are required. Habitats populated by bacteria are subjected to competition pressures due to limited space and resources but they use various strategies to compete in natural environments. Our objective was to evaluate non-pathogenic E. coli strains isolated from cattle feces for their ability to out-compete STEC. Competitive fitness of non-pathogenic E. coli against STEC were assessed in competitions using liquid, agar, and nutrient limiting assays. Winners were determined by enumeration using O-serogroup specific quantitative PCR or a semi-quantitative grading. Initial liquid competitions identified two strong non-pathogenic competitors (O103F and O26E) capable of eliminating various STEC including O157 and O111. The strain O103F was dominant across permeable physical barriers for all tested E. coli and STEC strains indicating the diffusion of antimicrobial molecules. In direct contact and even with temporal disadvantages, O103F out-competed STEC O157E. The results suggest that O103F or the diffusible molecule(s) it produces have a potential to be used as an alternative STEC mitigation strategy, either in medicine or the food industry.

Quantitative surveillance of shiga toxins 1 and 2, Escherichia coli O178 and O157 in feces of western-Canadian slaughter cattle enumerated by droplet digital PCR with a focus on seasonality and slaughterhouse location.

Often Escherichia coli are harmless and/or beneficial bacteria inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract of livestock and humans. However, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) have been linked to human disease. Cattle are the primary reservoir for STEC and STEC "super-shedders" are considered to be a major contributor in animal to animal transmission. Among STEC, O157:H7 is the most recognized serotype, but in recent years, non-O157 STEC have been increasingly linked to human disease. In Argentina and Germany, O178 is considered an emerging pathogen. Our objective was to compare populations of E. coli O178, O157, shiga toxin 1 and 2 in western Canadian cattle feces from a sampling pool of ~80,000 beef cattle collected at two slaughterhouses. Conventional PCR was utilized to screen 1,773 samples for presence/absence of E. coli O178. A subset of samples (n = 168) was enumerated using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) and proportions of O178, O157 and shiga toxins 1 & 2 specific-fragments were calculated as a proportion of generic E. coli (GEC) specific-fragments. Distribution of stx1 and stx2 was determined by comparing stx1, stx2 and O157 enumerations. Conventional PCR detected the presence of O178 in 873 of 1,773 samples and ddPCR found the average proportion of O178, O157, stx1 and stx2 in the samples 2.8%, 0.6%, 1.4% and 0.5%, respectively. Quantification of stx1 and stx2 revealed more virulence genes than could be exclusively attributed to O157. Our results confirmed the presence of E. coli O178 in western Canadian cattle and ddPCR revealed O178 as a greater proportion of GEC than was O157. Our results suggests: I) O178 may be an emerging subgroup in Canada and II) monitoring virulence genes may be a more relevant target for food-safety STEC surveillance compared to current serogroup screening.