Sleep quality impacts the link between reactivity to uncertain threat and anxiety and alcohol use in youth.

Individual differences in reactivity to unpredictable threat (U-threat) have repeatedly been linked to symptoms of anxiety and drinking behavior. An emerging theory is that individuals who are hyper-reactive to U-threat experience chronic anticipatory anxiety, hyperarousal, and are vulnerable to excessive alcohol use via negative reinforcement processes. Notably, anxiety and alcohol use commonly relate to disruptions in sleep behavior and recent findings suggest that sleep quality may impact the link between reactivity to U-threat and psychiatric symptoms and behaviors. The aim of the current study was to examine the unique and interactive effects of reactivity to U-threat and sleep quality on anxiety symptoms and drinking behavior in a cohort of youth, ages 16-19 years. Participants (N = 112) completed a well-validated threat-of-shock task designed to probe individual differences in reactivity to U-threat and predictable threat (P-threat). Startle eyeblink potentiation was recorded during the task as an index of aversive reactivity. Participants also completed well-validated self-report measures of anxiety and depression symptoms, lifetime alcohol use, and current sleep quality. Results revealed significant startle reactivity to U-threat by sleep quality interactions on anxiety symptoms and lifetime drinking behavior. At high levels of sleep disturbance (only), greater reactivity to U-threat was associated with greater anxiety symptoms and total number of lifetime alcoholic beverages. These results suggest that sensitivity to uncertainty and chronic hyperarousal increases anxiety symptoms and alcohol use behavior, particularly in the context of poor sleep quality.

The Impact of Media Watching and Victim Gender on Victim and Offender Blameworthiness and Punishment.

In recent years, there has been increased attention regarding the impact of the media on individuals' perceptions of the criminal justice system, specifically focusing on the CSI effect and forensic evidence. In order to expand this area of research, this article focuses on the impact and interaction of crime-related media-watching habits and victim gender on perceptions of blameworthiness and punishment of both victims and aggressors in sexual assault cases. As expected, results supported the hypothesis that increased media-watching contributed to more stereotypical perceptions of sexual assault cases. However, slight variations observed in blameworthiness and punishment based on victim gender were nonsignificant. Implications for future research are discussed.

Neural reactivity to threat impacts the association between bullying victimization and suicide risk in youth.

Bullying victimization is a risk factor for suicidal ideation, suicide behaviors, and death by suicide in youth. However, not all victims of bullying report suicidal thoughts and behaviors, suggesting that there may be certain subgroups who are at high risk for suicide. Neuroimaging studies suggest that individual differences in neurobiological threat reactivity may contribute to increased vulnerability to suicide, particularly in the context of repeated exposure to bullying. The purpose of the present study was to examine the unique and interactive effects of past-year bullying victimization and neural reactivity to threat on suicide risk in youth. Ninety-one youth (ages 16-19) completed self-report measures of past-year bullying victimization and current suicide risk. Participants also completed a task designed to probe neural reactivity to threat. Specifically, participants passively viewed negative or neutral images during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Bilateral anterior insula (AIC) and amygdala (AMYG) reactivity to threat/negative images (>neutral images) was used to capture threat sensitivity. Greater bullying victimization was associated with increased suicide risk. There was also a bullying by AIC reactivity interaction such that among individuals with high AIC reactivity, greater bullying was associated with increased suicide risk. Among individuals with low AIC reactivity, there was no association between bullying and suicide risk. Results suggest that youth with increased AIC reactivity to threat may be particularly vulnerable to suicide in the context of bullying. These individuals may represent a high-risk group for subsequent suicide behavior and AIC function may be a promising objective prevention target.

Reward-related neural dysfunction in youth with a history of suicidal ideation: The importance of temporal predictability.

Abnormal reward processing is an important yet understudied risk factor for suicide. Recent neuroimaging studies have found that suicidality is associated with abnormal reward-related neural reactivity and connectivity across a wide range of brain regions and circuits. The varying, and oftentimes discrepant, findings have hindered progress in elucidating the neurobiological link between reward processing dysfunction and suicide risk. Some of this variability is likely related to different reward-related paradigms that are utilized across studies. The primary aim of the current study was to address these issues by comparing neural reactivity between youth with and without a history of suicidal ideation during direct manipulation of reward parameters. A total of 108 unmedicated youth, ages 17-19, were classified into two groups: 1) history of suicidal ideation (n = 39) and 2) no history of suicidal ideation (n = 69). All participants completed a novel reward anticipation task probing anticipation of predictable (P-reward) and unpredictable (U-reward) monetary reward. Results revealed that compared with controls, youth with a history of suicidal ideation exhibited increased neural activation in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and right anterior insula (aINS) during anticipation of U-reward. There were no group differences during anticipation of P-reward. These findings suggest that propensity for suicidal ideation may be related to specific abnormalities during anticipation of U-reward, but not P-reward.

Home and hub: pet trade and traditional medicine impact reptile populations in source locations and destinations.

The pet trade and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) consumption are major drivers of global biodiversity loss. Tokay geckos (Gekko gecko) are among the most traded reptile species worldwide. In Hong Kong, pet and TCM markets sell tokay geckos while wild populations also persist. To clarify connections between trade sources and destinations, we compared genetics and stable isotopes of wild tokays in local and non-local populations to dried individuals from TCM markets across Hong Kong. We found that TCM tokays are likely not of local origin. Most wild tokays were related to individuals in South China, indicating a probable natural origin. However, two populations contained individuals more similar to distant populations, indicating pet trade origins. Our results highlight the complexity of wildlife trade impacts within trade hubs. Such trade dynamics complicate local legal regulation when endangered species are protected, but the same species might also be non-native and possibly damaging to the environment.

Alkynyl-naphthalimide Fluorophores: Gold Coordination Chemistry and Cellular Imaging Applications.

A range of fluorescent alkynyl-naphthalimide fluorophores has been synthesized and their photophysical properties examined. The fluorescent ligands are based upon a 4-substituted 1,8-naphthalimide core and incorporate structural variations (at the 4-position) to tune the amphiphilic character: chloro (L1), 4-[2-(2-aminoethoxy)ethanol] (L2), 4-[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethylamino] (L3), piperidine (L4), morpholine (L5), 4-methylpiperidine (L6), and 4-piperidone ethylene ketal (L7) variants. The amino-substituted species (L2-L7) are fluorescent in the visible region at around 517-535 nm through a naphthalimide-localized intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), with appreciable Stokes' shifts of ca. 6500 cm(-1) and lifetimes up to 10.4 ns. Corresponding two-coordinate Au(I) complexes [Au(L)(PPh3)] were isolated, with X-ray structural studies revealing the expected coordination mode via the alkyne donor. The Au(I) complexes retain the visible fluorescence associated with the coordinated alkynyl-naphthalimide ligand. The ligands and complexes were investigated for their cytotoxicity across a range of cell lines (LOVO, MCF-7, A549, PC3, HEK) and their potential as cell imaging agents for HEK (human embryonic kidney) cells and Spironucleus vortens using confocal fluorescence microscopy. The images reveal that these fluorophores are highly compatible with fluorescence microscopy and show some clear intracellular localization patterns that are dependent upon the specific nature of the naphthalimide substituent.

Cationic, luminescent cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes based on substituted 2-phenylthiazole ligands.

Ten cationic heteroleptic iridium(III) complexes, [Ir(emptz)2(N^N)](PF6) were prepared from a cyclometalated iridium bridged-chloride dimer involving two ethyl-4-methylphenylthiazole-5-carboxylate (emptz) ligands. One X-ray crystallographic study was undertaken where the ancillary N^N ligand was 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline and revealed the anticipated structure, showing a distorted octahedral coordination geometry at Ir(III). The complexes were visibly luminescent with modestly structured emission at 540-590 nm and lifetimes (60-340 ns) consistent with phosphorescence. TD-DFT calculations suggest that strong MLCT character contributes to the visible absorption characteristics, whilst the moderately structured emission profiles indicate a (3)MLCT/(3)IL admixture of states to the phosphorescence.

Recent developments in gold(I) coordination chemistry: luminescence properties and bioimaging opportunities.

The fascinating biological activity of gold coordination compounds has led to the development of a wide range of complexes. The precise biological action of such species is often poorly understood and the ability to map gold distribution in cellular environments is key. This article discusses the recent progress in luminescent Au(I) complexes whilst considering their utility in bioimaging and therapeutics.

Fluorescent rhenium-naphthalimide conjugates as cellular imaging agents.

A range of biologically compatible, fluorescent rhenium-naphthalimide conjugates, based upon the rhenium fac-tricarbonyl core, has been synthesized. The fluorescent ligands are based upon a N-functionalized, 4-amino-derived 1,8-naphthalimide core and incorporate a dipicolyl amine binding unit to chelate Re(I); the structural variations accord to the nature of the alkylated imide with ethyl ester glycine (L(1)), 3-propanol (L(2)), diethylene glycol (L(3)), and benzyl alcohol (L(4)) variants. The species are fluorescent in the visible region between 505 and 537 nm through a naphthalimide-localized intramolecular charge transfer, with corresponding fluorescent lifetimes of up to 9.8 ns. The ligands and complexes were investigated for their potential as imaging agents for human osteoarthritic cells and protistan fish parasite Spironucleus vortens using confocal fluorescence microscopy. The results show that the specific nature of the naphthalimide structure serves to control the uptake and intracellular localization of these imaging agents. Significant differences were noted between the free ligands and complexes, with the Re(I) complex of L(2) showing hydrogenosomal localization in S. vortens.

Cyclometalated cinchophen ligands on iridium(III): towards water-soluble complexes with visible luminescence.

Eight cationic heteroleptic iridium(III) complexes, [Ir(epqc)2(N^N)](+), were prepared in high yield from a cyclometalated iridium bridged-chloride dimer bearing two ethyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylate (epqc) ligands. Two X-ray crystallographic studies were undertaken on selected complexes (where the ancillary ligand N^N = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine and 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) each confirming the proposed formulations, showing an octahedral coordination at Ir(III). In general, the complexes are luminescent (620-630 nm) with moderately long lifetimes indicative of phosphorescence. Hydrolysis of the ethyl ester moieties of the epqc ligands gave the analogous cinchophen-based complexes, which were water-soluble and visibly luminescent (568-631 nm). The spectroscopic and redox characterisation of the complexes was complemented by DFT and TD-DFT calculations, supporting the assignment of dominant (3)MLCT to the emissive character.

Using substituted cyclometalated quinoxaline ligands to finely tune the luminescence properties of iridium(III) complexes.

The syntheses of five new heteroleptic iridium complexes [Ir(L(1-4))(2)(Diobpy)]PF(6) (where Diobpy = 4,4'-dioctylamido-2,2'-bipyridine) and [Ir(L(3))(2)(bpy)]PF(6) (where L = para-substituted 2,3-diphenylquinoxaline cyclometalating ligands; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) are described. The structures of [Ir(L(3))(2)(Diobpy)]PF(6) and [Ir(L(3))(2)(bpy)]PF(6) show that the complexes each adopt a distorted octahedral geometry with the expected trans-N, cis-C arrangement of the cyclometalated ligands. Electrochemical studies confirmed subtle perturbation of the Ir(III/IV) redox couple as a function of ligand variation. Luminescence studies showed the significant contribution of (3)MLCT to the phosphorescent character with predictable and modestly tunable emission wavelengths between 618 and 636 nm. DFT studies provided approximate qualitative descriptions of the HOMO {located over the Ir(5d) center (11-42%) and the phenylquinoxaline ligand (54-87%)} and LUMO {located over the ancillary bipyridine ligands (ca. 93%)} energy levels of the five complexes, confirming significant MLCT character. TD-DFT calculations indicate that UV-vis absorption and subsequent emission has substantial MLCT character, mixed with LLCT. Predicted absorption and emission wavelengths are in good general agreement with the UV-vis and luminescence experiments.