Immunofluorescence and FISH analysis of pachytene spermatocytes.

<p>(A) Spermatocytes were immunostained using antibodies against SYCP3/SYCP1, MLH1 and CREST to visualize the SC (red), crossover sites (green) and centromeres (blue). A spermatocyte with 45 crossovers from patient OA20 is shown. Although patient OA20 displayed normal rates of recombination, the crossover distribution on chromosome 18 was altered. We observed an increase in crossovers near the centromere and telomere on 18q and 18p, respectively. (B) Subsequent FISH was performed to identify chromosomes 13 (green, LSI 13), 18 (blue, CEP 18) and 21 (red, LSI 21) in the previously immunostained spermatocytes. (C) A spermatocyte from patient OA19 is shown. Although the patient showed normal rates of recombination, we observed an increased rate of synaptic errors compared to controls (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0156817#pone.0156817.t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>). The unsynapsed region along a bivalent is indicated by the white arrow, where there is an absence of staining for SYCP3/SYCP1.</p

Chromosomes 21 and 18 displaying altered crossover distributions in NOA men.

<p>Chromosome arms were divided into 10% intervals, and the crossover frequency in each interval was calculated. The Y-axis represents the frequency of crossovers in each interval. The X-axis represents the relative crossover position from the centromere with the values representing the upper limit of each interval. The centromere is labeled ‘C’ with the p-arm to the left and q-arm to the right. As crossovers in the p-arm of chromosome 21 are extremely rare, the p-arm is not shown. The black bars indicate the control group and the white bars indicate the individual NOA man. The crossover frequencies in each interval were compared to the control group and significant differences are indicated by asterisks (P < 0.05, Fisher test).</p

Analysis of crossover frequencies on chromosome 13, 18 and 21 in control and OA men.

<p>Analysis of crossover frequencies on chromosome 13, 18 and 21 in control and OA men.</p

Analysis of recombination and synaptic errors in control and OA men.

<p>Analysis of recombination and synaptic errors in control and OA men.</p

Analysis of crossover frequencies on chromosome 13, 18 and 21 in control and NOA men.

<p>Analysis of crossover frequencies on chromosome 13, 18 and 21 in control and NOA men.</p

Diagram depicting meiotic crossovers in regions along a chromosome.

<p>The p and q arms of the chromosome are divided into 10% intervals, with the centromere (C) at 0%, and telomeres at 100%. The subtelomere is shaded in the 80–100% intervals. The pericentromere, the region surrounding the centromere is shaded in the 10–30% intervals. This region attracts high levels of cohesin which are protein complexes that hold sister chromatids together until they separate during meiosis. Crossover formation in each region of the chromosome, and the resulting recombinant chromosomes are illustrated: a) a single crossover near the telomere on the p-arm; b) a single crossover near the centromere on the q-arm; c) a single crossover near the telomere on the q-arm; d) double crossovers on the q-arm.</p

Active students are healthier and happier than their inactive peers: the results of a large representative cross-sectional study of university students in Ireland

Background: Time spent in university represents a period of transition and may be an appropriate time to promote physical activity among young adults. The aim of this study was to assess participation of university students in sport and physical activity in Ireland and to explore the association between physical activity and perceptions of overall health, mental health, and happiness. Methods: The Student Activity and Sport Study Ireland was a cross-sectional online survey among a representative sample (n = 8122) of university students in Ireland. Binary logistic regressions were performed to examine associations between self-reported physical activity and gender (predictor variables) and individual perceptions of overall health, mental health, and happiness (binary outcomes). Results: Only 64.3% of respondents met the recommended level of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week with males significantly more active than females (72.1% vs 57.8% meeting guidelines). Those meeting physical activity guidelines were more likely to report greater overall health and higher mental health and happiness scores compared with their inactive peers. Conclusions: Active students enjoy better health (overall and mental) and are happier than their inactive peers. This provides a clear rationale for providing students with opportunities to be active at university. The data provide a baseline to monitor changes in physical activity patterns

Are all domains created equal? An exploration of stakeholder views on the concept of physical literacy

Background: Developing physical literacy at population levels provides a transformative appeal for those working in sport, health, education, recreation and physical activity settings. Interdisciplinary approaches to development of policy in this area is recommended. The purpose of this study was to gather empirical data from key stakeholders working with young people in areas related to physical literacy across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, to capture their current understanding and awareness of the physical literacy to help inform the development of the frst all-island consensus statement for physical literacy. Methods: A total of 1,241 participants (52% male), from a range of stakeholder groups (health, physical activity, sport, recreation and education) completed a researcher developed physical literacy questionnaire. A one-way MANOVA was carried out to investigate diferences across stakeholder grouping in terms of perceived importance of three domains of physical literacy. Overlap of independent confdence intervals was analysed to determine importance of the physical literacy domains within stakeholder grouping. Results: A majority (63%) of respondents indicated they were aware of an existing defnition of physical literacy, but this varied by stakeholder group (e.g. 86% for higher education, versus 47% of coaches). Participants working in higher education (69%), or working as physical education specialists (67%), were more likely to rate themselves as experts or near experts in physical literacy, while coaches, education generalists, and decision makers were more likely rate themselves as having no expertise (9%, 12% and 12% respectively). Non-specialist teachers and physical education teachers rated the importance of all domains of physical literacy signifcantly higher than decision makers, and signif cantly higher than coaches in the cognitive and afective domains. All stakeholders signifcantly rated the importance of the physical/psychomotor domain of physical literacy higher than the afective or cognitive domains of physical literacy. Conclusions: Diferences observed across stakeholder groups underline the importance of developing a shared vision for physical literacy, and the need to clarify and gain consensus on a defnition of the term and its domains. Engaging and understanding the voice of stakeholders is critical in ensuring the relevance, ownership of and commit ment to physical literacy statement operationalisation

Interim report on the vertebrate deposits recovered from the Capricorn Caves, Rockhampton, Queensland

Late Pleistocene to Holocene-aged microfaunal assemblages are rarely reported in Australia despite their critical importance for palaeoecological studies, as well as their bearing on the megafaunal extinction debate. Capricorn Caves, central-eastern Queensland, hosts three Late Pleistocene to Holocene deposits containing significant faunal records. Excavations were conducted on these deposits over several seasons, with analyses of recovered material ongoing. Here, we report interim results and explore their implications for our understanding of the microfaunal record of central eastern Queensland. Fern Chamber was previously dated using U-series to the Holocene (>7.6 ± 0.2 ka). Honeymoon Suite was dated to >6.4 ± 0.2 ka using U-series. However, new charcoal dates from the deposit span approximately 7.5–15.5 ka, although the association between charcoal and fauna is unresolved. The fauna is likely Holocene. Colosseum Chamber is the oldest of the deposits, and new single-grain luminescence ages and age-depth modelling suggest that the deposit likely spans MIS 1–4. We use abundant fragmentary rodent remains to examine palaeoenvironmental change over this period. Carbon and oxygen isotope analyses of rodent incisor fragments reveal broad diets within the rodent community, and significant differences in precipitation between glacial and interglacial conditions. Rodent long bone histological analyses indicate significant differences in bone metabolism at the family level between the MIS 3 and 2 samples, but not MIS 1. We suggest that these data support evidence for a mid-Holocene arid anomaly in the region, and increased aridity through the Holocene relative to the terminal Pleistocene. The sites contain at least 10 small mammal species either globally extinct or locally extirpated, including the Capricorn rabbit-rat (Conilurus capricornensis), the white-footed rabbit-rat (Conilurus albipes), the plains mouse (Pseudomys australis), Gould’s mouse (Pseudomys gouldii), Forrest’s mouse (Leggadina forresti), the long-tailed hopping mouse (Notomys longicaudatus), swamp rat (Rattus lutreolus), the white-tailed rat (Uromys caudimaculatus), the narrow-nosed planigale (Planigale tenuirostris), the Liverpool Plains striped bandicoot (Perameles fasciata), the Cape York brown bandicoot (Isoodon peninsulae), and the southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus). We also record significant range contractions for frogs (Philoria sp., Neobatrachus sp.) and earless dragons (Tympanocryptis sp.). This study demonstrates that significant changes in the microfaunal community of tropical Queensland occurred between the Late Pleistocene and the late Holocene. It also reinforces how poorly recorded native faunas are from the late Holocene through the historical period, to today. Such records underpin and are thus vital for modern biodiversity conservation efforts. Julien Louys[[email protected]], Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia; Jonathan Cramb[[email protected]], Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Australia; Kyle Ferguson[[email protected]], School of Earth and Environmental Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Justine Kemp[[email protected]], Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia; Rachel Wood[[email protected]], School of Archaeology and Anthropology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia and Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit (ORAU), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Justyna J. Miszkiewicz [[email protected]], School of Social Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia and Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Nathalia R. Dias Guimarães[[email protected]], School of Archaeology and Anthropology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia; Penny Higgins[[email protected]], EPOCH Isotopes, 6606 E Townline Road, Williamson, NY 14589, USA; Kenny J. Travouillon[[email protected]], Western Australian Museum, Perth, Australia; Scott A. Hocknull[[email protected]], Geosciences, Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Australia; Gregory E. Webb[[email protected]], School of Earth and Environmental Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Gilbert J. Price[[email protected]], School of Earth and Environmental Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.</p