Trees and shrubs as sources of fodder in Australia

Experience with browse plants in Australia is briefly reviewed in terms of their forage value to animals, their economic value to the landholder and their ecological contribution to landscape stability. Of the cultivated species only two have achieved any degree of commercial acceptance (Leucaena leucocephala and Chamaecytisus palmensis). Both of these are of sufficiently high forage value to be used as the sole source of feed during seasonal periods of nutritional shortage. Both are also leguminous shrubs that establish readily from seed. It is suggested that a limitation in their present use is the reliance on stands of single species which leaves these grazing systems vulnerable to disease and insects. Grazing systems so far developed for high production and persistence of cultivated species involve short periods of intense grazing followed by long periods of recovery. Similar management may be necessary in the arid and semi-arid rangelands where palatable browse species are in decline

Elaboração e validação da Escala de Depressão para Idosos Elaboration and validation of the Depression Scale for the Elderly

O objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver e validar a Escala de Depressão para Idosos (EDI). Foi elaborado um modelo teórico explicativo da depressão, composto por três categorias: cognitiva, afetiva e somático-motora. Os itens elaborados foram submetidos à análise semântica e de juizes. O instrumento piloto foi aplicado a 340 sujeitos, sendo 88% do sexo feminino, com ensino fundamental completo (67,9%) e idade média de 63,74 (DP = 6,87) anos. A amostra respondeu também ao Inventário de Depressão de Beck (BDI). Para a validação da escala, foram realizadas análises fatoriais e análise da consistência interna dos itens (alfa de Cronbach). Regressões múltiplas avaliaram o poder de predição dos fatores da EDI sobre o escore final do BDI. A validação da escala demonstrou que a EDI é composta por dois fatores: cognitivo-afetivo e somático-motor, que explicam 53% do BDI (validade convergente). Pode-se afirmar, portanto, que a EDI é formada por fatores que avaliam diferentes aspectos do constructo depressão (validade fatorial), os quais apresentam índices de consistência interna dentro dos padrões psicométricos.<br>The objective of this study was to develop and validate the Depression Scale for the Elderly. An explanatory theoretical model was developed for depression, consisting of three categories: cognitive, affective, and somato-motor. The items elaborated thusly were submitted to semantic analysis and judges. The pilot instrument was applied to 340 subjects, 88% of whom were females, mostly with complete primary education (67.9%), and a mean age of 63.74 (SD = 6.87) years. The sample also responded to the Beck Depression Index (BDI). Validation of the scale was based on factor analyses (Principal Axis Factoring) and analysis of the items' internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha). Multiple regressions evaluated the predictive power of the factors in the depression scale for the elderly on the final BDI score. Scale validation demonstrated that the depression scale for the elderly is composed of two factors: cognitive-affective and somato-motor, which explain 53% of the BDI (convergent validity). One can thus state that the depression scale for the elderly consists of factors that assess different aspects of the depression construct (factor validity), which present internal consistency indices within the psychometric standards

Substance Use Homophily Among Geosocial Networking Application Using Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men

Geosocial networking applications (GSN apps) represent important virtual contexts in which gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) seek affiliation. These apps allow users to create and view public profiles, send photos and text messages, and connect with other users based on shared interests and geographic proximity. The present study examined substance use homophily among a sample of of 295 MSM recruited via a popular GSN app. Comparisons of social network members met via GSN app versus elsewhere and associations between both individual and network characteristics and recent binge drinking, marijuana use and illicit substance use were explored using bivariate tests of association and multivariate logistic regression analyses. High rates of recent binge drinking (59 %), marijuana use (37 %) and illicit substance use (27 %) were observed among participants. GSN app use greater than one year and showing naked chest or abs in a profile picture were positively associated with recent illicit substance use. In multivariate analyses, the strongest predictors of binge drinking (AOR = 3.81; 95 % CI = 1.86–7.80), marijuana use (AOR = 4.12; 95 % CI = 2.22–7.64) and illicit substance use (AOR = 6.45; 95 % CI = 3.26–12.79) were the presence of a social network member who also engaged in these behaviors. Social network interventions that target binge drinking, marijuana use and illicit substance use may be delivered via GSN apps to reduce the prevalence of substance use and related risks among MSM in these virtual contexts