BRS Sarandi: A New Andropogon Gayanus Cultivar for Tropical Pastures

BRS Sarandi is adapted to low and medium fertility soils. It has a medium-high height, with a semi-erect growth habit and a high total number of tillers. The annual productivity of dry matter is 11 t ha-1, concentrated in the rainy season (90%). Of the total DM produced, 60% are leaves. The levels of crude protein (CP), in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) are, on average, 8.7, 56.5, 66.7 and 38.2%, respectively. . The average daily weight gain was 0.7 kg/head/day, the gain per was and 1.7 kg ha-1 day with no supplementation except for mineral salt. The weight gain per area (AG) reached 15 @/ha/year with an average stocking rate of 2.5 AU. BRS Sarandi was registered in the Brazilian Cultivar Registry (Registro Nacional de Cultivares - RNC/MAPA) and is protected in the National Cultivar Protection System (Sistema Nacional de Proteção de Cultivares - SNPC/MAPA)

Evaluation of two mobile health apps in the context of smoking cessation: qualitative study of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) versus non-CBT-based digital solutions.

BACKGROUND: Mobile health (mHealth) apps can offer users numerous benefits, representing a feasible and acceptable means of administering health interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is commonly used in the treatment of mental health conditions, where it has a strong evidence base, suggesting that it represents an effective method to elicit health behavior change. More importantly, CBT has proved to be effective in smoking cessation, in the context of smoking-related costs to the National Health Service (NHS) having been estimated to be as high as £2.6bn in 2015. Although the evidence base for computerized CBT in mental health is strong, there is limited literature on its use in smoking cessation. This, combined with the cost-effectiveness of mHealth interventions, advocates a need for research into the effectiveness of CBT-based smoking cessation apps. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was, first, to explore participants' perceptions of 2 mHealth apps, a CBT-based app, Quit Genius, and a non-CBT-based app, NHS Smokefree, over a variety of themes. Second, the study aimed to investigate the perceptions and health behavior of users of each app with respect to smoking cessation. METHODS: A qualitative short-term longitudinal study was conducted, using a sample of 29 smokers allocated to one of the 2 apps, Quit Genius or Smokefree. Each user underwent 2 one-to-one semistructured interviews, 1 week apart. Thematic analysis was carried out, and important themes were identified. Descriptive statistics regarding participants' perceptions and health behavior in relation to smoking cessation are also provided. RESULTS: The thematic analysis resulted in five higher themes and several subthemes. Participants were generally more positive about Quit Genius's features, as well as about its design and information engagement and quality. Quit Genius users reported increased motivation to quit smoking, as well as greater willingness to continue using their allocated app after 1 week. Moreover, these participants demonstrated preliminary changes in their smoking behavior, although this was in the context of our limited sample, not yet allowing for the finding to be generalizable. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings underscore the use of CBT in the context of mHealth apps as a feasible and potentially effective smoking cessation tool. mHealth apps must be well developed, preferably with an underlying behavioral change mechanism, to promote positive health behavior change. Digital CBT has the potential to become a powerful tool in overcoming current health care challenges. The present results should be replicated in a wider sample using the apps for a longer period so as to allow for generalizability. Further research is also needed to focus on the effect of greater personalization on behavioral change and on understanding the psychological barriers to the adoption of new mHealth solutions

Repeatability, number of harvests, and phenotypic stability of dry matter yield and quality traits of Panicum maximum jacq.

Selection of superior forage genotypes is based on agronomic traits assayed in repeated measures. The questions are how repeatable the performance of individual genotypes is and how many harvests are needed to select the best genotypes. The objectives were to estimate repeatability coefficients of dry matter yield (DMY) and forage quality, their phenotypic stability and the number of harvests needed for an accurate selection. Two randomized complete block design experiments data with 24 genotypes each, undergoing 12 and 16 harvests, over a period of 2 and 3 years, respectively, were used. The DMY repeatability estimates ranged from 0.42 to 0.55, suggesting a low heritability. The mean numbers of repeated measures were 5 and 7 harvests for 0.80 and 0.85 accuracy, respectively. The inclusion of the first two harvests negatively affects the estimates. Repeatability for quality traits ranged from 0.30 to 0.69, indicating low to moderate heritability.Título em português: Repetibilidade, número de colheitas e estabilidade fenotípica da produção de matéria seca e de características de qualidade de Panicum maximum jacq

Avaliação morfo-agronômica de acessos de Stylosanthes capitata do banco ativo de germoplasma da Embrapa Cerrados.

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Crescimento e valor nutritivo da cultivar forrageira BRS Sarandi (Andropogon gayanus Kunth).

Resumo: O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da altura de resíduo pós-desfolhação sobre o acúmulo de forragem, a estrutura do dossel, a composição morfológica e o valor nutritivo da cv. BRS Sarandi (Andropogon gayanus Kunth). O experimento foi conduzido em Planaltina, DF, em área de solo argiloso, de dezembro de 2019 a fevereiro de 2020. O delineamento utilizado foi completamente ao acaso com duas repetições e os tratamentos incluíram três alturas de resíduo ? 20 cm, 40 cm e 60 cm. O tratamento com 40 cm atingiu a máxima taxa de acúmulo de forragem (126 kg MS/ha/dia) aos 35 dias, antes dos demais tratamentos, numa altura do dossel de 90 cm. A quantidade de colmos aumentou a partir dos 70 cm de altura do dossel, independente do tratamento. O teor de proteína bruta e a digestibilidade in vitro da forragem foram mais baixas no tratamento de 20 cm, mesmo apresentando maior relação lâmina:colmo. A interceptação de luz atingiu 95% aos 60 cm, 70 cm e 80 cm de altura do dossel para os tratamentos 20, 40 e 60, respectivamente. Conclui-se que a BRS Sarandi pode ser manejada a 40 cm no resíduo e 60 cm?80 cm no pré-pastejo. A fim de minimizar a morte de tecidos, poderão ser utilizadas alturas de resíduo de até 20 cm, porém com diminuição do valor nutritivo

Stylosanthes scabra: genetic variability of forage quality traits.

Abstract: Stylosanthes scabra Vogel is a tropical legume grown in dry tropical and subtropical environments. The objective of this research was to evaluate the genetic diversity of forage quality traits for 80 accessions of S. scabra. Seven plants from each accession were planted in a single-line plot with no replicates at Embrapa Cerrados, Brazil. All plants were harvested 90 days after planting. Crude protein (CP), in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), lignin (LIG), hemicellulose (HEMIC) and cellulose (CELLU) were estimated. Data were submitted to principal component analysis (PCA) and a cluster analysis was performed to identify groups of similarity. Simpson and Shannon?Weaver diversity indices estimated the genetic diversity. The average values of CP, IVDMD, NDF, ADF, LIG, HEMIC and CELLU were 220g/kg, 560g/kg, 516.8g/kg, 368g/kg, 69.4g/kg, 148.8g/kg and 298.6g/kg, respectively. There was a significant difference among collection sites for IVDMD, ADF and CELLU. The first two principal components accounted for 73% of the total variation. The 80 accessions resulted in four clusters, among which significant differences were observed for CP, IVDMD and ADF. Group IV, with 24 accessions, had the highest CP and IVDMD concentrations and the lowest ADF concentration, being the highest-quality forage group. Diversity indices were 0.78 and 0.81 for Simpson?s and Shannon?Weaver?s, respectively. In conclusion, there is genetic diversity for forage quality traits among S. scabra