En este trabajo se estudiaron las propiedades ópticas y la permeabilidad de vapor de agua (PVA) de películas biodegradables hechas a partir de dos variedades de almidón termoplástico de yuca nativo e hidrolizado, ácido poliláctico y policaprolactona. Las películas se obtuvieron por medio de un proceso de extrusión yse le evaluaron propiedades durante 1, 8, 60 y 120 días. La PVA durante los 120 días estuvo entre 2,18 x 10-11 y 9,12x 10-11 g/Pa*s*m. Por otra parte la mayoría de películas conservaron sus aspectos de color presentando valores de L entre 83,92 y 87,89 y los parámetro a* y b* estuvieron cercanos a 0, dando como resultado películas con una ligera tendencia al color amarillo. Con respecto al brillo los valores oscilaron entre 16,06 y 21,98 GU durante el envejecimiento. Este estudio encontró que el envejecimiento influye significativamente en las propiedades ópticas y la PVA | In this work it was studied the optical properties and water vapor permeability (WVP) in biodegradable films made from two thermoplastic cassava starch varieties native and hydrolyzed, polylactic acid and polycaprolactone. The films were obtained by extrusion process, and their properties were rated for 1, 8, 60 and 120 days. The PVA for 120 days was between 2, 18 x 10-11 and 9, 12 x 10-11 g / Pa * s * m. Almost all the films retained their color issues with values of between 83,92 and 87,89 L, the parameter a * and b * were close to 0, resulting films with a slight tendency to yellow. Thegloss values varied between 16,06 and 21,98 GU during the aging. This study found that aging affected significantly the optical properties and the WVP | Neste trabalho estudaram-se as propriedades ópticas e a permeabilidade de vapor de água (PVA) nos filmes biodegradáveis feitos de duas variedades de amido termoplástico de mandioca nativa e hidrolisado, ácido poliláctico epolicaprolactona. Os filmes foramobtidosmediante o processo de extrusão, a este se avaliaron as propriedades mencionadas anteriormente durante 1, 8, 60 e120 dias. A PVA durante 120 dias, esteve entre 2,18 x 10-11 e 9,12 x 10-11 g / Pa * s * m. Além disso a maioria dos filmes mantivemos seus aspectos de cor com valores de L entre 83,92 e 87,89 e os parâmetros a* e b* foram perto de 0 resultando filmes com uma ligeira tendência a cor amarelo. Com respeito ao brilho, estes oscilarem entre 16,06 y 21,98 GU durante o envelhecimento. Este estudo concluiu que o envelhecimento influencia significativamente as propriedades ópticas e o PVA

Artículo de publicación ISI | Introduction: aging and obesity cause changes in water exchange rate, which could affect the equilibrium time of deuterium oxide (21120). Objective: to assess the effect of overweight and obesity on the equilibrium time of the stable isotope deuterium in saliva samples of older adults. Methods: a sample of 18 women over 63 years with a body mass index (BMI) of 20.8 to 40.5 kg/m(2) were included. A basal saliva sample was took and immediately a dose of 30 g of (H2O)-H-2 was administered orally. Saliva samples at 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5 and 4 hours post-dose were taken. Deuterium in saliva samples were analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy technique. Results: the average in equilibrium time (plateau) in women of normal BMI (18.5-24.9 kg/m(2)) was 3.6 +/- 0.2 hours, which was statistically different to those obtained in the group with overweight (25-29.9 kg/m(2)) and obese (>30 kg/m(2)) of 2.9 +/- 0.4 hours and 2.8 +/- 0.4 hours, respectively (p<0.05). The values of total body water and fat free mass calculated with the values of isotopic enrichment at 3.6 (plateau reached in the group with normal BMI) did not differ statistically from the values calculated to plateau at 2.9 and 2.8 hours in the overweight and obesity group, respectively (p>0.05). Conclusion: obesity had an effect on the equilibrium times; however, did not affect the calculation of total body water and body composition in this older women adult group. | Introducción: el envejecimiento y la obesidad producen cambios en la tasa de recambio de agua, lo que podría afectar al tiempo de equilibrio del óxido de deuterio (2 H2 O). Objetivo: se evaluó el efecto del sobrepeso y la obesidad sobre el tiempo de equilibrio del isótopo estable de deuterio en muestras de saliva de adultos mayores. Métodos: se incluyeron 18 mujeres entre 63 y 80 años con un índice de masa corporal (IMC) de 20,8 a 40,5 kg/m2 . Después de la toma de una muestra de saliva basal se administró una dosis vía oral de 30 g de 2 H2 O. Se tomaron muestras de saliva a las 2, 2,5, 3, 3,5 y 4 horas post-dosis, las cuales fueron analizadas mediante espectrometría infrarroja con transformada de Fourier. Resultados: el tiempo de equilibrio (plateau) promedio en las mujeres con un IMC normal (18,5-24,9 kg/m2 ) fue de 3,6 ± 0,2 horas, el cual fue diferente estadísticamente al obtenido en el grupo con sobrepeso (25-29,9 kg/m2 ) y obesidad (>30 kg/m2 ) de 2,9 ± 0,4 horas y 2,8 ± 0,4 horas, respectivamente (p<0,05). Los valores de agua corporal total y la masa corporal libre de grasa calculados con los valores de enriquecimiento isotópico a las 3,6 (plateau alcanzado en el grupo con IMC normal) no fueron diferentes estadísticamente a los valores calculados al plateau a las 2,9 y 2,8 horas en el grupo con sobrepeso y obesidad, respectivamente (p>0,05). Conclusión: se encontró un efecto de la obesidad sobre el tiempo de equilibrio; sin embargo, no afectó al cálculo del agua corporal total y a la composición corporal en este grupo etario.

During the past decade countries in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region have lifted more than 50 million people out of poverty, yet half of the rural population in the region still lacks access to sanitation and approximately 20 percent to drinking water. In January 2012, policy makers, scholars, and practitioners from nine LAC countries came together in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to explore the opportunities and challenges of integrating in a more systematic and sustainable way the promotion of hygiene and sanitation behavioral change into water and sanitation investments. During the conference in Santo Domingo, it became evident that a common understanding is currently emerging from most countries in the sense that infrastructure by itself will not solve the global problems of inadequate access to improved sanitation and potable water, unless people adopt new behaviors. Therefore, there is a need to spread learning on best practices to implement cost effective water, sanitation and hygiene models, which bring about change at home and in the community at scale. This paper highlights key issues that arose in presentations and group discussions during the conference, which, can lead to substantial improvements in the provision of a multi-sector approach to hindering sustainable water and sanitation services for all.