Some properties of biodegradable edible films developed from starches of acha (Digitalia exilis) and iburu (Digitalia iburua), with glycerol as plasticizer, were evaluated and compared. Scanning electron microscope revealed that acha starch film (ASF) had rougher surface with larger size spores. Both films showed similar crystallinity pattern made up of A-type pattern of cereal starch as backbone and process induced V H-crystals. FTIR spectroscopy revealed the traces of some non-starch components in the films matrices. Both films had near-equal thickness (≈0.02 mm). However, iburu starch film (ISF) exhibited higher density, swelling power, water solubility and mechanical resistant while ASF gave higher water vapor permeability. Both films maintained their integrity during water solubility testing period. ISF had significantly (p < .05) higher transparency (97.08%) while ASF had higher a* (−0.06) and b* (1.81) values. Films from the starches exhibited promising characteristics that could place them as good materials for different packaging requirements. Fabricación y caracterización de películas comestibles a partir de almidones de acha [mijo] (Digitalia exilis) e iburu (Digitalia iburua) RESUMENEl presente estudio se propuso evaluar y comparar algunas propiedades de las películas comestibles biodegradables elaboradas a partir de almidones de acha (Digitalia exilis) e iburu (Digitalia iburua), utilizando glicerol como plastificante. El microscopio electrónico de barrido permitió constatar que la película de almidón de acha (ASF) posee una superficie más rugosa, presentando esporas de mayor tamaño. Ambas películas muestran un patrón de cristalinidad similar, conformado por un patrón de tipo A del almidón de cereal como columna vertebral y por cristales V H inducidos por el proceso. Mediante la espectroscopia FTIR se comprobó la presencia de algunos componentes no relacionados con el almidón en las matrices de las películas. Ambas películas tienen un grosor casi igual (≈0.02 mm). Sin embargo, la película de almidón iburu (ISF) presenta mayor densidad, poder de hinchamiento, solubilidad en agua y resistencia mecánica, mientras que la ASF posee mayor permeabilidad al vapor de agua. Ambas películas mantuvieron su integridad durante el periodo de pruebas de solubilidad en agua. La ISF mostró una transparencia significativamente mayor (p < .05) (97.08%), mientras que la ASF registró valores más altos de a* (−0.06) y b* (1.81). En conclusión, las películas de los almidones poseen características prometedoras que podrían situarlas como buenos materiales para diferentes requerimientos de envasado.

Starch was extracted from aerial yam (Dioscorea bulbifera) using water, sodium hydroxide, ammonium oxalate, and oxalic acid as extraction solvents, oven-dried at 45°C for 24 h, and milled to flour. The starch obtained was evaluated for yield, chemical and functional properties using standard procedures. The sensory attributes of the starch cooked pastes were also determined. Aerial yam extracted with oxalate gave the highest yield of 20.20% and high amylose content was observed in the water extracted aerial yam samples. A higher purity of 90.45% was observed in the aerial yam starches extracted with oxalate. Water extracted aerial yam starch had the highest swelling power and solubility index of 48.44% and 25.75 g/g with the least gelation capacity of 4% with high pasting viscosities and also low pasting temperature and time. The cooked paste of the starch extracted with oxalic acid was the most acceptable in terms of appearance (8.60) and overall acceptability (8.16). The starch extracted with water had higher swelling power and a solubility index than other starches extracted. Extraction of aerial yam starch with different solvents resulted in variations in the characteristics of the starch, which can find wide applications in both food and non-food industries.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is preventable by effectively managing its risk factors. Such risk factors (smoking, unhealthy eating habits, sedentary lifestyles, etc.) are judged to reflect an individual's self-efficacy, lifestyle modification, and CVD knowledge. Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between lifestyle practices, self-efficacy, and knowledge of CVDs risk factors among the elderly. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 424 randomly individuals whose age is ≥60 years. A questionnaire-based survey was administered on the self-efficacy rate, lifestyle practices, and respondents’ knowledge of CVDs risk factors. Respondents with a score of ≤50%, 51%–74.99%, and ≥75% were classified as having low, medium, or high self-efficacy. Similarly, the same score was used to classify poor, fair, or good lifestyle; and low, average, or high knowledge. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences, while association among variables was determined using chi-square. Results: Few respondents were involved in physical exercise (1.7%), cigarette smoking (4.5%), regular soft drinks (18.2%), and alcohol consumption (13.2%). Many respondents used excess salt during cooking (92.7%) or ate outside their homes (64.6%). 58.5%, 30.0%, and 11.6% of the respondents had fair, good, and poor lifestyle practices. 11.3%, 58.7%, and 30.0% had low, medium, and high self-efficacy scores. A total of 45.3%, 35.4%, and 19.3% had low, average, and high knowledge. Knowledge and self-efficacy scores were significantly different ( P  =  0.001). Conclusion: High self-efficacy and its significant relationship with knowledge could mean that CVD risk factors can be checked if the elderly have a proper lifestyle, positive attitudes, and nutrition education.