Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

En los últimos tiempos, la producción de plástico ha aumentado debido a la conveniencia y al uso multipropósito. Como el plástico puede hacer la vida más fácil a los seres humanos, la cantidad de desechos plásticos ha incrementado, lo mismo que los efectos en la vida marina. Dado que es un tema relativamente nuevo, los efectos de los microplásticos sobre las especies marinas están intentando ser modelados en laboratorios y observados en el campo. Los efectos de los desechos plásticos en las especies marinas incluyen, entre otros, el enredo, la ingestión, la posible bioacumulación, las exposiciones químicas e incluso la muerte. Los plásticos más grandes pueden convertirse en partículas más pequeñas, conocidas como microplásticos, que, debido a su reducido tamaño, hacen difícil el estudio de sus efectos en la vida marina. Los microplásticos son un problema global que afecta a las especies. Algunos de los factores que influyen en la afectación de especies marinas por microplásticos son: la alimentación, el color, la edad y la ingestión accidental / secundaria. El enfoque de este artículo de investigación es la ingesta del porcentaje promedio de microplásticos por especies de aves marinas en comparación con otras especies marinas en todo el mundo.

In most buildings applications, knowing the mechanisms of heat transfer and its effects allows to make designs improvements, for example, by increasing the insulation in walls and windows can achieve energy saving. In this work we study the heat transfer in windows by an experimental system called 3JR meter, based on an Arduino platform and temperature sensors. Tests for windows insulation evaluation of one classroom of the Experimental Center building of the Regional Center of Azuero, Technological University of Panama, were performed for tropical climate condition. In this room, thermal studies were carried outto observe the effect of expanded polystyrene curtains in a place irradiated by the sun and to see how this can improve in some way both, the people comfort and the possible energy saving in an air conditioning unit. An energy analyzer equipment was also used to ensure good operation of the air conditioner and verify the existence of variations in voltages, currents or frequency.

Este artículo presenta resultados del cálculo de los niveles de emisión sonora provocados por el tráfico rodante o vehicular en las avenidas principales de la ciudad de Panamá, mediante el uso de modelos logarítmicos matemáticos. Se utilizaron cuatro modelos matemáticos para calcular los niveles de emisión sonora y, posteriormente, se compararon los resultados con los resultados de los estudios realizados por la Facultad de Ingeniería Mecánica de la UTP “Muestreo con sonómetros (utilizando sonómetro) y Mapa de Ruido utilizando el modelo matemático SoundPLan versión 6.4”. Los modelos logarítmicos matemáticos seleccionados fueron en modelos FHWA de Estados Unidos, el modelo de Valdivia de Chile, el NMPBRoutes-96 de Francia y el modelo RLS90 de Alemania. Luego de comparar los resultados de los cuatro modelos logarítmicos matemáticos, con los resultados de los estudios realizados en UTP, se calculó el porcentaje de error de cada modelo logarítmico matemático. Con base en los resultados del porcentaje de error de modelos matemáticos, se validó el uso de tres de modelos matemáticos para el cálculo de ruido para Panamá, los modelos FHWA, Valdivia y RLS90. Por otro lado, para las condiciones de Panamá, no se recomienda el uso del modelo NMPB Routes-96.

The recycling of concrete and soil waste helps reduce the effects of pollution due to construction. It has been verified in different studies that the mixture of concrete residues in landfills is feasible, in the same way when adding cement to the ground, it helps to stabilize the foundations avoiding settlements. The article analyzes the possibility of using soil-cement-caliche in mixtures designs for foundations, retaining walls, base layer of roads, among others. The results obtained in the samples where the coarse aggregate is replaced by caliche yielded results where the caliche tends to increase the resistance in the mix designs. On the other hand, the replacement of fine and coarse aggregates by soil and caliche, tend to increase the resistance of the soil-cement design, converting these mixtures into solutions for the use of these residues in buildings.

Soils samples of different parts of the Province of Los Santos, Republic of Panama, were taken to evaluate the percentage of germination of the rice seed IDIAP137, applying as treatment different soil types, including, clay loam, clay, sandy loam, and fine sand. This research seeks to provide information to rice producers regarding the type of soil in which it is more appropriate to plant this kind of seed. Controlled variables considered in the study are humidity, light, depth of planting, among others. The analysis useda complete random design, and 5 replicates for each treatment (soil types). The null hypothesis states that there is no significant difference in the percentage of seed germination IDIAP 137 for soil types analyzed and this hypothesis was accepted at the 5% significance.

In the following investigation, a volume estimation of waste tires in the Corregimiento of Chitré, Province of Herrera, Republic of Panama was conducted. It was estimated that 900 tires are discarded per week, which represents a weight of 8,892 Kg. With the previous figure, we identified a tire crusher with a capacity of 0.2 ton / h in order to obtain crushed tires pellets the size of 25 to 300 mm that could be exported or re-use as fuels in industrial plants of manufacture of cement, paper, bricks, among others.

This article describes the design of a prototype for a water heater made with recycled materials and takes advantage of thermal radiation. The methods and materials used for the development of the solar heater prototype are presented, as well as its theoretical operation. The design considers the best orientation for maximum use. In the tests carried out, it is confirmed that black bodies absorb solar radiation, as well as the greenhouse effect caused by glass.

This article presents the design and operation of a wastewater treatment system for washing machines; which consists in the collection of the waste water which is then treated through the flocculation process and finally filtered obtaining clean water that could be reused for the next washing process or other uses in the home.

Due to the lack of interest in the mathematics of students in our country, it became necessary to study the causes of this problem and develop ways to motivate students to improve their academic performance. This paper presents the design, development and implementation of TRI-CRO, an application developed in Java capable of checking, solving and storing mathematical problems such as: right triangles and oblique triangles through an array of objects. In the first place, the resources used in the development of the application are presented, such as the development software, algorithms, formulas, which are mentioned: sine law, cosine law, trigonometric functions and Pythagoras theorem. Following the methodology, analyze in the first instance, capture data by the student, how the application responds, if it is effective in the results it produces, developed with an interactive graphic interface with the user. Finally, a research was developed to evaluate the application. To this end, a sample of 20 first-year students from the Technological University of Panama, Coclé Regional Center, was tested with the aim of measuring the effectiveness of the application within the contents of the subject Mathematics I, in addition to promoting learning of mathematics at this educational level, raising the possibility of the implementation of techno-logical tools as a strategy for the study of teachers.

Rural electrification aims to improve living conditions and reduce social inequality. The problem of lack of electricity limits the development and hinders the improvement of the place and its inhabitants. This, in turn, deprives the development of people in these areas, therefore, the importance in the subject and its solutions that eradicate poverty, infant mortality, the improvement of education, the promotion of gender equity, the increase in quality medical care and the achievement of environmental sustainability. In the province of Bocas del Toro, and specifically in the community of Loma Muleto, the lack of electricity is evident, since the villagers are affected in their development with respect to education, health, economy and routine household tasks. Considering the above, the objective of this work is to evaluate the use of solar energy to improve the social conditions of the community of Loma Muleto in the Province of Bocas del Toro. The research has a qualitative approach, of non-experimental design, where the type of study is transversal and descriptive. The research was conducted in the District of Changuinola in the community of Loma Muleto, where interviews were given to residents of the community about economic factors, daily activities, education and their health system. The data analysis showed that the lack of electrical energy is a problem that covers important areas in the life of the residents of Loma Muleto and that the need for it is urgent, since its absence does not contribute to the development of the population.