Illegal wildlife trade exerts severe pressure on wild parrot populations, and confiscated parrots often end up in rescue centers where they are rehabilitated for release. However, parrots kept in captivity often develop potentially maladaptive behaviors, including attraction to humans. This behavior can increase the risk of recapture. We modified and tested a previously published human aversion training (HAT) protocol designed to reduce human attraction in confiscated Amazona parrots. The HAT consisted of observers either on the ground or on a ladder, offering food to a single individual and then feigning capture of birds that approached or failed to move away from the observer. Twelve Yellow-naped Amazons (Amazona auropalliata) underwent 36 sessions of HAT over a 14-week period. Ten additional birds were held without training as a control. All birds were evaluated through food offer tests (FOTs) before, during, and after the experiment (FOT scores ranged from 1 when the bird approached the observer to 6 when the bird flew away). Over the training period, both groups showed increased aversion to people. However, contrary to our predictions, aversion scores were not higher for the group given aversion training. Aversion training also did not have a strong impact on fate post-release: within a month of release, 40% of the 22 birds were recaptured in a nearby village, including 4 treatment and 5 control birds. Overall, these results suggest that holding these birds in monospecific groups increased aversion to humans. However, the intense training aversion protocol did not further increase the fear of humans in these Amazona parrots, many of which may have been pets for years before entering the program. This study suggests that rehabilitation and release projects should regularly evaluate the impacts of their training programs and improve or eliminate costly protocols that do not achieve stated objectives.

Chemotherapy improves outcomes in patients with high-risk early or locally advanced breast cancer, but older adults often experience higher toxicity that leads to treatment delays, dose reductions, and reduced relative dose intensity (RDI). This study examined predictors of low RDI and its impact on overall survival (OS) in women aged over 65 years treated with neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy at San Juan de Dios Hospital (Costa Rica) between November 2018 and April 2023. A total of 264 patients (mean age: 70.1 years) were included. Nearly one-third had a Charlson Comorbidity Index (CMI) greater than 6. Tumor subtypes were hormone receptor (HR)+/ human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2)-(48.9%), HR+/HER2+ (15.9%), HR-/HER2+ (33%), and triple-negative (17.8%). Most patients (68.6%) received anthracycline-based regimens. Overall, 17.4% had an RDI below 80%. After a median follow-up of 54.6 months, 56 deaths were recorded. Low RDI was significantly associated with worse OS [hazard ratio: 1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-3.13; P = 0.04]. Independent predictors of low RDI were anthracycline-based therapy [odds ratio (OR): 4.76, 95% CI: 2.17-9.09], CMI greater than 6 (OR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.02-4.54), and age more than 70 years (OR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.14-5.01). These findings suggest that advanced age, comorbidities, and anthracycline regimens increase the risk of reduced RDI, which negatively impacts survival. Supportive measures are critical to maintain chemotherapy intensity in older women.

Diagnosing the governance gap: Technically informed public perception and institutional trust in microplastic regulation in Costa Rica

Xylella fastidiosa is a plant-pathogenic bacterium native to the Americas. It has a wide host range and causes significant diseases in economically important crops, including grapevines, citrus, and olive trees. Since 2013, this bacterium has been detected in Europe and other countries of the Mediterranean basin, leading to the identification of several subspecies (multiplex, fastidiosa and pauca) and sequence types (STs) in various plant species in Italy, France, the Balearic Islands and mainland Spain, Portugal, Israel and Lebanon. This study focuses on genomic analyses of the subspecies pauca ST53 strains detected in France. ST53 was identified (i) on intercepted coffee plants in the Pays-de-la-Loire region in 2014 and 2015, and (ii) on two infected host plants collected in Menton in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in 2015 and 2019. As an efficient and promising alternative to cell culture, the targeted enrichment method developed specifically to capture X. fastidiosa gDNA was applied to obtain the whole genome. Phylogenetic and genomic comparisons were carried out to compare the ST53 genomic sequences of the samples from France with a range of X. fastidiosa subspecies pauca genomic sequences from public databases, including ST53 from Italy and Costa Rica. The results obtained from these different approaches revealed close genetic relatedness between the strains. A tip-dating analysis and transmission tree were performed, supporting the hypothesis that some ST53 strains from France may be related to the same introduction event than the Italian strains.

Tracking pesticides from upstream plantations to native bivalves in a tropical wetland habitat in Costa Rica.

For the state of Durango, Mexico, parasitoids of the orders Hymenoptera and Diptera have been reported, which contribute to the biological control of economically important pests such as the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), among others; The genus Meteorus is naturally distributed in some municipalities of the State; however, although morphologically the characters coincide with Meterorus laphygmae and M. arizonensis, the morphometric analysis only allowed to form two groups: males and females, and an overlap in the measurements of their proportions was observed, but without separating both species. Genetically, M. laphygmae reported in Genbank® for Mexico is distant from Meteorus spp. (M. laphygmae and M. arizonensis) from Durango (0.118), where no clear differentiation is observed either. Meteorus laphygmae has a recorded geographic distribution in North America and Latin America. To demonstrate that this species is distributed in several states of Mexico, but not in Durango, the genetic sequences were analyzed, which showed that the group of Meteorus sp. from Durango, Mexico, does not correspond to M. laphygmae recorded in Mexico (center and south) up to Costa Rica, suggesting that it is probably a different species or just M. arizonensis, so its morphological redescription will be essential, which will provide the biological tools necessary to control S. frugiperda and other pests.

Few studies have examined the antimicrobial resistance profiles and phylogenetic diversity of bacteria in Latin American beaches. The aim of this study is to provide nationwide data on Escherichia coli from recreational beaches along the Costa Rican coasts, contributing to the understanding of this knowledge gap. Thirty-nine strains were recovered, one per sampled site, and tested for susceptibility to eleven antibiotics using the disk diffusion method. PCR was used to detect sulfonamide resistance genes (sul1, sul2) and the class 1 integron gene (intI1), while phylogenetic classification was conducted following the Clermont multiplex protocol. Resistance to at least one antibiotic was observed in 84.6% of isolates, with ampicillin (58.97%) and cefazolin (51.28%) showing the highest resistance rates. Multidrug resistance was found in 20.5% of strains, and 33% had MAR indices exceeding 0.2, suggesting contamination from high-risk sources. Phylogroup B1 predominated (51.3%), indicating widespread environmental or animal-associated contamination, although human-related groups (D_E and B2) were also present. The integrase gene intI1 was detected in 66.7% of isolates, suggesting potential for horizontal gene transfer. These results confirm the presence of resistant E. coli strains, including multidrug-resistant and human-associated phylogroups, in Costa Rican coastal waters. They underscore the urgency of integrating AMR surveillance into national water quality monitoring systems and improving wastewater treatment infrastructure to reduce the spread of resistant bacteria in recreational environments.

Introduction. Heat stress in dairy cattle is a growing problem, especially in tropical climates like in Costa Rica. This phenomenon negatively impacts milk production, animal health, and reproductive efficiency. Therefore, it is crucial to implement mitigation strategies that improve cattle welfare and farm profitability. Objective. To evaluate the effects of an evaporative cooling system (ECS) on the welfare, productivity, and reproductive performance of Jersey cows. Materials and methods. Over a three-month period during the dry season, the herd was divided into two homogeneous blocks: one exposed to the ECS and the other serving as a control. Variables such as temperature, humidity, surface body temperature, milk yield and composition, reproductive performance, and somatic cell count were measured. Additionally, a financial analysis was conducted to assess the economic feasibility of the system. Results. The results showed a significant reduction in the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) in the area under the ECS, with an average decrease of 2.91 points, and a drop of up to 3.97 °C in surface body temperature of exposed cows. However, no significant improvements were observed in milk production or reproductive parameters. Somatic cell counts also did not increase. From a financial perspective, the investment was not profitable under the current conditions. Conclusion. The evaporative cooling system significantly reduced the surface temperature of cows without negatively affecting udder health, but it did not improve milk production or reproductive indicators under the environmental conditions of the study.

Central America is an understudied global hotspot of plant biodiversity and harbors Acrocomia aculeata (Coyol or Macaúba), a neotropical palm with significant potential for oil and biofuel production. Historically, the region has functioned as a biogeographic land bridge, an isthmus, connecting North and South American biota. Here, we investigate how genomic diversity and potential distribution patterns of A. aculeata are shaped across Central America. A total of 259 samples were collected from Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, covering the full extent of the Central American isthmus. Using a double-digest genotyping-by-sequencing (ddGBS) approach and ecological niche modeling, we assessed variation at 1,523 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and evaluated environmental suitability across the region. Our analyses reveal three major genomic clusters: Mesoamerican, Costa Rican, and Panamanian, each comprising subpopulations with distinct levels of genetic diversity. The Mesoamerican group (Guatemala, Honduras, and northern Nicaragua) exhibited the highest diversity and unique genetic signatures, likely reflecting historical migrations and acting as a biodiversity cradle during periods when southern portions of the isthmus were submerged. Biogeographic features such as the Nicaraguan Depression and the Talamanca Cordillera contributed to regional genetic differentiation. Ecological niche models identified Central American pacific lowlands, forested areas, rangelands, and agroecosystems as suitable habitats for A. aculeata . Our combined results reflect the evolutionary history and population structure of A. aculeata in Central America, highlighting the influence of South American source populations and regional barriers. These findings provide a critical foundation for conservation and breeding programs aiming to preserve the genetic diversity and adaptive potential of A. aculeata in a rapidly changing and neglected biodiversity hotspot.

The probability that female bagworms (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) are in mating time-in (live pheromone calling) was recorded in three bagworm species: Oiketicus kirbyi in a Costa Rican oil palm plantation in 1993–1994; Metisa plana in Malaysian oil palm plantations during five consecutive generations of bagworms in 1996; and Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis on ornamental trees in the Midwest United States. Because females entirely reproduce within their bag (mate attraction, copulation, and oviposition), it is possible to assess the mating success of time-out females (dead individuals from an ongoing generation that either mated or died as a lifelong virgin) and incidence of calling females that may or may not mate before death. Synchronous larval development and discrete (non-overlapping) generations imply a declining proportion of live calling females over time in all three bagworm species: ‘young’ calling females prevail in the early season as opposed to a majority of time-out (post-reproductive) females in the late season. Calling females are long-lived relative to males (one-day lifespan) and thus expected to mate as adults when abundance of males is high and/or female longevity exceeds three days. A low mating success of calling females is associated with extreme protogyny (early season male shortage; O. kirbyi in 1994) or late adult emergence in populations at the edge of the distribution range (T. ephemeraeformis at latitudes > 41° N in 2019).

This article examines the use of ideational grammatical metaphor (IGM) in the textualization of the introductory stage of essays by L2 students of academic Spanish as a second language (L2) preparing to undertake an academic term at the University of Costa Rica. A qualitative analysis was conducted on samples produced by these learners, in which the emergence of complex nominal groups resulting from metaphorization processes was observed, contributing to the creation of lexically dense generic phases. The results present instances that illustrate a motivated use of IGM in the three metafunctions: ideational, interpersonal, and textual. Considering the analysis, the importance of generating grammatical reflection on writing in Spanish as an L2 from meaning categories linked to communicative needs in the generic practices of academic communities is proposed, focusing on how lexicogrammatical resources adapt to the parameters of academic register.

Genitourinary infections caused by Candida spp. and other yeasts have increased in incidence, and the emergence of resistant isolates to commonly prescribed antifungals is becoming more frequent. Thus, the purpose of this study was to characterize the physiological characteristics of 38 yeast isolates (Candida albicans [n = 32], Candida tropicalis [n = 3], and Nakaseomyces glabratus [n = 3]) recovered from genitourinary infections to better understand the diversity of their physiological profiles, their virulence factors, and their role in pathogenicity. In addition, an experimental study was conducted to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the isolates using the M27-A3 microdilution method described by the Clinical Laboratory and Standards Institute. Clinical isolates of Candida spp. studied showed in vitro susceptibility to both fluconazole and clotrimazole, the latter having greater antifungal activity due to its lower MIC50. Statistically significant differences were found between the MICs obtained for fluconazole and clotrimazole, with the latter showing the highest in vitro activity. Therefore, the clinical use of clotrimazole is recommended, as is the ongoing need for this type of analysis to monitor changes in susceptibility profiles over time.

ABSTRACT In the last four decades, experiences of non-formal education for older adults began to unfold in some Latin American countries. These experiences were driven by the dissemination of the Third Age Universities movement which developed in the 1970s in continental Europe and then expanded according to the socio-political dynamics of Latin American countries. The purpose of this article is to characterize the salient features of the process of creation and expansion of older adult education (OAE) in some countries in the region that have a greater development in this field of intervention. Focus is put on analyzing these features in relation to the principles of educational gerontology formulated by Peterson and the criteria he presented for the organization of educational activities with AM (1976, 1983). The article proposes a description of robust national cases, such as Cuba, Argentina, Costa Rica, and Uruguay. To construct the national case studies, a review of scientific articles published in specialized journals on education, social gerontology, and social sciences from the selected countries will be done. Interviews will be conducted with national experts and managers of senior education organizations in each country.

This article studies the construction of the iconographic type of Our Lady of the Angels of La Puebla de los Pardos, Costa Rica, from the 17th century to the present. The comparative of type iconographic method is applied to compare different representations of this title of Mary Virgin that exist in Costa Rica, with the aim to determine the attributes and forms of aesthetic composition that have allowed the consolidation of this Marian iconographic type, facilitating its reading and recognition by the Costa Rican population and defining it as a completely distinct representation from the artistic expressions venerated in churches under the title of Our Lady of the Angels in other countries around the world.

Passive air sampling (PAS) using polyurethane foam (PUF) disks has been used to monitor air contamination from current-use pesticides (CUPs). However, its accuracy has hardly been studied. To assess effectiveness of PUF-PAS for measuring CUPs, 18 PUF-PAS devices were deployed for 1-6 weeks at a school near banana plantations in Costa Rica. Simultaneously, every week air was sampled with high and low volume active air samplers (AAS) for 24 h and 7 days, respectively. Extracts were analyzed using microwave-assisted extraction and LC-MS/MS. Nine CUPs (ethoprophos, difenoconazole, cadusafos, chlorpyrifos, fenpropidin, fenpropimorph, pyrimethanil, spiroxamine, and terbufos) were detected by both PAS and AAS. Concentrations were highest for pyrimethanil (34.3 ng/m3) followed by fenpropidin (9.0 ng/m3) and terbufos (8.4 ng/m3). An average sampling rate of 3.4 m3/day was estimated for PUF-PAS using Lo-AAS data, like previously reported in literature. After 3 weeks of deployment, PUF-PAS detected eight out of nine pesticides, similar to the AAS methods. However, after 4 weeks of deployment, substantial losses (≥50%) were observed for all CUPs except pyrimethanil, likely due to oxidative degradation. We therefore recommend a maximum deployment time of 3 weeks under tropical conditions. These findings support PUF-PAS as a cost-effective alternative for AAS in tropical regions.

This article presents a comment of the literary work Que Dios protege a los malos (1979) written by Myriam Bustos Arratia, a Chilean writer exiled in Costa Rica since 1974. This text contains twelve stories located in Costa Rica and Chile during 1973-1976, which refer to events such as the tensions prior to the coup d’état, the social demonstrations, the alliances between parties, the takeover of buildings, the uncertainty of the disappeared people and the exile, from the daily life of the characters with different social origins and militances. The review proposes, if we understand the literary work as a text in and about exile, we can find three themes: the criticism of the government of Salvador Allende, the existence of social classes as one of the causes of tension and the appearance of emotional states associated with the coup. It is concluded that the text shows the fractures of the coup and exile in the subjects, reflected in the separation of families, the search for refuge, the expectations of return, the fear, the loneliness, and the hopelessness.

Introduction: Costa Rica has consolidated a comprehensive conservation system, within which Cahuita National Park (CNP) is a special case, bringing together marine and terrestrial ecosystems managed through a model of shared governance between the state and the community. Although it generates economic and environmental benefits, there is still a divergence with the socioeconomic conditions of the district, highlighting an analytical gap in how these benefits are linked to local development. Objective: This article aims to identify the socioeconomic and environmental benefits generated by CNP and their relationship with socioeconomic development, analyzing strategies that benefit the community and the natural environment. Method and techniques: The study adopts a mixed approach that integrates documentary review, analysis of institutional information, and even semi-structured interviews with local actors. The data were articulated through triangulation to contrast environmental, economic, and governance dimensions associated with the park. Results: The analysis shows that the CNP contributes to ecosystem conservation and even generates employment and economic activity in the tourism sector. However, these benefits are not proportionally reflected in the district's conditions, particularly in terms of job opportunities, training, infrastructure, and local capacities to sustainably leverage the park's contributions. Conclusions: The findings show that the challenging relationship between conservation and local development depends on institutional, socioeconomic, and territorial factors that influence the distribution of benefits. The study provides evidence for strengthening shared governance and community capacities that impact the district's development.

The main purpose of this study is to assess the effect of current public expenditure on education and human capital on economic growth in Central America between 1992 and 2021. In this context, data on education spending and human capital for Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica were analyzed using a panel data approach with Driscoll–Kraay standard errors. The time series were primarily obtained from the online databases of the World Bank, UNESCO, and national public sources. The results show a positive and significant effect of current education expenditure and human capital formation on the economic growth of Central America. This research provides empirical evidence on a topic that has been scarcely examined in the Central American regional context, and its findings constitute relevant input for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.

This report describes the first discovery in Costa Rica of a multidrug-resistant strain of Nakaseomyces glabratus (formerly Candida glabrata). The infection occurred in a 39-year-old man who had a complicated medical history, with repeated intra-abdominal infections, and eventually died from septic shock. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed, and Illumina whole-genome sequencing was conducted to identify mutations associated with the resistance profile. Genomic analysis identified critical non-synonymous mutations in key resistance genes, linked to azole and echinocandin resistance. This case underscores the critical threat of antifungal resistance and highlights the importance of genomic surveillance in understanding resistance mechanisms to guide public health responses.

Predation of sea turtles by jaguars (Panthera onca) in the Santa Rosa National Park (SRNP) has been well documented over the past decade. However, the factors that influence jaguar feeding behavior, including environmental factors or characteristics of the beaches and the adjacent forest, are poorly known. This study aimed to identify the relationship between vegetation density and human activity on the distribution of feeding sites of jaguar on sea turtles at nesting beaches in Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica. We sampled three beaches (Naranjo, Nancite, and Colorada), where we identified and registered sea turtle carcasses preyed on by jaguars between June and November 2019. Through systematic searches of the forest adjacent to the beach, we documented the species, geographic coordinates, carcass length and width, vegetation cover at the carcass site, and the average vegetation coverage corresponding to the date and beach of each sea turtle carcass. In total, we recorded 338 sea turtle carcasses preyed on by jaguars, 156 at Naranjo beach, 103 at Nancite beach, and 89 at Colorada beach. The beach with the highest average density of carcasses was Colorada (8.7 (SD = 5.42)/ha), followed by Nancite (6.06 (SD = 5.58)/ha) and Naranjo (2.64 (SD = 1.79)/ha). The dragging distance from the beach line to sea turtle carcasses was best explained by the interaction of nesting beach and canopy cover at the carcass. Our canopy cover results may reflect that jaguars select sites that better hide their prey, in the same way that green turtles (Chelonia mydas) usually prefer areas with good coverage to nest in, contrasting to the nesting behavior of olive ridleys (Lepidochelys olivacea). On beaches, higher concentrations were observed where there was less human presence and this may reflect both turtle nesting and jaguar predation activity.