Costa Rica Research Articles

Implementation of good documentation practices and good storage and distribution practices for medical products in female penitentiary in Costa Rica.

This paper aimed to the enhancement of health-care services at a female penitentiary center in Costa Rica by implementing good documentation practices (GDocP) and good storage and distribution practices (GSDP) among the staff responsible for medications (SRM). The methodology used in this project was qualitative, as it sought to deepen and reinforce the knowledge of the SRM about GDocP and GSDP in the Vilma Curling CAI to achieve its implementation. Additionally, different questionnaires were applied to measure the initial level of knowledge of GDocP and GSDP and the new skills acquired by the SRM at the end of the project. Some improvement opportunities were identified in pharmaceutical service, management of the documentary system and knowledge of GDocP and GSDP among SRM. It is important to highlight the essential role of pharmacists, as experts in medical products, in health-care teams. Their participation significantly contributes to improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations, such as incarcerated women. Limitations included a small sample size, the security regulations to entry to the penitentiary center and limited information related to the implementation of GDocP and GSDP in such environment. This project explores a poorly researched field such as the implementation of GDocP and GSDP and the impact that this could have on the pharmaceutical service of a penitentiary center.

Peripheral blood miRNAs are associated with airflow below threshold in children with asthma.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial post-transcriptional regulators involved in inflammatory diseases, such as asthma. Poor lung function and airflow issues in childhood are linked to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adulthood. We analyzed small RNA-Seq data from 365 peripheral whole blood samples from the Genetics of Asthma in Costa Rica Study (GACRS) for association with airflow levels measured by FEV1/FVC. Differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were identified using DESeq2 in R, adjusting for covariates and applying a 10% false discovery rate (FDR). The analysis included 361 samples and 649 miRNAs. The two DE miRNAs were further tested for association with airflow obstruction in a study of adult former smokers with and without COPD. We found 1 upregulated and 1 downregulated miRNA in participants with airflow below the threshold compared to those above it. In the adult study, the same miRNAs were upregulated and downregulated in individuals with FEV1/FVC < 0.7 versus those with FEV1/FVC > 0.7, showing suggestive statistical evidence. The target genes of these miRNAs were enriched for PI3K-Akt, Hippo, WNT, MAPK, and focal adhesion pathways. Two differentially expressed miRNAs were associated with airflow levels in children with asthma and airflow obstruction in adults with COPD. This suggests that shared genetic regulatory systems may influence childhood airflow and contribute to adulthood airflow obstruction.

Identifying narco-trafficking landing zones using satellite imagery and geospatial indicators in Costa Rica

Identifying narco-trafficking landing zones using satellite imagery and geospatial indicators in Costa Rica

The hidden diversity of fungal endophytes, associated with Rubiaceae of Costa Rican old-growth forests

The hidden diversity of fungal endophytes, associated with Rubiaceae of Costa Rican old-growth forests

“I know she’s there” meanings of continuing bonds for bereaved Costa Rican men: a qualitative study

This qualitative study addresses a gap in knowledge regarding men’s experience of the grieving process. Our limited understanding of the topic hinders the development of targeted support services. The study analyzes the meanings of continuing bonds for bereaved men in Costa Rica. It conducted semi-structured interviews with twelve participants; these were guided by a framework focusing on three key areas: mediators of mourning, continuing bonds, and meaning reconstruction. An analysis revealed five themes: loss emblems, mourners’ ecology, memory landscapes, sense-based realities, and symbolic images. These themes suggest that the meanings attributed to continuing bonds facilitated the participants’ personal growth, including the adoption of new values and personality changes, ultimately aiding adaptation to loss. These findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of men’s grieving process, provide information on the development of gender-specific interventions for men and highlight the need for further research.

THE STUDY OF BIRD VOCALIZATIONS IN NEOTROPICAL HABITATS: CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND FUTURE STEPS

Research on avian bioacoustics in the Neotropics has surged over the last several decades due to increased interest in the large diversity of vocal behaviors and vocalization and the broader accessibility of recording equipment and software. Here, we present a synthesis of the current and past knowledge of Neotropical bird bioacoustics. This synthesis is the result of the symposium "Bioacoustics in the Neotropics", organized for the XI Neotropical Ornithological Congress in San Jose, Costa Rica, in July 2019. We covered what we consider the main topics in avian bioacoustics that have been studied in this region over the last 30 years. Our review includes repertoire descriptions, geographic variation, diversity in vocal behaviors, seasonality, duetting, genetic association, and playback experiments. Additionally, we present information for what we believe may be the main veins of investigation for the coming future in the Neotropics, considering the large diversity of species that are found in the region and the new investigations developed in other geographic areas. We expect this review to work as a summary of the current literature and a guide to stimulate future research in important areas within the field of avian bioacoustics in the Neotropics.

Microphytobenthos spatio-temporal dynamics across an intertidal gradient in a tropical estuary using Sentinel-2 imagery.

Intertidal mudflats are among the most productive coastal ecosystems, largely because of the activity of the photosynthetic microbial community on the sediment surface, known as microphytobenthos (MPB). While the dynamics of MPB have been extensively studied in temperate estuaries, there is limited research in tropical estuaries. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated the spatio-temporal dynamics of MPB in the Nicoya Gulf (Costa Rica), one of the world's most productive tropical estuaries, using Sentinel-2 images at 10m spatial resolution from 2018 to 2022. We used Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values ranging from 0 to 0.4 to monitor MPB cover and growth rates (μNDVI, days-1). Analysis of data using Generalized Additive Models (GAM) showed that up to 62% of the temporal variability in average MPB NDVI, peaking in late wet and early dry seasons (November-December), can be explained by years and months. The high temperatures and irradiance during the dry season (December to April) in the Nicoya estuary may inhibit MPB growth, contrasting with patterns observed in temperate estuaries. We observed higher MPB NDVI in the upper intertidal zone (mean sea level>0.5m) as usually occurs in temperate estuaries. This research highlights the importance of high-resolution satellite imagery for long-term monitoring of MPB dynamics in tropical tidal flats, offering a valuable tool for estimating ecosystem services provided by intertidal MPB, such as primary production, climate regulation, and nutrient cycling on a global scale.

Composition of pelagic fish in commercial landings of the longline fishery in the Costa Rica Pacific during 2015-2021

Longline fishing in the Pacific of Costa Rica targets multiple species of large pelagic fishes and faces challenges in assessment due to lack of data. This study analyzes landing data of pelagic fish in this fishery using unconventional statistical methods, to better understand the dynamics and provide recommendations for improving data collection and analysis. Landing data reported during 2015-2021 were examined. A descriptive and comparative analysis of landings was conducted using Spearman correlation tests and Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) to visualize patterns in catch composition. Permutational Multivariate Analysis of Variance (PERMANOVA) and Similarity Percentage Analysis (SIMPER) were employed to identify significant differences between fleet types, landing ports, months, and years, as well as species contribution to these differences. The annual mean total landing of large pelagic fish was 7531.01 tons, with 39.14% corresponding to sharks, 24.34% to billfish (Istiophoridae and Xiphiidae), 18.05% to mahi-mahi, and 14.94% to tuna. Statistically significant differences were found between fleet types, landing ports, months, and years. Shark landings were the least correlated (rho=0.36) and had the greatest influence on variation by fleet type. An increase in the similarity of catch composition by port since 2015 was observed. In addition, a shift towards increasingly less selective fishing over the study period was evident. Our findings highlight the urgent need for advanced research methodologies to address gaps in data collection for commercial fisheries in Costa Rica. Improving these methods is crucial to ensure that management policies are based on accurate and comprehensive information. Results highlight the need for a comprehensive strategy involving diverse stakeholders to improve our understanding and ensure the sustainability of fisheries and the preservation of marine ecosystems in Costa Rica.

Naegleria fowleri Infections: Bridging Clinical Observations and Epidemiological Insights.

Naegleria fowleri is the main etiologic agent implicated in primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). It is also known as the brain-eating amoeba because of the severe brain inflammation following infection, with a survival rate of about 5%. This review aims to identify Naegleria fowleri infections and evaluate patients' progression. This literature review emphasizes the importance of rapid diagnosis and treatment of infected patients because only prompt initiation of appropriate therapy can lead to medical success. Compared to other articles of this kind, this one analyzes a large number of reported cases and all the factors that affected patients' evolution. Two independent reviewers used "Naegleria fowleri" and "case report" as keywords in the Clarivate Analytics-Web of Science literature review, obtaining 163 results. The first evaluation step was article title analysis. The two reviewers determined if the title was relevant to the topic. The first stage removed 34 articles, leaving 129 for the second stage. Full-text articles were evaluated after reading the abstract, and 77 were eliminated. This literature review concluded with 52 articles. This review included 52 case report articles, 17 from the USA, eight from India, seven from China, four from Pakistan, two from the UK, and one each from Thailand, Korea, Japan, Italy, Iran, Norway, Turkey, Costa Rica, Zambia, Australia, Taiwan, and Venezuela, and Mexico. This study included 98 patients, with 17 women (17.4%) and 81 men (82.6%). The cases presented in this study show that waiting to start treatment until a diagnosis is confirmed can lead to rapid worsening and bad outcomes, especially since there is currently no drug that works very well as a treatment and the death rate is around 98%. The lack of case presentation standardization may lead to incomplete case information in the review since the cases did not follow a writing protocol. The small number of global cases may also lead to misleading generalizations, especially about these patients' treatment. Due to the small number of cases, there is no uniform sample of patients, making it difficult to determine the exact cause of infection.

Hybrid learning in higher education: Considerations for its implementation in course design

Hybrid learning, combining face-to-face and distance instruction through digital technologies, has gained greater prominence in higher education, noted for its flexibility and adaptability. This innovative model fosters student engagement by overcoming the limitations of the traditional classroom and promoting collaborative learning and autonomy. This article presents a methodological guide for planning hybrid environments with a student-centered approach supported by digital technologies. The method is based on a literature review, providing a conceptualization and characterization of hybrid learning. It also outlines a structured guide for a university course under the hybrid model, considering available physical and virtual conditions, the degree of possible hybridization, as well as the development of learning objectives, activity design, instructional material, assessment strategies, and chronogram. The results show the experience from a thematic unit of the course “pedagogical praxis in the university context” at the Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, which exemplifies this planning by integrating face-to-face and virtual activities, and continuous and formative assessment. In conclusion, understanding the advantages and challenges of hybrid learning is key to developing effective methodologies focused on flexibility and personalization in higher education.

How to help emerging nations

Today we see large differences in the wealth of nations across the world. The nations of the developed world have provided financial help to many nations. In some cases, this assistance has proved beneficial, but in other cases that help has landed in the hands of a few while large numbers of the very poor receive little help. The Arab Spring brought revolution across North Africa. The Middle East is involved in wars since the formation of modern Israel. Russia has attacked Ukraine. China seeks to expand its reach and acquire Taiwan. More recently large numbers of immigrants from Central and South America have marched to the US. Now we see many more immigrants coming to the US from virtually every nation on earth. Some nations have been very successful as they developed with the assistance of rich nations. Examples are South Korea and Costa Rica. Other nations have been plagued with graft and corruption. Examples are Mexico and Venezuela, A case study approach can help identify the lessons learned in economic development and a pathway to better results.

Social Connections, Leukocyte Telomere Length, and All-Cause Mortality in Older Adults From Costa Rica: The Costa Rican Longevity and Healthy Aging Study (CRELES).

To examine the association of social connections with blood leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and all-cause mortality in older Costa Ricans. Utilizing data from the Costa Rican Longevity and Healthy Aging Study (CRELES), a prospective cohort of 2827 individuals aged 60 and above followed since 2004, we constructed a Social Network Index (SNI) based on marital status, household size, interaction with non-cohabitating adult children, and church attendance. We used linear regression to assess SNI's association with baseline LTL (N = 1113), and Cox proportional-hazard models to examine SNI's relationship with all-cause mortality (N = 2735). Higher SNI levels were associated with longer telomeres and decreased all-cause mortality during follow-up. Being married and regular church attendance were associated with 23% and 24% reductions of the all-cause mortality, respectively. These findings underscore the importance of social engagement in promoting longevity among older Costa Ricans, suggesting broader implications for aging populations globally.

A biogeochemical comparison of three representative lakes of Costa Rica

ABSTRACT Lakes are widely distributed across Costa Rica, from coasts to the highest elevation regions and located in the main terrestrial biomes, yet updated biogeochemical information about the main types of lakes is still lacking. We present comparative biogeochemistry (water chemistry, stable isotopes, and picoplankton) for a coastal lake (Lake Madre de Dios), a volcanic lake (Lake Barva), and a glacial lake (Lake Ditkevi). Sampling was conducted between February and November 2022, including dry and rainy seasonal conditions. Hydrological and chemical conditions were evaluated using water and carbon stable isotopes, dissolved organic matter, major ions, and microbiota analysis. Isotopic data on water (δ2H and δ18O) and dissolved inorganic carbon (δ13CDIC) confirmed lower evaporative losses for the maar and tarn lakes and productivity response to precipitation inputs. Excitation/emission matrices confirmed the prevalence of fulvic and humic acids in the coastal and glacial lakes, mainly aromatic proteins and soluble microbial byproducts in the volcanic lake. Picophytoplankton (PPP, ∼0.2–10 μm) was mainly represented by phycocyanin-rich picocyanobacteria in the 3 lakes, but maar and tarn lakes had greater representation of phycoerythrin-rich picocyanobacteria. We confirmed fluctuations in PPP cell abundance in the lakes was lower than in comparable temperate lakes. For other eutrophic lakes, abundance of picocyanobacteria dominated over picoeukaryotic algae. This work aimed to promote an ecosystem approach to study the biogeochemical functioning of tropical lakes using a combination of chemical, hydrological, and biological data and to provide baseline information for future studies (e.g., climate change and pollution impacts) on tropical lakes of Costa Rica.

Vernacular Wooden Architecture in the City of Puntarenas: First Steps Towards Its Recognition

In Puntarenas City, a historic and tourist port of Costa Rica, several vernacular buildings constructed in wood can be observed. Despite the prevalence of this architectural type in the area, there is an absence of comprehensive studies aimed at documenting this significant heritage. This article seeks to identify the vernacular architecture in this city through the architectural characterization, quantification, and geolocation of existing buildings, as well as the preliminary recognition of the state of conservation of the group of buildings. The methodological process proposed a four-stage approach. The initial stage involved an examination of documentary sources to verify existing information and obtain a preliminary profile of architectural characteristics. A participatory workshop with the community enabled the validation of this profile. The second stage comprised fieldwork, which yielded a starting list of properties. In the third stage, a detailed examination of the listed properties enabled the verification of the profile of characteristics, the delimitation of the architectural typologies, and the selection of buildings that did not fulfill the preliminary profile or possessed significant modifications that affected their architectural legibility. The fourth stage comprised the development of an inventory of vernacular architecture buildings and the systematic data transference to a Geographic Information System. This study mainly obtained the following results: an initial list of 172 wooden buildings in Puntarenas City and a geolocated inventory of 75 vernacular wooden architecture buildings that exhibit considerable architectural legibility. Moreover, identifying the uses and architectural features of the inventoried buildings permitted their categorization into ten distinct typologies.

Agents of Territorial Transformation in the Costa Rican Caribbean: Imperial Relationships and Practices of Spatial Governance at the United Fruit Enclave, 1870–1940

This article explores the territorial reconfiguration of the Costa Rican Caribbean, beginning with the construction of a railroad linking the capital, San José, with the port of Limón (1870–1890), followed by the establishment of an agricultural enclave by the United Fruit Company (UFCo), a US corporation primarily focused on banana exports. Drawing on scholarship related to imperial formations, informal empire, and corporativism, this article focuses on the relationship between United Fruit and the Costa Rican state as central to territorial transformation. Using a broad collection of sources—including maps, drawings, letters, newspapers, and blueprints from Costa Rica’s National Archive (ANCR), the Costa Rican National Library, and Tulane’s Latin American Library—this essay examines how the UFCo’s negotiations with the Costa Rican state drove territorial change in both the production zones and Limón’s cityscape, highlighting the subordinate agencies and power dynamics that transformed the spatial composition of the Caribbean region.

Performing, contesting, and resisting internal bordering of refugee rights in Costa Rica

Performing, contesting, and resisting internal bordering of refugee rights in Costa Rica

Agricultural Innovation as a Determinant of a Sustainable Transition in Rural Territories: Evidence from Costa Rica

Agricultural Innovation as a Determinant of a Sustainable Transition in Rural Territories: Evidence from Costa Rica

Comparing carbon agronomic footprint and sequestration in Central American coffee agroforestry systems and assessing trade-offs with economic returns.

Agricultural systems are both emitters of greenhouse gases and have the potential to sequester carbon, especially agroforestry systems. Coffee agroforestry systems offer a wide range of intensities of use of agricultural inputs and densities and management of shade trees. We assessed the agronomic carbon footprint (up to farm gate) and modelled the carbon sequestration of a range of coffee agroforestry systems across 180 farms in Costa Rica and Guatemala. The agronomic carbon footprint included upstream, direct and indirect processes associated with chemical and organic fertiliser use and energy consumption (excluding processing of cherries). Carbon sequestration was modelled using the CAF2021 model a processed based model of the C, N and water dynamics specifically designed for coffee agroforestry systems. The carbon footprint per kg of coffee cherries was significantly and positively related to the level of nitrogen inputs. Modelled changes in C stocks i.e. carbon sequestration was significantly and positively related to the Leaf Area Index (LAI) of the trees, and the levels of nitrogen inputs. Increasing nitrogen inputs per hectare was positively associated with emission per kg as nitrogen efficiency varied significantly across the sample. The net carbon balance, defined as sequestration minus CO2e emissions was also positively related to shade tree LAI but negatively with yield and N application. Carbon positive farms were characterized by shade cover over 60%, but low yields and low net income. However, farms that were close to carbon neutral had higher yields and higher net income, with shade levels of about 50% cover, while carbon negative farms which had shade cover averaging 40%. Nevertheless, farms showed a large variation in performance with all combinations of positive and negative for carbon balance and net income. However, among the farms with a positive net income, those with a positive carbon balance had a significantly lower net income than those that were carbon negative (i.e. net emitters). This confirms the economic trade-off for farmers seeking to maximise these two goals. If farmers are expected to generate positive carbon balances and potentially to offset emissions higher in the supply chain, then they should receive economic support to compensate continued on-farm carbon accumulation.

Effects of functional diversity on ecosystem services in cocoa agroforestry systems in Costa Rica

Effects of functional diversity on ecosystem services in cocoa agroforestry systems in Costa Rica

Pollen metabarcoding reveals a broad diversity of plant sources available to farmland flower visitors near tropical montane forest.

Despite the widely recognized role of pollinators in ecosystem services, we currently have a poor understanding of the contribution of Natural Protected Areas neighboring agricultural landscapes to crop pollinator diversity and plant-pollinator interactions. Here, we conducted monthly surveys over a period of one year to study the diversity of insect visitors in dominant fruit crops-avocado, plum, apple, and blackberry-and used pollen DNA metabarcoding to characterize the community of plant sources in and around low-intensive farmland bordered by protected montane forest in Costa Rica. We found that crops and native plants had distinct communities of flower visitors, suggesting the presence of fine-scale habitat differences. DNA metabarcoding coupled with a custom-built reference database, enabled us to identify plant sources among pollen samples with high taxonomic resolution (species or genus level). We found that insect visitors carried pollen from a large diversity of plant taxa, including species native to the montane forests and highland páramos of Costa Rica. The diversity and composition of plant sources were variable across fruit crops and insect groups. Wildflower visitors such as bumblebees and syrphid flies, use a diverse range of plant taxa at similar levels to managed honeybees. This indicates the potential contribution of a diverse community of insect visitors to the pollination services of fruit crops and native flora. Overall, our study suggests that low-intensive farming practices that promote the presence of common ruderals combined with nearby protected forests contribute to maintaining diverse insect communities that provide crucial pollination services.