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Introduction: The paper "Moluscos de la Isla del Coco" (Mollusks of Cocos Island) published in the Revista del Colegio Superior de Señoritas (1935) is the translation to Spanish of one of the last works of Paul Biolley Matthey (1862-1908), Swiss naturalist that lived in Costa Rica. This article was one product of a malacological research carried out during a scientific expedition organized by the 'Instituto Físico- Geográfico Nacional de Costa Rica' (IFGN) in 1902 to Cocos Island, at a time when the country claimed its sovereignty both in this territory. Objective: To analyze the contributions of the article "Moluscos de la Isla del Coco" from the Social History of Science approach. Methods: Most of the researches that have applied this approach in Costa Rica analyze processes of institutionalization of scientific disciplines. The methodology used in these works was very useful for the analysis of the Biolley article, together with the information of historical data provided by other texts about Cocos Island and the development of scientific research in Costa Rica from a temporal perspective. In addition, tables were made to synthesize the classification of the species and genera studied by Biolley in Cocos Island to identify their provenance and the habitat in which they lived. Results: This study of Biolley constitutes a text of interest from the point of view of the Social History of Science, due to the descriptions it offers of the physical conditions of the territory of Cocos Island, of the different species of mollusks located in them and to the exchange of information with national and foreign scientists that show the participation of Biolley in scientific networks. Conclusions: The analysis of the information with the Social History of Science approach, concludes that the compilation of the flora and fauna permits a greater knowledge of the natural resources of the explored territories, in order to colonize them and integrate them into the economic dynamics of the Central Valley of Costa Rica. However, attempts colonize Cocos Island failed given the distance between this and the continent, in addition to the topographic conditions that prevent the permanent establishment of human populations and their productive activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1848 Dr. Castro Madriz issued the decree which established the Republic of Costa Rica and its new coinage. An oak tree (Quercus sp.) was engraved on silver coins as a symbol of the strength and hospitality of the new Republic. These coins were minted between 1850 and 1862 (1/4, 1/8 and 1/16 of Peso) and between 1864 and 1875 (50, 25, 10, and 5 cents of Peso). This paper provides information on the significance of the oak tree in the socio-political context of mid XIX century Costa Rica. It also provides estimates of the number of pieces minted of each value for a total of approximately 1.871.000 coins. The quarter Pesos of 1853 and 1855 are scarce while the 50 cents of 1875 are relatively common, and all denominations with little wear are rare. The Q. salicifolia tree is similar to that engraved on the coins. After 1880 an oak branch was engraved in different issues of paper money, mainly as a crown for the head of Liberty. The last bill with this symbol was issued in 1943, with a value of 1 colón. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social networks have become essential means of communication and have modified the concept of political communication. Social media have nowadays an increasingly important impact on election campaigns worldwide, and, therefore, the latest election processes within the Latin-American context are ideal environments for this analysis, due to both the volatility and the richness of the political-electoral competition, and their capacity to influence the exchange of political information through the different emotions of the audiences. This paper presents a systematized study of the communication that took place in social media during the first round of the 2022 Costa Rican electoral process (February 6th). The information has been collected from the data available at the Digital Media Communication Observatory of the Universidad Latina de Costa Rica, using the social listening tools Minerva Data, Kantar IBOPE Media's Adspend and Mention, with the objective of revealing the digital conversation trends in this campaign, an unprecedented electoral process with 25 presidential candidates. The reports from the Digital Communication Observatory show the evolution of the electorate's behavior in terms of interaction, sentiment, topics and voting intention, during the first round of the 2022 electoral process, as well as the general dynamics perceived in the social media and public web environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2018 general elections in Costa Rica showed a discursive confrontation that seemed unlikely. During the second round of the elections, where the presidency was disputed, the "Acción Ciudadana" Party (pac) led by Carlos Alvarado and the "Restauración Nacional" (rn) party led by Fabricio Alvarado showed a dialectical discursivity. On the one hand, the social democratic tradition is expected. However, on the other hand, and worryingly, there is a restoration of conservative and religious fundamentalism. From this discursive duality, these messages are comparatively analyzed starting from contrasting assumed and assigned symbols from the discursive strategies of the two political parties in electoral conflict. The central interest of this paper is to show the thrust of the religious allegorical discourse that permeated the presidential campaign. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this piece of work is to analyse the Hispanic and Indigenous words that are to be found in a German description of a market in Cartago written by Karl Ritter von Scherzer (1821-1903). In order to do that an ad hoc gradient (as a result of a compilation of philological, translation and cultural methodologies) will be applied. This analysis will show that there are some words that are either domesticated (a dynamic equivalence will be used) or foreignized (the terms will not be translated), so as the traveller-scientist is more than an intercultural intermediary: he is a translator of traditions and concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an analysis of political communication in the relations between candidates, citizens, and the Public Administration, to determine the factors that foresee management changes and to establish a frame of reference in the examination of public communications through three dimensions: depth, incidence, and limits, which are studied in a given time and their interaction is called the Alpízar-Mora Effect. This effect arises from the analysis of the technical gaps in the political discourse --identified during the electoral process in Costa Rica for the presidential period 2018-2022 through qualitative research-- and it contributes to the discussion and evaluation of political communication. As a result, the authors propose factors, variables, and questions to analyze in three dimensions the coherence between the political discourse and the strategic planning of the Government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the emergence of smes in Costa Rica from an economic-historical perspective, during the years of 1950-2018. This periodization corresponds to the political structure of each period, according to the business development and the context to be studied during the import substitution development models (1948-1979) and the economic liberation (1982-2018). From the study, it is highlighted that, although at the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century the number of smes increases, they face greater business challenges, because the State's economic policy is more inclined to globalized markets, aspects in which the previous enterprises do not have competitive advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Panama are known by the scarce amount of biomedical production. Our aim was to identify barriers to scientific publication and to establish proposals for increasing biomedical investigation in these countries. Methods: An on-line questionnaire was completed by 76 physicians about 4 frameworks. A logistic regression model was done to identify variables associated with the probability of publication. Results: 63 physicians (67.1%; IC 95%: 56.5 - 77.7) have published at least one scientific paper. Most of these publications were case reports (47.4%) and reviews (40.8%). Physicians laboring in private practices (p<0.001) and those specialists in medical oncology or hematology (p=0.02) were more likely to be involved in clinical trials (26.3%). Professional experience, academical degree, and type of medical practice were not related to the number of scientific publications. The majority of physicians finance their projects by their own resources (67.1%). The main limitations were lack of time and human resources (88.2%). The respondents would like to have more time to spend in research (92.1%), and more institutional support (78.9%). They also proposed that external entities should promote their participation in clinical (65.8%) and support academic activities (61.8%). Conclusion: Most of the physicians pointed that lack of human, time, and monetary resources are important barriers to scientific publication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper tries to determine the images of the young people that are shown in the articles published in La Nación. For this purpose newspaper articles concerning four different situations were collected. The situations chosen for this study were: the marches of May 1st (2009-2014), Movement for "Photocopying Act" (2012), the implementation of sex education in public high schools (2013) and the national election process (2013-2014). The analysis of the articles led to the visualization of differences in La Nación's discourse regarding the participation of young people. Different discourses found depend on the space -institutionalized or not institutionalized -in which young people participation occurs. The paper also tries to identify adult-centered elements present in the discourse of this newspaper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to reflect from the perspective of the National Front of Indigenous Peoples, on the processes for human rights, from its cultural dimension, which are historical, political and dynamic constructions, the contributions of the FRENAPI are read from the sociology of absences and the sociology of emergencies, in its conclusions stands out how the movement presents a project of human rights located to the reality of the country, which includes autonomy, self-determination, land-territory among others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Costa Rica is committed to obtain carbon neutrality; its low level emission energy matrix has been a major contribution in order to accomplish this objective. However, since new power production technologies have been introduced, it is necessary to assess their impact and emissions, even though these are considered as clean technologies. In this paper energy payback time (EPBT) values are estimated, specifically for crystalline silicon photovoltaic systems (monocrystalline and multicrystalline), installed in five different areas throughout the country. Assumptions on the energy consumed for manufacture, transportation and final disposition are stablished in order to quantify EPBT, in contrast with energy produced when using the photovoltaic system. Findings are described from basic Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) perspective. EPBT calculated values range from 2,7 to 3 years, this is important to balance energy during the first stage of a photovoltaic power plant's production in Costa Rica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to measure the impact of a range of social, environmental and economic initiatives on the opinion of the membership base of CoopeAnde N°1 R.L, as well as the members' perception and assessment of socio-economic and environmental issues. The pursuit of this general objective is based on fieldwork conducted at national level between the months of December 2013 and February 2014, with a total sample of 2223 cases. Overall, the study provides empirical evidence on the relevance of CSR actions in the perception of the membership base. Additionally, the results reflect the relevance of a strategic and cross-cutting approach to CSR in the organization. The Costa Rican cooperative movement began early in the nineteenth century, with its first expressions pursuing the satisfaction of the needs of farm workers. In 1943, when 23 cooperative enterprises were already in existence, the first legislation for the sector was adopted. Currently there are 594 adult and school cooperatives and 887,335 people associated with them. According to the latest National Census of Cooperatives (Instituto Nacional de Fomento Cooperativo - INFOCOOP, 2012), 22.2% of Costa Rican cooperatives belong to the finance and insurance sector, which top the ranking of cooperatives by main economic activity. They include CoopeAnde N°1 R.L, the focus of this research. CoopeAnde N°1 R.L is a cooperative that was founded in 1965 with the aim of providing a financial solution for people related to the education sector. It started business and built its capital base with 160 members. Currently, it has 57,000 members nationwide and is the leading cooperative in its sector. In 2002, CoopenAnde N°1 R.L began establishing branches and decentralizing its services. Currently it has 21 branches around the country. Since the reform of the Organic Law of the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) in 1995, CoopenAnde N°1 R.L is audited and supervised by the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (SUGEF) under the same prudential regulation scheme as for banks in Costa Rica. In addition, it is governed by the Law of Cooperative Associations, Regulatory Law for Financial Intermediation Cooperative Organizations, Organic Law of the Central Bank, regulations of the National Council of Financial System Supervision (CONASSIF) and the Labour Code, all of which provide backup and security to the members by allowing them to verify the strength and stability of the institution. In recent years, CoopeAnde N°1 R.L has been seeking to adapt to a new context of increasingly complex financial markets through diverse social, economic and environmental initiatives. The general result of this process has been the presence of multiple actions targeting different stakeholders, although there is a lack of coordination among them as well as of a strategic focus. Aware of this situation, the cooperative decided to undertake an integral strategic Corporate Social Responsibility - CSR process. As part of that process, it was important to measure the impact of a range of social, environmental and economic initiatives on the opinion of its members, as well as their perception and assessment of socioeconomic and environmental issues. The results of this measurement would allow the cooperative to confirm to what extent it is promoting actions that are relevant to the needs of its membership base, as a definitive stakeholder (Mitchell et al, 1997). Such results are important for different reasons. Primarily, as stated above, so that the cooperative may identify those actions that meet the needs of its members. Additionally, because the cooperative will assign its resources and capabilities strategically to the highest priority actions. Moreover, the cooperative may identify different strategies according to the needs of the local community where its offices are located. Last but no less important than the above is so that the cooperative may know its members' perception of its CSR trajectory. The different scenarios in which economic and financial evolution is taking place are highly complex. In consequence, multiple stakeholders generate a variety of interrelationships with each other, which, in turn, affect the enterprise-stakeholders-CSR links. Note also both that the scope and importance of CSR itself have gradually evolved and that CSR has particular peculiarities in the cooperative sector. The importance of CoopeAnde N°1 R.L in the local cooperative movement and its presence around the country constitute important practical motives for this research. Equally important, several major gaps in the scientific literature related to the socioeconomic impact of cooperatives have come to light. Given the practical interest aroused by CoopeAnde N°1 R.L as well as the weaknesses in the literature, this paper addresses the following main research objective: to measure the impact of a range of social, environmental and economic initiatives on the opinion of the membership base, as well as the members' perception and assessment of socio-economic and environmental issues. The main objective was pursued on the basis of fieldwork conducted at national level between the months of December 2013 and February 2014, with a total sample of 2223 cases. The population is the membership base. It was segmented into mutually exclusive sub-groups, according to stratified sampling, based on 11 branches. The data collection tool was a semi-structured questionnaire with 17 open and closed questions. In order to lay the foundations for the analysis, the paper examines the following: specific elements of the local cooperative movement and overview of the financial sector, as well as Corporate Social Responsibility, its definitions for conventional firms and cooperative firms, and its relationship to business strategy. The paper concludes by providing empirical evidence on the relevance of CSR actions in the perception of the membership base. Additionally, the results reflect the importance of a strategic and crosscutting approach to CSR in the organization. In other words, multiple actions have been taken in each branch, focusing on different stakeholders. However, particularly in the social dimension, 5 out of 10 members claimed not to know the social projects of the cooperative. This was despite having found that the attributes of this dimension are those they most value. The paper fulfils its main objective, but also identifies certain limitations, in particular related to sample size for the statistical analysis of demographic variables. These limitations and other questions that emerged during the study combine to suggest interesting directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activity analysis of a scientific journal is relevant to know the evolution of its characteristics over time. In this paper, results of a bibliometric study of the Revista de Biología Tropical/International Journal of Tropical Biology and Conservation (Costa Rica) are presented. The goal of this study was to describe the main characteristics of its scientific production, and analyze its level of collaboration and its impact between the years 2003-2012. Data was derived from the Web of Science (Thomson-Reuters), and the relationship among authors and coauthors, institutions and countries, and their links with the citations received were analyzed for that period. Descriptive statistics about production (number of documents per year, institution and country), collaboration (authorship index, collaboration among institutions and countries) and impact (IF, position in JCR and number of citations received) were collected. Results showed that the journal has published 1 473 papers in this period, in similar proportions English and Spanish. Mexico, Costa Rica, Venezuela and Colombia are the most common countries of origin, with the Universidad of Costa Rica, Universidad Autónoma de Mexico and the University of Puerto Rico as the most common leader institutions. Collaboration between authors, institutions and countries has shown an increasing trend over the last decade. The co-author index was 3.07 per document, 63 % of publications included 2 or more institutions, and 22 % of the papers were product of international collaboration. The most common collaboration link was between Costa Rica and the United States of America. The impact factor has been oscillating during this last decade, reaching a maximum in 2012 (IF JCR = 0.553). Besides, 10 % of the most cited papers concentrated half of the citations received by the journal, and have a very high number of citations, compared with the journal mean. The main countries that cite the journal were USA, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Costa Rica. Data showed an increasing collaboration between authors, institutions and countries, and a direct relationship between the increase of this collaboration and the received impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this writing I present a brief description of some busts of Christopher Columbus engraved in coins, medals, paper money, and postage stamps around 1892. The bust of Columbus engraved in the gold coins of Costa Rica (1897-1928) and in paper money until 1942, is similar to the medal designed in 1892 by Francisco Asís López in Madrid, and the medal in turn is probably based on the painting of Columbus made by Lorenzo Lotto in 1512. The medal and portrait are illustrated in the 1893 catalogue published in New York by Nestor Ponce de León, the up to date reference at the time on the many looks of Columbus. Columbus arrived at Cariari, Costa Rica, during his fourth voyage in 1502, and the event is engraved in the 50 colones bank note of 1942. The last coin of Costa Rica with a bust of Columbus was issued in 1997. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the religious-conservative agenda in the political discourse during the national electoral campaign in Costa Rica (2013-2014). To perform the analysis, ideas established by aspiring parties in their Government Programs were studied, as well as the statements that were offered by the main aspirants to the Presidency during televisive debates. It is concluded that the religious-conservative agenda did not play a predominant role in the political-electoral discourse, nevertheless, it seems to be still important as a discursive strategy for vote capture and political attack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to explain the curriculum modifications in secondary education in Costa Rica. Specifically, it is centered on the review, analysis, and interpretation of the characteristics of the plan of study for basic secondary education in Costa Rica, as well as on the identification of progress and problems. The article first analyzes the tendencies in Latin America for secondary education and the tensions generated in various nations given the social, economic, and educational demands; subsequently, the proposals that Costa Rica has made in this framework, given the need to achieve quality and pertinence. Lastly, it reflects on the reforms of curriculum change in secondary education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mid 2011 the new 1000 colones bill was released into circulation with the portrait of Braulio Carrillo (Chief of State, 1835-3711838-42), and an interpretation of the coat of arms of the State of Costa Rica (1840). In this paper we propose another design for the elements of the coat of arms based on information from numismatics and documents. The six pointed star of the first (1823) flag of Costa Rica, also engraved in coins in 1841 and 1842, was the proper design for the national symbol rather than the eight pointed star which was stamped in legal papers at that time and used in designs of the coat of arms after 1940. At the base of the coat of arms is a branch of myrtle (Myrtus communis) and a frond of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera). which were also the proper symbols. The star and plants conveyed this message: Costa Rica, an independent (the star) and sovereign (radiating star) State, growing in peace (the myrtle), with strength and righteousness (the palm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the newspaper's coverage on the subject of renewable energy and renewable energy technologies and how that information has been exhibited in the Costa Rican case by the newspapers La Nacion and El Financiero between January 2006 and December 2011 (considered the period of emergence and establishment of the most important public discussions on the issue). It's presented a general analysis of the form of presentation of information and content through the representations analysis on the subject, taking as a starting point some works that have emerged in recent years in Latin America and the rest of the world, concerning to the communication of science and technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to develop a model to explain the behavior of the high courts judges when they take decisions that affect the access to the executive. For this pur-pose, this paper analyzes the cases in which the Supreme Courts in Central America have intervened to decide who can have access to presidential power and under which conditions that can happen. Through the analysis of constitutional interpretations of laws that control presidential re-election or who is the incumbent to the presidency of a country, this paper examines the explanatory factors that have led to the Supreme Courts to decide who is the holder of executive power. In this regard, the article considers the cases of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Honduras. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isla del Coco (also known as Cocos Island), Pacific Costa Rica, has been visited and written about since the 16th Century, and since the late 1800's many expeditions and scientists have carried out research in the Island. Here I compiled publications on marine biological, geological, oceanographic and atmospheric research done at Isla del Coco. A list of 599 scientific papers and chapters were compiled, together with 41 books, reports, Special Issues, theses and web sites, and ten historic books with descriptions of marine animals or environments. A mayority of the publications (425 or 66.4%) are related to marine biodiversity topics (species descriptions and lists of species); the most published groups are gastropods (81 papers), decapods (67) and bony fishes (66). There are no publications of several groups of animals that have been observed in the Island, for example free-living flat worms, parasites and nemerteans among others. Other topics with a large number of publications are, biogeography with 65, ecology (61) and geology (48); the most studied ecosystem are coral reefs with 14 papers. More publications are needed on many topics, such as impact of illegal fishing and climate change on Isla del Coco National Park marine flora and fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses the subjective well-being approach to value the personal cost of illnesses. The approach becomes an alternative to traditional valuation methodologies based on revealed and stated preferences. The paper shows that illnesses reduce health satisfaction, while income is positively related to it. Hence, it is possible to calculate the compensatory income which is required in the presence of an illness so as to keep health satisfaction constant. This computation is an estimate of the monetary valuation of the illness, and it can be interpreted as the monetary value of the benefits from programs which aim to correct or avoid health problems. The empirical illustration is based on data from representative surveys run in Costa Rica. The illustration values four diagnosed illnesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper highlights the central role that urban forestry management and development should play in future efforts to articulate holistic conservation and urban improvement projects in Costa Rica. With this in mind, it provides a non-exhaustive examination of the state of the art in the country. Likewise, this article briefly analyzes the state of knowledge and professional development in this area of expertise. Finally, the paper offers a reflection on the role that the social sciences ought to play in improving the practice and the development of knowledge in this emergent and transdisciplinary field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internet has taken a stand as an important resource for communication of ideas and thought. Scholars, research centers and professionals argue about this new information paradigm. The web sites represent a unique type of document that can be accessed globally although only one copy is available. Therefore, it is a challenge to determine the information validation standards that tell us which sources are to be trusted when conducting quality research. The new knowledge could then be supported under reliable basis. The present paper shows the results of this new information reality through a research, conducted among several web sites, during a period of fifteen months. During that period, 42% of the sites did not show any activity neither changed content or design. Only 58% of the sites were used by authors to write their papers, despite the fact that there were a large variety of information resources that met quality standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the species concept within genus Elaphrothrips is discussed, as well as problems of taxonomic criteria related to this group. In addition, the morphological variations and the characteristics of the species groups that occur in the genus, are also discussed. Furthermore, specimens of Elaphrothrips sampled in Costa Rica which belong to the collection of the Senckenberg Museum Frankfurt, Germany, were studied and three new species were found and described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent elections in Costa Rica presented an unusual social-political dimention. One of those dimensions was the debates transmitted by different mass media. The main topic of this paper addresses a systematic analysis of symbolic elements encountered and used in several debates during the presidential electoral campaign. Through an specific methodology, we identified markers and different contents used by the candidates during their speeches, and analize the electoral process and make linkages with contextualizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is the result of an investigation that followed up the presidential elector campaign 2014, Costa Rica. In the 350 printed editions of La Nación, Diario Extra and La Teja papers, which were published during the 2014 presidential campaign (from October 2nd 2013 to February 1st 2014) a total of 1417 electoral promises were made as part of chronicles, stories and interviews to candidates to the Presidency of the Republic of Costa Rica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article tries to approach the development of the Costa Rican germanophile press during the Great War. The general objective is to analyze the Costa Rican newspapers that showed sympathy for the german cause between 1914 and 1918. The work is focused in the characteristics of the papers, the published propaganda and the relationship with the ally-oriented newspapers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is the result of a literature study on the establishment of Social Work professional in Costa Rica during the twentieth century. The axis of the paper is the analysis of the achievements and limitations of this profession in the academia, employment and its institutional meaning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the representations and narratives about young people in the press of Costa Rica as part of the student protests that occurred between 2010 and 2011. To this end, the text problematizes the media coverage made by major newspapers about youth practices and as this evidence the complex crisis of the institutionality anchored in values that are constructed and enacted from a logic of "exclusion power" adult-centered. The analysis of this situation allows us to understand how they are constructed media events that are part of political agendas based on the feeling of insecurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay studies how the Costa Rican media informed about the coup d’état against the Guatemalan President Jacobo Arbenz in 1954 and the reports they used to make it. It analyses the international discourses the media published about the causes of the coup and how the political actors who participated in Arbenz’s overthrowing. This paper also goes deep into the effects of that coup in Costa Rican political actors who opposed José Figueres Ferrer (1953-1958) and how that event propelled an invasion to Costa Rica in January of 1955. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human Trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation is a hidden problem in Costa Rica. It becomes necessary to understand this phenomenon as more and more citizens are snared and subjected to a form of slavery, which denigrates their physical, psychological, social and spiritual integrity. From a professional experience in a non-profit organization (NGO) with a program for this population, the author experienced society's excessive ignorance and prejudice towards the victims. This article explores the fact that there is meager information on this phenomenon in Costa Rica and this is even more the case regarding a psychological approach to it. This research has its basis in descriptive qualitative methodology, with a phenomenological design based on Berne's humanistic theory of Transactional Analysis, to conduct a multiple case study. The sample consisted of a group of five women who were in the process of recuperation in the NGO, under the analytical categories of "Human Trafficking for national commercial sexual exploitation" (inside Costa Rica), "Subjugation", and "Personal Development". The results identified the subjugations that these women underwent before, during and after being snared by trafficking. The paper analyzes how the personal development of trafficked women in this study is hampered by these subjugations and how some manage to achieve personal growth despite what happened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to address the issue of credit cards and the deficiencies of public policy related to that subject in Costa Rica. For that purpose, we taking into consideration the perspective of Regulations of Credit and Debit Cards, that protect rights such as confidentiality, discretion in handling data and the information right; however, it is limited in terms of regulating and promoting the financial system balance which allows cardholders protection from excessive interest rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat destruction may cause wildlife population fragmentation and is considered an important factor in small population species extinction. As wildlife populations become smaller, threats to their stability and persistence arise as a result of demographic, environmental and genetic stochastic factors. The aim of this work was to study the effects of population fragmentation on the long term viability of Alouatta palliata and Cebus capucinus populations, at Refugio de Vida Silvestre Privado Nogal, Sarapiquí (RVSPN), Heredia. For this we used the computer software VORTEX to run a population viability analysis (PVA) for both species. The input data of the PVA were taken from the demography structure of the RVSPN, literature sources from the species and from PVA related papers. We evaluated two sets of scenarios: small fragmented populations to reflect the population current state, and one larger and continuous population, to reflect the effect of reforestation actions followed by RVSPN to connect forest fragments. Results suggest that both A. palliata and C. capucinus can survive in isolated forest fragments. However, if different factors as inbreeding depression, catastrophes or habitat loss were incorporated to the scenarios, the small fragmented populations become unstable and the risk of extinction increased for both species. Continuous and larger populations were more robust against the threats incorporated in the scenarios when compared to the current situation of smaller and fragmented populations. The best management option for both species would be to continue reforestation efforts in the area to connect forest fragments, with the result of larger and continuous populations of both species. It is important to continue the observation of both species populations, and to promote a habitat management to reduce the negative effects of stochastic environmental events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the Costa Rican health system which provides health, water and sanitation services. The health component of the system includes a public and a private sector . The public sector is dominated by the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS), an autonomous institution in charge of financing, purchasing and delivering most of the personal health services in Costa Rica. CCSS is financed with contributions of the affiliates, employers and the state, and manages three regimes: maternity and illness insurance, disability, old age and death insurance, and a non-contributive regime. CCSS provides services in its own facilities but also contracts with private providers. The private sector includes a broad set of services offering ambulatory and hospital care. These services are financed mostly out-of-pocket, but also with private insurance premiums. The Ministry of Health is the steward of the system, in charge of strategic planning, sanitary regulation, and research and technology development. Among the recent policy innovations we can mention the establishment of the basic teams for comprehensive health care (EBAIS), the de-concentration of hospitals and public clinics, the introduction of management agreements and the creation of the Health Boards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses key aspects of the debate on political parties and power networks, focusing empirically analyze the presence of such actors within political parties Liberación Nacional y Partido Unidad Social Cristiana and their presence on the formation of cabinets in the Costa Rican government. Highlights CINDE alliance partners, CEFSA and the Central American Academy, who control the state institutions linked to the export sector from 1986 to 2010. It discusses the limits of procedural democracy to allow such corporate trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, I analyze the connections that occurred between the electoral offer of candidate Laura Chinchilla and the new demographic, social and sexual realities of Costa Rica, which help to understand why mainly women and older people voted for her. In addition, I explain the new challenges the Costa Rican society faces in terms of a necessary new social and sexual contract, and the prospect of its approach, or not, by the Government of the first woman President. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarizes a discussion about the configuration, action, and actual relevance of alternative transportation organizations in Costa Rica. These organizations claim to fight for an improvement in the exercise of mobility rights for everyone. At the same time, they put pressure for the implementation of safety measures in the political, legal, social, and infrastructural spheres that comprise sustainable transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a model of periodization and developmental analysis of trade unions in Costa Rica during 20th century. This seeks to identify as the political and economical changes influencing unionist organizations and how these have led to fragment, and loss of significance, as well as a constant unionization rate decrease, even though by the end of last century, a stable union base was still observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper gives the results of a study that was based on exploration in self-esteem in two ethnic groups (Térrabas and Borucas). In this, 170 young people participated: 72 Térrabas and 98 Borucas. Both cases show good results with respect to the personal identity of young participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Costa Rica has mangrove forests on both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. The Pacific side has 99% of the mangrove area of the country. In this review we compile available information on the mangroves of the north Pacific coast of Costa Rica, from Bahía Salinas, on the border with Nicaragua, to the tip of the Peninsula de Nicoya at Cabo Blanco. We provide information on the location of the mangroves and all available information for each mangrove forest. These mangrove communities are smaller in extension and tree sizes, and have lower diversity compared to the mangroves on the southern section of the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The dominant species are Rhizophora mangle and Rhizophora racemosa along the canal edges, backed by Avicennia germinans, and farther inland Avicennia bicolor, Laguncularia racemosa and Conocarpus erectus. At Potrero Grande a healthy population of Pelliciera rhizophorae, a rare species, has been reported. We recognized 38 mangrove communities in this part of the country, based on the National Wetland Inventory, published papers, field observations, theses, technical reports, and the national topographic maps (1:50 000, Instituto Geográfico Nacional). Relatively detailed information could be found for only five mangrove forests, for 14 more only prelimary and incomplete lists of plants and in some cases of animal species are available, for nine there is even less information, and for nine more only their location is known, which in some cases was not correct. Detail mapping, characterization of the vegetation and fauna, physiological studies, analyses of biogeochemical and physical processes, economic valuations, and determination of the health status of the mangrove of the northern Pacific coast, as well as for the rest of Costa Rica, are neccesary and urgent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although this paper does not pretend to be a history of the Costa Rican Philosophical Association, it may be helpful in its reconstruction. Its aim is to reflect informally on the activities of the Association in these fifty years and to explore some possibilities for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper I explore the democratic potential of direct democracy, on the basis of a case study of the referendum on CAFTA that took place in Costa Rica on October 7, 2007. Theoretically, I aspire to show how developments in the field of participatory democracy can enrich the analysis of democratic regimes. Empirically, I describe the institutional design and political practices in this first experience. I conclude that the referendum entailed reversals in terms of electoral fairness and legitimacy, as well as progress in the construction of citizenship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Comités Patrióticos emerged in the context of the historic referendum on the Free Trade agreement with the United States. This paper offers an analysis of this movement based on a year of ethnographic research. I focus on questions of spatiotemporality and political scale, in order to illuminate how this movement has attempted, during and after the referendum, to articulate a new political structure capable of acting at once on local and national scales in order to challenge the neoliberal project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the evolution of public opinion, during the Referendum campaign over CAFTA. The data is based on telephone national surveys and includes the level of information, possible effects on the person interviewed, on the country, on its welfare State and on poor and vulnerable groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemoglobinopathies are hereditary autosomic recessive diseases. A total of 70 943 samples of whole blood collected by heel prick in filter paper (S&S 903) from throughout Costa Rica (October 2005-October 2006) were analyzed to detect variants of hemoglobin by the iso-electric focusing technique. Eight hundred ninety one cases presented some variant, for a frecuency of 1/79. Five cases are homozygous for hemoglobin S (sickle cell disease) and one shows the double heterozygous genotype SC. In this study the S and C variants of hemoglobin, although with some local differences, are widespread all over the country. Thus, the prevention of new cases is important through the testing of hemoglobin in the Costa Rican National Newborn Screening Program, together with a Interdisciplinary National Program of Education for the disease and carrier status (AS/AC) for patients, families and medicar personnel. This is the basis for proper genetic counseling, to improve treatment and to reduce morbi-mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes some of the changes in the curricula of the Escuela de Trabajo Social de la Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR) (School of Social Work of the University of Costa Rica) from 1950 to 1980, a period during which social work came of age. The results of the analysis show the main influences of the period, including national historical events and differences with curricula proposed by the United Nations (UN), influences that later informed the debate on Latin American social work. The paper points out the importance of recognizing these influences as the primary critical impulse behind the development of curricula for Costa Rican social work in the 20th century. [TRANSLATION]

The arguments presented by Espinoza et al. In their paper "Relationship of genetically modified crops with the environment and health of the Costa Rican human population" published in this journal (Rev. Biol. Trop. 52: 727-732, 2004) are questioned and refuted. The arguments are confronted with evidence offered by scientists and national and international independent organizations around the world (e.g. World Health Organization, Consumers International, Physicians and Scientists for Responsible Application of Science and Technology, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, the Council of the University of Costa Rica, and the Independent Science Panel) showing the current uncertainty and limitations of science in this area, as well as those of proposed and applied biosafety approaches. Environment, biodiversity and food security are so important and basic matters, that there is need of serious testing, particularly when promises seem to be based on environmentally dangerous ideas promoted half a century ago by the so called "green revolution". Debate should continue, based on a holistic analysis of facts and with ethical reasoning, avoiding emotional positions that can confuse virtual reality with reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]