Im tropischen Trockenwald im Nordwesten Costa Ricas wurde der Verlauf der Regeneration von Sekundärwäldern untersucht. Neun Sukzessionsstufen, die seit unterschiedlichen Zeiträumen ohne erkennbare anthropogene Störungen wuchsen, waren Bestandteil dieser Untersuchungen. Analysiert wurden folgende Aspekte der natürlichen Sylvigenesis degradierter Trockenwaldareale. 1. Die aktuellen Vegetationsbestände der Untersuchungsflächen umfassten 328 Gefäßpflanzenarten aus 79 Familien und 247 Gattungen. Die höchste Artenvielfalt zeigte sich nach 15 Jahren mit 140 Arten. Die Diversität der Gehölzspezies war nach 20 Jahren am Höchsten. 2. Die potentielle Vegetation wurde anhand der Diasporen- und Keimlingsbanken untersucht. Insgesamt wurden 14567 Ausbreitungseinheiten in allen Flächen angetroffen. 122 Diasporenarten waren insgesamt vertreten. Wurden die jüngeren sekundären Flächen durch Nichtgehölze geprägt, beherrschten Gehölze die älteren Waldflächen. Die Artenvielfalt der Keimlingsbanken zeigt nach 10 Jahren einen sprunghaften Anstieg, wobei die Diversität sich in den drei ältesten Flächen auf etwa 50 Gehölzspezies einstellte. 3. Vorhandene Standortfaktoren, die Einfluss auf die natürliche Sylvigenesis nehmen, wurden analysiert. Die Pflanzenbedeckung zeigte während des Sukzessionsverlaufs ein prozentuales Absinken im Bodenbereich bei gleichzeitiger Zunahme des Anteils der Baumschichten. Die Temperaturdifferenzen in der Tag- und Nachtrhythmik senkte sich von etwa 24°C in den jüngsten Flächen auf 11°C im ältesten Waldstück. Die vorliegende Arbeit stellt umfassende Erkenntnisse über den komplexen Verlauf der Sylvigenesis innerhalb der Trockenwaldareale Costa Ricas zur Verfügung. Die gelieferten Ergebnisse sind ein Beitrag, die einer effektiveren Gestaltung der Renaturierungsmaßnahmen auch in anderen tropischen Waldformationen dienen können.

Background Pressure ulcers are localized injuries to the skin and underlying tissue caused by pressure, shear or a combination of these. The consequences of pressure ulcers are contributing to higher risk of morbidity and mortality. It also increases costs to society and causing suffering affecting the quality of life for individuals. Research shows that patients often do not get access to those interventions with the highest evidence-based utility. Many times, there can be great differences within countries regarding interventions that reaches the patients. Aim The aim of the study was to describe pressure ulcers prevention by registered nurses in San José, Costa Rica. Method A qualitative design with semi-structured interviews was used. The study consisted of interviews with six registered nurses whereof one was an included pilot interview. The data process consisted of recording the interviews, transcription and a qualitative content analysis. Findings The main findings show that there is insufficient knowledge regarding pressure ulcer prevention and that there is a lacking ability to implement the existing knowledge into daily practice. Conclusion Strategies are needed to implement routines regarding pressure ulcer prevention and broader knowledge is needed to enable the registered nurses to follow these routines and to perform accurate and evidence based care. The lack of resources and time influence the ability to fulfil professional responsibilities regarding pressure ulcer prevention. The management have the important task to make sure that the needed knowledge and resources exists so that the staff can fulfil their work duties.

<p> The beach at Manzanillo, Costa Rica, is composed of a mixture of terrigenous siliciclastic and marine calcareous sediment. The most abundant siliclastic grains are magnetite and diopside. The most abundant calcareous grains are red algae and molluscan fragments. These grains are found in much greater abundance in the beach sediment then in their source areas as a result of their resistance to breakdown.</p> <p> The distribution of the siliclastic minerals on the beach shows longshore drift to be from east to west. The main source of siliclastic sediment is the Rio Sixaola. Local rivers provide small inputs of sediment.</p> <p> The trace element chemistry of the beach indicates the possibility that some elements may be absorbed on the surfaces of grains as opposed to being substituted for other elements in mineral lattices.</p> / Thesis / Bachelor of Science (BSc)

This thesis is missing page 123, no other copy of the thesis has this page. -Digitization Centre / This research provides the first detailed study of the coastal geomorphology of Playa Guiones, Guanacaste Province Costa Rica. Playa Guiones is located within a tropical wet/dry climate necessitating that field work is completed in both seasons to ensure a broad understanding of the coastal characteristics. The research commenced February 2005 with site selection and preliminary field work. During June 2005 a detailed real-time kinematic GPS survey and beach inventory (sediment, rock and vegetation) was conducted. During a third field session a comparison was made between the current observed coastal characteristics and those observed during the two other field seasons. Playa Guiones is composed of primarily fine grained sand and carbonate shell material. Rock samples collected adjacent to the southern headland on the rocky shore platform consisted of limestone and finely grained, interbedded sandstone and siltstone. Adjacent to the northern headland on the rocky shore platform the rock consisted of sandstone. Playa Guiones displays some temporal variability which may be linked to the wet and dry seasons. On initial inspection Playa Guiones appears to have the characteristics of an embayed beach but more detailed inspection illustrates that Playa Guiones has many characteristics that are contradictory to a typical embayed beach. Although Playa Guiones lies on a convergent margin it has many characteristics of a divergent margin coast. This study is significant because it provides important baseline information for future work. Playa Guiones is located on the Nicoya Peninsula where a large seismic gap, which last fully ruptured in 1950, is known to exist. The baseline data will be very useful subsequent to any future earthquake event for measuring change that occurs along this rapidly developing coastline. The methodologies employed in this study provide much more detail information than is typically collected in gee-indicator studies which often only measure several profiles along a beach to create a digital elevation model rather than the 3 m gridding distance used in this study. / Thesis / Master of Science (MS)

Ripe fleshy fruits contain an enormous diversity of metabolites that influence ecological interactions with mutualistic and antagonistic species. This dissertation investigates the impact of fruit secondary metabolites on the foraging behavior and digestive physiology of bats (Chapters 2-4) while applying insights from basic chemical ecology to inform forest regeneration strategies (Chapter 5). The studies were conducted in northeastern Costa Rica at La Selva Biological Station. Chapter Two examines the variability and associations between nutrients and secondary metabolites within ripe Piper sancti-felicis fruits, showing that intraindividual variation of chemical traits can surpass interindividual variation and associations between chemical traits are scale-dependent, varying in strength and direction. Chapter Three explores how bats balance nutrient acquisition with defensive metabolite avoidance and the impact of metabolite consumption on bat nutrient absorption. It reveals that nutrient composition is the primary driver of bat foraging behavior and that defensive metabolites can interfere with protein absorption. Chapter Four further uses untargeted metabolomics to explore the influence of secondary metabolites on nutrient absorption, demonstrating that four commercial secondary metabolites induce dose-dependent changes in bat fecal metabolome, altering essential nutrient absorption. Chapter Five translates principles of chemical ecology into practical use by demonstrating the effectiveness of synthetic volatiles in attracting fruit bats and increasing seed rain. Taken together, this dissertation shows the impact of defensive metabolites on a key seed disperser while demonstrating the potential application of chemical ecology to address forest regeneration challenges. / Doctor of Philosophy / Fleshy fruits exhibit a remarkable chemical complexity. Fruit pulp is not only rich in essential nutrients (sugars, proteins, and lipids) but also contains a diverse array of other chemicals collectively known as secondary metabolites. These metabolites shape ecological interactions between fruits and frugivores. This dissertation focuses on understanding the ecological and physiological effects of fruit chemistry on frugivores. The studies were conducted at La Selva Biological Station in northeastern Costa Rica, focusing on fruit bats and pepper plants. Chapter two examines the relationships and variation between nutrients and toxins within ripe fruits of pepper plants (Piper sancti-felicis), finding that the chemical variation within a single plant can exceed the differences between separate plants. Also, depending on the scale studied, toxins and nutrients can be positively or negatively associated. Chapters Three and Four describe the preferences of a fruit bat (Carollia perspicillata) for nutrients and toxins, showing that nutrients are the primary driving force behind food choices and demonstrating that certain fruit toxins alter the ability of bats to absorb nutrients, including different sugars, proteins, and lipids. Chapter Five demonstrates the potential of synthetic chemical lures to attract fruit bats and enhance seed dispersal, offering a promising strategy to promote forest regeneration in degraded areas. Overall, this research demonstrates how fruit chemicals can significantly impact fruit bats, which play a crucial role in dispersing seeds and maintaining forest diversity.

Aedes mosquitoes are responsible for the transmission of several arboviruses throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In the Americas, Aedes aegypti is the most competent vector of dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever. With up to 400 million cases globally each year, dengue fever is the fastest growing vector-borne disease in the world, and it has become an increasingly significant risk to global health. In the Western Hemisphere, dengue, and more recently chikungunya and Zika, exists throughout much of Latin America and the Caribbean. Both diseases are spread via Aedes mosquitoes and both constitute major health risks in Costa Rica. A dengue outbreak in Costa Rica in 2013 was the largest epidemic in the country since the return of the disease in 1993. Moreover, between 2014 and 2015 there was a 54.9% increase in dengue cases in Costa Rica, further demonstrating the relevancy of research on mosquito-borne diseases. Given this context, this study employs qualitative methods to critically investigate measures to combat Aedes mosquito-borne diseases in Costa Rica. Data were collected using household interviews (n = 80); semi-structured key informant interviews with public health officials, researchers, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders (n = 22); and a focus group discussion in each of two study areas. The results provide broad and place-specific information about mosquito control efforts and other actions deployed in Costa Rica to mitigate mosquito-borne diseases. The data reveal differences in perceptions and disease incidence among household interviewees as well as where households source information about mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases. Varying degrees of knowledge on mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases were uncovered across the study sites, as were differing attitudes among the general population regarding mosquito control techniques (e.g., fumigation, education campaigns, and household visits by public health officials). Additionally, data indicated a gap in knowledge regarding the ability of the public to report mosquito-related problems to health authorities. Households also exhibited discrepancies in knowledge pertaining to chikungunya transmission and details about the vector. / Master of Science

The primary objective of the international initiative, Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+), is to conserve carbon by protecting forests and/or planting trees. The World Bank's Forest Partnership Carbon Facility (FPCF) introduced the REDD+ program to Costa Rica in 2008 and consultation with key stakeholders has been ongoing since. The major participants involved in the program include small landowners, representatives of the timber industry, and indigenous nations. Notwithstanding some native groups' opposition to and misunderstanding of the REDD+ program, the Costa Rican government signed an agreement with the World Bank (WB) in 2013 guaranteeing the sale of up to $63 million in carbon credits through the REDD+ program (World Bank, 2013). The government of Costa Rica has plans to continue implementing the initiative, despite the intense opposition of a number of Bribris, an indigenous group located in Talamanca in the eastern portion of the country near the border with Panama. The Bribri are also the largest native population in Costa Rica. This inquiry samples indigenous peoples' perspectives, specifically the Bribris from Talamanca and the Ngäbes from Abrojos Montezuma, concerning key elements of the REDD+ program to understand more fully why they perceive the program the way they do. The principal findings of this study concerning those views include the following: the government has violated indigenous people's rights throughout the REDD+ implementation process, many interview respondents remarked that they lacked information about REDD+, feared privatization of their land, and were opposed to the initiative's commodification of natural resources. These results illuminate key policy and implementation concerns that could inform government and World Bank policy, while also providing study participants an opportunity to exercise individual agency concerning the topic. This research contributes to the growing body of literature about REDD+ by providing the first-hand perceptions of members of Costa Rican indigenous communities of the initiative and their stated reasons for those views. / Master of Urban and Regional Planning / The main goal of the international initiative, Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+), is to conserve carbon by protecting forests and/or planting trees. The World Bank’s Forest Partnership Carbon Facility (FPCF) introduced the REDD+ program to Costa Rica in 2008 and has engaged in a process of consultation and information sessions with small landowners and representatives of the timber industry and indigenous nations. The Costa Rican government signed an agreement with the World Bank (WB) in 2013 guaranteeing the sale of up to $63 million in carbon credits via the program and the government appears to be relying on indigenous peoples’ land because indigenous territories comprise some 20% of the country’s forested lands (Government of Costa Rica, 2015; World Bank, 2013). Moreover, some native groups, including the Bribris, the largest indigenous group in the nation, located in Talamanca in the eastern portion of the country near the border with Panama, have publicly opposed doing so (World Bank, 2013). This study explored indigenous peoples’ perspectives, specifically the Bribris from Talamanca and the Ngäbes from Abrojos Montezuma, concerning key elements of the REDD+ program to understand better why they perceive the program as they do. Key findings from those interviews include the fact that the government has violated indigenous people’s rights throughout the REDD+ implementation process and that many native residents lacked information about the program and feared privatization of their land. In addition, many of those interviewed were opposed to the initiative’s basic premise; the commodification of natural resources. These results highlight key REDD+ policy design and implementation concerns in Costa Rica that could inform both government and World Bank policy in that nation. More generally, this research contributes to a growing body of literature concerning REDD+ and indigenous peoples. The findings offered here may now be compared to those of other analyses investigating the purport of this initiative from the vantage point of native peoples of other developing nations.

Le commerce équitable (CE) a connu une forte croissance depuis les années 90. Malgré ce succès, leCE fait l'objet de différentes critiques, notamment concernant sa proximité avec les grands groupesagroalimentaires et la grande distribution. Ce rapprochement caractérise, pour certains, une perte desvaleurs éthiques du CE qui intégrerait des valeurs capitalistes. Or, le CE s'est construit en réaction à cesvaleurs capitalistes. La littérature est importante concernant ces tensions au Nord mais au Sud il estgénéralement question de l'impact du CE sur les producteurs.Nous proposons dans ce travail de nous interroger sur les tensions pouvant exister dans le systèmeCE au Sud, avec une entrée par les coopératives certifiées. Au cours de trois séries d'enquêtes auprès descoopératives de café certifiées par FLO au Costa Rica, nous avons réunis des données quantitatives etqualitatives. A travers le champ de l'économie des conventions, nous montrons que les coopérativescertifiées(i) s'inscrivent dans des mondes différents avec une forte disparité concernant lesmondes civique (collectif) et domestique (traditionnel),(ii) présentent des conventions d'effort très différenciées.Ces éléments expliquent un engagement hétérogène des coopératives dans le commerce équitable :certaines se certifient en portant des croyances fortes sur un lien plus rapproché entre producteurs etconsommateurs quand d'autres ne voient dans le CE qu'une opportunité marketing. Les valeurs marchandessont cependant communes à toutes les coopératives. Nous achevons notre travail en proposant des élémentsde réflexions quant au compromis qui semble s'être créé autour du monde marchand dans le système CE.Ce compromis remet en cause le contrat moral passé dans le cadre du CE entre consommateurs etproducteurs et interroge fortement sur l'avenir du CE. / Fair trade (FT) has known a strong growth since the 1990's. In spite of its success, FT is the objectof different criticisms, notably concerning its closeness with big companies and supermarket distribution.This proximity characterizes, for some people, a loss of the ethical values and an integration of capitalistvalues: the problem is that FT was built in reaction to these capitalist functioning. Literature is importantconcerning these tensions in the North, whereas in the South it is generally a matter of the impact of FT on producers.The purpose of this research is to analyze the tensions that can exist in the FT system in the South,with an entrance by the certified cooperatives. In the course of three series of inquiries about the coffeecooperatives certified by FLO in Costa Rica, we collected quantitative and qualitative data. Across the field of the conventions economy, we show that the certified cooperatives:(i) register in the different worlds with a strong difference concerning the worlds civic(collective) and (traditional) servant,(ii) have very differentiated effort conventions.These elements explain a heterogeneous commitment of cooperatives in FT: some people certify bycarrying strong beliefs in a closer link between producers and consumers when others see a marketingopportunity. We finish our thesis by offering thinking elements about the moral contract passed as part ofthe IT between consumers and producers, and deeply questioning the future of FT.

Entre o período de 1801-1820, Portugal sofreu diversas agitações políticas causadas pelas Invasões Napoleônicas (1807-1813). Tais agitações influenciaram os rumos de Portugal enquanto um Estado pois além de repartir seu território com tropas napoleônicas, inglesas e espanholas que compunham as duas forças ocupantes e conflitantes, e causar uma divisão entre seus ideais e por conseguinte uma ruptura entre parte de seus cidadãos ora favoráveis aos franceses ora aos ingleses, mudou ainda a configuração administrativa interna e externa do Império Português, pois a Família Real e parte da Corte foram transferidos ao Rio de Janeiro. Como conseqüência em Portugal houve a Revolução Liberal de 1820, e em 1822 o Brasil deixa de ser colônia portuguesa para ter sua Independência proclamada. Foi nessa situação conturbada que Vicente José Ferreira Cardoso da Costa, um contemporâneo desses fatos, escreveu sua obra Considerações Políticas sobre a Revolução Portuguesa de 1808, que retrata essa época, e a Oclocracia que se estabeleceu em Portugal. / Between the years 1801-1820, Portugal suffered several political disturbances caused by the Napoleonic Wars (1807-1813). Such disturbances moved the directions of Portugal such as a State because the troops divided the territory full of french, british and spanish troops that served both conflicting sides, as well divided its citizens between two ideals (british and french), and at last changed the internal and external administrative setup, because the Royal Family and the Court left for Rio de Janeiro. As consequence to theses acts, there was a Liberal Revolution in Portugal 1820, and in 1822 Brazil declared independence. It was in this troubled situation that Vicente José Ferreira Cardoso da Costa a contemporary man of these facts wrote Considerações Políticas sobre a Revolução Portuguesa de 1808, that describes these time, and the Ochlocracy thats established in Portugal.

Este trabalho versa sobre os romances A Chaga (1970), do autor angolano Fernando Monteiro de Castro Soromenho, nascido na Vila de Chinde (Zambézia – Moçambique), e O Último Olhar de Manú Miranda (2000), do autor goês Orlando da Costa, nascido em Lourenço Marques, hoje Maputo (Moçambique). A nossa proposta de análise comparada parte do pressuposto de que essas duas criações literárias do passado histórico recente, de Angola (Camaxilo) e Goa (Margão) — na situação de ex-colônias portuguesas — apontam a perspectivas confluentes, conforme a visão crítica da história que aqui se tentou estabelecer. Buscamos levar em consideração a imprescindível relação dialética que mantêm entre si arte e sociedade. Constata-se a identificação desses respectivos romances com os pressupostos indicados por poéticas distintas, como o Neo-Realismo e o Realismo Maravilhoso. / This work presents analyses of the novels A Chaga (1970), by the Angolan author Fernando Monteiro de Castro Soromenho, born in Vila de Chinde (Zambezia, Mozambique), and O Último Olhar de Manú Miranda (2000), by the Goan writer Orlando da Costa, born in Lourenço Marques — currently Maputo (Mozambique). Our proposal for a comparative analysis derives from the presupposition that these two literary creations of the recent historical past of both Angola (Camaxilo) and Goa (Margão), when taken in their contexts of ex-Portuguese colonies, points to confluent perspectives, in accordance with the critical view of history we have attempted to establish. For we tried to take into account the indispensable dialectic relationship that art and society keep between one another. Nevertheless, the identification of the two respective novels as Neo-Realism and Marvelous Realism was evidenced by their distinct poetic pressupositions.