University of Costa Rica

About: University of Costa Rica is a education organization based out in San José, Costa Rica. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Venom. The organization has 9817 authors who have published 16781 publications receiving 238208 citations. The organization is also known as: UCR & Universidad de Costa Rica.

Estudio comparativo de venenos de ejemplares recién nacidos y adultos de Bothrops asper

Abstract: This paper is a comparative study of venoms of newborn and adult specimens of Bothrops asper from two Costa Rican populations: San Carlos, in the Atlantic versant and Puriscal in the Pacifico Comparison was on a basis of determination of the following effects: hemorrhage, myonecrosis, edema, proteolysis, hemolysis, and lethality, as well as neutralization of the lethal effect by polyvalent antivenom. Biochemical and immunochemical comparisons were done by mean s of electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis, and immunodiffusion. There are marked differences between newborn and adult venoms from both regions in electrophoretic and immunoelectrophoretic patterns, although the immunodiffusion plates showed an almost identical pattern. Venoms from newborn specimens are more proteolytic, hemorrhagic, edema-forming and lethal, whereas those of adult specimens are more hemolytic and induce a stronger myonecrotic action, characterized by a myolitic type of necrosis. Antivenom neutralizes the lethality of all venoms with similar ED50.Venoms of adult specimens from both regions showed a slight variation in the immunoelectrophoretic pattern, but a complete identity in immunodiffusion plates. Adult venoms from San Carlos are more hemorrhagic, and myonecrotic, whereas those of Puriscal are more proteolytic, having similar lethality, edema-forming activity, and hemolytic effect. The same differences were observed when venoms from newborn specimens from both populations were compared.

Genera Pleurothallidinarum: an updated phylogenetic overview of Pleurothallidinae

Abstract: Subtribe Pleurothallidinae with just over 5000 species is possibly the most species-rich of all orchids. It has been growing steadily for more than two centuries, but the last three decades have been especially active in terms of systematic and phylogenetic studies in the group. The growth in species numbers has been accompanied by the marked increase in generic and infrageneric concepts. Nevertheless, Pleurothallidinae are plagued with cases of convergent and divergent morphology, and phylogenetic relatedness is not always apparent. This opens the door to controversial changes in generic circumscriptions that are considered too inclusive by some and too exclusive by others. A grave consequence of these disagreements is the difficulty of assessing which and how many species actually belong to each genus. Here an attempt is made to place generic names among their close relatives as a first step to re-evaluating the whole subtribe.

Iron deficiency in infancy and mother-child interaction at 5 years.

Abstract: Five-year-old Costa Rican children, who had either chronic, severe iron deficiency or good iron status in infancy, were observed with their mothers during a structured interaction task in a laboratory setting and everyday interactions in their home. Child affect and behavior as well as the quality of mother-child interaction of the formerly chronic iron-deficient children (n = 40) were compared to those with good iron status in infancy (n = 102). Children who had chronic iron deficiency in infancy were more likely to display lower levels of physical activity, positive affect, and verbalization during the structured task at 5 years, despite iron therapy that corrected their iron deficiency anemia in infancy. Mother-child reciprocity during the structured task (e.g., eye contact, shared positive affect, turn taking) was more likely to be lower in the chronic iron deficiency group compared to the good iron group. Mothers of children in the chronic iron deficiency group showed less responsivity in both settings. These results show that children with chronic, severe iron deficiency in infancy continue at behavioral disadvantage relative to their peers at school entry. Sustained differences in mother-child interaction might contribute to the long-lasting behavioral and developmental alterations reported in children with chronic, severe iron deficiency in infancy.