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La discrecionalidad en la justicia local: Juzgados de Policía Local en la Provincia de Llanquihue, Chile
(2026-03-23) Valdivieso Sierpe, Diego; Díaz Ruiz, Christopher; Corrotea Vasquez, Matías
Este artículo analiza la discrecionalidad judicial en la resolución de causas tramitadas por los Juzgados de Policía Local (JPL) en la provincia de Llanquihue, enfocándose en dos ámbitos: las sanciones por inasistencia al sufragio obligatorio y las infracciones gravísimas a la Ley de Tránsito. A partir de una investigación cuantitativa basada en encuestas aplicadas a funcionarios judiciales y municipales, se identifican márgenes diferenciales de discrecionalidad según el tipo de causa. Mientras que en asuntos electorales predomina una aplicación reglada y homogénea de la normativa, en las infracciones de tránsito se observa una mayor variabilidad en la graduación de las sanciones, influida por factores como los antecedentes del infractor o la gravedad de la falta. El estudio revela además una baja sistematización argumentativa de las decisiones, con escasa referencia a principios normativos como la sana crítica. Estos resultados permiten reflexionar sobre los límites institucionales de los JPL, su dependencia administrativa de los municipios, y la necesidad de fortalecer mecanismos de fundamentación, transparencia y coherencia en el ejercicio de la discrecionalidad judicial en el ámbito de la justicia local.
Mangrove forest structure, water quality, and carbon storage at Palmares, Northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica
(2026-02-06) Samper Villarreal, Jimena; Omaña Angulo, Adriana; Cortés Núñez, Jorge
Introduction: Mangroves provide many ecosystem services, yet they continue to be degraded and decline in numbers. Effective management strategies need baseline information to assess habitat condition and potential decline. In Costa Rica, mangroves on the North Pacific are the least studied. Objective: To provide the first characterization of forest structure and carbon content of the Palmares mangrove. Methods: A total of 58 square plots (5 × 5 m) were sampled between March 2022 and April 2023. In each plot, mangrove species, stem height, and circumference were quantified. Samples were collected to estimate interstitial water salinity, fine root content, and sediment grain size, bulk density, and carbon content. Mangrove biomass and organic carbon (OC) were calculated using allometric equations. Water quality was assessed at six sites in the main channel during the dry and rainy seasons of 2023. Results: Six mangrove species were identified at Palmares. Rhizophora spp. (55 % of plots) and Avicennia spp. (29 %) were the most abundant, while Laguncularia and Conocarpus were rare. Average tree height was 8 ± 7 m, width 11 ± 12 cm, and density 1 833 ± 1 757 stems ha-1. Rhizophora spp. were taller and wider than Avicennia spp. Interstitial water salinity at Palmares was 34 ± 14, which was higher during the dry season and in Avicennia spp. plots. Sediment was mainly composed of silt-clay (52 %), which was higher in Rhizophora spp. plots. Sediment bulk density was 0.8 ± 0.3 g cm-3 and fine roots < 1 %. Above-ground biomass OC averaged 224 ± 335 Mg ha-1 and was higher in Rhizophora spp. plots. Sediment OC was 8 ± 3 % and inorganic carbon 3 ± 1 %. OC was higher in sediments of Rhizophora spp., with higher silt-clay, larger mangroves, and lower densities. There was no clear pattern of variation in water parameters along the main channel. Conclusions: This first characterization of Palmares mangrove can serve as a baseline for further studies and effective management and conservation strategies.
Percepciones y creencias sobre el ambiente y los problemas ambientales en Costa Rica
(2018) Villalobos Jiménez, Alonso; Díaz González, José Andrés
En este capítulo se hace un recuento de algunos estudios sobre percepciones ambientales de la población costarricense, realizados entre finales del siglo XX y principios del XXI. El objetivo es conocer cuál ha sido la trayectoria de las percepciones e imágenes de la población costarricense sobre el ambiente durante estas décadas, e identificar las variaciones, cambios o quiebres en la forma en que se visualizan el ambiente y los problemas ambientales. Lo anterior permite formarse una base – parcial– para la comprensión e interpretación de las percepciones ambientales de la población costarricense y su relación con sus actitudes y preferencias políticas, que sirva de línea base para la primera mitad del siglo XXI.
Calidad del ambiente, vulnerabilidad y acciones ante el cambio climático: Costa Rica en perspectiva comparada
(2018) Villalobos Jiménez, Alonso; Díaz González, José Andrés
En el presente capítulo se hace un análisis comparativo de la calidad del ambiente en Costa Rica, a partir de un set de indicadores de la OCDE y los resultados del EPI 2014. De manera muy breve, se analiza también la situación de vulnerabilidad del país ante la variabilidad climática, y se procura situar al país en términos de su contribución regional a las emisiones de dióxido de carbono, producto de la deforestación y producción agrícola; ambas dimensiones se apoyan en estadísticas comparativas de corte internacional.
Urolithins urinary excretion kinetics in Costa Rican volunteers after acute consumption of a blackberry (Rubus adenotrichos)-based drink
(2026-03-04) Fallas Ramírez, José Manuel; Baltodano Viales, Eleaneth; Mora Román, Juan José; Hernandez Gomez, Lorena; Pérez Carvajal, Ana Mercedez; Vaillant Barka, Fabrice Eric
Background: Tropical mountain blackberry, widely consumed in Costa Rica, is rich in ellagitannins (ETs) such as ellagic
acid (EA), which are metabolized by the intestinal microbiota into urolithins after ingestion.
Objective: This study aimed to characterize the urinary excretion kinetics of urolithins in healthy Costa Rican volunteers
following the intake of a blackberry-based drink, thereby contributing to the biopharmaceutical understanding of these
compounds.
Methods: Fifteen healthy non-smoking male volunteers (aged 18–35 years) consumed 500 ml of water and, on a separate
day, 500 ml of a blackberry-based drink (33.3%) at breakfast. Urine samples were collected at 0–6 h, 6–12 h, and 12–24 h
intervals and analyzed using Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (UPLC/ESI-Q-TOFMS).
Targeted metabolomic analysis was performed to detect urolithins and related metabolites. Participants were classified
according to urolithin production capacity (metabotypes A/B). All volunteers produced either one or both urolithins.
Results: In the first 6 h, significant differences in metabolomic profiles were observed, although not attributable to urolithins;
instead, a presumed decrease in glucuronidated hydroxyprogesterone (HPG) and tetrahydroxycortisone (THC)
metabolites was identified. Between 6–12 h, urolithins A (UA) and C (UC) were identified as the main contributors
to group differences. In the 12–24 h fraction, increased excretion of UA, UC, and urolithin B (UB) was observed.
Quantitatively, UA was detected in 73% of participants, UC in 60%, and UB in 47%.
Conclusions: The observed reduction in metabolites putatively identified as HPG and THC may indicate, though not
confirm, potential hypolipidemic or hormone-related anticancer effects of ET-rich foods. The delayed appearance of
UA and UC (6–12 h) could reflect slower gastric emptying and intestinal transit, while the presence of UB up to 24 h
may indicate enterohepatic recirculation of UA conjugates. These findings provide new evidence on the metabolic fate
of blackberry-derived ETs, highlight plausible biomarkers of consumption, and support the functional potential of
berry-based foods in human health.