Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica

Abstract The growing presence of digital systems in higher education has reshaped how students engage with academic technologies, exposing them to new forms of technology‑related strain. In this study, we examine technostress among university students in Costa Rica and validate a refined three‑factor structure of the Technostress Scale for University Students (TS4US). A total of 279 students participated in a cross sectional survey, and the 19 item scale was analyzed through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses using polychoric correlations and robust estimation methods. The resulting model demonstrated solid psychometric properties and achieved robust goodness‑of‑fit indicators. Its three dimensions, Perceived Technological Overload and Complexity, Lack of Social Support for the Use of Information Technologies, and Insufficient Institutional Support and Digital Culture, capture the multidimensional nature of technostress in digitally mediated learning environments. Sociodemographic analyses indicated that contextual and organizational variables, particularly educational journey and employment status, were more strongly associated with technostress than individual demographic characteristics. The results underscore that technostress is shaped by broader organizational conditions and emphasize the role of institutional practices in fostering healthier digital learning environments. The study expands regional evidence on the TS4US and underscores the need to integrate human centered strategies into sustainable digital transformation processes in higher education.

uantitative data of the analysis of sperm kinematics, concentration, motility and semen doses production in boar, Costa Rica.

En este artículo realizamos una propuesta para regular el trabajo con sistemas de IA generativa en la enseñanza de ingeniería en el Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica. Se compone de tres secciones principales. En la primera hacemos una breve presentación de la capacidad instalada en el país tanto en tecnología móvil como en internet fijo. En la segunda presentamos las características principales de este tipo de sistemas con la finalidad de contribuir a la comprensión del potencial y las limitaciones de estos sistemas. En la tercera sección, describimos y ejemplificamos una propuesta de regulación de estos sistemas en la enseñanza de la Ingeniería. Es relevante utilizar los atributos de ingeniería, específicamente, las habilidades profesionales que propone como punto de partida para nuestra propuesta. Utilizamos de las propuestas emergentes de regulación propuestas por la UNESCO en el documento consultivo del 2024 [1]. A saber, la basada en principios que, para nuestros propósitos son las habilidades propuestas en los atributos, el enfoque basado en riesgos y su relación con los tres principios de gobernanza HOTL, HITL y HIC. El tercer componente es el enfoque denominado “sandbox” que permite identificar fortalezas y amenazas de lo regulado y no regulado en el uso docente de estos sistemas.

Los sistemas de vehículos aéreos no tripulados (UAV) han ganado importancia en diversas aplicaciones debido a su capacidad para operar en entornos peligrosos o de difícil acceso. Sin embargo, la navegación segura y eficiente en entornos complejos como áreas urbanas o interiores de edificios plantea desafíos significativos en términos de percepción del entorno. La percepción precisa del entorno circundante es fundamental para que un UAV pueda construir un mapa 3D, detectar y evitar obstáculos, localizar puntos de interés y planificar trayectorias de vuelo seguras. Para abordar estos desafíos, los sistemas UAV integran una variedad de sensores, como cámaras RGB y de profundidad, radares, lídares y sensores in-erciales. Estos sensores permiten capturar información visual, geométrica y de movimiento del entorno. Además, se emplean técnicas avanzadas de procesamiento de señales, visión por computadora, aprendizaje automático y fusión sensorial para interpretar los datos de los sensores y construir una representación precisa del entorno en 3D. En el trabajo presentado, se logró generar una propuesta para la exploración de caminos en el interior de un espacio mediante la detección de puertas y pasillos utilizando YOLO, en conjunto con la estimación de fondo monocular. Se validaron los caminos y, con esta información, se generaron mapas para explorar un territorio. Se obtuvo una tasa de acierto del 86,9%, con algunos falsos positivos donde el modelo no detectó correctamente la profundidad. El mapa generado guarda un historial del agente que ha explorado el territorio, sirviendo como una opción para integrar con algoritmos de enjambre.

Marine renewable energy could support Costa Rica’s decarbonization pathway, but its offshore resource base and enabling conditions remain poorly characterized in the body of knowledge. This study provides the first integrated assessment of marine energy resources, grid integration opportunities, and governance challenges in Costa Rica. A meta-analysis of 76 technical, legal, and policy sources is combined with qualitative doctrinal analysis, GIS-based multi-criteria evaluation for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), and satellite and reanalysis data for winds, waves, currents, and sea surface temperature to estimate power densities and extractable energy. Results show a contrast between the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. For instance, on the Northern Pacific coast, there are strong Papagayo winds, and persistent swells yield high offshore wind and wave energy potentials, with technical offshore wind resources of around 14.4 GW and Pacific wave power frequently exceeding 20–25 kW/m with relatively low seasonal variability. Furthermore, twelve OTEC-suitable zones are identified with two priority areas in the southern Pacific that combine steep bathymetry and strong thermal gradients with limited environmental conflicts, but they overlap with sensitive conservation and Indigenous territories. Current energy potential is more localized and modest in the Caribbean coast. The analysis highlights major infrastructural, legal, and social barriers but concludes that marine energy can play a pivotal role in diversifying Costa Rica’s renewable-dominated electricity market.

Abstract Food loss significantly impacts productivity, sustainability, and food security in common bean production systems. Dedicated research to investigate the contribution of specific smallholder farming practices to these losses in the Latin American context is still limited. This study addresses this gap by examining the practices of 56 common bean farmers from a characteristic production area in Costa Rica. The methodology includes four steps. The first, Screening , provides a preliminary overview of the context using secondary data, expert consultations, and local reports. The second, Survey , applies questionnaires and field observations to deepen understanding of food value chain actors, local conditions, and perceptions. The third, Sampling , derives from load tracking at different stages of the supply chain. Finally, the Synthesis step triangulates previous findings to identify causes and potential solutions to food loss. Results indicate that average productivity in the sample was 0,76 t/ha, which is only half of the global average (1,5 t/ha) due to intercropping, low seed rates and poor post-harvest storage facilities. Losses at harvest and post-harvest stages reached 12–18% of production and were more prevalent on farms relying on manual harvesting and minimal post-harvest infrastructure. These insights underscore the need for interventions to enhance mechanisation, adoption of technologies, and provision of productivity incentives for reducing food loss and food insecurity in common bean production systems. The successful application of the 4 S methodology sets an example for similar cases in the region, where diagnosis should be a first step for pertinent interventions.