La conservación de las obras de arte es un aspecto fundamental de la inmensidad de la cultura humana y la expresión artística. Se analizaron dos obras en acuarela: Paisaje con casa campesina y El puente, pertenecientes a la colección del Banco Central de Costa Rica atribuidas al artista nacional Fausto Pacheco Hernández. Particularmente, el acercamiento exclusivo para estudiar dichas obras de arte está caracterizado por ser un análisis múltiple, donde se aplicaron técnicas no invasivas como la fotografía multiespectral. A partir de dicha técnica y el uso de herramientas computacionales novedosas como RegionsOfInterest y Golden Artists Colors se determinó información sobre la paleta pictórica y el proceso creativo del artista. El análisis múltiple permitió identificar diferentes patrones que podrían estar asociados con el crecimiento microbiano. Este estudio pionero corresponde al punto de partida para establecer indicadores que permitan, en el futuro, valorar la posible autenticidad de las pinturas con base en el establecimiento de la paleta pictórica del artista, los materiales utilizados, los procesos creativos y el contexto histórico. La aplicación de la ciencia para conocer las características de los materiales contribuye significativamente a determinar la manera más eficiente para conservar el patrimonio cultural.

This review is mainly centered on beverages obtained from tropical crops, including tea, nut milk, coffee, cocoa, and those prepared from fruits. After considering the epidemiological data found on the matrices above, the focus was given to recent methodological approaches to assess the most relevant mycotoxins. Aspects such as singularities among the mycotoxin and the beverage in which their were found, and the economic effects and repercussions that the mycotoxin-tainted ingredients have on the beverage industry were pointed out. Finally, the burden of their consumption through beverages, including risk and health effects on humans, was addressed as well.

Cases of onychomycosis caused by non-dermatophyte filamentous fungi have increased over the years. It is worth noting that this group of fungi is resistant to fluconazole, thus the importance of determining the in vitro susceptibility patterns to the antifungals available. We determined the minimal inhibitory concentration of amorolfine, ciclopirox, itraconazole and terbinafine using the microdilution method M38-A, as described by the Clinical Laboratory and Standards Institute, of 13 isolates of Aspergillus versicolor obtained from onychomycosis. The final concentrations were: 0.13-64 μg/mL for amorolfine and terbinafine, 0.06 -32 μg/mL for ciclopirox and 0.03-16 μg/mL for itraconazole. Also, we determined the interaction of these drugs by the checkerboard method.The MIC 50 and MIC 90 were ≥ 64.00 and ≥ 64.00 µg/mL for amorolfine, 4.00 and 8.00 µg/mL for ciclopirox, 1.00 and 1.80 µg/mL for itraconazole and 0.50 and 1.36 µg/mL for terbinafine, respectively. Regarding the combination of antifungals, 15.38% of the combinations of ciclopirox-itraconazole presented synergism, while the rest of the combinations showed no interaction. Thus, in vitro susceptibility testing indicates that terbinafine exhibited the highest antifungal activity and amorolfine the lowest against A.versicolor. Also, combining treatments enhances the activity of the drugs, proving a possible alternative for successful treatment of onychomycosis caused by this fungus.

Fungi are eucaryotic microoorganisms that reproduce by asexual or sexual spores. Fungal spores are involved in what is known as aerobiological process, which is influenced by several factors such as temperature, humidity, wind speed and precipitation. The aerial fungal concentration tends to be high in tropical countries. At the clinical setting, fungal spores play an important role in respiratory allergies due to a constant presence in the environment. These allergens are generally associated with several clinical symptoms, e.g., rhinitis, conjunctivitis, cough, and bronchial asthma. Thus, in the present study the external aerobiologic behavior of fungal spores in the School of Microbiology, University of Costa Rica from October 2014 to September 2015 was evaluated using an aerial volumetric monitor to determine the fungal concentration. The mean concentration of fungal aerial spores was 443.86 ± 201.68 spores/m 3 . A total of 18 types of spores were identified as follows: Alternaria, ascospores, Aspergillus/Penicillium, basidiospores,

Cultural heritage has become a keystone for comprehending our society, as it represents and reflects our origins, passions, beliefs and traditions. Furthermore, it provides fundamental information about specific temporary spaces, materials’ availability, technology, artist’s intention, and site weather conditions. Our aim was to develop a multidisciplinary approach with a main focus on investigating two Italian large-format paintings located in highly diverse environments such as the National Theater of Costa Rica. We monitored environmental conditions and quantified fungal aerial spores. Then, we determined regions of possible biodeterioration with the software MicroorganismPattern and used the software PigmentArrangement to elucidate the apparent colour of the paintings based on distribution and arrangement of the pigment crystals. Finally, we characterized eight genera of calcareous nannofossils found in the ground layers of the artwork. The former Men’s Canteen at the National Theater of Costa Rica presented a mean air temperature of 23.5 $$^{\circ }$$ ∘ C, a relative humidity of 72.7% and a concentration of CO$$_{2}$$ 2 of 570 ppm. The fungal aerial concentration was 1776 spores/m$$^{3}$$ 3 . The software MicroorganismPattern identified 32 sampling regions, out of which 11 were positive for microbial contamination. The software PigmentArrangement determined that the blue crystals (ultramarine pigment) had the shortest distances between themselves (29 $$\upmu$$ μ m). Finally, the nanofossils identified enabled us to restrict the age of the material to a biostratigraphic interval ranging from Coniacian to Maastricthian ages. By using a multidisciplinary approach we were able to explore the diptych, suggest a set of minimally invasive perspectives in tropical environments to be used worldwide and obtain key information about the artist’s artistic process, materials used along with better understand its state of conservation.