Scientific University of the South

CONTEXT Goat farming in Peru is economically marginal yet essential for rural livelihoods and food security. Creole goats are managed extensively on native rangelands or crop residues, but their greenhouse gas emissions remain poorly quantified. OBJECTIVE To assess the carbon footprint (CFP) of Creole goat milk production under two contrasting extensive systems in Lima (crop-residue based) and Ancash (shrubland-based), Peru. METHODS A cradle-to-farm-gate life cycle assessment was conducted on six farms per system during winter and summer. Emissions of CH₄, N₂O and CO₂ were estimated using IPCC methodologies and expressed per kilogram of fat- and protein-corrected milk (FPCM). CFP were analyzed using univariate and mixed-effects models. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS System differences in farm characteristics were more pronounced during summer, when Ancash system, compared to Lima system, showed higher dietary fiber concentrations (42.65% vs 33.10%; p < 0.001) and produced milk with greater total solids content (15.38% vs 13.70%; p < 0.05). However, CFP did not differ significantly between systems, ranging from 0.681 to 1.672 kg CO₂-eq kg−1 FPCM, with enteric fermentation accounting for 74–79% of total emissions. Significant system × season interactions for fuel and electricity emissions revealed contrasting seasonal resource-use responses between systems. These findings indicate that seasonal dynamics are a major driver of emission variability, while overall CFP remained comparable between systems. SIGNIFICANCE This study provides the first CFP assessment of Creole goat milk production in Peru and highlights the importance of considering ecosystem and seasonal variability when assessing emissions from marginal goat systems.

To assess the anthropogenic impact on carbon and nitrogen accumulation rates in wetlands associated with Lake Titicaca, sediment cores recording the past century in contrasting environmental conditions were analyzed using elemental and isotopic proxies. Duplicate 50-cm sediment cores were collected from wetlands within the National Reserve environment of Lake Titicaca, and from a wetland area under the direct influence of a sewage plant. Subsamples were analyzed for total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), δ13C, and δ15N. Sediment accumulation rates (SAR) and Mass accumulation rates (MAR) were calculated from 210Pb-excess activity using the Constant Flux Constant Sedimentation method (CFCS). The SAR in the impacted area averaged 0.38 cm yr−1, up to twofold higher than in the “National Reserve”, likely due to increased organic matter influx from anthropogenic activities. Although δ13C values showed no significant differences between the study areas, abrupt shifts in organic matter sources and significantly heavier δ15N values were observed in the impacted area after the 1970s, indicating that carbon and nitrogen sources derive from a mix of terrestrial vegetation, algae, and cyanobacteria, fertilized by nutrient enrichment from anthropogenic activities. Despite no significant differences in carbon and nitrogen fluxes between both studied areas, the lower stocks in the impacted area indicate a lower accumulation capacity due to a higher contribution of labile organic matter. This study underscores the crucial role of wetlands associated with Lake Titicaca in the deposition and accumulation of organic carbon driven by both natural and anthropogenic factors and highlights the importance of wetland preservation in maintaining the accumulation capacity of these ecosystems in the context of global wetland eutrophication.

The Atlantic Ocean has long operated as a dynamic space of flows and a locus of geopolitical agency. Yet the geopolitical roles of Atlantic Portuguese-speaking countries (APSC) remain understudied. This study examines how Lusophone states along the Atlantic exercise agency within the region’s evolving geopolitical order. Using a dual methodology—a rubric-based classification of agency types and an Atlantic zoning framework—it maps their spatial and strategic dynamics. Findings show that APSC actors display “serendipity agency,” leveraging contingent opportunities rather than fixed strategies. Conceptualizing this adaptive mode of action advances debates on small- and medium-state behavior in multipolar maritime spaces.

Abstract Introduction The place of death is recognized as a proxy for the quality and equity of end-of-life care. Understanding where people die provides insights into health system performance, social inequalities, and the availability of palliative services. In Peru, evidence on this topic remains scarce, and national patterns and determinants have not been previously characterized. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study including all deaths registered in SINADEF from January 2017 to April 2024. Deaths were categorized as occurring at home, in a healthcare facility, or elsewhere. Sociodemographic, geographic, and contextual variables were analyzed, and the need for palliative care was estimated using the methodology of The Lancet Commission on Global Access to Palliative Care and Pain Relief. Associations were assessed using Poisson regression models with robust variance to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results A total of 1,093,463 deaths were analyzed. Overall, 53.1% occurred in healthcare facilities, 41.3% at home, and 5.6% elsewhere. The proportion of home deaths increased over the study period (p < 0.001). Older age, lack of health insurance, lower educational level, lower socioeconomic status, Indigenous ethnicity, and residence outside Metropolitan Lima were associated with higher prevalence of home death. In contrast, individuals with estimated palliative care needs were less likely to die at home (aPR = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.65 to 0.66). Marked regional heterogeneity was observed, with home deaths ranging from 23.5% in Madre de Dios to 62.3% in Puno. Conclusions More than four in ten deaths in Peru occur at home, with increasing trends over time and wide regional and social disparities. The findings suggest that dying at home often reflects structural inequities and limited access to institutional or palliative care rather than preference. Strengthening community- and home-based palliative services is crucial to ensure that end-of-life care aligns with patients’ needs and values.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established therapy for motor complications in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Patients carrying glucocerebrosidase (GBA) mutations exhibit distinct disease trajectories, raising questions regarding potential differences in clinical outcomes following DBS compared with non-carriers. To evaluate short- and long-term motor, medication, and cognitive outcomes following DBS in patients with GBA-PD compared with non-GBA PD. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting clinical outcomes in PD patients with and without GBA mutations who underwent DBS and had a minimum follow-up of one year. Random-effects inverse variance models were applied, with subgroup analyses according to GBA status. DBS was associated with significant improvements in motor function in the off-medication state and sustained reductions in levodopa equivalent daily dose in both GBA carriers and non-carriers, with no significant between-group differences. Cognitive performance declined over long-term follow-up in both groups. At five years, greater cognitive decline, assessed using the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale, was observed among GBA-PD mutation carriers compared with non-carriers. Motor improvement and medication reduction following DBS were comparable between PD patients with and without GBA mutations. Over long-term follow-up, greater cognitive decline was observed among GBA-PD carriers.