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Environmental negotiations are complex, and conveying the interaction between science and policy in traditional teaching methods is challenging. To address this issue, innovative educational approaches like serious gaming and role-playing games have emerged. These methods allow students to actively explore the roles of different stakeholders in environmental decision-making and weigh for instance between sometimes conflicting UN Sustainable Development Goals or other dilemmas. In this work the phosphorus negotiation game (P-Game) is for the first time introduced. We present the initial quantitative and qualitative findings derived from engaging 788 students at various academic levels (Bachelor, Master, PhD, and Postdoc) across three continents and spanning 22 different countries. Quantitative results indicate that female participants and MSc students benefitted the most significantly from the P-Game, with their self-reported knowledge about phosphorus science and negotiation science/practice increasing by 71–93% (overall), 86–100% (females), and 73–106% (MSc students in general). Qualitative findings reveal that the P-Game can be smoothly conducted with students from diverse educational and cultural backgrounds. Moreover, students highly value their participation in the P-Game, which can be completed in just 2–3 h. This game not only encourages active engagement among participants but also provides valuable insights into the complex environmental issues associated with global phosphorus production. We strongly believe that the underlying methodology described here could also be used for other topics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor measurement quality has set back the utility of anthropometry in defining childhood malnutrition, prompting calls for alternative measurement techniques. This study aimed to assess the reliability of anthropometric measurements using a digital height board in comparison to an analog height board in Namibian children under 5 years of age. A cross‐sectional, descriptive study was conducted (n = 425) between the age of 6 and 59 months, using anthropometric measurements of weight, height and mid‐upper arm circumference. Two trained enumerators each collected four height measurements of each child: two using an analog height board and two using a digi‐board. The repeated height measurements between and within the enumerators were used to determine intra‐ and interobserver reliability. Reliability of the digi‐board was assessed using the technical error of measurement (TEM), relative TEM (%TEM), intraclass correlation and a Bland–Altman analysis to assess the agreement between the two methods. In all these assessments, the analog height board was considered as the gold standard and used for comparison. The digi‐board showed superiority to the analog height board in terms of reliability (analog TEM = 0.22, digi‐board TEM = 0.16). Although the digi‐board has potential to improve child anthropometry, further clinical and large survey studies are needed to validate the used of this tool in routine population‐based surveys. Key messages: Malnutrition is a global health concern, specifically in children under 5 years, emphasizing the need for interventions to address malnutrition at the population level.Moving anthropometric measurement from analog (which is prone to human error) to digital has the potential to improve data quality in anthropometric measurements in children.Accurate and reliable measurements are important in identifying populations that are at risk of malnutrition.The digi‐board has better reliability compared to the analog height board.An increased measurement error was observed in younger children (6–23 months) compared to children between 24 and 59 months of age for both the analog board and the digi‐board. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera) has traditionally been grown in South-West Asia and North Africa, principally for date fruit consumption. Nevertheless, its cultivation has recently spread to other areas of America, sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania and Southern Europe. During date fruit processing, several by-products are generated, like low-quality dates, pits, leaves and pollen. These wastes, together with the date fruit, constitute an important source of biocomponents such as hydroxycinnamic and hydroxybenzoic acids, flavonoids, tannins, carotenoids, tocopherols, tocotrienols, phytosterols and phytoestrogens. This review provides detailed information about the sensory properties, nutritional profile and biocompounds with health-promoting properties present in date fruit and its by-products. Furthermore, recent findings regarding the potential of these products to develop new functional foodstuffs was also highlighted. Several studies have reported that the date fruit and its by-products present an outstanding richness in bioactive compounds with potential healthy properties that make them suitable to be used as nutraceutical ingredients in several foodstuffs. Their incorporation in the formulation of foods would contribute to cover the increasing demand of consumers by products elaborated with natural ingredients. Moreover, an important aspect to take into account is that food matrixes are an excellent vehicle for the availability of biomolecules present in the date palm products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sixty traditional leafy vegetables, comprising of mutete (Hibiscus sabdariffa) (n = 20) and omboga (Cleome gynandra) (n = 40) were analysed for fungal, plant and bacterial metabolites using liquid-chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. No European Union legislated mycotoxins were quantified and no vegetables contained levels above the FAO/WHO limit of 10 mg/kg for cyanogenic potential, suggesting comparative safety regarding regulated mycotoxins and cyanogenic glycosides. Quantified fungal metabolites included averufin and 3-Nitropropionic acid from Aspergillus flavus, beauvericin and equisetin from Fusarium, citrinin and curvularin from Penicillium and altertoxin −1 and tentoxin from Alternaria. Of the plant cyanogenic glycosides, linamarin was quantifiable in 65% of mutete at a maximum of 398 µg/kg but not in omboga, while lotaustralin was quantifiable in both omboga and mutete. The bacterial metabolite nonactin was detected in 27.5% of omboga samples (range: 0.2–7.3 μg/kg). Minimal variation in metabolite patterns was recorded for omboga samples from Oshana and Oshikoto regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Namibia has made significant gains in the fight against malaria, with a target of elimination by 2023. We examined the genotype and allele frequencies of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency to inform decisions on primaquine use, as we recently detected clusters of Plasmodium ovale curtisi in Kavango. Methods A multistaged cross-sectional sampling method was used to enrol 212 children 2–9 y of age from schools and clinics in the Okavango and Zambezi regions of northern Namibia. Genotypes for the 202 G→A and 376 A→G mutations were assigned by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results Of the 212 subjects enrolled, genotypes were available for 210, made up of 61 males and 149 females. G6PD-deficient males (hemizygotes) and females (homozygotes) constituted 3.27% (2/61) and 0.0% (0/149), respectively. Female heterozygotes (AA− and BA−) constituted 10.07% (15/149), while G6PD wild-type males (with A or B haplotype) and females (with AA, BB or AB haplotypes) consisted of 96.72% (59/61) and 89.93% (134/149), respectively. The A−, A and B allele frequencies were 0.0474, 0.3036 and 0.6490, respectively. Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium tests for female genotype frequencies did not show deviation (p=0.29). Conclusions The frequency of G6PD deficiency alleles in males in the Kavango and Zambezi regions of northern Namibia constitute 3.27%, a first report to inform policy on primaquine role out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorghum malts, which are important ingredients in traditional fermented beverages, are commonly infected by mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins may transfer into the beverages, risking consumers’ health. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry was used to determine variation of fungal metabolites in 81 sorghum malts processed for brewing of Namibian beverages, otombo (n = 45) and omalodu (n = 36). Co-occurrence of European Union (EU)-regulated mycotoxins, such as patulin, aflatoxins (B1, B2, and G2), and fumonisins (B1, B2, and B3) was detected in both malts with a prevalence range of 2–84%. Aflatoxin B1 was quantified in omalodu (44%) and otombo malts (14%), with 20% of omalodu malts and 40% of otombo malts having levels above the EU allowable limit. Fumonisin B1 was quantified in both omalodu (84%) and otombo (42%) malts. Emerging mycotoxins, aflatoxin precursors, and ergot alkaloids were quantified in both malts. Notably, 102 metabolites were quantified in both malts, with 96% in omalodu malts and 93% in otombo malts. An average of 48 metabolites were quantified in otombo malts while an average of 67 metabolites were quantified in omalodu malts. The study accentuates the need to monitor mycotoxins in sorghum malts intended for brewing and to determine their fate in the beverages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: African traditional beverages are widely consumed food‐grade liquids processed from single or mixed grains (mostly cereals) by simple food processing techniques, of which fermentation tops the list. These beverages are very diverse in composition and nutritional value and are specific to different cultures and countries. The grains from which home‐processed traditional beverages are made across Africa are often heavily contaminated with multiple mycotoxins due to poor agricultural, handling, and storage practices that characterize the region. In the literature, there are many reports on the spectrum and quantities of mycotoxins in crops utilized in traditional beverage processing, however, few studies have analyzed mycotoxins in the beverages themselves. The available reports on mycotoxins in African traditional beverages are mainly centered on the finished products with little information on the process chain (raw material to final product), fate of the different mycotoxins during processing, and exposure estimates for consumers. Regulations targeting these local beverages are not in place despite the heavy occurrence of mycotoxins in their raw materials and the high consumption levels of the products in many homes. This paper therefore comprehensively discusses for the 1st time the available data on the wide variety of African traditional beverages, the mycotoxins that contaminate the beverages and their raw materials, exposure estimates, and possible consequent effects. Mycotoxin control options and future directions for mycotoxin research in beverage production are also highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paradoxical coexistence of obesity with undernutrition has been well documented worldwide. In many developing countries, 60% of households contain both underweight and obese individuals, a situation referred to as the "dual burden household". The Namibian population is simultaneously made up of groups of overweight and obese individuals as well as a large group of underweight individuals. Based on data collected from 2003 to 2004, 28% of Namibians were categorized as underweight, 11% as overweight and 7% as obese. Among adults, aged 30-46, 29% were categorized as overweight or obese. In a middle-income country such as Namibia, food scarcity may no longer be the driving factor behind energy intake. Instead, the availability of cheap, energy dense foods may facilitate the consumption of more calories while an indoor, sedentary lifestyle would further reduce the average daily energy expenditure. Specific cultural perceptions may also encourage obesity. The 'double burden' of disease that has been created threatens to overwhelm the health services in Namibia. In this paper, we document reports on nutritional inequality internationally, and in Namibia specifically, and propose a research strategy to address the burden of the coexistence of under nutrition and obesity in Namibia. The paper documents a useful starting point for understanding the determinants of inequalities in nutritional status and provides some understanding of the causes of inequalities in nutritional status as well as the factors responsible for inequalities in health and nutritional status of individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract To determine the prevalence of pathogenic bacteria in street vended ready-to-eat meats in Windhoek, Namibia, a total of 96 street vended ready to eat meat samples were evaluated. Prevalences of 42%, 52%, 15%, 6% and 83% were observed for Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , Listeria monocytogenes , Shigella and Enterobacteriaceae respectively, while the highest aerobic plate counts were 7.74 Log 10 cfu/g, 5.67 Log 10 cfu/g, 5.12 Log 10 cfu/g , 4.56 Log 10 cfu/g, 3.3 Log 10 cfu/g, 5.75 Log 10 cfu/g respectively. Unsatisfactory microbial levels were 32% for aerobic plate count, 26% for Enterobacteriaceae , 35% for Escherichia coli , 11% for Listeria monocytogenes , 7% for Staphylococcus aureus and 6% for Shigella. Salmonella was detected in 11% and 40% of samples from two suburbs. The unsatisfactory microbiological quality of some ready-to-eat meats necessitates the provision of training on food safety and hygiene to street vendors for consumer protection. Highlights • Prevalences of L. monocytogenes , S. aureus , E. coli and Enterobacteriaceae determined in street vended ready to eat meats. • Detection of potentially hazardous Salmonella and Shigella , posing health risks. • Determined unsatisfactory levels of E. coli are indicative of likelihood of presence of pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]