Saint Paul University

Climate change is redefining global agriculture through temperature swings, erratic rainfall, and frequent extreme events. According to the IPCC agricultural productivity growth in Sub-Saharan Africa has declined by approximately 5–6% due to climate warming, with maize yields particularly affected by temperatures exceeding 30–35 °C during critical growth stages. Smallholder farming communities face disproportionate vulnerability to intensifying climate hazards, yet knowledge regarding specific mechanisms through which climate variability affects smallholder maize producers—and evidence on adaptation strategy effectiveness—remains fragmented and methodologically limited. This is particularly concerning in Sub-Saharan Africa, where over 70% of maize producers experience high exposure and sensitivity alongside low adaptive capacity. This scoping review assessed gaps in empirical research on climate change impacts and adaptation responses among smallholder maize producers in LMICs. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search identified 86 peer-reviewed articles published between 2008 and 2025 and indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, and AGRICOLA. After removing duplicates using Zotero and excluding qualitative-only studies, grey literature, studies with undefined outcome variables, and those without inferential statistics, 38 empirical peer reviewed articles employing quantitative or mixed method were analyzed using descriptive statistics in Microsoft Excel. The analysis revealed three main outcome variables: adaptation strategies (70.3%, n = 26), perception (21.6%, n = 8), and climate awareness (8.1%, n = 3). Geographically, studies concentrated heavily in Ethiopia (19%), Ghana (19%), and Zimbabwe (14%), while South Africa, Lesotho, Nigeria, Tanzania, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DRC, Eswatini, and Kenya each accounted for less than 10%, revealing clear research bias. Cross-sectional research design dominated ( n = 32, 86%), followed by exploratory design ( n = 4, 11%) and longitudinal design ( n = 1, 3%). Regarding theoretical frameworks, 28% of studies lacked any framework, 20% employed random utility maximization theory, and 52% drew on 13 other theories including adaptive capability, expected utility, protection motivation, socioecological system, and vulnerability theory— each accounting for 4%. Notably, no study incorporated moderation variables. The review reveals that while adaptation behaviors are well-documented, empirical evidence quantifying actual climate impacts on productivity, income, and awareness remains scarce. Future research should prioritize impact studies evaluating scalable interventions and utilize robust resilience metrics to strengthen smallholder maize systems.

In recent decades, awareness of sexual violence against men has grown, yet research and services remain limited compared to those addressing women’s experiences. This qualitative study examined how male survivors in Canada navigate social connection, masculinity, and resilience following sexual violence. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, in-depth interviews were conducted with three men aged 40–70 who experienced sexual abuse beginning in childhood. The analysis generated six experiential themes—Nature of the Abuse, Impacts of the Abuse, Breaking the Silence, Healing Journey, Victim versus Survivor, and Life Today—alongside a central theme, Words of Wisdom, which captured survivors’ efforts to transform suffering into meaning and connection. Findings highlight how stigma, silence, and masculine norms disrupted trust and disclosure, while peer support, spirituality, and redefined understandings of masculinity fostered relational recovery. Although situated in Canada, the study offers broader insights into how men negotiate vulnerability, identity, and connection after sexual violence. These findings underscore the importance of relational, survivor-centred approaches in therapy, community support, and policy.

Given the proliferation of self-quantification technologies in running over the last few years, our research seeks to fill a significant gap by studying the relationship of elite runners with these self-tracking technologies. More specifically, this article explores the technical, corporeal, and relational dimensions of the use of smartwatches by the population of elite athletes in Quebec. Drawing on the theoretical framework of carnal sociology, and based on a qualitative methodology of 18 mobile interviews conducted during runs, our study reveals that the integration of smartwatches is a process that unfolds in two primary, chronological phases. The first phase of “becoming digital” is characterized by an initial importance attributed to data from smartwatches, where numbers take precedence over bodily sensations, relegating the sensory signals of the lived body to the background. The second phase entails a progressive reconnection to the body, marked by a continual interplay between data and sensations. Beyond this individual trajectory, our results also highlight the central role of the socializing framework. The coach and training group act as essential mediators who contextualize, embody, and at times question the data, thereby actively contributing to the co-construction of this lived data. In conclusion, our research shows that the adoption of technology by elite runners is not a purely individual process, but a socially developed skill, in which the body, the self-quantification tool, and the social environment interact to produce a more holistic form of embodied knowledge, refining and complexifying the data/sensations relationship.

Alzheimers Disease (AD) is characterized by the aggregation of amyloid beta (A) peptides, particularly A42, into toxic oligomers and fibrils. Polyphenols, natural compounds with low toxicity and good permeability across the blood-brain barrier, have shown promise in inhibiting A aggregation; however, their mechanisms remain unclear. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we investigated the interactions of six polyphenolsapigenin, catechin, curcumin, EGCG, nobiletin, and resveratrolwith the A42 pentamer, analyzing binding positions, residue contacts, and binding affinities. Binding free energy calculations revealed EGCG and nobiletin as the most effective, with strong binding affinities and the ability to disrupt A aggregates. Detailed structural analyses identified hydrogen bonding with the peptide backbone and hydrophobic interactions with side-chain residues as key mechanisms driving the stable binding. EGCG, with its high hydroxyl group content and strong hydrophobic interactions, emerged as the top candidate. Direct dimer assembly simulations confirmed EGCGs ability to inhibit A42 aggregation by reducing inter-peptide hydrogen bonding and suppressing secondary structure formation. These findings provide insights for designing optimized polyphenol-based therapeutics to combat AD, advancing the development of effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.

I attended the March 2024 ecumenical conference in Assisi online in my capacity as the Mennonite Church Canada representative to the Consultation on Common Texts. 1 The positive energy around introducing the feast was palpable-even on Zoom, even at 5:00 am! Personally, as someone who serves as the Director of Anglican Studies at a Roman Catholic university, and whose tradition of origin and ordination is Mennonite, I am grateful for the ecumenical nature of this initiative and its potential to speak into my context, where "transformative leadership for the well-being of the planet" is one of three university priorities.In my brief time today, I will address the feast from two perspectives: a Free Church perspective, and from the perspective of ordinary worshipers. A Free Church PerspectiveHow might Free Church traditions-such as Mennonites, Baptists, Evangelicals, and Pentecostals-relate to a potential Feast of Creation? 2 I must acknowledge upfront that Free Churches are likely to be followers rather than leaders in this ecumenical endeavor.This is certainly the case for Mennonite Church Canada and USA, where we face three challenges that are shared with many other Free Church traditions.

School absenteeism across the globe has risen dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic. Literature indicates that children and youth of all ages are struggling to attend school regularly, leading to problematic outcomes both concurrently and across time. As well, research demonstrates that children and youth who experience mental health challenges are at greater risk of increased school absenteeism rates. The present study investigated the school attendance patterns of Canadian children and youth and the longitudinal and bidirectional links with mental health challenges within the COVID-19 pandemic context. The study sample consisted of 72 children and youth, using parent reports. Parents were asked to complete an online questionnaire which included questions about the demographic characteristics of themselves and their child, their child's school attendance patterns, and their child's mental health challenges. Preliminary descriptive statistics were run in relation to school absenteeism. Two separate path analyses were conducted to determine the longitudinal links between school absenteeism and mental health (split into externalizing and internalizing behaviours) across two timepoints (Time 1 [T1]: Fall 2022, Time 2 [T2]: Spring 2023). These analyses indicated concurrent links between mental health difficulties and school absenteeism. Importantly, path analyses also showed that absenteeism at T1 predicted poorer mental health at T2, indicating that school absenteeism may be one of the driving factors in the causal relationship. A bidirectional effect was found between externalizing behaviours at T1 and absenteeism rates at T2. The reasons for school absenteeism were examined across each time point and for both the externalizing and internalizing groups separately. The present study highlights the complex interplay between mental health and school absenteeism in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides avenues for effective intervention to better support children and youth struggling with mental health and school absenteeism.

In an era where ‘social innovation’ is often used as a buzzword, this book challenges readers to rethink its true potential for addressing the systemic roots of our most pressing social and environmental crises. The authors present a practical and visionary approach to social innovation and provide a comprehensive set of tools and strategies for transformative change, rooted in a critical and emancipatory perspective. By balancing rigorous theoretical insights with actionable strategies, the book empowers and inspires readers in their efforts to confront social and environmental injustices and build the skills needed to drive meaningful and effective social change. This is a call to action for anyone seeking to challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of what is possible in creating a just and sustainable world.

This letter responds to "'Please Baptize My Son': The Case against Baptizing a Dying, Unconscious Atheist," by Tate Shepherd and Michael Redinger, and "The Case for Baptizing a Dying, Unconscious Atheist," by Abram Brummett and Nelson Jones, in the January-February 2025 issue of the Hastings Center Report.