Bt cotton has been cultivated in China for a decade. Studies have been conducted to assess theimpact on productivity and pesticide use. Limitations of these studies are the short time period considered and the reliability of data. This paper presents findings from monitoring 150 Bt cotton farmers in Shandong province in 2002 and 2005. Descriptive analysis reveals that pesticide use increased while seed price and Bt toxin concentration decreased. The Bt variable was consistently insignificant in the estimated production function with damage control specification and a fixed effects model. There is indication that poor standards in Bt varieties have caused this result. Due to market imperfections and emergence of a largely unregulated seed market for genetically modified crops, Bt toxin levels may be below the threshold required to effectively control target pests. Furthermore, rising cotton prices may have created additional incentive to increase pesticide applications. The emergence of secondary pests calls for further in-depth studies that should include local agro-ecological conditions. Our results indicate that farmers with more experience in Bt cotton cultivation apply less pesticides, confirming the findings of other studies that farmer knowledge and understanding of the Bt technology is an important condition for its success.

Background Gender role non-conforming behaviors are a significant risk factor for school-related violence. The objective of this study is to describe the types, prevalence and correlates of social violence among Thai secondary school students, with a focus on gender role nonconformity. Methods This article uses secondary data from a national study of 2070 secondary school students aged 13-20 years representing Bangkok and all four regions of Thailand. Students were asked about their gender/sexual identity, self-perception of their masculinity or femininity, and experiences of social violence. Correlates of social violence were examined using multivariable logistic regression models. Results Prevalence of social violence victimization was high (57%). Most students considered themselves to be as masculine or as feminine as other members of their sex (82.6%), while 9.1% thought that they were less masculine/less feminine, and 8.3% thought they were more masculine/more feminine. Students who considered themselves less masculine or less feminine than others of their sex (AOR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.13, 2.25) were more likely to experience social violence, compared to students who considered themselves equally masculine/ feminine. Students who self-identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) (AOR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.86) were also more likely to experience social violence, compared to students who did not identify as LGBT. However, students who considered PLOS ONE |

Our data demonstrate that the clinically relevant cardiotoxicity of domperidone and metoclopramide corresponds to a rather potent and local anesthetic-like inhibition of cardiac Na channels including Nav1.5. These data suggest that Nav1.5 might be a hitherto unrecognized molecular mechanism of some cardiovascular side effects, for example, malignant arrhythmias of prokinetic and antiemetic agents.

Introduction Foreign body (FB) aspiration is a frequent and preventable source of morbidity and mortality, especially in children under 4 years of age. Few comprehensive studies exist on presentation and outcome of apple aspirations in children. Methods In a retrospective analysis of bronchoscopy records of a tertiary medical care center from January 2007 to August 2019, we identified pediatric cases of suspected apple aspirations. Results A total of 11 suspected apple aspirations were identified (observation time 12.7 years, n = 5858 bronchoscopies, n = 226 interventions due to suspected FB aspirations in total). The mean age of patients was 24 months (standard error mean, 7 months; range, 8‐83 months), and 6 out of 11 cases (55%) were male. Bronchoscopy confirmed apple aspiration in n = 6/11 cases (55%). In n = 2/11 cases (18%), a bite of the apple was located in the esophagus causing significant tracheal narrowing, and in n = 3/11 cases (27%), no FB was found. In all cases of airway FB identification, extraction was successful. Hypersalivation was associated with esophageal FB location, whereas persistent cough, stridor, or dyspnea were associated with airway FB location. Outcomes ranged from complete reconstitution 1 day after bronchoscopy in most cases to hypoxemia with severe brain damage in one patient. Discussion This analysis shows that apple aspirations are not entirely uncommon in children and may lead to disastrous complications. Typical signs of airway location are persistent cough, stridor or dyspnea, whereas hypersalivation may point toward an esophageal location. In each case of suspected apple aspiration, timely bronchoscopy with possible FB extraction should be performed by an experienced team.