Executive function and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in Ugandan children with perinatal HIV exposure

Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is among the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders in childhood and is associated with substantial deficits in executive functioning and lost academic and occupational attainment. This study evaluates symptoms of ADHD and their association with neurocognitive deficits in a cohort of rural Ugandan children who were born to HIV-infected mothers. Methods: We assessed ADHD symptoms and executive function (including memory and attention) in a non-clinical sample of children born to HIV-infected mothers in rural eastern Uganda. Analyses included assessments of the psychometric properties, factor structure, and convergent and discriminant validity of the ADHD measure (ADHD-Rating Scale-IV); and executive function deficits in children meeting symptom criteria for ADHD. Results: 232 children [54% female; mean age 7.8 years (S.D. 2.0)] were assessed for ADHD and executive function deficits. The ADHD measure showed good internal consistency (α = 0.85.) Confirmatory factor analysis showed an acceptable fit for the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5) two-factor model. Subjects meeting DSM-5 symptom criteria for ADHD had worse parent-rated executive function on six out of seven subscales. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate structural validity of the ADHD measure with this population, strong associations between ADHD symptom severity and poorer executive function, and higher levels of executive function problems in perinatally HIV-exposed Ugandan children with ADHD. These findings suggest that ADHD may be an important neurocognitive disorder associated with executive function problems among children in sub-Saharan African settings where perinatal HIV exposure is common

A Feature Model for an IDE4OCL

An Integrated OCL Development Environment (IDE4OCL) can significantly improve the pragmatics and practice of OCL. Therefore we started a comprehensive requirement analysis with the long term vision of a multisite IDE4OCL project. In this paper we present a feature model for the IDE4OCL vision based on this analysis. In an earlier work we identified domain concepts, tool–level interactions with IDE4OCL, and use cases for OCL developers including a set predefined features. In the second step, we asked the OCL community members for their feedback on our proposal. Around 100 researchers, tool developers and practitioners who gained experience with OCL have voted in an online–survey. The results gave us a valuable insight in the needs of OCL usage both in usual and advanced OCL applications. One of the important results is a collection of features that have been proposed additionally to our predefined features. We analysed all the comments of the participants of the survey and consolidated them into an extended set of IDE4OCL features and eventually into a feature model

Hypogammaglobulinemia in sub-Saharan Africa: a case report and review of the literature

Patients with hypogammaglobulinemia are susceptible to recurrent bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections. The most common clinical manifestation includes recurrent severe infections caused by encapsulated bacteria, in which antibody opsonization is the primary defense mechanism. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of hypogammaglobulinemia in a Ugandan child in Sub-Saharan Africa. The case emphasizes the importance of including hypogammaglobulinemia in the differential diagnosis for children presenting with a history of recurrent infections.Aim: To raise the index of clinical suspicion of hypogammaglobulinemia in an African child and allow for prompt recognition and management of hypogammaglobulinemia.Keywords: hypogammaglobulinemia, recurrent infections, Ugand

Use of OCL in a Model Assessment Framework: An experience report

In a model assessment framework different quality aspects can be examined. In our approach we consider consistency and perceived semantic quality. The former can be supported by constraints and the later by queries. Consistency can be checked automatically, while for the semantic quality the human judgement is necessary. For constraint and query definitions the utilisation of a query language was necessary. We present a case study that evaluates the expressiveness of the Object Constraint Language (OCL) in the context of our approach. We focus on typical queries required by our methodology and we showed how they can be formulated in OCL. To take full advantage of the languageâs expressiveness, we utilise new features of OCL 2.0. Based on our examination we decided to use OCL in our analysis tool and we designed an architecture based on Eclipse Modeling Framework Technology

The significance of log and boulder steps for diversification of fluvial sediments characteristics in a stream channel in a small forest catchment in the Polish Carpathians

The study presents the diversification of sediments deposited on log (LS), boulder (BS) and mixed-type (LBS) steps located in the channel of a stream in a small forest mountain catchment in the Polish Carpathians. The topic of sediment diversification in a stream channel is an important issue not only from the perspective of sediment transport process and shaping fluvial systems in forested catchments caused by woody or rock debris but also in the context of functioning of local ecosystems. We aimed to test the following hypothesis: the morphodynamic features of a stream channel and the type of steps therein significantly affect the diversification of the size and shape of mineral deposits and play an important role in the process of sediments transport and processing in the channels of small mountain streams. In order to verify the above hypothesis, sediments were sampled directly from the stream channel (Ch) in its longitudinal profile as well as upstream and downstream of steps (LS, BS and LBS) in the channel. The diversification of features of sediment grain size was analysed taking into account step type and sediment location in the longitudinal profile of the stream channel. The research was conducted separately for fine-grained sandstone (A) and coarse-grained sandstone (B). In addition, the basic sedimentological indicators and the shape parameter of the gravels, as described by the Zingg method, were determined. In order to determine the transport predisposition of the sediments in a specific load, an analysis of sediment distribution was performed on the C/M (C-first percentile and M-median) diagram. The PCA (Principal component analysis) analysis showed that the step type significantly affects the processing as well as the size and shape diversification of mineral deposits, which confirms our hypothesis. Therefore, this study is a contribution to the current knowledge on fluvial processes occurring in stream channels in small forest mountain catchments

Р. LEU72MET MUTATION OF GHRELIN GHRL GENE IN CHILDREN WITH GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE

Gastroesophageal disease (GERD) is the one of most spread diseases that injures an esophagus. Taking into account the large number of factors that can cause GERD development already in child age, including genetic predisposition, it is necessary to analyze each of them in detail. Aim of this work was to analyze a frequency and possible association type of р. Leu72Met mutation of GHRL gene in children with gastroesophageal reflux disease. The analysis of clinical parameters and course of disease in the group of 100 schoolchildren with GERD was carried out. The molecular-genetic study of c.214C>A locus of GHRL gene by CPR method (rs696217) was carried out in patients with GERD and 40 healthy children from the control group. In 82% of children with GERD was revealed a GHRL 214СС (Leu/Leu) homozygous genotype, at 58% among children from the control group. GHRL 214СА (Leu/ Met) genotype was registered three times more seldom in children of the studied group comparing with ones from the control group: 15,0% and 42,5%, respectively. It was established, that GHRL 214CС genotype presence conditions the increase of GERD development risk in 3,4 times. On the contrary, GHRL 214CА genotype manifests a reliable protective effect that is essentially decreased GERD development risk in a child at such genotype – 0,24 comparing with a conventional unit. There was established alleles and genotypes distribution of c.214C>A (р.Leu72Met) locus of GHRL gene in children with GERD. GHRL 214CС genotype is associated with threefold increase of GERD risk development. Gender differences as to GERD development risk at different genotypes of ghrelin gene were established. At GHRL 214СС (Leu/Leu) genotype the relative GERD risk for boys increased in more than 6 times. There were not established any differences in alleles and genotypes distribution depending on erosive or surface inflammatory changes of a gastrointestinal tract mucosa