Effects of gabergic phenols on the dynamic and structure of lipid bilayers: A molecular dynamic simulation approach

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the vertebrate and invertebrate nervous system. GABAA receptors are activated by GABA and their agonists, and modulated by a wide variety of recognized drugs, including barbiturates, anesthetics, and benzodiazepines. The phenols propofol, thymol, chlorothymol, carvacrol and eugenol act as positive allosteric modulators on GABAA-R receptor. These GABAergic phenols interact with the lipid membrane, therefore, their anesthetic activity could be the combined result of their specific activity (with receptor proteins) as well as nonspecific interactions (with surrounding lipid molecules) modulating the supramolecular organization of the receptor environment. Therefore, we aimed to contribute to a description of the molecular events that occur at the membrane level as part of the mechanism of general anesthesia, using a molecular dynamic simulation approach. Equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations indicate that the presence of GABAergic phenols in a DPPC bilayer orders lipid acyl chains for carbons near the interface and their effect is not significant at the bilayer center. Phenols interacts with the polar interface of phospholipid bilayer, particularly forming hydrogen bonds with the glycerol and phosphate group. Also, potential of mean force calculations using umbrella sampling show that propofol partition is mainly enthalpic driven at the polar region and entropic driven at the hydrocarbon chains. Finally, potential of mean force indicates that propofol partition into a gel DPPC phase is not favorable. Our in silico results were positively contrasted with previous experimental data.Fil: Miguel, Virginia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Villarreal, Marcos Ariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, Daniel Asmed. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; Argentin

Event-Triggered Control for a Three DoF Manipulator Robot

In the classical approach of Time-Triggered Control (TTC),  the control signal is updated  at  each  sampling  time  as  well  as  the  system  states  to  be  controlled,  which could imply a redundancy in the computational calculation as well as in the transfer of information in the regulation objective. On the other hand, the Event-Triggered Control (ETC) approach performs the same task in an asynchronous way, i.e,, it only updates the control signal when a performance requirement is violated and the states are updated at each sampling time. This reduces the amount of computational calculation without affecting the performance of the closed loop system. For this reason, in the present work the ETC is developed for the stabilization of a manipulator robot with three Degree of Freedom (DoF) in the joint space where a Lyapunov Control Function (LCF) is proposed to formulate the event function (e¯), which indicates whether or not  is required  the  control  signal  updating.  Simulation results show the reduction of the updates compared with a TTC

The critical factors of the medical technology supply chains in the European healthcare sector: a pilot study

This pilot study strives to reach a more complete understanding of the key features of the medical technology supply chains in the European healthcare sector by contributing to the empirical foundation of the concept and employs a qualitative research design with structured interviews as the primary data collection technique. The target of this research is to identify the critical supply chain management factors in the medtech supply chain, in order for stakeholders participating in it to be able to identify which areas of improvement need to be addressed during the design and implementation of their supply chain strategies

A framework for technology selection to support sales and operations planning in German medical technology organisations

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) of the German medical technology sector are being challenged with competition from low-wage countries. Considering the importance of Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) in these organisations, the current trend of Smart Manufacturing (Industry 4.0), and the dearth of empirical research on both medical technology supply chains and technology-selection processes, this paper presents the outcomes of an action research (AR) study to develop and practically test a technology-selection framework to support S&OP from both intra-organisational and inter-organisational perspectives. The cooperation with the case organisation provided insights into the operational issues faced by the organisation during its implementation

Critical success factors of German medical technology supply chains

This paper investigates Critical Success Factors (CSFs) that affect the performance of organisations involved in medical technology supply chains (MTSCs) in Germany. German medical technology is an innovative and fast-growing industry, which is currently under pressure to reduce costs. This paper presents an exploratory research involving a multiple case study. Six, prioritised CSFs for OEMs within MTSCs that include sales and operations planning, product development process, as well as quality and compliance were identified through empirical research. These findings challenge existing assumptions about CSFs within MTSCs, providing practitioners with strategies that should help to improve operational performance of OEMs

Critical success factors of medical technology supply chains

This paper investigates Critical Success Factors that affect the performance of organisations involved in Medical Technology supply chains (MTSCs) in Germany. The Medical Technology sector in Germany is considered an innovative, fast-growing and promising industry, being third behind the USA and China as the biggest market in the world, worth 29.9 billion euros in 2017. MTSCs in this country are under pressure from health service funding and cheaper imports, primarily from China. Consequently, supply chain success is of high importance and OEM operational improvements are critical. This exploratory study involved a multiple case study approach where 15 OEMs within German MTSCs were investigated. Following within-case and cross-case analysis, empirical results led to the development of testable propositions, which constitute a foundation for further research investigation. The findings show that there are six, prioritised Critical Success Factors for MTSCs that include sales and operations planning, product development process, and quality and compliance. These findings challenge existing assumptions about Critical Success Factors within MTSCs, providing practitioners with strategies showing that re-prioritised CSFs should improve operational performance of OEMs

Child Body Fat and Body Mass Index: Which Determinants are Most Important?

The purpose of this study was to examine child and parent determinants of children’s body fat percentage (BF%) along with their body mass index percentile (BMIp). Children’s BF% and BMIp auger lifelong health risks when elevated, and one in five children are affected. Participants (N = 135) included 62% female children; 50.7% Caucasian, 31.7% Hispanic, and 8.5% African American. Children were aged 9–15 years (2% underweight, 47.9% normal weight, 19.7% overweight, and 24.6% obese). Parent BMI average was 30.67 (1.4% underweight, 20.4% normal weight, 23.9% overweight, 40% obese, and 7% extreme obesity); 77.5% of the participating parents were mothers. Following multiple imputations, path analyses were conducted of child and parent determinants of children’s BF% and BMIp. Children’s BF% and BMIp were related to parents’ concern about overweight and children’s perception of that concern. For children of overweight or obese parents, who are at highest risk for obesity, assessing the parents’ concern is the highest priority

Women in the area of health and science on the border of Mexico between Tamaulipas and Texas

Background: The border region between Mexico and Texas configures the space of binational, industrial, commercial and mercantile development, with great business openness on both sides of the border, where the cultural environment is marked by the altered way in which people develop on the border, where the man mostly exercises professional profiles related in the manufacturing maquiladoras area, industrial park, etc. while women are configured as professionals mostly in the area of health services, education and others, but within this space women make their way to science within the development of scientific research, without being identified for the sake of the border, which are usually culturally not associated with the imaginary of the border. Knowing the incursion into this geographical region on both sides of the border, can strengthen and promote the development of women in science and scientific developments, but on addressing the gender gaps in this sector that can also be addressed binationally. Case presentation: One of the main reasons why we want to participate, is due to the need to expose the professional practice of women in the area of health who live in the region of the border border formed between Reynosa, Tamaulipas and the Texas Valley towards Science. With the aim of transmitting the way in which the female gender stands out in the areas of scientific research within the national system of researchers and the gaps of opportunity for early training towards science in the border of Tamaulipas. We consider important the dissemination of information within the event, given that the research and development tasks in science in the border area is developed by women breaking professional stereotypes, but also promoting the path to training in science in early training. Conclusions: Women currently form part of 30% of the total number of researchers in the world, Mexico the participation of women in science is 37%, in the national system of researchers in Mexico there are 33, 166 women in the various areas of knowledge, distinguishes the percentage of women in activities dedicated to health in (medicine) , public health, ext.) In the mexican Republic and even more in the border territoriality in Tamaulipas, it will allow to know and distinguish the gender gaps for the strengthening of the border entity