Simulation Helps Maxager Shorten Its Sales Cycle

Abstract

Magnesia partially stabilised zirconia (MgO-PSZ), a bioinert ceramic, exhibits high mechanical strength, excellent corrosion resistance and good biocompatibility, but it does not naturally form a direct bond with bone resulting in a lack of osteointegration. The surface properties and structure of a biomaterial play an essential role in protein adsorption. As such, changes in the surface properties and structure of biomaterials may in turn alter their bioactivity. So, the fundamental reactions at the interface of biomaterials and tissue should influence their integration and bone-bonding properties. To this end, CO2 laser radiation was used to modify the surface roughness, crystal size, phase and surface energy of the MgO-PSZ. The basic mechanisms active in improving the surface energy were analysed and found to be the phase change and augmented surface area. The adsorption of human serum albumin (HSA), which is a non-cell adhesive protein, was compared on the untreated and CO2 laser modified MgO-PSZ. It was observed that the thickness of the adsorbed HSA decreased as the polar surface energy of the MgO-PSZ increased, indicating that HSA adsorbed more effectively on the hydrophobic MgO-PSZ surface than the hydrophilic surface. The current study provided important information regarding protein-biomaterial interactions and possible mechanisms behind the cell interaction and in vivo behaviour.

Tying the pieces together: A normative framework for integrating sales and project operations

“…For creating the Qualified Prospects Pool, companies should select those customers for which the seller can most clearly demonstrate operating results. Empirical evidence shows that the ease and clarity with which a seller can demonstrate operating results for the client directly impacts the reduction of the sales cycle (Gavirneni, Morrice & Mullarkey, 2004), which, in turn, reduces costs for the seller and demonstrates value to the buyer. 3.…”

“…Second, market selection also should be heavily influenced by an organization's ability to demonstrate to customers that their projects will result in operational benefit to the customer (Cova & Salle, 2005;Gavirneni et al, 2004;Shenhar, Dvir, Levy, & Maltz, 2001). Segmenting by results means that customer measures of problems are known by the seller and can be addressed by the seller's project solution (Anderson & Narus, 1998).…”