3. Biomaterials for bone tissue-engineering Essay

3. Biomaterials for bone tissue-engineering - Essay Example Osseointegration means the ability to integrate into surrounding bones. The ideal condition is that the tissue should be reabsorbed and may be even replaced by the body’s own regenerated biological tissues. Bioactive inorganic materials like tricalcium phosphate, HA, bioactive glasses have a large capacity to be re-absorbed. This is definitely one of the positive points of inorganic materials. But the main problem is their brittle nature. This brittle nature means that the fracture toughness of the bones cannot b matched by these materials and thus is not ideal for picking heavy loads. Polymers such as collagen and hyaluronic acid are polymers which are interesting options for the use (Seeherman H, 2008).However they have weak mechanical properties and provide a possible risk of diseases if there is poor handling. Hydrogels are the kind of polymers which are creating great buzz about their use. They have many advantages including the one that chemical biofunctionalisation and cell encapsulation and delivery are very straightforward. In order for the biomaterial to be like a real bone the toughness of a polymer needs to be combined with the compressive strength of an inorganic material (Hollinger, 2004). This improves their mechanical properties and degradation profiles. Once the adequate biodegradable polymer has been selected the next step is to find a suitable processing technique. The processing methodology must not adversely affect the biocompatibility or the chemical properties of the chosen materials. Through the years a variety of processing techniques have been developed. Some of them will be discussed here by us. Solvent casting /Particulate Leaching – This method consists of dispersing calibrated materials such as sodium chloride or organic materials like saccharine particles in a polymer solution. The dispersion is processed after this either by casting or by using the method of freeze drying which results in

Cross cultural issues in international business Essay

Cross cultural issues in international business - Essay Example Intense competition at the global level therefore requires that firms should effectively manage their cross cultural team work most efficiently. Failure to do so may create more problems for the firms and may ultimately result into the downfall of the firms. It has been suggested that working in an environment which is diverse in nature pose significant challenges for the firms to overcome those obstacles and operate with same level of efficiency and competitiveness they usually perform with in their local markets. AB Volvo is a Swedish Manufacturer of trucks, buses, construction equipment and cars. It also offers marine systems and financial services in different markets thus diversifying itself at product as well as at market level. Being one of the well-known global brands for trucks, Volvo Track, its brand for trucks, has been setting a manufacturing plant in China. This paper will discuss and explore the cross cultural management issues for Volvo in Chinese market. VOLVO  œ A Brief Introduction AB Volvo is a Swedish Manufacturer of Trucks, buses and cars and has been operating in European market. It also offers financial services in markets where it operates thus have been diversifying itself into different products and markets. The company was officially formulated in 1927 when it rolled out its first car and since then has really transformed itself as one of the leading manufacturers of trucks in the world. It operates various business including Volvo Trucks, Mack Trucks, Renault, Volvo Construction Equipment, Financial services as well as other business segments. It has been manufacturing and exporting buses and trucks since 1930s and really became successful outside Sweden after the World War II. It has also been manufacturing marine engines and became one of the leading manufacturers of marine engines in the world. Over the period of time, the firm has either acquired new businesses or sold its existing business. Firm sold its car business back in 1999 to Ford Motors. This sell out was considered as necessary to refocus the firm’s business strategy on the production and marketing of commercial vehicles only. It has now proved itself as one of the leading manufacturers of Trucks and Buses at the global level. It has also decided to set up its manufacturing facilities in China with the aim to capture the Chinese market as well as set up the base to serve Asian market. Volvo in China China represents one of the most important markets for Volvo as it anticipates selling more trucks in the future in Chinese market. Though there are already other foreign and local players in the market however, the firm is expecting an increase in its sales of trucks in the Chinese market. Apart from the truck business, Volvo Cars have also been purchased by a Chinese manufacturer from Ford Motors Co however it has been hard for the Chinese firm to establish the factories and start the production on normal footings in order to get a footh old in the Chinese markets. China being culturally and linguistically different country however, also offers significant cross cultural management issues also. From managing employee relations, customer services to having relationship with the government officials, China pose a