Monday 30 November 2015

Promoting and Encouraging Family Planning Activities Fuels Contraceptives Market

The best way to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases among men and women, and unintended pregnancies among women and teenagers is to use effective contraceptives and birth control. Depending upon the correct and consistent use of contraceptive pills, shots, rings, and patches, and barrier, fertility awareness-based, and hormonal options, the chances of preventing STDs and unplanned pregnancies are quite high.

Even though the contraceptives market is a large one, it has been growing at a rather modest rate. According to Transparency Market Research, the global contraceptives market is anticipated to register a 3.10% CAGR from 2014 to 2020, expanding from a value of US$15.7 bn in 2013 to US$19.6 bn in 2020.

Let’s take a look at some of the major developments in the contraceptives market that made news this month.


New Law in Two US States Allows Sale of Contraceptives without Doctor Visit 

Women in Oregon and California will soon be able to purchase birth control without getting a prescription from a doctor. By presenting necessary information to a pharmacist in the form of a questionnaire regarding their medical history, contraceptives such as patches, pills, and rings will be sold to women in these two US states. The new law is designed to make contraceptives more convenient and affordable to women and address the increasing rates of unintended pregnancies. According an article in the New York Times, an estimated 3.3 million annual pregnancies in the US are unintended. Those advocating the new law are planning to convince other states to adopt similar proposals.

Women in World’s Poorest Countries Report Unprecedented Use of Modern Contraceptives 

A report released by Family Planning 2020 in the second week of November reveals that more number of girls and women in the world’s poorest countries have been voluntarily using modern contraceptives to delay or avoid a pregnancy. Since 2012, there have been an additional 24.4 million women and girls using contraceptives. This has resulted in the averting of 111,000 maternal deaths, 26.8 million unsafe abortions, and 80 million unintended pregnancies. These numbers indicate the progress these countries have made in enabling women to access family planning methods. 

Oral Contraceptives May Reduce Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

A new study shows that patients of rheumatoid arthritis who take oral contraceptives are likely to witness a reduction in their symptoms. The pill may help quell severe swelling, pain, stiffness, and inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis. A professor at Germany’s University Hospital Regensburg and one of the authors of the study, Dr. Rainer Straub said that oral contraceptives could work because they locally affect the central nervous system. Arthritis Research UK stresses on the strong link between hormones and arthritis, which forms the basis of this study.    


The global contraceptives market is characterized by the presence of strong players such as Reckitt Benckiser plc, CooperSurgical, Inc., Bayers AG, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Pfizer, Inc., Actavis, Inc., Church & Dwight, Co., Inc., The Female Health Company, Merck & Co., Inc., and Mayer Laboratories, Inc.

Global Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market to Reach US$17.1 bn by 2023 owing to Increased Incidence of Type 1 Diabetes

The global autoimmune disease diagnostics market stood at US$12.3 bn in 2014 and is predicted to reach US$17.1 bn by 2023, growing at a 3.80% CAGR. The increased number of people diagnosed with diabetes is expected to propel the global autoimmune disease diagnostics market during the forecast period. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the patient’s body severely. 


Rising Prevalence of Type 1 Diabetes to Boost Global Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market

Recently, a few infants in Ontario were diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a rampant autoimmune disease. Classic symptoms of type 1 diabetes, such as rapidly losing weight, difficulty in chewing, and frequent visits to the bathroom were seen in the infants. Some of the infants were treated at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). In the following weeks and months, their parents also attended education and training sessions at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario to learn all about how to test blood glucose levels, count carbohydrates, adjust insulin doses, and manage the daily diet for people or kids diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. 

As per recently released reports from the Canadian Institute of Health, Canada has the highest number of people diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. In Canada, currently, there are more than 9 mn people living with Type 1 diabetes. 

Other factors such as rising healthcare expenditure, technical advances in diagnostic services, and increasing demand for autoimmune disease diagnostics are expected to propel the global autoimmune disease diagnostics market during the forecast period. As per the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA), 50 mn U.S. citizens are affected with various types of autoimmune diseases. Slow turnaround time is predicted to restrict the growth of the global autoimmune disease diagnostics market in the years to come. However, increasing automation in laboratories and diagnostic procedures is expected to propel the global autoimmune disease diagnostics market during the forecast period. 

North America Set to Continue Dominance in Global Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market

The global autoimmune disease diagnostics market is segmented on the basis of test type, disease type, and geography. Based on geography, the global autoimmune disease diagnostics market is divided into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and rest of the World. In 2014, in terms of revenue, North America led the global autoimmune disease diagnostics market, accounting for 39.0% of the total market. North America was followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. Large untapped opportunities, increasing occurrence of autoimmune diseases, and improved healthcare infrastructure will drive the global autoimmune disease diagnostics market in years to come. Abbott Laboratories, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., bioMerieux, Siemens Healthcare, and Beckman Coulter, Inc. are some of the prominent players in the global autoimmune disease diagnostics market.   


By disease type, the global autoimmune disease diagnostics market is classified into Type 1 diabetes, Graves’ disease, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Hashimotos’s thyroiditis, multiple sclerosis, and others. In terms of revenue, rheumatoid arthritis dominated the global autoimmune disease diagnostics market in 2014. 

Winds of Change: More than 30% of New Energy in U.S. Coming From Wind Power

The years of relentless research and development in the sector of wind power have made the industry highly sophisticated in the United States. According to a recent report released by the U.S. Department of Energy examining the overall state of clean energy technologies in the country, the swiftly rising stake of wind power in the country’s overall energy mix is highlighted. The report states that between 2008 and 2014, wind power accounted for a 31% share in the overall new power generation capacity added in the country. As of 2014, utility-scale onshore wind power production projects deployed across 39 states of the country had a combined capacity of more than 65,000 MW – enough to meet the electricity needs of more than 16 mn households. Projects that would add another 13,000 MW capacity were under construction by the first quarter of 2015.


The Rise and Rise of Wind Power in the U.S.

Wind power contributes to nearly 4.4% of the total electricity generated in the U.S. and the continuous upsurge in wind power generation capacity has yielded significant benefits for the country – it has reduced the annual water consumption of the country by more than 36 bn gallons and the annual carbon dioxide emissions by more than 115 mn metric tons. The U.S. currently ranks second in terms of cumulative wind power generation capacity. 23 states in the U.S. have nearly 500 MW of onshore wind power projects installed, and wind power exceeds 10% of the overall in-state electricity generation capacity in nine states. 

Continued advancements in technology and the development of taller wind towers with longer blades and advanced turbines are making wind power more cost-competitive and efficient in the country. The U.S. DoE projects that owing to these developments, the wind power output of the country could rise by 67%.

Sustained Investments Aimed at Improving Wind Technology Pave Way to Cheaper Wind Power in the Country

Multiple factors, such as the DoE’s sustained investments in wind power for honing the technology and enabling the development of longer blades and taller turbines, and the installation of new transmission projects, have led to a significant reduction in wind power prices in the country over the past few years. From 7 cents per kWh in 2009 to an average of 2.4 cents per kWh in 2014, the sector of wind power has transformed into one of the most cost-effective power sources in the country. The excellent positioning of projects in the central part of the country is also a factor why wind power prices have become so affordable.


The rising coordination between grid operators and wind power producers has also improved the ability of the grid to accept higher levels of wind power. Federal policies are also assisting the increased deployment of investments in the U.S. wind power sector. Together, these attempts are assisting the development of the wind energy market in the U.S. and making wind power a larger contributor in the rapidly transforming U.S. energy production portfolio. With the favorable regulatory scenario, a continuous rise in investments for R&D activities, and newer projects being deployed on a regular basis, it will be no surprise if wind power accounts for the projected 20% share in the country’s overall electricity consumption by 2030.

Rising Need for Energy Drives Global Plastics to Oil Market

The inevitable march of the world towards urbanization and industrialization has produced many boons for mankind, but it has also created one of the greatest evils mankind has had to face: plastics and, more importantly, plastic waste.

Plastics are organic polymers that have gained massive popularity in the modern world due to their flexibility of application and design. They can be molded into virtually any shape imaginable, they are largely inert to chemicals, and provide excellent barrier properties against moisture, thermal radiation, dirt, etc. Due to these properties, plastics are commonly used in various applications, such as in construction, packaging, furniture, and toys.

However, the widespread usage of plastics, particularly in applications that almost necessarily entail the creation of waste materials, such as packaging, has resulted in growing volumes of plastic waste. Even though most plastics are nominally organic polymers, they are not biodegradable. This causes plastic waste to accumulate in dumping sites, causing pollution. Recycling plastic is a feasible solution of disposing of plastic waste, since plastic is moldable into various shapes and durable, but the conversion of plastic waste into oil has emerged in recent years as a promising solution to get rid of plastic waste.


Availability of Recycling Avenues Driving Plastics to Oil Market in China, Japan

Asia Pacific giants China and Japan are among the largest consumers of plastics on a global level, in addition to being home to the 2nd and 3rd largest consumer markets in the world (in 2013, according to the UN Statistics Division). This leads to massive volumes of plastic waste. These two countries have among the largest plastic recycling systems in the world and have introduced it on a commercial level. Plastic waste from other countries such as India, Australia, and many African and Latin American countries is often sent to China for recycling.

The availability of cheap labor in these countries, particularly China, aids the recycled plastics and plastics to oil market, since significant manpower is needed to sort plastic waste before it is either recycled or converted into oil.

However, recycling practices in China have recently come under the scanner after it emerged earlier this year that China is responsible for up to 30% of the world’s plastic pollution in oceans.

Demand for Power Drives Plastics to Oil Market

The rising global population and the consequent hike in the demand for energy has fueled the demand for plastics to oil conversion. Since natural reserves of petroleum are dwindling and unconventional oil and gas extraction methods have gained momentum, the easy availability of petroleum through plastics hasn’t gone unnoticed. Plastics are made of petrochemicals and thus can be converted into usable petroleum fuels.

The rising demand for energy all over the world will continue to drive the global plastics to oil market in the coming years.

Enhanced Lifespan of Industrial Equipment Encourages Utilization of Specialty Coatings

The utilization of specialty coatings is touted as the formidable solution for optimal protection and aesthetics of industrial and commercial commodities. The use of specialty paint systems such as corrosion-resistant primers and coatings aids in extending the life of steel structures that have been developed to abide with industrial environmental mandates and to offer improved performance durability.

What Are Specialty Coatings?

Specialty coatings are meant for distinctive end use, such as in the ornamental iron industry, the electrostatic industry, and the propane industry, to name a few. The capabilities of these coatings lie in meeting the basic function of a topcoat, primer, or self-priming coat, and to deliver additional performance as required in specific applications. Additional benefits offered by specialty coatings include fire resistance, antireflection properties, sealing, enhanced corrosion protection, substrate compatibility, temporary screening and marking, and adhesively joining products, among others. 

The assortment of specialty coatings, which includes a wide selection of shades and industrial OEM finishes, are suitable for both onsite and shop floor painting needs. By the base material used in specialty coatings, epoxy, polyamide, alkyd, and acrylic urethane, among others, are the segments into which the specialty coating market is divided. The large variety of specialty coatings is utilized across industries such as OEM paint, refineries, petrochemical, power, railway, fireproofing, marine, oil and gas, aerospace and defense, pipeline, pulp and paper, water and wastewater, and architecture.
 

Specialty Coating Market –an Overview

In a recent study carried out by Transparency Market Research (TMR), analysts have charted the factors that will influence the growth of the specialty coating market in the coming years:

  • The consistent growth of the paint and coating industry, which is expected to rise at a CAGR of above 5.0% from 2015 to 2020, will be beneficial for the specialty coating market. The use of paints and coatings for industrial applications such as machinery, protective coating, automotive, and marine is boosting demand for specialty coatings. 
  • Specialty coatings are suitable for end uses such for water and wastewater treatment and piping systems, which are becoming increasingly important thanks to the ongoing rise in the global population. This will further open opportunities for growth of the specialty coating market. 
  • Increasing demand for coating solutions with improved durability and rheological properties, and longer shelf life will boost demand for specialty coatings.
  • In emerging economies, the burgeoning construction sector for both commercial and residential buildings will lead to the considerable growth of the specialty coating market.
  • Asia Pacific will dominate the specialty coating market in the foreseeable future. The region, being a manufacturing hub for top-notch electronics and automotive companies, will exhibit high demand for specialty paint and coating solutions. The growth of these industries in the region is related to economic development resulting in increasing per capita income, leading to increased affordability of superior feature commodities.
  • North America and Europe will exhibit moderate consumption of specialty coatings due to strict mandates to reduce carbon and VOC emissions that cause deterioration of the environment.

Rising Demand from Automotive Sector Fuels Global Nanosensors Market

The global nanosensors market is enjoying an exceptional rise in its market valuation, all thanks to the rising demand for nanosensors from the biomedical and healthcare as well as the military and homeland security sectors. According to a research study published by Transparency Market Research (TMR), a market research and intelligence organization, the worldwide nanosensors market is set to expand at a whopping CAGR of 80.70% over the period from 2015 to 2021.

In 2014, the global nanosensors market stood at US$27 mn. Analysts at TMR expect this market to be valued at more than US$1.5 bn by the end of 2021. Here is a snapshot of the performance of the global nanosensors market at the regional level.

North America

North America leads the global market for nanosensors. The rising demand for compact yet highly efficient portable sensing systems for diagnosis from the biomedical and healthcare industry in North America is fueling the nanosensors market in this region.
  • The North America nanosensors market occupied 39% of the overall market in 2014.
  • It is likely to rise at an impressive CAGR of 81.20% from 2015 to 2021 in terms of revenue.
  • The U.S is the biggest nanosensors market in North America.
The declining expenditure on diagnosis and treatment is projected to stimulate the demand for nanosensors in the nation. The compact size, low cost, bulk manufacturing capacity, and energy efficiency that nanosensors offer are other prominent factors driving the nanosensors market in the U.S.


Europe

Europe is the second largest regional market across the globe. The increasing demand for nanosensors from the automotive industry owing to their miniaturization and enhanced communication capabilities, enabling their integration into vehicles with minimal interference into the basic functionalities, is driving the Europe nanosensors market.

In 2014, the Europe regional nanosensors market held a share of 26% in the worldwide market for nanosensors. Analysts expect this market to maintain its position in the near future.

Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific is the fastest growing regional market for nanosensors among all. Consumers in this region are increasingly demanding products using nanosensors owing to their low cost and power efficiency, propelling the market to a significant extent.

India and China are the key markets for nanosensors in Asia Pacific. While China holds the leading position, India is poised to report the fastest growth in the Asia Pacific nanosensors market.


Latin America


The Latin America market for nanosensors is witnessing remarkable growth. The advancement in nanotechnology, augmenting the capacity of nanosensors and reducing the time taken for diagnosis and treatment, is the key reason for this rise. In 2014, Latin America reported a share of 5% in the global market.

Samsung Electronics Co., Analog devices Inc., OMRON Corp., Honeywell International Inc., Texas Instruments Inc., Oxonica, and Lockheed Martin Corp. are the key participants in the global nanosensors market.

Instant Beverage Premix Market Driven by Rising Health Awareness, Busy Lifestyles

Instant beverage premixes are concentrated forms of various beverages that can be made ready to drink by adding water and/or heating. They have gained popularity in recent times due to the application of novel packaging techniques that make the premix more attractive and more easily accessible. The global market for instant beverage premixes has been calculated to be worth close to US$59.4 bn in 2014. According to a recent research report from Transparency Market Research, rising at a 5.70% CAGR from 2015, the market is expected to be worth US$85.8 bn by 2021.

Instant Coffee Premixes to Lead Demand from Global Instant Beverage Premix Market

Instant coffee is the most popular instant beverage around the world. The widespread popularity of coffee is responsible for the dominant share of the beverage in the global instant beverage premix market. 


Instant tea is the second largest product segment of the global instant beverage premix market. The popularity of tea in Asian countries has helped the market for instant tea premix grow in countries such as China and Japan. Asia Pacific accounted for close to a third of the global market for instant beverage premix in 2014, with Europe accounting for about a quarter. These two regions are expected to remain the leading regional segments of the global instant beverage premix market in the coming years.

The health benefits of tea and coffee and their common presence in the traditional breakfasts of many cuisines are responsible for the high share of these two instant beverage premix market segments. Growing health awareness among the global populace is also responsible for the high market share of instant soup premixes, which are the third largest category of the instant beverage premix market by revenue. Other major product categories in the instant beverage premix market are instant milk and instant health drinks.

Increasing Ease of Purchasing Instant Beverage Premixes Benefits Global Market

Along with growing consumer awareness on the health benefits and convenience of instant beverage premixes, the global market for the same is also driven by the increasing availability of instant beverage premixes. Modern shopping avenues such as supermarket/hypermarkets almost invariably sell instant beverage premixes, kickstarting a virtuous cycle of high product visibility leading to increasing consumer demand.

The increasing availability of online shopping channels in emerging regions has also helped the global instant beverage premix market in recent years. The average customer in regions such as Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and North Africa has much easier access to online shopping portals than ever, and these websites have been quick to offer nonperishable food items such as instant beverage premixes, resulting in growing purchase of instant beverage premixes online.


Major players such as Monster Beverage Co., The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo Inc., Starbucks Corporation, etc., have been quick to capitalize on the growing prevalence of ecommerce, creating a firm foundation for the global instant beverage premix to expand expeditiously in the coming years.

Global Set-top Boxes Market Uses Digitization to Combat Possible Future Sales Fall

The global set-top boxes market has benefitted massively from the introduction of high-definition channel services and improvement of video quality through digitization. It has also substantially increased the number of channels that a cable operator can broadcast via satellite.

The global set-top boxes market is expected to progress at a CAGR of 6.40% from 2015 to 2022. By the end of 2022, the global set-top boxes market could reach US$24 bn, showing the massive scope of growth that this market possesses. As newer players join the market, the older ones will have to remain on their toes and introduce better services with improvements in display qualities.

Digitization Keeps Global Set-top Boxes Market Growing

One of the greatest drivers for the global set-top boxes market is the booming rate of signal digitization, which is being adopted by multiple broadcasters. This has especially benefitted pay TV operators. Moreover, the global set-top boxes market also accommodates interactive channels and services that further improve consumer appeal. Among the various geographical segments of the global set-top boxes market, the leader for 2014 turned out to be Asia Pacific, owing to the rapid rate of standardization of cable TV signals by shifting over to satellite signals. In 2014, Asia Pacific held nearly 31% of the global set-top boxes market. This region is also expected to be the fastest growing regional segment of the global set-top boxes market, exhibiting a 9.90% CAGR between 2015 and 2022. The primary cause of the region’s upswing in the global set-top boxes market is the large-scale digitization of cable TV services.


On the other hand, North America and Europe are currently matured regional markets for set-top boxes, and therefore show a slow and steady rate of growth. North America had a relatively early changeover to digitized signals, which means the market is now loaded with stable top-end players and multiple regional companies. The region’s growth in the near future can be expected to arrive through the introduction of IPTV and HBB set-top boxes.

The Highly Competitive Nature of the Global Set-top Boxes Market

Regardless of the rate of growth of the global set-top boxes market in any region, it is always a field of heavy competition. Players big and small vie for a piece of the TV viewing pie and offer multiple types of service perks to appease the masses. For instance, Sky plc, one the largest pan-European broadcasting names, has recently unveiled a brand new premium set-top box. The box allows a user to stream services from the “best of the web”. The move is made by Sky to compete against industry giants Netflix, Apple, and Amazon. The new technology, named Sky Q, will launch in 2016 and allows a user to watch shows on five different screens, with more than five times the storage capacity of the current set-top boxes in the market.


Meanwhile, China has recently banned 81 third-party apps that turn a TV into an Internet-streaming device via set-top boxes. The Chinese government is attempting to control the set-top boxes market in the nation, in order to stop the streaming of pirated media, such as sports games and other live events.

Global Cable Conduit Systems Market Recent Continues to Benefit from Construction Industry Boom

An electrical conduit, also known as a cable conduit, has application in one of the core objectives of any modern infrastructure. A cable conduit system is a connection, or a network, of tubes running in a system and filled with wires. Typical electrical conduits are made of either plastic, metal, fiber, or even fired clay, depending of the location and purpose of use. They are generally not visible to the people performing non-maintenance related activities in a structure. Cable conduit systems also need to be created while following several regulations. In the United States, most construction bodies, while laying down cable conduits, have to follow the regulations set by the U.S. National Electrical Code, along with other state-based regulations.

The global cable conduit systems market is progressing at a CAGR of 11.0% between 2015 and 2022. In 2014, the global cable conduit systems market was valued at US$3.2 bn. By the end of 2022, the global cable conduit systems market is expected to reach US$7.4bn. There are multiple factors that impart this substantial growth rate to the global cable conduit systems market, the major one among them being the currently booming global construction industry.

Rapid Growth of Construction Industry Demands Better Methods of Organization

The construction industry is in such rude health at present that some experts claim that it could drive the European economy back on track. In such a state of rapid development, one of the core requirements in all modern construction projects are cable conduit systems. The global cable conduit systems market is, therefore, set to be one of the largest beneficiaries of the rise in the construction industry. Cable conduits help maintain a structure of organization, which is extremely important in today’s world, where planning and space management is of utmost importance during construction. Apart from Europe, other regions or countries that are driving the global cable conduit systems market due to similar reasons are Brazil, South Africa, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa.


The global cable conduit systems market also benefits from the growing preference of consumers and builders who see cable conduits as sturdy protection for wires and loose cables against physical damage, harsh surroundings, extreme temperatures, and moisture conditions. The situation is not all positive for the global cable conduit systems market, however, as it still faces some problems, especially during installation. Builders and homeowners have to consider the increased investment they have to put into using conduits, especially metal ones, as their price continues to increase due to raw material scarcity. Another hindrance to the global cable conduit systems market is the complications of installing cable conduits in an existing structure. A conduit system requires some minimum amount of space in any structure, which might be difficult to attain in an older structure that has no space allotted for extra implementations.


Regardless, the construction industry continues to thrive and will continue to drive the growth of the global cable conduit systems market in the near future.

Thursday 26 November 2015

More than a Thanksgiving Feast – How the Turkey is an Integral Part of the American Economy

The turkey forms the centerpiece of Thanksgiving celebrations, and quite literally so. The bird, which Americans enthusiastically feast on during Thanksgiving, is also a vital part of the American economy. According to data collected by a study funded by the USDA, the United States is the world’s largest consumer of turkey with the average consumption per person being around 16.4 pounds in 2012.

However, it’s not just the Thanksgiving festivities that generate a demand for turkey. There is a year-round demand for various products made from its meat, from ham to meat balls to mince. In many ways, turkey became a year-round part of the American diet when people started looking for alternatives to red meat – alternatives that were affordable while still being healthier than red meat.

The USDA-backed study says that the per capita consumption of turkey rose remarkably between 1974, when it stood at 6.5 pounds, and 1997, when it reached 14 pounds. This also set off a sizeable market for turkey in the United States, giving rise to a bevy of name brands selling a variety of value-added processed products.

From the economic standpoint, companies engaged in producing and processing the bird generate nearly 300,000 jobs across the United States, says the National Turkey Federation. The organization also says that companies in the turkey business in the United States contribute an appreciable US$5.6 bn by way of tax revenue to the U.S. economy, with their overall economic impact being much higher at US$80.1 bn per year.

It’s not just domestic turkey consumption that has helped the turkey industry flourish; exports also account for a considerable portion of the larger picture. Countries such as Mexico and China make for the highest importers of turkey from the U.S., bringing in millions of dollars’ worth trade revenue.

This year, despite millions of turkeys being killed in a deadly avian flu outbreak in the U.S. earlier in 2015, turkey prices have managed to remain pocket-friendly. Yet, with the turkey industry braving the impact of this event, producers and suppliers are now expressing concerns that the tight supply dynamics from this year might have a cascading effect over next year’s Thanksgiving business.

Wednesday 25 November 2015

Scientists in New Zealand Report Advances in Medical Sensor Technology with Real-time Estrogen Sensor


With numerous new breakthroughs in sensor technology to improve the state of patient monitoring being reported, there is a palpable interest in conducting more research in this field. In what comes as yet another addition to the bevy of medical sensors, a team of scientists at the Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand) has developed a sensor that can detect estrogen even in low levels more rapidly and accurately than many of the current devices available on the market.

The sensor works by transmitting an electric signal when it detects the presence of estrogen in liquids. This sensor attracts aptamers - small DNA pieces that attach to estrogen molecules - to carbon nanotubes, which in turn emit a minute electric signal on detecting estrogen molecules.

To study this medical sensor further, researchers tested the device in two lengths – while one had a length of 35 units, the other was 75 units long. On comparing these two devices with different lengths, scientists found that the shorter device was able to flag the presence of estrogen by emitting a minute electrical signal. The longer device, on the other hand, failed to trigger any response to the presence of estrogen in the fluid sample.

The team has now narrowed its focus on the shorter device, tweaking it further to see how it performs in an actual biological fluid. The new device could offer a range of advantages, such as real-time readings, minimal power usage, and ease of use owing to its simple design. The team wants to also expand the applications of this medical sensor beyond estrogen tests, and will soon be developing similar sensors for other diagnostic purposes. From a broader perspective, the diagnostics market is currently in a state of rapid growth, with more consumers seeking home-use diagnostic kits.

Tuesday 24 November 2015

Could This Material Help us Attain Zero-energy Smartphone Displays?

If you’ve often complained about the dismal performance of your smartphone’s battery, your phone’s display could be the culprit. A smartphone’s display consumes an appreciable portion of the power that its battery holds, compelling consumers to keep a charger always at hand. However, a startup hopes to change that. Bodle Technologies, a spin-out of Oxford University, says that it has developed a material that consumes close to zero energy yet enables the user to see the display perfectly in full sunlight.

The idea that powers this disruptive material is based on the current generation of technology used for rewritable DVDs. It makes use of tiny electrical pulses to create a multi-colored display with all the desired attributes without the need for power. The material consumes only a very negligible amount of power as it only needs energy to change its color and state. Thus, devices that need to be charged every day – or even multiple times in a day – could now go for weeks without needing to be charged.

So confident is the company’s founder, Dr. Peiman Hosseini, about the potential of the new material that he expects his company to create an entirely new market not just for smartphones but also for other devices that incorporate a display screen. The Telegraph quoted Hosseini as saying that the adoption of smartwatches, for instance, is yet to gain traction because these gadgets need to be charged for a considerable duration every day. But users would likely be more willing to use a smartwatch if it needed to be charged just once a week.

Besides dramatically conserving the battery life of gadgets widely in use today, the new material could find uses in emerging products such as smart glass. Not surprisingly, the company is in the midst of negotiating deals with leading technology companies, but the names of its potential customers have as yet not been disclosed for legal reasons.

Monday 23 November 2015

Startup Makes Headway into Indian Smart Home Market with Smart Bulb

The Indian smart homes industry is yet to gather steam but that could change soon if the number of smart-home-friendly products entering the market is any indication. The latest product ready to be deployed in smart homes in India is a ‘smart bulb’ launched by Indian start-up, Cube26. The bulb, which the company claims will last about 15,000 hours, can be controlled via a mobile app. The other features of the bulb are enticing as well; it offers a choice of 16 million colors, has a brightness of 500 lumens, and is rated at 7W.

Although these features position the smart bulb, called IOTA Lite, as a novel product in the Indian market, what might be a dampener is the product’s price tag. At INR 1,499 apiece, the smart bulb might be considered as being heavy on the pocket by more than a few Indian households. Prices of LED bulbs with a 9W rating average INR 350 in the Indian market.

Saurav Kumar, the CEO and co-founder of Cube26, told Indian media persons at an event this week that smart bulbs are poised to be a pivotal feature of smart homes, given that lighting is an indispensable part of any residential or commercial property. IoT is making a headway into every major industrial vertical worldwide and this is expected to be no different in the Indian context.

The start-up, which has been funded by Tiger Global, has started selling its smart bulb via Indian e-commerce site Flipkart last week. The home automation market is growing by leaps and bounds, and is expected to sustain its momentum steadily over the next few years. Smart lighting is poised to be one of the leading segments of the global home automation market, and early movers in this space will have a greater chance of asserting their dominance in sales.

Li-Fi Breakthrough in China could Turn every LED Bulb into Internet Hotspot

China may have just made the biggest technology breakthrough yet in visible light communication (VLC) technology. The new technology, which offers mind bogglingly high real-time speed, makes use of a very ubiquitous resource – light from a lamp. If all goes according to plan with this milestone development, people in China could download a high-definition (HD) Hollywood movie in just a 0.3 second. The Li-Fi system, developed by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Information Engineering University, has now entered the design integration and micromation phase.

In order to assess the feasibility of this technology being deployed on commercial scale, the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently conducted a few tests, which returned encouraging results. According to officials from the Ministry, the real-time traffic rate of the VLC system developed by Chinese researchers stands at about 50 gigabytes per second (Gbps). This also marks the highest real-time speed that China has ever had access to.

The Chinese technology is reportedly decidedly superior to the one developed by a team of scientists from Mexico in August 2014. The Mexican scientists had broken a new record with technology that could transmit data at 10 Gbps.

However, with the Chinese breakthrough firmly on course to creating a new internet reality in the world’s second largest economy, scientists and ISPs alike are eager to explore this technology further. Recent media reports quoted Wu Jiangxing, an IT expert, as saying that the USP of the VLC network is that it will make use of the billions of LED lamps and bulbs already in use not just in China, but across the world.

The technology empowers every light bulb to function as an access point for high-speed internet. In simple terms, each bulb will serve as a Wi-Fi hotspot. This possibility further establishes the limitless applications of the new VLC technology, especially in areas where internet access still remains tardy. According to the Chinese scientists behind the breakthrough, the technology consumes only a fraction of the energy that’s needed to power radio.

Vietnam’s Electronics Sector has Attracted US$10 bn in FDI Thus Far in 2015, says Country’s FIA

Vietnam’s Foreign Investment Agency has said that the country’s electronics sector has attracted foreign direct investment to the tune of US$10 bn thus far in 2015. The list of investors features global leaders in the electronics sector, such as Panasonic, LG, Foxconn, Samsung, and Intel. The Foreign Investment Agency in Vietnam functions under the aegis of the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

That leading companies are increasingly looking at Vietnam as a lucrative manufacturing base can be gauged from the recent investments made in the Asian country by market leaders. Samsung, for instance, has set up a US$2.5 bn factory in Bac Ninh, which is located about 30 kilometers from Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital. The company has set up another US$2-bn manufacturing unit in Thai Nguyen. While the former facility primarily manufactures feature phones, the latter produces smart TVs, laptops, smartphones, and medical equipment. Samsung also has a US$1 bn plant in Ho Chi Minh City that focuses primarily on the production of LED TVs.

According to Vietnam’s Foreign Investment Agency, the cascading effect of these enormous investments on Vietnam’s economy is massive, as several jobs are created on the sidelines. For instance, when Samsung announced that it had chosen Thai Nguyen for its manufacturing facility, a number of satellite units came up around the area as enterprises wanted to provide auxiliary support to the new set up.

Fuelled by an accelerating rate of FDI, Vietnam’s economy has fared better than many other ASEAN economies in the last couple of years. The Foreign Investment Agency, too, says that Vietnam’s export revenue grew faster than other ASEAN nations. Globally, this has augured well for Vietnam’s standing as the country has risen to rank 12th among the top electronics exporters in the world.

Vietnam’s successful run in the global electronics industry is expected to continue as the country’s government introduces new tax benefits and other attractive policy packages to attract more FDI. It will now be interesting to see how other larger countries in ASEAN react to Vietnam’s strengthening trade position.

As India’s Hunger for Business Spaces Grows, Singapore-based IT-park Specialist Announces Expansion in India

Ascendas, a Singapore-based firm that specializes in setting up IT parks, has announced that it plans to expand its existing facilities in India. Currently, the firm manages IT-park assets of nearly US$1 bn in India. The plans were articulated by Manohar Khiatani, group CEO and president of Ascendas. Speaking to media persons about the company’s future in India, Khiatani said that his company sees India as a lucrative investment destination and is exploring various opportunities to expand in the country.

Like many other firms looking to invest in India, Ascendas, too, looks at India’s investment in smart cities and infrastructure reform as engines that will drive growth in the coming years. About his company’s plans across Indian cities, Ascendas’ head honcho said that the company will continue to look at opportunities that exist or are being created in Indian cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Delhi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad.

The key strategy of the company is to leverage the mounting demand for business spaces. On what makes India a lucrative market for his company, Khiatani said that the qualified labor force will continue to attract foreign companies to India, thus creating a strong demand for IT parks and technology parks in the country.

According to Nasscom, the IT-BPM industry in India generates about US$150 bn in revenue annually. Of these, exports constitute nearly a share of 67% in revenue. India’s domestic IT industry is expected to reach a new high thanks to national programs such as ‘Digital India’ and ‘Make in India’.

Moreover, a number of ecommerce startups mushrooming across the country – many of whom have found enormous success – continue to fuel the demand for business spaces. From a broader perspective, all of these factors are expected to create a sizeable market for IT parks and technology spaces.

Saturday 21 November 2015

Smart Gas Meters Reinforce Efforts to Curb Carbon Footprint: Here’s how

In the last couple of years, the deregulation of the energy sector in both developed and developing countries has been beneficial in several ways. While for the former, it has helped in betterment of services by means of drop in prices, for the latter, the removal of the barrier for private parties to extend utility services has helped in the improvement of services in these countries.

Browse Full Report: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/smart-gas-market.html

However, the restructuring of the energy sector has necessitated the use of a means for consumption to match energy generation. The utilization of smart meters is looked upon as a formidable solution to overcome the shortcomings of traditional electrical and gas meters and to make life easier for consumers in this regard.

Installation Benefits of Smart Gas Meters – a Snapshot

First and foremost, the installation of smart meters is a useful tool for consumers to manage energy bills efficiently. The ease of placing these devices, which work in conjunction with a smart energy monitor to show the amount of energy used and an indication of the cost to the nearest decimal, anywhere around the house has helped generate demand for them in the past few years. Thus, the cost, for instance, to boil a kettle or leave the internal heating on at night can be physically viewed, which allows consumers to make changes that can help reduce energy bills. These meters automatically send meter readings to the energy supplier, which helps consumers avoid doing the mundane task.

In the bid to enhance the usability of smart meters, British Gas is trialing the use of smart meters for customers who want to implement a ‘Pay As You Go’ system, wherein the meter can be topped up either online or over the phone with an app and customers can have a visual representation of the available credit on the handy smart energy monitor.

In present times, utility companies have recognized the promise that smart energy distribution systems offer and are making efforts to translate the utilization of these systems into real benefits. This will account for the smart gas market’s rise at a phenomenal 32.20% CAGR from 2015 to 2023, says a market study published by Transparency Market Research.


TMR analysts have enumerated some of the factors that are impacting the course of the smart gas meter market, which are as follows:

·         Consistently increasing demand for energy for residential, commercial, and industrial needs is necessitating attaining energy security goals for the long run. In the bid to achieve this, gas is increasingly being accepted as a utility, which is leading to the installation of smart devices to derive maximum value.
·         Presently, several environmental agencies working at an international level are focused on prescribing mandates in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that are associated with the deterioration of our planet. In this endeavor, use of smart gas meters is a step towards keeping a check on energy consumption.

·         In some of the countries in Central America, such as Brazil, the government’s initiative in rolling out smart gas meters to curb energy theft will benefit the said market in the forthcoming years. Other developing economies in the world are expected to follow suit in this regard.