Growth in the East and South Asia region stabilized in the final quarter of 2018, although it remains low by historical standards. Solid private consumption, on the back of declining unemployment rates and wage gains, supported the expansion. Nevertheless, domestic economic imbalances, declining global demand and diminished business sentiment—partially, although not entirely, due to the trade spat between China and the United States— continued to put downward pressure on regional growth. According to an estimate for the region produced by FocusEconomics, ESA countries grew an aggregated 6.0% year-on-year in the fourth quarter. The print matched both Q3’s expansion and last month’s estimate.

According to a comprehensive estimate by FocusEconomics, ASEAN expanded 4.8% year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2018, marking an uptick from Q3’s revised 4.6% expansion (previously reported: +4.7% year-on-year). With Q4 GDP data for Singapore and Vietnam already released, over the last month it was the turn of most of ASEAN’s other big hitters. Indonesia—which accounts for over a third of the region’s nominal GDP—registered sturdy growth, supported by both domestic demand and an improvement in the external sector. Government social assistance in the build-up to April’s general elections likely underpinned consumer spending.

The economy likely ended 2018 on a weaker note, after significantly decelerating in Q3 on the back of a sharp contraction in both business and residential investment. Softer tourism growth, following years of surging visitor inflows, should have put a lid on growth in Q4. This is reflected by overnight tourist stays, which rose only modestly in December after a flat November print, thus weighing on hotel occupancy rates. Lastly, although consumer confidence tumbled in November, solid wage growth and a low unemployment rate should have supported private consumption in the quarter.

Sub-Saharan Africa’s (SSA) economic recovery appeared to face some headwinds in the fourth quarter, on the heels of a marked upturn in the third quarter. Although fourth-quarter national accounts remain outstanding for all economies bar Nigeria, a very preliminary estimate suggests that regional growth through yearend dipped to 3.0% year-on-year (previously reported: +2.8% year-on-year). Meanwhile, comprehensive third-quarter national accounts confirmed regional growth at 3.1% year-on-year as the region’s major players shook off a mid-year malaise.

Rising focus on glycomics and proteomics research has led to high growth of glycomics market. Huge investments in this field have also enabled academic researchers to develop new tools. Thus, the field of glycoscience is growing, which is a high-impact rendering driver for the market. As per many researchers, glycans are essential in biological processes; research on them helps researchers in understanding the biology more comprehensively, without specializing in glycobiology. This provides with a wide set of potential applications for glycan analysis. An example of such research is the interlaboratory study, conducted from June 2015 to February 2016, by The National Institute of Standards and Technology. This study was conducted in 76 laboratories and was aimed at measuring glycosylation in monoclonal antibodies. According to NCBI, another research study was conducted by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) through a grant supported Consortium for Functional Glycomics (CFG). This research has helped more than 500 researchers focus on issues related to glycomics. It aimed at studying the importance of carbohydrate-protein interactions at the cell surface in cell-cell communication. It helped in developing custom-made DNA microarrays that characterize glycan binding proteins and glycosyltransferases.

Glamping has for long flown under the radar, eluding masses and luxury travelers. However, it is back with a bang, bringing an element of undeniable comfort in the remotest of locales.

In terms of volume, the global cladding market was 5,450.0 million sq. meters in 2016, which is expected to increase to 8,224.2 million sq. meters by 2025, at a CAGR of 4.8% over the forecast period. In terms of revenue, the industry is expected to grow from USD 70.58 billion in 2016 to USD 111.19 billion by 2025, growing at a 5.3% CAGR over the forecast period. Increasing consumer awareness regarding the aesthetic appeal and durable benefits of such products leading to increase in demand. Wide availability of raw materials such as steel, aluminum, ceramic and others leading to increase in production levels. Expanding residential & non-residential construction activities to support burgeoning population is expected to remain a key driving factor for cladding materials.

POC diagnostic testing is also known as near-patient or extra-laboratory or alternate site testing. It typically refers to the performance of a diagnostic test outside a traditional reference laboratory or near the site of patient care, whether it is hospitals or out-patient settings. The dominant model of laboratory testing remains the centralized model for diagnosis and treatment of several acute and chronic diseases. This laboratory-based diagnostic testing is well established in clinical chemistry and hematology and is now extending to other disciplines, including anatomical pathology and microbiology.

The global polydextrose market was valued at USD 225.00 million in 2015 and is expected to be valued at USD 386.00 million by 2025, growing at a predicted CAGR of 5.6% over the forecast period. The market demand was 79.00 kilotons in 2015 and is anticipated to reach 120.07 kilotons by 2025, growing at an estimated CAGR of 4.3% over the forecast period. Polydextrose is a polymer derived from glucose. It is characterized as a soluble food ingredient fiber by Health Canada and the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Polydextrose is well known for its non-dietary fiber, low calorie, and low glucose content. Various health benefits of polydextrose are anticipated to fuel market growth over the forecast period.

In 2010, the U.S. government introduced the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which ensures provision of high-quality care, while reducing cost. This has encouraged the establishment of various Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), which include group of doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers partnering with insurance providers to deliver high quality health care service. The increasing adoption of healthcare IT solutions is a result of growing preference for value-based healthcare delivery. Adoption of value-based healthcare delivery is increasing in the country due to initiatives being undertaken by Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), and state Medicaid programs.