Across the world, there has been an unprecedented interest in biofuels over the past decade. The main reason for this is the volatility in crude oil prices, which is affecting the economic condition of many countries that do not have significant oil and gas reserves to support their growing economy. High dependence on non-renewable fuels has created economic as well as environmental concerns, such as rising greenhouse gas emissions. Several developing and developed economies have implemented regulatory reforms, blending targets, and statutory norms while using biofuels to offset the growing environmental risks associated with conventional fuels.

Advances in materials sciences have led to greater focus on novel materials that are biocompatible in terms of chemical and mechanical reactiveness. Bioactive materials form a class of innovative biomaterials that can react and bind to tissues present in the human body. These materials possess desirable properties such as fracture toughness and elastic modulus, which aid adherence. They are extensively used as tissue replacement and repair materials and are becoming increasingly common in surgical procedures.

A biosensor consists of a bio-response recognition component. It can be referred to as a bio-component with a transducer that converts a biological response into an electrical signal, which is then amplified, processed, and displayed on the display unit. The combination of the bio-component and the transducer is referred to as the biosensor.

A DNA microarray is a collection of microscopic DNA spots that are attached to a solid surface. DNA microarrays allow the simultaneous monitoring of expression of thousands of genes. They can be used for both determination of mRNA levels and for genotyping. Protein microarrays help in monitoring the level of translation of proteins and the testing of enzyme actions. The tool is widely used to ascertain whether a particular individual’s DNA contains a mutation in genes.

3-D printing is an evolving technology that caters to sectors such as automotive, education, healthcare, and aerospace. In the automotive and aerospace sectors, the use of 3-D printing enables manufacturers to make complex parts such as gears and fuel nozzles with high efficiency. This technology is expected to also find new applications in other sectors. For instance, in the medical sector, researchers are attempting to discover and identify ways to use this technology to make prosthetic parts with biological materials such as cartilage, bone, and skin.

Introduction Biotechnology will be among the emerging science and technology (S&T) fields that will have the most significant global impact in the decades to come. Experts forecast that better drugs, devices and treatments for diseases, advancements in stem cell and genetically modified organisms (GMO) technology, and exciting developments in genome sequencing for personalized medicine will materialize in the next 20 to 30 years.Developing economies are emerging as important players in these fields in part because of advances in information and communication technologies (ICTs), sustained economic growth and strong government support. Governments are increasing their investments in research and development (R&D), providing support for the next generation of life scientists, enabling institutionalized knowledge transfer from academia to industry and encouraging the expansion of the private sector’s role in all aspects of development. Moreover, scientists from developed and developing countries are increasing collaborations to tackle global problems, creating deeply-intertwined international networks to create,
share and acquire knowledge produced at the frontiers of various S&T areas.

Snap 上市在即，季报喜忧并存 ：Snapchat 的母公司 Snap 正式公布招股书。我们已在报告《Snap： 万众瞩目的 IPO，亿万少年的神秘乐土》中对其业务模式进行了介绍。而招股书中除了反映用户活跃度高，收入和亏损同时高增长以外，主要问题是去年 4 季度用户数和收入放缓，在一定程度上体现了 Facebook 和 Instagram 对其不断模仿造成的竞争压力。 

信用评级揭示的是特定的信用风险，而不是投资风险、经营风险等，且评价落脚点是偿还债务本息的意愿与能力，而不是价值或业绩。信用评级种类繁多，不同种类信用评级的侧重点不同。结合业务与投资范围，我们的评级类别主要包括主体信用评级和债券信用评级。

PCR as a molecular genetics technique is used to amplify and analyze nucleic acids. It is a very precise, specific, and accurate technique that can amplify a specific DNA target from a mixture of DNA molecules. The technique is prevalently used in a broad range of applications in research and diagnosis including genetic engineering, cloning, genotyping, sequencing, and disease diagnosis.

The concept of reference laboratory is a recent phenomenon. Reference laboratories are private as well as commercial facilities that usually perform specialty and highvolume testing routinely. Physicians' offices, clinics, hospitals, government agencies, insurance companies, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology companies outsource most of their specialty tests to reference laboratories. Though mid- and large-sized hospitals perform most of the tests at their in-house laboratories but approach reference laboratories for specialized tests that usually require specialized equipment.