"A whole new world opened up with the introduction of acrylics and canvas -- the changing of materials let their creativity just really open up, " said Adrian Mibus, director of Whitford Fine Art gallery in London, which is currently holding a selling exhibition of Aboriginal art.

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"NanoPhotonica has a game-changing approach to the materials, design and manufacture for displays, " adds Morton.

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Meanwhile, it leaned on suppliers' engineers for suggestions on how to cut costs by 30%--by using cheaper materials or changing manufacturing processes, for instance.

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"The price structures are changing every day because of intense demand of the materials, " said the minister.

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The dynamics of the real estate market are changing, though, and several homebuilders, home improvement retailers, and construction materials companies have regained much of the value that evaporated since housing prices peaked in 2007.

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