Senior Ethan Ferguson, a biochemistry major, and a team sponsored by the Dow-Corning Company have developed a more precise mass spectrometry method for the diagnosis of porphyrias, helping streamline sample times and ultimately help in the medical and industrial fields.

Ferguson said porphyrias is a group of rare diseases characterized by the overproduction and accumulation of porphyrins, or chemical precursors to the creation of heme molecules, in the biosynthetic pathway, causing neurological or skin problems. Porphyrias are uncommon, but occur occasionally due to pesticide in soil and food, he said.

Heme is an important molecule in the production of hemoglobin and is responsible for catalyzing redox reactions. Its essential for life, he said. When precursors build up, they cause problems in its production.

The teams new method cut down sample time, which helped determine the toxicology of compounds used in silicone product studies by the Dow-Corning Company much faster than the traditional method.

The existing method used High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to separate compounds, which took hours and was not very accurate. The flagship of our technique was using mass spectrometry to detect the molecules by looking at liver tissue, blood and feces samples, Ferguson said. Basically it operates at higher pressures to cut down on sample time.

The technique would be applicable in medical and industrial studies, he said. The rapid detection system could be easily modified to identify other classes of molecules to diagnose other diseases.

Its an important test and an easy one where physicians can send off a blood or urine sample to rule out porphyrias as options, Ferguson said, or in an industry setting it would let the researchers know whether the drug compound or cosmetic product theyre developing interacts with the heme biosynthetic pathway.

Ferguson said the group was waiting for approval from the legal department at Dow-Corning before it published the research.

The manuscript is finished and ready to submit at any time, he said. Were looking to see if patenting is a possibility, but once its in literature, it will probably be fair game.

Other industries and physician groups will adopt the study and use it well after he graduates, he said. Ferguson said the research provided valuable experience since he plans to attend medical school next year.

Its really a rewarding thing for everyone involved, he said.

Ferguson said his advice to undergraduates is to be aggressive when looking for research opportunities and to start early. He said he began the summer after his sophomore year researching in a group led by Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Professor Jennifer DuBois.

Professors and undergrad advisors can be really helpful, but theyre busy and sometimes its not the first thing on their mind. Especially for science majors, you have to show you want to do it, he said. Like a good Notre Dame student, use your resources.

In a 2005 study, economist Mohan Guruswamy and others observed: Opening the retailing sector to FDI means dislocating millions from their occupation and pushing a lot of families under the poverty linehellip; the western concept of efficiency is maximising output while minimising the workers involved which will only increase social tensions.

THE GOVERNMENT harps on the fact that the retail giants will only be permitted to set up shops in 53 cities. In all likelihood, this is the thin end of the wedge. These cities represent the first phase of the rollout plan. When that has been accomplished, a minor policy change will be effected to allow further penetration.

The second big question is whether Big Retail will benefit producers. Thus far, the reverse appears to be true, with global supply chains stretching all the way from Bangladesh to Bond Street.

The balance of power in negotiating with producers lies with the companies. The reason why they prefer low-cost locations, like India, is that profits can be maximised by exercising absolute control over their supply base and keeping down prices.

Oxfams 2005 report on Big Retail, lsquo;Trading away our rights, describes how risks and costs are passed down the supply chain to the producers. Destruction of traditional retail results in a situation where there are many small manufacturers and suppliers and very few buyers. So they get to determine price, quality, delivery schedules and labour conditions. Even the World Bank recognised this danger: Competition among suppliers may drive prices down, and the benefits of local firms productivity improvements will accrue to the multinational.

The Oxfam report says: Buyers employed by many retailers and brands are given strong incentives to cut the prices they pay. Others demand lsquo;open-book costing that requires suppliers and producers to reveal their production and delivery costs so that retailers can cut out low-value steps, and capture the saving in lower prices. Some boost their profits by charging suppliers for product promotions, for store displays, for discounts on poorly selling goods, for discounts on well-selling goods, and even for simply being listed as a supplier.

The reason most touted for FDI in retail is the benefit to farmers. Anand Sharma says it will transform the rural economy and unlock supply chain efficiencies in agri-businesshellip; it will unfold immense employment opportunities for rural youth and make them stakeholders in the entire agri-business chain from farm to fork.

Basically, his contention is that Indias post-harvest losses are high and investment in storage infrastructure will solve the problem. Also, Big Retail will eliminate middlemen and pay farmers high prices for their produce. Both of these will be ensured by insisting that retail chains invest $50 million each in cold chains and source 30 percent of their goods from local producers.

Lets first consider the question of infrastructure. The investment required for cold stores and refrigerated transport is not high most domestic organised retailers can afford it. The tricky part about ensuring supply chain efficiencies in agri-business is securing uninterrupted power supply and good roads. Will Wal-Mart invest in power plants and rural roads?

As for farmers, remunerative prices for farm produce and getting rid of middlemen sounds good. But just how much is the farmers share in the total price of the product? Studies show that in the case of apples exported from South Africa to UK supermarkets, it is 9 percent of the price. The retailers share is 42 percent!

And what exactly is a remunerative price? Farmers are unable to make ends meet because the minimum support price (MSP) in most cases barely covers their input costs. To make a difference, Wal-Mart amp; Co would have to pay well above the MSP. And this premium would have to be maintained. But global experience shows that premiums are withdrawn once all other buyers in this case, the ahratiyas or traditional middlemen have been eliminated. The farmers become a captive supply base, subject to exploitation. This system is described in food policy expert Raj Patels Stuffed amp; Starved. Incidentally, ahratiyaas are also an informal source of credit for farmers.

JOB CREATION is another justification for FDI. This refers to indirect employment in manufacturing and other sectors, as global giant Wal-Mart employs barely five lakh people worldwide. Only a handful of people can hope for direct employment and the bulk of manufacturing 70 percent will be located abroad, probably China. So where the promised 10 million jobs come from especially considering that at least as many people will be displaced from their current occupations, remains a mystery.

Controlling inflation and benefiting the consumer are also cited as reasons for green-lighting FDI. The Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) on inflation, had recommended FDI in multi-brand retail.

Economic adviser Kaushik Basu observed: We are taking a clear position on FDI in multi-brand retailhellip; there is a need tohellip; reduce the price gap between farm gate and consumer prices. It is not clear how FDI is going to accomplish that, especially if retailers plan on paying better prices to farmers.

The fact is that in a fragmented market, the consumer has many more options than in an integrated one. Besides, Patel pointed out in a lecture on the supermarket system, Big Retail manipulates consumers and encourages wasteful expenditure.

The real danger is that once FDI-backed players come in, the market is consolidated in the hands of a few who then dictate terms to all, observes Devinder Sharma. Today, channel costs in India are efficiently managed by our resource-conscious retailers, unlike the vertically integrated behemoths of the West.

According to B Murlidhar Rao, BJP secretary and former convenor of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, The Indian retail market, estimated at $400 billion-$450 billion, is a precious economic asset. It must be protected and used to promote Indian entrepreneurship and leveraged in future negotiations as India emerges as a global player. Why put it up for sale?

Increasingly, it looks as if FDI in retail is prompted not so much by internal needs as external pressures. In population terms, two-thirds of India stands against it. Only Congress-ruled states and Punjab will be accessible to Big Retail and not without a fight.

bhavkang@gmail.com

1. I work in the mall and smell delicious food all day. How can I curb my craving?
Jen via the Internet

The smell of warm pretzels, gooey cinnabuns, and buttery popcorn can set you up for a major craving. Fortunately, researchers at Wheeling Jesuit University have found a way to counteract the cravings. The solution is sniffing peppermint.

The study had volunteers sniff peppermint every two hours or do nothing. The peppermint sniffers were not as hungry as non-sniffers and they ate 2,800 fewer calories in a week. Thats enough to lose close to one pound each week.

Researchers say the peppermint distracts you from your hunger pains and as a result you eat less.

In addition peppermint could help control emotional eating. Now, eating peppermint candy or chewing peppermint gum does NOT work as well. It is best to buy peppermint oil and dab it on your wrist so you can easily sniff it or buy a peppermint inhaler for about ten bucks.

Check online or in nutrition stores for either product. Studies did not use a peppermint candle but maybe that would work too.

Doesnt peppermint also help with exercise?

Yes. Studies show that athletes perform better if they sniff peppermint. They were more motivated, exercised longer and harder, and were less fatigued when they sniffed peppermint.

2. I just saw a quick report on avoiding BPA in pregnancy. How do I avoid it?
Karen in West Springfield

According to a study just published in the journal Pediatrics, girls exposed before birth to high levels of BPA which is an estrogen-like chemical , are more likely to be anxious, depressed and hyperactive at age 3.

Boys behavior was unaffected by BPA. Researchers found BPA in the urine of more than 97% of the 240 pregnant women studied, as well as 97% of their children. BPA is found in plastic bottles, medical equipment, dental sealants, receipt paper, and the lining of cans.

To minimize your exposure look for cans and bottles that say BPA – free. Avoid plastic with the numbers 3 or 7 in the recycle symbol.