Recipient of the 2014 Alumni Titan Award

Melvin has been an active and engaged volunteer with IMSA and the IMSA Alumni Association since 2009, when he first joined the IMSA Alumni Association Cabinet and took the lead role in planning his 20-year reunion for his class. His volunteer efforts have increased every year since, and he has had a triple role as an IMSA alumnus, an IMSA parent, and an IMSA employee. Melvin has played a critical role in advancing the work of the IMSA Alumni Association, enhancing the tools and support needed for the Cabinet leaders to truly lead and execute programs. Melvin has brought his leadership experience to the IMSA Alumni Association, leading effective meetings and ensuring that every program is successful. In addition, he has been key to the increased alumni network, growing and expanding the use of Facebook and Linked-In for alumni and region-specific groups across the nation. Melvin created and organized the first-ever IMSA Alumni Association grassroots fundraising appeal for the IMSA Fund; this showed a vested interest in the Cabinet partnering with the IMSA Fund to raise money and participation from alumni in the Annual Fund Campaign. In its first year, the appeal raised nearly $10,000 with Melvin’s help. Melvin’s leadership has elevated and empowered the volunteer leaders of the IMSA Alumni Association, and has set the stage for more meaningful and strategic activities between alumni, students and IMSA. As President of the IMSA Alumni Association, Melvin has contributed his time and talent to forge connections between current IMSA students and the alumni community. He has fostered fun on-campus by: helping with events, making smoothies, serving as a DJ; being available to IMSA parents, current students, and alumni; coordinating IMSA Alumni Association activities, events and meetings. And in doing these many activities, Melvin has contributed to the collaborative spirit of IMSA. His efforts at connecting the IMSA community will undoubtedly serve our state, nation and the world in the years to come. Melvin’s ongoing support of Intersession and other IMSA Alumni Association outreach programs has fostered fruitful friendships across the divide of graduating dates. Melvin graduated with a B.S. in Pure Mathematics from the University of Michigan. After 20 years working at Morgan Stanley, Deusche Bank (Data Mining Systems), and Citadel, last year Melvin helped start a new commodities trading firm, Leeward Pointe Capital as the CIO. Leeward recently merged with Typhon Capital Management where Melvin is now the acting CIO and also took on the role of CTO / Director of Operations at Typhon Access

Structural studies of mesoporous ZrO2_{2}-CeO2_{2} and ZrO2_{2}-CeO2_{2}/SiO2_{2} mixed oxides for catalytical applications

In this work the synthesis of ZrO$_{2}$-CeO$_{2}$ and ZrO$_{2}$-CeO$_{2}$/SiO$_{2}$ were developed, based on the process to form ordered mesoporous materials such as SBA-15 silica. The triblock copolymer Pluronic P-123 was used as template, aiming to obtain crystalline single phase walls and larger specific surface area, for future applications in catalysis. SAXS and XRD results showed a relationship between ordered pores and the material crystallization. 90% of CeO$_{2}$ leaded to single phase homogeneous ceria-zirconia solid solution of cubic fluorite structure (Fm$\bar{3}$m). The SiO$_{2}$ addition improved structural and textural properties as well as the reduction behavior at lower temperatures, investigated by XANES measurements under H$_{2}$ atmosphere

Why growth equals power - and why it shouldn't : constructing visions of China

When discussing the success of China's transition from socialism, there is a tendency to focus on growth figures as an indication of performance. Whilst these figures are indeed impressive, we should not confuse growth with development and assume that the former necessarily automatically generates the latter. Much has been done to reduce poverty in China, but the task is not as complete as some observers would suggest; particularly in terms of access to health, education and welfare, and also in dealing with relative (rather than absolute) depravation and poverty. Visions of China have been constructed that exaggerate Chinese development and power in the global system partly to serve political interests, but partly due to the failure to consider the relationship between growth and development, partly due to the failure to disaggregate who gets what in China, and partly due to the persistence of inter-national conceptions of globalised production, trade, and financial flows

Role of chymase in cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary artery remodeling and pulmonary hypertension in hamsters

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cigarette smoking is an important risk factor for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Chymase has been shown to function in the enzymatic production of angiotensin II (AngII) and the activation of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 in the cardiovascular system. The aim of this study was to determine the potential role of chymase in cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary artery remodeling and PAH.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Hamsters were exposed to cigarette smoke; after 4 months, lung morphology and tissue biochemical changes were examined using immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, radioimmunoassay and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our results show that chronic cigarette smoke exposure significantly induced elevation of right ventricular systolic pressures (RVSP) and medial hypertrophy of pulmonary arterioles in hamsters, concurrent with an increase of chymase activity and synthesis in the lung. Elevated Ang II levels and enhanced TGF-β1/Smad signaling activation were also observed in smoke-exposed lungs. Chymase inhibition with chymostatin reduced the cigarette smoke-induced increase in chymase activity and Ang II concentration in the lung, and attenuated the RVSP elevation and the remodeling of pulmonary arterioles. Chymostatin did not affect angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity in hamster lungs.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results suggest that chronic cigarette smoke exposure can increase chymase activity and expression in hamster lungs. The capability of activated chymase to induce Ang II formation and TGF-β1 signaling may be part of the mechanism for smoking-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling. Thus, our study implies that blockade of chymase might provide benefits to PAH smokers.</p

Frequency of CDH1 germline mutations in gastric carcinoma coming from high- and low-risk areas: metanalysis and systematic review of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The frequency of E-cadherin germline mutations in countries with different incidence rates for gastric carcinoma has not been well established. The goal of this study was to assess the worldwide frequency of <it>CDH1 </it>germline mutations in gastric cancers coming from low- and high-risk areas.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>English articles using MEDLINE access (from 1998 to 2011). Search terms included <it>CDH1</it>, E-cadherin, germline mutation, gastric cancer, hereditary, familial and diffuse histotype.</p> <p>The study included all E-cadherin germline mutations identified in gastric cancer patients; somatic mutations and germline mutations reported in other tumors were excluded.</p> <p>The method of this study was scheduled in accordance with the "PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses". Countries were classified as low- or middle/high risk-areas for gastric carcinoma incidence. Statistical analysis was performed to correlate the <it>CDH1 </it>mutation frequency with gastric cancer incidence areas.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 122 E-cadherin germline mutations have been identified; the majority (87.5%) occurred in gastric cancers coming from low-risk areas. In high-risk areas, we identified 16 mutations in which missense mutations were predominant. (68.8%). We verified a significant association between the mutation frequency and the gastric cancer risk area (<it>p </it>< 0.001: overall identified mutations in low- vs. middle/high-risk areas).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>E-cadherin genetic screenings performed in low-risk areas for gastric cancer identified a higher frequency of <it>CDH1 </it>germline mutations. This data could open new approaches in the gastric cancer prevention test; before proposing a proband candidate for the <it>CDH1 </it>genetic screening, geographic variability, alongside the family history should be considered.</p

Nature meets nurture: molecular genetics of gastric cancer

The immensity of genes and molecules implicated in gastric carcinogenesis is overwhelming and the relevant importance of some of these molecules is too often unclear. This review serves to bring us up-to-date with the latest findings as well as to look at the larger picture in terms of how to tackle the problem of solving this multi-piece puzzle. In this review, the environmental nurturing of intestinal cancer is discussed, beginning with epidemiology (known causative factors for inducing molecular change), an update of H. pylori research, including the role of inflammation and stem cells in premalignant lesions. The role of E-cadherin in the nature (genotype) of diffuse gastric cancer is highlighted, and finally the ever growing discipline of SNP analysis (including IL1B) is discussed

Design of a 3.3-V rail-to-rail 10-MHz CMOS operational amplifier

A 3.3-Volt rail-to-rail 10 MHz operational amplifier (op-amp) is designed using an industry-grade electronic design automation (EDA) tool, i.e. Electric TM, and simulated using WinSpice. The proposed design makes use of the folded-cascode configuration, which provides the full output swing (rail-to-rail). The design methodology initiates with the following target specifications: Vdd, Vss = ┴3.3 V GBW = 10 MHz Output swing = ┴3.0 V, ┴0.3 V Gain = 74 dB (5000) ICMR = ┴2.0 V Slew rate ≥ 5 V/os Settling time ≤1 os Load (cap.) = 20 pF Phase Margin ≥ 60₀ Min. length = 0.8 om The mask layout is constructed by adopting the MOSIS CMOS technology, which is available in the EDA tool as mocmossub . The generated layout makes use of two metal layers and one polysilicon. The simulations performed both for schematic and mask layout include dc analysis, ac analysis, and transient analysis. The results compare well with the design specifications, particularly the rail-to-rail output swing and unity-gain bandwidth. This study excludes the actual fabrication of the design