The researchers – from NC State, California State University Northridge and the University of Illinois (UI) – evaluated data from a 1994 study of children between the ages of five and 13 in the U.S. and a 1991 study of children in the same age range from England, Scotland and Wales.

Researchers found that stronger home environments decrease the likelihood of behavior problems in both countries.

In both societies, researchers found that male children, children with health problems and children with divorced mothers were more likely to have behavioral problems.

“We also found that stronger home environments – those that are intellectually stimulating, nurturing and physically safe – decrease the likelihood of behavior problems in both countries,” says Dr. Toby Parcel, a professor of sociology at NC State and lead author of a paper describing the work.

“We wanted to see whether the role of parents was equally important in both societies,” Parcel says, “because the argument has been made that more developed welfare states – such as Great Britain – can make the role of parents less important, by providing additional supports that can help compensate for situations where households have more limited resources.

“This study tells us that parents are important in households, regardless of the strength of the welfare state.”

While the risk factors are common between the two countries, there are some differences. For example, “family structure” effects were more pronounced in Great Britain. Family structure, in this context, refers to marital status and family size. British families with a single mother or multiple children are at higher risk of having a child with behavior problems – the more children in the family, the greater the risk.

The paper, “Children’s Behavior Problems in the United States and Great Britain,” is published online in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior and was co-authored by Dr. Lori Ann Campbell of Cal State Northridge and Dr. Wenxuan Zhong of UI. The research was funded, in part, by the National Science Foundation.

The researchers are now looking to see how shared risk factors may influence child cognition and academic achievement across these two societies. Parcel and Campbell have previously shown that parents are critical to the creation of strong home environments in both the U.S. and Great Britain.

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Note to Editors: The study abstract follows.

“Children’s Behavior Problems in the United States and Great Britain”

Authors: Toby L. Parcel, North Carolina State University; Lori Ann Campbell, California State University Northridge; Wenxuan Zhong, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Published: online, Journal of Health and Social Behavior

Abstract: We analyze the effects of family capital on child behavior problems in the United States and Great Britain by comparing a longitudinal survey sample of 5- to 13-year-old children from the 1994 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth’s (N = 3,864) with a similar sample of children from the 1991 National Child Development Study “British Child” (N = 1,430). Findings suggest that in both societies, male children, those with health problems, and those whose mothers are divorced are at increased risk for behavior problems, while those with stronger home environments are at reduced risk. Family structure effects are more pervasive in Great Britain than in the United States, although some of these findings are a function of our racially diverse U.S. sample. We conclude that parents are important in both societies in promoting child social adjustment, and evidence that the more developed welfare state in Great Britain may substitute for capital at home is weak.

Researchers have shown that it is possible to transmit power wirelessly by using magnetic resonance. Even minor changes in how the transmitter or receiver is tuned, however, can result in faulty power transmission.

A new prototype developed at NC State addresses the problem by automatically – and precisely – re-tuning the receivers in WPT systems. The researchers focused on receivers because methods already exist that allow researchers to use electronics to precisely tune the transmitters.

“We’re optimistic that this technology moves us one step closer to realizing functional WPT systems that can be used in real-world circumstances,” says Dr. Srdjan Lukic, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at NC State and co-author of a paper on the research.

WPT systems work by transmitting magnetic waves on a specific frequency from a transmitter to a receiver. These magnetic waves interact with a coil in the receiver to induce an electric current. If the coil is tuned so that its resonant frequency matches the frequency of the magnetic waves, the current it produces is amplified. However, if the receiver and the transmitter are out of tune, the system becomes inefficient and doesn’t transfer a significant amount of power. The receiver coil still picks up a trace amount of current, but it is not amplified.

This is a problem because many factors can affect the tuning of a receiver or transmitter, such as temperature or proximity to other magnetic objects. In other words, a hot summer day could wreak havoc on the tuning of a receiver.

Lukic and NC State Ph.D. student Zeljko Pantic developed an electronic prototype that incorporates additional circuitry into the receiver that does two things: it injects small amounts of reactive power into the receiver coil as needed to maintain its original resonant frequency; and, if the transmitter’s tuning changes, the prototype can read the trace amount of current being transmitted and adjust the receiver’s tuning accordingly.

“Because we are using electronics to inject reactive power into the receiver coil, we can be extremely precise when tuning the receiver,” Lukic says. “This degree of fine-tuning maximizes the efficiency of the WPT system.

“The next step is to try incorporating this work into technology that can be used to wirelessly charge electric vehicles.”

The paper, “Framework and Topology for Active Tuning of Parallel Compensated Receivers in Power Transfer Systems,” is published online in IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics and was supported by the Advanced Transportation Energy Center at NC State. The paper was co-authored by Pantic and Lukic.

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Note to Editors: The study abstract follows.

“Framework and Topology for Active Tuning of Parallel Compensated Receivers in Power Transfer Systems”

Authors: Zeljko Pantic, Srdjan Lukic, North Carolina State University

Published: online, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics

Abstract: Wireless power transfer (WPT) based on magnetic coupling is becoming widely accepted as a means of transferring power over small to medium distances. An unresolved issue is the source and receiver resonance matching in multi-receiver systems where the source operating frequency adjustment is not possible. This paper presents a framework to analyze the effect of parallel-compensated receiver detuning on the power transfer in WPT systems. Building on this analytical study, we present a new receiver design for WPT systems. The proposed design combines a parallel compensated resonant tank with a tri-state boost converter. By synchronizing the tri-state boost switching period with the half-period of the resonant tank voltage, we position the inherently discontinuous current pulse drawn by the tri-state boost to control both active and reactive power flow from the resonant circuit to the tri-state boost. Controllable reactive current can be used effectively to emulate appropriate inductance or capacitance to tune the resonant tank and achieve optimal power transfer.

“UV treatment utilizing LEDs would be more cost-effective, energy efficient and longer lasting,” says Dr. Ramón Collazo, an assistant professor of materials science and engineering at NC State and lead author of a paper describing the research. “Our work would also allow for the development of robust and portable water-treatment technologies for use in developing countries.”

Researchers found that trace carbon atoms in the substrate of the aluminum nitride semiconductors block key wavelengths of ultraviolet light.

LEDs utilize aluminum nitride (AlN) as a semiconductor, because the material can handle a lot of power and create light in a wide spectrum of colors, particularly in the UV range. However, technologies that use AlN LEDs to create UV light have been severely limited because the substrates that served as the foundation for these semiconductors absorbed wavelengths of UV light that are crucial to applications in sterilization and water treatment technologies.

A team of researchers from North Carolina and Japan has developed a solution to the problem. Using computer simulation, they determined that trace carbon atoms in the crystalline structure of the AlN substrate were responsible for absorbing most of the relevant UV light. By eliminating the carbon in the substrate, the team was able to significantly improve the amount of UV light that can pass through the substrate at the desired wavelengths.

“Once we identified the problem, it was relatively easy and inexpensive to address,” says Dr. Zlatko Sitar, Kobe Steel Distinguished Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at NC State and co-author of the paper.

Commercial technologies incorporating this research are currently being developed by HexaTech Inc., a spin-off company from NC State.

“This is a problem that’s been around for more than 30 years, and we were able to solve it by integrating advanced computation, materials synthesis and characterization,” says Dr. Doug Irving, assistant professor of materials science and engineering at NC State and co-author of the paper. “I think we’ll see more work in this vein as the Materials Genome Initiative moves forward, and that this approach will accelerate the development of new materials and related technologies.”

The paper, “On the origin of the 265 nm absorption band in AlN bulk crystals,” is published online in Applied Physics Letters. Co-authors include Benjamin Gaddy, Zachary Bryan, Ronny Kirste and Marc Hoffman from NC State, as well as researchers from HexaTech Inc., Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, and the Tokuyama Corporation. The research was supported with funding from the U.S. Department of Defense.

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Note to Editors: The study abstract follows.

“On the origin of the 265 nm absorption band in AlN bulk crystals”

Authors: Ramon Collazo, Benjamin E. Gaddy, Zachary Bryan, Ronny Kirste, Marc Hoffman, Douglas L. Irving and Zlatko Sitar, North Carolina State University; Jinqiao Xie, Rafael Dalmau and Baxter Moody, HexaTech, Inc.; Yoshinao Kumagai and Akinori Koukitu, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology; Toru Nagashima, Yuki Kubota and Toru Kinoshita, Tokuyama Corporation

Published: Online May 2012, Applied Physics Letters

Abstract: Single crystal AlN provides a native substrate for Al-rich AlGaN that is needed for the development of efficient deep UV LEDs and laser diodes. An absorption band centered around 4.7 eV (~265 nm) with an absorption coefficient above 1000 cm-1 is observed in these substrates. Based on DFT calculations, substitutional carbon on the nitrogen site introduces absorption at this energy. A series of single crystalline wafers grown by PVT and homoepitaxially by HVPE were used to demonstrate that this absorption band linearly increased with carbon, strongly supporting the model that CN- is the predominant state for carbon in AlN.

Triplex-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) are commonly used molecules that can prevent gene transcription by binding to double-stranded DNA. NC State chemist Dr. Alex Deiters wanted to find a way to more precisely control TFOs, and by extension, the transcription of certain genes. So Deiters attached a light-activated “cage” to a TFO. When exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, the cage is removed, and the TFO is free to bind with DNA, inhibiting transcription of the gene of interest.

“In the absence of light, transcription activity is 100 percent,” says Deiters. “When we turn on the light, we can take it down to about 25 percent, which is a significant reduction in gene expression.”

Additionally, Deiters fine-tuned the process by attaching a caged inhibitor strand to the TFO. In the absence of UV light, the TFO behaves normally, binding to DNA and preventing gene expression. However, when exposed to UV light, the caged inhibitor activates and stops the TFO from binding with DNA, turning gene transcription on.

“We’ve created a tool that allows for the light-activation of genetic transcription,” Deiters says. “By giving researchers greater temporal and spatial control over gene expression, we’ve expanded their ability to study the behavior of particular genes in whichever environment they choose.”

The research appears online in ACS Chemical Biology, and was funded by the National Institutes of Health. Deiters worked with NC State graduate students Jeane M. Govan, Rajendra Uprety and James Hemphill and Wake Forest University’s Mark O. Lively on the research.

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Note to editors: An abstract of the paper follows.

“Regulation of Transcription through Light-Activation and Light-Deactivation of Triplex-Forming Oligonucleotides in Mammalian Cells”

Authors: Alexander Deiters, Jeane M. Govan, Rajendra Uprety, James Hemphill, North Carolina State University; Mark O. Lively, Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Published: ACS Chemical Biology

Abstract:
Triplex-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) are efficient tools to regulate gene expression through the inhibition of transcription. Here, nucleobase-caging technology was applied to the first temporal regulation of transcription through light-activated TFOs. Through site-specific incorporation of caged thymidine nucleotides, the TFO: DNA triplex formation is blocked, rendering the TFO inactive. However, after a brief UV irradiation, the caging groups are removed, activating the TFO and leading to the inhibition of gene transcription. Furthermore, the synthesis and site-specific incorporation of caged deoxycytidine nucleotides within TFO inhibitor sequences was developed and allows for the light-deactivation of TFO function and thus photochemical activation of gene expression. After UV-induced removal of the caging groups, the TFO forms a DNA dumbbell structure, rendering it inactive, releasing it from the DNA, and activating transcription. These are the first examples of light-regulated TFOs and their application in the photochemical activation and deactivation of gene expression. In addition, hairpin loop structures were found to significantly increase the efficacy of phosphodiester DNA-based TFOs in tissue culture.

The new model addresses how trees and other forest vegetation affect – and are affected by – the water, carbon, and nitrogen cycles.

“We think the model will help policy makers and forest managers make informed decisions to maintain forest productivity while minimizing the environmental impact of managed forest plantations,” says Dr. Shiying Tian, a postdoctoral researcher at NC State, and lead author of a paper on the new model. “It also will help us understand how these forest systems will respond if we see changes in temperature or precipitation related to climate change,” says Dr. Mohamed Youssef, an assistant professor biological and agricultural engineering at NC State, and co-author of the paper.

NC State researchers had previously developed models that accounted for the hydrology, carbon and nitrogen cycles in agricultural land with high water table soils. The new model, called DRAINMOD-FOREST, extends the models’ applicability to forest land by accounting for plant growth in the forest ecosystem. The model addresses how trees and other forest vegetation affect – and are affected by – the water, carbon, and nitrogen cycles. DRAINMOD-FOREST looks specifically at forests in areas with a high water table – such as coastal regions.

The new model is timely, due to a number of emerging land uses for forest land. For example, there is national interest in identifying new means of growing biofuels crops, such as switchgrass. One idea has been to plant switchgrass in the space between trees in commercial forests. DRAINMOD-FOREST will help determine whether such an “inter-crop” method is viable and sustainable. Would it hinder tree growth? What would the environmental consequences be?

But the model has other applications as well. For example, “We could also use the model to determine the viability and environmental impact of introducing new commercial tree species,” Tian says.

“This is a whole-system model,” Youssef says. “We look at the hydrology, or water cycle, of the system. We look at the nitrogen and carbon cycles. And we look at plant growth in the forest system. This is the most thorough model yet for forest ecosystems in the coastal regions of the southern and southeastern United States.”

The paper, “DRAINMOD-FOREST: Integrated Modeling of Hydrology, Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics, and Plant Growth for Drained Forests,” is published in the May issue of the Journal of Environmental Quality. The paper was co-authored by Tian; Youssef; Dr. Wayne Skaggs, William Neal Reynolds Professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at NC State; Dr. Devendra Amatya of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service; and Dr. George Chescheir, associate research professor of biological and agricultural engineering at NC State.

The research was supported by the USDA Forest Service, National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, North Carolina Agricultural Research Service and the Weyerhaeuser Company.

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Note to Editors: The study abstract follows.

“DRAINMOD-FOREST: Integrated Modeling of Hydrology, Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics, and Plant Growth for Drained Forests”

Authors: Shiying Tian, Mohamed A. Youssef, R. Wayne Skaggs and G.M. Chescheir, North Carolina State University; Devendra M. Amatya, USDA Forest Service

Published: May 2012, Journal of Environmental Quality

Abstract: This paper presented a hybrid and stand level forest ecosystem model, DRAINMOD-FOREST, for simulating the hydrology, carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics, and tree growth for drained forest lands under common silvicultural practices. The model was developed by linking the hydrological model, DRAINMOD, and the soil C and N dynamics model, DRAINMOD-N II, to a forest growth model, which was mainly adapted from 3-PG model. The forest growth model estimates net primary production, carbon allocation, and litterfall using physiology based methods that regulated by air temperature, water deficit, stand age, and soil N conditions. The performance of the newly developed DRAINMOD-FOREST model was evaluated using a long-term (21-year) data set collected from an artificially drained loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantation in eastern North Carolina, USA. Results indicated that the DRAINMOD-FOREST accurately predicted annual, monthly and daily drainage, as indicated by Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient of 0.93, 0.87and 0.75, respectively. The model also reasonably predicted annual net primary productivity and dynamics of leaf area index. Predicted temporal changes in the organic matter pool on the forest floor and in forest soil were reasonable compared to published literatures. Both predicted annual and monthly nitrate export were in good agreement with field measurements, as indicated by Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient above 0.89 and 0.79 for annual and monthly predictions, respectively. This application of DRAINMOD-FOREST demonstrated its capability for predicting hydrology, C and N dynamics in drained forests under limited silvicultural practices.

Philip Rivers, quarterback for the San Diego Chargers and NC State alumnus, will deliver the commencement address.

Chancellor Randy Woodson will confer 5,236 degrees – 67 associate’s, 3,500 bachelor’s, 1,398 master’s, 195 doctoral, and 76 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees – during the ceremony. One hundred twenty-four valedictorians will be recognized for earning perfect 4.0 grade point averages.

With the 3,041 degrees NC State conferred last December, a total of 8,022 degrees will be awarded in the 2011-12 academic year.

Woodson will also confer honorary degrees on Robert B. Jordan III, former N.C. lieutenant governor and NC State alumnus, and David H. Murdock, chairman of Dole Food Company Inc.

NC State officials do not expect major traffic congestion, but advise attendees to be in their seats by 8:15 a.m. NC State’s Amalgam Brass Ensemble will begin playing at 8:30 a.m., and graduates will march onto the arena floor at 9 a.m. More commencement information is available online.

Note to editors: Media seating will be provided near the front of the stage on the left-hand side. NC State News Services personnel will be available to assist reporters.

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Biographies and photos of the Class of 2016 Park Scholars can be accessed on the Web.

The Park Scholarships program brings exceptional students to NC State based on outstanding accomplishments and potential in scholarship, leadership, service and character. The program develops Park Scholars in these areas, preparing them for lifelong contributions to society.

Approximately 45 scholarships are awarded each year, supporting the full cost of education. Park Scholarships include opportunities for innovative enrichment activities such as grants for undergraduate research and study abroad, making the award one of the most prestigious and comprehensive undergraduate scholarships in the nation.

Established in 1996, the Park Scholarships are named for the late Roy H. Park ’31, an NC State alumnus who created the charitable Park Foundation, dedicated to education, media and the environment. Since the inaugural class of 25 scholars, the number of Park Scholars has increased to approximately 180, along with a growing network of alumni. To date, the Park Foundation has committed more than $65 million to support the scholarship, establishing a legacy of leadership and service in the spirit of the Park name.

For more information, visit the Web.

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Sina Bahram was honored as a "Champion of Change" at the White House May 7.

Bahram, who earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees from NC State, is currently a Ph.D. student in computer science. His research focuses on improving the interaction between users and technology. This field of study is of particular importance to Bahram, who is blind.

“The leaders we’ve selected as Champions of Change are proving that when the playing field is level, people with disabilities can excel in STEM, develop new products, create scientific inventions, open successful businesses, and contribute equally to the economic and educational future of our country,” says Kareem Dale, Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy.

“My goals are to use technology to facilitate access to all kinds of information for users with various functional limitations or specific needs,” Bahram says. “Whether that’s allowing blind users to understand and interact with maps, flow charts, bar charts or graphs, or helping webpages become more accessible by providing content creators with the ability to check them against an automated system.”

Bahram has already developed a prototype system called Touch It, Key It, Speak It (TIKISI), which allows computer users to access graphical information in an “eyes free” fashion. TIKISI can already be used to help blind users interact with Google Maps, and Bahram is working with other researchers to apply it to other materials, such as flow charts.

“When I was a child I made a conscious decision to have a positive outlook on life,” Bahram says. “That attitude has served me well. And when I began working on my Ph.D., I realized I had an opportunity to affect the kinds of changes I wished existed when I was younger and struggling to learn STEM topics. With TIKISI, I’m hoping to give low-income and under-privileged people access to these educational tools. This technology works with a smart phone or a tablet – you don’t need expensive, proprietary technologies that can be an obstacle for the disadvantaged.”

Bahram attributes his success, in part, to the support he’s received at NC State. “I have had some absolutely amazing professors,” Bahram says. “I had a chemistry professor, Dr. [Lori] Petrovich, who would work with me after class every day, bringing in stones and other items from her garden, just to lay out electron diagrams and orbital graphs. She would literally reteach the lecture she had just given, with hands-on examples so that I could follow what was going on. The amazing part of this is that she wasn’t the only one. Other professors would read me the exams themselves, make models, or spend countless hours outside of class. It also should be mentioned that every professor in the computer science department has been truly excellent.

“I wouldn’t choose to be part of any other university.”

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The two business schools announced today that registration is now open for fall 2012 enrollment. Students will complete their fall semester at NC State and their spring 2013 semester at SKEMA in Sophia Antipolis, France. They will also complete an international internship in the luxury goods or services industry.

The global luxury management curriculum is a new focus area available through Poole College’s one-year Master of Global Innovation Management. The fall semester courses will be taught by faculty in NC State’s Poole College and NC State’s colleges of Textiles and Design.

“We are very excited to be drawing on the synergy between our colleges at NC State and the faculty at SKEMA to provide students this new opportunity,” said Dr. Ira R. Weiss, dean of NC State’s Poole College of Management.

The global demand for luxury goods has historically remained strong, but with the emergence of middle and upper class economies in China, Brazil and other countries, it has been growing significantly, he said. In China alone, rising incomes are boosting demand for luxury goods and services in the double digits, according to reports from CLSA, Asia’s leading independent brokerage and investment group.

“Research has shown that employers in luxury markets are looking for talent that understands the unique customer relationships in this environment,” Weiss added. “They are looking for individuals who can be entrepreneurial, who have a global perspective, and who can manage the creative and innovation processes. This program is designed to provide depth in all these areas.”

“NC State faculty in both Poole College and the College of Textiles work a lot with industry,” said Dr. Nancy Cassill, a professor in the College of Textiles. “We bring that experience to the classroom, where we challenge our students to be analytical and to think strategically about luxury products and how they are positioned within industries such as home and accessories, transportation, hospitality and other services, as well as fashion.”

During their fall semester at NC State, students will complete marketing and management courses in Poole College; courses on global brand management and marketing with a focus on luxury brand analysis and industry dynamics in NC State’s College of Textiles; and a course on global luxury marketing taught by a Poole College marketing instructor in partnership with faculty in NC State’s College of Design.

During the spring semester at SKEMA’s Sophia Antipolis campus in France, the students will gain exposure to industries in the luxury market.

“SKEMA’s faculty has expertise and work experience in brand and luxury management and the fashion industry, as this program has been created 10 years ago, in Sophia Antipolis, on the French Riviera. Our strong ties with the global luxury industry in France will support the program internship component,” said Ivan Coste, program director.

“Following the opening of our campus in Suzhou, China, last year, the launch of this program in the United States will open up new opportunities in a burgeoning market and at the same time reinforce SKEMA’s international presence and reputation,” said Alice Guilhon, dean of SKEMA.“We strongly believe that this cross-disciplinary, international approach offered by our two institutions will provide global luxury management students a solid foundation in business and management skills, practices and principles, as well as hands-on experience and exposure to the luxury market.”

Additional information, including detail on how to apply, is available online.

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Dr. Jay Narayan

Narayan is the John C. Fan Distinguished Chair Professor of Materials Science and Engineering in the College of Engineering.

Narayan came to NC State in 1983 as a senior professor. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2011 Reynolds Prize, which recognized sustained excellence in research, teaching and extension by the College of Engineering, and the 2011 Acta Materialia Gold Medal for his pioneering contributions and leadership in materials science worldwide. He is also well-known for earning his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in the record time of one year.

Narayan was cited for the Holladay Medal due to his research in novel materials and groundbreaking contributions in materials science, his mentorship of a large number of highly successful graduate students and postdocs, and his service to the science and engineering community through professional societies and the National Science Foundation, where he served as director of the Division of Materials Research from 1990 to 1992. Narayan has received 35 patents and published over 500 papers in archival journals, which have over 12,800 citations and an h-index of 55 so far.

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