Aspiration Orientations Across Time : Do Childhood Aspiration Orientations Predict Mid-Life Aspiration Orientations and Well-Being?

By uncovering how far-reaching the impact of childhood aspiration orientations are on mid-life aspiration orientations and well-being, this thesis aims to bridge a gap in our understanding about how early aspirations shape well-being. Grounded in goal contents theory (Kasser & Ryan, 1993, 1996, 2001; Ryan & Deci, 2017), this thesis examined the stability of people’s intrinsic and extrinsic aspirations over time, and the long-term implications of aspiration orientations on well-being. Previous research consistently supports the positive link between intrinsic aspirations (affiliation, personal growth, community giving, and physical health) and well-being (Bradshaw et al., 2022). While, extrinsic aspirations (wealth, image and fame) are unrelated to well-being, and positively associated with ill-being. Little research has explored how intrinsic and extrinsic aspiration orientations, within the same individuals, relate to their well-being later in life. Gaining, answers to these questions, aids in understanding how to support individuals to prioritise intrinsic goals, and optimise well-being. This research provides insights into the developmental trajectory and long-term stability of intrinsic and extrinsic aspiration orientations, by utilising a mixed-methods approach, including qualitative data from the National Child Development Study (NCDS) of the same people at different life stages. People’s natural language about their aspirations could provide a valuable means to understand their intrinsic and extrinsic aspirations, including those who may not be able to complete questionnaires, such as children. In Chapter 2, a coding system was developed to identify intrinsic and extrinsic aspirations in participants’ naturally occurring language about their future. A thematic coding system derived from the themes of the Aspiration Index, demonstrated the greatest validity. The thematic coding system was then used to analyse the stability of participants' intrinsic and extrinsic aspirations orientation between the ages 11 and 50 (Chapter 3) and their influence on well-being at age 50 (Chapter 4). Evidence was found for some stability of intrinsic aspirations over time. Individuals who were intrinsically oriented at 50 had the highest levels of well-being, compared to those with extrinsic aspirations, or no intrinsic or extrinsic aspirations. Benefits to well-being were also found for remaining or becoming more intrinsically oriented between the ages of 11 and 50. Understanding how parents influence the development of their children’s aspiration orientations would provide insight into how to promote intrinsic aspirations and well-being. A meta-analysis of the link between parent characteristics and intrinsic aspirations provided support for the notion that children’s intrinsic aspirations are fostered by need supportive environments (Chapter 5). This research contributes to the knowledge base on how people’s intrinsic and extrinsic aspirations track over time, and offers practical guidance for promoting intrinsic aspirations and fostering well-being across the lifespan

Multijunction cells for concentrators: Technology prospects

Development of high-efficiency multijunction solar cells for concentrator applications is a key step in achieving the goals of the U.S. Department of Energy National Photovoltaics Program. This report summarizes findings of an issue study conducted by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Photovoltaic Analysis and Integration Center, with the assistance of the Solar Energy Research Institute and Sandia National laboratoies, which surveyed multijunction cell research for concentrators undertaken by federal agencies and by private industry. The team evaluated the potentials of research activities sponsored by DOE and by corporate funding to achieve projected high-efficiency goals and developed summary statements regarding industry expectations. Recommendations are made for the direction of future work to address specific unresolved aspects of multijunction cell technology

Silicon-sheet and thin-film cell and module technology potential: Issue study

The development of high-efficiency low-cost crystalline silicon ribbon and thih-film solar cells for the energy national photovoltaics program was examined. The findings of an issue study conducted are presented. The collected data identified the status of the technology, future research needs, and problems experienced. The potentials of present research activities to meet the Federal/industry long-term technical goal of achieving 15 cents per kilowatt-hour levelized PV energy cost are assessed. Recommendations for future research needs related to crystalline silicon ribbon and thin-film technologies for flat-plate collectors are also included

Where two fractals meet: the scaling of a self-avoiding walk on a percolation cluster

The scaling properties of self-avoiding walks on a d-dimensional diluted lattice at the percolation threshold are analyzed by a field-theoretical renormalization group approach. To this end we reconsider the model of Y. Meir and A. B. Harris (Phys. Rev. Lett. 63:2819 (1989)) and argue that via renormalization its multifractal properties are directly accessible. While the former first order perturbation did not agree with the results of other methods, we find that the asymptotic behavior of a self-avoiding walk on the percolation cluster is governed by the exponent nu_p=1/2 + epsilon/42 + 110epsilon^2/21^3, epsilon=6-d. This analytic result gives an accurate numeric description of the available MC and exact enumeration data in a wide range of dimensions 2<=d<=6.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Entropy-induced separation of star polymers in porous media

We present a quantitative picture of the separation of star polymers in a solution where part of the volume is influenced by a porous medium. To this end, we study the impact of long-range-correlated quenched disorder on the entropy and scaling properties of $f$-arm star polymers in a good solvent. We assume that the disorder is correlated on the polymer length scale with a power-law decay of the pair correlation function $g(r) \sim r^{-a}$. Applying the field-theoretical renormalization group approach we show in a double expansion in $\epsilon=4-d$ and $\delta=4-a$ that there is a range of correlation strengths $\delta$ for which the disorder changes the scaling behavior of star polymers. In a second approach we calculate for fixed space dimension $d=3$ and different values of the correlation parameter $a$ the corresponding scaling exponents $\gamma_f$ that govern entropic effects. We find that $\gamma_f-1$, the deviation of $\gamma_f$ from its mean field value is amplified by the disorder once we increase $\delta$ beyond a threshold. The consequences for a solution of diluted chain and star polymers of equal molecular weight inside a porous medium are: star polymers exert a higher osmotic pressure than chain polymers and in general higher branched star polymers are expelled more strongly from the correlated porous medium. Surprisingly, polymer chains will prefer a stronger correlated medium to a less or uncorrelated medium of the same density while the opposite is the case for star polymers.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figure

Longitudinal spin-relaxation in nitrogen-vacancy centers in electron irradiated diamond

We present systematic measurements of longitudinal relaxation rates ($1/T_1$) of spin polarization in the ground state of the nitrogen-vacancy (NV$^-$) color center in synthetic diamond as a function of NV$^-$ concentration and magnetic field $B$. NV$^-$ centers were created by irradiating a Type 1b single-crystal diamond along the [100] axis with 200 keV electrons from a transmission electron microscope with varying doses to achieve spots of different NV$^-$ center concentrations. Values of ($1/T_1$) were measured for each spot as a function of $B$.Comment: 4 pages, 8 figure

Star copolymers in porous environments: scaling and its manifestations

We consider star polymers, consisting of two different polymer species, in a solvent subject to quenched correlated structural obstacles. We assume that the disorder is correlated with a power-law decay of the pair correlation function g(x)\sim x^{-a}. Applying the field-theoretical renormalization group approach in d dimensions, we analyze different scenarios of scaling behavior working to first order of a double \epsilon=4-d, \delta=4-a expansion. We discuss the influence of the correlated disorder on the resulting scaling laws and possible manifestations such as diffusion controlled reactions in the vicinity of absorbing traps placed on polymers as well as the effective short-distance interaction between star copolymers.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figure