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Background: The influence of parenting strategies and family functioning was extensively analysed in the study of the healthy development of adolescents. Self-determination theory expands this study by suggesting that at the basis of an optimal development there is the satisfaction of basic psychological needs. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between family functioning and some related variables, such as intrinsic motivation, basic psychological needs, well-being and parental educational practices. Methods: 140 parents with their 70 teenagers took part to this research. For each of the variables to be investigated, specific self-reports were administered. Results: Results found that adolescent self-perceived well-being was related to supportive parental practices and to a better family functioning. Furthermore, basic psychological needs have been found fundamental for the well-being both in parents than in adolescents. Conclusions: The strength of this study lies in having considered family units, investigating the same variables in both parents and children, and finding satisfaction of basic psychological needs to be related to positive well-being outcomes across generations. The practical implications of these findings are discussed., Journal of Clinical & Developmental Psychology, Online First Articles

This book proposes a radically new approach for characterizing thermophysical and mechanical properties of zeolite-based adsorbent coatings for Adsorptive Heat Transformers (AHT). It presents a developed standard protocol for the complete characterization of advanced coated adsorbers. Providing an in-depth analysis of the different procedures necessary for evaluating the performance of adsorbers, it also presents an analysis of their stability under the hydrothermal and mechanical stresses during their entire life cycle. Adsorptive Heat Transformers (AHT), especially adsorption chillers and heat pumps, are considered to be promising technologies to increase thermal energy efficiency. Nevertheless, an overall increase in performance of this apparatus is necessary for them to be considered a mature technology to be used commercially. Development of innovative coated adsorbers can be perceived as a key issue for the enhancement of AHT technology. This procedure relies on the deposition, either by means of a binder or by direct crystallization, of the adsorbent material over a metallic heat exchanger, aiming at the improvement of the heat transfer between the external heat source and the adsorbent itself. This book offers a valuable resource to those working on the development of novel adsorbent materials and advanced adsorbent beds for heating and cooling applications. It is also intended for researchers interested in renewable energy and energy efficiency. .

Aim of this work is to present the results of the testing of a small scale hybrid sensible/latent storage system (nominal volume 48.6 dm3), consisting of water in which macro-encapsulated phase change materials (PCMs) are added. Two different PCMs were macro-encapsulated, a commercial paraffin and a hydrate salts mixture prepared in the CNR ITAE lab, and loaded inside the tank in order to be tested. Different volume ratios between the PCM and the water were tested. The tests were conducted simulating different domestic hot water draw-off profiles. The resulting data showed an appreciable increase of heat storage capacity per unit of volume, even for limited fractions of PCM employed, reaching up to 10% of heat storage increasing by 1.3 dm3 of hydrate salts mixture added. Finally, the experimental results were used to test a numerical method of a PCM enhanced tank for dynamic plant simulations in ESP-r environment.